The Search for the Next Supermarket

Shopwise Makati is undergoing some renovation these days which makes it inconvenient for shoppers like me.. They've rearranged again their shelves. It's one of their strategies to maximize space for the store - to occupy previously dead spots and encourage shoppers to go through all the aisles/spots as much as possible.

For now, I am in a search for the next supermarket place where I will religiously do my groceries. I passed by Cash and Carry this afternoon after we drove near the area to find a shop who does sofa re-upholstery. I was shocked that parking space for Cash and Carry already have a fee!  I was also shocked to see an almost full parking. I parked near the exit area already. We managed to get a good exercise walking from the parking to the entrance.

Cash and Carry transformed from your neighborhood supermarket to your nearby mall. Inside was bright and I found it manageable to stroll around the mall. I managed to buy an office blouse and found a great bed to our liking since I was also canvassing for a good bed frame for my toddler.

We did our groceries and I realized that there are a lot of choices in Cash and Carry compared to Shopwise. Imported goods where everywhere to be found. Prices were relatively cheaper for most of the products compared to Shopwise although I found the quality of meat in Cash and Carry almost similar to Shopwise's but relatively expensive compared to the latter.

I still want to try how it is to do groceries in nearby supermarkets such as Puregold, Waltermart, Landmark and SM. Until I find the next supermarket where I can comfortably do my groceries. 

29 Things to do in 2009!

Happy New Year! Better late than never.. Albeit late, it's time to draft my 2009 New Year's Resolution:

1. Go back to yoga class to combat stress and disturbance around me.
2. Hit the gym at least 3x a week. I can only do 1 so far!!! Hope work doesn't get into my way of going to the gym. 
3. Visit at least 2 places that I've never been to this year. I'm hoping to visit a local and international destination. Places in mind are Dumaguete and Macau!
4. Have more time for my children.. Implement again the 1x a month exclusive date with my kids.
5. Call my parents at least 1x a week and ask how they've been. 
6. Pray the rosary everyday.
7. Have a hearty lunch with my friends at least 1x month.
8. Chat every so often whenever I get a chance to have a friend who is online.
9. Stop buying pirated DVDs until I've seen all the remaining DVDs here at home.
10. Eat less of bad foods - oily ones, fried ones..
11. Have a "me" day at least 1x month either for massage, hot oil, spa, pedicure or window shopping!
12. Go home to Davao at least 1x a quarter.
13. Continue my guitar lessons.
14. Take voice lessons after I finish my guitar lessons.
15. Learn how to run. Join ARETE challenge!
16. Visit new places to eat around the Metro!
17. Explore Makati by foot during weekends.
18. Shop for clothes worth P1000 up only when they are on sale! This is my personal challenge.
19. Leave the office before 8 pm. If I happen to leave past 8, I need to deposit P1K for my kids' savings account.
20. Stop calling others Boss, Mr X.. Will start calling them by their first names!
21. Go to the derma at least 1x quarter.
22. Clean the entire house and get rid of things not used for 6 months!
23. Do 5S in the workplace.
24. Visit my relatives here in Metro Manila!
25. Get SSS and Philhealth for yaya since she has been a good yaya for my daughter.
26. Sing a song everyday.
27. Sleep before 11pm.
28. Give 10% of my salary to charity.
29. Finish reading a good book at least 1x a month.

Rice Saver

There are plenty of hungry people in the world thus it always make me consider not to waste any food most especially rice.

Few years ago, I got a simple but useful tip on how to maintain freshness of cooked rice: wipe out moisture in the rice cooker! When I tried this trick, the extra cooked rice lasted for the next 2-3 meals! depending on how much extra rice we've got! Another practice that we've gotten used to when we have extra rice after dinner is to place it in a container and put it in the refrigerator. We use this when we cook breakfast as our main ingredient for fried rice!