More Xmas Balls...

More balls... but this time it's my yummy cheese ball!  I thought I won't be doing it this year but it's hard to refuse friends who have made my cheese ball part of their Xmas dinner spread; while some graciously give them as presents to special friends and family.  And of course there are new friends who just discovered my cheese ball.  So how can I say  no, right?  So together with the help, we are again busy chopping, mixing, moulding and wrapping!  Just like last year!   So there you have it, it's not a decor scene for this post, but I still consider this a Xmas vignette in Casa Insigne!  (This is the third, so 17 more to come!)

I would love to hear your thoughts!

Of Balls & Cones

Wooden Javanese teak bowl by the small Xmas tree.

 An old Oriental basket holds my gold balls and cones by the foyer.

All the carved golden balls goes to this pretty wooden urn in my powder room.

This is how I display my previous years' collection of Xmas balls and cones.  They don't actually belong to the same color group but they look nice when stuffed in a basket or bowl, just the same.  How about you?  What do you do with your previous Xmas decor collection?  Maybe you can replicate this...I'm sure we all have those extra baskets lying around! ;-)

I would love to hear your thoughts!

20 'til 25

'Tis the time to be happy!!  Just like a child, I am always excited when Christmas comes!  Last week, amidst the busy schedule, I was able to squeeze in two days to set up the Xmas tree and all the other decors that come with it.  Thought I'll share with you 20 Xmas vignettes around my home...So here's the first...

This is the same tree as last year.  Jewel-toned trimmings and ribbons adorn the tree.  On the foreground is our home made Advent wreath.  It's been a tradition for the last 5 years to make our own wreath as a family.  This is a good bonding time for the family and a tradition that is worth passing on to the children.  If you'd like to make your own wreath next year, you can check here for the tutorial.  


So how about you?  Have you set up your tree?  Would be nice to see yours!


I would love to hear your thoughts!

A Reminder To All of Us

The video says it all...Have a good week! :-)

A Wifey Moment

Taken on our 10th year Anniversary.  Bohol.

Hello everyone!  How was your weekend?  Don't we all wish we have more 4-day weekends in the calendar?  And whether the weekend is longer than usual, it still doesn't seem enough, right?  Ours was spent simply at home...gardening, cleaning, sorting, watching TV and DVDs and lots of cuddling (loving as Rapha calls it!).  


And just at this very moment, I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful, healthy family.  And even more blessed for having a loving husband!  It's not our anniversary nor are we celebrating any special occasion.  I just felt writing about it.   I have a few of my Mama Moments posts here, here, and here.   So why not make a wifey moment post, right?  I know it sounds cheesy but what the heck...it's a good feeling and I want to share it.  So expect posts on my feat, adventure, journey (whatever you call it!) of being a wife in the future!  

For a starter...Just like in the hotel, I have my own turn down service every night!   No fail, every night, I lie down on a bed with the duvet folded just high enough to pull if I need to cover up, two pillows on my head and the bolster, placed perfectly where my legs rest.  And of course, the roller shade at the windows and sliding doors are rolled down, and aircon turned on, during hot days.  I'm not sure when this "turn down service"  started.  I think when I got pregnant the first time?    And it's been going on for 15 years!  Now, tell me, how many husbands do that for their wifey, every single night?  Truly I am blessed!  

Our teak bed...13 years old and counting!

Any wifey moments, you'd like to share?  I would love to hear your thoughts!

Craving: Chocolates

I was having a quiet afternoon, all by myself in the study when craving for chocolate suddenly kicked it.  What to do?  It's a standing rule in our house not to keep chocolates in the pantry.  But I was determined to satisfy my craving so I went down and rummaged the pantry for whatever food morsel I can find to substitute for chocolates.  And look what I found!  A pack of chips ahoy!  It's not close to a chunk of dark chocolate that I'm dreaming of, but it will do.  Yay!  And it was really meant for me...there was only one cookie left!  I thought that was the best Chips ahoy cookie ever!  Cravings...check!!  :-)

What are you craving today?

I would love to hear your thoughts!

The King of Crafts strikes again!

This is too cute not to share!  Do you remember my artsy fartsy Angel Raphael?  Click here and here to refresh your memory.  He's the recycle guy in the family.   Wrappers, boxes, paper, foil, sticks, caps, etc, name it, he has everything saved for his endless projects.  Last weekend, my boy was busy making these cool sunglasses.  

                             

Can you guess what it's made of?  They're corrugated cardboard!  And you know what's cooler?  He brought it last week to school and a number of boys like it and placed an order.  So he didn't waste anytime and proceeded to work.  But the coolest part is, he is selling them  and 100% of proceeds will go to his class' Bigay Puso, a charity program that his school supports.  This year, the beneficiary of his grade level are the children of inmates.  It warmed my heart to see his excitement in making his glasses and he can't wait to count how much he can contribute to his class' piggy bank!  He is now thinking of other projects he can do to help raise funds for Bigay Puso.  

Packaged and ready for delivery!

Rapha's friends said his glasses can pass as Lady Gaga's accessories!  What do you think?? :-)

I would love to hear your thoughts.

And I Turned One.

Hello!  Hello!  I know I'm like writing to myself now.  It's been a month and 8 days to be exact, since I last posted here.  So maybe 40andbeyond is already lost in the blogsphere!  Oh well...no excuses, just plain laziness!  And add some forgetfulness!  I just realized today that my blog anniversary just went by, without me remembering it!  40andbeyond came out July 28, 2010.  So that makes the blog one year old!  So, it doesn't really matter if I'm religious with my posts or not, days go by, and blog gets old each day, and hopefully the second year will be more consistent.  I just have to put my little inspiration up there.  It's the same photo on my very first blog.  The very same thing that inspired me to start this blog.  So if you're still there, join me as I (again!) try to be more consistent with my posts!  :-)  You'll give me one more chance, won't you??


And by the way, did you notice my new background?  My kids keep telling me that my blog page is so boring, all white.  Of course, kids love color!  But those two angels of mine are my best and worst critiques, so I gave in and changed it.  Hope you like it.  I'm not really a blue person, so let's see how long it will stay that way. ;-0


I would love to hear your thoughts.

Home Alone.

This was my breakfast. Muffin with poached egg, chili con carne (leftover from last night) and fruits.  Thought I should take something heavy because there's just so much to do today!  Plus, I feel sad that I'm alone eating breakfast. :-(  Kids are both in school and hubby is out of town.  It was a hearty meal and I'm all energized now to work!  How about you?  What did you have for breakfast?  

It's Friday!  Where did the days go? One thing I noticed, I work better under pressure and  when there are deadlines to meet.  Are you the same or do you like working ahead of schedule?  Whatever style we have, we women are just so good at multi-tasking, right? We manage to do a lot of things in just a short period of time.  So to all mommies out there, have a great weekend!

I would love to hear your thoughts!

Petit Blanc.

100th Post!  Wow, when I started blogging, I didn't think I can actually share as much, more so reach to a 100th post.  Incidentally, July is also the anniversary month of 40andbeyond!  Wow!  Time flies!  And since having reached this far is a milestone, I thought I should be sharing something special today.  And I can't' think of anything better and more exciting than talk about my  our new baby!  I know, I know, I was just talking about my newest baby about three months back, and now here I am sharing another baby!  What can I do?  They just keep on coming!  And I'm not complaining!  I am so thrilled, and I want you, my readers to be the first to hear about ... 

{petit blanc. adj.  small, white}

Small.  White.  "Frenchy". Carefully selected little things that will prettify any space in your home.  Together with three other beautiful ladies, we amassed a collection of candle holders, pitchers, baskets, mirrors, trays, frames, etc. etc.

They're too pretty not to share.  And it's not good to be selfish, right? ;-)  So, starting this month, you can have a piece of Petit Blanc!  We will be selling online and joining bazaars.   

If you are here in Manila, I hope you can drop by at Rockwell's Love Japan Bazaar on July 23-24 (Sat & Sun) and be one of the first to check out Petit Blanc!  Stay tuned for the next schedule of open houses and bazaars.

Can't tell you how excited I am!  And while you're at the bazaar, be sure to check out i.m.home also!  They will be side by side each other!  See you and wish us luck!  And oh by the way, a huge thank you for supporting 40andbeyond...all through the 100 posts!  I am more inspired to continue blogging and bring you more...like Petit Blanc and i.m.home!  
Cheers to the next 100!


I would love to hear your thoughts!