Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas to all of you. We went to my mom's last night for our Noche Buena aka Christmas Eve festivities. One of the amazing perks of having a chef for a sister is that, she took charge and cooked everything. And every single dish tasted great! There were lots of presents, especially for the little kids and my mom. She keeps saying how much she loves being a grandma now. She gets as much loot as the grand kids. I remember when both my kids were small and they got so many toys for Christmas. Last night, they mostly got envelopes and they were both very happy about it. Time surely has changed. It made me excited watching my nephew and nieces tearing the wrappers of their gifts with that mesmerizing look on their faces and they'd say, "I really want this". That is probably why people say, "It's just like Christmas" when they get something they've always wanted. I am so blessed and really grateful that my son has been home since Friday and that I took a few days off work to spend time with both my kids. It's been so wonderful. What a priceless gift - my family. I have everything I could ever wish for.


Well, that's all for now. I want to wish all of you a wonderful Christmas. Thank you for stopping by.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Santa's List

For a long time I have been resisting the electronic books via Nook or Kindle. I love to read and my co-workers have been telling me that giving in to the technology of e-books will help me plus save my rapidly deteriorating eyesight. I kept saying I love the sensation of paper in between my fingers, the smell and the crispness of the pages as I turn them and on and on. I'm just really stubborn and traditional that way.  However, this past Thursday during our Company Holiday Party raffle, I won a Nook HD. I was elated, actually more so about winning than the actual gift itself. I kept telling myself and others that I have been wanting to get a Nook. Although, it was not completely truthful. It was not in my list of wants. I did not want to unwrap the shiny plastic off of this strange gadget for hours after I brought it home. I seriously stared at the darn thing for minutes at a time, then I would walk to the living room, walk back to the kitchen where it was on top of the kitchen table and then walk away again. I did this for at least ten times. It was foolish and I really didn't know what I was afraid of. It was a piece of electronic for Pete's sake and not a time machine. Perhaps I was afraid of change, no matter how minute. To someone who loves to read as much as I do, this in my opinion is quite significant. Do I still say, "I am reading this amazing book or e-book?" What will I do with my book shelf and the books the I have collected over the years? A big part of me felt that this whole electronic book world will take away the most cherished process of feeling a book in one's hands. Then again I argued with myself about some of these amazing gadgets that I now feel I cannot live without such as my Keurig beverage maker, Clarisonic, Chi hair flat iron, iPhone, Ninja blender/food processor, etc. So, I finally opened the Nook, turned it on and downloaded a few of my favorite books at a discount. I re-read The Great Gatsby and by the last page, I knew I had just sold my heart to e-books. I have been reading every chance I get and I really love the built-in dictionary. I doubt I will use this for anything else, other than reading. I guess Santa came in early for me this Christmas. Thank goodness, I was in the Nice list.








Card Recipe

Stamp Set(s): Santa's List (W 131808 C 131811), Positively Chevron (W 130496 C 130499)
Paper: Cardstocks in Real Red, Midnight Muse and Whisper White, In Color DSP in Gumball Green
Ink: Classic Stampin' pad in Real Red
Tools & Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Bigz Scallop Squares Duo, 3/8" Stitched Satin ribbon in Midnight Muse (126847), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430).

Well, that's it for now. Last weekend before Christmas, I have a lot of things to do. I have been delayed by my new toy, so it's crunch time today and tomorrow to do last minute errands and finish wrapping gifts. Bye for now and thank you for stopping by.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Joyful Christmas

I have been very busy at work, not to mention I have been sick and coughing like a mad dog. I have been so exhausted. So, since it was my birthday weekend I made sure to rest and nap as much as my body needs. That was my gift to me. I stayed in my pajamas and watched sappy Christmas movies on Lifetime and Hallmark channels. It was very nice. I am not sure if I'd been taking too much Nyquil, but I've been having this recurring dream about me. In my dream, I see myself walking away and no matter how loud I called out my name, I never turned around. I had a similar dream twenty years ago when I was pregnant with my son. When I shared this with my grandma she casually said, "Well, it makes sense you are going to be a mother and the life you know now will change. So, it's you walking away from this life to a different one." She always had some kind of response to everything. I wish I could pick-up the phone and call her right now. To hear her voice once more, what a gift that will be. Oh well, so you can imagine why I'd been kind of wondering what change I am venturing in to now. My life has been hectic, but I am not anticipating anything life-altering happening anytime soon. So, here I am waiting for what the future holds. As another birthday comes and goes I am truly thankful for all my blessings. I cannot change the past...but then look at where it led me! I have a beautiful family and a life that I'm proud of. I am one lucky girl and grateful every single day.



I had so much fun making these cards. I was inspired by Tami White to use the cardstock vellum on the poinsettias. Putting together the parts were a bit time-consuming and laborious, but the result was so fulfilling. I made a dozen of these cards. I made and sent out 62 Christmas cards total in four designs. What an accomplishment! I hope that the people I sent them to realize how much they all mean to me.

Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Joyful Christmas (W131802 C 131805)
Paper: Cardstocks in Brown Sugar, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold (102935), White Vellum Cardstock (101856)
Ink: Classic Stampin' pads in Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive, Metallic Encore pad in Gold (132141)
Tools & Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing folder (132175), Apothecary Accents Frame Lits (127003), Heat Tool (129053), Stampin' Emboss Powder in Gold (109129), 1/2" Seam Binding ribbon in Cherry Cobbler (120992), Sponge Daubers (102892), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Paper Snips (103579), Large Pearl Basic Jewels (125577)

Oh well, that's all for now and happy birthday to me!

Christmas 2017

Merry Christmas, everyone! We had a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner at my mom's last night. Lots of great food: lechon (Filipino ham), pa...