Hello 2014!

I can't believe we are down to a couple of hours and we have to say goodbye to 2013... wheew, what a year!

According to Feng Shui,  2013 or the year of the snake will not be a good year. But I can say that it was not that bad for me after all. Here's looking back how the snake treated me over the past 12 months...

Our family remained banded and happy. The Carandang's had a successful reunion on April 7 after more than 30 years, it was celebrated in commemoration of Lola Goring's 19th death anniversary at Hardin Antonio, Tanauan City, Batangas. Relatives from California, USA, Dubai, and Mindanao came to celebrate with us. Another blissful birthday celebration for my Mom's 74th year on July 23. We are so blessed to have her with good health, strong faith and plenty of time for her apos. Speaking of apo, we have an addition to the Virtucio clan. Giorgina Marie daughter of my cousins Janice and Bugoy, was born on February 3. 

My little man definitely brought a lot of good news for 2013! He celebrated his 9th birthday on March 1. We had an impromptu preparations and he invited some of his friends, classmates and servicemates. Lorenzo got a silver medal for being an achiever in Grade 2. We are so proud of him, as he moved to Grade 3 in June.

Summer was always the best part of the year! My brother Louie and wife Hayk came home from Dubai  and  celebrated their first wedding anniversary with us. The whole family went to Hong Kong (except my hubby) in April. Day 1 was spent at the Peak where the kids saw Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum and went a little walking at the Avenue of the Stars. Day 2 was a whole day of FUN at Disneyland and the last day was a short stay at the Ocean Park. It was a well-spent bonding moment with the whole family and the kids will never forget this experience. And as always, our summer ended with a regular visit to Baguio City. It's our second home here in our country.

Another highlight of the year was the homecoming of Auntie Linda, Uncle Bill and Auntie Ann. They visited UPLB, Tagaytay City, Batangas City, our relatives in Tanauan, Batangas, Manila and the province of Bataan. It was really great to have them here in our home, a lot of catching up with stories and life, a lot of shopping and of course, bonding moments with them. I will never forget the morning talks of Lorenzo and Auntie Ann, where my little man was teaching her some tagalog words. And of course, our frequent dine outs which gave me extra pounds again. 

By the end of 2013, I have accomplished 5 semesters already in my graduate studies. This semester marks my last sem for my academic subjects and should prepare and pass my Comprehensive Exam in January. I took my mid-program evaluation exams in August and finished my Internship course and defense in September. I am still a member of the Board of Directors of the Letran Graduate School Council for the second time, just a little way to help and support our little circle in the grad school.  

I am on my 6th semester teaching at STI College Calamba campus. I am always grateful to this institution for their lingering support and trust. I am grateful about the gift of teaching and imparting the knowledge to my students and classmates in any way that I can. May the gift of wisdom continues to show me the path I always wanted to take.

After 13 years living in my house, we finally had the floors changed. For whatever reason that happened to my semi-granite floor, I don't know but we have to change the whole main floor of the house. Now its sparkling white and I love it!

My big boy Luigi turned 20 on September 26. He is now on his 3rd year in college and still working on his BS Hotel and Restaurant Management course. I wish him goodluck and finish his course the soonest time.

And of course, I celebrated my 45th birthday on December 1. I may have a lot of body pains and aches, and white hairs this year... but I promise to age with grace and happiness. I still scrap once in awhile, I only accomplished 59 12x12 pages for my boys and my 2013 project life. Nothing much on my creative side because I am focused on my studies for now.

And that was 2013!

I know I still have a lot to learn about stress, hard work and trials. I may not perfect them, but I promise to keep a positive soul and pray for blessings and miracles to help me survive life. I only hope that the good Lord will never leave me and I believe everything else will follow.

So bring it on 2014! I welcome you with open arms. 

Happy New Year Everyone! 

Wishing you all a prosperous 2014.

FSCB Challenge 38 is UP!

It's my last sketch design for the Filipino Scrapbooker's Challenge Blog for the year... time really flies so fast!  Its another sketch creation from our designer Melissa, here goes...

Documented Adventure... more Disneyland adventure for my boys, like the ice cream spree at the Small World place, Tomorrowland with Buzz Lightyear and the train ride. I used here Prima pps, Echo Park cardstock stickers, cardstocks, Scenic Route pps, cork stickers, fabric ribbons, buttons and DMC thread.

Christmas is just coming and I am done with my presents shopping! Its the first week of December and I just celebrated my birthday last weekend. It was a time for family bonding and just self pampering. Look what it was last December 1...

I had my favorite peppermint mocha frap and a bag of scrapbook papers and embies... and I am just HAPPY at 45.

TFL guys!

Wooden Tile Hangers

Slowly getting crafty once again... and just spending my last day of vacation on my scrappy abode! Bought these wooden tile hangers in a local supermarket months ago and just thought of transforming them into something more personalized. I just feel sorry because I only got six.

I used here DCWV's Blue Citrus Stack which I got as a present from my auntie in America, Teresa Collins Crush die-cut charms, some native twine, fabric tapes and bottons. I just can't get enough of making handmade Christmas presents. Every year, I find myself squeezing some time to create and give them to my friends and family. I wish I can find some more because they are very easy to make and lovely to give as presents. 

I'm done for the day's play,  but my mind is still whirling with lots of ideas and scrappiness. I hope Mr. Mojo won't leave me by this time!

Thanks for looking peeps!

FSCB Challenge #35 is UP!

I am finally on time today! I want to invite my fellow scrappers to come and join our 35th challenge over at the Filipino Scrapbookers Challenge Blog here. The beautiful sketch was made by my co-designer Melissa and our winner for this month will receive some scrappiness from Lasting Impression. Here's my take...

The Peak... The Peak is the highest place in Hong Kong (I guess?!) and we were lucky to be there on one of the coldest time of the year. It was very cold and windy, and the kids just loved the weather. We saw Madam Tassaud's wax musuem and just walked around the top deck of the place. I used here Cosmo Cricket pps, cardstocks and stickers, buttons, cork stickers and native twine.

Vacation will be over after tomorrow and second semester will then be up. Halloween festivity is almost over too and my house is now ready for the Christmas season. I'm done making my lists and started shopping for gifts. This morning, my Auntie went back to US already, making my Mom's house quiet and missing her joyful voice. We miss you Auntie! Hope you have a safe trip home with your wild ferns and walis tambo. 

So, I'm back catching up with life, school, scrapping, cleaning and resting. Still hoping for some positive action in the grad school with my remaining 2 academic subjects and my new lessons in teaching. I am still adjusting to our new weather, which is giving me a bad time on my sinuses. Crossing my fingers for the coming days... 

Thanks for looking peeps as always, and let us continue the joy of scrapping!

FSCB Sketch 32 is up!

Sketch 32 has been up for almost a month now, and I only blogged it now... my apologies to my readers. Anyway, I finally had the time to blog again to set my mood to scrap! Here's another Hong Kong layout to share...

Bye!... The last thing we did in Disneyland was to sit in the gutters of the mainstreet and rest! It was a whole day of fun rides, food and shopping, and everyone was just happy to be here. I used here Bazzill cardstock, Scenic Route and Sandylion Disneyland pps, Making Memories round cardstock stickers and chipboard clock face, AAS chipboard letters, metal brads, cardstock stickers, Jillibeans journalling sprouts, and a Disneyland plastic embellishment from Dra. Chiqui Gutierrez.

I can say that I am officially on vacation since Thursday of last week. My auntie from US is still around and we are still on the move every day. I miss talking in tagalog with my american uncle who went back to US last Saturday. I had a great time too with Auntie Ann who was with us for more than a week. Life was on a fast move for almost a month with all the eat outs, visit to different places, swimming and bonding were all so FUN! Here's a photo of my Mom and my Auntie Linda who went fern and plants shopping yesterday, they were just happy to find this huge fern plant that she will be bring home to US.

I wish to squeeze in a little time to play... crossing my fingers for that! But for today, I think its another pig-out day because its my brother Jay's birthday. I just decided to set my scrapping mood by blogging first, maybe tonight, if time gives in...

TFL!

FSCB Challenge 29 is overdue!

... I can't believe I am this busy to forget my layout uploads, SORRY for the nth time!

Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum... it was our first get away in Hong Kong, and Lorenzo had a great time going around the famous people! I used here Echo Park pps, cardstocks, fabric ribbons, cork stickers, buttons, DMC threads, and cardstocks letter stickers.

I thought I am already FREE after my paper defense, but I am now rushing the finally copy and I am running out  of time. I am still writing the DFC with my recommendations, paper is up for grammar editing, printing and binding, and for approval of my company representative and my dean. I need to be a Wonder Woman to do all these by Wednesday, and no matter how much I rush things, it is still impossible. But of course, I am working things out...

I thought I can scrap this week... another sigh! Been anticipating to play after almost 3 months. My abode is almost 100% clean and I am done on my major tasks, but work is getting to be an endless thing and all I wanted now is to rest and catch up with sleep. First trimester in my masters is done and so is my midprogram deliberation, finally finished 36 units already and down to 12 more. Still a long way to go...

I wish to have some ME time really soon please... TFL!

FSBC Challenge 26 is late....!

... Totally forgot to blog for almost two months! Oh but better late than never, here's my Challenge 26 take!

 

Hong Kong Bound... Here's another HK page for Little Chuy. It was his first time to ride an airplane and he was just excited and delighted with the experience. I used here Polar Bear Press pps, Creative Imagination's circle sticker, cardstock, mailing envelope, buttons, baker's twine, cork stickers, Echo Park stickers, October Afternoon ticket and letter stickers and DMC thread.

 School is suspended for almost a week because of a terrible storm here in the Philippines. The kids are home and bored with TV and cable movies. But not for ME! It leaves me with lot of things to do here at home... aside from home cleaning and cooking, I have tons of paper work like my internship paper, financial  management assignments and grades for my teaching work. I only have a few weeks for my internship defense and 1st semester will be done soon.

I just miss scrapping, it has been almost 2 months since I last played with my scissors and paper... can't wait for my semestral break to reunite with them!

TFL! Gotta go for now.

FSCB Challenge 23 is UP!

We are officially on the second half of the year! And FSCB is now ready for international participants. This month's sketch challenge is from our very own Melissa, so we hope you can join us here.... 

Milk and Cereals... is still Lorenzo's undying favorite anytime and anywhere! I bought him 2 small cartons of milk at the 711 store across our hotel in Kimberly St., Hong Kong and he munched on them breakfast, lunch and midnight time. I used here Echo Park pps and letter stickers, Creative Imaginations circle sticker, Bazzill cardstock, Making Memories ledger paper, heart button and buttons, DMC thread, rick rack ribbons and cork stickers.

I think I'm on an adjusting dilemma these days... I know I have to be used in teaching and studying at the same time, but I am going through another tough cycle of life. There is a difference of course, I guess its because of my Internship class which is giving me a lot of worries and pressure these days. I am hoping that positive thinking and time management will still work its magic, please! 

Moving on now... TFL!

Cable Car Ride

I am taking things easy as I do my countdown on my vacation days... I have exactly 8 days before work and 6 days before my 4th semester in school starts. I am just happy to spend my 3 weeks scrapping and scrapping! I made 40 12x12 pages, 3 6x12 pages and 2 months backlog in my Project Life. I am just happy that Mr. Mojo never left me, well I still have a few pictures to end this summer vacation.

I also facebook a lot and found this challenge at Scrap Around the World through one of their design team member Teacher Jessy Christopher whom I met during my Scrapping Kids days in Singapore. The inspiration I got from the mood board was the camera and the captured moments, while I just followed the sketch with my own interpretation. Here goes my page...

Cable Car Ride... Lorenzo was afraid but enjoyed the ride afterwards. It was one of the unforgettable experience in  Ocean Park, Hong Kong. I used here K and Company pps, AC cardstock, My Little Showbox pps and Echo Park cardstock stickers, metal brads, cork sticker and Maya Road glimmer mist.

Its great to be joining online challenges once again, I miss this so much! I hope to find time to search and join from time to time. Oh well, it brings back the old days of scrapbooking, sites, online contest, prizes, random picking and a lot more. So goodluck to me!

Thanks for looking and happy scrapping!

Challenge 21 is UP!

Good Monday Morning everyone!

Time flies so fast and we are now in the middle of the year. Its June and FSCB is ready for challenge 21.

 Brave Ako... was Lorenzo's first trip to the dentist's chair alone! And I can say that he was brave enough for his first tooth filling. I used here Scenic Route pps, Cosmo Cricket pps, DCWV cardstock, AAS foil letter stickers, Prima paper flowers, fabric covered brad, native twine, 7 Gypsies fabric tapes and Ranger distress inks.

I still have 2 weeks free and I am about to scrap again for the rest of the day... TFL!

It's Lorenzo's Turn...

Last Friday, the Scrapaholics had another overnight crop! The last get together was in January and now we just wanted to celebrate summer with another playtime. I came with 2 double pages layouts and embellished it during the crop, then I created the rest until the following morning. Here's sharing Lorenzo's pages...

Disneyland Hong Kong... Finally, my kids got to experience the happiest place on earth! It will be a treasured memory with my family too. I used here Scenic Route pps, Sandylion pps, cardstocks, buttons, baker's twine, cork stickers, ribbons and Echo Park cardstock stickers.

This is my Happy Place... actually, it was Lorenzo's scary place, he was afraid of the crocodiles and spiders at the Jungle Cruise ride. While on the other page, the Toy Story Land was NEW at HK Disneyland and was one of Lorenzo's fave too. I used here DCWV pps, Scenic Route pps, Simpel Stories pps, Echo Park pps, My Little Shoebox pps, buttons, DMC thread, baker's twine, cork stickers and cardstocks.

Tomorrow Land... One of Lorenzo's favorite spot where he met Buzz Lightyear and got to ride the Astro Blasters twice. I used here Scenic Route pps, October Afternoon pps, letter stickers and tag embies, Simple Stories pps, cardstocks, buttons, cork stickers, EK Success embies. 

Good Eats... A huge hamburger meal for the little man, and he finished it all. I used here Echo Park pps, Simple Stories pps and letter stickers, cardstocks, baker's twine, EK Success embies, buttons and Maya Road glimme mist. 

Its a Small World Ride... one of my mom's favorite ride in Disneyland. HK Disneyland's boat ride was a lot better than the one in Anaheim California. But they both have the happy feeling of capturing the whole world's different culture. I used here October Afternoon pps, Simple Stories pps, cardstock, cork sticker and EK success embies. 

Brunch... He had leftovers from the hotel for brunch and ate them all in a bench at the Ocean Park. No problem with banana cake and McDonald's burger! I used here October Afternoon pps, Simple Stories pps, cardstocks, Echo Park cardstock sticker, K & Company paper flowers, AAS paper flower, buttons and baker's twine.

I am just happy to accomplish so much for the last two weeks! I haven't touch my project life yet and I still have a few photos to play with. Oh well, I still have two weeks to go anyway. I'm just crossing my fingers for more positive actions.

Enjoy and TFL peeps!