Random Thoughts of A Working Mom

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I have been working for 13 years now, and I have been a working mom for 6 years already. 

It's always been a roller coaster ride. There are so many times I have wanted to quit my job but still ends up choosing to stay. I have many valid reasons as a parent like me just want to give the best for our kids.

If you are like me who works full time outside work, you will understand how much time I sacrifice for my job. Though my job gives me financial security, I can't help but think if these are all worth it. I mean, being away from my son and those times I can't be with him to see his milestones and development.

Because time flies and one day, my son will be independent and will, but hope not, need my help. Just thinking about this makes me feel so sad already. Even if how much I tried to make up for the lost time, I could not get it back. That's why I always ends up feeling that mommy guilt when you feel you are failing as a mom. It's always the most painful feeling for every mother.

I thought I'll get over this feeling but now I am here again, caught between quitting and staying. In fact I never fail to browse on online job opportunities like the Triangle Direct Media jobs. I am giving myself a month or two to finally decide. For now, I have to leave it all to God because He knows what's best for us.

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Penne Pasta Pie

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Mommy loves to cook pasta, especially during the weekends, either for snack or dinner. I had to admit, I am not good in making spaghetti.

Last Sunday, since Mommy had some tasks to do upstairs, I made the spaghetti.

Penne Pasta Pie

I used penne pasta instead of the spaghetti. To give more twist, I made it like a cake by placing every piece of pasta upwards in a spring-form pan and baked it the lasagna way.

Doing this needs a lot of patience and needs to ensure that the “cake” will not sag.

Penne Pasta Pie

PENNE PASTA PIE

INGREDIENTS:

500 grams Penne Pasta, cooked according to package direction

1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

For the meat sauce:

1 pouch (250 g) UFC Filipino Style Spaghetti Sauce

1 pouch (200 g) UFC Filipino Syle Tomato Sauce

250 grams ground pork or beef

4-5 pieces hotdogs, diced

½ cup red bell pepper, chopped

1 cup sliced mushroom

1 medium-sized onion

Salt and pepper to taste

For the cream sauce:

¼ cup butter

2 tbsp cooking oil

½ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup evaporated milk

½ cup all-purpose cream

½ cup cheddar cheese, grated

Additional grated quick-melt cheese for toppings

DIRECTION:

Toss the cooked pasta in oil and cheddar cheese. Set aside.

Prepare the spaghetti sauce: 

Saute onion, ground pork or beef until meat turned brown.

Add hotdogs, bell pepper, and mushroom. Simmer for 3-5 minutes.

Add spaghetti and tomato sauce.

Add 1 cup of pasta broth (water where the pasta is cooked). Simmer for 5 minutes.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Remove from heat and set aside.

Prepare the cream sauce:

Melt butter with cooking oil in a saucepan.

Add flour until formed a paste-like consistency.

Add evaporated milk, cheddar cheese, and all-purpose cream, simmer until thickens. Set aside.

Grease a spring-form pan with oil.

Fill the pan with penne pasta arranged in upward or vertical position.

Spread the cheesy sauce on top followed by spaghetti sauce.

Top with grated quick-melt cheese and bake in a pre-heated oven at 175ºC until the cheese melts and turns golden brown.

Remove from oven.

Remove the sidings of the spring-form pan before serving.

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Christmas Countdown 2016: 95 Days to Go

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I really can't believe how time flies. Did you know that we barely have 95 days before Christmas? Have you started making your Christmas gift list?

As I mentioned on my other blog. I have already started to make my Christmas gift list. And I out of my never ending list, I have decided on one gift and that's for Matthew.

I'll buy him a guitar first then the mini drum set that he's also asking me to buy for him. A simple guitar for now will do but who knows when he grows up, he can strum this taylor electric guitar.

Nice right? Matthew really loves to sing and having a guitar will inspire him to sing more. I am sure Daddy A will also love this idea of buying a guitar because playing a guitar is one of his frustrations dreams. Haha!

Oh, I still have a long list to finish. An with just 95 days to go before Christmas, I think I'll go with the Christmas rush. I hope not :)

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Felt Cloth Bow Headbands

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Hello everyone! Just want to share what keeps me busy these past days. 

These colorful bow headbands are made of felt cloth attached in a thin band.

Aside from crocheting, I am also into felt cloth. I already posted the bow pattern here.

I made a set for Daddy A's niece. 

Look how nice the bow headbands on her.

She made them into hair ponies too.

While I attached one pink felt bow to a hard headband.

So pretty right?

Here's another set of orders I made last week.

How I wish I have a baby girl too so I have my own model. Hehe!

You may see more of my felt cloth works in the coming days. Relatively much easier and faster to make than crocheting. But I still love to crochet and from time to time I accept orders.

By the way, I create a Facebook page to see more of our felt cloth works: www.facebook.com/feltwithlovebymomaye. 

Or you can read these:

The Felt Cloth Bows
Felt Cloth Owl headband
Colorful Felt Cloth Letters
Cutie Felt Cloth Hair Bows
MTO Name Felt Cloth Letters
Felt Cloth Name Letters

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Chemist Dad on Fashion Change

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I’ve mentioned in my Chemist Dad's post that I already shed off several pounds. I also need to declutter my closet since most of the shirts I have seem to be large for me and mukang basahan na daw when I wear it.

Hitting this target gives me the confidence of wearing small size shirts. Mommy told me that I can already buy a shirt at least once a month. Though these apparels will be seldom used since we have uniforms at work, it is still a nice personal investment since you still need to wear casual clothing on other days like Sundays.

Chemist Dad wearing polo shirt

Since I am already in the mid-30s, need to change my fashion preference according to my age. I am already looking for shirt or polo shirt that is plain-colored or with a minimal print like cry baby shirt. 

Do you also change your fashion preference with your age?

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