Spring Hike

Here is another attempt at a digital layout. These are pics from my Hiking 101 entry previously. I'm beginning to get the hang of this yay! One of these days i will definitely start a hybrid one. Oh and thanks Julie for your comment on my previous digital layout... your blog is awesome!

The paper and elements that i used are from the promise collection by shabby princess designs - i love their kits!

Going digital

After a few hours playing around in photoshop i ended up with my first ever digital scrapbook page. I was always for the old fashioned way of cutting and pasting elements but i found it fun doing a digital page anyway. I think i may have to get into hybrid scrapbooking, which is a combination of digital and the traditional way of doing it. It's creating from the best of both worlds.

These are photos i took of two of our cats - Spot and Astro.


Digital template by Jessica Sprague
Paper by Amy Teets (Sun Porch Collection)

In the Navy

My brother enlisted in the US Navy on February 16, 1988. After 20 looong years, he retired as Chief Petty Officer on December 20, 2008. He has been all over the world aboard war ships months at a time and is now ready to start a brand new life.

These pictures were taken during his retirement ceremony in Virginia. It was a very nice ceremony. The most touching part of it all was during the flag pass where his subordinates slowly pass the flag while playing a very solemn song. When the flag reaches him - he salutes, faces my mom, kneels and hands her the flag. We were also presented a bouquet of flowers being part of the immediate family. On his exit march we walked down the aisle behind him while officers had swords crossed above us and a bell ringing indicated his exit from the military.

The shadow box where he stands next to was hand crafted solely by him. Usually shadow boxes are made by the Navy for the retiree but he decided to do it himself. It took him weeks to build those model ships, detailing every single thing. He is holding a sword which was given to him in special honor of his outstanding service. My brother... my idol.


Materials:
Paper and embellishments - the Paper Studio
US Navy stickers - K&Company
Cardstock - Bazzill

Hiking 101

My husband and i went hiking last weekend. It was almost all uphill and i couldn't last long enough to reach the top! I really need to start working out again. The area seemed like a blair witch project setting and i felt we were going to get lost in the middle of nowhere. I didn't enjoy it very much so to divert my attention to something else the hiking turned out to be a great photo opportunity. Here are some shots i took.

Nine to Five

Just when i stopped looking for a job, somebody contacts me! Now how great is that?! :) I start work on Monday, back to the 9-5 routine. Well it used to be 8-530 so this won't be too bad. After 8 months of sitting around and having the time of my life, i think it is about time to get back on the working world again. The only sad thing about it is that i won't be able to scrapbook as much. The good thing though is that i can buy more scrapbook stuff lol! I have gotten myself so involved in scrapbooking and photography i surely will still find time to do it. :)

I finally got a shot of the male cardinal bird. It was sitting on a tree near our bird feeder. What a beautiful creature.

Female Cardinal

I was eating brunch the other day when this Cardinal stopped by for a visit on our bird-feeder set out in the patio. I couldn't resist taking pictures of it. These birds are very sensitive to motion so i had to carefully take the shot behind glass. I just love how unique they look. The male bird is red in color but i haven't been lucky to take a shot such as this. The female bird is distinguished by its red bill.

North by Northwest

Otherwise known as NxNW, this restaurant/bar offers really good beer and food. They brew their own beer. So far i have not tasted one dish that i did not like from this place. My husband and i hang out here every sunday with friends. They have what they call the Sunday burger special - a huge, juicy, 100% beef burger with a side of fries with two pints of beer - for a reasonable price of $12.99! Now how good a deal is that?! Their fries are also one of my favorites, with their special salt (i think it's sea salt with garlic)... yuuuummmy! I know it's not healthy, but if you have it once a week then it's all good ;)








Another place that i love to hang out at is The Domain - a high end strip mall with shops like Michael Kors, Neiman Marcus, Z Gallerie, Ralph Lauren, and lots more. The ambiance is perfect with lighted up trees, a small waterfall and a fireplace. Definitely a lovely walk on the strip at night with all the lights.

Winter Fun

The holidays are always full of excitement! My husband and i flew to Virginia to visit my family for ten days. We took road trips to Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania where my aunt lives. On December 24, my uncle took us to Blue Mountain ski resort for a day of snow tubing fun! This was my first time to ever try it. Basically you slide down a slope of ice on a tube covered with canvas. You can be spun or pushed down the slope, depending on how much adrenalin rush you'd like. Or you can even carry the tube, run toward the slope, and plop down on it as it slides down. I didn't try that, definitely did not want to be the point of amusement for a lot of people in case i did it wrong lol!


This layout was a Becky Fleck sketch. Patterned papers are from the all dressed up stack of DCWV, ribbon by the paper studio, black cardstock by paper reflections.

Which Wich

These photos were taken last January at a place called Which Wich. Very intriguing name and very good sandwich too. They had a unique way of getting orders. As soon as you come in, the menu was posted on boards on the side wall. Below it are red sharpie pens and brown paper bags with the same menu but with check boxes. So all you gotta do is check all the ingredients you would like on your sandwich, line up and pay, and they stick it on a clip on a wire and slide it down to the sandwich preparer. Pretty cool!

This layout was adapted from Becky Fleck. All paper materials are by K&Company, flower by thePaperStudio, rick rack by Ribbon Trends.


My hubby before and after eating! :)

100 nuggets

I posted this in my old blog and wanted to transfer the updated version here.

A blog from a friends' blog (did that make sense?!) caught my attention and so i start to write this...

1) My full maiden name consists of 33 letters! My mom made sure i wouldn't have a hard time during grade school. =)
2) i have brown eyes
3) i'm only 5'2, but as they say - "Great things come in small packages!".. haha..
4) i'm right handed
5) i HATE snakes, or anything that wiggles for that matter
6) shoes - my ultimate weakness
7) i love Yellow Cab New York style pizza, oh and the Charlie Chan
8) although NOTHING will top my sister's spaghetti, one of my favorites
9) i prefer a nice sunny day than the rain
10) i love the sunset
11) i love traveling to new places
12) i am more of a tea drinker
13) i'm not much of a chocolate lover
14) i don't smoke
15) i drink on occasion (light beer, frozen margarita, or cosmo only)
16) i don't get motion sickness (happened only ONCE in my entire life)
17) i love badminton and volleyball (now in that order, used to be the other way around)
18) i love the water (although i am not really very good at swimming), i am a piscean
19) i have no tattoos on my body, just 3 scars =(
20) i like McDonald's french fries
21) i like Jollibee's chicken joy and swirly bits (this is a fastfood chain in the Phil.)
22) i am a hopeless romantic!
23) i usually don't like being alone
24) i like laughing 3/4 of the time, what can i say i am a jolly person...
25) i hate hypocrites
26) i love surprises (the good ones that is...)
27) i have 4 great friends who mean a lot to me.. we go way back grade school
28) i love clothes and shoes and accessories... period.. hehe...
29) i like openness in a relationship
30) i am the youngest of four, my sister and i have a 12 year gap
31) my favorite color is red (not flashy red though), and then pastels
32) i rarely get mad, i usually try to avoid it
33) i become a mushy person when in a relationship, but what can i do? the sweet side of me naturally comes out of its shell... hehe...
34) i have my moods though, especially during the time of the month (it's a woman thing! hehe)
35) i shed a tear when i am sad or hear sad stories.. =)
36) i like being hugged
37) i truly believe that the small things in any kind of relationship count the most (take note that this does not have anything to do with my height! hehe)
38) i used to have a sticker and stationary collection when i was a kid
39) my favorite perfumes are Tommy Freedom, Clinique Happy, and Chanel Chance
40) i tend to be impulsive sometimes
41) i can be impatient at times (my dad trained us to be on time all the time... hmmm i think that explains why)
42) i am not a junkfood lover
43) i love to drive
44) i adore babies (except when they start their tantrums... haha)
45) i like puppies
46) i love romantic comedies and hate horror movies
47) reality tv interests me
48) i don't like arrogant people
49) i don't cook too much (still honing my skills in this department)
50) i smile a lot. It's a trademark. ;)
51) i also like black and white
52) i love cheesecake and creme brulee
53) i like vegetables, eaten with FAT FREE dressing
54) i prefer fish over meat
55) i prefer water over any other kind of beverage
56) i drink water with no ice 90% of the time
57) i wore braces for 2 1/2 years
58) the C2 drink makes my tummy turn (i have no idea why!)
59) sparkling jewelry isn't really my thing, i usually just wear earrings and a watch. Sometimes i accessorize.
60) i can barely walk on high heels (but practicing these days)
61) i have sensitive skin
62) i believe in the saying "First impressions last"
63) i owned a barbie doll collection (even they had lots of clothes! haha!)
64) i used to love reading the Nancy Drew collection, Sweet Valley Twins, Sweet Valley High and Sweet Dreams (i was a teenager!!)
65) i had subscriptions to Teen magazine in junior high
66) i owned a pair of the "newspaper" design of Vans in 7th grade (classic!)
67) i love gummy bears (hehe)
68) my favorite ice cream flavor is double dutch (great with slices of banana, yummy!)
69) i wear very light make-up (i am good to go with face powder and lip gloss)
70) i have had 3 major "most embarrassing (and unforgettable) moments" in my life =) -> goes to say i had a lot of minor ones!
71) my life can be portrayed in a drama-comedy movie (but is there such a category?! hehe)
72) i once had a dog named Snoopy
73) i used to have asthma when i was a kid
74) my grade school sport was track and field... i was part of the cross country team... so catch me if you can! but my legs have gotten older through the years.... haha
75) i dislike people who "try too hard", being yourself is still the best and simple way
76) when i handwash the dishes, it's always glass first, then utensils, then bowls, then plates from smallest to biggest, then pots or pans... ALWAYS in the order!
77) i am never good with names or dates... i have to see or be with them all the time to remember (unless the person is unique that there is no possibility of forgetting)
78) i like sporty jackets and flip flops
79) i watch amazing race and csi
80) i like smooth jazz, r&b, house and acoustic (i also appreciate the old classic songs)
81) i hate it when people leave you hanging, not knowing the reason why (i mean is it really that hard to say?)
82) weekends are the best (well who doesn't get refreshed on a weekend - unless you're still working!)
83) i usually can get along with anyone, just don't weird out on me
84) i like eating chichacorn with vinegar =) (Phil. snack)
85) a few of my favorite tv shows include: queer eye for the straight guy, iron chef, america's next top model, american idol
86) gadgets are really not my thing, i won't change my cellphone unless it's really defective
87) when i'm feeling lazy, there is no possible way you can get me going
88) i am a very straight-forward person, sometimes that's good... sometimes it ain't
89) you can make me walk as long as it's not an unreasonable distance
90) i prefer the ocean over a lake
91) i owned a cabbage patch kid and a care bear... hehe...
92) my shoe size is 6 1/2 (my left foot is slightly bigger than the right, isn't that weird? hehe... or is that normal?)
93) i usually don't wear nail polish
94) i have dark brown hair (almost close to black)
95) i have a mole on my left foot (which goes to say i can't stay put in one place... hehe)
96) i don't really like fastfood (except when i am left with no choice)
97) i don't like watching alone in a movie house
98) "patience is a virtue"
99) i have had 3 serious relationships
100) this has to stop before i reveal any more... it took me approximately 3 days to finish this list! geez!

My 100 FACTS - complete! =)