A Life in Bloom

We’ll Have Fun!

2013-05-21T23:36:00.001+08:00

For about three years now, my husband allows me to take a vacation and spend time with my closest friends that I rarely see. I am quite thankful for the opportunity because it shows that he understands my need to be with them. As always, we eat and talk to our hearts’ content. We hang out at cafes after a good full meal and talk until midnight. For a change this year, one friend decided that we can go and try a bar that recently opened. It has a cozy atmosphere and affordable rates and fun DJ that plays good music with his brand new dj equipment. According to my friend, the owner has invested a lot on the dj equipment as it is what other bars lack. He also hired a good and very talented dj because what’s a superb dj equipment without a good jd, right? Anyway, I am looking forward to this as I rarely visit bars. The one who is inviting us was a former dj so he certainly knows what he’s talking about and I know that the experience is going to be fun and memorable.

Save Your Pet with CPR

2013-05-19T23:13:00.000+08:00

One of the things that I want to do but I can’t for now is to own a pet. Whether it’s a fish or a cat, I can’t due to our lack of space and more importantly, our lifestyle. We often travel and we have nobody who can care for the pet when we’re away. I used to own a lot of cats when I was younger and caring for them certainly brought me a lot of joy at that time.

Anyway, it is good that we know how to give proper attention to our pets during emergency situations. If you own a dog or cat, you will certainly find this graphic illustration on how to save your pet with CPR very helpful.

Source

The 5 Coolest Living Room Setups That Will Floor You!

2013-05-16T07:15:00.001+08:00

The living room is the place in your home where you want comfort and the ability to relax without the rigors of work. It's where you can let yourself go, be lazy, and not have to answer to anyone but yourself. So, with a few different ideas, you can design a living room all your own. One that's original yet comfortable, chic yet engrossing. Here are 5 brilliant ideas of how to be the envy of all your friends when it comes to your main living space.

1. The Retro

Image via Flickr by KB35

Now that retro is again a trendy choice for any modern apartment or home, use your knowledge of Austin Powers and your flower power to design a vintage living room. Concert posters (Hendrix, Joplin, Floyd, etc), bright colors, and exotic patterns are all up for grabs. And don't forget those Andy Warhol prints.

2. The Man Cave

Image via Flickr by CubanRefugee

This idea isn't exclusive to men. People of both sexes love the different aspects of the man cave, including sports, movies, video games, gambling, drinking, etc. So, take your favorite aspects of bachelor life (generally geared toward your hobbies and interests) and transform it into your own idea.

3. Unique Wall Art

Image via Flickr by rmkoske

The key to a distinctive living room isn't always the obvious such as furniture, TVs, and stereos. Tasteful wall art adds a totally original aspect to the room. Consider hanging vintage posters or portraits, or try a different approach and hang other objects. Examples include silver dinner trays, frames without pictures, pictures without frames, license plates, beer signs, etc. Or install chalkboards or paint a mural to create your very own wall art.

4. The Hot Tub

Image via Flickr by allaboutgeorge

This may be a little outrageous, but who hasn't, at least at some point, thought about having an indoor hot tub installed in their living room? With a little planning (remember, you don't want flooring that will warp due to moisture), this idea is conceivable.

But you also want to be careful. If you live in San Diego, for instance, you'd want to check with a company like Prosource Flooring in San Diego

to clarify the best flooring solutions. They won't laugh at you; nor should they, because if you'll be the envy of everyone if you're successful.

5. The Furniture Ad Lib

Image via Flickr by oskay

Furniture tends to be the most expensive portion of interior design. So why not cut the costs involved by creating your own makeshift furniture? Now, I'm not saying use the college life idea of milk crates, but some creative thinking can go a long way. For example, use a stack of books you've already read to create a functional end table. Or find old car bench or bucket seats at the junkyard for seating. Even old windows and two by fours can create a stylish coffee table. The choice is yours. Think outside the box.

These are just a few of the seemingly endless amount of ideas out there for your living room. Don't feel overwhelmed though. Take a few minutes (or hours or days) to really decide what you want. Then remember, there are no stolen ideas, only tweaked ones. Everything is original to the right person.

Hello, May!

2013-05-06T05:10:00.001+08:00

It’s already May and it only means one thing – our summer break is about to end soon. We have not enrolled our kid yet but I am slowly preparing for the school year. In fact, I’ve already ordered silicone stamps that can be used on her books, notebooks and other stuff. Also, instead of designing, I just downloaded some free sticker labels that you can see below. I just have to put her name on it and then print and cut it. You can download it by clicking on the image.
May also means Mother’s Day and my father’s birthday. I do not know what my husband and daughter have planned for my day. However, I already bought a box of Cohiba – something that he’s been asking from me since last year.

And before the summer break ends, I will have my last hurrah as I am going to have mommy break. It is one of those trips that I look forward to every year and I know it is going to be fun and refreshing just like last time.

How to Use Washi Tapes

2013-04-29T05:12:00.000+08:00

I have been collecting decorative/ washi tapes and just last week, I bought some new designs. However, I don’t really have some practical uses for them so I scoured the Net and found some nice ideas. Here’s one for wrapping gifts. It’s great for birthdays and yes, I don’t even have to buy fancy gift wrappers!

The Fun Rock Concert Party…

2013-04-17T19:48:00.001+08:00

… that we missed.

This crazy weather has been ruining my social life. Ever since the year started with a really cold weather, my resistance to illnesses became weak and I’ve been frequently sick unlike the previous year. We were supposed to attend a birthday party last Sunday but I have been sneezing the previous days and suffered from low fever on Saturday night. Thus, we had to forego the plans of going to the big metro for the event.

It was a friend’s son who celebrated the birthday and based on the photos, it was super fun! The theme was rock star (a favorite) and like what the mom said, the venue was perfect! It was arranged like a rock concert venue. The celebrant played the drums too and I wonder if there was an apc40 that made the sound more distinct and powerful. The photos I saw are proofs that indeed it was a super fun party, too bad we missed it!

Next month, we are invited to the first birthday party of my youngest goddaughter and hopefully, we won’t miss it.

Our Visit to the Dentist: The Good and the Bad

2013-03-11T23:55:00.001+08:00

Last weekend, we paid our dentist a visit for prophylaxis. Our daughter had a makeup class that day so it was just the Husband and yours truly. I was also complaining about a sensitive tooth and I thought a dental filling will do the trick. The line was relatively long when we arrived. While the Husband was busy looking for an online shop that sells catches on his iPad, I watched TV along with the other patients. When it was my turn, our dentist did the routine checkup and she advised me to have an x-ray. And I’ve got two news – good and bad.

The good news is that ALL my teeth are looking healthy and sans cavities. I was mighty proud when I learned about it. There goes my many years of proper brushing and consistent visit to the dentist.

The bad news is I don’t need a dental filling since it is a wisdom tooth that causes the problem and it needs to be removed. It was one suggestion that our other dentist (the father of this other dentist) made when he first did a prophylaxis on me. I told him I would consider it but two years later, I’ve obviously ignored his suggestion.

Truth to be told, I dread the pain of tooth extraction but our lady dentist assured me that it will last around 10 minutes tops. This is due to the fact that only a small fraction of my tooth is embedded on the gum so it will take a short time to pull it out. The wisdom tooth in question is the one that causes the sensitivity of the tooth beside it.

And as of press time, I still don’t have the courage yet to go back for tooth extraction. Well, I have been living a relatively busy life (business, blogging and domestic chores can be demanding) so I have a valid reason to postpone. Also, it would be nice if the Husband goes with me so he can hold my hand (hah!) and buy me ice cream later. But that can only happen on weekends. Aaaargh. Hopefully, this weekend is THE weekend. We don’t have a schedule event yet and we’re going on a vacation very soon so I have to get this big problem done and be over with soon. Wish me luck!

Green Thumb

2013-02-22T11:40:00.001+08:00

Some weeks ago, my daughter was required to bring some seeds to school. It’s a good thing that we remembered that a nearby mall’s supermarket sells some seed packets. I let her chose and she got her self some okra seeds.

Later that week, I learned that they only needed a few so it was not surprising when she planted the rest in our giant pot. And like a good girl that she is, she has been watering it with what she gathers from our water fountains outdoor gardens! Hahaha! The seeds surprisingly have grown and this development certainly made a girl very happy. However, they need to be transferred to their individual pots. Hopefully, the husband can (and will) do it this weekend or else, they might all wilt and die. It will certainly be a big accomplishment for my daughter if they fully grow and bear fruits.

18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

2013-02-22T09:42:00.000+08:00

To celebrate a good friend’s birthday, we have planned to go and join the festival at the 18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta tomorrow. This event is being held at the Omni Aviation Complex, Clark Special Economic Zone, Pampanga. It started last February 21 until 24, 2013.

We’ve been there two years ago and we were very impressed with the hot air balloons and enjoyed the other fun activities as well. Unfortunately, the weather has not been cooperating. It has been raining since early morning today and the weather forecast for tomorrow isn’t that good either.

Anyway, we are hoping that Sunday is THE day. That the sun will shine brightly so we can finally go and join the festivities.

Hey There, Weekend!

2013-02-15T21:09:00.001+08:00

And it is another weekend! If you know me personally, you would have known by now that it is my most favorite time of the week (just like the majority!). So, what are our plans for this weekend?

Saturday is a consultation with teachers/ claiming of report cards. It is a first time that it’s scheduled on a weekend and I am very happy since it means that the husband can go with me. And the better news is that our daughter ranked first AGAIN! She’s been first honor for three consecutive grading periods now and obviously, I am way too happy and proud of her. After the consultation, we plan to see our dentist for prophylaxis for both the husband and yours truly. Our daughter just had hers early this month. Afterward, maybe we could go and celebrate. I promised our daughter that I will reward her with P200 every grading that she tops her class. (This is a first time since we’ve conditioned her of NOT being rewarded for doing a great job. Why? Because it is HER DUTY to do her best.) Anyway, she spends her reward on books so most likely, we’re going to hit the mall for a little book-shopping and some celebrating. I want to buy new crafting books and my husband needs to find a good aluminum tube bending for a project he wants to start. To end the day, we plan to hear the anticipated mass and then enjoy the rest of the evening.

On Sunday, it will just be a day of rest and preparation for a new week ahead. No plans to go out either but let’s see.

I hope you too, shall have a restful and refreshing weekend!

A Major Dental Boo-Boo

2013-02-15T20:51:00.001+08:00

Some months ago, I encountered a dental emergency when a dental filling that I had chipped off after three years. And because of that, I made the mistake of going to a dentist I barely knew because:

1. I was too busy to see our dentist whose clinic is a ride away.
2. This stranger-dentist’s clinic is just a stone’s throw away from our place.

That decision is the biggest dental mistake I made in my entire life. I had prophylaxis and dental filling which were quite expensive. I expected her to do a good job, which obviously did not happen. After two days, the major dental filling (the one that replaced the chipped molar) got fell off! And I was just eating gummy bears! Aaargh. But instead of going back to her to fix it, I found time to go and see my real dentist who was so kind enough to repair the damage without making me feel guilty. Hahaha! She even advised me to observe and offered an alternative in case the new filling falls off again.

That experience taught me not to compromise our health and safety just because it is convenient. It is a major task for us to find new and reliable medical practitioners like pediatricians, dentists, etc. since we are relatively new in this place. Having found a good dentist then, is already an accomplishment. And with what I experienced (and how much I’ve paid), I am not going to see another dentist as long as we are here.

Today (2/14/2013)

2013-02-14T10:42:00.001+08:00

Outside my window… a really sunny Valentine’s Day! It is not that humid YET so I am not complaining.
I am thinking… of destructing and reconstructing an accessory to come up with a nicer one.

From the kitchen… Oh lots! I have a 2-day old pork adobo, ginataan, fresh lumpia.
I am wearing… my new tank top and favorite shorts.
I am creating… a list of topics for my very fresh travel blog.
I am going…to visit the dentist this weekend.

Around the house… just yours truly trying to work on some online tasks.
One of my favorite things… my pasta machine which I use for my clay crafting. It is very useful and one of my essentials.

A picture I love: The troop during my birthday celebration last year.

Customized Gift Baskets by Bisket Baskets

2013-01-26T14:23:00.001+08:00

Gift-giving is a practice that dates long way back. It has been a custom for people of all civilizations and races to give tokens. We give gifts to express appreciation, care and love. It is an expression that says we remember.

Nowadays, we can get as creative as we want when giving gifts. We can opt to buy gift items from a store, have them wrapped and off we go. On the other hand, we can also go an extra mile and create those gifts ourselves. But if you find that too challenging, why not go for customized gift baskets instead?

Meet Bisket Baskets. It is an online store that offers premium gift baskets – those types that makes the recipient giddy with happiness and excitement. Every gift basket that they sell is designed to fit your gift to your special occasion. It is customized and not pre-packaged, to assure you that it is apt for the occasion.

Bisket Baskets have a wide array of gift basket collections from which to choose from. Their gifts can certainly help you think creatively and do away with the usual gift ideas that we usually buy and give on special occasions. Just take a look at this decadent Reeses Candy Bouquet:

Your Reese’s-addict recipient will surely delight once she receives this thoughtful gift!

You can shop for gifts according to the occasion or you can easily find the perfect present by gift basket type. You can go for candy bouquets, corporate gift baskets, meal gift baskets and many others.

And we are not talking about human recipients here. Bisket Baskets are the first to introduce dog gift baskets, simply because those fur babies deserve presents too! Bring a basket filled with high end doggie treats and toys that will surely be enjoyed by the recipient. And there are lots of dog gift baskets to choose from - depending on your budget, preferred colors, treats, toys and more.

Bisket Basket certainly has a lot to offer so next time you’re worrying about what to buy as a gift, visit their site and make gift-giving an enjoyable experience for you and your recipient.

Drum Set

2013-01-24T15:17:00.001+08:00

If my the age of my godchildren is an indicator, I may be labeled as “old”. You see, one of them will soon turn 15. And since he’s a teenager now, we aren’t having any birthday party like we used to. He won’t be celebrating with his friends, either. According to the birthday boy, all he wanted for his birthday is a brand new electronic drum set. And it is understandable because he is a budding drummer. He is one talented boy and being the supportive parents that they are, his parents will be giving him a brand new drum set. I can’t wait to see and hear him perform one of these days.

Keep Calm and…

2013-01-24T14:30:00.001+08:00

There are many versions of the “Keep Calm” posters out there but this is one of my most favorite:

Yep, Dory got it right!

image source

Brr…

2013-01-10T20:42:00.001+08:00

Getting up in the morning has been a chore for my daughter and me. The weather has been really cold and very conducive for sleeping. Aside from that, sunrise seem to be a bit late nowadays that darkness and the cold temperature make it hard to leave the bed. I am not complaining though. I love cold weather and this has been the long overdue kind of temperature that I was waiting for since December. I know we’ll be able to save some on electricity bills since there is no need to turn on the electric fans especially during the night.

By the way, one of our friends will go trekking next weekend and she already prepared for the said activity by taking out her mountain hardwear fleece coat – perfect for the weather. We were invited to join but since the daughter has to prepare for her exams, we have to pass. Anyway, we’ll just wait for the photo and another chance to join them.

Words

2013-01-07T23:08:00.001+08:00

image source

News

2013-01-02T09:30:00.001+08:00

Just a day after my birthday, I received an SMS from a brother in-law telling me that finally, after a very long wait, our developer has secured a License to Sell. It means that there is a 50% chance of us celebrating this year’s Christmas at our brand new home. We are not sure yet about the schedule of building the house but it has certainly made me excited. I’ve already taken out the magazines and books on interior designing and home improvement which I’ve accumulated last year. I want to focus on our bedrooms and kitchen first, thus, I am looking for nice beds and sinks and a white kitchen cabinet too. I like colors but dashes of white is good too, as it create an illusion of bigger space.

This good news is a great motivator for me to work harder this year.

Create a Life

2013-01-02T09:14:00.001+08:00

The life that I have been trying to live:

image source

All I Want for Christmas…

2012-12-15T07:43:00.001+08:00

Just this morning, I heard someone sing “All I want for Christmas is a fender deluxe vm at guitar center”. And I am not surprised since this person is a member of a rock band. He is a college student and during his spare time, he practices with his friends. He has been so good at playing the guitar and it is not surprising that he wishes to upgrade into a good and more advanced guitar. I hope that Santa is up early today and heard his song!

Movies and Long Queues

2012-12-14T23:47:00.001+08:00

It can be a challenge at times to line up and purchase tickets for a box office movie. The number of people lining up for those precious tickets could be impossibly long. You might even end up thinking that you should have come to watch the movie on another time, another day.

Add to the long queues the reality that sometimes, others will not even bother to fall in line. They position themselves in front, shockingly oblivious that other people are lining up. These are times that having something like a stanchion post could be very useful. This would help people stay in line and would remind everyone else what is expected from them.

Oh So Busy

2012-12-12T23:25:00.001+08:00

I haven’t been THIS busy my entire life. Each minute of my day is very important as I have to finish commissioned orders for my online shop named The Clay Craft Studio and write blog posts. Apart from that, I have to run a household. It’s a good thing that my husband is very supportive and my daughter is big enough to care for her self.

This week is what I call my storm before the calm. And true enough, I have been sleeping at midnight to finish orders or posts and then I wake up around 6AM to prepare my daughter for school. I try my best to get at least six hours of sleep everyday as lack of sleep can trigger the worst migraine. I try to take supplements too in order to boost my immune system. I learned that eating well helps. I don’t have much time and energy to cook decent meals nowadays (and we don’t have hired help) so thanks to take outs, my family is still nourished.

So I can’t wait for this week to over and eventually, enjoy the fruits of our labor (and the long break) with my family. We hope to enjoy the sun, sea and sand somewhere and to see friends and relatives. It is going to be fun and absolutely the best way to end this wonderfully blessed year.

Parties and Gifts

2012-12-05T22:56:00.001+08:00

There are many things I miss about working at the university, especially during this season. One is the festival that we all celebrate around this time. Another and my most favorite is the Christmas party among us close friends. We made it a point to come together regularly and Christmas is one of our most favorite reasons to party. Most often, we order or prepare our favorite foods (the menu has become predictable but no one’s complaining!) and have our traditional exchange gifts. Some of us always want to make it dramatic and exciting – the picking of names and opening of gifts. We always have to come up with the most creative names and explain our gifts. (I received a really nice set of archipelago candles and the explanation behind the gift made me teary-eyed!). Well those are expected as most of us in the group are guidance counselors! We love dramatics. Hahaha!

Anyway, life has taken us to different directions now. First to leave was yours truly and then another close friend left just this year. Many are still there but they claim that it’s different now that the two of us aren’t. I miss them terribly as my days in the past decade were mostly spent with them. That’s why I try to visit and spend time with them whenever I go back to my first home. I am forever grateful to have them in my life. I am very much blessed because of them.

Sickie

2012-12-05T22:39:00.001+08:00

This morning, the long overdue intramurals has finally started at my daughter’s school. And true enough, she woke up early today. It has been her personal observation that during non-class days, she wakes up early no matter how late she sleeps the night before. Oh I perfectly understand her! Haha! Anyway, she won’t be joining any event. It is a good time to have fun and play with her friends but unfortunately, I won’t be letting her leave for school tomorrow. She has been coughing since the week started and I have to let her rest until the weekend. As much as I ~~nag~~ remind her not to run around the school and take it easy so as not to tire herself, I know she’ll forget everything the minute I leave her at school. Thus, it is best that she stays home and recuperate.

Of Weddings and Rock Bands

2012-11-23T10:28:00.001+08:00

One year ago this year, one of my friends tied the knot. It was a very memorable day for all of us as we never thought he would ever find the greatest love of his life. Aside from that, it was a destination wedding and for most of us in the group, it was our first time to visit the place.

One of the most beautiful parts of the wedding is the entrance of the newlyweds at the reception venue. We all stood up and clapped our hands as they danced their way to their table while the band was playing a fast music. After the program, dinner was served while the band played some songs. It is one thing that I absolutely like about the wedding – the presence of the band. They sing nicely and play their instruments well. They were really nice too that they allowed my husband and me to hold their Voyage-Air Guitar Guitars and have our pictures taken with those cool instruments.

If I get the chance to marry again (with the same man, of course!) I want a rock band during the reception. They keep the crowd entertained and they add a really nice and joyful touch to the event.