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Thursday, April 28, 2005
DAY TRIP: MONTEREY
We found ourselves back in Monterey this week.
Has it really been a year since we were last there? Funny, but I don't feel a year older (nor wiser, if you wish to be all technical about it). Yet there it is in my archives: THREE TIMES A MONKEY, an account of my thirty-sixth birthday getaway in Steinbeck country.
No wonder things felt oddly familiar. The temperature was the same, the weather was the same, even my sweater was the same. We also went to the same places last year (the beach and Fisherman's Wharf), although this time, we made sure to hit Cannery Row as well.
This was my sister Haya's first time in Monterey. At the top of our list of places to visit was the MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM, which I found quite impressive the first time I went there. After buying tickets, our hungry party decided to check out the Portola Cafe and Grill first. Everyone was looking forward to having Monterey's famous clam chowder served piping hot in sourdough bowls.
(Well...not exactly everyone. Reanna set her sights on a bigger target: the giant chocolate chip cookie Mommy bought for dessert!)
 
Soon everyone was done eating. We all headed out to the Observation Deck, where Lance and his Lola entertained themselves watching cormorants dive for fish. Troy, on the other hand, counted starfish while watching the slow progress of a crab in the water while Reanna busied herself with a ladybug Daddy caught for her.
 
And then we were hit by a collective epiphany: while we were busy enjoying the mild weather and the lovely view, inside they were counting down to closing time. We hurried in and took in the spectacular displays with an eye on the clock.
Lance and Troy couldn't get enough of the giant fish tanks. They squealed with delight at the antics of the furry sea otters. Indeed, it was quite difficult to pull them away from the playful creatures. Next we went to the underwater kelp forest display, housed in a giant three-story tank. And then we made our way to the Outer Bay wing for the grand finale: the Sharks: Myth and Mystery exhibit, which we knew the boys would find fascinating.
   
Sure enough, Lance and Troy found plenty to do at the exhibit. They played in a dugout canoe, donned shark ceremonial masks, and even got to hold a real shark in the touch pool. Mommy got to feel the shark's rough skin too, a sharp contrast to the smooth, almost jelly-like texture of the stingray, which I also got to hold.
  
Unfortunately, we didn't get to see much after the Shark Exhibit. We just had enough time to do a cursory walk-through around the Outer Bay wing when six o'clock chimed in and the Aquarium was closed. We quickly exited the premises, exploring Cannery Row's other sights including Bubba Gump's Shrimp Factory and Restaurant, where everyone took turns donning Forrest Gump's shoes on the famous bus stop bench. (See the box of chocolates?)
I also wanted to take the kids to the beach, but I was reluctant to drag everyone out of town and into the freeway again. Luckily, I remembered Lover's Point Park in nearby Pacific Grove, which had a perfect little stretch of beach where the kids could play while it was still light outside.
  
Lance and Troy had fun trying to make the waves run after them. When they got tired, they played in the sand while the grownups took in the spectacular view.
   
Soon everyone was hungry so we all headed to Fisherman's Wharf, where we had dinner at Rappa's at the end of the pier, the same place we went to for my birthday dinner last year. This time, it was my Mom's turn to be feted. After dinner, my husband surprised her with a slice of Death by Chocolate with a candle stuck in it. We weren't able to celebrate her birthday with her last April 14, so we wanted to make it up to her.
All too soon, it seemed, dinner was over and we had to head home. We were sad to see our old haunt, the Carousel Candy Factory, closed for the night. We usually head over there to buy sweets after dinner. Instead, we went to The Pirate's Cove (the last open store), where I got my requisite souvenir resin magnets while the boys chose a pink octopus and a red crab from the displays. They also bugged their Daddy for quarters so they could ride the motorized boat in front of the store. Reanna hitched a ride on that one too.
And then we all piled up into Vanna the minivan, still excited and exhiliarated, but exhausted at the same time. Within minutes, everyone in the rear section was snoring.
It was a sonorous end to an enchanting day.
(PLUGGING: Visit my BRAG BOOK for more pictures of our day trip to Monterey, including Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row and Lover's Point in Pacific Grove, CA. Also, "Day 5: Redemption", the latest installment in my "ROYAL HOLIDAY" series at 87 GENTLE STREET.)
posted by Renee 12:30 PM
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
ON DEDICATION
Sunday dawned bright and beautiful.
It was the perfect beginning to the day my daughter would be formally dedicated to the Lord.
The venue was at St. John's Chapel of the Valley, a quaint little church right in the heart of Modesto. Our guests started arriving before the scheduled time of 2:00 PM. We took pictures to while away the time while waiting for our pastor, who was coming straight from Sunday service at the Holiday Inn in Newark, CA. As always, we discovered some mysterious orbs posing with some of the guests. I wouldn't be surprised if one of those was my very own DADDY.
   
Reanna was beautiful in her christening dress, a present from my Tita Dina in the Philippines. The dress was so preciously done, we took it to someone who made wedding gowns just to be altered. I'll never forget the look on Reanna's face when her Daddy walked in during the fitting. She was standing perfectly still while her dress was being pinned around her. Lorenzo later told me the sight of his innocent baby daughter wearing her christening dress hit him like nothing else had ever done before.
"You're going to make me cry, Reanna," my husband told my daughter. It was a precious moment indelibly etched in my mind. I will look back at this memory the day I see my daughter fit her bridal gown for the first time. When that time comes, I will be the one with tears in my eyes.
  
Pastor Benjie Lagasca was uncharacteristically late. He is usually the first one to arrive in all our past functions. This was the same pastor who married us, blessed our new home and performed the baby dedication ceremonies for Lance and Troy. When three o'clock came and he still wasn't there, we called the pastor of St. John's to explain the situation to him. We knew there was a youth group meeting scheduled at 6:00 PM and they would be coming to get the place ready at around 4:00.
Pastor Jim Hill was nice enough to offer to do the ceremony. He even said he would let Pastor Benjie finish the dedication if he showed up after we started, which was quite a relief. We couldn't wait much longer. We were quickly losing time. Aside from the youth group meeting, we also had to make it to our reception venue at the allotted time of 4:00 PM. We decided to let Pastor Jim perform the ceremony.
And so Reanna, along with her parents, siblings, grandmother and godparents, all went up to the altar with Pastor Jim while the other guests gathered around the front pews to witness the event. Sure enough, a few minutes into the ceremony, Pastor Benjie walked into the chapel all flustered and embarrassed. He had gotten terribly lost along the way and found himself heading back towards the Bay Area. Pastor Jim graciously deferred his position, and a smooth transition was made with Pastor Benjie finishing the process.
I have always liked the way pastor Benjie performs his beby dedications. A former English teacher, he infuses a lot of symbolism in his ceremony. In our case, it was candles for the godfathers and roses for the rest of the party: white for the parents, yellow for the grandparents and red for the godmothers. Lance and Troy also held pink roses as we insisted on including the siblings in front as well.
 
 
Pastor Benjie proceeded to pray over our little girl, dedicating her to the Lord at this tender young age, and asking that in time, she, too, will choose to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, with the guidance and support of her parents, grandparents and godparents. Upon viewing the pictures later, I couldn't help but notice another prominent orb in our family picture, along with a smaller orb beside it. This time, I am convinced this is definitely my DADDY taking part in the ceremony, along with his Mom, my Lola Luz, or perhaps my Mom's Dad, LOLO MANING.
   
And so we welcomed our baby daughter, Reanna Loren Sereno, into the Christian world, with the help of TWO pastors, no less.
What could be more special than that?
AND CELEBRATION
The ceremony was finally over and everyone was hungry.
After all, many of the guests had been waiting for over two hours already. Within minutes, a long line of cars was making its way to De China Buffet, our favorite buffet restaurant in Modesto. De China has an extensive spread which offers a lot more than the usual Chinese fare. Aside from the Chinese food station, they have a salad bar, two kinds of soup, sushi, dimsum, an appetizer and finger food bar, a seafood section, a dessert bar and all the fresh oysters and crab legs you can eat. It's like a mini version of Todai at less than half the price.
Wendy, the owner, was nice enough to host our party for over two and a half hours, considering it was Sunday, her busiest day of business. Most buffet restaurants limit their parties to one and a half hours at most. We were in a glassed-off section of the restaurant, so we were able to eat and mingle among ourselves while savoring the delicious food.
 
 
Everybody settled down to enjoy the food and company. Time flew quickly without our noticing it, and soon it was almost 6:30 PM. Our party made preparations to leave after the souvenirs were handed out and a final round of pictures. Most of the family proceeded to my sister-in-law, Selina's house, where we finally got to slice and savor Reanna's tres leches cake after the Buffet food had settled somewhat.
   
Reanna's cake topper and souvenirs were specially handmade by Troy's Ninang Rona. Rona, like Pastor Benjie, has played a role in our family's special moments by hand-making souvenirs for memorable occasions like our wedding and Troy's dedication. It was another nod to tradition to have her special touch and creativity grace this event as well.
 
Our wonderful day had come to a close. We loved the fact that we were able to share such a meaningful moment with our family and friends. In the end, it was the cake's simple message which encompassed what this very special day was all about. It took just four little words written in pink to say it all:
God Bless you, Reanna.
(PLUGGING: Visit my BRAG BOOK for more Dedication and Reception pictures. Also, "Day 5: Redemption", the latest installment in my "ROYAL HOLIDAY" series at 87 GENTLE STREET.)
posted by Renee 2:53 PM
Thursday, April 21, 2005
THE SHORT LIST
This will be short.
Sunday is fast approaching, which means Reanna's Baby Dedication ceremony is barely days away. As if that wasn't enough, my mother and sister are flying in from New York tomorrow, which is a sure indication that my husband and I are both in a mad scramble to get the house ready in time for their arrival.
Therefore, for this post, I have decided to introduce you to Reanna's roster of Godparents, mainly because it is a nice, safe, and most importantly, short topic to tackle, not that I think you'd find it particularly interesting, but to tell you the truth it was a choice between that and ranting about my dedication invitations, which I received from KINGDOM CARDS very LATE.
I mean, really, what am I supposed to do with FIFTY invitation cards, all of which need to be addressed, when they arrive late on a Saturday afternoon, way after the post office closes, and the next mailing date is the following MONDAY, less than a week before the actual event?
Okay Renee, don't even get started on that one...
And so for today we will tackle the safe and the mundane as I leave you with the interesting cast of characters who will be joining us at the altar on Sunday afternoon as we dedicate our baby to the Lord.
First off, the Godmothers, or Ninangs:
You've already met Brenda in my previous POST. Brenda is the daughter of my next-door neighbor, Marta. Brenda and I have gotten close through the years since we first moved to our house here in Modesto. I consider her to be a surrogate daughter of sorts. We used to go shopping together and she babysits my sons a lot. When Reanna was born, Brenda and her sisters, along with their mom, Marta, were among Reanna's first visitors at home.
 
Another early visitor was my friend, April, shown in the picture with my favorite niece, Katie, who will also be another ninang of Reanna's. April is one of the nicest and most upstanding people I know. She will be Reanna's principal godmother, joining my daughter's principal godfather in spirit, since Reanna's main ninong is all the way in Singapore. Guess who?
Yes, come Sunday, the famous BATJAY will not just be my Perskasin, he will also be my kumpare as well. Unfortunately, Jay and his wife, JET won't be able to make it to the ceremony, but we know they will be with us in spirit. Taking Jay's place in the ceremony is Reanna's other godfather, Lorenzo's Cambodian friend, Pony, shown here standing beside him.
Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of Reanna's last Godfather, my husband's cousin, Rod. This early, my sister-in-law Selina has already indicated that he might not set foot in the church because he is a devout follower of the Iglesia ni Kristo. I, for one, am not too familiar with the Iglesia's practices, but I hope this won't be the case. With BatJay all the way in Singapore, the male members of the party are outnumbered enough as it is.
So there you have it. The people who made it to the short list. Reanna's Godparents. People who, in theory, promise to raise our daughter in a proper Christian manner should anything, perchance, happen to both Lorenzo and me. I guess it is ironic that our list is comprised of three Roman Catholics, one Iglesia ni Kristo, one Cambodian Buddhist and only one other person (April) who is also Born-Again Christian like us.
But, for our purpose, even ONE is enough.
(PLUGGING: "Day 5: Redemption", the latest installment in my "ROYAL HOLIDAY" series at 87 GENTLE STREET.)
posted by Renee 3:24 AM
Monday, April 18, 2005
PARTY PRIMAVERA
Take a look at Reanna wearing her new sunsuit:
 
Yes, spring has finally broken here in Modesto. And what better way to enjoy the warm wonderful weather than with a party?
That's exactly what my next-door neighbors, Santiago and Marta Lopez, did for their daughter, Darlena, who turns seven today. Early Saturday morning, they rang our doorbell asking us if we minded having a bounce house partially perched on our front yard. Of course, we didn't object. We knew our sons would be two of its biggest customers!
It was a Dora the Explorer party, and Santiago and Marta whipped up a spread that was to die for. There was Mexican rice, refried beans and the yummiest carnitas this side of the border. Carnitas is a dish of roasted pork prepared similar to Filipino lechon kawali, crisp on the outside and fork-tender on the inside. But Marta's carnitas were tasty enough to be eaten alone, with no side of liver sauce needed. I did, however, indulge on the optional spicy hot pickled jalapenos and carrots while Reanna had her fill of the corn tortillas.
Lance and Troy were busily running from the bounce house in the front yard to the swing set in the back yard. When they got bored, they entertained themselves by running after Darlena's dog, Brownie, a chocolate brown Chihuahua. Finally around sunset, my two boys channeled their excess energy on the two pinatas filled with candy, which of course promptly replaced the very energy they used up hacking at the darn things.
And then the kids gathered around the Dora the Explorer cake while Darlena blew out all seven of her candles. It was a moment which took on a deeper significance. It was just barely a year ago when this beautiful little girl practically withered to skin and bones before they finally discovered that her mysterious malady was Type 1 Juvenile Onset Diabetes.
 
Darlena's Dora cake was a tres leches cake and it was delicious. Tres leches is a white cake infused with three different kinds of milk, hence the name. It was moist and not too sweet, just suited to my taste. I liked it so much I decided to order a tres leches cake for Reanna's Baby Dedication ceremony next Sunday.
Of course, the Lopezes wil be present for that one too, not just because I am returning the invitation, but also because their oldest girl, Brenda, (seen above carrying Reanna), will be one of my daughter's ninangs. I have come to see Brenda as part of our family. She babysits the boys for me quite often, and she also used to be the girlfriend of my stepson, CHRIS.
It was getting late. Soon my boys were wound up tight as clocksprings from all the pinata candy they consumed. When Lance started throwing up from all the excitement, we knew it was time to go. It wasn't long before the sugar high gave in to a sugar low and soon my two little tykes were fast asleep...
...all tuckered out from partying with the girl next door!
(PLUGGING: "Day 5: Redemption", the latest installment in my "ROYAL HOLIDAY" series at 87 GENTLE STREET.)
posted by Renee 10:12 AM
Thursday, April 14, 2005
OF MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS
My Mom and I can totally relate to "The Gilmore Girls".
I love the cool relationship shared by the mother and daughter in the show. In a way, the Gilmores remind me of my mother's side of the family. In fact, like the Gilmores, "The Gaerlan Girls" also have quite a formidable matriarch in my grandmother, Elvira.
Now, I love my Lola very much, but I would be lying if I didn't say she drove everyone around her batty. She will be turning 84 this year and from what I hear, she is still as glamorous and alembong as ever.
The Gaerlans are a family of very strong women, which can sometimes result in fractious mother-daughter relationships. But I'm sure all of us started out with the best of intentions. It took my having a little girl of my own to make me realize how important it is to bond with your daughter right from the beginning. My Mom had three of us girls. She knows what I'm talking about.
There is something so precious about having a daughter, a miniature version of you, your very own "mini-me". I guess what makes it even more special for me is the fact that I bore three boys before her, and had actually given up on ever having a girl. But now, I won't be outnumbered as much, and it gives me great pleasure to know I will soon be blowing the dust off all my chick flicks, which are back in commission again.
Indeed, in just a few months, my little girl will be watching "Annie", "The Sound of Music" and "My Fair Lady" with me. Add a few years and she will be kicking up her heels to the tune of "One" in "A Chorus Line" and singing dreamily about Yenta the Matchmaker in "Fiddler on the Roof". I will, however, hold off on introducing her to my favorite musicals, "Pippin", "Evita" and "Miss Saigon", which discuss sex far too openly for my comfort.
My Mom was my constant theater companion when I was younger. She would always have Rep season tickets, back when Repertory Philippines still had its home at the Insular Life building in Makati. We used to watch a lot of movies together too. I remember seeing "Witness", "Legal Eagles" and "Chances Are" with her, along with a whole slew of Brat Pack movies too cheesy to mention.
And then there was the ballet. The first ballet my Mom took me to watch was "Giselle" at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. I was still in sixth grade then, and I remember being quite sullen when she insisted that I wear one of her dresses and some high-heeled shoes. When we got to the CCP however, I bumped into a classmate of mine who looked just as uncomfortable in a dress and high heels. She even told me I looked nice. Suddenly I didn't feel so alone anymore, and I was able to let go of my self-consciousness enough to watch the show and actually enjoy it.
Among the Mother-Daughter things I liked the most was working out with my Mom, who got me a membership at Slimmer's World in Malate. I used to head straight to Manila after my last class at U.P. Diliman and meet her at her office in Roxas Blvd.. Then we would make our way to work out at Echelon Tower, where the old Slimmer's World gym was located. Of course, we usually negated everything by going out to eat after but hey, there was some serious cross-generational bonding going on so we were entitled.
I look back at the things I enjoyed doing with my Mom, and I can't wait to have the same Mother-Daughter moments with Reanna. It's exciting and daunting at the same time, knowing this time, I will be playing the adult role in this mother-daughter match-up.
I almost dread the advent of adolescence, with it's matching mood swings, raging hormones and wilfull behavior. Hopefully my daughter's passage won't be too difficult. I can imagine myself taking Reanna to Macy's for her first bra, just like my Mom took me to Rustan's for my first Teenform. I also remember confiding in her when I got my first formal suitor. I can only hope that when the time comes, my daughter will feel close enough to me to do the same.
And then there are those notorious periods. I remember looking to my Mom as my main source of information when I finally hit puberty. One day, my whole family went swimming. I so desperately wanted to join them but I had my period. My Mom offered me a solution, and stood nervously outside the bathroom door barking out instructions on how to use a tampon while I sweated buckets on the other side. She was back at the same spot later that day, talking me through the difficult process of removing the darn thing.
If it hadn't been such a nerve-wracking ordeal, we would've probably laughed our way through that whole episode. My Mom has a loud, infectious laugh, and it doesn't take much for her to use it, even when the joke is on her.
I once played a silly prank as a teenager, standing in front of the refrigerator to cool my hands on a water bottle and then waiting for her under the stairs. I grabbed her ankle as she was descending the steps and heard her scream. When she discovered who owned the cold, clammy hands, her initial scare was replaced by righteous indignation and she began to scold me. Of course, by then, I was almost rolling on the floor, doubled up in mirth. When she saw that her stern sermon was getting nowhere, she just joined me in laughter and we both got a good guffaw out of it.
My sister, Haya, who is visiting from the Philippines, is now in New York with my Mom. They will be celebrating her fifty-ninth birthday today, and I can't help but feel a little jealous that I won't be there to join them, especially since they're in New York, and within minutes of Broadway. But I know I will be seeing them soon as they are scheduled to arrive on April 22, just in time for Reanna's dedication ceremony on the 24th. And then three generations of females in our family will be together again under one roof. The Gaerlan Girls, Reprised.
So here's to the woman who passed on to me her passion for the performing arts, her fervor for films, her superior intelligence quotient, and her love of muenster cheese.
Happy Birthday MOM!
(PLUGGING: "Day 5: Redemption", the latest installment in my "ROYAL HOLIDAY" series at 87 GENTLE STREET.)
posted by Renee 12:48 AM
Monday, April 11, 2005
SEEING SPOTS
"Look, Daddy, it's Spotty!"
Lorenzo had just logged on to the internet this morning so he could teach Troy how to check the weather forecast for Modesto, a new hobby which Lance had been pursuing for quite some time now. The homepage, msn.com, had a picture of a Holstein cow on MSN Money, but there were no pictures of black and white pit bulls even remotely fitting Spot's general description.
I'm sure it crossed my husband's mind that our son might've inherited his Mom's myopia. Last I checked, my prescription was up to -5.75 for each eye.
"Are you sure?" he asked Troy, willing our son to notice that he was looking at cattle, not our family pet.
"Yes," came my son's confident reply. "That was Spotty when he was still a cow!"
(PLUGGING: "Day 5: Redemption", the latest installment in my "ROYAL HOLIDAY" series at 87 GENTLE STREET.)
posted by Renee 1:25 PM
Thursday, April 07, 2005
STICKY FINGERS
It was midday at the garden of good and evil.
Except yesterday, the garden was located in the most innocuous of places, my local post office.
I had just bought sheets of stamps for Reanna's Baby Dedication invitations, paying with my credit card. The lady behind the counter reminded me to sign my card at the back, something which I had neglected to do. It was a security precaution that would take on a much larger significance later that day.
We left the post office and headed for the bank. It was while we were at the Drive-Thru ATM that I realized my card was missing. I frantically looked over the contents of my wallet and purse, but it was nowhere to be found.
I began to wonder if I had left it at the post office. My husband doubted it, saying it was uncharacteristic of me to do so, but we headed back, just in case.
I could feel panic welling up from within me. I fervently hoped the postal worker had found it and put it away. More than a quarter of an hour had passed since we left the post office. If anybody else had found it, he could be anywhere by now.
I looked through my things again. This time there was no doubt about it. My card wasn't there. Maybe I DID leave it at the post office. I said a prayer to The Lord on our way back, willing the cars in front of us to get out of the way. We finally pulled into the parking lot, and I fairly jumped out of our van and ran inside.
What I saw made my heart fall. The lady had left for the day. The postal worker at the next counter directed me to their supervisor, who told me that no credit cards were turned over to him that day. I asked if they could go through their Lost and Found box, in case the lady had left it there. They didn't think she would leave such an important item in there, but they looked anyway.
They did find a card, which momentarily raised my hopes, but it was an old one, dating back to September 2003.
I was quickly losing hope. Despair was starting to well up from the pit of my stomach. I went back to the counter for a final inspection, looking around and under, knowing my card wouldn't be there. I was already anticipating the hassle I would have to go through, calling the card company and the credit bureaus. I was no stranger to identity theft. Just a few months ago, someone had used my credit card number to run up a $2,500 restaurant tab in ITALY, of all places. I could feel the nightmare starting all over again.
The postal workers went back to helping their customers. I didn't blame them. They did try to help but there was only so much they could do. My little emergency had taken up enough of their time already.
I was about to leave when the customer at the next counter asked me what I was looking for. I told him I had left my credit card there not even half an hour ago. I thought he was just a curious onlooker until he asked for my name. A glimmer of hope shined upon me and I said "Renee", without even thinking. Sure enough, he handed me my credit card!
He was swarthy, in his thirties, averagely dressed, and spoke with a slight accent. He muttered something about finding the card somewhere but I wasn't even listening. I was just happy I got my card back. I flashed him a grateful smile, thanking him while a relieved murmur escaped from the crowd behind me. Somewhere at the back of my mind, I was wondering why it took him so long to come forward with it, but I wasn't about to interrogate him on the spot.
I made a quick exit, telling Lorenzo what happened. On the way home, I couldn't help but think of the moral dilemma that man must've gone through, back there at the post office. Obviously, his original intentions weren't too honorable, otherwise, he would've gone straight to the counter to turn over my credit card as soon as he found it, which was the right thing to do.
I could imagine how he felt when I appeared, looking for my card. He must've wrestled with himself while I was talking to the postal workers, wondering if he should come forward red-handed, knowing every minute that passed made him look guiltier in the eyes of God and man. It took a lot of bravery to come forward in front of all those people. The very act was an admission that he had come face to face with temptation, and temptation got the better of him. Yet in the end, conscience prevailed, and he did the right thing.
It was midday at the garden of good and evil. But at THAT particular moment, good got the upper hand.
We are only human, living with our frailties in a flawed, fallible world.
But there's hope for us yet.
(PLUGGING: While on the subject, you might want to check out "Day 5: Redemption", the latest installment in my "ROYAL HOLIDAY" series at 87 GENTLE STREET.)
posted by Renee 2:42 PM
Monday, April 04, 2005
THE C.I.A.* FILES
*Crumbgrabbers In Action
crumbgrabber: noun. a child, also written crumb grabber, crumb-grabber, synonym, rugrat, also written rug rat, rug-rat, (slang).
Project, CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Assemble together
your favorite cookie dough recipe
your favorite cookie dough recipe ingredients
two crumbgrabbers to help you
Detailed instructions
1) Mix.
2) Scoop.
3) Bake.
4) Time.
5) Watch.
6) Cool.
7) Store.
8) Eat.
A. Step-by-step
 
 
B. Feeding Frenzy (See step number 8.)
 
 
Introducing the C.I.A. Files. Not your everyday, ordinary DIY.
(PLUGGING: "Day 4: Through the Gates At Last", the latest installment in the "ROYAL HOLIDAY" series at 87 GENTLE STREET.)
posted by Renee 4:53 AM
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