a blog of chips & a jar of dip

Wife's Limerick

2016-03-15T20:47:00.002+04:00

you could have packed your bags and never looked back

Take that train, take your heart, why bother ask?

Who cares about what ifs?

Ohh but we did

In a few days, two years I'm your wife

- i bet you wouldn't have it any other way

‪#‎march29‬

‪#‎AABBA‬

‪#‎mydryhumour‬

😂

For Every Woman

2016-03-13T08:12:00.000+04:00

image is not mine (ctto)

whether single or married

Who is a partner, who chose to be alone

Who broke her heart, who is engaged

Who loved most and loved bravely and who loved in hiding

Who miscarried, who is a mother

Whose joy is abrupt or loss is recurrent

Who endured labour, who went to C-section

Who has regular PMS or those which all days are the same

Who is dependent, who is both the parents

Who are mothers to nephews, nieces and those who surrogate, adopt and foster

Who is a breadwinner, who is a homemaker

Who is the Lady Boss, who is competitive, who chose to submit

Who has obvious pains, whose scars are hidden

Who breaks the roof when she laughs, who covers her mouth when she giggles

Who is a daughter, the youngest or the eldest

Middle or the only girl

To one who is a sister, a friend, a carer by choice, by profession or by volunteerism

For one who is almost one and all

And judged for not being

You are WORTH IT and WORTH EVERYTHING

‪#‎onlybadattitudemakesapersonless‬

DIY Christmas Ornaments

2015-11-09T12:21:00.000+04:00

it's beginning to feel like Christmas.

So I decided to sit down and refashioned my old bangles into Christmas ornaments!

For the materials, I just used my old metal bangles since I have plenty of them which I don't see myself wearing anymore. Actually, they were all from my sister that it took long for me to put them into 'to let go' bags.

I just formed a ball using 3 similarly designed and sized bangles and secured the top and bottom with metallic wrapped copper wires. I was planning to put actual Christmas balls inside but found some pearls and other metal accessories and gave it a try. They turned out fine though. I also used nylon strings for the danglers inside so it will be clean.

... and tadaaaahh!!! the finished product, to my heart's delight.

Yema Cake Recipe

2015-10-12T14:50:00.001+04:00

baking should be accurate. But measurement conversions also vary online and even the oven temperature depending on the brand. This recipe is based on my conversions during the time of baking and in my oven experience . If it helps, I bake using Bompani model 664.40GGFS gas cooker - on the lowest rack. You can bake as you please depending on how familiar you are with your oven.

This is one recipe I just copied online and made some adjustments which got thumbs up from those who tasted it.

Ingredients:

§ For the cake:

Part 1

50 g butter stick (or nearly ¼ c butter as ¼ cup butter converts from 55 to 60ml, see what I mean about conversion?)
250 g Philadelphia cream cheese spread
1 110 ml or 1/3 c + 2 tbsp can evaporated milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp + 1 tsp cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt
6 egg yolks
1 tsp lemon juice

Part 2

6 egg whites
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
¾ c + 2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

§ For the icing

1 can condensed milk (I used Alaska)
3 egg yolks
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
2 tbsp butter
grated cheese
slivered almonds

Cooking Instructions:

1. Part 1: Over simmering water, melt together cream cheese, butter and milk. Once melted, let cool to room temperature. Using a mixer, add in flour, cornstarch, salt to the cream cheese mixture. Then add in egg yolks and lastly the lemon juice. Set aside.

2. Part 2: In a separate bowl, mix egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy. Add in vanilla then gradually add sugar and mix until stiff peaks form. Fold in to the cream cheese mixture. Make sure everything is well combined.

3. Pour batter into a 10.5-inch round cake pan covered with parchment paper. Bake the cake in a water bath for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until done at 180° C. (This is based on my available pan and oven temperature. Most recipes call for 8-inch round pan and baking on 375° F, I wonder how tall it is when it rises.)

4. For the icing: Combine 1 can of condensed milk and egg yolks and cook in low heat. Add in vanilla and almond extract. Cook until it thickens enough to spread. Add in butter.

5. Let the cake cool and pour over the icing. Top with grated cheese and slivered almonds.

Note: I used large cheese grater but the finer one is suggested so it will have smoother finish.

Happy baking!!!

An Adoptee’s Life

2015-06-25T14:32:00.000+04:00

don’t get me wrong, this is not a hate campaign or a social media attention seeking post. So long gone are my angst-ridden, multiple ear piercing, wanting to express college days (and looking back at it, the multiple earrings fashion is just too tacky now, ewww!!).

I am also not a product of a love affair with a wealthy congressman or aristocratic family that existence had to be kept, so it is not worthy of a tell-all biography. However, while the story of my adoption doesn’t belong to those requiring combing histories and rummaging from long buried registration books, being adopted does not exactly fall to the society's norm. While not socially condemned, the movie and TV series plots have already made a general impression of adoption synonymous to unwanted. With this, to an adoptee, the joy of an ordinary day out in pigtails and sipping Zest-o is robbed off by the children’s teasing and the innocence is crushed by the adult’s harsh repetitive reminder of not belonging to the normal.

Top 8 things, situations and questions adoptees deal with

1) The questions like: Who are my biological parents? How do they look like? Why did they give me away? Lucky me, I know them from the beginning so I don’t have to ask these questions and the follow ups. But to those with untold stories of conception and birth registration, everything else begins with these questions they are dying to find answers.

2) The gossipers. Coming from a small town and from family of teachers, my adoptee’s story was as simple as growing up with hushed adult conversation at school, market, PTA meetings, funeral or any gathering about my adoption. It was an on-going competition who can ask in front of my face if I know whose tummy I came out from and an endless confirmation I am the one. I had to deal with it until they were too old to remember or died.

3) The endless teasing growing up and the branding. Adopted becomes your family name.

4) Listing your biological parents in the spaces provided. I am not being ungrateful, but my adoptive parents have long been gone so I put my biological parents name in my wedding invitation. My reason was simple: it feels crazy being invited by deceased people (at least to me). I was serious about it and also felt the urge to honor my other set of parents on that special moment in my life. My birth has already been registered under my adoptive set of parents, they were listed as my parents in all my legal documents and they were the only valid beneficiaries under the Philippine law, so on matters I can decide on, I want to cross out one of that ‘adoptee’s what ifs’. In this matter, when to and when not?

5) There is one or two you loved most or more. That is the truth even if you always answer equally when asked. And you will be asked hundred times growing up and even as an adult. It is already a torture to a child with one set of parents and being asked constantly, imagine if you have two.

6) Family health history left blank. I wasn’t hospitalized too often growing up that the blood type and genes I carried never bothered me much. If I filled up medical information in the past, I guess I never paid attention to them as my parents look healthy that time. Abroad, with legs spread my OB casually asked my family's health history, and I have no answer.

7) Visa processing – as a result of my idleness and wandering while folding the clothes, I realized how Visa application and processing can be delayed, denied, expedited or approved according to your blood relation. #justoneofmyrandomthoughts

8) Security questions and account verification.

CCA: And just for confirmation Ma’am, can you please provide me your mother’s maiden name.

Me: Concepcion or Torres? Oh, why can’t you simply ask my shampoo brand?

Bittersweet16

2015-03-04T14:59:00.002+04:00

Grief is real

Denial was yesterday

And I guess I am coming to terms with anger

But pain is omnipresent

Deep, black, indefinite

My Bittersweet 16

2015-02-09T13:02:00.002+04:00

there are just not enough words to describe the pain of loss. You get consolation from thinking even grief and sorrow will also end. But while you are at the bottom of the pit and everything is just dark, you just endure the feeling. You cry, you bleed, sleep through it, cry again, bleed again and sleep through it again.

You just have to survive the day, a dear friend says.

My bittersweet 16, my heart is still bleeding for you.

You, Me and My Hormones

2014-09-11T18:05:00.001+04:00

My Top 10 Truths, Discoveries and Realities of coupling (and the daily mundane things)

marriage is a union of 3 beings: the man, the woman and her hormones.

I am not making it up.

Don’t give me that look.

To my husband:

1) That is truth no 1. And they are likely to be a part of our married life. That crazy monthly time my collarbones rolled into fats and my breasts are glaring at you like eye popping stress toys. Yes, they are the crazy times you are close to wringing my neck and packing my things.

2) I don’t mind you snoring. Please sleep tightly (and do not suddenly blab over breakfast that you did not sleep well the night before). Unless it starts to sound like a power saw taking down a hundred year old Acacia tree then I start to worry.

3) Changes are inevitable such us:

a. The need for a bigger bed even if I want to sleep wrapped like a baby panda

b. The maxi pads and the likes in the monthly grocery and the process of taking them from the trolley to the conveyor for the lady cashier to scan

c. And the embarrassing moments you need to change the stained sheets

4) My alarm wakes us up early and I hit the snooze button and I just snuggle, then the alarm beeps again and I hit the snooze button again and I just snuggle… That is the best part of my day.

5) When I say I am fine you go out with boys and I go to the coffee shop alone or stay at home, I am being honest. There are days we just want to do our things without disturbance or without having to explain or require us to be sociable.

To my girlfriends:

6) You could be very ecstatic about the D-day or too occupied you cannot put into words what you want to say in your wedding vows. Do not say things only because it is sweet --- because you will be bound by it and anything you promise can be used against you. If you promise to always put food on the table, it will really be a pressure.

7) It’s a different set of rules for each couple. For one: "Never go to bed with an argument unresolved" – it does not apply to all couples at all times. When you want to argue, you want to argue. And sometimes it’s the third party, hormones, that does the reasoning – and you have no explanation to that except your period. You just need to wake up like it’s another day.

8) The process of doing the laundry, drying them, folding and sorting is an endless task.

9) The evolution of assets: When you insist on piling too many take-away or leftover foods inside the ref, that piece of appliance is ‘his’. When the freezer door won’t close there’s the urgent need to defrost, that becomes conjugal.

10) You will wish sometimes socks have their own life and find their way to the hamper or to the drawer. Or socks are like your clingy, overly romantic girlfriend who cannot live without a pair. It will make your OC life peaceful and easier.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IMAGES HERE ARE NOT MINE NOR I BOUGHT THE RIGHTS TO USE.

Top 8 ways in making it a lovely ride… on Trains

2014-01-14T12:50:00.000+04:00

we are all *** card users and just sharing a public transport. Thank heavens they have really made our life so much easier and made it possible for us to be in 4 malls in one day cheaper and faster. But when rush hours come and our survival instinct is up or we are so engrossed with the music accompanying us, we tend to forget about how to be more considerate with other people and make their lives easier as well not only ours.

Top 8 ways to be ‘nicer’ on trains or any other shared-public transports

1) Please fold your baby strollers… especially during rush hours. I understand you are a parent but they are ‘heavy-duty’ or industrial type and you carry 2 with you and other people also need to take the Metro.

2) Please observe hygiene and respect: do not pick your nose/ear, clip your nails, pluck nose hair and then hold in the poles. We all know it happens but it is worse when we can see them. Please also remove your shoes and wiggle your toes when you reached home.

3) Queuing is a sign of discipline, being cultured and civilized. If you don’t do that especially on train doors, facility entrance or top up machines, please google what is the opposite of the words. We all want to be home early or reach our destination fast and ‘untouched’.

4) Gossiping is bad enough (guilty as well)… more so when done inside the public transport in a very loud manner everybody else hears what are your workmate’s affairs.

5) Everybody wants to be comfortable or safe while enjoying the Dubai cityscape along Sheikh Zayed, but please share the STEEL POLE. DO NOT LEAN like you were at home sitting in your sofa. Hugging it is also selfishness.

6) If you have big hair that has gone unwashed for days or even just newly shampooed, it will be sweet if you tie it during the ride. It is big and in a jam-packed Metro no one wants to be brushed by it or caught between them while you head-wiggle, side-sweep it, laugh, shake or move your head at every stop.

7) If you don’t want us to watch you, please avoid PDA with girly giggling. In a place where it is not allowed and reminders are all over, it will not be helped if we begin talking about you, smirk on you or roll our eyes. You are awakening the green-eyed monsters in us.

8) I don’t blame your genes they gave you wider hips, the issue is you don’t want to move out of the door and you are 8 stops away. Oh! Please do not block the drive w ---err the doorway.

___

6 probable reasons you (book lovers) missed your hero in real life

2014-01-07T14:00:00.001+04:00

– or took long to find that ‘One’

1 - You were reading Twilight instead of partying on a Friday night so you missed your Edward but never mind.

2 - You fell in love with Mr. Darcy, but he existed in eighteenth century.

3 - You wouldn’t want one less than Nicholas Sparks’ next inspiration or one who wouldn’t meet up Judith McNaught’s expectations – you forgot they are fiction.

4 - Human-beings can get disappointing, boring, annoying etc… etc… the Superheroes? They are just perfect --- and you end up all alone waiting for your knight in shining armour or a caped hero to save your day if not the world.

5 - There are just too many books, too little time. Too many to fall in love with, it’s difficult to pick just one. Err, are we talking about choosing a book date for Valentine? Top 10 Reasons Why

6 - Didn’t Jane just live happily even after with Mr. Rochester? --- for the life of living in the last book you've read.

---

Top 10 Facebook Friends Turn off

2013-09-08T17:56:00.000+04:00

n0 matter what the reason is, deleting that FBF from list or hiding his/her updates from the news feed is not an option:

1) he/she is more than virtual

2) you are within the same circle of friends

3) he/she hasn’t offended you intentionally in any way though (just annoying you)

4) it will be too harsh, rude, immature, start conflict, etc… etc….

… and most of all, the world does not revolve around your selfish whims, so the law of existence and manners requires you to coexist.

I can tolerate occasional selfies or even the proud mommies, food is fine (as long as interesting and appetizing) but constant updaters as below, steer me away from the news feeds:

10) The Grammar Murderer. YES it is a crime to mislead your friends, confuse them and give them headache staring at your jumbled alphabet all in one post. There are forgivable lapses that still send your message across but if your rants, drama, food porn or photo caption leave us muddled, you are not giving our FB friendship justice. And you're doing it hourly.

9) The Copy Cat ...says arf! arf! Enuff said.

8) The Bad News Bearer / Bubble Burst-er. The news is already headlined with crimes, calamity, terrorism, wars (try Middle East papers or channels), etc… etc… so if you can help, please refrain from ranting how ugly the day seems or your life is. Just pm your close friends.

7) The Athlete …who sends so many game requests and updates. Okay, I want you deleted.

6) The Online Diary Keeper. Dear FBF, If we are not your mom, your sister, your BFF, your immediate superior, stalker or the priest or your life coach, we need not the tiniest details of your day or your reaction to everything. We cannot promise to love you unconditionally and chances are your will irritate us or prompt us to gossip.

5) The Preacher/The Righteous. The news feed is not a pulpit especially if you are the only one doing right things and everybody else is doing wrong.

4) The Trigger Happy / Gullible …who shares everything even the hoax, those showing support, prayer or respect by sharing images of those suffering from sickness and gruesome pics… please share wisely.

3) The Beauty Queen / The Weight Watcher. Please wait for us to acknowledge that you are beautiful in our eyes, no need to put in the caption and we don’t need the update in the kilos lost, we don’t swap clothes.

2) The Seller …no need to tag us of your latest collection especially those described ‘plus size’ or ‘Class A imitation’. Be sensitive.

NOTE: The Sellers include those who regularly post what they have shopped recently, the effect is the same.

1) The War Freak. Please keep the list of your enemies, frenemies or rivalry with you including the reason. Blind item also included. You are not giving the person a fair trial and it just defines you more than your enemy.

__

Top 10 Joys of Home-cooking

2013-08-05T15:10:00.000+04:00

The pantry smells like garlic factory and so do you. Boiling vinegar doesn’t cure the odour all the times. Okay, I have problem with odours giving away what you have had for lunch but still I look forward to each day with a grocery visit, veggies being tossed to the wok and serving delicious meal ('delicious': well, at least to my taste buds and to a hungry basketball team).

Top 10 Joys of Home-cooking. TOP - the first things that came to my mind.

10) Budget friendly. Good restaurants with good food and great service are expensive. Treating out yourself more than weekly will surely hurt your wallet and dent your savings for a new gadget or a new hobby (and so I realized especially if you are a couple and you both love good food). So, just style your food and light some candles and the night will be as romantic, you can keep the supposedly 'municipality taxes & tip'.

9) Left-overs lovin’. There is magic upon discovery that you have a piece of carrot, crab sticks and some green leaves lying in the fridge. You come up with a soup other than instant and you can put your name in your dish. Soon you’ll be able to write your own Nigellissima. *winking with tongue sticking out*

8) Especially cooked/personalized cuisines. Ho Fun noodles is too oily, the dip is too tangy it makes you dizzy, etc…, etc… they just happen and leave you bloated and disappointed. Home-cooking lets you spice up your favourite just the way you want it. If you want, you can also plan your own theme nights.

7) Cures instant cravings. Seafood Paella on a Tuesday night? Why not? And you can invite over your best buddies and get tipsy on red wine.

6) Instant presents. There are just day-before invites and you don’t know what to get a male friend. It’s rude to come empty-handed. The crowd’s favorite is surely a hit. Just make sure it’s not in the host’s menu list.

5) Unlimited food choices. You are not limited to what the resto is offering and not limited to one order’s serving. The fusion can happen at the comforts of your own home and you can have all the California Maki rolling till you can barely breathe.

4) Healthier and more hygienic options. Go meatless and substitute the red, use olive oil or none at all, bake instead of fry when applicable. And if you’re a type who’s always doubtful what’s on your plate, you just know what goes and went into your Vietnamese spring roll.

3) It is the shortest way to a man’s heart or your in-laws’ hearts. Remember: it is courtesy to assure your mother-in-law you will not starve her son, your own mother will be proud of it. He comes home looking forward to what you cooked up and it is a more harmonious day with a sumptuous breakfast… and you live *happily ever after.

*happily ever after – that is if you still believe in happily ever after, because happily ever after is not true, or otherwise boring.

2) The joy of fellowship. It just follows that your house easily gets full with family and friends when you share good taste and good food and the laughter just never ends.

1) More than anything else, cooking is therapeutic and gives you that sense of accomplishment. When they offer you compliments and you see they just emptied their dish.

Did I mention you can: take a picture and self-promote at FB? *lol*

___

To My Groom, With Love

2013-07-24T12:58:00.000+04:00

So finally it dawned on me

Shall I be nervous or just be merry?

Whatever the ring means, let it be

Soon a beaming bride, full of glee

Looking back, ours is not a smoothly paved path

We are both work in progress, we have ups and downs

We have days of laughter and unspoken love

We also have stormy days when calm cannot be found

The next few months will be more of a challenge

And more about love and patience will be unearthed

“It’s not my shade of blue and must have a touch of green.

And oh, please decide fast about the ring; isn’t the cake too sweet?”

Dramatic and far from composed, I will surely be at times

Anxious about tiniest details, while you’re so relaxed

Then suddenly it’s a full scale war we cannot hide our wrath

But no matter how crazy, please show up and read your wedding vows

---

The copycat says arf! arf! - Top 10 Dangers of Copying

2013-07-08T14:58:00.000+04:00

You ask yourself, are you just imagining things or just overly assuming? But just like a photocopy machine, you post a hobby's pic on your page and one FB friend comes up with something ‘sooo the same’, even the angle how it was taken. Impressive yet far from unique. You just got your fringe and the next Friday she has her new profile pic with her bangs newly trimmed, then the blue nails, then the next weekend date… etc… etc… Inspiration is one thing, imitation is another.

Initially you think it was coincidence; suddenly you like the same thing or in the same line of thinking (at the same time). But when coincidences become too obvious and too often even your vocabularies are reappearing (and even your mother starts noticing it) you feel robbed and it begins to piss you off.

While it is so tempting to just copy, so painless to become an echo or so easy to live under the shadow, there are dangers of becoming a copycat.

1) It’s Facebook irritant, again, especially when it is too evident and too frequent but never convincing. So imagine how many FB friends you annoy.

2) Content scraping is plagiarism.

3) And doubly offensive and insulting when you try to rephrase and the grammar gets crazy.

4) A counterfeit LV bag is a counterfeit LV bag. It will show when it’s not original.

5) You will not experience failing and falling flat - then getting up and doing better on next try or if you failed over and over again, having something to laugh about yourself.

6) You miss the thrill of discovering things yourself; the excitement of experimenting because you just wait what she posts next, what she does next, what she wears next.

7) You will remain a shadow, you will never get a life. You will remain an echo, you will never have a voice.

8) You will miss being different, you will miss being the inspiration, you will miss being real. Your only fan will be yourself.

9) You’ll get used to copying, it will retard your brain.

10) You will lose friends and don’t get new ones, real ones.

Top 10 reasons for giving it a second chance

2013-05-01T14:02:00.001+04:00

(This not a getting-back-with-each-other 101, I am no expert in being nice.)

one men’s magazine I stumbled upon said that 62% of couples who broke up tried reconciling at least once. True enough, in this age of social networking and electronic stalking, you cannot just make a realistic I-don’t-want-to-see-your-face-ever-again dramatic end to a relationship. Chances are, she is deliberately showing off her new navel ring and he is posting now zit-free face and check-ins out of revenge and after a few days or sometimes months, the reconciliation is announced in their new FB cover page.

Elizabeth Taylor married (and divorced) Richard Burton twice. Well, she was Elizabeth Taylor – intense and she did not want to mourn and never hid her affairs. It could be wrong for you and it could be right, it could be worth it, it could be getting in the same hell twice. But for those who have tried, the below reasons sit on the brighter side:

1) Closure – if you never had before, it will be nagging at you. So either you start calling each other special nicknames again or part again in a more friendly way - like a Hollywood couple. It will spare you from what ifs.

2) 2^nd chance – everybody deserves it. When it comes to relationships though, only if one is hinting it and both of you are unattached. So be careful, do not mistake one sms of curiosity or concern with wanting to get back.

3) Impulse. Because you just dropped the bomb out of hormonal rage triggered by sleep deprivation, immaturity, insecurity or anything ugly that day – and you’re too proud to take it back.

4) Prove detractors wrong. If the plug was pulled by people other than the two of you, you were peer or family pressured and you want to put an end to your misery.

5) Forgiving is healthy. Including forgiving yourself.

6) Change of heart. Time heals all wounds, heartbreaks change you as a person.

7) Less pretensions. You are pursued again and you can skip the getting-to-know-you-phase, it’s dreadful, remember? It will be same old you, same in laws, same old fights but more understanding. And same old perks that make you happy.

8) You already know the extent of one’s folly when shove or her craziness when scorned.

9) Sweet revenge. If hatred is eating you and you want to cut him/her with your crushed ego. But it will be unhealthy and exhausting so I don’t recommend it.

10) LOVE.

Sugar Rush - Top 10 Signs You Are Hooked to Candy Crush

2013-04-02T20:25:00.000+04:00

Doves for Dedication

2013-02-24T22:34:00.001+04:00

Project 2 : Dove soaps give away

Description : For Baby Gale on her Dedication

Discoveries : Convenience of Japanese stores (like Daiso, Japan Home and the likes)

Challenges : 1. Innovation, again, lack of crafts supply in the UAE

2. Precision, as I was working with paper. It will look messy when paper has gone through too many folding.

Materials used :

· Dove soaps (small ones)

· Tempura paper (19.7 cm x 21.8 cm) – choose the pattern with shimmering strands, it works best for wrapping

· 1.6 cm width pink and 1.2 cm silver ribbons

· Accents : Rose buttons and pastel colour rose accents

· Craft glue

Procedure (and practical tips):

· Tempura papers lining: 1 sheet cut into 3, to be used as lining or initial wrapping of the soap. The width should just be enough to cover the soap from end to end. Secure the lining with craft glue.

· Actual wrapper: wrap the soap like wrapping any gift. This is the best wrapping technique considering the shape of the soap. You might need to cut a few centimeters of excess paper on one side so it will be in exact size with provision to folding and pleats if you want. Pleats will add texture and layering before placing the ribbon and accents.

· Wrap around with ribbon on top of the pleats. Layer the 2 ribbons with the wider one underneath. Use craft glue in securing the ribbon ends.

· Attach the rose accents on upper right corner giving allowance for the label. For button like accents, you can attach it by inserting the uppermost ribbon in the holes. For regular rose accents, you can simply glue them.

· Attach the label and it’s ready for drying.

*** credits to Mommy Yin for the soap idea

Chocolates & Crafts

2013-02-24T22:20:00.000+04:00

Project 1 : Christmas Tray of Goodies

Description : Holiday corporate give away

Size : Various Sizes

Challenges : 1. Must be elegant while practical

2. Limited options for Christmas ornaments in the UAE – store-bought is just too expensive

Materials used :

· Trays in various sizes, gold or silver in colour

· Christmas colour fabric ribbons – at least 2 colours as per your colour motif, 6 - 7cm in width, length will vary depending on your bow style

· Red and gold Christmas balls – in various sizes and pine cones

· Glue gun

· Silver or gold soft metallic wrapper

· Double sided tape

· Craft wire or any similar soft wire

Procedure (and practical tips):

· Make large bows from the ribbons. Use craft wires to secure, lock and put together the ribbons and bows. Using craft wires will also help you tie, stretch and style the bows easily. There are various kinds that you can try. Make at least one of gold and red bows and put them together. I find big ribbons more appealing as they give the hampers more character.

· Place accordingly in the corner of the tray and add balls and pine cones using glue gun. Target areas where glues will be hidden. For larger trays, add a few more balls at the opposite corner. Be careful not to overdo your accents though. Also, work on the combination of matte and glossy – make sure they don’t clash.

· Fill the bottom of the tray with soft metallic wrapper as base. Use glue gun to hold it in place. This will fill the space and elevate the chocolates when placed.

· Put double-sided tape to the whole surface where chocolates will be placed. Leave them for a few minutes or what I did, I lightly wiped some parts of the surface with a damp cloth so it will not be too sticky. Chocolates should be lightly adhered only to the base otherwise, wrappers get stuck on the surface – ugly and messy.

· Time to put the chocolates. Group according to size and wrapper, it will be easy on the eyes. I put bigger ones on edges so they can also support those smaller once at the centre. Don’t forget the gift card.

Blocked-listed - Top 10 Reasons You Are Blocked in FB

2013-02-05T17:04:00.003+04:00

You’re now an Ex-Facebook Friend (ExFBF). Top 10 Reasons why!

#1 He is completely unaware – maybe his account is hacked or is now 'conjugal' and she wants you blocked. Move on sister.

If you’re a He, choose from reasons 2 and 3.

#2 You recently broke up – and either your Ex is too hurt, too guilty or is hiding something.

#3 *Your ExFBF deactivated her account. Same effect, you cannot peep on her dinner updates. Sniff! Sniff!! But if you found out from common friends her daily check-ins are in the news feed, scroll other 8 other probable reasons below. Good luck!

#4 Accepting your friend request was wrong in the first place. He/she is just making it right this time. Puhlezz set him/her free.

#5 You’re stalking the person. It is creepy as much as it is annoying and you deserve the 'blocked' list.

#6 *The right to privacy and the right to choose friends – she is just practicing both. You also have the right to get mad or feel bad but there’s nothing you can do about it.

#7 He or she is too hurt.

#8 Life is better off without you and your updates. It's harsh but... (deep breath, shrugging shoulders)...

#9 You’re not really friends. And he/she wants his/her innermost thoughts, feelings for the day, worries, realizations, activities, pictures of her favourite pets, likes and etc… to be amongst those he/she is happy to share them with.

#10 You’re an ugly past – or an ugly truth. Everyone deserves to live a happy and peaceful life so is your ex-FB friend. If he or she wants to move on and what you keep on dragging is ugliness, you will be 'unfriend-ed' or 'blocked-listed'.

she/her is replaceable with he/his

#11 will be: you are related to the Ex, or closer to the Ex, wherein you wouldn't care.

The same applies to suddenly finding out you were 'unfriend-ed' (oh! what a word). But on a lighter note, if you cannot control what you post or what you like, share or comments, at least you can control who knows what you do.

Whatever, the bottom line is the person doesn't want to be reminded of you. Who knows, she's doing you both a favour.

Top 10 Pre-nup Agreements

2013-01-13T15:22:00.000+04:00

I have no millions under my name to protect or book royalties to expect, but as we all know living under one roof and sharing one bed means all of you exposed to the other half including your skin pores. Two people no matter how nice will disagree on the smallest issues and the pettiest of things can send them down each other’s throats.

So following my Sweet Assumptions, I am passing my Top 10 Pre-nup Agreements. Sweetie, I know you have yours topped with ‘stop writing about the tiniest details of our lives’ but before that list gets signed and sealed, please refer to below:

#10

Bookshelves for my books – everything else we can negotiate or can wait, but not this indulgence. I need them to keep sane. ‘Ayt, I promise to give away to college students the romance novels from Book Sale so we will not have to keep those you are ashamed of piled in the cabinets.

#9

Pressure Cooker – we need kitchen aids to prepare better meals and we need this to tenderize beef!

#8

Spacious kitchen. Sweet escape.

#7

***Pressing clothes – sweetie, I can do the laundry without complaining, even hand wash your knitted pullovers if necessary. But please let’s leave to the dependable Mr. Laundryman downstairs the job of pressing your dress shirts, we will make more friends and it will both save us from distress.

#6

***Let me off to the grocery store alone when we are in a hurry or hungry. You’re just so wonderful accompanying me to the grocery, really. Not all men do that happily more so volunteer, but when it’s lunch or dinner time and we’re dizzy, you know the fastest way is to pick your trusted brand or pick whatever you already have in mind. Deciding which brand of honey doesn’t have to be like making a history. #iloveyou

#5

No action thriller movies – like Taken or psychological thriller Orphan. I know watching movies together is one of your ideas of ‘quality time’, thank you. But please, we have it established I have a china heart for torture in any form and we will just end up in a row if you force me to endure movies that stir ultra-heightened emotions. Knowing you are just nearby is already quality time with me. Consider it your ‘me’ time - I’ll chill some Heinekens, pop some corns, you can invite over the boys.

#4

Bad hair days – we will wake up with one or come home with one. Not necessarily because of each other but one will be inevitably pain in the ass to the other. The same way I bombard you with 1 new sms/sec that drives you crazy. Please continue being patient and understanding.

#3

Understand PMS-ing – Stop sneering, I’m not making it up, promise! Every grown up woman goes through that… every month.

#2

The endless teasing and the bad sport – it’s like cats and dogs, like cause and effect, the one attracts the other like magnet. So either we end up rolling on the floor laughing, me crying or us fighting. But I guess we have to live with that. We have years of practice.

#1

Happy pills – remember we are stuck with each other: a vase of flowers once in a while can brighten our day, or a pup when we are settled will allow us think of other living things, and space for our own hobbies and interests will give us room to grow individually, etc… etc… let us not forget those along with dinner dates occasionally.

*** Emergency situations can be negotiated.

sweet assumptions...

2013-01-02T21:12:00.002+04:00

He left it there

On Christmas day

Sitting in my closet

Said nothing

(probably for fear I will write about it) ;-)

But still I am assuming

After all, he sent an sms

To have it fitted for my finger

#sweet assumptions

-122412-

Red Tags - Top 10 Drawbacks of Online Shopping

2012-12-05T23:37:00.004+04:00

Single, working and tired at the end of the day I always have the reason to run to the mall.

I have all the reasons from catching up with the girls to dinner cravings – except shopping. I dread the thought of going to the mall and purposely getting something. The process of having to go visit several shops and get specifically what I have in mind – it just takes too much of my time. Then getting disappointed Size 6 shoe is out of stock or that Size 6 is not standard. The long queue is another thing (impatient eh!). With my 5-ft frame I get swept by throngs of eager shoppers and their shopping bags during Dubai shopping seasons.

On most occasions, I end up empty handed with what I need to buy and excessively spend on my favourite shops. It’s too late before I realize I overstocked of body butters and shower gels. And every so often, I end up purchasing something that I will regret before the train gets to the first stop - it’s just that I get so weak in the knees with the sight of oh so tempting 'blings' dangling in front of me and all reasons are rolling in my mind why I deserve another reward then feel guilty.

With that established, it’s easy to explain why I got hooked with online shopping. Well, if not entirely hooked like a bratty shopaholic, at least lured into shopping unplanned and on a regular basis while wriggling my toes underneath my office table. The greatest convenience is I just can do it anytime of the day in between and while taking calls and sipping my green tea. Strategically-sized discount tags popping up in my inbox in the middle of important mails. Discount marks that psyche one into thinking he/she is saving instead of spending – tsk! tsk!

Who would have predicted online shopping will be as common thing as Facebook readily accessible as long as you have an e-mail ID? But there are also drawbacks to the convenience of shopping on a click.

1) The Facebook Profile Pic Shock – you fell in love, you clicked ‘buy’, when the package arrived, the actual is a far cry of what is advertised. #sobs

2) The morning after regret – you gave in, probably because of the hormones raging, when everything else subsided, you received the sms and the amount is deducted from your available limit. You ask yourself: 'Oh boy! Did I really make that unnecessary purchase again?' Then it’s too late.

3) ‘Til death do us part – if he snores, you have to live with that for the rest of your lives, annulment is more expensive at this stage. Somewhere in the links you are too lazy to click says refund will just be a headache, they will be ‘glad’ to give you that as store credits instead. Fine print: you’re stuck with your purchase.

4) Along came Mr. Wrong – and you’re just too excited dear Mr. Aramex finally came knocking at your doorstep and surprise!!! It’s 2 left shoe in the box or not the item you paid for. If it’s their mistake, they can exchange, you just have to wait for another day. However if the item has to be shipped from somewhere, you have to wait for another 3 weeks. #goodluck!

5) Long engagement – you stare at your ring and the stone stares back, sometimes you ask: will my order ever come?

6) Online shopping is to online dating as actual shopping is to actual dating, to real shopaholics nothing substitutes the joy of the real thing.

7) Authenticity check – what an extravagant savings even mom is impressed. But as you cannot feel or sniff, authenticity cannot be guaranteed. #megawatt doubt

8) The lies, the scams – they lurk in legit sites, sweet ramblings, roses at hand, they get you into thinking the business exists and after you send your money they’re gone as fast.

9) Communication – the lack there of and you feel hurt and ignored. 1) line always busy, 2) you were kept hanging, 3) can’t give the real stat, 4) the standard dialogue and lies, 5) etc… etc... - and you are raised to a full scale war.

10) Hit and miss – you’ll only find out how it fits on first date.

Top 10 Reasons It Is Wise to Know When to Shut Up

2012-11-15T13:52:00.005+04:00

Poor you if you’re caught on video ranting. The world is completely turned around on you and the next thing you knew is your poor accent is mocked. You are judged, sized up and condemned by Facebook users – completely unaware that the way they react and comment mirrors what exactly what they strongly disapprove of. You shot stardom along with the bad reputation (thanks to the amateur video of a 'concern' passerby).

Let’s face it, the world is filled with highly-opinionated creatures and we are inclined to babble non-stop until we get what we want or we get tired. Simply, we think that it is the world’s obligation to hear and listen to us and abide by our standards. But of course the world would not.

Thus, it is wise to learn when to shut up. There are battles best won with a smile. And if a smile is hard to crack, take defense instead by biting your tongue.

Why it’s wise to know when to shut up?

1) Not all battles are worth fighting, not all issues are worth commenting, not all arguments are worth winning and not all people are worth talking with. If it will cause more damage in the relationship than mending, think which is more worth-keeping.

2) Smiling it away just puts bully off guard.

3) When it comes to gossipers, the best defense is cutting ties. If your passion is different, find the like minded fellas. Life will be more peaceful and relaxed. If by any chance you’re the current talk-of-the-town, don’t worry, all whispers die down when there’s a new headline.

4) Truth has its way of coming out. Sleep well, sweat not.

5) Heard about less talk less mistake? Especially if the topic is not your niche. Silence is better than plagiarism.

6) You learn a lot from listening.

7) When emotions are at rage, you feel and think differently. Most of the time, you’ve already said the regretful lines before your senses knock you up. Fights end up you taking all the blame even for the oil price hike. Bad.

8) Choosing what you hear is healthy. Or if you want to window shop uninterrupted by insistent staffs wanting to touch your hands, there is a facial expression called blank stare, try it. There are just 2 downsides: either they will think you are possessed or crazy, but they will give up.

9) In the end, all the negative things you say against the person are used to measure you up. It is doing you more harm than the one you back stab.

10) It is safer to live in the Philippines – at least you won’t be surprisingly slapped with a libel suit or accused a cybercriminal.

Labour of Love

2012-10-21T00:44:00.000+04:00

J and M Wedding Invites

Challenges

1) Colour motif is royal blue (with Silver) – I find blue masculine for a wedding

2) Paper open size is restricted to maximum of A4 as we will be printing digitally, off-set will be too expensive with the quantity required of 130 nos

3) After choosing from the initial proposed designs, Bride wanted to include their photo (not my specialization)

Final Product

· Cover

o Blue colour boards folded into A5-size portrait, with 2 ends meeting at the centre

o Die cut with asymmetrical coordinated waves

o 2 diagonal slits to hold loose inserts

o 2 punch holes at the centre to insert danglers

· Loose inserts

o 3 pcs loose inserts printed on 250 gsm linen textured white paper

o Cut smaller than A5 to fit into the cover

o Inserted through 2 slits, one on the upper left corner and one on the lower right corner

· Finishing touches put together

o Pearl-finish paper dangler with rounded corners and one side cut with wave to match the cover, punched at one corner, hung diagonally

o 75mm-thick Silver colour ribbon made into a tiny bow

o Silver coated elastic cord to hold the dangler and bow, looped into the two punch holes at the cover

o Silver wedding-themed accessory hanging from the bow

Labour of love– 10-12 persons working together into production for nearly 5 hours

The Perks of Being 35 (and Single)

2012-08-21T18:30:00.000+04:00

It’s legal to drink, there’s rarely a hang over (when you are over thirty) and you can crack a Tequila night anytime. If drinking does not appeal anymore, it’s because you already lost interest.

No 10pm curfews or little brother hovering when you’ve got telephone calls. Chances are, it’s now mom pushing you to go out on a Friday night.

You can decide how you welcome mid-life (note: life span is now 70):

wake up late and sit with your sorry ass
bring Jollibee to your favourite charity
*pool your single girl friends and get drunk ‘til you pass out

whatever, absolutely whatever!!!

When you go nuts, you can blame your hormones. Just remember to say sorry for losing your tact when you’re back to the usual ‘nice and polite’.

You’ve broken your heart at least once, fallen in love, done embarrassing stuff, said regretful lines or kicked somebody else’s ass. But you’re wiser and alive!

You’ve learned how to cook at least one presentable dish other than fried. Ladies, it will truly be embarrassing if you have not!!!

You are already more realistic. If not yet, wake up sleepy head. Men are as human as we are, they don’t always come with chocolates and red wines. They sweat when it’s hot, they snore tired or not, you’ll blow each other’s top and they wouldn’t buy your hormonal issues all the time – and you will still love him nonetheless.

You’re no longer ashamed to say ‘NO’, you choose your battle wisely – knowing when to ignore nonsense or when to stand up when bullied, and more importantly, you are more comfortable saying what you honestly feel – the last one is hormonal, Google it.

You’ve been there, done that. Nothing much surprises you and there’s nothing much that can disgust you to your stomach, home-wreckers and extreme cases are exceptions of course.

You’re at age responsible for other people, you stop being selfish. Age brings sense to being a daughter, a sister, a girlfriend, a partner or to some, as both parents to her kids.

*disclaimer: i don't mean that you do, i just mean that you can