Welcome 2009!

In a few hours from now we'll be welcoming 2009! And in a few hours from now, my brother will be leaving for Dubai! Oh well, the time has come to say goodbye again... I'm sure my two boys will miss their Ninong! Goodbye in the meantime for many happy and memorable bonding moments, and pampering and spoiling times with the two "kulogs". He's leaving with the big promise of coming back in summer.


2008 is not a bad year for me! I have my family and my two energetic kids, my Mom is perfectly healthy and my 2 brothers are all doing good. I have great close friends Rita, ate Liezl, Cora, Timi, Ytet, Chiqui, Helga and Yvette. I gained more buddies this year like Cookie, Wati, Vanessa and Tessah. Met a lot of wonderful people in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Australia. I'm still head over heels in love with scrapbooking and still learning a lot. I got several Guest Designer stints and my first Design Team assignment this year, and now I am a Resident Designer of Scrappin' Kids Singapore. I also won the Ultimate Scrapbooker Challenge of Scrappin' Kids in May, won the grand prize for the Game On Challenge of Mystical Scrapbooks in July and lastly, I was on the top 3 of Scrappin' Moms Idol 2. I was able to make 154 pages, 46 altered clocks, 11 mini albums, 13 altered desk calendars and a few altered things. I haven't scrapped in two weeks because of the holidays, so I guess this will the final countdown for this year. Hahaha!

Here are some things I got in time for Christmas... special Thanks to...

... Wati! Can't believe you really got this for me... thank you so much!


... Mich! I love this stickers, can't wait to use them on my pages. Thanks for this xmas pressie!


...Sara for this prize for the November cybercrop in Mystical Scrapbooks.


... Donna, owner of Mystical Scrapbooks for this prize!






My resolution for the coming year... work, work and work! Enzo will be 5 in March and I think its about time to start earning from Scrapbooking. Next is forget about the word LAZY! And lastly, learn more about PATIENCE. I hope I can!

Have a Prosperous and a Happy New Year everyone! God bless us all..

Holiday Happenings...

I'm back! And I miss everything and everyone!

Our Christmas celebration was a little different this year, my brother Louie was home! Although he goes home annually, this time he really went home for the holidays. His vacation is barely 3 weeks that's why we are always on the go. My 2 boys Luigi and Enzo had the best time ever with their Ninong-Uncle and I got no time to scrap! But I have lots of photos and memories to work on after the long holidays. Mommy's kitchen was super busy again 3 days before Christmas day and Cheche and I had wrapped more than 500 lumpiang ubod everyday. Gosh!

5 days before Christmas, we headed for Laiya, Batangas again. We spent a night with our cousins and baby DK. Then, early the following day we went snorkeling. My little boy Enzo was so brave to go down the cold water and just experience the float! Tito Buggy was always there to be with him... don't ask me, I didn't even try to dip my toes.





Who got the best Christmas gifts? Oh that's me and Enzo... because we got the gifts we were dreaming of... take a look!



Enzo got 2 transformer robots from Uncle Jay and Ninang Che and the other one from Tito Jonjo and Tita Maan. He's dying to have even one! And I got this pink Round-it-All from hubby. Every year hubby would give me a set of underwears, kaya I was totally surprised upon seeing this! I really got no idea that he would buy me this, thanks for the connivance of my SIL Cheche and Lasting Impression's owner Vivs Uy!

Right after Christmas day, we went up to Baguio! Baguio is almost a second home for my family and my boys. We go there 2-3 times a year. Part of every trip is a stop over at the Manaoag Shrine, just to offer candles and prayers and hear a mass. Then, we are all awake going up the Kennon Road.

We had a hard time getting for a place to stay kasi feeling ko nasa Baguio na ata lahat ng tao during this season. We usually stay at the Teacher's Camp but it was totally booked. We spent so much time stucked in the traffic, but that's okay because it was really cold! We went to Mine's View Park, Good Shepherds, walked going down the Session Road, Sunday Mass at the Cathedral and my kid's fave place "ShoeMart"! I can't believe it but they just keep on coming back to SM-Baguio! Of course, we had a great meal at David's Tea House and a good coffee at Figaro. Too bad we didn't have time to visit Cafe by the Ruins... next time, promise!

My Mom's little pampering time for herself... a new Danielle Steel book and a good cup of coffee!














This is the belen at the Good Shepherd's place.




And this is my family... my Mom and my two big brothers! Oh they are are just big in size, but I am the eldest and the smallest. It was really a great time for all of us, being together is the most important part of everything. Wish our Dad is still with us...

Oh wow, Christmas was over! We still have another event coming and that's New Year and still a long vacation ahead. I was very good during Christmas, we even had tuyo and guinataang langka one time. I mostly ate fruits like Sagada oranges, fresh strawberries and green mangoes. Louie still have 3 days to go and he's flying back to work on New Year's Eve. I'm sure he'll gonna miss everything specially the manggang hilaw, hahaha!

I want to thank everyone who texted me, buzzed me, PMed and emailed me, and greeted me and my family during Christmas. I want to greet my family in California and Delaware, and all my wonderful friends and fellow scrapaholics ...
A very MERRY CHRISTMAS And a
PEACEFUL NEW YEAR!

The New SK!

Here's a sneak of what's new on January at Scrappin' Kids!

Scrappin' Kids has a new look and a new team...
Please visit us at http://scrappinkids.blogspot.com/

Thanks for looking!

Better Late than Never!

I celebrated my birthday with the Scrapaholics just today... well, better late than never! I always love partying or just simply bonding with my scrap friends. At this point of my life, they're my closest and sincerest friends I got and I love each and everyone of them for making me feel loved as a sister and as a friend. Thanks LB girls for spending an evening of fun and laughter!

We had a Hat Party with tuna pesto pasta, chicken cordon blu, spicy chicken salad, mango cake, leche flan and ate liezl's 4 season drink. I asked the girls to wear red (because red is one of my fave color! and Cors just hate it...hahhaa!), but honestly I want to have an instant pictorial for the group that's why there's a color theme. After the snacking time and my gift giving, we had an instant Christmas Party. We have to party now or it will be hard to gather up again because of the holidays. Here's what happened..

I got a RAK from Ryan and Rita for picking my suggestion for their angel's nickname "Sharie", thanks for the generous RAK! Then, I won in Chiqui's name that paper manufacturer challenge, thanks for another wonderful prize! Swerte ata ako tonight! Best of all, I got so many gifts... again, Cors gave the most intriguing gift! Just try to figure out in my photo, actually its not for me but for Dodo! Again, thanks Rita, ate Liezl, Ytet, Timi, Cors, Chiqui and Helga...

Our little Christmas party will be posted at the LBS' blog, so watch out for it! Thanks for looking...

Buzzzzyyy Me...

Been missing in action for a week, haven't blog or check out forums, I don't even scrap! My brother came home from Dubai and will be spending the holidays with us. I'm sure Christmas will be extra special this year because my family is complete. Oh well, here's what kept me out this past few days...

I decided to replace my kitchen cabinets early this week, been thinking of working on this since last month but I only got time now. My kitchen is so small and I'm not even a good cook, but I love to organize things, specially now that I have my own place. I decided to have the walls painted blue violet (that's the color of my Corelle plates) to give it a different look. I'm sure my hubby won't like the idea, pero sorry na lang sya this time!




And finally, after almost 2 months of daily rehersals, Morning Star Montessori School's most awaited "Pilipinas... Biyahe Tayo!" was shown yesterday at the Umali Auditorium at UPLB. Thanks to Teacher Helga and Kuya George for their patience and encouragements, little Chuy danced really well! Everyone did a great performance... galing!




Chuy along with his Junior Casa classmates danced Bulaklakan. Nagmumuka na tuloy akong stage mother, but honestly Chuy danced well! It was his first time to perform in a huge stage, kaya super nerbyos ako na baka hindi ito mag-cooperate. After their program, saka pa lang ako nakahinga! Finally it was over...

Just this morning, we went biking and walking at the UPLB field... Chuy and his Uncle Louie had a little bonding time!



Thanks for looking!

PS-SE Christmas Party...

We had so much fun, kahit medyo late na kami dumating. The party organizers really had a great work for putting up this event... hats off to you!

The LB girls teamed with the supergirls Ems Foronda and BJay Jaminal, nahawa tuloy kami ng swerte! We won the altered dress form... many thanks to Studio Azul and Ms. Tin Yao for her generous prizes. Oh and thanks to Ms. Au Lim for the pictures!




And here's my yummy prize!



I took the chance to use my gift certificates as part of my Idol prize. Got a P600 discount from Lasting Impression for my Pink Bind-It-All. And here's my other prizes from Rekindled Moments, Memory Lane Store and Visual Creations... thanks po!





And this is my White Elephant pressies... it's my Pia Lopez! Thanks Pia!


Christmas is in the air! TFL!

Scrappin Kids' "Pressie" December...

Can't help but sing Frankie's famous song... "and now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain!" Yup, it's my last month at Scrappin' Kids! Six months of great "first time" experiences as a Design Team Member, monthly inspiration layouts, online crops, mini challenges and daily visit at the forum. I had a great time here and I gained lots of friends. I must say I gave my best and "I did it my way", there goes Frankie's last words...

And for this month's challenge... Scrap about the presents that your kids had received. We would like to see their emotions, those precious moments and of course the PreSSie as well! Do include a journalling okay and we hope to see your wonderful creations soon. Here's my take...


All I want for Christmas...My little boy has a great love for trains especially Thomas the Tank Engine. It has been 2 years now and he would still ask for Thomas!! I used here Kraft pps. Provocraft pps, Three Bugs in a Rug pps, 7 Gypsies gaffer tape, cardstocks, Thomas the Train chipboard embies (courtesy of Wati!), corrugated board, Brillance ink, chipboard for my titles, Ranger glossy accents, and MM acylic paint.

Thanks for looking!

What a day...

Yup, it's my birthday today and I'm 40 years old! My Mommy can't believe that her eldest is already 40 now, I don't look my age daw and that means she also doesn't look old to have a 40- year old daughter... hehehe, nabolahan pa kami! But honestly, I don't really feel I'm getting old... except when I have a terrible headache and a couple of gray hairs! Nothing pretty exciting today! I started the day with a mass at 6 in the morning, visited the Senor or the Laying Lord at the Immaculate Concepcion Church. Then I finally got the mood to totally fix my boy's albums in the afternoon. My cousins from Calamba came for dinner and bought me this yummy Smores Cake from Red Ribbon. My little DK had a great mood cheering me up with Wyon and Chuy. And I got a call from my friend Wati Basri from Singapore, so touched with her thoughtfulness!

But I have another gift to share. I won Sara's Random Number Challenge at Mystical Scrapbooks! The challenge was to make a layout using 2 photos, 4 papers and 5 buttons. Here's my take for this challenge...



Moments Like This...
I used here MM Passport Ledger Teal pps, DCWV pps, MM paisley blue pps, Scenic Route pps, corrugated board, black cardstock, Heidi Swapp clock chipboard, Tim Holtz ticket, AC Thickers glittered chipboard letters, Hambly Owl cardstock sticker, assorted buttons, DMC threads and Ranger glossy accents. Here's another shot of Chuy walking along the beach at Laiya, Batangas. Its so nice to see him grow up so fast.

I just realized I had a great day anyway! Hay, life must go on! Thanks for looking!

Kaya ko ba?

Issa says, Kaya!
It's time to share my Kaya layouts... there were 4 weeks of challenges at the Pinoy Scrappbooker's blog hosted by Marj Velarde. It's always exciting everytime Marj throws out a challenge... why? Oh maybe because she is sooo generous! Generous in giving prizes and in sharing her great talent and sytle. But of course, you have to face her challenges... hehehe!

Kaya 19-1: Maggie Wants to Rock
This week's challenge was to create a page with a bow! I used here DCWV Rockstar pps, some cardstocks for the die cut titles, fushia ribbon, glittered glue, journaling tag, and AC thickers vinyl and foam letter stickers.


Kaya 19-2: Princess
I love the second week's challenge... Negative or White space! I used here Basic Grey Cupcake pps-candles, mac 'n cheese, celebrate, confetti, BG fibers and cardstock stickers, corrugated board, cardstocks, Maya Road chipboard crown, AAS felt ribbon, buttons, DMC thread, lace, glittered glue and K & Company tags.

Kaya 19-3: B is for...
Distressing was third week's challenge. Just like the negative space, distressing is also one of my favorite technique. After I tear, comes the inking. I also sand the sides of my photos to get another distressed look. In this layout I used Bazill black cardstock, DCWV cardstocks, Anne Griffin shells pps, corrugated board, blessings ribbons, Miss Elizabeth's epoxy letter stickers, K & Company embossed word stickers, Provocraft shell stickers, MM letter stickers, BG Wilma chipboard letter B, Ranger crackle paint, MM acrylic paint, Colorbox chalk ink, and Ranger glossy accents. These are the moments I love to treasure... my two boys bonding together.



Kaya 19-4: Idol 2 Moments
For the final week, Marj asked for a spread layout using red, orange, green, blue and yellow colors. I had a hard time putting together all the required colors but I had fun creating a 2-pager layout. I scrapped my Idol 2 Moments, my experiences and my "kaba" moments. I used here DCWV cardstocks, Fancy Pants pps, Scenic Route pps, assorted buttons, Prima flowers, bling, brad, DMC threads, BG mini momos chipboard letters, Ranger glossy accents, glittered glue, Colorbox fluid chalk ink, corrugated board and Brillance ink. I starting making this layout last Friday while Chuy was having a dance rehersal in school. It took me awhile to sew all the matting. But somewhow, it turned out fine, I guess!

As Marj said, the random draw will held on December 6 during the PS-SE Christmas Party. Goodluck to all of us!

Thanks for looking!