All Set for Halloween

Over the weekend, Rapha and I decorated the house with Halloween stuff.  It's Rapha's favorite time of the year (it signals also that our Birthdays are coming soon!), next to Christmas.  He gets excited putting out the decors and planning his costume.  This year, we made do with the past year's decors and made a little bit of craft.  Take a peek...

Rapha did all the outdoor decorating.  If you want to do a bit of craft, like the bats on our door, you can get a template from here.  It's really easy.   You can use any color of construction paper you want and hang or stick them in whatever way you want.  I stuck my bats on the door like one flock of bats going to one direction.  

By the gate...

Inside the house...Just a few oranges and blacks here and there, and a group of candle holders.

Now we just need to prepare candies for trick or treat!  

And the weekend was capped with a dinner of roast chicken & young corn, and fresh green salad topped with water melon and grapes with Asian dressing.  Yum!

On a side note, I mentioned in my previous post  that I will be giving away a pretty water plant.  There was no taker for my pretty little thing..boohoo...but it's alright, at least I still get to keep it.  Will share more about that project on a separate post.  

Now, if you have not started your Halloween preps, especially those of you who have young kids, better get going now.  (I don't know any kid who does not like Halloween.)  There's only few days left 'til the 31st!  Then we will all be busy with Christmas!  Yay! 


I would love to hear your thoughts!

A Stylish Weekend

Photo credit

Pretty pretty!  Some shots from the DKNY Spring 2011 Show.  I'm not a fashionista, but I thought this is really nice.   I would love to wear a scarf that way!  And I like how casual the jacket is worn.  The right side is not for me though.  I'm not gifted with a pair of legs that can get away with shorts or mini skirts, but Bianca, my daughter can!  I'm sure she will love it. The skirt is so feminine, love those layers and bow at the side, seamless!  

Have a stylish weekend!    

I would love to hear your thoughts!

Waffles, anyone?

Pancakes or waffles?  I will have to choose the latter.  It's one of my favorite breakfast, with fresh strawberries and cream!  Yum!  

Photo credit 

I also enjoy my waffles in the bedroom and in the bathroom.  

Photo credit

I used to dress up our bed with colored, patterned or floral sheets.  But for the last four or five years, I started collecting all-white bed linen.  Waffles are not so cheap so I didn't think twice of hoarding a couple of sets when it went on sale at British India.  (How can you go wrong with 70% off?!)  I think it will be my favorite for a long time.  White, clean, but warm.  Perfect for our bed!  (I just throw a bed runner or accent pillows if I want to see some splashes of color on the bed.)  Same goes with our towels, we only use white.  It feels like you're in a hotel all the time!  How about you?  Do you also like all-white and waffled or do you prefer colored sheets/towels? 

I would love to hear your thoughts!

Take A Guess!

Hello dear readers!  I'm sorry to have missed you the past couple of days.   Would have been nice to welcome you with a post  on a Monday.  But I have been busy the past two days. 

Can you guess what I'm busy with?  It's another project for our home (never ending!).  And it's making my hubby real happy.  He must be smiling when he reads this post.    Leave a comment and tell me your guess.   I will give away this pretty little plant through a raffle. However, this is only for those living in Metro Manila, Philippines.  I will announce my random pick on Saturday, October 16!   

With proper care and attention, this little plant will grow and bloom with flowers like this!  

This is really special for me, because I propagated this Water Sagittaria.  I'm not really a green thumb so I'm very proud that I was able to propagate a few, and would like to share them with you.  With a bit of patience, it looks like everything can be learned.  :-) Guess, guess, guess!  What's my project?  Leave your thoughts on the comment box.  This little plant might be at your doorstep this weekend!

Would love to hear your thoughts!

I ADORE

You will surely love the newest Australian online Home Magazine...ADORE!  This is the perfect company for the weekend.  A wonderful magazine that is packed with fresh ideas, amazing colors, and a peek on the inspirational homes of some of the famous designers and bloggers.  Click here to view the very first issue.  Go ahead, find the perfect spot in your home and start flipping clicking the pages!  Happy weekend everyone!


I would love to hear your thoughts!

A Bit of Styling: Cake Stand

Do you have a collection?  I know most women keep a collection of shoes, bags and jewelries.   I like those stuff too, but there's another thing that I'm fond of...plates, dinnerware, bowls, anything that will make dining more special!  This morning, I was putting out a set of plates to change our everyday plates (yes, I change plates for daily use every other month!  That way, I get to use all the plates.  No special plates for guests.   Everyday dining is always special!), when I saw my pretty cake plates.  Let me share with you how I use them, aside from holding cakes and pastries.

My favorite vintage dome glass cover, with 'PASTRY' etched on it.
(cake stand from Dapitan; glass dome from Tangs,Singapore;
tea set from Jenggala, Bali)

This one is perfect to hold candies, chocolates or after dinner mints.
(hand-blown glass plate and dome cover from Bali; 
pillow behind from Arab St., Singapore)

Works as a fruit platter too!
(cake stand from Dapitan)

The humble sweet potatoes in style...
(cake stand from Bangkok)

Transport it to the bathroom, and you get a pretty towel holder!

Oh, and I also found these...I use it to hold sauces or vegetable sticks.
Both from Jenggala, Bali

And now, I thought it will make a good holder for my dangling earrings.  

Perfect on my vanity tray!

All the earrings are neatly hanging, no more lost pairs!  Plus, they all look pretty on the dresser table.  Loving it!  Now it's your turn, check your cupboard and bring out all those pretty pieces.  I'm sure you have something there that you can re-purpose to prettify your space.  It only takes 'a bit of styling!'  Have fun!

Suggestion:  Pretty tea cups can also serve as a nice earring holder!

Yikes! No Help!

I dreaded for this week to come!  My ever reliable, super efficient Yaya Bel (house help) is off  to a two-week vacation.  It's been years since she took a vacation while kids are in school.  We would always schedule her holiday during kids' summer.  But slowly, I'm trying to let go.  Kids are bigger and older now, very independent and I'd like to believe we can actually survive without a househelp.

Yaya Bel with Bianca and Rapha at our Singapore home, Xmas 2008

So, starting yesterday, and the next two weeks to come, I need to be up by 445 am to prepare breakfast and lunch (to go) for kids.  Quite an adjustment with my body clock but I've managed to be on time for the first two days!  Yay!  Kids love my breakfast and their lunch.  And I love the notes I put in their lunch boxes.  It's not a bad week, after all.  We will manage (am I convincing myself??) without her.  But of course we will all be happy and jumping when she gets back!  She's family, after all!

Wish me luck for the next two weeks!  Have a good Wednesday!

Vintage Bling

My grandmother, Lola Au-au (Aurora) lived with us while I was growing up.  And I would fondly remember how she loves jewelries!  She has all sorts...necklaces, earrings, bangles, rings, brooches, etc...  I can still vividly imagine how she would carefully lay each one of them on a white towel, with a bowl of soapy water and a toothbrush.  She would then clean her collection, brushing each piece meticulously and then drying them with a very soft cloth.  She does it all by herself and I will not leave her side until she finish cleaning the very last one; until she is satisfied with the shine, luster and sparkle .  My eyes would glow with excitement and I will always ask her permission first If I can touch them or try them on.  I love the feel of the cold jade bangles on my arms.  I would try on the long necklaces with big pendants like cameo, ivory and crosses and it would sway up to my tummy.  But the pieces I love the most were Lola's rings!  The big chunky ones!  At that time it felt so big on my little fingers.  Among all her pieces of jewelry, I will always remember that one ring that is shaped quite like a very thin rhombus, set with little diamonds or "diamante and brillante" as Lola would call them.  If I remember right, she calls it 'lanzadera.'  It's a Spanish term which means 'shuttle'.  It looks something like this, but thinner and with smaller stones, set very close to each other.  

 

This is a vintage pair of rhinestone earrings that my very good friend, Aura gave me as an advance birthday present.  When I  saw it, I was instantly transported back in time, I remember my Lola and the fun times we shared together while I was growing up.  Oh how I miss her!   Thank you Aura, not just for the beautiful earrings, but for the memories that the ring brings! 


For me, my personal vintage jewelry pieces do not only bring back good memories but when put side by side by some of the things I like, they look like they're the source of inspiration.  

Top:  An art deco-designed rug, side by side with a Lisner vintage gold earrings.  Look at the similarity on the pattern.

Middle:  Faux Lucite leopard print earrings with gold trimmings, side by side with a tablescape I did for a farewell party, some months ago.  Can you see the bold and the gold on both photos?

Bottom:  An inspiring all-white study corner side by side with dangling faux pearls set in gold.  Both dainty and white!

Vintage jewelries...I just love them!  How about you?  What are your sources of inspiration?  Would love to hear from you!

It's A Frame Up

Do you remember my post on My Long Over Due Project?  Well...I have not really finished it (or should I say start?) but I've taken the first step!   That should be  good enough!  I have been craving for a nice cork board (which will go to my study, so it's still within the project, right?!) but I can't find something that pleases my eyes.  Most stationery shops sell cork sheets framed on pine wood or aluminum.  It reminds me of a school bulletin board...that's not what I want.  My vision of a cork board for my study is gold framed, fabric lined and medium sized.  Something that would be inspiring, even without anything posted on it yet.  And since I cannot find one anywhere, I took the plunge to do one myself!  My very first DIY!

I did not want to spend too much for this project so I went to the attic and looked for my needed materials.  I found these...three old frames...Perfect!

Since I found three frames, I decided to make one for me, one for Bianca and one for Rapha.  So I went out to get fabric (Fabric Warehouse) and these is what I got.  Can you tell which one goes to whom?  

I got some cork sheet (Office Warehouse) and cut it according to the size of the frame.  I used the existing frame backing as pattern. I also bought a can of acrylic epoxy spray paint (Handyman).  Then I set to work.

I have a confession.  I cannot take all the credit for this project.  I have to admit I got a little help from Yaya Bel.  :-) She did the sanding of the two frames.

After sanding, I spray painted the two frames using an acrylic epoxy paint.  I chose gold for Bianca's and my frame.   And the black frame which is in perfect condition, remains as is for Rapha's board.

While waiting for the paint to dry, I proceeded to work on the cork and fabric.  I used my ever reliable, all purpose Elmer spray adhesive to stick the cork on the backing, and the fabric on the cork.

To make sure the paint is dry enough, I let the frames rest overnight.  The next day, it was assembly time...almost there!

 And here's the final product...Tadaaa!!!

Rapha's cork board now hangs above his study desk. And here's Bianca's...

Bianca's board is hung below her mirror.   Can you see why I chose this fabric?  The print is very much like her wall decal, mirror and chandelier shape.  Colors that dominate her room are black and purple, so gold was a nice accent for this young lady's room. 

And my very own zebra print cork board...

 Sitting on my desk; unfortunately, the wall behind it is still plain and white.  I really want wall paper, but hubby is still not sold on the idea of wall paper.  He said maybe colored paint is safer than a printed wall paper.  So in the meantime, I will just have to enjoy this new print that I have.  Bold, catchy, gold...just like how I wanted it to be!  

So what do you think?  Did i pass in my first DIY project?  Hhmm..now I feel like scouring in the linen closet and looking for pastel, vintage fabrics I can use for next project...maybe I can make some for special friends. Christmas is near, so maybe that would be a good idea.  How about you dear readers?  Do you have any project in mind?