"Moving-in with In-laws!" Series

We were driving our mini van home from Christmas vacation. My husband and I had a side chat with an idea of us all living with our mother in-law and father in-law. I wasn't against this idea. I get well along with my in-laws. They adopted me in the family like a daughter, so the idea of us in one place doesn't scare me one bit.

It was just a playful idea. One month later, we found ourselves buying/building a new home from the scratch that would cater 2 families combined. The idea was to combine our resources to get our dream house that ends up costing the same as what we were paying right now.

I like our current house, but it is not the house I imagined to function for our lifestyle. We have done a lot to make it more updated and livable. There will be a hint of sadness because I felt I failed to execute everything I wanted for this house. But I guess, there's someone who would love the layout of this house and not change how it was supposed to be built.

prepping to paint the cabinets from oak stain to white.

Now, I am on time crunch to do the best I can to complete renovating our bathrooms in small budget but does not compromise the design. I want the future owners of our current house to fall in love with it the way we did when we first bought it.

With all what's happening and responsibilities of homeschooling, taking care of toddler twins and started a small business, it's going to be a rough few months. But all in all, we are in awe of how much our hard work and patience was blessed.

Sincerely yours,
#CastleLemon

Keeping Traditions

When I'm lonesome for home, I summon every culinary skill I have to make myself feel better.

New Year is not celebrated abundantly in U.S as it is in Philippines. Growing up, I remember, the cooking frenzy starts in the morning in preparation for New Year's eve dinner at midnight. Everybody must be awake (or wake up to eat dinner). 

During my first time in U.S, it came to me as a shock when there wasn't a feast on New Year's day.

The closest reason I can remember why we throw a feast on New year, was the common belief that the whole year will be determined on how we welcome the first day of the year, so we filled our tables with all kinds of food big and small. 

We followed superstitions that believed to help achieve a prosperous life! In the course of my life, I stopped believing these silly superstitions but there are some things I want to keep. 

Suman or sweet sticky riced cooked in banana leaves. Click here for Suman Recipe

I held on to those sweet memories that there was someone who cared enough to prepare a feast for the family to share.

I would always remember our nextdoor neighbor Aling Berta who always shared her fresh cooked "Suman" and handed a plate through our window. They were deprived in abundance of food, yet, she still shared what they had happily.

Halaya is one of my happy memory. I learned from watching my mom. She had stirred that thick sticky "yam"-mmy goodness until her arms fell off (metaphorically speaking). I knew something good was coming after all that hard work.

Halaya or purple yam pudding. Recipe for Halaya

How we celebrate New Year will vary depending on traditions. I personally do not believe prosperity comes from observed superstition. But there are some things I want to keep not because of old belief, but mainly to keep as special memories. 

We always find a reason to celebrate a certain thing in a certain way. The feast on our table is our way of celebrating our gratefulness for what we were given to survive the whole year and for what we look forward to for the coming New year. 

For us, to be with the family is reason enough to celebrate the coming year and we celebrate it around the table.

How do you celebrate yours?

Happy New Year!

-Myric

Stamped Cookies

I live on happy accidents. I'm starting to think I should have named my blog "Happy Accidents", like these cookies. 

The original idea was to use my snowflake cookie stamp for my sugar cookies. It didn't work! So I reached for my next one that says "Home Made". 

It looked plain and un-Christmas-sy to bring to a cookie exchange party! I had an idea to use my ornament shaped cookie cutter. It wasn't the intended plan, but I like how it turned out!

Tip: You can find cookie stamps like this on TJMaxx or Marshalls. Ornament shaped cookie cutter at a thrift store. 

Sincerely Yours,

Castle Lemon

Favorite Things Party 2.0

There's no denying, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It's when little twinkling light transforms everything into something magical. It puts everybody in spirit of festivity and gift giving.

In keeping tradition alive, I hosted "My Favorite Things" party for the second time. Maybe it's that Filipino in me, that can't say "NO" when friends asked me if am I doing the party again.

Throwing a party is something I am not used to. I stress out about it even though an event is a months away.  I can't help it. It means, I care so much about it.

It gives me a sense of accomplishment when the house is made up. I want to welcome guests with some good old Filipino hospitality.

I want to set the mood with natural warm colors and a pop of minimal reds. Cardboard house lamps as table settings brings more festivity for the coming good food that was about to come on the table.

Fresh, natural greenery from the backyard and cranberries adds a romantic flare. 

Snowflakes for snow effect for those who love "White Christmas". It looks messy on the photo, but I swear it looked magical in person.

A party doesn't have to be elaborate. The fellowship is what matters. It was an intimate gathering with close friends. I want to celebrate these wonderful women who inspires me.

Fun games were played and slaughters were shared. In one game, I had them write their favorite Christmas  song, only to surprise them, that they would lip sync it. It was so much fun and talents, were discovered.

The ladies not only shared great simple gifts, but each gifts symbolizes a part of their hearts. It gave way to knowing each other better. One of the ladies had a great idea, sharing her collection of essential oils, so all of us get to concoct our own personalized mixture! I thought that was pretty awesome!

Situations can change our life schedules and dynamics. I looked forward to this gathering so we could catch up from the things we have missed and keep our close friends closer.

I am not a wealthy person, but I want to give back the blessings that God has blessed me, be it with a simple talent in crafting and good food to bring smile to others.

Here is an idea how to do a "Favorite Things Party", inspired by Magnolia Journal. Have a nice Day!

Designing on Target's Bulleyes' section

No matter how much I tell myself "I don't need anymore Christmas decor", there's something inside me says the opposite. It's the most wonderful time of the year. You can't have enough Christmas decor! 

This Crazy Christmas lady, as my husband call me, have to be reasonable on spending decor on a budget.

Target's Bulleyes' Playgound always gets me, as it was strategically placed at the store's entrance. I had to stop at what I call "the $1 section" even my one and only mission was to get rolls of toilet papers!

 

I have a small space between my cubbies and  ceiling. I wanted something minimal but gives me that "wow" factor. I decided on getting these neutral decors from Target. $3 each.

I love how it turned out, especially when lit at night. It gives me this effect like I was staging a Christmas musical!

Only one art is original. The rest is inspired. Well... at least in my case.

I adopted the wooden snowflake effect from Jo's Magnolia Store. It is not as elaborate. I wanted to keep it simple and minimal. I got them from hobby lobby. 50 pcs for $2.50 (w/discount)

Free Rustic Photo Ledge

"I am not a hoarder." Is something a hoarder would say. But I am glad I kept all the wood I accumulated over the past years.

I found these beautiful 3x3's under a pile of discarded woods with a groove. 

According to my father in law, this might have been a part of shipping packaging. It was going to the trash so he decided to keep it  for future use. I asked if I could keep it. He said yes!

I sanded it, poly it and now I have a rustic photo ledge to showcase my some of my favorite memories!

Happy Accidents

It's Paint Party Night! The subject... Pumpkins! Perfect for theme for Fall.

All the women were seated, smiling excitedly as we all exchanged our hi's and hellos.

 Our art instructor Amanda will guide us step by step on how to paint a stack of pumpkins. We started by drawing three circles. Sounds easy enough. Our art master made it look incredibly effortless when she started sketching on her blank canvas until. Then.. we tried it ourselves. Our hands, Our drawing. Our brush strokes.

In painting, it's interesting how a piece started with simple sketch of shapes and lines until it got to a more complicated choice of colors, hand techniques that includes shading and highlights. The smiles on our faces began to shift into expression of discontent and stress.

I started having anxiety when I glanced over to the lady sitting next to me and her painting. It triggered jealousy, therefore making more and more mistakes, as my negative emotions directed my brush strokes.

 I was trying so hard to paint exactly like everybody thinking everybody does it better and mine is just a blobby mess.

Amanda is a true artist by nature and by heart, genuinely appreciated each work. She also encouraged everybody that every painting is uniquely beautiful. Her artistic approach in art appreciation was contagious that I taught my stubborn eyes to look at my work with joy and contentment.

In the middle of painting session, I paused for a minute and took a deep breath before I continued. This shift of attitude helped me changed my perspective. I started to see the beauty in my handiwork. I decided how my pumpkins should look they way I wanted them to be. And guess what? They are beautiful just the way they are.

Sometimes, a work of art doesn't have to be perfect. The most beautiful masterpieces are the product of happy accidents.

Sincerely Yours

Castle Lemon