Tagalog Almirol Recipe

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Due to insistent public demand, I am giving you the Tagalog Almirol Recipe.

Please share your experiences with almirol or any form of starching. So far, I have tried Niagara, Faultless, Glide and gawgaw. There are so many new brands in the grocery now. Post your reviews in the comments section or email them to me.


Almirol Recipe:

  1. Ilagay ang gawgaw sa isang palangganang may tubig na galing sa gripo. Ang dami ng gawgaw na gagamitin ay depende sa dami ng barong na kailangang i-almirol. Siguraduhing ang dami ng tubig sa palanggana ay tama lamang para tunawin ang gawgaw.
  2. Haluin ang gawgaw at tubig hanggang mawala ang mga namumuong gawgaw.
  3. Dahan-dahang dagdagan ng mainit na tubig ang palanggana. Patuloy na haluin ito para hindi mamuo.
  4. Para lumamig ang almirol at hindi ka mapaso, dagdagan ito ng tubig galing sa gripo.
  5. Kapag tamang-tama na ang timpla, hindi masyadong malapot at hindi rin naman masyadong malabnaw, ibabad ang bagong labang barong ng mga 15 minuto.
  6. Pigain ang barong at ipagpag ito. Kapag hindi ito pinagpag, magbubuo-buo ang gawgaw sa barong.
  7. Isampay ang barong.
  8. Kunin ang barong bago ito tuluyang matuyo (medyo basa pa). Importanteng medyo basa ang barong bago plantsahin. Kung tuyo na ito nung kunin sa sampayan, wisikan ito ng konting tubig bago plantsahin.

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The Perfect Soccer-Mom Chair

I found the perfect soccer-mom chair for my friend, "Teacher J".


Picnic Time Director's Chair (I saw this in Rustan's, Shangri-La)

I can't wait to be a soccer-mom. I will buy the Sports Chair Deluxe by Picnic Time...


...only mine will be SHARPAYED!


This is how you use it:

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Sugar Rush

Wednesday, July 30, 2008










Gourdo's called this morning to inform me that the
Splenda I reserved was ready for pick-up. Hooray! It's a steal at only P265 for 100 packets. (A box of 100 normally costs P345) That amounts to a savings of P80 per bag!

For that, I was willing to drive
all the way to Greenhills to pick up the 2 bags I reserved.

Hmmm....but did I really save?


Savings:

  • P80/bag x 2 = P160

Expenses:
  • Gas: P10/kilometer x 6 = P60
  • Parking: P30
  • Cake: P75 (On my way back to the car, I was tempted to buy Hizon's caramel cake.)


A loss of 5 pesos. Sigh... plus I now have a cake that will cancel out all the calories I saved from the Splenda.

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Funny: Amazingly Simple Home Remedies

  1. Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold the vegetables while you chop.
  2. Avoid arguments with the females about lifting the toilet seat by using the sink.
  3. For high blood pressure sufferers ~ simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure on your veins. Remember to use a timer.
  4. A mouse trap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.
  5. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives. Then you 'll be afraid to cough.
  6. You only need two tools in life - wd-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the wd-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.
  7. If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.
I love 5 & 6! LOL!

Thanks to "G.I. Jane" for submitting this joke.

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Recipe: Carbonara

When I was in college, my friend "JJ" explained to me how chickens lay their eggs. I was bowled over by his revelation. The eggs we eat are actually unfertilized chicken eggs! I always thought hens needed roosters for that.

My level of amazement the first time I cooked Carbonara (last Friday, 25 July) was close to that of my "chicken-egg" experience.


Here is the recipe:

1/2 cup bacon bits
1 whole egg
1 egg yolk
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
pepper
450 g spaghetti

  1. Cook the spaghetti. Follow the instructions in the package. Add a bit of salt to the boiling water.
  2. Fry the bacon bits. (I used Purefoods bacon bits. Less than P200/kilo) Set aside. You can place it on a paper towel to remove the excess oil.
  3. Mix the whole egg, egg yolk, parmesan cheese and pepper in a big bowl. Continue stirring until you achieve a creamy consistency.
  4. Once the spaghetti is cooked, drain it. Don't rinse! You want the pasta hot enough to "cook" the egg. You don't want to suffer from salmonella poisoning.
  5. Add the spaghetti to the egg mixture. Don't add all the spaghetti at once. Keep on adding and mixing until you get the spaghetti to sauce ratio you want. I ended up using only 2/3 of the spaghetti I cooked.
  6. Mix in the cooked bacon bits.
It's so easy! I never knew it was so simple. I wanted to cry.

How was my Carbonara?
"C", my official taster (you can never trust your husband to give you an honest opinion about things like cooking and sexiness), gave me the thumbs up while she was finishing my Carbonara. I guess that means it's good.

History and Origin of my Beloved Pasta Dish (from Wikipedia)
The dish was obscure before the Second World War, and it is not present in Ada Boni's classic book La Cucina Romana, which was published in 1927. It is thought to have originated in the hills outside Rome, not in the city itself. Its popularity began after the Second World War, when many Italians were eating eggs and bacon supplied by troops from the United States. It also became popular among American troops stationed in Italy; upon their return home, they popularized spaghetti alla carbonara in North America.

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Printers and Ink Cartridges

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Our printer obviously doesn't know which side his bread is buttered. He has this habit of running out of ink when my husband needs to print something important. A few months ago, my husband had to submit a document printed in blue ink because the black cartridge ran out. BLUE INK!

The same thing almost happened this morning. Luckily, I learned from the last time and had extra cartridges ready.

Do you know how long your inks last? I don't but I'll find out soon. (I hope not that soon)


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Service Center Contact Numbers

This forms part of my Home Notebook. I find the list very handy when:

  1. I have to replenish accessories like dust bags or air filters.
  2. I have to buy a replacement part.
  3. I need to have an appliance repaired or serviced.
I make sure that I am ready with my appliance's model number when I call. (See Home Inventory List)

SERVICE CENTERS

Aiwa - 456-8888 / 843-1541
Asahi - 726-2629 /642-8437
Carrier, Kelvinator, Condura - 897-5555
Collins, Moulinex, Dowell, Krups - 681-6166
Elba - 714-6002 to 03
Electrolux, White Westinghouse - 825-9908 / 825-9909
G.E., Ariston, Indesit, Fabriano, Honeywell, Tank - 643-3456
Hanabishi - 287-2601
Hoover - 844-0223 / 24
Imarflex - 832-2175 (Makati Branch)
JVC - 882-2509 to 10
Kolin - 852-1531
Koppel - 823-7301
Kyowa - 242-1731/35
La Germania - 564-0425
LG - 640-2525
National Panasonic - 725-3540 or 725-3434
Philips - 845-7880
Pioneer - 852-0033
Polytron - 640-3090 to 93
Samsung - 722-7777
Sanyo - 839-0501
Sharp - 1-800-1-888-4952
Sony - 456-8888/455-3592-99
Standard - 523-8081
Union - 895-7735
Whirlpool - 732-7370
3D - 911-7016 loc. 82 or 83

Thank you to Abenson (754-3435) for most of the contact numbers.

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Shopping at the Ikea Showroom

Monday, July 28, 2008














I went with my friends "MM" and "B" to the Ikea Showroom in Makati last Saturday. I was "just supposed to look" but I couldn't resist buying plastic containers and another lamp.












I am Mrs. G and I am a plastic container addict.
















The containers in the drawer with the sandwich bags, I use regularly.
The pictures on top are the ones I don't use. I have more but I don't want to take them out of my hiding place. Like an alcoholic who hides liquor around the house, I have plastic containers stashed in different cabinets.















I also like lamps. They light up my life! That is, if I get them to work or take them out of their container. I now only use 1 of the 4 lamps I bought from Ikea.

I need help.

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Home Repair Tool Kit

My friend "MM" bought a lamp at Ikea but could not assemble it because she did not have a Phillips-head screwdriver at home. Has this ever happened to you? If yes, it's about time that you get your own home repair tool kit.

I bought my pink tool set (see picture) at Robinson's D.I.Y. Center in Trinoma last year. Nice tool sets are available in True Value and Ace Hardware too.



If you want to shop on-line, check out these cute tool kits:
Apollo 135-pc. Tool Kit - Pink
Little Pink Tool Kit
"Home Chic Home" Tool Set ("MM", you will love this!)

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Faking It: Bake Butter Cake

Sunday, July 27, 2008












My friend "J" inspired me to bake so I decided to make my very own homemade butter cake. The only problem is... Actually, there are two problems. First, I don't have a real oven. Second, I don't know how to cook or bake. But no worries! Undeterred by these minor issues, I went to the grocery (Unimart) to buy my ingredients.

I first looked for a baking pan. I was planning to use our toaster oven so I had to get a very small loaf pan. While browsing through the stacks of pans, I also chanced upon a small muffin pan. Perfect! I decided to make muffins too. With my loaf and muffin pans, I proceeded to the baking section.

Thank you Lord for ready cake-mixes! I decided to get the Maya Oven Toaster Butter Cake Mix and the Betty Crocker Corn Bread and Muffin Mix because they required the least number of ingredients.

How was the Butter Cake?

According to my friend "C", who was here to appreciate my creation, it was good. I can't exactly remember if she said good or okay but she ate two slices so I guess she liked it.

It was so easy to bake. It's impossible to mess it up. I realized 5 minutes after putting it in the oven that I chose the wrong oven toaster setting. I changed it and reset the clock. 5 minutes later, I changed it to another setting and reset the clock again. By this time, I was so sure that the cake will be a failure. After checking it with my barbecue stick (toothpicks are to short) a dozen of times, it finally came out of the oven perfectly baked. Surprise! Surprise!

I'm going to try the corn muffin in a few days. Wish me luck.

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Files: Paperless Office

When we moved in our apartment, my husband brought with him around 8 years worth of credit card records. To give you an idea, the files go way back when Metrobank was still Solidbank. It instantly used up more than half of our drawer space. Argh! It drove me crazy.

My solution? Go paperless!

Tools for going paperless:

  1. Computer: A big hard drive is a must if you are planning to store the data in your computer. A 10-page PDF file takes around 2.5 MB of disk space.
  2. Scanner: Get a scanner that has a feeder. It will take you forever if you use a flatbed. Our HP 4255 automatically converts the file to PDF. If you scan 10 pages, it will create 1 PDF file with 10 pages.
  3. CD-writer: Our computer manages to crash every year so I make it a point to back-up our files. Remember, "JESUS SAVES".
  4. Paper-shredder: Bills are very personal. You don't want other people prying into your shopping habits for example. My husband suggested that we burn the files. Hello?!?! Clean Air Act. Save the earth. Shred it. (The shredded papers can be great bag stuffers. It absorbs moisture and helps maintain the shape of your bags.)
I now scan flyers and other documents that I want to throw away but might need at some other time.

Still not completely paperfree but definitely paperless.

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Laundry: Starch Wars Part II -- Glide

Saturday, July 26, 2008



















I just found out that the maid in charge of ironing our clothes, including my husband's barongs, actually just uses GLIDE!

I know what you are thinking. How could I not have known? How dare me blog about the virtues of almirol when our maid was using Glide the whole time? (Read Starch Wars Part I)

This is what happend... I actually interviewed our cook... Wait! Let me explain. Ate "S" is now our cook but she used to be in charge of our clothes. She was the one who gave me the almirol recipe. The person in charge now, "M", was actually trained by Ate "S". However, "M" is prone to finding ways to shortcut her work, much to the distress of Ate "S".

You should have seen "M"'s eyes when I asked her how exactly she starches the barongs. She fearfully confessed that she skips the whole almirol bit and just sprays Glide to the barongs. I asked her how she makes it stiff and wrinkle free. She doesn't really know. I guess she just did it to cut her workload in half. Luckily for her, Glide works.

So there, it's either Niagara, Glide or Liwayway Gawgaw. I have a feeling that the Starch Wars are not yet over. What do you think?

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Tips: Anti-Dengue













This tip was sent to me by a friend/mrsgblog-fan who trained with the US Army.

If you are going camping and there are a lot of bugs, put dryer sheets in your pockets and around your tent. Do not use the fruity smelling kind. Bounce works best.
This is a great anti-dengue tip for children going on a field trip. I myself will do this the next time I have to eat al fresco in Bonifacio High Street. The last time I was there, my legs were riddled with mosquito bites!

I was able to ask my friend the following questions:

Q. When you say bugs, does that include Philippine mosquitoes?
A. Yes

Q. Will it work with used dryer sheets?
A. No. It must be unused.

Q. Will it work against tics?
A. No. We use dog tic collars for that.

Hmmm... Tic Collars? That is too "Man vs. Wild" for me. I'll stick to dryer sheets.

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Laundry: Starch Wars -- Niagara vs. Liwayway

Me: "Your barong is wrinkled. Change it!"
Husband: "It's okay. Nobody will notice."
Me: "Everybody will notice! I will be judged by how well your barong is starched and ironed. Baka sabihin nila I'm a bad housewife."













(WARNING: Be sure to also read Starch Wars Part II)


Korean Wife is to Kimchi as Mrs. G is to Starched Barong


The excited new homemaker in me made me buy cans and cans of Niagara Spray Starch for my husband's barongs. It used to be at the top of my grocery list even though I was scandalized by its price. I don't know how many cans of Niagara I used before our maid suggested that we try the good ol' trusty almirol.

I bought Liwayway Gawgaw and let the maid experiment with the barongs. Lo' and behold! She was able to achieve starch perfection.

Advantages of Almirol:

  1. Cheaper. Gawgaw is only P42.25 and it will take months before you use up 1 kilo. Niagara Spray Starch (Original) is P 92.50 (Rustan's Supermarket). You're lucky if a can lasts you one week.
  2. Clothes are Easier to Iron. Our maid finds it easier to iron the barongs when we use almirol.
  3. Eco-friendly. Remember, those cans will end up in landfills. What a waste.
  4. Cheaper. Oh! I already mentioned that.

Our Maid's Special Almirol Recipe


  1. Mix gawgaw and coldwater in a basin. The amount of gawgaw will depend on how many clothes you need to starch. Add just enough cold water to liquefy the gawgaw.
  2. Stir the mixture until the lumps disappear.
  3. Slowly add boiling water to the mixture. Continue stirring to prevent lumping.
  4. Add more water (regular tap water temperature) to cool and dilute the mixture.
  5. Add the barongs and soak them for around 15 minutes. Consider this as your last rinse.
  6. Wring the barong then shake off excess starchy mixture.
  7. Line-dry.
  8. Iron the barong before it’s completely dry. If you got it bone dry from the clothesline, spray it with some water. The barong must be damp before it is ironed.
Disclaimer: I have no personal knowledge as to how almirol is made/done. I'm not even sure if it's a noun or a verb. I just translated and transcribed the instructions given to me by our maid. According to her, she never measures the amount of gawgaw or water she adds. She just estimates. Good luck.

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Tagalog Kitchen Safety Reminders

Friday, July 25, 2008

IMPORTANTE! UGALIING MAG-HUGAS NG KAMAY BAGO HUMAWAK NG PAGKAIN O ANUMANG BAGAY SA KUSINA. MAG-SUOT NG HAIRNET KUNG MAGLULUTO.

KITCHEN SAFETY REMINDERS

  1. Kung may naamoy na gas mula sa kalan, patayin agad ang kalan at isarado ang gas tank. Buksan ang mga bintana para lumabas at mawala ang amoy.
  2. Laging bantayan ang niluluto at huwag iwanan ito. Kung talagang kailangang umalis sandali, hinaan o patayin ang apoy.
  3. Ilayo sa pinaglulutuan ang mga gamit na maaaring masunog tulad ng mga tuwalya, plastic bag at kahoy.
  4. Punasan agad ang mga appliances kapag natapunan ito ng pagkain. Kung mainit ito, hintayin munang lumamig bago punasan at itago.
  5. Huwag buksan agad ang pressure cooker o microwave oven pagkatapos mag-init o mag-luto. Maghintay ng ilang segundo. Minsan kasi ay nakakasunog ang mainit na usok mula sa pagkain.
  6. Laging gumamit ng pot holders kapag hahawak ng mainit na bagay.
  7. Huwag buhusan ng tubig ang apoy na dulot ng grasa o mantika. Takpan ang kaldero at buhusan ang apoy ng baking soda.
  8. Huwag ilipat ng lugar ang umaapoy na kaldero. Baka lalong kumalat ang apoy.
  9. Araling gumamit ng fire extinguisher. Siguraduhing na sa lugar ito kung saan madaling kuning kung kailangan.
  10. Siguraduhing matalim ang mga kutsilyo dahil mas nakakasugat ito kapag mapurol.
  11. Laging gumamit ng cutting board.
  12. Ibalik sa lalagyan ang mag kutsilyo. Baka may masugat kung nakakakalat ito.
  13. Huwag saluhin ang nahuhulog na kutsilyo. Pabayaan itong mahulog at saka pulutin.

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Tagalog First Aid Instructions (Part 3 of 3)

NAKURYENTE

  1. Siguraduhing wala nang koneksyon sa kuryente ang biktima. Kung meron pa, patayin ang main switch sa fuse box ng bahay.
  2. Padaluyan ng malamig na tubig ang nakuryente na parte. Gawin ito sa sugat kung saan pumasok at lumabas ang kuryente.
  3. Takpan ang nasunog na balat ng makapal na gauze o malinis na damit.

NAKAINOM O NAKAKAIN NG LASON

  1. Itanong sa biktima kung anong lason ang nainom niya.
  2. Tumawag agad sa Poison Control (Tel. No. 524-1078) at sabihin kung anong lason ang nainom ng biktima. Tanungin kung ano ang dapat gawin at sundin ang mga tagubilin ng nakasagot.
  3. Kung hindi kaagad makatawag, painumin ng dalawang basong malamig na tubig o gatas ang biktima.
  4. Dalhin ang biktima sa doktor. Dalhin ang bote ng lason para malaman ng doktor kung anong lunas ang ilalapat sa biktima.

SPRAIN

  1. Pahigain o paupuin ang biktima. Itaas ang parteng may sprain sa komportableng posisyon.
  2. Patungan ito ng bulsa de yelo para mabawasan ang pamamaga at pagkirot.
  3. Iaangat ang na-sprain na parte ng katawan para mabawasan ang pagdaloy ng dugo dito.

KAGAT NG HAYOP

  1. Hugasan agad ng tubig ang kagat para maalis ang laway ng hayop.
  2. Tuyuin ang sugat gamit ang gauze.
  3. Takpang ng sugat ng gauze para maiwasan ang impeksyon.
  4. Tumawag sa Animal Bite Control (Tel. No. 816-1111) at sabihin kung anong uring hayop ang nakakagat sa biktima. Sundin ang mga utos ng nakasagot.
  5. Kung kinakailangan, dalhin ang biktima sa ospital.

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Tagalog First Aid Instructions (Part 2 of 3)

MATINDING PAGDURUGO NG SUGAT

  • Paupuin or pahigain ang biktima upang maiwasan ang pagkahilo.
  • Pahintuin o pahinain ang pagdurugo habang hindi pa dumarating ang tulong:
    • Ipatong ang malinis na gauze o anumang malinis na tela sa sugat at idiin ito. Ipagpatuloy ang pagdiin hanggang huminto ang padurugo.
    • Kung hindi sapat ang pagdiin sa sugat para pahintuin ang pagdurugo, diinan ng sabay ang ibabaw at ilalim ng sugat.
    • Kung ang sugat ay nasa braso, kamay, hita, binti o paa at patuloy pa rin ang pagdurugo, maaaring diinan ang alin man sa apat na pressure points sa larawan.
  • Kung huminto na ang pagdurugo, talian ito ng gasa. Sikipan ang pagtali pero huwag sobrang sikip na hindi na makadaloy ang dugo sa ibang parte ng katawan.

HIWA, GALOS O GASGAS

  • Itapat sa dumadaloy na tubig ang sugat para matanggal ang dumi. Siguraduhing palayo sa sugat ang daloy ng tubig. Kung kinakailangan, alisin ng tiyani ang naiwang dumi. Siguraduhing malinis ang tiyani.
  • Takpan ng gauze ang sugat bago linisin ang balat sa paligid nito. Linisin ang balat sa paligid ng sugat sa pamamagitan ng sabon at tubig.
  • Takpan ang sugat ng band-aid o malinis na gauze.
  • Alamin kung may bakuna laban sa tetano ang biktima. Kung wala, kumonsulta sa doktor.
  • Obserbahan ang sugat at siguraduhing wala itong impeksyon.

SUGAT NG PAGKATUSOK

  • Marahang pisilin ang sugat para lumabas ang dugo. Kailangan ito para linisin ang sugat sa loob.
  • Itapat sa dumadaloy na tubig ang sugat para matanggal ang dumi. Siguraduhing palayo sa sugat ang daloy ng tubig.
  • Takpan ng gauze ang sugat bago linisin ang balat sa paligid nito. Linisin ang balat sa paligid ng sugat sa pamamagitan ng sabon at tubig.
  • Takpan ang sugat ng band-aid o malinis na gauze. ang sugat.
  • Patungang ng bulsa de yelo ang sugat kung ito ay namamaga o kumikirot.
  • Alamin kung may bakuna laban sa tetano ang biktima. Kung wala, kumonsulta sa doktor.
  • Obserbahan ang sugat at siguraduhing wala itong impeksyon.

MATINDING PAGKASUNOG O PAGKABANLI

  • Pahigain ang biktima. Kung maari ay huwag ilapat ang parteng nasunog sa hinihigaan.
  • Padaluyan ng malamig na tubig ang nasunog na parte. Patuloy na gawin ito sa loob ng 10 minuto o hanggang sa humupa ang sakit. Kung ang sunog ay sanhi ng kemikal, padaluyan ito ng tubig sa loob ng 20 minuto.
  • Alisin o gupitin ang damit sa nasunog na parte ng katawan. Huwag hilahin o piliting tanggalin ang damit. Gupitin ito kung kinakailangan.
  • Takpan ang nasunog na balat ng makapal na gauze o malinis na damit.
  • Kung may malay ang bikitma, painumin ito ng tubig na may Hydrite. Painumin ito kada 15 minuto hanggang dumating ang tulong. Ihinto ang pagpapainom kung nagsusuka ang biktima.

TANDAAN:

    • Huwag hawakan o galawin ang parteng nasunog. Huwag tanggalin ang anumang bagay na nakadikit sa sugat.
    • Huwag tusukin o paputukin ang balat na naglantog.
    • Huwag lagyan ng kahit na anong ointment o cream ang nasunog na balat.

MENOR NA PAGKASUNOG O PAGKABANLI

  • Padaluyan ng malamig na tubig ang nasunog na parte. Patuloy na gawin ito sa loob ng 10 minuto o hanggang sa humupa ang sakit.
  • Alisin o gupitin ang damit sa nasunog na parte ng katawan. Huwag hilahin o piliting tanggalin ang damit. Gupitin ito kung kinakailangan.
  • Takpan ang nasunog na balat ng makapal na gauze o malinis na damit.

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Tagalog First Aid Instructions (Part 1 of 3)

Thursday, July 24, 2008

MGA DAPAT TANDAAN


A. Maging kalmado at suriin ang sitwasyon.

3 BAGAY NA DAPAT TIYAKIN KUNG MAY TAONG MALUBHA ANG SUGAT O KARAMDAMAN:

  1. DAANG HINGAHAN. Tiyakin na ang ilong, bibig at lalamunan ay hindi nababarahan ng anumang bagay tulad ng laway, suka, dugo o pagkain.
  2. PAGHINGA. Tiyakin kung ang biktima ay humihinga. Kung hindi, kailangan gawin sa kanya ang artificial respiration.
  3. PAGDALOY NG DUGO.Tiyakin kung ang biktima ay may pulso. Kung wala na, kailangan siyang lapatan ng CPR.

MGA HINDI DAPAT GAWIN SA BIKTIMA:

  1. Huwag galawin ang biktima kung ito ay nabalian o lubhang napinsala sa leeg o sa buto sa likod, maliban na lang kung sa paglipat ay maliligtas siya sa mas matinding kapahamakan.
  2. 1. Huwag piliting painumin ang taong walang malay o wala sa sarili. Baka maging sanhi ito ng pagbabara ng kanyang hingahan.
  3. 2. Huwag piliting gisingin ang taong walang malay sa pamamagitan ng pagsampal o pag-uga sa kanya.

B. Tumawag sa 117 para humingi ng tulong.

Tumawag sa 117 para humingi ng tulong. Sabihin sa nakasagot kung ano ang nangyari o sakuna. Itanong kung ano ang dapat gawin habang hindi pa dumarating ang ambulansya. Tumawag din sa guard at ipaalam na may emergency sa Unit *****. Gawin ito agad lalo na kung ang biktima ay:

  1. Matindi ang pagdurugo ng sugat
  2. Nakainom ng lason
  3. Mahina o wala nang pulso
  4. Hirap o hindi na humihinga

Maaari ring tumawag sa (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF AEROMED OF LIFELINE ARROWS) para sa ambulansya. Sabihin sa nakasagot ang nangyari. Ibigay ang pangalan at card number ni xxxxx: xxxxx, Card No. xxxxx.

C. Habang naghihintay ng doktor o ambulansya, patawan ng first aid ang biktima.

  1. Suriin ang katawan ng biktima para malaman kung may iba pa itong sugat. Huwag piliting hilahin ang damit na dumikit sa balat. Gupitin na lang ito kung kinakalingan.
  2. Patawan ng nararapat na first aid ang bikitma.
  3. Kalmahin at palakasin ang loob ng biktima.

IMPORTANTE!

  • Maging kalmado at lakasan ang loob. Kailangang talasan ang pag-iisip.
  • Siguraduhing malinis ang kamay ng maglalapat ng first aid para maiwasan ang impeksiyon. Gumamit ng surgical gloves (hanapin sa first aid kit) kung kinakailangan.

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First Aid Manuals














"Pangunahing Lunas at mga Halamang Gamot Para Sa Lahat" by Ricardo C. Asin; DK: First Aid Manual". (Both from National Bookstore, Power Plant)

I bought these two first aid manuals last Sunday. I was finally able to make my own Tagalog first aid guide for my household manual. I will share them with you soon!

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Emergency Kit

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Remember the earthquake prediction of Da Luz (Da Roose)? Well, I know it's a hoax but it made me reassess our earthquake/emergency preparedness here at home. Before the email, all I had in our emergency kit were tissues and toiletries. I am happy to say that I am close to completing our kit.





Tip: Flashlight and Cloth gloves available in Ace Hardware. Army Knife, Poncho and Blanket available in R.O.X., Bonifacio High Street.





Emergency Kit for 2

  • First Aid Kit
  • Medication
  • Flashlight/Radio (hand crank)
  • Emergency Poncho (2 pcs)
  • Emergency Blanket (2 pcs)
  • Army Knife
  • Cloth Gloves
  • Bottled Water (6 pcs)
  • Food
    • 2 cans Pork and Beans
    • 2 cans Sardines
    • Granola Bars
    • Pet food
  • Can Opener
  • Spoon and Fork (2 sets)
  • Toiletries
  • Tissue Paper
  • Extra Set of Clothes
  • Towel
  • Cash
  • Extra Set of House and Car Keys
  • Photocopy of Important Documents (in a waterproof container)
    • Birth/Marriage Certificates
    • IDs and Passport
    • Important Numbers

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Cleaning: Scent of an Apartment

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

"Something smells fishy..."

I hate cooking fish at home. The whole house ends up smelling like fish after. I bet the neighbors know what we are having for dinner tonight. Well, they can't complain because I can also smell their adobo and tuyo.

In addition to our rangehood, we also have an exhaust fan in our kitchen. For additional support, we open the windows and turn on the electric fan when we're cooking. However, these are still not enough to remove the smell in the kitchen.

I searched high and low for tips on removing kitchen odors. I compiled the ones that worked for me. Now, no more lingering bad smell around the house. Here are some of the tips I tried and tes
ted --

Tip 1: Boil vinegar in a pot.

I tried this. It works! Boil around 1/4 cup of vinegar in a small pot (correction! 1/4 cup vinegar and 2 cups of water). It miraculously absorbed the fish smell. Just remember to turn off the heat after it boils. If you let it boil for a long time, your house will smell like vinegar. I made this mistake and our kitchen ended up smelling like paksiw for a few minutes. But don't worry. The smell eventually
fades and you will be left with a scent-free kitchen.

Tip 2: Scented Oil/Candle

This is a good way to make your kitchen smell nice. I switched to orange essential oils. The lavender oil makes the kitchen and dining area smell like a spa. Not very appetizing. (Light the oil/candle after you boil the vinegar)

Tip 3: Bamboo Aroma Diffuser

I was a bit skeptical at first with this one but it works. It does not emit any kind of scent but it absorbs the bad kitchen smell.

Tip 4: Air Purifier

It emits a subtle scent, depending on the oil you put in the water. I don't know how well it will work without the other stuff I use. It might not remove that kitchen smell but it is effective in taking out that musty humid smell around the house.

Tip 5: Fry fish in Crisco (untested)

Anyone there who already tested this tip?

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Household Cleaning Kit

Monday, July 21, 2008














I have finally done it! I assembled my Cleaning Kit with homemade cleaning products. I printed out a copy of the recipes and placed it in our Household Manual so that the helpers can mix a new batch anytime. Below is the list of what's in the kit and the recipes for the cleaning products.

  1. All-Purpose Cleaner
  2. Window Cleaner
  3. Furniture Polish
  4. Baking Soda
  5. Pure Dishwashing Liquid
  6. Pure Vinegar
  7. Lemon Essential Oil
  8. Sponge
  9. Toothbrush
  10. Rags
  11. Scrub Brush
  12. Gloves
All-Purpose Cleaner
  • 2 tablespoon dishwashing liquid
  • 2 cups of water
  • Spray Bottle
Window Cleaner
  • 1/3 teaspoon liquid detergent
  • 3 tablespoon vinegar
  • 2 cups of water
  • Spray Bottle
Furniture Polish
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 4 tablespoon vinegar
  • 30 drops of lemon essential oil
  • Small Spray Bottle/Ketchup Bottle
Baking Soda
  • 1 box baking soda
  • Salt/Sugar Shaker or Ketchup Bottle
Pure Dishwashing Liquid
  • 190 mL dishwashing liquid
  • Ketchup Bottle
Pure Vinegar
  • Vinegar
  • Spray Bottle

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Food Safety: Cold Storage and Defrosting

COLD STORAGE

I am very vigilant about keeping an inventory of the food inside our refrigerator. The minute I get home from the grocery, I transfer the frozen foods into plastic containers, label them then put them in the freezer.


Tip: For easy labeling, just remove the bar code and stick it to the container.








It is important to keep track of what's inside the freezer and how long it has been there. But how long can we safely store food inside the refrigerator? I found the answer in a printable Cold Storage Chart from the US Food Safety and Inspection Service. Print it and add it to your Household Manual.

DEFROSTING

The US Food Safety and Inspection Service issued the following tips:

Never defrost foods in a garage, basement, car, dishwasher or plastic garbage bag; out on the kitchen counter, outdoors or on the porch. These methods can leave your foods unsafe to eat.

There are three safe ways to defrost food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. It's best to plan ahead for slow, safe thawing in the refrigerator. Small items may defrost overnight; most foods require a day or two. And large items like turkeys may take longer, approximately one day for each 5 pounds of weight.

For faster defrosting, place food in a leak proof plastic bag and immerse it in cold water. (If the bag leaks, bacteria from the air or surrounding environment could be introduced into the food. Tissues can also absorb water like a sponge, resulting in a watery product.) Check the water frequently to be sure it stays cold. Change the water every 30 minutes. After thawing, cook immediately.

When microwave-defrosting food, plan to cook it immediately after thawing because some areas of the food may become warm and begin to cook during microwaving.
Check out their site: US Food Safety and Inspection Service

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Records: Home Inventory

Sunday, July 20, 2008







Advantages of Maintaining a Home Inventory

  1. It helps you determine the value of your belongings. The information in the inventory are useful, if not indispensable, if you are getting fire insurance or filling up your Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  2. It makes getting replacement parts for your appliances easier. When you are buying a replacement part or calling for repair, one of the first things the store clerk asks for is the model number of your appliance. If you have that information ready in your home notebook, you don't have to repeatedly look for it at the back of your appliance. Try looking for the serial number and model number of you refrigerator now and you will know what I mean.
  3. Security reasons. If for some reason your appliance is fenced, knowing the serial number will help you prove that you own the thing.
Items in a Home Inventory:
  1. Item Type
  2. Brand
  3. Description
  4. Purchase Date
  5. Serial Number
  6. Model Number
  7. Purchasing Cost
You can include photos or videos in your inventory.

I keep two inventories, one for the appliances and another for the furnitures. To complement the inventory list, I keep a clear book with the picture, warranty card, manual and receipt of each item.

Storing Your Inventory.

Keep a copy of your inventory in a safe place. If possible, give a copy to a relative for safekeeping.

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Wedding Shower Gifts

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Do you still remember the gifts you got for your wedding shower? I do.

Here are some of the interesting ones:

  1. Book, "Your Great Sex Guide"
  2. Sexy Lingerie
  3. Sexy Underwear (Thong)
  4. Chocolate Syrup
  5. Energy Drink
Here are some of what I still use today:














  1. Towels
  2. Laundry Carrier
  3. Breakfast Tray
The interesting gifts will guarantee you an interesting time. However, a few years down the road, you will no longer need a guide book for "that" (hopefully) but you will definitely still need to dry up after your shower.

Which one would you rather get, the exciting gift or the practical gift?

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Declutter: Storing CDs and DVDs

Friday, July 18, 2008

My husband has a collection of martial arts DVDs. He has over a hundred and he used to store them in two very bulky disk drums. If you clicked the link, that's the exact design but ours were color gray and light blue with some orange writing in front.

Very uncool! The color of the disk drums clashed with the over-all theme of the bedroom! You can see the blue monstrosity sticking out like a sore thumb beside our TV! Oh, did I mention that it was bulky?! We had two!!! (sorry. too many exclamation points.)


Sigh... past is past. All is happy now.

I gave the disk drums away and transferred all our DVDs (movies, instructional videos, martial arts stuff) to a CD/DVD wallet. They are now neatly stored inside our TV cabinet.











Each wallet can hold 80 CDs/DVDs. I bought ours in Makati Cinema Square for 80 pesos each. Neat, huh?

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Drying Clothes: Dryer or Clothesline

Thursday, July 17, 2008

"BALCONIES. The balconies may not be used as drying area for clothes or as storage area for any material visible from the outside."

Drying clothes could be a challenge if you live in a condominium unit. Buying a dryer unit would seem to be the easy solution but it's not.

First, you have to solve the
SPACE issue. Where will you put the dryer? Will you also buy a washing machine? You will have to find a place near a source of water, a drain and an electric outlet. Luckily, I was able to solve all of these when we had our unit renovated. I found the LaGermania Washer and Dryer combo, one compact unit that washes and dries! The contractor was also able to reserve a space for the unit in our laundry area.

However, there is this second problem, the
COST. Not only is the unit expensive (it was around P45,000 three years ago), it also eats up large amounts of electricity. That P45,000-unit will probably eat up around P1,500 in electricity a month.

In the end, we ended up not buying the unit. We just hired an extra helper to do the laundry and she uses the clotheslines at our rooftop to dry our clothes. It works well for us, for now. If we decide to buy a dryer some day, there is a space ready for it in our laundry area. In the meantime, I placed a kitchen rack there and I am loving the extra storage space.

Here is a link to a site that gives useful tips on air drying clothes - http://www.tiptheplanet.com/index.php?title=Air_dry_washing

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How to Change Duvet Covers

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

When we started to use duvets, it took at least two people to change the covers. Changing it was a weekly event that made our arms feel sore after.

The instructions in my Martha Stewart Housekeeping Handbook helped a bit but it was hard to follow. We still did not quite get how to do it the easy way.

Then came this video. You will never have to wrestle with your duvet again after watching this. Enjoy!

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-put-on-a-duvet-cover

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Nail Care Kit

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

When I was growing up, the nail cutters in our house were considered disposable. My mother bought a new one almost every month. We would use it a few times then it mysteriously disappears.

I unfortunately brought the family "nail cutter curse" with me when I got married.

I still remember our first Trim nail cutter. My husband would put it in a wooden tray in our bedroom after every use. (Note: After HE uses it.) Every time I use the nail cutter, it will disappear and he has to buy another one.

This went on for some time until that one fateful day when he went home with a Body Shop nail cutter.

Me: "A Body Shop nail cutter?! P110?! How is this different from the P20 Trim nail cutter from Mercury?"
Husband: "I was there. We needed a nail cutter."

A P110-nail cutter every week! Unthinkable! That day, I have vowed never to lose another nail cutter again.

...and so our "Nail Care Kit" was born.

  • Trim Family Manicure Kit (tweezers, nail file, nail care sticks, fingernail clipper, toenail clipper)
  • Trim Nipper
  • Cuticle Pusher
  • Nail Buffer
  • Acetone, Cuticle Remover and Cuticle Tin with Sanitizer Set
  • Cotton
  • Nail Polish

Why not just remember to put it back in the tray? Well, it helps to have all your tools in one container. Also, when I forget to return the nail cutter, the helpers know where to put it back.

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Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Fingers

Monday, July 14, 2008

Ingredients:

  • Skinless, boneless chicken breasts
  • Flour
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Eggs
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • Unsalted Butter
  • Olive Oil
  • Japanese Bread Crumbs
Instructions:
  • Cut chicken breasts into strips.
  • Prepare 3 plates.
    • Plate 1: Mix flour, salt and pepper.
    • Plate 2: Beat eggs with a little bit of water (1 tsp for every egg).
    • Plate 3: Mix bread crumbs with Parmesan cheese.
  • Dredge the chicken breasts in the flour --> dip into the egg mixture --> roll into the breadcrumbs mix.
  • Heat butter and olive oil in a pan.
  • Cook the chicken strips on medium-low heat until cooked (3 mins. on each side).
It's very hard to mess up this recipe. Enjoy!

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Funny: SALVADOR Ferragamo

Sunday, July 13, 2008













I was trying to search for Salvatore Ferragamo's store number when I hit this site -- Power Plant Mall: SALVADOR FERRAGAMO.

SALVADOR!

It's the official Power Plant Mall site!

This made my day.

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Make Your Bed in 30 Seconds

Friday, July 11, 2008

Skip the flat sheets and just use a duvet. In the morning, just arrange the pillows and the duvet. A perfectly made bed in 30 seconds or less guaranteed!

We tried to use a comforter before but it's too bulky and difficult to wash. Imagine storing 3 comforters in a small apartment. Plus it costs P150@ to have them professionally laundered. I gave them all away and just bought a duvet and duvet covers.

Check out the Ikea Quilt Covers. Nice designs and very affordable.

Our Bed Linens:

  1. Pillow Cases
  2. Fitted Sheet
  3. Bed Skirt
  4. Duvet
  5. Duvet Cover
  6. Mattress Protector*
We change the fitted sheet and pillow cases twice (2x) a week. The duvet cover is changed once a week.

*You can also buy pillow protectors.

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Faking It: There is Order in Chaos

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Yaya: "May ahas na dito. Paano mo pa nahahanap ang mga gamit mo?"
Me: "There is order in chaos."

This philosophy only works when you have no roommate. Once you get married, you can keep your chaos for as long as your spouse only sees the order.


Impossible? Possible.

Example:

ORDER











CHAOS










Try to have a theme for every box so that you'll remember what's inside. This is my "To File Box". When I am in a hurry and have no time to sort and store, I just dump them all here for filing later.

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Faking It: A Clean and Neat Apartment


Clean and neat do not always come together. A very clean and antiseptic apartment will still look dirty if it is cluttered. On the other hand, an apartment that looks neat may have germs lurking all over the place. It is difficult to maintain a 100% clean AND neat apartment. The trick here is to fake it and achieve some kind of balance.

CLEAN
VACUUM! I can vacuum one whole room in our apartment in less than 10 minutes (5, if I don't get anal). No need to dust, spray or wipe. Just suck the dirt out of every nook and cranny. Buy the best vacuum cleaner you can afford. It will be worth every penny (centavo).

NEAT
HIDE IT! Hide your stuff in boxes and cabinets. Put everything in its proper place. It will only take a few seconds to return that stapler you just used inside the drawer. Compare that to one whole Saturday lost to cleaning if you let clutter accumulate.

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How to Fold a Grocery Bag

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

My friend, "Teacher J", taught me how to do this.

Step 1: Flatten the Plastic Bag.

Step 2: Fold the bag twice.
Step 3: Fold the bag into a triangle.

Step 4: Tuck the handles into the triangle.

VOILA! A neatly folded plastic bag!

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Basic First Aid Kit Checklist

Monday, July 7, 2008

First Aid Kit

  1. Plastic Strips (Band-Aids)
  2. Gauze Pad (Mediplast)
  3. Adhesive Plaster (Leukoplast, 1.25 cm x 1 m)
  4. Antiseptic Wash/Iodine (Rhea Providone Iodine 10% Solution)
  5. Ammonia (Rhea Aromatic Spirit of Ammonia)
  6. Burn Ointment (United Home)
  7. Cold Rub (Rhea/Vicks)
  8. Antibiotic Ointment (Terramycin)
  9. Anti-Itch Lotion (Caladryl)
  10. Anti-Inflammatory/Antipruritic Ointment
  11. Sterile Eye Wash
  12. Rubbing Alcohol
  13. Hot/Cold Pack
  14. Cotton Buds
  15. Cotton Balls
  16. Thermometer
  17. Tweezers
  18. Gloves
  19. First Aid Guide
If you want an instant basic First Aid Kit, you can buy the set made by Mediplast (available in most drugstores). To check out its contents, click -- Mediplast First Aid Kit.

I have a plastic container that has all the stuff listed above for home use. I bought the Mediplast First Aid Kit for traveling.

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Laundry: Stain Removal Guide

Here are two links to printable stain removal guides:

By Real Simple
http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/web/forms/stain.pdf

By Martha Stewart
http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/pdf3/stain_removal_basics.pdf

I like the Real Simple chart better because it tackles two types of bloods stains (fresh and dried). In Martha Stewart's chart, it is discussed under "Protein", with egg stains.

Unless you are menopausal, you will most likely encounter blood stains every month. In our house, we only deal with two types of stains: blood and chocolate.

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Laundry: Care Labels

Here is a link to the site with a printable guide to common laundry care symbols:

http://www.textileaffairs.com/lguide.htm


It is very important that your
labandera/plantsadora knows how to decipher these signs.

I already had two
kasambahay-related crying incidents. The first one involves my clothes being burned for the nth time. I have learned my lesson so I now make sure that every time I buy new clothes, I discuss with the maid the care symbols and the instructions on how to launder and iron them.

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Kitchen: Special Cleaning Instructions

COOKTOP

  1. Gumamit ng basahan at all-purpose cleaner para linisan ang kalan. Kung mahirap tanggalin ang dumi, kumuha ng basahan na binabad sa mainit na tubig at dishwashing liquid. Ipatong ito sa dumi at iwanan ng sandali. Kapag malambot na ang dumi, punasan ito ulit. Huwag gamitan ng magaspang na pamunas o chemical.
  2. Punasan ang dumi pagkatapos gamitin. Siguraduhin munang malamig na ito.
  3. Ibabad sa tubig na mainit na may dishwashing liquid ang grates ng kalan kung mahirap tanggalin ang dumi nito. Hugasan ulit pagkatapos ibabad. Huwag gamitan ng steel wool.
  4. Tanggalin ang mga knobs at hugasan ito isang beses isang linggo. Huwag ibabad.

RANGEHOOD

  1. Punasan ang rangehood gamit ang basahang binabad sa mainit na tubig at dishwasing liquid.
  2. Ibabad ang filter sa mainit na tubig at konting dishwashing liquid. Gumamit ng lumang toothbrush para tanggalin ang dumi. Banlawan ng mainit na tubig.

MICROWAVE OVEN

  1. Linisin gamit ang all-purpose cleaner. Gumamit ng basahang basa para banlawan. Ingatang huwag direktang mabasa ng tubig ang microwave.
  2. Kung may duming mahirap maalis, mag-init ng tubig sa microwave sa loob ng 3 minuto. (Kung may lemon o kalamansi, maghiwa at ilagay ito sa tubig bago initin.) Iwanan ang mainit na tubig sa loob ng mga 5 minuto bago buksan at punasan ulit.

REFRIGERATOR

  1. Laging lagyan ng takip ang pagkain bago ipasok sa refrigerator.
  2. Huwag patungan ng kahit kahit na ano ang ibabaw ng refrigerator.
  3. Punasan agad kung may matapon sa loob.
  4. Siguraduhing malinis ang lalagyan (ketchup, mustard, gatas, etc.) bago ipasok sa refrigerator.
  5. Gumamit ng all-purpose cleaner at tubig para linisin ang pinto at gilid ng ref.

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