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

I Don't Want To Be Joanna Gaines

“I don’t want to be Joanna Gaines”, is something a fixer upper fan would rarely say… or almost never say.

What kind a Fixer Upper fan in their right frame of mind would not want to be Joanna Gaines. She is a talented self-taught interior designer. A beautiful driven woman who could balance a healthy relationship with her family and built a legacy that helped an economic thriving small town in Texas, changed the reputation of Waco into a big tourist destination that caters to visitors with an excellent southern hospitality. She is also raising beautiful well behaved children, and married to someone who would build anything for her and worships her like a queen. Apart from all these, she wrote books and has her own lifestyle magazine. So.. yeah.. Who wouldn’t want to be Joanna Gaines? Who wouldn’t want to have what she has?

This beautiful impeccable woman inspired me in so many levels in life. I felt a certain connection with Jo after reading her writings. I could relate to her experiences. Even though I am more the Chip in my own relationship. I’m goofy, but I can be handy. Jo and I share some common interests and outlook in life.  I was tempted to desire her life’s achievements, with the verse in mind “I can do all things through Christ” , Maybe, I can create my Magnolia.

My faulty desire started directing me to a wrong turn. I was chasing someone else’s calling instead of finding my own. I ventured on opportunities that could get me any closer to Jo’s success. But everything I put my hands on failed. I was never motivated to keep going. Maybe because my heart wasn’t really into business or building another Magnolia.

If you are familiar with the show Fixer Upper, Chip and Joanna renovates ran down and outdated houses. Joanna based her design on functionality while respecting the house’s architectural history that fits the character and lifestyle of their client.

Just like a fixer upper, I too have to knock down some walls in life that blocks my heart’s openness in seeing the purpose God had crafted exclusively for me.  There will be ripping off dry walls, exposing of shiplaps involved, revealing a character that is made to last.

One of the things I remember in reading the book  Magnolia Story was Jo obeyed to God’s voice even though it didn’t make any sense. Eventually, her obedience had led to her success to build an empire that blessed others.

I have bravely started what I was avoiding all this time. I am in the stage of finding my purpose in writing. I find pleasure in creating a world that is purely imaginative. More specifically, writing a fantasy fiction novel that has been long overdue.

Another thing that spoke to me through Jo’s words of advice, “Never stop doing what you love. Writing gives me a sense of purpose and great joy, that even though I don’t see where it leads me, I am motivated to keep improving in spite of daily responsibilities homeschooling my four year old and two toddlers crowding my feet all day.

I still have other skills to offer that I intend to use, but for now, i have the urge to pour down the words of my heart on paper. Let's start with that.

I still don’t want to be Joanna Gaines. Her success was custom made just for her. Wanting what she has is like trying to fit in a pair of shoes that wasn’t my size.

but I want to be like Joanna Gaines. I want to reach a level of stillness when my heart silent enough to hear God’s voice.

All this time I was looking at the wrong direction. Instead of wanting to be Joanna, God wants me to follow his example. I want to create a world.  A world created behind the pen. Jo’s life is Magnolia. Writing is my Magnolia

Sincerely yours,

Castle Lemon