cutify my world

Web banner and buttons

2012-01-27T11:08:00.001+08:00

I wasn't able to post this yesterday because I had a very long day so I fell asleep early. I want to share these buttons and web banner I made for a Blythe lover and online friend of mine. Her name is Semeeah. I hope she likes them...

The elements I used in this banner are designed by Michelle Clement. I love her style. The font is "Farewell."

Breadcrumbs Project : Day 26

2012-01-27T11:01:00.000+08:00

Breadcrumbs Project, I believe is not always a happy story. Because it is impossible for us to have a happy, perfect day everyday of our lives! But what is important is for us to acknowledge the positive and happy side of things or events. Today, my Lolo Primo joined our Creator. He has been with us for 85 years. He was one of the kindest grandfather I have had the privilege of loving. I am forever grateful for all the memories and years we have shared.

Breadcrumbs Project 366 : Day 12 - 25

2012-01-25T17:01:00.002+08:00

Wow! This is hard. Breadcrumbs Project should be made daily... From now on, I'll spend at least 15 minutes of my time each day to write about my daily blessings. And to post some of my creative endeavors as well... :D

Breadcrumbs Project : Day 25

More progress in the website. It's now 25% complete. I'm happy again. Plus I am sharing with you my new diet staple. Salad! ;D

I've been eating fresh salad twice a day since Tuesday. How to: 1) cut/tear lettuce leaves into bite size pieces, 2) cut/dice cucumber, tomato, and apple, 3) drizzle with your preferred dressing - mine is sesame vinaigrette as of now, 4) grate cheese on top, 5) toss. Yum! =D

Breadcrumbs Project : Day 24

I started working on our Library website. It's 10% complete and I'm happy. I'll share more details soon. It's not much because I'm using a free web hosting facility but when I'm finished with it, it's gonna be a lot of help to the students in the university.

Breadcrumbs Project : Day 23

Today was our rest day after a tiring but happy day yesterday. Rest day = more bonding time with Perry. Plus I was able to make and reproduce my brother's call card. He's gonna need it for the BIG event this Saturday.

Breadcrumbs Project : Day 22

Hubby and I had a lovely play day with Perry in our backyard.

Also, my friends came to visit today. We had pizza and pancit and Coke and stories and Stick-O and pasalubong from Cha. It was a happy day with friends.

Breadcrumbs Project : Day 21

Lazy saturday. =D Spent the day taking care of my growing baby. He also received gifts from his Tita Naya today. The gifts include this pair of lion socks Perry is wearing! So cute! Thanks again Naya! =D

Breadcrumbs Project : Day 20

Today was an ordinary day. There's not much clients in the library today so I was able to accomplish my one of my goals below - Books/Journals Request Form. =D

I have also realized that even if it feels like an ordinary day, if you think about it, there really is no ordinary day. Each day is unique. So I decided to change my "usual" answer to the question, "How are you?" I most of the time answer this with "Okay. Nothing new. Thanks. How about you?" It's too impersonal. It's an answer given to change the subject of the conversation. So from now on, I decided to reply with more personal answer, like "Oh I feel wonderful because I accomplished a goal at work today! How about you?" =D

Breadcrumbs Project : Day 19

I made a TO DO list for the library in preparation for the upcoming accreditation. Here it is:

Design and develop a library website by Jan 27
Reformat annual report by Jan 24
Book Request Form & distribute to faculty by Jan 20
Arrange and Label HS books by Jan 31
For approval:

Library Development Plan
Library Board Committee
Library Manual

I have indicated my personal deadline there because I have realized that goals are easier to accomplish if you have deadlines! :D

Breadcrumbs Project : Day 18

Do you ever get the feeling of being super happy today, then super lonely tomorrow? or vice versa? I do.

But...

The world is a better place because of F-R-I-E-N-D-S! I am deeply grateful for the company of Elaine, Hazel and Kate at the library today. Their presence made my lonely day bearable.

Breadcrumbs Project : Day 17

Manila was at it's usual splendor - dimmed by smog - when hubby and I arrived there this morning. I was early at PRC (thanks to my brother and DSIL for dropping us there) so I was able to finish processing my renewal by 8:45am. I paid extra 450 pesos for the "Express" ID that I can get by 11:30am. Otherwise, I'll have to wait for a month before I can claim my new ID. I wanted to rant about this but I won't because this is Breadcrumbs Project and my blog is Cutify! I should only appreciate the positive side of things and MUST NOT complain about the bad side. =D

The most memorable thing that happened today was when hubby and I were on a jeep to Divisoria. I forgot my handkerchief at home so hubby gave me his so I can cover my nose and my mouth as we pass along the smog-covered Recto Avenue. He just buried his nose on his raised arm. He has not changed since our first date. I have almost forgotten how sweet and thoughtful my hubby was ever since we moved to the province. My heart was overflowing with love today.

Breadcrumbs Project : Day 16

I just remembered that my PRC License has expired last August 2010. I failed to renew it last year because I have given birth last July. So I filed for a Special Leave for tomorrow so i can renew my License. I need it for the Level 3 Accreditation this March.

Going to Manila is something I always look forward to because I sometimes miss the fast-paced life in the city. I think it feels fast-paced because I was able to accomplish a lot everyday back there. Now that i am in our little town, my life seems to be in slow mo. But I accomplish very little for my personal development. When Perry was born, it seemed more impossible to do things for myself. But it feels so right. I realized that my interests and preferences have changed with the choices I made. Like when I chose to work and live in the province, I felt the need and desire for a baby. And then everything has changed again. It is wonderful to note these changes because I believe that these are the proof that I am continuously growing and learning and experiencing new things and most importantly - living a wonderful life! =D

Breadcrumbs Project : Day 15

Viva Sto Niño! Today, we celebrated the Sto. Niño Day in our town. Little children were dressed like niños. The church was so full of little children during the morning mass. Then there was a procession after. It's one of the lovely traditions in our town. When my siblings and I were little, my parents always take us to join the mass and the procession. Today, I joined the celebration once again but as a parent. :D

Hubby and I with Perry

my sister with Perry and Seth

Perry was already restless as the procession was about to start because of his colds.

Seth enjoyed the colorful buntings in the patio.

my godchild/nephew Vid was also part of the procession. He was carrying the letter "O" in Santo

these are the lovely officers who made this year's tradition a success.

Breadcrumbs Project : Day 14

Hubby and I were supposed to go to Manila today to go to the wake of Sir Bong. However, plans have changed when we got home last night due to Perry's condition. We stayed at home instead and took care of our dear boy.

Here are what I accomplished while taking care of Perry...

1. hubby's iPad case. pictured above is the garter I sewed at the back of the case where hubby can insert his hand while reading his ebooks. I also embroidered Perry's name in baybayin on the front cover.

2. yummy crema de fruta. this was the last serving from my 2nd batch of crema since the beginning of the new year. I'll share my recipe soon. :D

Breadcrumbs Project : Day 13

Friday the 13th! Who says it is an unlucky day? It's Friday! Friday is always a lucky day because it's a start of a lovely weekend ahead! :D

However...

Perry started having colds and cough today. He's got fever too when I got home. He can hardly breathe from his nose so he sleeps with his mouth open (like me!). And he wants to be cradled almost all the time which I so very much enjoyed doing.

Breadcrumbs Project : Day 12

Thank you Lord for the bees for they pollinate our flowers and our trees. But I am so sorry for I may have caused the death of one bee for it accidentally stung my lips yesterday...

Breadcrumbs Project 366 : Day 5 - 11

2012-01-12T09:52:00.000+08:00

Breadcrumbs Project 366 : Day 5

So thankful for this video. It inspired me to resume my scrapbook projects. :D

Breadcrumbs Project 366 : Day 6

Perry turned 6 (months) today! Yey! :D

Breadcrumbs Project 366 : Day 7

Perry's first taste of his first vegetable meal - - -> squash YUM!!!

Breadcrumbs Project 366 : Day 8

What a day! We attended a wedding and visited an old friend at her husband's wake.

Bonus: Dropped by to see Justerine at work + Armie got a free Samsung Corby II + Bought a very nice pair of shoes @ Payless which is on sale! Great way to end the uber tiring day, right? :D

Breadcrumbs Project 366 : Day 9

Hubby and I are both sick now. But I'm thankful Perry is resistant to our colds.

Breadcrumbs Project 366 : Day 10

My cough has started but still I managed to finish all my reports @ work! I deserve a reward! :D
Rewards taken: Castleville and Sims Social before the day ends.

Breadcrumbs Project 366 : Day 11

Found a new inspiring fellow to follow. I like her style. And her blog is uber inspiring/entertaining/fun! Pay her a visit too @ her blog or her website.

+ Got stung by a bee on my upper lip around 7pm. First time! :D

Breadcrumbs Project 366 : Day 1 - 4

2012-01-05T14:08:00.000+08:00

My dear friend Xiaui started a whole year round project listing down her daily blessings. I decided to do the same. It is important to be thankful for all the blessings me and my loved ones receive. I want to list them down too to remind me of how lucky we all are that there is Someone out there looking after and taking care of us.

Breadcrumbs Project 366 : Day 1

It is our tradition every January 1st to have the Indo-Turing Clan Reunion / Annual Party. We all look forward to this event each year. Our clan is slowly growing but some of our family members were not able to join us this year because they celebrated new year in the US and Canada.

This was also my baby's 1st new year! :D I was grateful that he didn't cry when we woke him up before the clock strikes 12. He was curious with the fireworks in the night sky.

Breadcrumbs Project 366 : Day 2

First day back at work. According to CD last Christmas Party, "LSPU is our bread and butter." It didn't sound so right to me because I believe that teaching is a vocation. However, his words apply to me at the moment. And I'm thankful that I have a job this 2012. :D

Breadcrumbs Project 366 : Day 3

My friend, Mrs. Pig cried today for she will surely miss me. :D I could not cry because I do not mourn her 'loss'. I'm actually glad that she has finally escaped the rotten system. And she will finally have time for her review and her small business in mind. I am forever grateful for knowing her and becoming her friend. I will surely miss her too.

Breadcrumbs Project 366 : Day 4

My Student Assistant showed up and gave me her name as replacement to Emyrrh. I hope she's as diligent as Lani. Also, Sandy showed up applying too. Now, I gotta make the request to hire an additional SA. Happiness! :D

First Christmas Card for 2011

2011-11-23T00:01:00.053+08:00

Hello!

How have you been?

My days were filled with Perry-love lately. He is now 4 1/2 months and demands for more love and affection from me. Crafting is quite impossible sometimes. But tonight, while hubby and I were watching The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 1 and Perry was in deep slumber, I managed to create my first Christmas card for this year! Hooray! :D

Here it is...

I felt the urge to craft tonight to balance out the negative thing that happened today. Hubby was in a car accident. Rocks fell from the mountain on the Kalayaan (Hydro) highway while he was driving on his way home. The right front wheel of the car was smashed. I am sooooo thankful that he's not hurt.

Gamer at Heart

2011-11-19T03:27:00.001+08:00

Unbeknownst to ~~many~~ some, I am a gamer. And before I play with Blythe, I used to play with boys' stuff. This post is an attempt (because I am not sure if I can remember all) at listing down and documenting my past hobbies that both me and my hubby (then bf) enjoyed.

RPG Games:

- Diablo I & II - I had so much fun playing this that I didn't notice my bf smoking behind me. Yes, I always get transported to the world I am playing. I haven't played Diablo III yet. (click pic for the source)

- Sims 1 2 3 - I was sooooo mad at Bella (Sims I) because my bf dated her! But I didn't kill her. I have a girl friend who killed a character that snatched her bf's character. Funny thing was, the character she drowned was a girl character of bf's another male housemate who's only trying to make her jealous and see how she will react. Ha ha! So many fun memories with this game in Tandang Sora. :D (click pic for the source)

Network Games:

- CounterStrike - I played this in a cafe full of male players, in bf's apartment, and even in the office during lunchtime. Yes, I played CS even after college. (click pic for the source)

- Cossacks : European Wars - This is my all-time favorite network strategy-game. We played this in bf's apartment from dinner 'til dawn. I've had sooo many sleepless nights playing this. Why? Because this is a strategy and a war game. A round of this can't be finished in minutes. We spent hours building our army and destroying our opponent's base. This is more fun when I was playing against 2 or more opponents. So when I was only with bf or one of bf's housemate, we include one or 2 computer player/s. (click pic for the source)

- StarCraft - Protoss was my favorite race. We also played this during lunch break in the office. So fun! I always win over a male friend/officemate back then. :D I haven't played Starcraft II yet. (click pic for the source)

- War Craft III : the Frozen Throne - Night Elf was my fave race when playing solo. And in network games, I usually use Lich, Death Knight, and Demon Hunter for my heroes. (click pic for the source)

PS:

- Silent Hill - I just tried this game and didn't even made it past the foggy street part. I played this game on a night that I was left alone in bf's apartment because he and his housemates went to a bar across the street. It scared the sh*t out of me! I was sooooo afraid that I went straight to bf's bed and hid under his blanket. We had no cellphone back then so I had to wait for them to come back home. I never touched this game again. but I watched the film. (click pic for the source)

Miniature WarGame:

- Mage Knight - This is played using tape measure and dice. Bf and I went to different places so he can join tournaments and to buy booster packs. Opening a Booster Pack was fun and exciting. The dragons however, were bought separately. Too bad Wizkids stopped releasing expansions and stopped tournament support in 2005. But we still keep the collectible figures because we can still play with it. Wizkids has just relaunched it as a board game, card game, and RPG.

I repainted this reaper back then. :D

Online Games:

(screenshot of my lvl 80 Undead Mage named Alikka while waiting for players in a 25-man raid)

- World of Warcraft - Oh yes! I was addicted to this online role-playing game. I spent hundreds of dollars (thousands of pesos) playing this game. I bought the starter pack ($50), the 1st expansion set Burning Crusade ($50), and the 2nd expansion set Wrath of the Lich King ($50). Add to that the electricity and the internet monthly bills for 2 years. I also bought my Acer laptop (Php 40k) for this game, so that I can play even at my bf's apartment. 2 of his housemates played this too. I also spent many sleepless nights just to be included in a 25-man raid. Our Filipino guild-mates were mostly call center agents so they play/raid during daytime which is impossible for us who works from 8am to 5pm. So, we had to join raids of non-guild-mates at night til dawn. Then we transferred to another guild that plays during our playtime. I went to work without sleep for this. Imagine that kind of life I lived for 2 years. So it's no wonder that I looked like my Undead character after WoW! Below is Alikka at lvl 72. :)

I had to stop playing WoW because it has not only affected my health but also my graduate studies. I was AWOL-ed for 2 semesters and on LOA for a sem because of this. I was lost in this world so I really had to quit playing. And I have to say that I still miss this world sometimes even now that I already have a baby.

- Facebook Games like Restaurant City, Mafia Wars, Farm Town, CityVille, Sorority Life, and The Sims Social. You can see game posts on my wall from time to time. It is really hard to stop playing games if you are a gamer at heart.

What distractions have you got that keep you from being productive?

Cardmaking for Christmas 2011

2011-11-15T22:48:00.001+08:00

I've skipped on my Weekend Baking and Wednesday Blythe because my mind has shifted towards cardmaking. Well, I'm still at the coloring stage so i'll only be sharing pictures of the images I'm currently working on.

These images are from a dear friend. I am having sooooo much fun coloring them because of their cuteness!

I am using Faber Castell colored pencils, yellow glitter glue (it's the only one I've got), and pink glittery gel pen.

What holiday preparations are you starting now? We've only got 40 days left before Christmas!

Weekend is for the family - Perry reading his book at 4 months

2011-11-13T04:22:00.000+08:00

I've always wanted to take our family pictures doing the things we love. And this picture below is one of them.

This photo shoot is unplanned - no make-up, no props, no dress up. Hubby and I just grabbed the chance that Perry was awake and playful last night, Nov 10, 2011. I can't believe that my very tiny baby boy is now 4 months and 6 days old!

On the other news, Perry's first dresser is already too small for his little things. So this afternoon, hubby and I bought him a new cabinet. Good thing we left our baby to his Lola (grandma) because a funny little accident happened while we were parking at the mall plus we had to remove the backseat on the way home because our car was too small for his new cabinet. Perry would have been very uncomfortable if he was with us.

As much as possible, I want to bring Perry wherever I go, especially during weekends. We only get to take care of him during weeknights. So I love weekends because I have 3 nights and 2 whole days to spend with my hubby and my baby. :D

Wednesday Blythe - Dresser / Drawers DIY

2011-11-09T12:09:00.004+08:00

I made another furniture to house my Blythe's socks, pants, and other blouses. This time, I recycled some trash and turned them into a cute dresser!

This tutorial is a lot easier than the first one.

Materials:

2 Spam tin cans (If you are a healthy eater, ask your neighbors for these. I'm sure they'll save you some)

4 ballpen bottom caps

Illustration Board

Paper Scraps

Beads

Craft Glue

Double-sided Tape (thick)

Scissors / Cutter

Ruler

Pen

Paint/s

Brushes

Procedure:

1. Draw the above pattern on your illustration board. Each drawer measures 3 x 3 x 1.5. Trace the Spam tin opening too. 2. Cut the patterns. You should have 2 of each. 3. Cut lightly the lines on your board. Make sure to cut only halfway through the thickness of your board. This will enable you to fold the sides of your drawers easily. 4. Fold the sides of your drawers.

5. Get one drawer and fold the sides. 6. Glue a piece of scrap paper to fasten the corners. Make sure to apply generous amount of craft glue. 7. Glue all corners of each drawers. 8. Place the drawers on top of the oval-shape side.

9. With some scraps of paper, glue the 2 pieces together. 10. Use the tip of your scissors to make sure that there is no space in between the paper scrap and the board. Glue all sides of the drawers. If you want, you can also glue on the inside. Just use paper scraps of the same color as your board if you are not painting the inside of your drawers. 11. Use wooden clothespin (or paperclips) to keep the pieces in place while drying. 12. As you dry the drawers, start working on the Spam tin cans. You will notice that there is a gap in between the two. We are going to fill this gap in order to attach both tins together.

13. Place thick double-sided tapes on one of the tin cans. The numbers 3,3,2,1 on the picture indicate the number of double-sided tapes piled up on top of one another. 14. Press the 2 tin cans together while sitting on top of your table to ensure that they are aligned with each other. 15. Then work on with the feet. Fill the ballpen bottom caps with craft glue and crumpled scraps of paper. 16. Make sure to fill these up to the brim.

17. Place a double-sided tape on the brim of the ballpen caps. 18. Tape these caps on your Spam tin can. These will be the feet of your dresser. 19. Test the strength of the feet. 20. Test the drawers on your dresser.

21. Paint your dresser. I used 2 coats of acrylic paint. Dry completely the 1st coat first before applying the 2nd coat. 22. When the paint is completely dry, prepare your paints and beads for decoration. 23. Glue the beads that will serve as your drawer knobs. 24. Then glue or paint your design on your drawers! Have fun with this part! :D

Congratulations! You now have a handmade Blythe dresser! :D

Add doilies or table runners on top of your dresser and place picture frames, flowers, and other miniatures to personalize the dresser according to your Blythe / doll's personality.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. :D

Sneak Peek on What's Coming this Wednesday

2011-11-07T23:56:00.000+08:00

Pardon me but I am just uber excited to share this!

Coming right up this Wednesday! See you! :D

Weekend Baking - Spiced Cider Whoopie Pie, 1st Attempt

2011-11-07T22:57:00.004+08:00

I am still not over with my apple-cinnamon craving. So when I saw this Spiced Cider Whoopie Pie Recipe by Emma from Elsie's blog, I thought I want to try it too.

However, I think I have failed in my first attempt at baking this whoopie pie. :( Here's how I did it and I really hope to learn from this.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup sour cream (i used all purpose cream with 2 calamansi extract)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
(a pinch of cloves - i could not find my cloves so I disregarded this)
2 apple (Granny Smith) peeled cored and cut into small pieces

Procedure:

1.Cream together butter and sugar
2. Add the egg, sour cream and vanilla and mix until just combined
3. In another bowl combine all the dry ingredients. Then, combine the wet and dry ingredients until there are nearly no lumps left.
4. Stir in the apple pieces.

Can you see the consistency of my batter at the fourth picture? It was too thick. I thought that maybe there was something wrong with my batter after I stirred in the apple pieces. But I continued anyway.

I placed spoonfuls of batter on a greased baking sheet and baked at 375 F for 15 minutes. Below is my first sheet/tray. It has 12 pieces and they really look funny and so different from Emma's.

I wanted to see the result first before baking another tray so I waited for this to finish. Below is the result of the first batch. It took 15 minutes to bake this.

Below is my 2nd sheet/tray. It only has 11 pieces. I tried my best to make them smoother than the 1st batch.

And below is the result of the second batch.

For the filling... What filling!?! Well, I did not continue making the filling because the 1st batch of my "whoopie pies" was almost gone when I finished with the 2nd batch. Dad, Mom, hubby, and my baby's nanny almost finished off the 1st batch even without the filling!

They said that there was something funny with the taste but it was delicious. I told them to wait for the cream cheese filling but they still ate them as is. :D So that is why I think I failed. My family ate these as if these were cookies!

Where do you think have I gone wrong? Or did I make them properly but failed to add the filling? I am no expert baker here. And I really want to know why my whoopie pies are so different from the pictures of my recipe source. I'll definitely try this again some other time because Mom was already getting tired of my apple-cinnamon baked goodies.

P.S.
Filling:

Combine 1 cup cream cheese, 2 tablespoons melted butter, a pinch of cinnamon, and 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar until you get the frosting consistency you prefer. :D

Meet Mr & Mrs Pig

2011-11-06T07:15:00.000+08:00

Hello lovelies!

I'd like you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Pig. Aren't they cute?

They will soon go to Winnipeg. I'll surely miss them. Maybe I should make some more animal-themed coffee huggers for my shop, yes?

tumblr love to give us warmth on this gloomy Thursday

2011-11-03T15:43:00.000+08:00

The weather has been depressing since yesterday. Being alone in the office made it even worse. But looking at my son's pictures made me miss him more. So I hopped on to my friend's tumblr and randomly selected one of those persons she is following. And I feel sooo glad to find these lovely images that gave me warmth on this cold and lonely day.

via

Can you feel some warmth now? I hope so. :D Have a lovely rainy Thursday!

Wednesday Blythe - Dress Rack and Hangers DIY

2011-11-02T12:24:00.043+08:00

Hello!

We've had a very busy holiday here. So please pardon me if I haven't shared a Weekend Baking recipe last Sunday. I also haven't had the chance to take photos so I will not be able to share how we spent our 1st of November here. My son was a star yesterday and he was very cooperative even if we came home late from the cemetery. It was a lovely day. I hope you enjoyed your holiday too! :D

As promised, to myself, I have started making stuff for my dolls' future house. Yey! :D

I have been dreaming of having a closet for my dollies to store and display their dresses. The available ones in the mall are mostly Barbie's and in hot pink! I did not like the style. So for my first Blythe furniture, I made a simple but cute dress rack!

See the supplies and instructions on making this dress rack below.

Supplies:
popsicle sticks
metal rod (I used a crochet hook that I no longer use)
tacky / craft glue
scissors
ruler
pen
paint
brushes

1. Line and cut one end of 8 popsicle sticks like pictured above. 2. cut the ends of 2 more popsicle sticks, sized according to the width of the 8 sticks. 3. Brush enormous amount of glue on the 2 sticks. 4. Place the sticks on both ends like pictured above to gather and put in place the other 8 sticks. This will serve as the side of your dress rack. Make 4 of this if your sticks are the same length as mine (around 4" long).

5-6. Glue together 2 of the sides like pictured above. 7. Do the same for the remaining 2. ***This is unnecessary if you are using longer popsicle sticks (like the ones available in Starbucks). This length is all I've got so I had to make them longer.

8. Cut 5 more sticks for each sides' top/upper part. Glue them on top of each other. Do the same on the sides' bottom/lower part. 9. Gather the cut ends and sized it according to the sides' bottom/lower part. 10. Glue and pile them up together like pictured above. This will enable your rack to stand better. ***The reason for the piled up 5 sticks is that my crochet hook is longer than the length of the popsicle sticks.

11. Cut squares from the sticks / cut ends. Prepare 12 squares. 12. Glue the squares (3 layers each) on sticks 4 and 5 on each of the sides' top/upper part. Make sure that there is enough space in between, sized to the width/diameter of your rod. This is where you will insert the ends of your metal rod / crochet hook. 13. Create the rack's base and a top shelf. For the rack's base, glue together 8 popsicle sticks like pictured above. For the top shelf, I glued together 2 1/2 sticks. 14. This is optional. I glued sticks on the back of each side. 15. Place the rack's base and top shelf on their places. These strengthen the rack and prevent it from swaying especially when the metal rod is removed. Make sure to always brush huge amount of glue on the sticks. Then place the rod on its proper place.

16. Let it dry completely. Then test the strength of your rack by hanging some dresses. and Ta-Da!

You now have a doll's dress rack! :D

Now paint it or glue patterned paper on it. You can design it with whatever you like.

I painted mine light blue. soo cute, isn't it?

Here is a simple tutorial on making your own dress hangers using pipe cleaners. :D

How to make your own dress hangers:

Materials needed: pipe cleaners and cutter/scissors (optional: beads and other embellishments)

Instructions: 1. Cut pipe cleaners 2 inches long. One hanger uses two. 2. Wrap around the middle of a 2-inch pipe cleaner the one end of another 2-inch pipe cleaner. 3. Insert beads to make it cuter. And you're done! So easy, right?

Test the hangers on your dress rack.

Then fill it with dresses!

I will be very grateful if you will share your thoughts on this by leaving a comment below. And don't forget to include the link of your creation too when you try this. You can also share photos in this flickr pool that I started. :D Enjoy!

busy with pastries

2011-10-29T22:19:00.001+08:00

Busy day. My sister received orders of 100 buko pies and 20 cassava cakes today, aside from their daily quota and the walk-in customers buying pizza from her Pizzeria. Sis and her angels have been cooking and baking since 5am! The orders were delivered tonight. They're just closing as of this moment. :D

Of course, I helped her. And I took pictures too.. :D

Trois Buko Pie

Trois angels busy packing the pies

Trois angels packing while selling other pastries and sweets to a customer

Trois Buko Pie handmade label

Aside from helping my dear sister, I also played with my baby boy and started with my new furniture project for my Blythes. Busy, busy, busy but still very happy. :D

I hope you are enjoying your loooong weekend too! :D Happy Halloween!

some thoughts on dolls and an inspiring friend

2011-10-28T10:11:00.001+08:00

I'm so happy today because I've found out that the readership of my blog is growing. :D And also because I feel that my muse is back. Yes, it was missing for a time. But since it is here with me now, I am going to make it official that I will start a new weekly post. Yey!

This project is something really close to my heart. Do you remember my girls Maria, Pepper, and Mariko? I think, I haven't introduced them properly here yet. Anyway, when I got pregnant and learned that I was carrying a boy, I stopped playing with my dolls. I kept them in my closet for the longest time. Now that we have transferred to our new little house, I had them displayed on the top most level of our bookshelf. I placed them high enough so my nephew and my son could not see them, unless we carry these little boys.

I've been dreaming of a doll house for my girls ever since I got Maria. But until now, they have none. After hearing Ben-Hur's lecture in Baguio, I got inspired to finally start my girls' house. And also, after being bombarded with pictures of my friend's doll houses (which is turning into a village now), I finally decided to turn my dollhouse ideas into reality.

This is just a glimpse of my friend's growing village. My friend's craftroom is getting filled with dolls! Click on the photo to visit her site. :D

So friends, I would like to announce that I will go back to playing with my dolls (when my baby boy is asleep). :D And that I will be sharing with you the development of my dollhouse on a weekly post, and on a cutify page dedicated only for my Blythes (Watch out for this!). I will definitely start this weekend. If you love dolls and have dolls, you can join me in developing a totally handmade dollhouse because I will also be sharing photos of how-to's.

I'm excited! :D I hope you are too! :D

Our happyness

2011-10-26T23:02:00.000+08:00

Perry started rolling on his tummy 3 days ago. It was a very wonderful experience for me and my dear hubby. We were also so glad that he succeeded while we were already with him. If he did it a day earlier, we would be late to witness this milestone.

He is now 3 months and 20 days old and is starting to own our bed at night. We prefer that he sleep in between us. It is our only chance to bond together as a family during weekdays because me and my DH both have work from 8 to 5. So it has always been a pleasure and a very good stress reliever for us to go home to a smiling little Perry.

He is our sunshine. :D

And Seth too, of course.

They are cousins but we want them to grow close like brothers. Seth is a year older than Perry. Soon, they are both gonna turn their grandma's house upside down. :D

Special Libraries' Congress in Baguio City

2011-10-25T10:56:00.000+08:00

I've been m.i.a. last week because hubby and I attended the 1st National Congress of Special Libraries of the Philippines (1st NCSLP) held at Hotel Supreme Convention Plaza in Baguio City. The WiFi access in our room was intermittent so I just enjoyed our trip without online connectivity. Hubby and I are actually academic librarians now but we are still active members of the Association of Special Libraries of the Philippines (ASLP). The topics discussed in the Congress were very informative and useful even for academic libraries. The speakers were all masters of their own field. The accommodation and food were excellent. So i would like to give Kudos to ASLP officers and board for a successful national congress! =D

Here are glimpses of what I enjoyed in Baguio last week...

Hotel Supreme's food are excellent! Well, except for the longanisa. I was expecting a more garlicky flavored variant.

... our hotel room

... and the city view from our room

... Mayor Mauricio Domogan's poetic welcome remarks

... company of friends and colleagues

... half slab bbq ribs with salad from Canto : a bogchi joint

... yes I finished this

... see =D honestly, it is truly delicious! =D

... if you happen to be in Baguio, I suggest you try this bogchi joint. It is located at lower Engineer's Hill beside 7-11 and in front of the DTI Staff House.

... Ben-Hur Villanueva's lecture on Designing and Re-designing your Libraries

... Ben-Hur made us create a 3-d image of anything under the sun with just a piece of colored paper. No scissors, no glue, and no crayons were used. I made a dollhouse. He inspires me. He told us that lack of materials or budget is not an excuse to stop a person from creating things. He is not just a National Artist, he could also be a master DIY-er. =D

... then he asked us to create a poster advertising our library. This time, we could use coloring materials. However, I only have a glue and 3 pens (red, green, and black) with me. So I made use of the different colored papers available. This poster is a collaboration between me and my hubby.

... I won these prizes for the poster. =D

The book on the left is really nice. It is a compilation of German illustrators of picture books and children's books.

Here are my favorite artists from the book...

(He's like a Heavy Metal artist. I love his art!)

Perry and I will surely have a good time looking at the illustrations in the book. =D

Weekend Baking - Apple Pie with Crumb Topping

2011-10-24T22:43:00.000+08:00

I have always been a BIG fan of apple pie, even McDonald's. My favorite apple pie was the one sold at the UP College of Law canteen when I was still in college. That was more than a decade ago. As much as I can remember, it has a cookie crust and a crumb topping. So for this weekend, I have decided to start my quest for the most delicious apple pie for me and my family's taste.

I searched online for various ways of making the crust, the filling, and the topping. And below is my first apple pie experiment...

Crust Ingredient & Preparation:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, melted

(however, I wanted a thicker crust so I increased the ingredient by 50% more)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix well and press into a 10-inch pie plate and up the sides. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely.

Crumb Topping Ingredients & Preparation:

1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, melted

3. In a bowl, combine all dry topping ingredients. Pour cool melted butter into the dry mixture. Toss and cut until small to medium sized chunks form. Break up large chunks as needed. Refrigerate until needed.

Filling Ingredients & Preparation:

3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon lemon juice (I used calamansi juice)
4 medium-sized Granny Smith apples and 1 large Fuji apple, peeled and sliced
(original recipe suggested 6 cups apple chunks)

4. In a large bowl, mix sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gently stir in lemon or calamansi juice, vanilla, and apples. Spoon mixture into the crust-lined pan.
5. Bake for 35 minutes and remove from oven.

6. Place the crumb topping mixture on top. Place back in the oven and bake for another 45 minutes. Cover with foil if it begins to over brown.

Allow the pie to rest and cool before serving.

Enjoy!

Family Rating:
me - 5
hubby - 5
daddy - 3.5
mommy - 3 (She wanted sweeter apples)
sister - 3

I hope my next apple pie experiment will satisfy my parents' and sister's tastes.

If you happen to try my recipe, please let me know how much did you enjoy it too. =D

D.I.Y. - Car Pocket Pillow

2011-10-15T23:04:00.004+08:00

My baby boy turned 3 months old 9 days ago. I made him a pocket pillow in the shape of a car. This is pure hand-sewn because I do not own a sewing machine yet. The front wheel of the pillow is quite deformed maybe due to my sewing. Nevertheless, the pillow is still cute. =D So here is how I did it...

Materials:

...and fiber fill. I forgot to include it in the picture.

Procedure:

1. Draw and cut your pattern on a manila paper. Download pattern here.

2. Trace your pattern at the back side of your patterned cloth. ***If you are using the same cloth for the back of your pillow, make sure to invert your pattern before tracing it for the 2nd time. If you will use a solid color cloth, like I did, you can trace your pattern either way.

3. Provide a 1/2 inch allowance from the line of your pattern when cutting the cloth.

4. Cut the windows of the car pattern. These will serve as pocket openings.
5. Trace and cut these openings on your cloth for the front of the car.
6. Trace and cut the 'car doors' (red arrows) that will serve as your car pocket. Trace and cut the wheels too, so your wheels will have a different color than your car body.
7. (The picture shows pieces of 2 cars, except the back.) Now, you should have 5 pieces for 1 car. a. front of the pillow; b. front wheel; c. back wheel; d. pocket; e. back of the pillow.

8. Start sewing your car windows. Cut the allowance to easily sew the curves.

9. Start sewing the pieces together. Start by connecting the wheels to the front body. The front wheel should be on the outside and only half of the back wheel should be showing.
10. Embroider the line separating the 2 doors on the front body.
11. Sew the pocket on the body. The stitches should look like an embroidered outline of the 2 doors.
12. Embroider your desired design on the front body.
13. Attach / Sew the front and back body of the car together inside out. Leave a small opening for you to insert the fiber fill. Invert the pillow case through the small opening.
14. Wash and iron the pillow case. (optional)
15. Fill the case with fiber fill.
16. Blanket stitch the opening.

And you're done! =D

Your child can hide toys in this pocket. Or you can hide surprises for your child here too.

Look at how happy my little baby is with his new pillow. =D

Happiness! =D

Weekend Baking - Carrot Apple Muffin

2011-10-14T09:31:00.003+08:00

Hello!

My Weekend Baking is a little bit early. I had to bake last night for my hubby's party at school today. This recipe is really delicious according to my dad, my number 1 food critic. :D

Ingredients:

Batter:

2 2/3 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (I used Saigon Cinnamon. yum!)

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 1/2 cups grated carrots

2 medium apples, peeled, cored & chopped (I used Granny Smith)

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional. I used Pili nuts again because I do not have walnuts in my pantry)

4 large eggs (I used 6 small straight-from-dad's-range-chicken eggs)

1 cup canola oil (You can use corn or any vegetable oil)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons calamansi or orange zest

Cinnamon Sugar:

3 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Procedure:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease muffin tin or line with paper cups. Set aside.

2. In a bowl, sift together all dry ingredients - flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Add carrots, apples and 2/3 of nuts.

3. In another bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, vanilla, and calamansi or orange zest. Stir liquid ingredients into dry ingredients. Mixed just until combined. Scoop into prepared muffin tins and top with the remaining nuts.

4. In a small bowl, mix together sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over muffin batter.

5. Bake for 25 minutes or until done. Cool completely before serving.

Makes 36 muffins.

The house was filled with cinnamon scent while I was preparing and baking this muffin. Yum!

Up next on Weekend Baking will be my first Apple Pie experiment. :D

Modday - Picnic Dress Love

2011-10-11T10:00:00.003+08:00

It's a beautiful time for picnics! The air is a bit cooler and the sun is not too hot to stay outdoors with your loved ones. I have always wanted to go on a picnic with my dear hubby and my baby at the Japanese Garden in Caliraya. If it will not rain this weekend, we will definitely go out and have some fun.

These are the dresses that I would love to wear on a picnic...

Sources: one, two, three, four, five, six

I still have the extra weight I gained during pregnancy. I have yet to ask my doctor if I am now allowed to start an exercise routine. Recovering from a C-Section delivery is not a simple matter. For my Mom, I am not a 'complete person yet'. I do not understand what it means but still I follow mom's advice on what I should and should not do while my wound is healing. So for now, all that I can do is visualize myself wearing these lovely dresses. bleh.

Weekend Baking - Apple & Pili Cake with Caramel Topping

2011-10-08T22:37:00.002+08:00

Hello!

It's a rainy Saturday. The weather made me want to curl up on the sofa with my sewing project and a cup of hot black tea. But it was impossible because Perry's yaya took a leave today so I had to do her chores (e.g. laundry) while taking care of my baby. Fortunately, in the afternoon, I got a chance to bake while my dear hubby is holding and playing with Perry.

I wanted to start a tradition of baking something special for my family every weekend. For the month of October, I chose to bake apples and cinnamon in celebration of autumn. I know, we only have sunny and rainy days here in our country. But I want my baby to grow knowing the four seasons and aware of the exciting surprises that each season brings.

For this weekend, I'm sharing with you Apple & Pili Cake with Caramel Topping.

Apple & Pili Cake:

2 medium sized Granny Smith apples
1/2 cup Pili nuts chopped

Dry Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Wet Ingredients:

2 eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Caramel Topping:

1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons butter

Procedure:

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease pan.
2.Combine and mix together all dry ingredients in a bowl.
3. In another bowl, mix the eggs with a hand mixer until light and foamy. Add oil and vanilla gradually as you continue beating the eggs.
4. Stir in the mixed dry ingredients with a spoon until the flour mixture disappears.
5. Add the apples and pili nuts and mix into the batter.
6. Scrape batter into the pan and bake for 40-45 minutes.
Prepare the caramel topping while waiting for the cake.
7. Combine all caramel ingredients in a saucepan. Stir to dissolve sugar. (I made a mistake here by not dissolving sugar before cooking over the fire, thus the sugary topping in the pictures)
8. Once the sugar is dissolved, cook over low heat, stirring continuously until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Cook for 3 - 5 minutes more.
9. Spoon the hot caramel over the still hot-from-the-oven cake. Let the cake cool completely before serving.

My family enjoyed it despite the sugary topping. We paired it with Twinings Apple, Cinnamon, & Raisin Flavored Black Tea.

Yummy! It is a perfect partner for your afternoon tea, specially on a cold and rainy day. How do you spend your stormy days? What traditions are you practicing or starting with your family?

Share with us your take on my recipe through the comment box. Be sure to mention your post's link too if you have a blog. Have fun baking! =D

there and back again

2011-10-03T14:34:00.005+08:00

Hello lovelies!

I am so sorry for taking a very looooong break from blogging. Being a new mom and working full time keep my hands so full. But now, I am back and ready to share my new adventures with you. :D

I have given this blog a make-over and have also subscribed to Pinterest and Bloglovin'. This is going to be much more interesting. :D

How do you like my new layout? =D