My Valentine Date

my date fell asleep waiting for me, so I'll just wait until he wakes up, still such a baby ssshhhh! ☺️

A photo posted by thelettersinnovember (@zenskulasa) on Feb 12, 2016 at 11:39pm PST

A day before Heart's Day I went out to watch a movie with the kiddos. We were supposed to fetch the college boy and the high school boy fell asleep on the coach waiting for me to put on my new shoes.

Valentine's Day For Busy Families

Valentine’s Day is filled with romance, but when you take the time to think about it, isn’t it just like any other day of the year? Sure, we all love to be pampered and enjoy that extra little bit of love on February 14th, but for those of us with hectic family life it’s not always easy. There are a few ways that we can celebrate that involve the whole family and still create a fun and loving atmosphere. Here are a couple of ideas below for those of you who, like me, don’t always have the chance to celebrate Valentine’s Day in its more traditional form.

A picnic dinner with balloons and bunting

Get the whole family involved in a fun picnic style dinner. Either use outdoor seating areas or if the weather is too cold then why not pitch up your picnic spot indoors? Find a red and white checked blanket and create a party for the whole family that s filled with Valentine’s Day themed food and treats. You could bake a heart-shaped cake using a cool cake tin. You could bake red velvet cupcakes with bright red edible hearts placed on top! Make up a batch of bright red frosting and go wild with it! Valentine’s Day should be fun as well as filled with love. Give the kids some sparkling pink lemonade or a red fruit juice in plastic champagne glasses if they are old enough and cut up some sandwiches into heart shapes. Visit a candy wholesaler and make a big bowl of candy for everyone to dip in to. You can even buy heart shaped cheeses and savoury treats these days from most grocery stores around Valentine’s Day. Place everything in cute heart shaped plates and platters, and you’ll be good to go! Red napkins would also finish the whole look off. Later in the evening when the kids are in bed, you and your other half can spend some quality time alone and snuggle up with a good movie after what has probably been another hectic day.

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How To Rejuvenate Your Romantic Life With Music

 

Married Life Could Sometimes Get Boring So How Do We Bring Back The "Romance" Part Back in Loving?

Music Could Help! A Lot!

 A soft, jazzy instrumental has the power to relax our tense muscles and get us in the mood for giving our partner all the attention he or she needs. There is something so alluring about the sound of a saxophone with the right soprano sax reeds rendering the home an atmosphere of love on Heart's Month and any Day for that matter because Valentine's Day is everyday for two people inlove!

Healthy Relationships: Stuffed Squid, A Valentine Recipe

The hubby won't be around tomorrow. He is going to be stuck at work so to make it up to me, he whipped up a recipe for the family last Sunday. We went to market to buy fresh ingredients. 

squid tomatoes  

onion 

cheese

He washed the squid, removed the plastic-like lining inside then stuffed the squid with chopped tomatoes and onions and a strip of cheese. 

I did the chopping while protesting that I don't really eat squid. Well I used to but I no longer do. 

He begged me to eat the recipe later and I said okay!

(I'm a spoiled wifey and proud of it LOL)

He then wrapped each stuffed squid in banana leaves abundant around our house and then had them grilled the old fashioned way.

The whole family LOVED IT! 

Happy Heart's Day Everyone!!!!!

Cafe Esperanza- A Mellow Cafe for Mellow Thoughts...and Sweet Valentine Conversations...

Cafe Esperanza

~a  place in the heart of the city that I ......love visiting

they got the tastiest native cakes and

sweets as well as pastries and 

 pasta and Chinese dishes

and of course coffee

I love eating while watching passersby along the busy city streets

It is a corner in the world where I could

go back in time and be the innocent girl

-I used to be

because it is on the right side of my highschool Alma Mater

and the St. William the Hermit Cathedral where 

I spent so many hours praying for a blessed future...

I usually drop by here when I'm without company

and I just love to talk to my dreamy self and

reminisce...

hmmm yep, dating myself too is one way I keep my sanity in this sometimes too toxic world called 

ADULTHOOD...

The cafe  has a homey feel

Something I love most

and the mere sight of bricks on the walls 

..bread and pastry on jars
!takes me to Neverland

Cafe Esperanza's Cream Pop is the best
!!!I also enjoy their home-cooked style spaghetti
I wonder what their secret ingredient is
....
Their native rice cake believe me
amazed me the first time I tasted it
..having been too stuffed with the serving of pasta I just took home the rice cake...
I put in in the fridge and remembered only to eat it the next day and whoa to
my surprise it was still soft and chewy
and marvelously just sweet enough to
make me scream with delight
and I am saying this not just because I am an Ilocana and a sucker for native cakes...

The place could get too crowded at times but for the love of their specialties everyone seems patient enough to wait for their turn to order and pay....

They offer catering services and I heard they have another Valentine dinner promo!

Too bad, I ain't got my partner tonight!

~The place is hard to miss when you're in San Fernando, L.U.
because the cafe is overlooking the city plaza.~

I just checked their facebook page here-
and had a peek into their Valentine's Dinner menu...

Menu for Dinner Buffet on Valentine's Day

Appetizers: Garlic Mixed Nuts, Nachos with Mexican Salsa, Cheese Sticks
Main Course: American Beef Stew, Southern Style Barbecue Ribs, Chicken Ala Kiev, Fillet of Fish Wrapped in Bacon, Mixed Vegetables with Pasta Penne, Java Rice, Steamed rice
Bread BasketCarrot SoupOpen Salad BarDessert Bar: Fresh Fruits in Lemon Syrup, Mango Jubilee, Cinamonettes, Macaroons, Assorted Cake Bites..

Buffet Starts at 7:00 PM
Price @ Php 399.00

For reservations, please call at telephone number 072-242-0659
Buffet Starts at 7:00 PM Price @ Php 399.00

~geeezzzz the Mango Jubilee and assorted cake bites is enough for me to crave here~
~since the hubby is not available tonight...who wants to raid the Cafe with me????!!!!~
~pay for your own buffet girls! hehehe~

They're at P. Gomez Street, 2500 San Fernando, La Union

see you there tonight SINGLES?

you just might finally meet, Mr. RIGHT!

~definitely not a sponsored post but just another happy customer's honest opinion

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE

Five Thoughtful Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for the College Student

Valentine's Day isn't just meant for couples, it is a holiday that celebrates love. Parents of college students can send their love during this time through some thoughtful Valentine's Day gifts. Here are a few gift ideas that are perfect for the college kid.

1. Personalised Hamper

College students don't often admit it, but they do miss all the little things Mum and Dad did for them. Parents can remind the kids that they still care with a hand crafted care package this Valentine's Day. Put together a gift hamper with all of the student's favourite goodies. Candy is a given. Other snack foods, and even canned or microwave meals are also good. Soaps, makeup, and deodorant are also valuable additions – these things are crazy expensive on a student’s budget. A DVD or flash drive with a personalized message from the family helps to lift the student's spirits on lonely days. Plus, the flash drive is useful for saving homework on.
If you don’t have time to create a personal gift basket then ordering one online can save time, and usually works out cheaper as shipping costs are usually discounted or even included. Send them a comforting tea hamper, or knowing students and alcohol hamper would be greatly appreciated!

2. Restaurant Gift Voucher

It’s not often students get to eat out in a nice restaurant – mealtimes for them usually consist of noodles, beans or the college cafeteria. Treat them to a nice meal at a fancy restaurant – they’ll feel special getting dressed up, and it will give them a taste of what to look forward to when they enter the real world and start earning some cash for nice meals!

3. USB Hub

Computers almost never have enough USB ports for the numerous electronic gadgets people own. Parents can bet their kids own a lot of gadgets too. From cell phones to tablets, a USB Hub provides the ports and power needed to recharge. Look for a powered USB Hub with a plug that connects to a wall outlet. This plug gives an extra source of power for the hub to draw from, allowing it to recharge several kinds of electronics at once. Other USB Hubs that simply plug into a computer may not provide enough power for more than one or two devices at a time.

4. Amazon Gift Cards

The Amazon gift card may seem a bit impersonal, but it is great for college students. These cards are available in local stores and gift card codes are even available for purchase through the website. Pay for a gift card online and send it straight to the student via email. Amazon is a multipurpose shopping site with everything a college kid needs, including food, or textbooks. Send a gift card for Valentine's Day, so that student can purchase a romantic movie, or download some romances to her reader for the holiday.

5. Add Money to their Student Account

At the beginning of each semester, parents usually add a certain amount of money to their student's accounts. This money is meant for textbooks and lunches in the cafeteria. However, the students can purchase other items, including snacks, in stores and through vending machines on campus. Even the student who budgets carefully will appreciate a little extra boost of cash in their accounts. When Valentine's Day rolls around this is an easy way to send a gift and ensure it goes to a good purpose. Call in to the cashier's office with a small payment, and let the student know they have some more money to purchase holiday treats and snacks on campus.

This article was written by Corina Mentink, Director of Boxt Gift Baskets, a leading online provider of Gifts and Hampers in Australia. Connect with Corina on LinkedIn
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