Artzdescraps Mini Album Challenge

I grew up in a large, rambling house in Mandaluyong City. It was a happy, comfortable place where I shared many lovely memories with my family. We always had pets around, friends always came to visit & play. Each nook & cranny of this beloved house is clearly etched in my mind. Sadly, the old house no longer stands. And even more sad is that I don't have a single photo of it as a keepsake.

I want my kids to always remember their home & all the beautiful memories they may keep so I made this album. Hopefully, I will be adding more pages for more memories to come. And hopefully, they will be able to share it with the generation to come.

Of Family Pets and Birthdays

I've always wanted to do a layout of Jesi. She's the family pet and is totally devoted to us. I was so happy with how it came out! A fitting tribute to a loyal member of our family.

I so enjoyed using the Sandylion papers that I made another one for my birthday LO. I've always celebrated my birthdays quietly, preferring to spend it with family and close friends. This year turned out to be different as I received a gazillion greetings from dear friends from the scrapbooking community. Thanks, everyone!!!! You bet, I had a really, really good one!

Please check out Lasting Impression's gallery for the materials used for the 2 layouts. Thanks for looking!

Cosmo Cricket Challenge of Lasting Impression

Lasting Impression's Cosmo Cricket Challenge is still ongoing. You may upload your layouts untilo April 15! Check out the details here!

Got Game?

What are the kids doing this summer? My DD is taking guitar lessons while my eldest DS, well.... I'm still trying to figure out what to make him do aside from planting himself in front of the computer. Meanwhile, everyday is an eternal summer to my youngest DS. The gift of toddlerhood, I believe.

With the children in the house, the pantry gets emptied as fast as it is re-stocked. They endlessly whine that there is nothing for them to eat. Our harried cook has to think double time on what to prepare for merienda otherwise things would become really unpleasant.

So what are your kids doing this summer? Get them lessons, scrap with them, bake or cook with them! Give them assignments or chores and check on what they accomplished at the end of the day. Enjoy summer.. but make sure to keep the fridge stocked!!!!

Please check out Lasting Impression's gallery for materials used for this layout. Happy summer to all!!

Making Memories and Easter Layouts

My DS attended his first "public" Easter Egg Hunt in our village. For the past years, I've always arranged an Easter Egg Hunt in the comfort of our home away from over-zealous parents/yayas/grandparents who most of the time do the hunting themselves. I felt that this year, DS was ready for the real world.

I'd have to hand it to this year's organizers, the village SK. Everything was so organized. And guess what.... NO ADULTS were allowed in the hunting area. It was all up to the kids to find their own loot. It was so heartwarming to see all the grown-ups cheering the kids on. Good, clean fun!

DS made me really proud that day. Being below 5 years old, DS was one of the first in the hunting area. He happily hunted for about 5 minutes then came to us to show off his loot. He wanted to go back and hunt for more eggs but we explained to him that we had to give the other kids a chance too. Upon hearing our explanation, DS quickly agreed and proudly announced with a big smile: "Mama!! I got three!!"

Simply Life Journaling: Gabriel, today you learned an important lesson that I hope you'll remember all your LIFE. Today, you learned to share with other children. You shared willingly & wholeheartedly, with a beautiful smile and a pure heart.

An Easter Story Journaling: You wanted to go back to get some more eggs but when Mama said that some of the other kids didn't get any yet, your face broke into a huge smile and you proudly said, "Mama, I got THREE!!!!"

Please check out Lasting Impression's gallery for the materials used for the Easter layouts. Hope you all had a Happy Easter. Thank you all for looking!!!

Life's a Beach!!!

A day on the beach with a cool drink in hand, children frolicking in the sand and no worries at all. Welcome, Glorious Summer!!!!

I'm Guest DT!

I am honored to have been asked by Ms. Helen Chua of Memory Lane to be her Guest DT for the month of March alongside with the very talented Timi Mercado. I was provided with beautiful Cloud 9 papers which were so fun to work with. Thank you, Ms Helen, for giving me this great honor.

Materials Used all available at Memory Lane Store: Cloud 9 Be Loved paper pack; Making Memories Metal Words; DCWV Glossy Sticker True Love; Heidi Swapp Chipboard Alphabets – Newsprint; Making Memories Eyelet Quotes

Cards for a Cause

In connection with my previous post Scrap, Share and Shop for a Cause, I made 20 cards to be given to the Carmelite nuns of Tarlac. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the process although I'm not actually a cardmaker! The best thing was I able to make use of my scraps for a good cause!

If you have time (and scraps), make everyday cards (any day theme cards) for the Carmelite nuns. They will use these to reach out to other potential donors for funds needed to complete a chapel that they are building. Cards will be collected starting March 8 to April 30, 2008. Envelopes will be provided, so you need to make your cards fit the size 6 of the baronial envelopes (5X6 inches actual size of the envelope). Make your cards no more than 4 3/4" x 5 3/4" inches in size.

You may send your cards to Ms. Candy Lagazon at Centro Montessori, 49 Xavierville Avenue, Loyola Heights, QC.

Scrap, Share and Scrap for a Cause

A group of scrappers have organized a fund raising event on March 8 to benefit the Carmelite nuns of Tarlac. There will lots of activities going on that day: an auction for scrapbooking goodies, a silent bidding for scrap services of the Who's Who in the Philippine scrapping scene, a scrap challenge, and lots more. The tickets are so reasonably priced at only P150! This gives you lunch & snack, a chance to be win in the raffle, scrapbooking demos and a chance to shop from 5 suppliers.

If you're free on March 8, do come and join this great cause. The event will be held at Centro Montessori, 49 Xavierville Avenue, Loyola Heights, QC. For more details please check out Lee Imao's blog.

Manila Ocean Park

Call us crazy to go to the Manila Ocean Park today because a few other thousands had the same crazy idea! The place was really as tight as a can of sardines! The entrance fee as P400 for adults and P350 for children 12 years & below. Manila residents with valid IDs get special discounts though. We didn't mind paying that much because it seemed reasonable if you compare it to prices of similar establishments abroad. Our expectations were not really that high though as we heard that the place is not yet 100% complete.

Did I mention that the place was really full? Makes one think that the Philippine economy is really not that bad at all if that many people could afford to get in. hmmm... but I digress.

Before guests were allowed entry, an usher made several announcements on proper decorum, etc. and emphasized that flash photography was NOT allowed. He even gave a quick demo on how to disarm the auto flash in a camera. Of course when you get in, you'd want to get pictures of the fish. Alas, we Pinoys are not really known for being disciplined in our own backyards and as expected flashes popped here, there & everywhere. Btw, let me assure you that the photos above were taken without flash.

Verdict: My kids totally enjoyed the place despite the huge crowd. The tanks were clean and the fish looked healthy. The manta ray even seemed friendly and loved going near people. We just hope that the clean conditions are maintained. Oh, the place is not exactly stroller-friendly because there are stairs that you have to pass to enjoy the outdoor aquaria. I'm sure though that there is access for wheelchairs because there were a couple of them there.

If you want to be able to linger around the tanks, I suggest that you NOT go on a weekend. Go see it for yourself!