Dapitan Arcade

Braving the afternoon heat, Wes and I took a jeep to Dapitan, out to explore for some items for the house and our other projects.

When we got there, we found out that our favorite shops that were situated outside were no longer there. We were bummed about it, but we were there on a mission so we just decided move inside and explore the arcade. 

As always, there are a lot of quirky finds and here are some of them.

From vintage sewing machines to snazzy Rimowa-like luggages, these coin banks add a special touch.

For those who are planning on Nautical themed party, now you know where to score these.

Ibjust found these lamps very unique.

You can find a lot of tin vintage signages also.

Resin cast wall decor for your coffee shop dreams.

Craft Mania at the Shang

DIY Egg Surprise

My son loves Kinder Surprise Eggs. To be honest, even I love them too! But I do no want to spend P46 everyday on a chocolate and a small toy. So I decided to just to my own version.

We are celebrating Easter next week so most of the toystores are selling plastic eggs. I got 8 eggs for P79.

I also bought candy for P25 for the whole pack.

We buy a lot of extra toys that we keep for my son and I found these small cars that I can use (my son loves cars by the way).

I also snagged some Cars stickers at the bookstore P40 for both. The other designs were nicer but more expensive also and I just wanted thos project to be very cost efficient.

I just opened all the eggs and placed the goodies inside.

Inside I placed 2 candy packs, 1 toy and a cut up sticker.

Then I closed the eggs and decorated with stickers.

I did all these for about 30 minutes and I cannot wait for my son to wake up to see these. 

The great thing about this project is that you can reuse and redesign the eggs after they have been opened.

Take it Slow

Some people can really put pressure on us when we let them. Before my son turned two this year, he can only say the word "car" which bothered people around us. Yes, he'd keep on blabbing, but that's about it.

I have always kept calm about this situation, boys speak more later than girls someone told me and I believed that. Because I also took care of my younger cousins who are mostly girls and they really picked up words fast.

Another cousin, who has a son with the same age as mine shares the same sentiment. We always update each other, "has your son started talking already?" And of course there are signs of developmental health we have to watch out for as parents. Does your child look straight in your eyes when you call him? And all these other things that are put in your plate you have to think of while raising a child.

When you go online on social media, you see children of friends who are really fast speakers and they are so cute, and somehow wish your child would start talking also.

When my son turned two last October, my fears have been alleyed when one day I just woke up and my son has started to count, sing the alphabet and old mcdonald had a farm. Really, children develop at their own phase and we cannot rush them to be like the rest. There is no better teacher than having a child, where you  have to have the patience to re-learn the most basic things in life. Most days, you will hear me an my husband singing all these nursery rhymes together with our son. I find myself humming these rhymes also on my way to work, it is my LSS. To be honest, I love learning these things again with my son.

And everyday and everynight, as I wake up and before I go to sleep, I thank the universe for the strength and patience that I have. 

Happy 2nd birthday, Leon!

I have conquered my fear of heat and fire and can now whip up a dish or two. I am probably living my childhood dream, I sleep in a bed filled with stickers and toy blocks and little cars. I buy a toy everytime I go to a toy store and have a reason to buy those kinder eggs that I see on tv. I blow bubbles almost everyday and has discovered the joy of swim balls and slides. I have welcomed in my life Mickey Mouse and the Sesame Street gang again. The song that keeps running in my head is The Wheels on the Bus, this is our jam. My arms hurt most of the time, but my spirits are always on high. I am excited to explore and discover things with you. I love that I can see things with your eyes, as if I also see things again for the first time. I feel stronger and so much happier. And everyday I thank the universe for sending you to me and your tatay. I love you, Leon. Go and see the world, anak. 

Mini Scrapbooks

I am guilty of over spending this year on craft supplies. It was like Pandora's box when I discovered Project Life, May of this year and it has rekindled my love for papers, stickers and other things. 

But being a mother now means my priorities have also changed, and to save up on my excess spending, I have decided to make DIY Christmas gifts. I want to make a mini scrapbook set for my closest friends and here's a tutorial that you might me able to use also 😊

I used a 12x12 scrapbook paper stock.

Then I cut it into 3 strips, with the size of 4x12 inches.

Then I used a peg board to put a folding mark on the sheets.

It looks like this when you fold the sheets. Just arrange the pages in alternate to give the inside page a variation.

Then you staple the sheets. I got this long stapler from National Bookstore long before because I had a dream of creating my own zine.

Just embellish the front and you can also personalize with stickers and ephemeras.

Here are samples of my other creations :)

DIY journal card

I have been browsing through pinterest for weeks now, trying to get inspirations as I wait for my page protectors to arrive. 

I saw a pinwheel layout for a full page scrapbook page online and have been thinking how to interpret this for Project Life. 

I cut out a plain white card board paper and printed a circle with pie divisions.

Then I just the lines and tried to just trace them with pencil on the paper. 

I just used a regular cutter to cut the pies in the circle. And chose scrap papers to fit each pie.

I was also trying fo figure out the perfect layout for the words that I want to use for this layout. Until I decided to just position the words clockwise. 

And here it is a personalized journal card for my little monster :)