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The Goal This Summer is To Find That Table

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wateringcan

I find myself drawn to vintage-inspired watering cans and tiny tin buckets lately. Come to think of it, I guess I like Old English Interior Decors. I have posted about my little collection of candle lanterns (7 and counting) which ties that up together with these tin cans (just 4 and still counting).  It just ht me now that I probably do like country-vintage inspired decor and style. But not too over-the-top though. I still gravitate towards clean-minimalist design.

But the reason I scoured the little shops and malls in Cebu looking for these cute buckets and watering cans is not for interior decorating. I needed some containers for my craft supplies. I’m going to try my best not to use those hideous plastic containers I had for years. I wanted something inexpensive but pretty. Now, where can we find an inexpensive, not hideous-looking containers these days in Cebu?  I found these cans in 3 different stores and I knew I had to have them because they called to me, hahaha!

Organizing the tiny craft room is getting crazy in our little house. It’s been over a year since we moved to our own place and we love it here (sans the terrible traffic :) ) We still have not finished organizing our craft/office room. To say that it’s a mess in this tiny room full of books and craft supplies is an understatement.  It’s getting crazy lately, what with the husbands law books piled up on the table among the bead stash and some felt fabrics.

There is a table underneath all those craft supplies and law books. The goal this summer is to find that table.

I’ve categorized this also under the P100 Challenge. The blue watering can is only P70.00 and I am more than amused.

The Father’s Day Surprise Was Discovered Too Soon!

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Last night, my four-year-old daughter and I were in her room giggling and busy writing some notes on colored paper. The room was filled with balloons. We were busy preparing our father’s Day surprise for my hubby. Bea could hardly contain herself. She was too busy counting all the balloons. She had just finished making her Father’s Day cards and was about to tell her daddy about it had I not stopped her and she just said “Oh, it’s a surprise!”, ‘Shhhhh!” I was too busy writing down reasons why we love Daddy Tristan. The surprise was to have about two dozen balloons to be placed in the dining and living room area. The balloons have “Happy Father’s Day!” on it and the other side says “Daddy Tristan, # 1 Dad!”

The door suddenly opened and guess who came in? It’s him alright! hahaha! For the life of me, I forgot to lock the door!

Oh well, hubby played along and went downstairs before the whole surprise was ruined. I did see him smiling when he closed the door.

Early this morning this was what greeted my husband. balloons all over the house that had notes on it. On the papers were reasons why we love him dearly. Some of it had prayers for my Papa, my father-in-law and all the other men in our lives.

That note says “you have farmer’s feet like Bea”. We have this joke In the house that Daddy (my hubby) and Bea both have farmer’s feet (they both have wide feet) :)

That’s what my daughter made for her daddy.

We wrote down things that we love about my husband and Yes, that includes him snoring!

He never fails to make us laugh.

We had three cuppies: one was for my hubby and the other two were for my Papa and my father-in-law. My Papa lives in Michigan and my father-in-law is in Saudi Arabia so we’re doing this for them as well.

Aren’t they just adorable?

We thought we might release the balloons outside.

Here we go! Up, up and away!

We definitely had the best Father’s Day Surprise, didn’t we?

Unfinished Business: Conquering The Sewing Machine

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Note: I have to tell you guys something really embarrassing I hope I don’t lose any followers by admitting this.Twentytwo years ago, back in high school we had a sewing class and were taught how to use a vintage sewing machine. At the end of the course we were to submit a Pajama. I never learned how to use the machine nor have any vivid memory if I was even paying attention at all to that class. I think I paid a classmate or somebody to make the pajama for me or I couldn’t have passed the course.

After more than twenty years, I have finally (Finally!) conquered my fear of the sewing machine. Conquer might be a bit of a strong word as the sewing machine still refuses to agree with me. I kid  you not! The first few days was just completely a struggle. I think the sewing machine has a mind of its own as it insists on sewing backwards when I have mustered all my strength to have it stitch forward. Just move forward. That’s all I’m asking..It’s just a real struggle for both of us. Why? why?

I’ve done my homework reading and threading the bobbin correctly, trying to remember how to make it work but when I finally start, it just stitches backward!

This is exactly why after twelve long years I just had to tackle this fear if you could call it that.  Being the self-proclaimed crafter that I am, this  one I have not conquered at all. I ache and envy at the same time watching some people just have this ease and rhythm using the sewing machine. They could make so many wonderful sewing projects. I just watch and suffer in silence (Sob, sob).  Conquering the sewing machine is on my Bucket List and I’ve finally said it’s time :)

I asked around for any sewing classes in the city. Most of it were high-speed sewing classes sponsored by the city government of Cebu like that of TESDA. You will be given a certificate after completion of a six-month course in Dress-Making. I didn’t want that. I have no plans in the future to be sewing dresses although it’d be nice to be able to do that. I just wanted to learn how to use a sewing machine for my little projects. More importantly, It’s something I just had to tackle and check off on my bucket list :)

I found a three-month course on Curtains and Draperies. This is what I just needed. A sewing class that’s manageable. Three months and making curtains, that shouldn’t be that difficult, right?

I spoke too soon…

In class, we use the vintage singer sewing machines (the one your great grandma used) and that’s the machine I told you about. The one that has a mind of its own. I never imagined that a self-proclaimed crafter like me could be struggling so so bad. I have to tell you that I am as of this writing at the bottom of the class. I have not finished a single curtain yet my classmates are on their 4th and 5th projects already! My teacher gives me this look as if saying this might be beyond me. I’m not exaggerating :)

I told my husband about my progress (or the lack of it) and he just smiled and said I probably found the very thing that is so beyond me. He was joking but simply said it shouldn’t be rocket science at all.

Good new is  yesterday I think I’m starting to find my rhythm. It feels so good to finally just concentrate on making a straight line and not worry if the ill-tempered vintage machine is going to decide to stitch backwards like what it usually does. (My teacher tells me I’m using the best machine in class and it does what its suppose). I’ll show you guys my very first attempt with curtains when it’s done. But just no close up shots or you might see the missed stitches, not locked, crooked and everything else that make me just cringe, hahaha!

But I am proud and humbled :)

Another item on my Bucket List checked off!

p.s. This is what’s keeping me busy lately. Sorry I haven’t said hello for a while. I hope you guys are doing great.

The P100 Challenge: Mochi Ice Cream

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Note: P100 (Philippine Peso) = $2.35 (US Dollars)

Sundays for us means hearing mass and having time with each other. Bea, our four-year old daughter looks forward to having playtime at The Playroom. My hubby and I get some quality time for ourselves. We love to stroll in the malls, read the paper in a coffee shop, talk about our plans for this year or just about anything.

He wanted to grab a bite or a quick snack and an idea came to my head. Instead of getting the usual sandwich or pasta, I challenged him to find something interesting and yummy that’s under P100. Thus, the P100 Challenge.

I found Mochi Ice Cream. This isn’t the first time I’ve tasted Mochi Ice Cream though but I thought it’d be interesting to share. “Good things come to those who wait”. That’s what it says in the package – to wait for two minutes or until mochi is soft to the touch before biting into it.

Mochi, for those of you who haven’t tried it, is a Japanese confection made from sticky rice (mochi) with an ice cream filling inside. They are rather expensive at P70 a piece or in the US I think I got them at $10-11 a tray.

Here in Cebu, you can get them at Ayala Center  at the 2nd level and look for this little corner with the pink chairs and brown tables (which  happens to be my colors for my online shop that is still in the works..in my head. Slow woman taking forever to think. That’s why I have that tag line “Intentions don’t count” to remind myself that, hahaha!). Sorry, back to the mochi.

The pretty pink chairs and brown tables.

My favorite is the avocado. I love the apple green color.

Good things come to those who wait.

You’ll have to really wait until the mochi is soft to the touch and then you bite into it!

Will you look at that :)

I think I did pretty well with that challenge. It was P70 so that’s definitely under P100. It was interesting and yummy of course. Anything that has an ice cream filling definitely sounds good and it looks good, doesn’t it?

If you’re wondering what my husband found, I’ll keep you posted.

If you guys are interested and you want to make going to the malls with your husband (or with your friends) more fun, why don’t you take this challenge? Let me know how it goes and a pingback would be very much appreciated.

‘Til next challenge, Marryl!

Candle Lanterns

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Sitting on our console table are the newest addition to the house – Candle Lanterns. I find myself drawn to them lately. Before you leave and think that I’ve totally gone bonkers for doing a post on Candle lanterns, please read on if you are into Home decorating.

Candle Lanterns give a natural charm and beauty to your home. It gives a romantic ambience with its candles lit. Notice that my lanterns don’t have candles yet. My apologies, I just purchased them. Where’s the romance there?Tee Hee!

It can be used both outdoor and indoor which makes it a practical item for your house. This can be great center pieces when entertaining outdoors.

My candle lanterns will look pretty once they have candles in them and lit :)

P.S. I would love to have some Kyoto or Moroccan candle lanterns.