spiCes

Christmas went by so fast.  It was like just a few weeks ago since I was so excited with decorating and hanging Christmas decors and now we are all looking forward to the New Year.  As we all welcome a new year, just like anybody else, I would like to usher it with a fresh start.  How, you might ask?   I am throwing away old stuffs! Haha! What comes after that is getting new ones, right?  For one, M has given me the go signal to get a new set of sofa! Yay!  Since we’ve never really had a decent living room furniture ever since we settled here in the United States and made do with hand me downs, I guess it’s just about time to scout for the perfect style that I have been dreaming about for a while now.

I found one  that would be the perfect centerpiece for my living room which is just as much a decor piece as it is a functional piece of furniture. I love its leathery soft, smooth round lines  and even has an additional storage space in it.  Best of all, I want it in white leather for a simple elegance and cozy appeal.  Concept Furniture has got the exact set I want.   They have a wide selections of contemporary living room furniture and even bedroom furniture, which will have to be dealt with next, hehe!  The good thing about it is that you can configure a specific set to your particular liking in terms of fabric or leather, color, finish and choice of legs, plus they offer a special financing plan in case you need one.

…a third attempt on the yummy and nutty cups, this time using hazelnuts. compared to the walnut and chocolate walnut cups i made prior to this, i consider this the most holiday-ish taste-wise. therefore, it came out the best among all three…

…and i wrapped some for my Christmas goodie give-aways to some special friends…i hope they get them on time and that they like ‘em!*wink wink*

…for …Happy, Happy Holidays to one and all!!!

…a little late entry for .  our weekend that was filled with 2 feet of snow.  now, we just need to stay inside since those roads are really icy and quite dangerous for travel.  i just wish it will be better by Christmas eve since we are headed to Connecticut which is a 3 hour long drive from here. even my cousins over in Seattle as I heard has had their own share of snowy weathers lately too. and speaking of Seattle, during these wintery days where accidents happen here and there..you might need the services of a Seattle injury lawyer to do the legal stuffs for you, just in case. although we hope not, but it’s better to be ready, right?

i just want to share this beautiful HOW-TO to all the mothers…and fathers as well.

…i saw this on another blog and i just thought, i want it also journaled on my own website. thanks to weekend snapshot for letting me borrow!:]

In our line of work, site boots are a requirement most especially when one is always assigned to work on site but I have never been much of a big fan of those site boots.  It’s just too bulky and manly that I do not look forward to wearing them.  Up until I saw this website on 5.11 Tactical boots. They have really nice pairs that I think one can even wear outside the work force.  But don’t get me wrong, they sure are built to last with very durable and reliable materials, just the perfect solution when faced with dangerous job sites and it will ensure you that you can finish your job safely.

We got hit by our very first snow storm this year, well our very first in this state in fact. In spite of the snow not letting up over the whole weekend, we should just the same be thankful that it was a weekend when we can just stay home.

…and that during these stormy weather whether here in the US or back in the Philippines, isn’t it just nice to laze around and eat your favorite comfort food such as soups and a hot chocolate? next post on those…!:]

I think I am done Christmas shopping.  What’s left for me to do is wrap them up and label and off they go under the Christmas tree.  But then again, I think I am running out of supplies to do just that and speaking of office supplies, check out Officeworks for your personal or office business supplies. This is more than just a stationery store, this is Australia’s largest retailer and direct supplier of quality and affordable office and technology products whether it’s for home offices, students or small to medium size businesses. They offer products from the brands you love at a very reasonable price.

First, let me wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!!!
As this is the weekend before the holidays officially start and I know each and everyone of us will be all the more busy with various activities such as last minute shopping, gift wrapping, more decorations and most importantly cooking up something for that very special day or baking more goodie give-aways just as I was.
Last night I spent hours in the kitchen until around 1 am to finish up the last batch of my goodies…prepping, pressing, filling up pressed cups, baking up to cooling and then finally gift-boxing and putting labels. [If only I can get out and brave that 1 foot of snow, and still pouring]

PRESSING…was the hardest part of it all, next to mixing the dough with a hand-mixer [d'oh!]. I tell ya, after my said ’session’ with Stel, I have made some walnut cups, chocolate walnut cups and last night i tried incorporating hazelnuts [which turned out the best among the 3] and will be posting ‘em soon. In those 3 instances, I was using my good ‘ol wooden rolling pin and/or pestle to form the dough into little cups and it wasn’t very easy since the diameter of both does not match the muffin pan holes as snug as it should be. Unlike this TART PRESS of Stel, that we used the very first time. I have been scouting around for this, unfortunately I cannot find one yet in stores and online. Don’t get me wrong though, it is still doable and with practice…it felt easier and easier with the ‘improvised gadgets’…
And as mentioned above, another KITCHEN GADGET on my wish list is a KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt. Stand Mixer. Actually, I don’t need to buy one anymore…I just need to find a way to ship my mom’s from Manila to here!:] and as I told my sister, she can sell everything that mama owns except for this!:] Although it’s in cobalt blue rather than the red that I am drooling over and the perfect color which should be a perfect accent piece in my black and white kitchen…I won’t mind I guess hehe, since it is my mom’s first and foremost and it does cost so much.
So what’s on YOUR KITCHEN WISH LIST? or what KITCHEN GADGET has been on your wish list that you have finally received from santa?
is a weekly PHOTOGRAPHY meme, Pinoy style!
For the next 2 Sundays, I am assuming that everyone will be more caught up in all these holiday brouhahas…so I understand if you won’t get to post…but if you do so…it’s all about CHRISTMAS FOOD and NEW YEAR FOOD respectively.
ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS!!!MWAHHH!

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C turned 7 and this was his birthday brownies…

initially it was just supposed to be a family affair, but then the little boy invited friends over for a supposed ‘party’…so here they are on an impromptu playdate with a birthday cake saturday…

…it was crazy but fun! for them at least:]…okay, okay… it was for me also, as i know the boy is happy and that makes me happy too!