cutify my world

Barbie The Movie Doll and Hot Wheels RC Barbie Corvette

2023-06-12T13:45:00.001+08:00

Hello lovelies!

Who loves dolls? I just found out that you can buy Barbie The Movie Doll and Hot Wheels RC Barbie Corvette from Amazon at a cheaper price than at the malls!

Wearing a vintage-inspired pink and white gingham dress with a matching belt and full, pleated skirt, she’s all set to have the best day ever in Barbie Land. Her long blond hair is styled in a half-up do and tied with a pink ribbon, perfectly showing off her daisy drop earrings. She looks just like film Barbie with her daisy chain necklace! An adorable pink bracelet and heart-adorned pink pumps complete her look. This posable doll comes in collectible Barbie The Movie packaging.

She wears a three-piece plaid outfit, just like Margot Robbie’s Barbie does when she returns to Barbie Land in the film. Barbie doll is dressed in dreamy pastels from head to toe. Her pink, blue and yellow cropped jacket pairs perfectly with a puffy skirt and matching blouse. Her schoolgirl hat ties with a ribbon in the back, and even her petticoat matches the outfit’s all-over plaid print! She looks just like film Barbie with her tumble of blond, wavy hair. “Pearl” drop earrings and baby blue heels add the final polish to her ensemble. This posable doll also comes in collectible Barbie The Movie packaging.

Dressed in a surf-casual outfit, he is having the best day ever in Barbie Land! Ken doll rocks a pastel pink and mint green striped top. The matching shorts even feature working pockets! He looks as easy and breezy as film Ken with his surfboard, platinum blond hair, unbuttoned top, and white sneakers. This posable doll also comes in collectible Barbie The Movie packaging.

With a posable body and displayable packaging, the Ken-ergy is at an all-time high! Take home a part of Barbie The Movie with this collector Ken doll wearing his character’s first-look denim matching set. Ken doll’s all-denim look features an open vest and matching light wash jeans with premium details like contrast stitching, buttons and pockets throughout. He is styled just like film Ken with platinum blond hair, an unbuttoned top, and white sneakers. A glimpse of Ken logo underwear at his waistline adds an extra pop of personality!

Zoom off to Barbie Land with the Hot Wheels RC Barbie Corvette! It’s just like the 1956 Corvette Stingray Barbie drives in Barbie The Movie! Place 2 Barbie dolls in the front seats while stowing their accessories in the trunk that opens and closes. (Dolls and accessories sold separately.) The full-function remote-control vehicle boasts movie-accurate details with authentic Corvette stylings. Operates on 2.4 GHz frequency so that multiple remote-control cars can be played with at once without interference.

This is a collectible Gloria doll wearing a beautifully tailored suit in signature Barbie pink. Barbie doll’s three-piece look is pulled straight from the feature film. Polished yet punchy, pink has never looked fiercer! The satiny blazer and matching blouse are paired with pinstriped trousers that feature details like real pockets and fashionably split cuffs. Oversized, golden hoops peek out from her voluminous curls, while strappy metallic heels add a pop of rainbow color-blocking to her look. This posable doll comes in collectible Barbie The Movie packaging.

Which of these is/are your favorite/s? :)

xoxo, Ails

Unleashing the Future: My Unforgettable Journey with Robosen Optimus Prime

2023-05-18T00:00:00.003+08:00

Hello lovelies!

Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to bring the legendary Autobot leader to life in the form of the Robosen Optimus Prime. My husband ordered it during the pandemic. As a fan and enthusiast, I was thrilled to share my experiences and showcase the robot's extraordinary features on platforms like TikTok. However, amidst the excitement, an unexpected turn of events occurred, leading to a unique and unforgettable journey. Join me as I share the rollercoaster ride of my encounter with the Robosen Optimus Prime and the lessons learned along the way.

Like many passionate fans, I wanted to create content that would not only showcase the Robosen Optimus Prime's capabilities but also entertain and captivate viewers. So, I embarked on creating videos where the robot appeared to be dancing, synchronizing its movements with popular tunes. The response was overwhelming as viewers engaged with the content, appreciating the incredible abilities of the robot and the creativity behind the videos.

As my videos gained traction, I realized that not everyone was fully grasping the concept behind the content. Despite my efforts to clarify in the captions and descriptions that the accompanying Transformers toys were not the Robosen Optimus Prime, some viewers misunderstood and believed they were purchasing the actual robot. This led to an unexpected surge of purchases from the links I had shared, even though those were inexpensive toys.

Realizing the confusion and potential disappointment that buyers might face, I swiftly took action. I decided to take down the videos. I wanted to ensure that everyone involved had a positive experience, even if it meant admitting my own oversight in the process. This experience taught me valuable lessons about the power of communication and the importance of clarifying information. In the fast-paced world of social media, where attention spans are short, it's crucial to convey messages clearly and concisely. Additionally, it highlighted the need to be mindful of the potential impact and consequences of the content we create, ensuring that it aligns with our intentions and avoids any unintended misunderstandings.

As I continue my journey, I'm grateful for the experience, and it serves as a reminder of the power and responsibility we hold as creators. Let this be a tale of caution and a testament to the resilience and growth that comes from facing and learning from our mistakes.

xo, Ails

Espresso Machines: Top Picks for Home and Small Business Cafes in 2023

2023-04-17T19:16:00.005+08:00

Hello lovelies!

I started my small coffee shop last October 2022. And one of the major process of putting up the business is finding the best espresso machine in the market that is within my budget. Before my husband and I decided to start a coffee shop, we already bought a home espresso machine because we loooove coffee. Who doesn't?

Anyway, espresso machines have become an essential part of many people's morning routines, both at home and at work. These machines are designed to quickly and efficiently brew high-quality espresso, which is a concentrated coffee beverage that provides a quick burst of caffeine and flavor. For those who need a quick pick-me-up in the morning, an espresso machine can be a lifesaver, providing a convenient and reliable way to get their caffeine fix. In a work setting, an espresso machine can also be a valuable asset, as it can help employees stay alert and focused throughout the day, increasing productivity and overall workplace satisfaction. With a wide range of models and styles available, there is an espresso machine out there to suit every taste and budget, making it an accessible and worthwhile investment for coffee lovers everywhere.

Here are some of our top picks for home and for a small business cafe.

For home or office, there are a lot of affordable espresso machines in the market. Usually these machines can make 1 to 2 presses and 1 to 2 steams/milk frothing before needing a time to rest. Unlike commercial machines, these home machines usually cannot produce more than 2 cups of coffee continuously. It will need a short break before you can make it work again.

CASABREWS Espresso Machine 20 Bar, Professional Coffee Maker Cappuccino Latte Machine with Steam Milk Frother, Espresso Coffee Machine with 49oz Removable Water Tank, Stainless Steel

This Casabrew Espresso Machine has a newer version which has an automatic milk frother. But I prefer this one. You just put enough milk in your jug and use the steam wand/frother like a barista.

Gevi 20 Bar Compact Professional Espresso Coffee Machine with Milk Frother for Espresso, Latte and Cappuccino Burr Coffee Grinder with 35 Precise Grind Settings, Beige

Don't you just love how it looks? Imagine it on your counter top or in your coffee corner. This Gevi 20 Bar Compact Professional machine comes complete with coffee grinder and accessories like the espresso glasses and milk jug. You won't have to worry about anything else. Just make your coffee like a pro.

There are other home machines out there but I chose these 2 because of their sleek design and the steam wand. a good steam wand matters in creating the perfect milk foam.

For small business cafe, I would recommend a dual boiler espresso machine. You can continuously produce coffee with this kind of machines and you can steam/froth milk while you are pulling an espresso shot. It would save you time and would allow you to give fast and quality service to your customers. You can check out the following machines if you want to start a small cafe.

Gevi Espresso Machine & Coffee Maker - 20Bar Semi Automatic Espresso Machine With Grinder & Steam Wand – All in One Espresso Maker & Latte Machine for Home Dual Heating System

Breville BES920XL Dual Boiler Espresso Machine,84 oz, Brushed Stainless Steel

This next one is Italian made. It gives a completely different vibe when you serve coffee to your customers using this. You can also consider this in your cafe.

La Pavoni PC-16 Professional Espresso Machine, Chrome Black

If you have a bigger budget for your cafe, you can really go big on your machine and check this out instead.

Nuova Simonelli Appia II Volumetric 2 Group Espresso Machine MAPPIA5VOL02ND001 with Free Installation, Espresso Starter Kit, and Water Filter System

Which one do like the most?

Also remember that if you will buy an espresso machine, you might also need to get the following accessories.

Tamper with calibrated spring. Check the width of your portafilter baskets before buying this, there are different sizes that depends on the machine you are buying.

Knock Box. This wooden one is so slick!

Milk frother jug. This comes with different colors to choose from. Lovely.

Double-wall insulated coffee cup.

That's it. Get these and enjoy a higher level of coffee experience in the morning.

xoxo, Ails

Art and Coffee Collide: How I Used Relief Art to Add Depth and Dimension to My Small Business

2023-04-12T23:52:00.001+08:00

It's been six months since my last blog post, and I wanted to update you on what I've been up to.

As some of you may know, I retired from government service at the start of this year. It was a big decision, but I knew it was time to pursue my passions and explore new opportunities.

One of those opportunities was starting a small coffee shop business. It's been a challenging but rewarding experience so far. I've been learning a lot about running a business, connecting with customers, and making delicious coffee.

But what I'm most excited about is incorporating my love for arts and crafts into the coffee shop. I've always been drawn to creative expression, and I believe that art and coffee have a natural synergy.

That's why I recently added a moon on the wall of the coffee shop. It's a beautiful and realistic three-dimensional relief art that looks even more stunning at night. I've received a lot of positive feedback from customers, and I'm excited to continue exploring ways to incorporate art into the coffee shop.

Of course, I'm still passionate about crafting and art, and I plan to continue sharing my experiences and insights with you through this blog. I'll be writing more about the intersection of art and coffee, as well as sharing tips and tutorials for those of you who are interested in pursuing your own creative passions.

Also, I've been taking care of myself and my mental health. I've been practicing mindfulness, spending time in nature, and nurturing my relationships with loved ones. It's been a challenging year for all of us, and I hope that by sharing my journey, I can offer some inspiration and support to those who need it.

Thank you for your continued support, and I'm looking forward to reconnecting with y'all.

xoxo, Ails

Make Your Own "Buy a Coffee Card" for Teacher’s Day

2022-10-05T01:21:00.005+08:00

Hello lovelies!

We seldom express our appreciation to all the teachers in the world. One day of celebration is not enough to give them thanks for all the things they do in making our world a better place. This year, my kids and I would like to express our gratitude by giving them a cup of coffee!

Here is the making of a "Buy a Coffee Card" that we made for my kids’ teachers. I just googled some cliparts, designed the cards and printed it on a white cardstock/board. I let my kids color it and I assembled the coffee cup myself. We love the Crayola Colors of the World to color the skin of the people drawings on card front.

We also put cute human stickers on the handmade envelopes.

It was so fun! I missed doing papercrafts with my kids. I should do this more often.

Happy Teacher’s Day!

Xoxo,

Ails

My Breast Cancer Journey: From Diagnosis to Operation Day

2022-08-16T15:53:00.002+08:00

Hello lovelies!

I was diagnosed with invasive cancer last Dec 2020 few days before Christmas. We did not expect it because I was not feeling any suspicious thing going on in my body. I will share with you in this post how we discovered it.

Last March 14,2020 I was going up the stairs when I slipped on the first step and fell down face front. My breasts got bruised along with my arms and my tummy down to my legs. My whole body hurt from that fall and I couldn't immediately get up. My dear husband came to help me up but I refused because I wanted to do it on my own in order to feel what part of my body was broken. It hurt so bad I thought I broke my arms and my legs. After a couple of minutes, I was able to stand up. The only unharmed part of me was my head.

That was the day before the nationwide lockdown. But since the announcement was delayed, I still managed to go to work on Monday and helped clean and sanitize the library - with my bruised body. That day, I messaged our pediatrician who is also our family doctor and told her what happened. I also messaged our Oncologist friend. I asked them about my breasts because they were blue and I can feel some lumps. They advised me to have breast ultrasound. So I asked for a schedule from our Radiologist friend but she said, let the bruise heal first. And besides, there's the lockdown. Only the hospitals were open but we would not risk it because of CoViD-19.

I just treated the pain with hot and cold compress as advised by the doctors. And life went on. I forgot about it until I felt a lump again on my left breast in September 2020. So I went to the radiologist. She asked me during the ultrasound if I had my breast checked already by a specialist. I said no, then I told her what happened last March. She advised me to have it checked by a specialist. The reading showed that there was an irregularly shaped mass in my left breast and the biggest nodule is 2.5 cm. Her diagnosis was “Old hematoma vs new growth.”

I immediately sent the ultrasound report to my Oncologist friend. And told her about my conversation with the radiologist. She (Onco) told me that she can remove the mass or perform a core needle biopsy on her next visit in town. So I waited. But due to the high cases at that time, she could not travel to our town. She messaged me that I could go instead to Manila and she will conduct the biopsy there. But things were getting worse in Manila that time. I was scared to travel and go to a hospital. I told her that I will just wait for her here in our town.

I started to be more conscious of my breast after that ultrasound. Once a month before my period, I can feel a bit of pain in my left breast. It could be normal but because of the ultrasound, I know that I have to have it checked. My bff Xiaui, who is my Onco’s cousin, told me that the biopsy will be done in a safe clinic in Quezon City, not a hospital. She told me that it is relatively safe because there are so very few patients coming there. So I decided to move on to the next step. I messaged my Onco. I got a schedule on the morning of Dec 10 at St. Peregrine Surgical and Cancer Center in Quezon City.

True enough, the clinic looked so safe and clean. My husband and I were amazed to see that I was the only patient that time. The nurses brought me to a comfortable couch and handed me a blanket as I waited for them to prepare the operating room. Feeling secured and safe, I never worried about how the core needle biopsy will happen. So I laid down on the operating bed or table or whatever they call it and just followed my doctor’s instructions. She explained to me how the core needle biopsy works. Like there will be 2 needles, one inside another. The inner needle will get the sample of the mass while the outer needle will protect the surrounding tissue. This will prevent the tumor from spreading in case it is malignant. She told me that I will hear a “bang”-like sound (like the sound of a nerf gun) as the needle enters my body. Then she said, it will be done 6 times. And I said, “Ok, I can do that.”

Then she injected my breast with anesthesia. Waited a bit before she started the first bang. Unfortunately, the anesthesia did not work fast enough for me. I felt everything. I felt like a small bullet just pierced my breast and went through my back. My doctor asked me, “Masakit ba? (Does it hurt?)” I asked back “Ano bang masakit Doc? Hindi ko kasi alam eh kasi mataas ang pain tolerance ko. Pero naramdaman ko yun.(What kind of pain, Doc? I really don’t know because my pain tolerance is high. But I felt that.” Then we laughed. So she sent the 2nd bang. Ohhh it pierced again in a different angle but still towards my back. My doctor asked me again and I said, it’s ok Doc. Then she sent the 3rd. And I said, “Tagos hanggang kabilang suso yan Doc ah. (It pierced through to my right breast.)” And her eyes widened.

She was so shocked. She didn’t know I was feeling everything. Hahaha. She said I should not have felt those. So she injected more anesthesia and gently massaged my breast with her fingertips. After some more minutes, we resumed the biopsy. The last 3 bangs were unremarkable. I had no feeling or story to tell. Lol. So that was how it should have been on the first 3. Painless. Ahahaha Ok, so she told me that results will come out after a week or two. The nurses sent me back to the couch with blanket to rest a bit. Then I thanked my doctor and the nurses as we left the clinic.

When the anesthesia wore off, My left breast felt bruised again. And yes, the parts where the needle went through were blue. It lasted for more than a week. Then on Dec 21, my doctor messaged me that she already has the result and that she will call me when she gets home because she was driving. That message scared me. I was like, why does she need to talk to me? Can't she just send it to my mail? Although I’d love to talk to her, that message was just plain scary. Ahahaha i asked my bff Chacha, “whatever the result is, the doctor will always talk to the patient, right? So it can still be good news, right?” And she was like, “yes, don't worry it will be ok.” That lifted my spirit.

My doctor called around 8pm. She emailed me the result while we were on video call. When I read the result, my heart and my mind stopped. For a second or two. The result showed that it was "Invasive Cancer." Then my tears started to fall. It kept on falling while my doctor and I were talking. And she cried too. She told me what will be our next step. So she scheduled me for operation on the first week of January 2021. But told me that she will submit the specimen to her trusted pathologist for a second opinion.

The second pathologist confirmed the result that it was invasive cancer. That was before Christmas. And so we just had a simple Christmas celebration. My parents stayed with us the whole day. We did not talk much about it. My parents just asked me about the next steps that we will take. And they cheered me up by saying that everything will be ok.

At 7 am of January 7, 2021, I was inside the operating room of Medical Center Manila (ManilaMed). My husband and I checked in the day before so that they can test and prepare me for the operation. My Onco was also affiliated with PGH but she chose ManilaMed because the Covid cases in the former was so high at that time. Before the operation, I was given choices. I could have a Modified Radical Mastectomy, a Tram Flap Reconstruction, or a post-op breast reconstruction. She suggested the Tram Flap Reconstruction because I am still young, she said. That somehow, gave me hope that I will still have some time to live. You know, being given the news that I have invasive cancer, the first thing that came to my mind was that I am dying. But it isn't always so. Anyway, my husband told me that if a reconstruction is possible, we'll take that option. He said that if a part of me will be removed, a replacement of that part will hasten my healing process, at least, psychologically. And so we chose Tram Flap MRM.

My operation required a plastic surgeon aside from my onco-surgeon friend. I was glad my doctors were good friends, they worked harmoniously together. The operation went for around 7 hours. I can only imagine how tired my doctors were. My husband was worried the whole time. When I think about it now, I realized how hard the experience was for the people around me, loving me. Their ordeal was greater than mine because I was just asleep the whole time. This experience made me appreciate more my husband, my family, my relatives and my friends. The fight was bearable because of them. The burden did not feel too heavy because there were so many people helping me carry it.

I will park this story here and move on. There are a lot more new adventures to share.

xoxo, Ails

Weekend Sewing - Blythe Dress and Panties

2021-09-07T00:10:00.002+08:00

Hello lovelies!

Yesterday, I was able to do some sewing for the dolls. I ordered three factory Blythe last week for my nieces - Summer, Snow and Aila. And knowing that these dolls will arrive naked, I thought of sewing some clothes for them. Also, my cousin, Hazel, has been bugging me to sew some panties for her dolls too. So I started yesterday with the undies.

I watched a tutorial in YouTube on a very easy and simple panty pattern. Just trace the stock panty on a cardboard or paper and you will have a pattern. It was not that simple though. I did it then sew one panty based on the pattern and it turned out big. So I made some adjustments just to see how it will fit. And as I adjusted the panty, I adjusted my pattern too. Then I made another one and it fits perfectly. I made 5 with gray cloth aside from the prototype.

That panty was easy because you just need to sew the sides to connect the front and back. No sewing was necessary for the waist or leg holes. Undies of some recently released Blythe dolls are just like that. Just find a stretchable cloth, cut the pattern and sew the sides. So simple and easy. The cloth I used for the panties is from a real panty. It is new of course. Before the pandemic, whenever I go to the market, I look for cute panties with dainty designs. I have collected about 10 panties with stripes and little flowers on them. The colors are lovely too.

The gray panty I used yesterday has already been cut. I cant remember what I did with it. Probably a pair of long socks that I cannot find anymore! Lol. So I just used the remaining cloth for my prototype. Aside from the 6 panties, I was able to cut 2 more pairs of socks (one short and one long) from the remaining cloth. I will post a tutorial and share the patterns on my next post.

After the undies, I made a simple dress based on the pattern I got from the tutorial video of Creative 404 in YouTube. It was perfect for a stock Blythe body and for a Momoko doll although a bit short. But it is a little tight on top for an obitsu body with a bit of a bust. I might have to make some adjustments with that.

I am quite happy with what I have accomplished yesterday. What creative endeavor did you do last weekend? Share it with me in the comment section below. :)

XOXO,
Ails

Baking Banana Bread Using an Air Fryer

2021-08-20T20:52:00.002+08:00

Hello lovelies!

I missed baking. The last time I baked was almost a decade ago, when Perry was still 1 or 2. Now he's 10!

I have been watching a lot of YouTube videos on what bread to bake in my air fryer because we do not have an oven yet. I wanted to bake because there were times when I do not have anything to eat for snacks given my current situation (diet and lifestyle change; bitter taste due to chemo). I saw lots of recipes for sourdough, pan de sal, dinner rolls and pizza. But today, I decided to bake a banana bread that I watched from Pro Home Cooks. Having fruits in your snacks is always good.

I asked Lincoln to help me. He turned 5 years old last July and our fun and creative activities together have not been documented here as much as with my eldest. For years, I was preoccupied with other stuff and forgot how this hobby - blogging, together with arts and crafts and baking - makes me happy.

I prepared all the ingredients first before I asked Lincoln to join me. It's my first time baking without an oven so I prayed for our activity to be successful.

Lincoln wanted to do everything on his own. The only time he asked for my help was with the bananas. He said it was tiring. Hahaha We only used spoon and fork to mash it.

The baking pan I used was a round ceramic dish that can fit in my air fryer. When we put the batter there, it was almost full to the brim. There was just half of an inch allowance. I got a bit worried that the bread might overflow. I was not sure if it will happen. So I decided to transfer some batter in 3 ramekins.

Aside from that, I had to experiment with the temperature and length of baking time using my air fryer. I decided to try 150C for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, I wasn't sure if the inside and bottom of the bread were done, I decided to add 5 more minutes of baking time. Then after that, I increased the temperature to 200C for 2 minutes because I wanted a crisp crust.

And luckily, we succeeded! The bread was cooked, It has a crust that I love. The moisture is just right. And according to the boys, it was yummy! I could not tell because there is still that bitter taste in my mouth from my therapy 6 days ago. But based on how they ate the bread, I believe them!

So here's how we did it.

BANANA BREAD

Ingredients:

- 3 medium ripe bananas

- 1/3 cup olive oil

- 1/3 cup honey

- 2 eggs - 1/4 cup milk

- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

- 1/4 cup instant oats

- 1 tsp baking soda

- 1 tsp cinnamon powder

- 1 1/2 tbsps almonds chopped

- 1 1/2 tbsps walnuts chopped

Process:

1. Mash the bananas in a bowl. Mix all the wet ingredients together with the bananas.

2. Sift the flour, baking soda and cinnamon in a separate bowl. Add the oats. Mix thoroughly.

3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.

4. Add the nuts (almond and walnuts) and mix thoroughly.

5. Pre-heat the airfryer at 150C for 5 minutes.

6. Pour the batter into the baking pan/dish.

7. Bake at 150C for 30 minutes. (The ones in the ramekins were done in about 10 minutes.)

8. Remove from air fryer and let it cool down a bit before removing the bread from the baking pan/dish.

9. Serve and enjoy!

You can incorporate chocolate chips or raisins instead of nuts or all of them altogether. If you try this recipe, please tell me how it turned out. :)

xoxo,

Ails

DIY Miniature Coffee Shop

2020-03-12T17:15:00.003+08:00

Hello lovelies!

How have you been in a year? Did you miss me? 😊 Coz I missed you!

Let us make this comeback exciting by sharing with you a DIY miniature project that i finished the other night. I bought this from Lazada last June but i only had a few hours in 3 nights last year assembling its little details.

A ninja delivered it to me safely after weeks of waiting. I was so happy when I received this because the first time I ordered, the shop sent a wrong item. They refunded my money but imagine the frustrations I've been through before I finally have this.

When I opened the box, i saw that the items are packed separately. Each ziplock bags are labeled with letters so that you will know what it is for based on the instruction book. The box contains scissors, a ruler, a cutter, tweezers, craft glue and super glue. The shop description said that it has no dust (acrylic) cover and no musical box. So, this cafe only has lighting fixtures. My son would probably love it more if it plays music.

That night, I started working on the display shelves. Oh it was so fun! My heart was full as I went to sleep.

Then I got so busy with work so I set it aside. After a month, I was able to squeezed it in my schedule one evening and worked on the table and chairs.

I was not able to take photos or videos of each item in the set. But here is the last picture of what I accomplished last year. These are the menu boards and some more pastries.

Then, the other night, I felt the urge to finish my miniature cafe. The assembly was really easy except for the light fixtures that I will explain later. The picture below shows how I did the tulips. These flowers are so fun to make. I didn't know before that these little wooden beads would pass as tulips when used with wires and green crepe paper!

The cafe has 4 lights. There are 2 inside for the ceiling, 1 at the round signage and 1 under the umbrella. The first 3 are easy to put in place. My problem was the one under the umbrella. First reason is that the instruction book did not say how the wiring will connect to the switch. Second is that the wires of the 4 lights are equal in length but the one under the umbrella is the farthest and requires longer lines. So before I put the walls in place, I put the lights in their proper places and check where the lines/wiring will pass through. The pictures below will show how I did it.

However, it is still too short that I had difficulty attaching it to the switch. If you are going to make this, you should have an extra set of wires to make it longer. You should also plan ahead where you would let the wires pass so it will not be as visible as mine.

Also, try the lights if it is working as soon as you open the box and once again before installation. I did not try mine even before installation. When all are set and glued, I turned on the lights and it did not work. 😞 My dear husband will get a new set of batteries for this so I am still hopeful!

Here are some more close up pictures of my miniature cafe.

I ❤❤❤ this cake display and flower pots!

I ❤❤❤ the coffee maker!

Pretty neat sandwich bar!

Here is the side view of the cafe.

And a close up photo of that.

And this is the side where the switch is (and where the music box should be!).

This is the top view.

A close up image of the umbrella table.

I hope you enjoyed the trip to my mini cafe. Let's have coffee! 😊❤

xoxo,
Ails

Playing with Air Dry Clay

2019-03-18T15:57:00.003+08:00

Hello lovelies!

Last Christmas, Santa gave my sons this cute kitchen play set that Perry has requested. The play set is not just for play cooking. It has tubs of clay and some molds to encourage the child to play with clay and develop creativity. Now that those tubs of clay were gone, I bought an air dry clay from the market. I had the chance of knowing this type of clay when I looked for some party loots for Perry's 7th birthday. The clay used to be in small tubs but when i came back to buy again this year, it was just packaged in resealable plastic bags. It is very cheap but it is perfect when making toys or miniatures from clay. No baking is needed.

Last night, I decided to play with the air dry clay and the kitchen set. Ivy joined me and we created a lot of food stuff for Lincoln to play with!

I started making sunny side up because my son like it and he always use that mold when playing.

Then Ivy made an apple. It's the biggest one in the picture. I made the rest. There's no mold for that so we sculpt it ourselves.

I also made bananas without any mold while Ivy was making carrots.

Aside from those, I made fried chicken legs and Ivy made lettuce and colorful seafood (crabs, lobsters, fishes, and shells).

We had fun playing with clay but our joy was doubled when we see how much Lincoln enjoyed our creation in the morning.

The clay dries up fast. It is still soft when dry but it retains its shape even if you press it. But it can be torn apart or gets easily destroyed if you intend to. It is not like the baked clay which turns hard and plastic-like. But still, I want to create more miniature stuff from it for my dolls soon. Also, I will try painting some of what we made to see how it will react to acrylic paint.

How about you? How did you enjoy your weekend? :)

Laguna's Anilag Festival 2019

2019-03-15T14:43:00.001+08:00

Hello lovelies!

Our province of Laguna recently celebrated its annual Anilag Festival last March 2-9, 2019. Anilag is from the words "Ani ng Laguna" if I am not mistaken. It showcased the products and landmarks of all the towns in Laguna. It also celebrates the talents and skills of its people.

I went there after office hours on March 6, 2019 with my dear husband, my Lincoln, and Ivy. Perry had a fever that afternoon. I wanted to cancel our date but Lincoln was crying "Go! Go!" He can already understand what we were saying or planning to do. So we pushed through with our plan and left Perry and Lola Linda at home.

The first thing we saw when we enter the Provincial Capitol grounds were the landscapes and plants of various organizations. I like this Bonsai Village so much! I dream of having some Bonsai plants in my garden.

We also enjoyed visiting the town booths. I admire the artistry and craftsmanship of the people behind the booths. I have limited pictures taken but I will share it here.

Paete, Laguna is known for its wood carvings and paper mache products. Lincoln got 1 of these paper mache horses that i also enjoyed when I was a kid.

Siniloan, Laguna featured a painting of its famous Buruwisan Falls. It is my home town and I have been to the falls 3 times when I was young. I will share about it more next time.

Famy, Laguna featured their famous 'salakot' or wide-brimmed hat. They also have this cute bamboo miniature house! I love it! If I could only buy that for my dolls. haha

Mabitac, Laguna featured their church. I really admire how they use the coconut shells and other natural materials in designing their booth.

Victoria, Laguna featured their famous 'itik' or duck. We bought fried itik and salted egg as pasalubong from there. Yummy! We also found my dear friend and Lincoln's Godmother, Dulce there.

San Pablo City made this realistic giant fish on the other hand probably to represent their seven lakes.

Magdalena, Laguna also showcased their church. Lincoln wanted to climbed all the stairs he could find! Even with the small house in Famy!

Lumban, Laguna is known for embroidery and piña fabric used in most Barong Tagalog and other formal wear.

We also found this house made of recycled plastic bottles. It's cute but I can't remember the town it was from.

We left early after eating dinner there because we want to go back to Perry and check on his condition. We did not see any activity while we were there. My brother's family went on the last night of the festival and they said that it was so full of people. There were live bands playing. The schedule of the festival was available here and here and more photos here. I hope next year, I will be able to share with you all our towns and more.

xo, Ails

Big Bad Wolf 2019

2019-03-14T08:08:00.001+08:00

Hello lovelies!

This post is a tad late but I still want to share my experience. There was this HUGE book sale that comes only ONCE a year in Manila - the Big Bad Wolf at World Trade Center in Pasay City. It offers millions of books at very huge discounts! Plus, the sale was open 24 hours for 10 days! And when you go there at different times in a day or on different days, you'll find different books on display! It will make you want to just stay there!

On the first day, February 22, 2019, I went there with Laiza, with my dear husband, and my feverish 7-year old son. My son was sick but he insisted on coming with us when I mentioned that we were going to a huge book sale. And since I knew how much he likes books, I brought him with us. It took us 3-4 hours from our home to get to the venue. But we didn't mind the long drive/traffic because we were excited to see what books were waiting for us!

Despite his condition, Perry was excited to see what's inside the hall!

I spent my first couple of hours browsing for Non-Fiction books that I could buy for the LSPU library. Laiza, did the same in the Fiction Section. Then when we met near the cashier area, we browsed together under the Crafts and Hobbies Section. I found a lot of useful books on sewing, technology and livelihood there.

We finished at around 1pm because our stomachs were already growling. There were food stalls just after the cashier area and I enjoyed this delicious Mango Graham float! Yum!

After eating, we decided to call it a day so we could get home early. We were all happy with our loots! Aside from the books we bought for the library, here are the books we bought for ourselves...

Dear Husband's graphic novels! We love Batman, Superman and Wolverine! Who doesn't? And also Neil Gaiman!

- Captain Underpants - Perry's favorite book!
- He also chose the Blue Planet and the Lego I Love that Minifigure books.

- The Fish Girl is also a graphic novel that my dear husband chose for Perry.

- For Lincoln, I bought the Snug, Bug, Rug (an activity-sticker book), The Three Little Pigs (with the Hippo App for augmented reality experience), and the On the Go (a search and find book like I Spy).

When we got home, I was still yearning to go back. And I did. I went back there with the Library Committee on the 5th day. There were lots of Harry Potter complete series set which was not available on the first day and even on last year's sale. I was able to grab a set for the library for Php 2,900.00 less 5% discount because I am a Librarian! Yay! For the library, we were able to buy 217 titles from those 2 visits.What a feat!

Then I bought 3 of the following set (plus the Snug, Bug, Rug). One set for my kids and the other two are for my little bro and little sis' kids.

- The Mindfulness Puzzle Book, I bought for mom because she loves puzzles.

- The Human Body is a fun book because it was designed in a way that kids will see what's inside the human body when they use a magic torch! How cool is that!

- The Make Buildings book I bought for Perry is to encourage him to hone his drawing skills. He said, he wanted to be an engineer. Then I influenced him to dream on becoming a doctor. But he still goes back to dreaming on building stuff. I just wish for him the best. :)

So there. In the end, I realized I wasn't able to buy a book for myself. My time was consumed on looking for stuff to grow the LSPU collection that I forgot mine. Haha All the more reason to go back next year!

xoxo, Ails

Gardening

2019-03-12T13:51:00.001+08:00

Hello lovelies!

Have you ever planted a fruit bearing tree in a pot? I have always marveled at photos I see in facebook of fruit-bearing trees (with LOTS of fruits!) in a pot. So when my son has a tree planting activity, I took the chance to buy one tree for our home. I bought balimbing trees for his school project and then I kept a kamias tree for ourselves.

We had a huge kamias tree at the backyard but it died. It used to bear around 5 baskets of kamias fruits every week. My aunt Bella had a steady stream of income coming from that tree.

I hope that this tree will bear as much fruits as our previous one.

Aside from the tree, I was also able to buy 2 mature strawberry plants with 3 runners. How lucky was that!

Here are the runners...

So we cut it from the main plant and planted it in a pot.

We placed the strawberry plants in the coolest area in our yard. We hope that these plants will bear us sweet and delicious fruits.

What are the plants in your garden? Share the link to your garden in the comment section so we could visit you there!

xo, Ails

Cravings

2019-02-20T21:53:00.001+08:00

Hello lovelies!

I have been craving for some Trois Food House's baked mussels and crispy lechon since last night!

Now, tell me that I am not the only one!

XO, Ails

Perks of a Bella

2019-02-20T09:27:00.001+08:00

Hello lovelies!

Last January, I bought myself a planner at National Bookstore because I didn't get to complete the "collect stickers for a 2019 planner / travel organizer promo" of Starbucks. Initially, I was looking for a dotted notebook so I could try bullet journaling but as I was browsing through the shelves, I found this cute planner for women!

It is a Belle de Jour (BDJ) Power Planner, which was designed to empower Pinay women to live their lives to the fullest. It has different covers but I chose this leather covered one.

I bought it because it has really cute and engaging pages.

And on top of that, it also has a booklet containing some "Perks of a Bella." It has a card that you can present to affiliated shops to get discounts.

It also has 60 vouchers from various establishments.

With all these, the Php 680.00 cost of the planner is worth it!

Then yesterday, I was able to use my first voucher at Mc Donald's. It's a free McCafe Iced Coffee when you purchase any Ala Carte meal at any McDonald's store nationwide.

I presented my booklet to the McDo crew at (Hi-Way) Sta. Cruz, Laguna and he told me that he doesn't know about it so he called the floor manager for assistance. The manager told me that they didn't receive any memo regarding that promo so they could not help me. She even told me to try another branch. I pointed out that the promo coupon states that "from ANY McDonald's store nationwide." So I asked her if there's anyone that they could call and ask about the promo. She said "none."

So I told them, "Ok, wait. Let me just take a photo of this (booklet & card) here so that I can report this." Then she said, "Wait." She took the booklet & card and looked for another manager. The other manager knew about it and instructions were given. So they processed my order and my free Iced Coffee. BUT, they took my coupon. They told me that they have to present the coupon at the main office to answer for the free coffee they gave me. I wanted to argue, for the reason that I will tell later, but the free iced coffee (instant gratification) was all i needed at that time. So I just let them take my coupon.

Here's my free McCafe Iced Coffee with my double cheeseburger.

The reason why I wanted to argue that they should not take my voucher was this. The booklet states that we just have to ask the store representative to write his/her name and signature, branch, total amount, and date of purchase at the back of the coupon. We should attach the receipt to the completed/signed coupon and keep it. Why? Because if I use 30 coupons by September 2019, I get 10% off my next BDJ Power Planner purchase. If I use 35 coupons, it is 20% off. But if I use 40 coupons, I get 1 FREE 2020 Planner! If I use 50 coupons, 2 FREE Planners will be given. I just have to keep all transaction records and send to their office via snail mail before September 30, 2019.

How can I complete at least 40 coupons if 1 was already taken away from me? I hope that this will not happen to any other Bella.

But I was and still am grateful for the free iced coffee. Thank you BDJ #PerksofaBella and #McDonalds!

XO, Ails

Valentine’s Cards

2019-02-11T20:31:00.001+08:00

Hello lovelies!

This afternoon, after work, I helped my son make some Valentine’s cards for his teachers. I opened my stocks of paper flowers for him to use.

He had fun combining petals and choosing micro beads for the center.

These are his finished cards. The printed “Happy Valentines Day” message was from the Hey Bae - Valentine Collection from the Little Sisters Studio at the Creative Market.

His message for Ms. Jo is just sooo sweet!

How have you been preparing for Valentine's day?

xoxo,
Ails

BlythePH Christmas Party 2017

2018-02-15T19:14:00.001+08:00

Hello lovelies! It's been a while.

For my return, I'll be sharing with you photos of these lovely girls and boys who attended the Blythe Christmas Party last December 9, 2017. Yay!

This was the 2nd time I attended a Blythe Meet up. The 1st was a Halloween Party. It was a very fun experience because I got to know more people who love collecting, customizing, sewing for and playing with Blythe dolls. I also got to know more about these cute little dolls.

We just met in a cafe inside a quiet mall and played with our dolls there. There were gifts and raffle prizes too!
<3 p="">

"Are you ready to see the pics?"

"Uhh... Yeah..."

Let's begin then!

I made these crocheted cowls as give aways to the early birds because I ran out of time to make some more for the other girls.

I brought my Charlotte (Charlotte des Fleurs) and Enya (Lavender Hugs) to the party. Charlotte was wearing a Dolly Jane dress and a cute Marc Vandro headdress. Enya's lovely gown was from Vandro and her hat from Bambi.

My girls with Snoe (Snowflake Sonata) and a custom boy by Vandro.

Ms. Noreen's lovely girls

Cute customized girls ...

... with their customized brothers (or handsome boyfriends, I am not so sure which is true).

More lovely girls

And there's Merida (I'd like to call her that). These girls got thick and luscious hair. They're not stock but they are so beautiful. Michael takes real good care of them. He sews real nice too.

These lovelies are rocking the crocheted reindeer hats.

We also met these lovely Santas.

And... these Kenner Blythes...

... the grail dolls.

Isn't she beautiful?

Group shot of the ones who stayed behind until past 6pm.

This is me with my girls and the 2nd prize - Rainy Days outfit set. Yay!

And Vandro won the grand prize! Dainty Meadow, a Middie Blythe.

These are more 'loots' after the party. Some are gifts, some are raffle prizes. The dress and blouses are from Vandro. The hat from Bambi. The headband from Charlie. The necklace from Nina.

These aren't all the pictures I took that day, of course. And there are more dolls that I wasn't able to capture. But these pictures are enough to show how much fun it was to play with friends and new acquaintances.

Before the event ended, another meet up was scheduled. I hope I could attend the next one. It's a Prom. And there will be a Prom King & Queen! <3 p="">

Lovelots,

Ails

Dollies and Friends Meet Up / Mini Doll Convention 2017

2017-03-01T17:00:00.002+08:00

Hey lovelies!

I was in heaven last February. It was my first doll convention experience and it was WOW! Do you know that feeling when you are surrounded by beautiful things and by the people who created it? I was floating the whole day. It was surreal!

This post is loaded with photos because I want to share with you what was heaven like.

These are my girls that I brought with me. Alexis Emerald was wearing a Dolly Jane's dress. I love it!

These blythes have the prettiest stands!

These beauties are customized by Nina Alagao.

Some of Dolly Jane's creations. I love her set-up, and her girls! They're all soooo cute!

Miss Beauty Doll 2016 Shawnah Bautista Vasquez was also there. <3 nbsp="" p="">

Barbie collection

Poppy Parker and Fashion Royalty dolls

Disney Animator

Susie dolls by Rudi Teruel

Monster High dolls

Hot Toys! <3 p="">

Cholo couture

Cholo <3 p="">

Marc Vandro couture

Sylvanian Families were also there.

Baskin Robbins miniature set-up with Licca/Jenny dolls

Kitchen miniature set-up. The dolls were using the miniature cookbook I gave them. <3 p="">

A Pullip seamstress in her miniature shop

Miniature bahay na bato. It was inspired by the house of Dr. Jose Rizal.

A miniature four-poster bed inside the bahay na bato

The miniature bookshelf was inspired by Rizal's cabinet in Intramuros.

Miniature wooden furniture inside the bahay na bato.

This handmade miniature treehouse is amazing!

I know for sure that the Ruruko girls love living there.

And there's also a shopping mall in heaven!

Who wouldn't want to visit this place?

It has a fitting room for all those beautiful dresses.

A comfortable stool while waiting for your friend to shop.

It also has jewelries...

... and perfume.

And lots of signature bags...

...and purses.

With lots of shoes...

and boots to choose from.

Now, you see why it was heaven?

xo,

Ails

My Etsy Shop is Now Open!

2017-02-23T16:35:00.002+08:00

Hi! I'm ecstatic to announce that I've finally started an Etsy shop! Woohoo!

I have been dreaming about having one for a VERY long time. Now that it is a reality, I have to work harder on some of my dream projects. My shop has only 4 items up for sale for now but I hope that you find time to visit it. Just click on the image and you will be directed to it.

My next project would be to edit the look of my blog. Haha. This baby has been neglected for quite a while. But I am very thankful that people still come to visit this from time to time. I am also extra grateful to those who still leave positive and encouraging comments here. <3 div="">

Love, Ails

Thank you!

2015-11-06T12:02:00.001+08:00

Hello lovelies!

It's been more than 2 years since my last post! And to start off this 'comeback,' I am sharing with you a drawing I did for the National Teacher's Day. I made this to create cards for my little one and my nephew's teachers.

I also drew an image of the boys in their uniform...

The boys had fun coloring the images. They also assembled the cards for their teachers. Here they are working on the images...

And here is a sample of their card...

It was a very fun experience for all three of us. And I am glad that their teachers loved the cards. I know because they told me and they even asked me who made the images. :D

Eniweis, I will be visible here again. I will also finish re-designing this blog. And I would like to THANK my readers for continuously coming back even if I was away for 2 looong years. THANK YOU SO MUCH! <3 nbsp="" p="">

Love, Ails

Jogging is good for the heart

2013-09-01T23:11:00.002+08:00

I ran again today. Yay! It's been so long since my last workout. Once again, I felt the tiny thousand needles pricking my arms, legs, and tummy as I jog. Do you also feel that? I'd like to think that they are targeting my body fats to loosen up and be flushed out of my system. I really hope and pray that's real . Lol

I should do this more often!

Everyone's Vision Petron : National Student Art Competition

2013-08-19T23:30:00.001+08:00

Hello lovelies!

Thirteen (13) Art Club members joined the Everyone's Vision Petron : National Student Art Competition. The deadline of submission of entries was last August 16, 2013 but we submitted theirs last Tuesday, August 13, at the Project Secretariat Office in Makati City. Below are just samples of the students' artworks.

We left Laguna around 11 am, so we stopped by Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center to eat our lunch - picnic style. :D I didn't know there's a lagoon in there! We took some fun photos, of course.

We reached the Project Secretariat Office 30 minutes before 5pm. Good thing they closes at 7.

Then we stopped by Megamall to view some art galleries. We were lucky because 2 artists were opening their exhibits at 7 pm that day! I like their style. Buhay Mendoza has that Heavy Metal effect on me that I really, really love. While Neemo calls the child in me for his fun and kyut monster art. I really hope that their exhibits inspire the art club members to find their own style and to dream of having their own show there someday.

This trip with the art club members has been really fun and exciting. It was also very refreshing for me. Its good to be in the company of those who love and create art. :D

Coptic or Chain Stitch Binding with the LSPU Art Club

2013-08-07T08:55:00.001+08:00

Last month, a group of college students from the Laguna State Polytechnic University asked me to be their adviser in the art club that they are forming. I was excited! I couldn't say no to that request. So I took the initiative to prepare the necessary documents. The students met last July 18 to finalize the club's constitution and bylaws and to elect their officers. And so the club was born. I was happy and very proud of the art club members for taking this step. Now all we have to do is get it recognized by the Office of the Student Affairs and Services.

Then last Thursday, August 1, I taught them how to make their own journal with the use of coptic or chain stitch binding. Only 13 students arrived that late afternoon because there happens to be a big event at the university at the same time. Those who came were excited for their first lesson, so we started the activity even if there were so few of them.

I provided them with handouts with colored photographs of the step by step process. It's up to them to put their own notes on the process. I also lent them 8 of my curved needles for sharing. That's all i could find in the market. We also made use of the empty electric fan box for the cover boards.

It was my first time teaching a craft to a class of college students. It was a fun experience for me. I hope they enjoyed the class too. I hope to become a better teacher after a year because through this. :D Our next activity would be drawing portraits. Some members volunteered to teach this. I will be part of the class this time so I'm really excited! Our assignment is to draw a portrait and show it to our "teachers" so they can assess our skill in portraiture. I'm excited for next week! Yay!

Toy Convention 2013 at Megamall

2013-06-17T15:00:00.002+08:00

My dear husband and I celebrated an early Father's Day last Saturday at SM Megamall. We watched Man of Steel. We both enjoyed the movie even if he read somewhere in ESB that it is "Man of Sh*t." I'm not good in writing a review so I'll just rate it with 5 of 5 stars. What I love most about it is how the story made Superman a human that we can relate to and not an alien God.

Then we attended the Toy Convention 2013 at the Mega Trade Hall. Hobby Shop was there selling Dals and Pullips. But sadly, no Blythe, no Sylvanian Families, no miniatures. I hope next year some miniaturists will join to exhibit or sell their crafts.

This is a photo heavy post. Enjoy!

"You know nothing, Jon Snow!" <3 p="">

Barbie Couture de Manila

BJD family

I do not know if this is Ken or a Fashion Royalty male figure.

cosplay

Alodia Gosiengfiao was also there.

cosplay - cute kid in costume! I'd also love to dress up Perry someday, but only if he wants to.

cosplay - Superwoman and Spiderman!

Spirited Away

more cosplay

Fashion Royalty , Poppy Parker

Monster High Dolls

One Sixth Republic

vintage toys/ cars/ lunchboxes

Lunchdate at Ted's in Sta. Cruz

2013-06-11T17:01:00.001+08:00

My in-laws came for a short visit last weekend to attend my sister's wedding. Before they go back home last Sunday, we brought them first to Ted's. It was our first time there. I really love their design and color. And we all enjoyed our food. I am definitely coming back for more. This is a photo heavy post, be warned. :)

(All photos were taken using Samsung S3)