one way to green your party

image from crispgreen.com

here's an interesting and very green way to serve drinks: edible cups! to me it looks like 'gulaman', a seaweed-derived jelly in the Philippines. they also come in flavors to complement your cocktails. and when you get tired of chewing your cup, you can throw them in the garden as they are very biodegradable. read more here.

The Warlock



images from Flamel's Secret, the Official fan forums of the series and flamels-immortal-portal.com

 i have finally finished The Warlock (two weeks ago). i have thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it, and i'm looking forward to a re-read, though i'm still finding the right time for it. the revelatoins are amazing ang timed-right, and i bet there's plenty more in The Enchantress.

i would have to say, i am very interested in the background of Virginia Dare. she's a very shady character (in the series anyway), and a cunning woman. i hope she gets the next titular character. but none would compare to Perenelle Flamel, whose humanity remains though bestowed immortality.

i cannot wait for the last book. so it's another year of lit fidgeting for me. but i'm thankful i have books already lined up for reading. and right now it's A Dark Anatomy by Robin Blake.

for those curious enough to delve into the world of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, here's a 5-chapter preview of The Warlock :click:

mochi buns

it was a long weekend for the Philippines last week. so last Monday, i was able to make some mochi buns (using a mix and an oven toaster). i enjoyed mixing the dough, getting my hands dirty, but found out mid-process that it was too sticky! i had a hard time taking the dough out of my hands so i wasn't able to take photos of the process. :p

using an oven toaster is not advisable as mine got burnt at the bottom, as the baking time is not the same with conventional ovens. but i don't have an oven so i had to use an oven toaster instead. the buns can be salvaged though, and we enjoyed them with condensed milk. YUM!!!

Bluebird and Sakura

yay! i finally was able to take a photo of my new tote, Bluebird and Sakura. it was raining for most of the time in Manila last weekend, so i just had to make do with a cloudy lighting.

i bought some retro-looking ribbons and buttons a few months ago and used them for a button closure for this tote

back detail

Bluebird and Sakura is already available in my etsy shop.

i know what i did last weekend



yes, that's right, dark chocolate with sour green mangoes and salt. an unlikely combination but sent my taste buds tingling with excitement!

i'm guilty, i know... the money just slipped out of my hands as i saw these. but they were never regrets. first, a stop at The Echo Store. i first saw Theo Philo Artisan Chocolates in a food magazine, and ever since i wanted to try one. i believe i am a bold and curious eater, so i tried out the weirdest flavor, Green Mangoes with Salt. and it was very uplifting. usually when i eat chocolate, i get a heavy feeling of its richness, but with this it felt very light because of the green mangoes. the salt was there, but it does not overpower the other tastes.

very refreshing baby calming mist

 my son is already far from being a baby (aside from his occasional 'ma-ma!' baby talk, with matching hug). but i wanted to buy a cologne for him and it had to be organic. i came across Oryspa's Baby Calming Mist, and i instantly bought it! the scent is just right i even want to use it on myself. but about the calming part, let's just say i haven't found out yet...

sorry i haven't opened it yet, but sure looks delectable!

i also bought carrot chips, just to see how it tastes and so we can have alternative 'junk food'. but i always keep forgetting that i bought it; i'll be sure to try it this weekend.

one of the lesser known shorts

our next stop (and haunt) was Book Sale where i found two Beatrix Potter books. i'm trying to collect the titles, you see, so please excuse me for buying so much. they were on sale anyway.

please also don't blame me for looking across Book Sale to find Papemelroti, where i discovered these darling button earrings i have been eyeing on etsy! they were below Php100, who could resist that?

so that has been my little adventure last weekend. i was also able to finish another tote, but i will have to post it at another time (when i have a photo of it already).

on Storque: Teaching Kids to Think BIG

image from 123rf.com

found this wonderful read on Storque. i find the business card amusing (with the silliest business titles), and at the same time empowering for the children. it goes with Malcolm Gladwell's theory in Outliers, that a child with the most exposure to activities and opportunities (of course of the child's interest) is most likely to grow up to be an achiever.

Emerald Knights: a Green Lantern feature of shorts

image of Mogo (background) from greenlatern.wikia.com

i'm a fan of graphic novels and animation, what with growing up with a brother who has the same likes. and yesterday i got a treat from hubby. he bought a DVD of Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, which is an animated feature of short stories based on several Green Lanterns (Hal Jordan becomes a minor character here). the animation is consistent, with awesome fighting sequences. but what interested me most are the substories. my favorite is that of Mogo, a Green Lantern which is a whole planet! imagine a planet with a life of its own and having the power to protect itself. now THAT is superb! we won't have to worry about pollution, deforestation, famine, or climate change. The other substories are also notable as every one has a lesson or two to learn from them.

i'd say this would be a good intro to the world of the Green Lanterns, and a must-see for those who will be watching the film.

Social Love#2

time for Social Love#2. i'm turning to become more green, opting to use more eco-friendly products i can get my hands on (i am also learning to be less sensitive about the pricing! but it wouldn't hurt if the item was affordable). i've already found a local brand of organic and affordable body care and cosmetic line, which i have been religiously using (my family as well). i think that the next step would be "greening" our pets. i am an animal lover, and it's only natural that we use the most natural ingredients for our furry babies.

Purest Pets gives us just that, a safer alternative for dog grooming. and i do like their logo of a very energetic dog. i haven't really tried their products, but i am wishing we could have something like this in the Philippines.

Social Love#1

wall leaning Desk and Bookcase combo by AmazingMiniatures

to kick-off my participation for Etsy Entrepreneurs' 5th challenge, i'd like to share with you AmazingMiniatures by Ann. and they are indeed amazing. you don't even need a dollhouse for these mini-furniture. i remember doing scale models in university, but these are over-the-top!

DIY party

photo from etsy by Kitiya Palaskas

here's a delightful and very easy how-to on etsy, with matching photos, fit for every party. :) click here to read on.

featured on a treasury

yay! my Scribbled Stag Tote was featured on Coramantic's I Hear Thunder treasury, and a very eclectic one at that! love those lightning earrings!

addition to ACEO femme collection

i was able to paint last weekend, and here are my updates for the femme collection



La Pucelle finally has color!

Cleopatra, the much maligned Queen of the Nile



Cleopatra detail

i'll be posting these on my etsy shop this week, so feel free to visit :)

Pink for Boys, Blue for Girls

found a very interesting read on etsy regarding color-coding gender. would you dress your boy in pink? i would

read on here.

new totes

designed new totes this week, experimenting with scribbles

scribbled stag

scribbled butterfly

logo at the back

both are available in my etsy shop already.

Father's Day ideas

Father's Day is fast approaching . here are some ideas for that special day for your old man, well if he likes vintage handyman stuff. visit my treasury here.