Now who's gonna fix that pipe?

It's always a daily struggle having to go through daily baths and toilet breaks when you have a water pipe that's in need of a better replacement.  It's now almost a month and still the lady who owns the apartment that we're renting is still trying to ignore our complaints.  She said whatever that's bothering us should be forwarded to her and her alone and they'll act on it immediately.  So while she believes that she's being a responsible apartment owner, we braved daily wash-ups with our feet propped in a water basin for fear of touching the rising water in the icky bathroom floor.  When you're taking a shower, it is seemingly useless if you're feet is submerged in dirty water.  Sometimes, I wake up wishing that I can finally use a flood-free bathroom.  But still, there's that undrained murky water seemingly smiling at me.  I think there's something stuck in that pipe--moss, plastic or whatever.  We've been told that we're like the eighth family who rented this place and I'm pretty sure we didn't stick things into that pipe hole.  I think they should replace that pipe but we don't know why our complaints have fallen in deaf ears.  Are they trying to get rid of us?  I hope this will be settled anytime soon because the bathroom floor looks gross and hygiene is important when you have children ;(  We cannot act on our own because we don't own this place.  And so we waited...and waited for Mr. Plumber to come.  But he didn't.

Toddler Superfoods

Superfoods are packed with a whole lot of nutritional punch.  And since toddlers in particular are picky and would often dwell in one food alone at a time, the trick is to wrangle one of these into your kids' plates and initiate a food habit that your child could benefit in the long run.  I have two very different kids.  One's as picky as picky could be while the other one devours almost everything in plain sight.  So every once in a while, I check and recheck our food items ensuring a good and healthy eating habit for both of them.

THEY CALL THESE SUPAH:

1. Oats.  

These whole grains help in pushing out that bad cholesterol out of the body, will keep your child feeling full and help prevent blood sugar levels from spiking and crashing in dangerous levels.  My picky eater is an oatmeal fan.  It's usually his fave breakfast and snack.

2. Avocado.  

Gone were the days when people think that avocados are harmful to our health when consumed in large amounts given the fact that it's loaded with cholesterol.  The truth is, avocado is the only fruit that is laced with mono unsaturated "good" fats that may lower "bad" LDL cholesterol, which can harm the heart.  Avocados are also a good source of soluble fiber and vitamin E which helps protect our cells from free radicals.  Our favorite is avocado shake.  It's just mixing avocado and milk together in a blender.  It's really yummy and the kids love it.

3. Yogurt. 

Yogurt helps build strong bones and teeth because it's rich in calcium and a good source of protein, . It also aids in digestion and fights bad bacteria in the gut.  It's better to buy plain low-fat yogurt and then add your own fresh or frozen fruit to it.  That way, you'll avoid the sugar that's in flavored yogurts. We also love yogurt ice cream but then  again it's much healthier having plain yogurt and fresh fruits.

4. Blueberries.  

Wild, organic, frozen blueberries are one of the most versatile nutrient-rich foods you can disguise in dishes and best of all, it's loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.  Blueberries can help lower cholesterol, sharpen memory, and fight certain cancers. These little fruits offer big health benefits, whether fresh or frozen.

5.  Sweet Potatoes.  

Packed with vitamins B, C, and E, calcium, potassium, and iron.  Sweet potatoes are also rich in complex carbohydrates and fiber, which keeps digestion moving along properly.  At home we make potato chips out of these or mash them for baby to eat.

6. Salmon.  This cold-water fish contains healthful fats known as omega-3s that can lower the risk of heart disease. These nutrients may also help improve mood and prevent memory loss.  Salmon is an excellent choice in preventing our kids from consuming toxic substances such as mercury and PCBs.

7.  Spinach.  

An excellent source of iron, calcium, and folic acid, vitamins A and C. Spinach is great for growing bones and brains.  This versatile vegetable has a mild flavor and cooks in a frenzy.  It can be tossed and tucked in most dishes.

A little this and that, and we're good to go..

Back to food in CANS!

We have been living with yummy home-cooked meals for the past 2 weeks because we overstayed at my parents' place.  But now we're back to our rented apartment and back to fastfood and canned goods.  I wish it could have been home-cooked meals all the way.  But sadly, I can only cook real food on weekends when hubby's home all day and there's someone who can look after the kids while I work my way in the kitchen.  Yes, I can feed my family with my food creations and I never miss an episode of Master Chef but I still continually long for my parents' cooking.  The meals which I've grown to love through the years.  I think I've gain a pound or two during our stay and my toddler has gained back a few pounds he's lost due to teething.  Khym didn't gain any being a picky eater himself but gained a few scrapes from playing with neighborhood kids.  Aaaanyway, My dad is an excellent cook and can whip up a feast from scraps.  He's got it from mama, his step mom because she had one of those small eateries back when I was a kid.  My father used to let me stand on a stool and let me watch him cook.  From then, I learned to love the wonders of cooking.

Some of Dad's  home-cooked food:

Yummy Pancit Canton

Lechon Manok

Crunchy Egg Rolls

Sweet Hamonada

Chicken Halang-Halang or Chicken in  Coconut Milk and Chili

I wish I could cook real food more and not depend on cans and fastfood.  But 3 kids are a handful and sometimes we need to resort to easy food to go through each day.  Thankfully from where we live some people cook food and sell them for an affordable price.  Dad often sends food for us too.  So it's not cans all the way I suppose.  Hopefully when my kids do grow up, I can cook more and spend more time in the kitchen.  For now, we'll just settle on what's being laid on the table.