For Lakwatsa’s Sake I am Resurrecting the Blog

I have to admit, I was in a rut for the last few months regarding TTC issues and BU32. But I also realized that I cannot put my life in stand still because we are facing hurdles.

So, the snow is gone — meaning upcoming lakwatsera stories. WAtch out for updates and be prepared for photo overload!

 

Getting Kikay with Everyday Minerals

I usually don’t wear make up since it causes me break out. but ever since I started the PCOS treatments, the hormone pills are helping to keep my skin at bay. Online friends have been talking about this cheaper-than-bare escentuals but as great product called Everyday Minerals. What will get you hooked is that they have free sample kits you can order as much as you want, you just need to pay for shipping. Each sampler will have 3 foundation of your choice, a blush and concealer. I ended up with two sample kits, blushes, eye make up and some freebies. I also baught a eyeshadow brush from them. So far I love it.

you can click on the photo to see the notes

Oh yeah, here’s me after trying out those stuff above.

As you see I’m not for one to use eyeliner and mascara. It’s too hard to clean up and too cumbersome to use. I also need to get my bushy eyebrows either waxed or threaded to get some shape. I have neglected them for over a year now. they look awful!!! And of course the silly hair color needs to be fixed. I have more greys showing than my mom I bet. I need to come up with the money, maybe next month.

Right before the holidays, I had been bugging Kathy about which blushes and foundation she uses. Before you know it she was buying them for me. And the new shipment came today.

Again you can click on image to see notes

What I like about mineral make up is that a little goes a very long way. And with the sampler kit, I can keep on trying new stuff. I was pleasantly suprised with Kathy’s choices. I tend to go for brown-ish, earthy blushes and what she gave me was more youthful and fun. Someone really needs to pull me out of my manang mode. LOL!

Thanks Kath!

 

Shabu Shabu at Home the End Results

So it was my first try making a hotpot at home and I am into conforming to all that “supposed to be ingredients” I needed something very satisfying and nourishing that Jun, MIL and our friend Paul would love. It was alternatingly snowing and raining at the same time. Something like this would really be good. I had no time to make our own broth so I ended up with store baught and some modifications to suit our taste. I did not have enough spices for the dipping sauce so we made do with whatever we had. I opted for high protein, high fiber and potassium things. Which is what I need to be eating anyway. I had nothing but 12 glasses of water all day, I was saving my calorie allowance for this!

The end result was very good. I simmered the broth in the stove first to blend all the flavors of the spices. The broth ended up being tasty and comforting. The tomato in the broth make it full with body and flavor. And adding star anise and scooping it out before the broth went to the table helped bring that asian flare without someone accidentally scooping it. Adding spinach was a great way to eat veggies and next time I will add more vareity perhaps snow peas, napa cabbage or patoto leaves and some young corn and radish. Perhaps add some fillets of salmon or some chunks of haddock or cod.

It was MIL’s first hotpot and she enjoyed it. She was amazed by how much we spent and how much it cost to eat it at a hotpot joint. She requested that we do it again on Friday at her SIL’s birthday. So I guess we have part 2 this week.

Here’s what ended up in our pot.

Ingredients:
2 small package of Bean thread noodle soaked in warm water for a few minutes then drained
1-1 1/2 lb of thinly sliced tender beef
1 lb peeled shrimps
squid balls
beef meatballs
crab sticks
diced tofu
button mushrooms
green beans
baby bok choy
spinach

Broth:
2 package of swansea beef broth
2 cups water
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
2 bayleaf
2 star anise
1/2 tsp whole pepper corn

Dipping Sauce:
light soy sauce with chili
chili garlic paste
drizzle of dark sesame oil

We finished the entire thing with the exception of the noodles, we piled on the meat and vegetables, I think I ate most of the tofu and spinach.

There were no pictures of us, nor of the cooked items as we got busy slurping soup and swishing in the pot. We were too starving to even pose for camera. We were full to the gills when we walked out of the table.

What would have cost us around $75 dollars (for two person) if we had eaten out only costed us $40 for 4. Definitely a big saver for us.

I’ll just leave you with some of the before pics… click on the photos for notes!