Cell Phone Case Project =)

This is a cell phone case/ pouch that I crafted today after I got distracted from my review =) It's funny how it turned out but one thing's for sure : My cell phone won't get any more dings in it if I keep it inside this cutie!

I made the pouch from a scrap felt from my baby shoes project and decorated with supposedly a frog applique that I sewed by hand using blanket stitch.

There's a lot of beautiful things to be made out of scrap materials and trash so think about it before you trash things! =)

My Favorite Pizza Crust Recipe =)

2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1 C warm water (about 110 degrees)
1 tsp sugar
3 cups flour
1 Tbsp olive oil
dash of salt
herbs and spices (optional like pepper flakes, parsley, powdered garlic, etc.)

Combine the first 3 ingredients and let stand for 5 minutes. It will be frothy and bubbly. If it doesn't look like that repeat. That means yeast is not activated (water not warm enough or yeast dead) or yeast is dead ( water too hot or just dead when you bought it). After the 5 minutes add everything else. Knead for 5 minutes or until it's nice and smooth and add flour if it's too sticky little by little.

Spray the bowl with oil, put the dough in and cover with plastic wrap or damp towel. Let stand for 1 hour then it's ready for action!

Roll out dough on floured surface. TRICK: MIX FLOUR AND CORNMEAL together and use that to flour surface to make the crust crunchy. Put desired toppings and bake at 450 degrees for 15- 20 minutes depending on size and thickness of dough.

Bon Appetite! =)

ATrip to the Aquarium of the Pacific

My husband took me to the Aquarium of the Pacific located at Long Beach, California two weekends ago. It was not a big place for big people but it was surely packed with tons of smiles and giggles from little kids with their parents =)

If you love being around children and if you have kids yourself, this is a perfect place to go to enjoy the underwater scenery as well as the coastline after. There are tons of restaurants around to enjoy for munchies later on and day cruises to hop on to complete the trip!

I realized I must have been really getting old because I found the place really small. I remember taking my mom few years ago to Monterey Bay Aquarium and this one is very much like it. She loved it but I guess it was more of our time together more than anything else that we both enjoyed. I love that this reminded me of some good, old memories and a making of a new one with my husband. I love kids too so aside from watching the aquariums and animals, the parents with their kids occupied me by a lot! At some point I started imagining myself and my husband with kids and that just made me smile so much! I guess at that point I'll better understand those poor parents running around worried where their kids have gone!

"Enjoy life while you're young and free." That's what my parents tell me all the time. Now they tell me to enjoy my time with my husband while we don't have kids yet as we don't have too much responsibilities yet. I sure am enjoying every minute I spend with my husband. We may have differences but we have similarities too. I guess the beauty of being different is that we are able to bring in something new to/for each other everyday while our similarities allows us to share on that similarity =)

Project Pinata

Welcome to my first Pinata Project EVER! =)

This is a pinata I made for a seven year old girl who attends after school classes at the Montessori where I volunteer. I've never made one before but I remember making paper mache for my home economics class back in high school.

I had to research the net about pinata since I didn't grow up seeing them around back in the Philippines. It was certainly nice to learn something new =) As I was reading along my research, I realized that we have something like the pinata too however we don't use paper mache as our base rather we use clay pots. Everything else is the same in terms of it's usage and that treats are placed inside as well as it's broken by hitting it with a pole / bat. This certainly drives the kids crazy and for some it's very traditional.

I often think that different countries have different cultures and traditions but somehow it's comforting to know that there are similarities too. On this note, I just remembered telling my mom sometime ago that I may be in America but there is corruption and violence too, there are cockroaches and rats too, there are beggars and homeless people too.

Anyhow, I don't want to delineate from my pinata project =)

This was made by applying layers of newspaper and paste on an inflated balloon and letting each layer dry then adding more layers. I have three layers in this pinata that I made. Instead of using white glue, I cooked what we call paste in the Philippines. What it is is basically cornstarch and water cooked over fire until you reach that spreading consistency. It's a cheaper way to go and safer for kids in case they put their hands in their mouths by accident and what not. Once the three layers are all dry, get a needle and poke the balloon to deflate. There will be a cavity where you can put your treats. I primed my pinata black just so the newspaper doesn't show up and then I decorated by shearing strips of tissue paper all over.

I rode my bicycle with my pinata going to the Montessori and you can just imagine how people were looking at me! I sure did have so much fun learning what pinata is about, how to make it and how much joy it brings to children. The kids smiles and giggles are definitely the priceless part of the whole experience! =)

Half a year later...

Six months to my married life, I am a happy, contented, grateful, happy, pampered, loved and appreciated wife!

I had quite an interesting day today from waking up happy to getting mixed up from lunch till dinner!

I was so happy to wake up beside my gorgeous husband this morning. It was like an epiphany of dawn breaking, a breath of fresh air, a love of a lifetime =) My heart was content and peaceful at the same time excited to share experiences with my husband, whatever the rest of our marriage brings us. Just like any other day, he had to go to work and I had to work on things.

Anyhow my day proceeded to some interesting twists with my volunteer work at the Montessori. We had a lunch meeting at an Indian restaurant and I must say there were flavors that reminded me of home (Philippines) while there were some other food that was just way over my palette for a first timer which made me realize that I haven't really been to an Indian restaurant before. I loved the naan bread and some green stuff (my colleagues said it was processed spinach).

My husband dropped me off at the lunch place and on the way to the Montessori I had to ride with one of the teachers. I can't believe that the three other teachers and our boss actually drove in four different cars when they all came from the same place and going back to the same place too. Anyway, I got torn with whom I was going to ride with but I sure did go with one of them. I got to know one of our new teachers better and that made my afternoon even more interesting. I guess I like hearing stories and experiences of other people because it makes me understand and appreciate a person better rather than just judging the person by how he/she looks.

We got back in the Montessori and I finally got to see the kids again and you can just imagine how they get excited and all stirred up when they see somebody they don't get to see everyday. I did a flower craft with them which was not very exciting I thought. I wish I had done something better but that's why there's always a next time! =)

The dinner part was exciting. My husband picked me up from the Montessori and he finally got to look around as the owner toured him and gave him a little background of what we do for the kids. We got to try some Indian tea and delicacies and they were pretty good.

Then off we went to celebrate our 6th Monthsary and went to a Persian restaurant and I must say that was interesting! I've never been to one so the menu just didn't make sense to me. My husband and I ordered anyway and we came to a conclusion that we probably ordered the wrong food however sharing the experience together was great. It was certainly something new for both of us and it was funny how we both had big question marks on our faces as to how we were supposed to eat the food or if they were supposed to be the way there were served.

My husband and I watch a lot of cooking shows and we love to cook at home and that seemed to have spoiled our palettes to the point that we have developed appreciation to food and eating but at the same time have become quite critical with what we eat. We both share the trait of "if we have to eat something bad, it might as well be something tasty."

I was not so crazy with the Indian food I had over lunch but I sure liked that better than the Persian food we had for dinner. However I told my husband that perhaps we have to solicit advice on Persian food from friends next time so we will have a better experience next time.

We wounded up in movie theater to see Clash of the Titans and enjoyed a huge bucket of popcorn together. I must say that movie has reinvented Greek Mythology quite a bit that I want to make sure I watch the old version sometime or read the book. I was so lost in some parts that I kept asking my husband what happened or who are those characters or their relevance and stuff.

I surely had a long, interesting day today but at the end of the day there's only one thing that mattered to me.... I am going back to my husbands embrace loved and happy =)

Mmmm...COOKIES!

These are cranberry and white chocolate cookies that my husbands made for me. Oh my they are so good! The best cookies I've ever had in my life!

Company Picnic =)

Today was my husband's company picnic at work and boy I must say this was my first "American" picnic.

The food was very different from the picnics I've attended back home in the Philippines. Picnics in the Philippines are loaded with serious foods like rice and chicken adobo and inihaw (Barbeque) and fruits (usually pineapple, watermelon, banana, papaya, mangoes and cantaloupe are the common ones). American picnic defined by this one we went to has burgers and hotdogs as the star, some fruits and salad on the side and some finger foods like nachos, popcorn, pretzels and ice cream bars.

There were lots of kids which is about the same in the Philippines as it is mostly a family thing. Games play part of both American and Filipino picnics.

I was a little iffy at first because I had this feeling I might get alienated or something but there were lots of different nationalities, lots of Asians and to my relief even some Filipinos =) I didn't get into conversations with anyone but I was very happy with my husband. He just held my hand for most part and although there were lots of pretty girls around, he never forgot to reassure me how much he loves me, give me kisses and hugs and tell me how pretty I am in his eyes =)

My husband just tops all husbands for me because he is very reassuring and supporting. There was never a time where I felt unloved by him. There were times when I'd wake up feeling ugly but that was just me self pitying myself or well I guess it's cyclic to anyone. We all get our ugly days and what's important is to have someone remind us that we are foolish to think so!

I really had a blast today! My husband even taught me how to fish. We didn't caught any fish but we did get some branches reeled in! lol! I have never done fishing in my life and this is very memorable for me because I shared two firsts in my life with my husband today - First American picnic and First fishing experience =)

I am really happy and grateful for my husband. He makes me feel special, loved, important and pretty! =)

Husbands reading this, learn how to make your wives happy. My husband always tells me "HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE!" =)

However, I am not just putting the stress on husbands... Wives, make your husbands happy as much as you can too.

REMEMBER: IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO =)

Pretty Recycled Bracelets

These bracelets were made out of rolled magazine ads and polymer clay spacers, all of which I made by hand.

I love the idea of being able to make something beautiful and useful out of what people would normally just throw away. This project had been done many times by many different people but it boggles me how we still come up with a lot of waste=(

There is a part of me that wants to go dumpster diving when I see how much and what people throw away. I was born and raised from a third world country and it pains me that many don't realize how blessed they are for what they are and have... If only I had money to send all these ungrateful people to poor countries then perhaps they will come back as a better person with appreciation and gratitude in their hearts and with great respect to mother nature as well as to each other.

=)

Maracas from Recycled Materials

This is a maracas / noisemaker / shaker I crafted out of empty yogurt container that I painted using a plastic paint and the handle is made of rolled weekly ads then wrapped it with some colorful paper. I placed about a tablespoon of unpopped popcorn inside or beans or some pebbles will do too or even sand to make the sound. The lid on top is from an old disposable table cloth and a piece of rubber band to hold it in place. Make sure the rubber band is tight enough or snug to make sure the beans doesn't spill out.

Your kids will definitely enjoy this and will keep them occupied for awhile =) Get ready with your earplugs though as they might shake it unceasingly!!!

Why throw those materials when you can transform them into some projects?!

Have fun =)

Counting down the days...

YES, I am counting down the days to two big days for me...

First is my anniversary here in the U.S. Second is my 6th month of marriage! =)

Honestly I am having mixed emotions on the first one while the second one certainly happy about it!

In about a week or so these two days are happening back to back and it makes me anxious at the same time excited / happy. I think what makes me really anxious is the fact that it'll be 4 years since I left the Philippines and everything that's familiar to me (family, friends, home, comforts, etc.). I am now posted with some big questions in my mind...

1. What has America made out of me?
2. What have I done to better myself in those four years? ( What have I made out of myself?)
3. Do I have regrets and what do I regret about?
4. If there is something I could change what would it be?
5. To wrap all that up, WAS IT WORTH IT???

There had been nights when I was up late beside my husband thinking. It feels like I am desperately seeking for answers to those questions and although at times I think I am closing to my answers, accepting the painful parts and answers are the hardest to swallow.

I have not lived all those four years like a princess. For most part of it God knows what I had to do to survive and thrive. The almost 6 months I've been married is the happiest I've ever been that I can think about for all those four years and I am really grateful for that.

My life has turned out to be a cliche of many cliches... no pain, no gain. no guts, no glory. There's a rainbow after the storm? I guess this is what Google's made for! Browsing.....

Search in progress...


"But now I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it as though it had an underlying truth. "
Umberto Eco



" Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today."

-James Dean-


"I have a simple philosophy: Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. Scratch where it itches. "
Alice Roosevelt Longworth

“It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is the most painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let the person know how you feel.”



I can just go on and on reading quote after quote and nothing could change the fact that I'll find each one of them relevant to me in the last four years!

This is what's meant by being older, you have to be wiser and better wise beyond your years but not everybody gets that. The ups and downs of life makes us and breaks us but at the end of the day we are what we have made and believed ourselves to be.

Hopefully I come up with my answers in the days to come =)

Have a good one friend!

Scrapbook Making =)

This a scrapbook /book that I crafted over the weekend for Montessori Funtime, the Montessori where I volunteer =)

I thought I'd make this to show the kids what we are coming up with the drawings and pages we started doing last week when I came for their arts and craft class.

Truthfully I thought that this will be easy but boy it took me some good hours brainstorming on how I want it to look like and how to put it all together. I guess when you put your passion on something or well do something you're really passionate about you end up putting your heart and soul to it. In the end, you come up with a picture of yourself in many forms =)

I figured this is something that the kids can work on for and by themselves to preserve some precious memories as well as their handwork as the years go by.

A child's art is really one of a kind and we know that they will never be kids forever and for that reason I want to help them preserve some of those creative juices, innocence, purity, humility, honesty, meekness and happiness in those art works. By using those little hands they are able to create and transcend their youth in their own little book.

I guess this is a project that kids and grown ups can enjoy doing together. If there's a storybook you want to pass on for generations to come, there is certainly nothing better than your own book of life where the very essence of your being is preserved and magnified.

Speaking of which, It's about time for me to start one for me and my husband! That would make a great present sometime in the future.

How time flies....

I just realized that in few more days it will be our half year together as married couple! =)

Definitely starting our scrapbook!

Have you started yours???

Who's Your Favorite M&M?

The question remains:

WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE M&M's???

This is hard for me because I like them all!!!

Talk about chocolate and you got my attention! OR better yet give me some of those and you got my undivided attention!

Who doesn't like chocolates?

Not me for sure!

Chocolate had been my one and only addiction that I know of for life! My sister used to call me chocholic and I guess she even gave me a button that says exactly that!

I can't think of anything that's better at soothing my stress, comforting me in times of distress and making me happy and contented than a wonderful piece of chocolate =) I think about it and that's just one thing that's never going to leave me. I can have it when I want it and can forget about it and it wouldn't even make a single drama or complaint for being neglected and unloved for a moment. Don't get me wrong, I value human interaction / socialization, companionship and relationships but my piece of chocolate is really the drama free version!

I remember my mom cautioning me few years back that diabetes runs in our family both from her side and my father's side of the family and of course I had my wonderful defense of "I'm not eating too much of it." Then months later I wounded up in the emergency room for hypoglycemia so guess what aside from waking up with that nasty plastic oxygen tube in my nose, a bar of chocolate and a bottle of water were waiting for me! I ended up telling my mom "see it's not bad for me, it's medicine!"

Years later, I came here to America and it was haven! I can buy all the chocolates I want and enjoy them as much as like in whatever form they come provided of course I have the money to sustain my addiction! It was mind blowing that those chocolate that I only eat in moderation and for special occasions only when I was back home in the Philippines (they were imported back home so they were awfully expensive for me!) became ordinary, staple chocolates and my everyday chocolates became the special ones.

How ironic huh?!

I was very overwhelmed by the fact that candies (chocolates) here in the U.S. dress up differently every month for the occasion. For that reason I enjoy candies on clearances almost every month! WEeee!

You wonder why I'm all hyped up and happy most of the time??

Go figure! =)

At this point in time I have two important advises for you:
1. Be happy, eat chocolate.
2. Eat in moderation and exercise!

Come'on you can't just eat and eat and not work for it! I love chocolates but I love myself too...I don't ever want to be the first person who died of eating too much chocolates! =)


Enjoy life and live it at it's best!

Jewelry Making

These are few pieces I've made so far and I must say it kept me busy the whole week! It's so addicting and I got really fixated on making them! =)

I have no training or whatsoever in putting jewelry together but doing arts and crafts is one of my major passions side by side to cooking and baking. It's like putting Lego's together and building something only this one has smaller, more intricate pieces. I think that my designs right now are more on the conservative, classy type rather than the punk or gothic ones however I've always been intrigued by different styles and color combinations as well as textures when it comes to crafting and food. Those elements make your signature as an artist and I think it's important to pay attention to details =)

I poked myself a few times with the wires trying to learn how to cleanly wind them and utilize them. Caution is always important but when I get in the groove I just can't help but oh want to see how it'll look like when it's finished so that the poking here and there doesn't matter much.


I can imagine myself being successful doing things I love and things that I am really passionate about and God knows where life's taking me this time around!

To all the Crafters out there, I would appreciate your advise =)


Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Art Book Project

It's Wednesday and it's Art Day! =)

I pedaled my way to the Montessori this afternoon to give arts/craft classes to the kids as I usually do on Wednesday afternoons. I was so excited to see the kids amidst the fact that I didn't have a solid plan of what to do with them, arts / craft wise.

I ended up helping them start on few pages of a book I want to make with their artwork/s for Father's Day.

I remembered back when I was younger, my mom always told me that I don't need to buy anything for her or my dad for any occasion... they prefer something I made. Look at me now, I love doing arts and crafts and boy taking it to the next level is the next best thing for me! My parents are my fans when it comes to crafting. It makes me smile to remember how much their support, appreciation and belief in me motivated me to be at my best =) Thank you parents!

I'll post pictures later on of this Art Book Project I'm working on with the kids. They are definitely the cutest, most pure form of art you can find! =)

Parents, cherish your kids. They're only kids once so enjoy every ounce of their youth =)

The Best Hamburger Ever!!

The BEST HAMBURGER I've ever eaten in my life!!!

Bias aside, this is the hamburger that my husband made for me for during Memorial Day weekend. We did a barbeque last Sunday, just the two of us and it was so much fun!

I can hardly remember when I last had an outdoor barbeque but I remember for sure that my dad used to do that almost every weekend some years ago. I never got to do barbeque from start to finish myself, I've always been a helper though! =)

My excitement for the barbeque experience was just so high last Sunday that I posted shout out on my Facebook and it was funny how two of my closest friends in high school commented back:

Myra, my friend in London said that people in London are crazy about BBQ's as well when back in the Philippines it was just an ordinary everyday food / activity.

Nadj, my best friend in the Philippines, commented that even the people in the Philippines looks like BBQ because it's very hot back there!

I laughed my ass off for awhile with these comments but I sure did enjoy my weekend with my husband! =)

At the end of the weekend I thanked my husband and verbalized how much I liked that we did the BBQ and he asked me what I liked about it.. was it that he cooked for me or the hamburger that he made for me???

My response was that I liked everything about it!

I loved the hamburger, in fact the BEST HAMBURGER I'VE EVER EATEN IN MY LIFE!

I loved the effort he put into making everything happen from grocery shopping to picking up the charcoal and lighter fluid, to lighting the charcoal to cooking and platting my food to eating together and just enjoying the whole experience! =)