Christmas Paris in Jar

Eversince I was a kid, my favorite part of school field trip were dioramas in museums. It built this fascination in me the illustration of a certain event or place in a small glass box. It was cool to me back when I was small. It served as my old school 3D. I didn't care if it is not a motion picture. I had my imagination to create stories :)

 This is my inspiration for this. I just happen to have this souvenir Eiffel Tower lying around the house and I used my 50 cent jar I bought at the thrift store. The Paris text is actually just stickers.. I didn't even had to buy it. It was given to me by my mother-in-law-.

I took some sand from my wedding leftover jar. It has some glitter with it for snow effect. Then, I printed out "joyeux noel" (French for Merry Christmas) on a piece of brown paper. Made a tiny banner out of it an glued on toothpicks. Of course I cut the sharp part.

 I hope you enjoyed my simple 
Christmas Parisian project :)

Sew Inspirations

Taste of New Tradition

Hello beautiful bloggers! How was your thanksgiving? I hope you had a wonderful one. Me and hubby went from Tucson to Phoenix to spend thanksgiving with his Aunt and Uncle. It was my second thanksgiving here in U.S with a different family which meant  different recipes. Turkey, turkey stuffing, mashed potatoes and corn bread casserole are the dishes that aren't as odd to me as before. Although yam casserole sounded quite new to me. This I got to see!

First, I Google d the difference between yam and sweet potato to avoid confusions. Compared to sweet potatoes, yams are starchier and drier.  And I noticed sweet potatoes are sweeter than yams.

Orange colored yam somehow looked weird at first. I was used in seeing and using purple yam in the Philippines, which we call "Ube".

image from Market Manila

Seen in different forms on special occasions as deserts such as cakes, ice-cream flavor or pudding (halaya).

image from Jun-blog

And so we started making this yam casserole dish.

We peeled and cut yams and apples and put it on a metal baking dish. Melted 2 sticks of butter in a bowl and mixed it with brown sugar and cinnamon. 

I couldn't stop tasting the mixture. That itself is a treat!

 

I better pour the mixture on yams before it's gone! Then put enough water to keep the moisture of the yam in the process of cooking. Then baked it in the oven. 

Now this confused me more. After its cooked, put marshmallows on top, put back in the oven to melt. Is it a desert or what? I know it doesn't sound odd to Americans. But let me put is this way. It is as weird as how my husband feels about marshmallows and hotdogs on a stick. 

It may not sound like a typical dish for Filipino like me, but that yam recipe was something I would definitely have again. 

What's your special yam recipe?

When Dirt Said Thanks

 Yesterday was dull and dry day for me, un-inspired to do anything. I tried to think of something to be thankful for. Nothing came-up. So I went out for a walk just to stimulate my creative juices to flow or just to escape nothingness. Still nothing. Until I looked down and saw this on the ground...

A big sigh puffed out of my chest in envy. Even the dirt was screaming with thanksgiving! 

Like the dirt, let me just express my appreciation with two simple words. 

"THANK YOU" 

As iron sharpens iron, so does a blogger sharpens another blogger. Your kindhearted comments encouraged me to keep writing and your creative arts and deco inspired me to keep on crafting :) I have made friends that are truly a blessing. 

My thanks to wonderful lady Sherry of Country Wings in Phoenix who's touching blog inspired me today to be thankful for my blogging friends. Her comments always makes me smile.

...and to my friend Cindy of Whimsical Musings who has been my good blog-buddy ever since I started. She always kept in touch in-spite-of her busy schedules. Her blog was not only a source of shabby chic inspirations, but also a channel of encouragement. Her books and online tutorials made a big difference to the growth of my blog.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

What or who are you thankful for?

Candle Holder Make-Over

 I love stories with redeeming factor. In scriptwriting, there is a pattern called Ugly Duckling formula where something ugly eventually turned into something beautiful.This is my inspiration in this project.

Me and my hubby love candles! So what can I do with these yucky empty candle containers? I didn't want to throw them away. I've got to do something with it.

 First things first, I cleaned the glass of course. Then I looked something I could use for embellishments. Here, I recycled the fabric softener sheets and cut a little piece of burlap

 Next, I wrapped the fabric softener sheet around the glass, a cut piece of burlap and a ribbon.

I am aiming for beach-y feel in our living room so I embellished it with small sea shell using glue stick. I love snowflakes! I added snowflake stickers that my mom-in-law gave me. I thought it's timely since I started putting-up my Christmas decorations. After Christmas, I could just take the stickers off and glue some pearls.

It is just a perfect match to my square plate I bought at Khol's. It was on sale for $2 and something, plus we had a coupon and plus, my husband had a balance left in his gift-card. So it was like FREE!

Put a flame-less tea light then voila! Good as new :)

Well, I guess you can also put an ordinary tea candle. It could magnify the smell of the fabric softener sheet.

Here is the other design I made. I used buttons and a lose string from the fabric and tied it in a bow on this one. Looks like all I'm set for valentines?

I hope you enjoyed the project! 

Bon Week-end!!

Linking to:

Amaze Me Monday@Dittle Dattle 

 

French Friday#6 :French Riviera Antique Market

Ça va mes amis!

I hope I said it right. It's funny how one expression (Ça va) could mean different thing. In French it is an expression of "How are you?" and also a response "I'm fine!", or "I'm good!"

I feel my French is getting pretty rusty. Before I left France my French teacher reminded me that I must continue practicing my French, like a worried mother.

Street markets in French Riviera played a big part with my French. It was quite intimidating to talk to locals. But do not worry, they will be delighted to hear you tried and they'd be happy to correct you.

I tried to get the habit of going out and try to make a simple conversation. Besides by doing, it served as my French homework, going to this market was also my stress reliever.

I used to come to this antique market every Monday at Cours Saleya Nice France. It opens at 7:30 to 6 pm except on holidays. They close early on winter season.

 I always looked forward to my Monday walk. Its was only an 8 minute walk from our apartment.

It always seemed like time traveling in the afternoon or looking at displays in a history museum except you can take them home.....

 ....if the price is right ;)

 Some do trades, and some do buy and sell. I noticed most of the buyers were tourists.
There's a vast selection of antiques of any kind! Be mindful of taking pictures though. Some vendors aren't happy with the idea. They will call you rude.

Even new items and slightly used goods are also being sold here.

 I wish my Mondays are still like this.

I made sure I take home a souvenir before I left. I always love to own a cameo. I have seen so many beautiful antique cameos but this small antique agate stone and white marble cameo pendant was I could only afford. I haggled for a lower price since there's a crack. But I thought it is pretty cool. I asked the vendor if she knew how old this is. She thought, its probably around 20's.
 I'd like to go back to badly!!

Where is your favorite antique market? I would love for you to share :)

Linking to:
Fridays Unfolded@Stuff and Nonsense 
Feathered Nest Friday@French Country Cottage

How Decors Come to Life?

Helpful Mr. Stuffed Snowman was glad to hear he has entertained you with his story. He was just a lifeless stuffed Christmas decoration I got from a silly Christmas party game that I decided to donate to a yard sale for a cause. Suddenly, now it is hard to see it go.

This lifeless stuffed snowman with a tiny shovel inspired me to write a story. In the story, he is alive and a has a helpful heart. A heart that desires to help in any ways he could even though he is stuck in a box.

The story gave him life. It seems like I gave him a piece of my heart that has brought him to life. Yes. They do come to life if given them a purpose to exist. Though it is hard to see him go, I feel that he is asking me to give him away to serve his purpose, but he will leave me with a significant story that I hope to publish for children to read to learn the significance of helping, or if not, it will be a bed time story exclusively for my kids in future.

Linking to:
Vintage Inspiration Friday@Common Ground

New Header

I'm very indecisive. I edited and changed my header today probably two or three times! Now, this header is final! (I think)

I borrowed my old header from shabbyblogs.com. The graphics are really pretty though but I thought, maybe it is time to try make my own! 

I also tried to make my own etsy banner

I've been pre-occupied making designs as gifts.
I based my wall art design according to their interest. I designed it myself which is the fun part and add a more personal touch. It took quite some time, but I didn't mind!