Studio type apartment, but by myself, or a two-bedroom apartment, but with my sister?

Don't get me wrong, I love my sister. But there are just some things you don't share with her anymore. And we do get on each other's nerves (probably because of mostly sharing the same bedroom since we're still kids).

I prefer to have a small studio type apartment by myself, but shouldering all the costs. Here's an estimate (in pesos):

a. Rent: Hopefully around P4k
b. Water and Electricity: Hm? Around P1k - P1.5k pero month.
c. Food: This is a tough one. I love eating, see. So let's say P2k/month.

This is living expenses. I still haven't considered how much would I need to spend initially, like appliances, furniture, rent deposit... *hurls at the cost*

So the total living expenses is around P7.5k per month. *hurls some more*

The only practical option for me is to share a pad with my sister, and hopefully there are two separate bedrooms, because:

1. I refuse to be on the top bunk, again. Being the younger sister, she always bully persuades me to get the ones with the lesser value. And I'll always hate her for it.

2. Boyfriend. 'Nuff said.

3. Private space for stuff, like decorating, having my own rules in my bedroom, and I can have my friends sleep there if need be.

Monthly estimates:
1. Rent: P5-6k (two bedrooms, one bathroom, sister prefers kitchen area)
2. Utilities: P2k
3. Food: P2k (sister knows how to cook. I don't. So this is a plus on living together).
4. Possible Internet: P1k

Total: Around P11k or P5.5 per month. That's P2k less than living alone.

My sister and me plans on scouring Krus na Ligas area (near UP) because it's the most accessible place we have from our workplaces (at least I only have to walk, sister needs to do short commutes). This will be our second attempt. I hope we are successful this time.

A Harry Potter Room

Thanksgiving!

Well, here in the Philippines we don't celebrate Thanksgiving (but we should! For the food, at least.)

To celebrate with our Caucasian counterparts, here are some links and recipes festive enough (hopefully) to try out. And healthy too.

Thanksgiving Healthy Recipe Guide

Devilled Eggs. I'm separating this one, in lieu of that other Devilled Eggs recipe.

Oh yeah, Teaparty Potluck update: I may not be able to make it after all because of sudden OT this Saturday (the person who was supposed to go there is going to be absent, so I'm filling in).

More devilled eggs for me then!

And here are some No-Bake Sweet Goodies:

1. Cheesecake


This picture doesn't suggest the actual food when done


Ingredients
a. 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
b. 1/4 cup white sugar
c. 1/2 cup butter, melted
d. 2 (1.3 ounces) envelopes whipped topping mix
e. 2 (8 ounces) packages cream cheese, softened
f. 2 fluid ounces cherry brandy

Directions
a. In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Mix well and press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.

b. In a large bowl, mix the whipped topping powder as directed on the package and beat until thick. Cut the cream cheese into small cubes and drop them into the whipped topping, one at a time, while beating. Pour into the cherry brandy and beat another 5 minutes at high speed.

c. Spoon the filling into the graham cracker crust and smooth the top. Refrigerate 2 to 4 hours, or until set.

I think you need a machine mixer or something for this. You can always scour the net for machine-less-friendly people (like me).

2. Panna Cotta


This picture doesn't suggest the actual food when done

Ingredients
a. 1/3 cup skim milk
b. 1 (.25 ounce) envelop unflavored gelatin
c. 2 1/2 cups heavy cream (can't we just use 1 cup?)
d. 1/2 cup white sugar
e. 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions
a. Pour milk into a small bowl, and stir in the gelatin powder. Set aside.
b. In a saucepan, stir together the heavy cream and sugar, and set over medium heat. bring to a full boil, watching carefully, as the cream will qickly rise to the top of the pan. Pour the gelatin and milk into the cream, stirring until completely dissolved. Cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla and pour into six individual ramekin dishes (what's a ramekin dish?)
c. Cook the ramekins uncovered at room temparature. When cool, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight before serving.

Once done, you can also put scrapes of fruits of your liking (mine's mango).

The Dressed-Up Furniture Series by Kamkam

This is just too cute. Though the cabinets are a bit of a hassle when opening or closing it.









Source

Don't mind me, I'm just reposting a LOT of recipes from the same website.

Much better than bookmarking, me thinks.

1. No-Knead Sweet Potato Rolls
2. Hearty Tomato Sauce
3. How to make Lasagna
4. Udon Noodle Soup
5. How to Make a Souffle
6. Cooking by Feel: Baked Pastas
7. 8 rich yet lighter Pasta sauces
8. Meat, Pasta, and Main Dishes

Did I mention I love Italian food?

9. Homemade Yogurt
10. Tomato Mozzarella Sandwich
11. Cuban Sandwich. I'm not into this, but my sister may like it.
12. Ribollita (The Ultimate Left-Overs soup)
13. French Onion Soup
14. Mango Panna Cotta

Wow. That's a lot of recipes to try out. I hope I'll be able to pull them off.

Butterbeer

My excitement over the recent installment of the Harry Potter movies (Deathly Hallows Part 1) has not been satiated, here's something to add with the hype.

Homemade Butterbeer

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients


FOR THE BUTTERBEER
6 12-ounce bottles cream soda [I prefer IBC (which is vegan) or Polar Classics Vanilla, but any will work perfectly]
3 teaspoons butter extract (imitation butter), or clarified butter (instructions linked above)

FOR THE FOAM (Vegan/Dairy-free recipe linked above)
2 cups heavy cream
6 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons butter extract

To make the butterbeer: Set out 6 16-ounce glasses. Place 1/2 teaspoon of butter extract in each glass. Pour 12 ounces of butterbeer into each glass. Lightly stir, if necessary.

To make the foam: In a large bowl, or the bowl of a standing mixer, whip the heavy cream on medium high speed for 3-4 minutes until it starts to thicken. Add the sugar and continue whipping until very soft peaks begin to form, another 3-4 minutes (if you need to whip more or less, then be sure to do so, the times can vary quite a bit based on environment). Stir in the vanilla and butter extracts, then whip for another 30 seconds or so, until soft peaks form.

Spoon a generous portion of foam on top of each glass of butterbeer. Serve immediately.

Source

And since the recipe calls for clarifying butter, here's how.

There's a bunch of recipes over at Mugglenet, but this is by far the simplest.

[Edit] Oh wait! There IS a recipe over at Mugglenet that is even simpler. Just go and decide which one you want to use. Thanks!

My cellphone wishlist

To prepare myself for battle called Living by (and for) Myself, I have been thinking of getting some multipurpose tools such as a cellphone. Here are the things I'm looking for:

1. The standard calling/texting features
2. Wi-Fi capable - I'll probably be leaving the desktop behind, and I won't be bringing my laptop everyday. But just for checking, let's say, FB or plurk statuses, this is economical and faster than turning on the computer.
3. High megapixel spec for cameras - I'd rather have a DSLR but but it's bulky. Besides, it's much better to have stolen pictures :D
4. Gig space - For pictures, games, phone numbers, messages, and everything that would take up file space.
5. Stylish - because it has to be pretty~

So here are my mobile phone candidates:




1. Blackberry models Torch 9800 - 5mp camera, Unlimited phone book entries, WiFi capable, Micro-usb slot (up to 32gb, though I won't be needing that much space), it has a documents viewer, organizer, and social feeds feature.



2. Blackberry Curve 8900 - The same as it's more advanced model except that it has a 3.15 mp camera, and has email and IM supports (which I prefer more).


3. Samsung i800 Omnia - 5mp camera, unlimited phone book entries, 16gb internal storage, micro usb capable (up to 32gb), wi-fi capable, email and IM supported, and hey, I can watch movies in this thing! But I'm not into touch screens, that's why this unit is at the last of my list.

Now, all I need is to win the lottery.

Tea party potluck contribution.

I got invited to a tea party to celebrate the first year anniversary of Waku Waku. I'm thinking of what to bring, so maybe this would do:

Devilled Eggs

INGREDIENTS:
12 large eggs Ice water 6 tablespoons mayonnaise 2 teaspoons mustard 1 pinch cayenne pepper Salt and black pepper. Paprika, for dusting DIRECTIONS:
In a large pot, arrange the eggs in a single layer and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover and remove from the heat; let stand for 10 minutes. Drain, then cover the eggs with ice water. Let stand until cool to the touch.

PROCEDURE:
Peel the eggs, halve lengthwise and scoop the yolks into a medium bowl, reserving the egg whites. Mash the yolks with the mayonnaise, mustard and cayenne; season with salt and black pepper. Spoon the yolk mixture into the egg white halves and dust with paprika.

I found this online, and it looks easy and economical enough. I hope this goes well (yummy well)

Countdown

I'd probably say in about three to four months' time I'll be moving out of my parents house. About time to, actually. I have delayed this for so long, and I'm running out of excuses. But making this step is both exciting and scary at the same time, so I want to do this right.

1. What do I need: A dormitory or a place where I'll share it with someone, or do I get my own place? This question has been running in my head most of the time. Economically speaking, having a dormitory is ideal, because I don't need to spend that much on water expenses, electric bills, and lodging. I'm a sociable person, I think, though I am worried about my moods. That's where the apartment option comes in. I get to shoulder everything, but at least I do get to decorate my place and have friends over.

2. Do I have a valid reason to be independent? Being your own man is not a bad idea, but doing it just to, let's say, get away from your parents' nagging and do whatever you want to do is personally not a good reason. You have to be financially and emotionally stable.

And besides, I'm already 27. If I delay this any further, it will be just sad.

3. What are you leaving behind? I guess this question scares me the most, and the biggest excuse I have for not leaving. I have pets, see. And I feel sad just thinking of leaving them. But my mom already promised to take care of them, and since I'll be coming back every week, it will be all right.

I also must take into consideration that I'll be leaving behind the comforts of home. I will be cooking for myself, cleaning after myself, and doing my own laundry. I don't cook, and I don't know how, so this is where number four comes in.

4. Learn how to cook. Seriously. Even if I end up living in a dormitory, I still need to learn how to make a few basic meals, like hotdogs, eggs, or making rice. I have been keeping tabs of some recipes online that I want to try, and recently bought a notebook to keep it in.

5. Be wise financially. Which means budgeting. I'm starting to keep away some money in the bank for starting out and/or for emergencies. Also, if money permits, try to get some basic things you may need when moving in (in this case, I'm getting the things I would need if ever I get a dorm). I have my own little bag for toiletries, a case for medicines and a first aid kid, I bought a backpack...you know, little things like that. I'm not sure if shopping for these things is the right step to do, so if you have any suggestions, I'd like to hear them.

So there you go, they may be incomplete, and I'm still grasping straws, but I hope I'm doing this right. I may be posting some links, and articles that would help me (and hopefully you as well) in getting to that goal.

Good luck to me!