Takeout containers

We've been saving takeout containers all these years because I couldn't bear to just throw these (reusable) ones away just after using them once. 

Unfortunately, there hasn't really been much demand for them. I do bring them when we have group parties or gatherings so that people can use them to bring home leftovers instead of using foil and baggies to wrap food but we haven't attended parties in a long time - not since the pandemic started in 2020 anyway.

A few years ago, someone reached out in a community page about containers because she was prepping Thanksgiving meals to give out to the homeless. I must have donated 100+ containers to that person at that time. Hindi na naulit. 

Fast forward to yesterday when I saw this post on a local Moms group. I know it sounds OA but my heart gave a little leap and started fluttering. 

I felt like, "YES!". All my life, I've been prepping for this day.

So I quickly reached out to the poster, turns out their church regularly feeds 150 every Sunday and they're starting a supplemental program to distribute hot soup and chili to the needy. Hence, the soup containers. My contact also mentioned that if we had other sizes and flat containers, she'll take that as well. 

 

Salt and Pepper Pork Chops

I've been on a quest to get good Salt and Pepper Pork Chops. We've been getting them from our Chinese restaurant on Sundays but I haven't found one that's perfect. 

N.C.'s is fatty.

Q.D.'s is sometimes too spicy for the husband. 

Husband also does not like the bones that are all over the meat pieces.

and last night, I finally made MadeWithLau's Daddy Lau's Salt and Pepper Pork Chops and I am still in awe because I have not made anything *this* good in a long long time.

I prepped this dish in the exact same way that they showed in their video, making sure to pound the pork pieces with the back of my knife. The pork came out really nice and tender. 

The taste and seasoning was perfect. 

Columbia

I splurged on a Columbia coat for Swe-cha this year because we have been getting very cold days ( temps in the 10s - 20s) and his usual winter coat that I get from Costco just isn't going to cut it.

The coat is really nice and thick. I am assuming that it feels comfy too because Swe-cha has not been complaining. 

Unfortunately, after washing it a few days ago, it came out of the wash looking like this, there was a rip just below the armpit along one side. 

I was so hinayang so I started checking out Columbia's warranty policy. Turns out they have a limited lifetime warranty - I actually read about people sending 12 year old coats. 

As it turns out, since it's only been a month since we got this, this coat is still within the return period and the service rep I talked to sent me a pre-paid postage label. 

I've since reordered the same item. Hope that we get the new one before the deadline for sending this ripped coat back (Or that we get warmer weather by then so Swe-cha can use his Costco coat). 

Draft Covers 2021/2022

We woke up to 18 degree weather today and my first thought was "sulit na the Columbia jacket I got for Swe-cha". As the day  went on, the temp did climb a little bit to a high of 38 F and boy, despite the heater running full blast, the house was FREEZING.

And with that, we finally hauled our lazy bottoms up and started putting up our vent draft covers.

I don't know why we keep putting off these covers until the cold becomes unbearable. I bet we'd be saving so much energy if we put them up early - perhaps, even as soon as we're done with the AC season. 

I was also still dealing with the laundry left over from my family's visit. I started with the bath towels and sheets last week and continued with the comforters today. And it being 18 degrees out, the basement was unbearable. I also did feel a huge draft coming into the basement from the window beside the freezer. 

I swear, when I opened the freezer to pull out gyudon for dinner, I couldn't tell which was colder - the air coming from the freezer or the air/wind blowing in from the window draft.

... and yes, our basement still has to be finished. I do count a major win today in that I finally convinced the husband to help me fashion a window cover for that drafty window.  I planned to use plastic window / door sealing sheets initially but thought cardboard might be a sturdier option. We've lost a light source so I guess we'll deal with this in the spring. 

In any case, the basement immediately felt less cold and I bet this is going to do loads of good for the upstairs living area too.