Money {Gift} Holders

Hello blog peeps! I've been feeling yucky the past days due to my allergic rhinitis & itchy throat. It didn't help much that I also had to care for my youngest who was battling the same things plus a high fever. Uuuggghhh!

So, my share today is actually something I came up weeks prior.

Money holders is what they are.

Perhaps you've seen similar ones out there, but I've added something to my design which I think is quite ingenious.

I added a unique sticker label at the back where the names of the recipient and giver can be written in.

Your gift of money will surely be more appreciated wrapped in one of these.

Happy weekend everyone!

02.01.11 | A Present for Mom

Mothers always want to care for their children; to hug them and love them. Or simply just to be near them no matter what age they are. However, this was never the case for my mom.

She never had us with her all at one time while growing up most especially now that we're adults and have families of our own. It is also mainly because two of my siblings live in the other side of the world from us. Mom has to take an almost 24 hour plane ride to be with them for a short time until she has to go back home to the Philippines.

So, for her birthday this year my brothers, sister & I along with our respective partners planned a simple surprise for her. Nothing ostentatious, but very much from our hearts.

Here's one of the gift we surprised her with. It's a "Family Love Box".

It is 4 x 4 in box that explodes into a 12 x 12 in scrapbook page with photos of Mom, her children and grandchildren.

It also came with a coordinating card.

Now, Mom can be with her four children and seven grandkids anytime, all the time.

Happy Birthday Ma! We love you!

A Tote For You {And Me}

 Strike a pose

Strike a pose

Bags! Bags! Bags!

Look around everywhere you turn is a bag,

Handbags, shoulder bags, evening bags, messenger bags.

From Coach to Louis Vuitton,

Females, young and old, just can't get enough.

So, what is a crafting girl to do?

Be inspired and create.

{DIY} Page Saver

Here's a clever idea on how to pretty up boring metal paperclips.

1. Stamp a witty sentiment onto a cardstock.

2. Layer in an assortment of pastel colored cardstocks.

3. Tie a coordinating ribbon.

And voila!

You've got yourself a darling little bookmark.

"No matter how busy you may think you are, 

you must find time for reading, 

or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.” 

                                                - Confucius

{Baking} Only The Best

Hey folks! Been doing some baking lately as a promise (which I fervently hope I can keep) to my kids. Since they are chocoholics I embarked on finding the perfect, very easy to follow, no messy kitchen recipe that would yield moist & chewy chocolate chip cookies. After searching and trying out several recipes from the Food Network, I finally found one and it surely didn't come from any of their recipes. It's my friend's which she developed on her own. It's a total winner with my kiddos. My proof? I baked 2 dozen cookies on a Friday afternoon. By Sunday morning, the last cookie was devoured and requests for more was all I heard the following week.

Today, I finally baked some more.

And since it's a keeper I had to add it to my "Most Requested Recipes" (MRR) album which contains all the recipes of the favorite dishes/food of my family. I will share it with you another time for it deserves a separate post.

Here are some of the elements in "Maan's Yummy Chocochip Cookies" recipe card..

01.14.11 | Enduring Friendships

Last Friday, hubby and I attended the annual post-Christmas & post-New Year dinner party of his college girlfriends. Now, before your minds start wondering...they are a bunch of loud, naughty, funny & loving women whom he's been friends with for a number of years. They aptly call themselves "The Malditz", a shortened form of the word maldita which means wicked.

Of all the photos taken that evening, this to me sums up the kind of relationship they have and what they are all about...friendship, family, love, support, fun & acceptance.

There is strength & unity in diversity.

Note: The charm bracelets are from Une Belle. Thank you for your beautiful Christmas gifts, Lavinia.

{Take Cover}

Oh wow! I know, I know! It's been sooooo long since I've written anything in my blogaroo. Believe me. I've missed all of you as well. But you see, something happened with my laptop that I thought it will be immune to since I'm the only one who uses it.

Yep! You guessed right. VIRUS!!!

How did it happen? Well, my daughter borrowed my USB for school and silly me didn't think of scanning it for any infections first. BOOM! In a blink of an eye all my files were corrupted. Just imagine my reaction when I was told that my laptop had to be reformatted...tears*tears*tears. Why? Because very very silly me never ever took the time to make any back up files (and to think I even mentioned in my last post that hubby bought an external memory just for this purpose). Hayayay!

Here are the two lessons I learned in the 2nd week of the first month of the new year:

1. Be diligent in backing up files (i.e. letters, documents, photos , et al.) no matter how tedious it may seem.
2. Take proper precautions. No one is immune to viruses...computer and people alike.

I hope this never happens to any of you. Not only is it costly, but it can really try your patience as well.