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After a long day of errands in Fremont, Carmina's dad found himself yearning for the vibrant flavors of Vietnamese cuisine, igniting a culinary adventure that would tantalize his taste buds.

  After doing errands with the family my dad wanted to eat Vietnamese food in the area of Fremont . My dad brought us to  Pho Lan Noodles House  for our lunch. We all decided to eat one of our favorite Vietnamese dishes. We had ordered some appetizers fried wanton and fried chicken with fish sauce . My dad had ordered Lemongrass chicken include with rice and salad in his meal but was already full when he had eaten his wife's meal. She had ordered the Chicken Banh Mi and chicken clear soup. I wanted to try their Pork Banh Mi sandwich and requested no jalapeno pepper on it. The sandwich is quite big had to slice it in the middle and the remaining was for takeout. The filling of the pork was a lot of serving soft and tender had a lot of flavoring. The bread was also soft even if it was toasted. Family members had ordered the Garlic Chow Mein with Shrimp . NOT SPONSORED. Check out my channel @ Carmina Lifestyle YouTube  and click on the subscribe button for more vid...

Christmas Party


Christmas is just around the corner. There are some people who don't look forward for the holidays especially when someone passed away recently. It would bring back painful memories.

My mom told me ever since her mom passed away when she was young she hated Christmas holiday. It had reminded her memories she had spent with her mom when she was young. She said, her mom loved Christmas. She would prepare the table with all sort of Filipino dishes. She would decorate her home up for the holiday.

She said, when we're young she had no choice to celebrate Christmas because she didn't want to spoil her feelings to her own children.

Now, we are older she careless to celebrate Christmas. She doesn't get excited during this moment in time.

I remember there was one year I lived with her. My son wanted the spirit of Christmas. I had to buy him a small fake plastic tree to place on a small table. My son complained to his Nana. She had no spirit of Christmas. He called, her home black Christmas. From my son's imagination that is how well he had express it when he was in Grade School.

My mom doesn't want to be consider old like a Grandmother. She wants to be a hip Grandmother that is why she decided to be called, Nana.

Every year we usually travel after Christmas with my mom. To let her be free spirit and do what she love to do take pictorial pictures. She loves the attention and post it in her social media.

Every year we hold up a Christmas Party for the employee  from my in-law's business. It is usually few days before Christmas Eve. By than the employee are off on their Christmas holiday.

The entire family members of the employee would come to the house.

I am in charge of the food presentation by helping with the cook. Every year the traditional menu always remain to be same. We always prepare the food one week before our big event would take place.

Pork Barbecue



Menudo
Fresh Ubod Lumpia serve with peanut butter sauce

Fried Lumpia Shanghai
Chicken Macaroni Salad



Buko Fruit Salad



Fruit Salad
We tend to put our dessert in small portion this way there is no excess in left over food. This is easy for the employee's to bring home if we have left over to take away with them.

Just like any other Christmas Party we also have parlor games, exchange gifts, prized and entertainment. The traditional entertainment is always group of six people drawn by names. No one knows who they will matched up with. Other employees living in separate houses from my sister in-law and brother in-law. Their employee have separate group teams. They will all compete with each other.

The traditional entertainment they would be dancing any Christmas song of their choice. This year I have decided to change the pattern. This year they will be singing solo of their choice of music. I wanted to break that tradition. For so many years I have been taking their video and over looking each video. They all look the same.

This year everyone is so excited because there are some employee who don't know how to dance, but know how to sing.

What are their prized? It is always money that has been contributed by my in-law's and relatives who are the judges.

There are 3rd runner up, 2nd runner up and 1st runner up.

There is no favoritism all fair game.

Each employee and the family members are given each a gift from all the members of their employer.

I feel every Christmas is a day to give than more to receive. I feel once you are a good person something good will come out from you in the near future.

This is what my parent's taught me be good to other's and some day your time will come. Those people who you took care of will do something in return in your need.

Learn not to expect too much in life just go in life as you would want it to be. Be happy what you have and not expect to get what other's have. If, you are not happy it is only you who can change the way your life is. They an can give you advise, but it is up to you who takes that chance to improve your own life.

When my mom tells me about the life of her friend. I always tell her she/he decided to have that kind of life. May be that person is content the way she or he may live on a daily basis.

There are people who want more in life, but cannot afford it. Those people are the ones who are really in need. Those people are the ones striving to make their life better.

Those people are even the ones trying to support their whole family. We have employee who are single and they have to help a household of family. They are taking that responsibility to provide what their parents can't do for them.

These people most of their salary goes to their family.

During the month of December in the Philippines we receive our salary, our 13th month pay and Christmas bonus. 

What is 13th month pay in the Philippines?

13th month pay is the equivalent of one twelfth of an employee's basic annual salary by law.

Christmas bonus is depending on the company you work and it is not mandatory to give. It is given voluntary. Christmas bonus is consider the appreciation and gratitude from your employer.










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