Baking is Money Making

Yes, you heard it right. I'm starting to make money out of my newest hobby...and that is baking. *big grin*

If you will notice too, my sidebar has more links and blog list about baking. Hehe. Actually my sweet tooth pave way to my interest in baking. It all started with a wishful thinking. When someone gifted us an oven toaster and turbo broiler, I fancy how to bake using these electric appliances. I even looked for possible recipes to bake using an oven toaster and turbo broiler. However, it seems too tiresome than buying an out of the shelf slice of cake from my favorite bakeshops. 

But I guess the saying "When there's a will, there's a way" or sa tagalog, "Kapag gusto, maraming paraan..." is really true. I was able to persuade the Mister to buy a gas range with  oven when we were looking for a new 2-burner stove just to save on LPG. Hahaha. That's what you call, creating the interest and the need of a buyer. O di ba?, nagamit ko pagiging ahente ko sa asawa ko. :P

The story behind was told on this post, where it all began.

I started baking ready made batter from the grocery. Then started reading blogs and looking for online recipes of cupcakes, cakes, bread and cookies!!! My eyes get big and almost drool on beautiful plating and recipes I get to see online. Some of my favorites sites/links are already in my sidebar.

Last year, I was able to sample and gifted dozens and dozens of cupcakes. My block buster flavors are chocolate and carrot cupcakes! They were a winner!!! And last Christmas was indeed crazy. I gave cupcakes as Christmas gifts to friends. Cupcakes as our share for parties (pot luck) and cupcakes almost in every celebration we attended.

Majority of my creations were posted in Instagram and FB. Shame on me, I failed to write about it here due to my limitations when it comes to time management. Blame it on making priorities. Mommyhood comes first than blogging. :P

Devils Cake with Chocolate Ganache. The cake is a ready made batter mix  but I made the ganache.

The Ultra Moist Chocolate Cake. Recipe is from Aikko of Bake Happy. Such a generous lady to share recipes.

First attempt to bake a cake. This was for Jared when he turned 9 months.

Chocolate and Vanilla Cupcakes for Mama's 58th Birthday

Rainbow cupcakes. Aren't they pretty? 

Practicing how to write on red velvet cupcakes. :-)

Chocolate Cake for my Nephew's 3rd Birthday. The frosting was not  perfect. hehe

Christmas giveaways

Banana Bread with Chocolate chips

My latest creation...chewy chocolate chip cookies.. Winner!!!

My first sale were 4 dozens of cupcakes (2 dozen chocolate and 2 dozen carrot) for a simple debut of my friend's sister. I was told that they were a big hit to the guests and my friend, (the hostess) forgot to save one for herself. hehehe. 

Anyways, I'm so darn excited to be an official entrepreneur and who know's, I, este, we might own our Bakeshop. We have tons of ideas in mind but still on the blueprint.

For now, I'm glad I have a tall order of 9 dozen of chocolate chip cookies!!! God is so good. 

My dough is already done waiting for it's 24 hour countdown before I can bake them. Ohh, I'm so excited.

Baking is one of the reasons I'm getting a bit healthier than before. :P

Photo a day challenge: May -- Day 1 = PEACE

Yes! I'm joining. I wanted to join April but for obvious reasons, I was not able to share even a single photo. And since today kick starts May. BTW, Happy Labor Day! Majority of the work force are chillin' and enjoying the holiday.

Ok. For the month of May, the list is:

I hope I can submit a photo everyday! :-)
For the mechanics, click link here.

BTW, this idea is from Fat Mum slim. You may read and follow her blog here.

Hmmm...it's May 1 but I have no choice not to do domestic chores today. No helper yet. :-(
So far the ff. were accomplished

• Went for a short 20 mins work out. 
• Send Jared for a swim in the pool.
• Bath Jared and fix him up for sleep.
• Cooked Pork Sinigang for lunch.
• Checked/Browsed FB
• Update our Saver's file.
• Create entry for this blog.

What has to be accomplished for the rest of the day?

• Iron clothes (waaahhh....obviously, I'm procrastinating...hahaha)
• Visit nearest parlor for a pedicure
• Prepare things for tomorrow's work.

*Sigh* May 1 is indeed LABOR day for me! :P

My entry for the "Peace" category will be:

The house is at peace when the little one is asleep! :-)

Bday Preps #1

Yes, our little one is turning 1 already in exactly 1 month and 4 weeks as our ticker says. (found at the right sidebar).

A and I decided that we will just make it simple. A party in a regular fast food store will suffice since Jared still don't know how to enjoy his own party. We are only targeting 100 pax (adults and kids combined).

So, before the sun sets in today, I started to inquire in the nearest fast food (the happy bee) in our place. I checked on the available themes to choose from and there are only 3 options. I learned that the minimum booking is 30 pax. We can bring cake of our choice but should NOT be the brand of their direct competition. Cake from not-so-commercial bakeshop will do but it's a Big No to eat the cake during the party. It's only for candle blowing and picture taking purpose. Well, this is acceptable since they avoid being blamed for food poisoning issues and if such thing happens, the only culprit will be the food served from their store and nothing else.

There are 4 Food Packages to choose from, well, technically 5 since the other one is Build-Your-Own-Menu.
From the packages, I can sense that we might will go for Package 5 (Build Your Own).

I could say, it's a blessing in disguise that we were not able to book for a face painter because the store does not allow it. They only allow Videographers and Photobooth. And it will cost us additional 200/hour for electricity for our Photo booth. Yes! We are having Photo booth too for Jared's birthday. hehehe. Similar to our wedding, Photo booth pictures will serve as souvenirs for his party. Actually, the Photo booth was the first supplier booking we had in preparation for Jared's 1st Birthday. We booked it last year pa! hahaha. (Adik lang mga parents pagdating sa photos. :P )

Ok, as the Q & A portion went on, I was surprised that it will really cost me almost 19K for 100 pax. Complete Birthday Package na ito.

• Food
• Party Fee (Misc) - Mascot with 30 mins appearance, guestbook, crayons, balloons (ceiling displays)
• Party Add-Ons (Party hats, party liners or the paper placements, 30 pcs. balloons (P12/pc for add ons)
• Special Loot Bags (P50/pc) - The Standard is P25, Premium is P80
• Cake - Only small and regular size available. Regular size is 900.

So If our guests will exceed 100 (I'm sure it will) then we will be over 20K budget! Waaahhh!!! Kami na lang kayang 3 magcelebrate. hahaha.

If we are to book with the happy bee, then my choice of having a themed cake like on his baptismal will never be possible anymore since they don't allow it. No famous characters or brandings allowed like mickey mouse, barney, ben10, etc. If we are to insist to bring in our cakes, the general designs will be acceptable. Hmm....ayos na rin....we can have a 12 x 8 in cake at 900 only. Tipid! :P

Well...this is just my initial inquiry. Will ask the pizza store nearest our place maybe this weekend. As for the the other happy clown store, the nearest is in Market Market, while the nearest chicken store is in Fort.

On this preparations, I will have to remind myself again and again of our Goal. Just a SIMPLE birthday celebration.

Let go of the nice and fancy loot bags.
Let go of the clowns.
Let go of the face painter
Let go of the party carts.
Let go of the balloon toy making.
Let go of catering service.
Let go of the professional photographer and videographer.

Hahaha...so far, I'm on track. (Can someone give me a pat on my back pls.)

Again, the photo booth is already booked so that's not counted as "Kaartehan". :P

More update on next posts.

Need to sleep for now.

We are officially ONE

Yes! I am married! We are!

As the title of this blog says, "Our Journey to become One".... i must say, we are now ONE as Man & Wife and the journey has just started. It is written in the scriptures too at Mark 10:6-8

Mark 10:6-12 (New International Version)

⁶"But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female. ⁷'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, ⁸and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one.

It's a bliss. It's euphoric and it's haven. Though reality check, married life is a roller coaster ride. It's a fact that nothing is easy. But we will make sure that we will get and make things together as a couple. We will enjoy and hold-on together on each humps and bumps, each curves and loops, the high times and even in the lowness of all. We will stand side by side, supporting each other. That's the vow we made that even life after death, we hope will carry on.

Full blessing comes in marriage. And we will claim this promise. Because as the scripture says at Proverbs 18:22

Proverbs 18:22 (New International Version)

²² He who finds a wife finds what is good
and receives favor from the LORD.

We entrust our married life to Jesus and will let him be the center of our lives.


Mrs. Janice Rovero-Tria :-)

This is it!!!! Goodbye Single Days, Hello Married Life

This is it!!! I am getting married TODAY!!!

And few hours from now, we will say


Yihee!!! Goodbye Single Days, Hello Married Life!!!
Praising God more and more for all His goodness in my life, in our lives. ^__^

Lovenest

We are obviously not going to live together with our parents. It's a clear decision between A and I from the very start. Obviously, we can not afford to get our own house yet. Not even considering a rent-to-own condo. We want the typical house. But that's on our future "to-do" and savings. Hihi. Whew!!! Getting hitch is really really a serious thing.

Nwei, At first, we had a hard time looking for an apartment. Why? Because we are following several criteria that should be met. What are they?

- Affordable: Not exceed 10K monthly rental
- Near Makati: To save, we need a place where we can have max of two short rides (min. fare of P7).
- 1 Bedroom apartment: Studio type is definitely out.
- floor area of at least 25 sqm
- highland: we dont want to experience another Ondoy rath. So a Big NO-NO to flood prone area.

Speaking of Ondoy, I noticed many condo bldgs and even aparment in Pasig, Cainta and even Q.C has slashed their rental price up to 50%. Imagine that. Sulit.com is flooded with advertisements about promo period of vacant units. But we dont want to take the risk. So we sticked with our criteria.

To be honest, A and I had several fighting moments about this. Hahaha. It was stressful. I was the one who was getting more pressure. Whew!!!!
Nonetheless, prayers really do work. We finally found our love nest!!! Yey!

Changing residence address very soon. Lots of profile update on my part.
We are going to live in C5 Taguig. 5 to 10 mins away from Market Market. Min. of 15 mins travel time to Ayala, Makati. If traffic is bad, it will take us 45mins max. Hmmmm...not bad compared to the travel time from Makati to Caloocan for me. And Makati to Valenzuela for Adrian. We are spending almost 2 hours travel time everyday. (one way only) Imagine that. And our pockets are really crying paying for taxi cab fare of 200 when LRT/MRT is already close at 11PM.


Here's a sneak preview of our love nest. Really bare. ^__^