Easter Basket

These days, I found myself being reunited with my blog once again. Although I think I have said that before. I just feel this time it's different =) Been re reading my posts from forever-ago and I cannot believe how corny I sounded during my early years of blogging hahaha! But whatever, I thank myself so much I did. The memories captured and kept are soooo precious. Had I not started this blog, I would have forgotten most of them.

So yeah, to show you all how sincere I am with wanting to blog again, here's a little project I did recently. This may be a little too late --- or way too early. You decide haha!




I was assigned to make Easter baskets for the children of our community and I want to share how I did it.



I got these cheap bowls from Daiso (3 pcs. for $2) and altered it with some washi tapes.



Filled the bowls with  these shredded crepe paper from cold storage.



Next I made flower accents using a Sizzix die-cut machine using my leftover foam glitters.



Also with the same machine, I cut these tags and did a little brush calligraphy with my Pentel brush pen.



The fun part! Fill the bowls with treats (I'd like to thank Valerie and Jolene, sisters from the community for helping me search for these yumm chocolates!). Then wrap these bowls with plastic gift wraps I also got from Daiso.




Done and ready!



Happy Easter from us! Christ is risen!

What a Wednesday!

Having no helper for 2 months now (after getting used to having one since my two boys were born) took me out of my comfort zone. The change gave me unexpected twists and turns some almost make me cry but most are just priceless moments. Like these ones I will share with you today.

Yesterday morning,  I forgot that every Wednesday, Kuya’s school bus comes an hour earlier. Totally missed it so I had to be the one to bring him to school (thanks to Uber!). I lost 2 hours in my schedule but anyway, problem solved.



Next concern:  to rush back before Miguel gets  home but just couldn’t so I called him to meet me at the mall. He waited for me at the food court. This was what I saw.



My youngest one making his homework while waiting for me. The sight made me teary-eyed and happy. The feeling was priceless.

So the day went on with the usual Wednesday stuff. Until after dinner I remembered it's children's day the next day and I had nothing planned and I couldn't just shrug it off because Miguel's expecting gifts for his classmates. We have been doing it since nursery.

Guess what happened.

Hubby helped me! After putting the boys to sleep, we did our  last minute project. He ran to the nearest store to buy some chocolates while I prepared the paper strawberries. Turned out to be a fun experience for us. We only didn't make 40 little presents, we actually had our date for the week!

What a wonderful day it turned out to be!

Port of Lost Wonder

Enjoyed our family time on the eve of Daddy's birthday at Port of Lost Wonder, Sentosa --- a nice place for family bondings, picnics and water play. 

It was first time for us to not worry about Kuya wandering off because Miguel stepped up and took charge! In the photos you can see that they are always together as they would wait for each other all the time! At one point, when the lifeguard talked to Kuya about something, Miguel was there to the rescue, ready to explain about Kuya's autism. HAPPINESS OVERLOAD. I couldn't help but get teary eyed to see that happening.. we can think of it as the boys birthday "gift" for daddy :)

Port of Lost Wonder is open everyday, with $15 entrance fee per child on peak days and holidays and $10 on normal days. FREE entrance for adults. 

More photos here. 

Yogurt Sponge Cake

I have to stop thinking about iphone 6 plus.  My iphone still works perfectly. In fact I took all these photos with my iphone and I am blogging now, in my iphone. Yeah. I'm convincing myself I don't need it. 

Anyway, I baked this delicious cupcake yesterday and a lot of you are asking for the recipe. 

So here it is. Forgive me for I have no strength to type it here so thanks to my iphone... here's the recipe from my baking book:

I swear it's yummy. My husband loved me more after he ate it. Lol! 

I still want an iphone 6 plus. Heard that Dear Husband? hahaha! 

Happy 39th!

Nothing beats this sight... for you to be happy and laughing out loud. Because you so deserved it! 

I had to work long hours almost everyday last week which means coming home at almost or after midnight. So I was kind of hesistant for a party but I know he loves to be with friends around on his birthday so we planned for a simple gathering with few friends he wanted to invite. So I made a list. And I asked him what I should write in my list. 

Was thinking to have just a simple, relaxing afternoon (after Mae and I did some fast forward moves in the kitchen that is haha!) and I am so glad it happened. 

Thanks dear friends for coming and celebrating with us! 

Just saw these chalkboard labels, chalkboard tapes and B&W straws from American Crafts DIY Shop at the MWL while we were displaying the new arrivals. I picked it up immediately, with this picture in mind... 

It did happen just as I imagined! Thanks to Mae, Mona, Leila and Bing for helping me :) The birthday boy was so happy and satisfied he even said this in facebook: "Thanks, my Misis Rulona for all the delicious food and the beautiful preparation without sweat! You did it very nicely with beauty and grace. I love you more and more!  "

Well :):):)

Wordless Wednesday

HUGS

I just turned 39 yesterday and although it's a new day now,  I still feel the birthday vibe and these cards I made for Robin's Nest speak volumes of how I want to do right this moment..  I want to give everyone  some BIG BIG HUGS! *A special warm hug for my youngest sis who needs it very much right now*

Check out my DT post today at Robin's Nest blog where I shared how I came up with these minimalist greeting cards. 

And here's sharing with you a peek at my unplanned but super duper happy birthday yesterday ... 

Balloons were my boys' surprise for me... puddings in cups were brought by a friend, Mona who came over to greet me (true friends come even if you don't invite them! haha! Luv u Mon! I'm really touched and I'm very grateful for our friendship!), cake was not part of the plan but Miguel never stopped asking me to make one, so. 

I wished for nothing. Well not really nothing. I just wanted a carefree day with my boys in clean and good smelling house,  Skype with family, a peaceful heart and deeper faith. I got it all and more! Wait. Our house wasn't that clean lol! A house will never be that squeaky clean when you have two growing rascals I guess. 

Highlights of my day (and the days before too!) for memory keeping... 

• delicious homemade chorizo breakfast 
• Skype with in-laws
• Skype with parents
• chats with siblings 
• nephew Abe's drawing for me
• my boys' surprise balloons and birthday poster complete with "lights off" effects haha! Thanks Mae!
• hubby dear's prank (in fairness! i like it BB hehehe)
• Sister's honoring (sniff. gotta read it when I feel so useless and down)
• Father's testimony (surprised... a lot of revelations on how he felt when I was a growing young adult hehehe)
• JJ's surprise gift :)
• keeping in touch with friends I have missed a lot
• a time spent with a great friend Mona (and Leila too!) thanks for bringing the yummy cuppies and the candles! 
• bike trip with kids, planned by Miguel, that was cut short due to thunder and lightning LOL! 
• rosary with BB 

Thank you my Father in Heaven for my life.  Thank you Papang and Mamang. My family, friends and community. It was one of my best birthdays ever. And because I believe that everyday should be treated as birthday, with His grace, I intend to make each of my days  just like that. Stress-free, less complicated, but with meaning. Is it possible? It depends if I keep myself guarded with the temptations and chaos of this world. It's a daily battle that I can only win with Him by my side :) 

Project Life Week 22 + Staycation Insert

I am officially an iphone photographer (I think). I have been taking photos, editing them, using it for blogging and product updates for the shoppe. This is not by choice. I have no choice (for now). I really suck at using my DSLR (thinking of selling it, as it frustrates me all the time -- no patience at all and lazy haha) Sigh. 

I do hope that one day I will be able to get photos that I really love. Those stuff I see in twopeas, Crate Paper and AC blogs... wish.. wish... 

Here's a PL page that looks better in person actual, I promise you :( 

I still got lots of really good photos taken by hubby during our staycation which I will make into an insert... if my time allows. Right now there's just so much on my plate and enjoying every bit of it. July was awesome and I'm already super excited for what August has in store for me! Thank You God for all the blessings, empowerment, guidance and strength... Amen. 

blessed.

Dear husband, 

With our simple but less ordinary, always happy but often chaotic life... I thank God for everything. I am blessed to share such life with you and our two boys. Here's to many more years of challenging but fulfilling journey ahead... I love you BB!

Thank you for the flowers before bedtime and I hope you like my heartfelt gift. 

Let's to go the beach! 

Love, 
Wife

{How I made this poster:  I took our selfies with iphone. Made a collage via Collage Maker iphone app. Edited in picasa to achieve the B&W look. Made a poster via Pages app in my Mac.}

five-in-one

What a fun Saturday morning that was! My original plan was just to take a photo of Luke Zion's diaper cake for the shoppe (Thank you Mare Cathy for thinking of ThoughtfulCrafts when you need anything crafty!)  Click here for more photos of my diaper cakes!

But the boys followed along with their bikes....

I found myself getting them involved with the "shoot" ... Sorry I badly suck at photo editing. I wish that soon, I will know how to photoshop! :P

And this face is what you get when you force your son to take off his helmet and model too when what he really wants is to go biking... 

Husband likes to shoot models so I gave in to his request hahahaha!

 Lastly, the part that I love the most --- our unplanned family photo! Love! Love! Love it so much.

See what we have accomplished that day:

1. diaper cakes photos - ✔
2. banners photos - although not so clear ones and the model's face looked a bit funny - ✔
3. bike ride - ✔
4. husband spent a day photographing a model (and for FREE!) - ✔
5. family photo (BONUS!) - ✔ 

Thank You God for days like these. When all we need to do is enjoy your goodness and provision --- a nice park just across the block, hobbies we enjoy (crafting for me, photographing for hubby, biking for the kids). And thanks too for Mae for being my sidekick in everything :)