A Little Change is Always Good

     To never even bother with changing anything in anything is mortal sin in design. At least that's what I think.
     But life and craziness happens and I found my living room sofa suffering a terrible rut.
Everyone loves my sofa. Funny it is not actually a sofa but the seat of an old farm carriage which used to be pulled by a carabao in the olden days. It is called a garetta. In my living room it functions as the sofa so let's just call it that.
     One day I just had to do something with my 'rutty sofa'. What else can one do do that is fast and inexpensive? Change what's on it meaning the slipcover and the pillows. So here is my 'rutty sofa'.

The sofa accessories are heavily department store finds...=-S

     Without changing anything on the coffee table, just the pillows and the slipcover....

     My kids say it is not 'exactly' better but it's different. I disagree. Blue and Yellow, I am proud to say are getting too confident with being critiques of design.

     I happen to like it.  As long as it speaks to me in a positive way, it's right by me. As the kings and queens of your home, heck live what you love.....(don't listen to them) ...just love it! =-)
   

Sundays @ Market Avenue

      For four Sundays Market Avenue, a weekend market for foodies will be at the Mega tent along Meralco Avenue, acroos Alexandra. We snooped the first day they opened....

.....and came home with several bags of yummy goodies.

      I simply love Must be Mom's; their ensaymada is very good.

      Med Chef was there and you can't help but buy big chunks of their brownies. 3 for P100.

      Gotta try their Red velvet but it is still Uncle Bob's for me.

 

     We simply loved the stall that sells all soy products from bread sticks, chips to cookies.

      These are available in our local supermarkets.

    It is their cookies we loved. They taste so healthy and fresh, perfect with coffee.

      Here are other interesting stuff there....

        Sushi- inspire desserts.

   
      What is great is northern manila dwellers like me don't have to go all the way to the Fort to enjoy this, at least for a few more Sundays.

     Fun usually peaks at lunch time but if you just want to do a little shopping, it is good to be there early. =-)

     Read about it here.

     See you at the market!

 

Two Loves With One Stone

     This post is about two of my favorite things; collage making (See my post about it here.) and setting a good table.
     My mom has, what to me when I was growing up, the perfect set of vintage Pirex dinnerware. It had delicate green leaves like a garland around its edges. It can go for Christmas to any day of the year. I used to get a kick out of setting a fancy table complete with all the stemware and silverware to shock my parent's guests. In the Philippines, we are not used to that.
     Well, I have outgrown that but my love for table setting remains.
     In design school recently. we were tasked to do a table setting, complete with a theme,  menu, invites the works. I was excited! Even if i was up to my neck with work, I volunteered to do most of the prep especially the invites, place cards and menu. Why? I wanted to make and use collages for them.
     My group mates and I thought of a ladies book club afternoon tea party. Our teacher loved it. We got the highest score!.......And I had the time of my life. =-)

the invite

the menu

the place card bookmarks

My mind went totally blank with where to put the teaspoon though. 4:00!!

      Teacher got one of my collage bookmarks. =-)

Peace in A Box

     Prayer is one big part pf my life. Having been convent-bred since I was a little girl, growing up with nuns in the background, my spirituality is one of my life's non-negotiables. I am not preaching that I am a saint and all good, oh no but more of I love to pray. Prayer is pivotal to my sanity everyday. =-)
     This is one value I wish to teach my children and I want incorporated in our daily home life.

     I came up with a prayer box or kit if you want to call it with all the essentials to have a good prayer time.

      It is such a pretty tray which I got here with roomy enough compartments to hold bigger things.

      This is an angel made by Blue. I think it belongs in the prayer box. Don't you think so?

     A book of prayers, a daily gospel booklet and my most cherished prayer book, The Power of A Praying Parent.

     We can share with each other little points prayer 'gifts' us by writing them down in the small notebooks and post-its.....

      There is a rosary (There used to be three...hmmm.) and a small crucifix. I plan to get those battery operated tea candles soon. =-)

      I believe in always looking for ways to do things better, get to do something more. Our prayer box calls us to God, calls us to listen. Even for a short, short while....we are in His peace.

....wait what is my mini scale and paper cutter doing there?? =-<

FabManila is my go-to for a lot of wonderful things like the lovely partition tray in this post.

Life is a Pique-Nique

     We had a crazy last day in Singapore. For our last hurrah, where else did we go but to Takashimaya. I simply love the basement food court there. So many yummy choices, bright interiors and clean surroundings. I did not enjoy it much this time though, no thanks to the Sunday crowd. But there is always that silver lining.....I just love this coffee/ pastry shop...

     The interiors are pretty, refreshing and I love the name.

     But it was their packaging that did it for me....So pretty!

      I just had to bring home some. Luckily Yellow wanted to try their red velvet. =-)

     I like the unique way that they present their cake slices.

    A coffee shop is not a coffee shop without muffins...

     And we were off...

Potentiol nom-nom-nom in bad.

     The verdict Uncle Bob's in Manila (I mean he is the king of red velvet. For me at least.)  is better but the eye candy packaging and the not bad at all  taste of Pique-Nique's is good enough for me...I mean Yellow. hehe, I took a little bite. =-)
    Meanwhile back in Manila.....where is Uncle Bob's number nga....=-)

 Pique-Nique is also on facebook. Find them here.