Star+Flower

Gabba Gabba

I had started writing my entry, but then I had to step away. After I came back and read what I wrote I realized how whiny I sounded. Truthfully, for the past couple of weeks, I had been feeling depressed, deflated, and uncreative; hence my absence. But having wrote down my feelings really helped me put it into perspective. Negativity will just feed upon itself if you let it and I definitely don't want that for myself.

I choose to be happy.

OK.

Well, the kiddos are all over this new show on Nick Jr. called Yo Gabba Gabba! and I admit I like it too. Mia already knows the names of all the characters and I'll hear her and Aidan sing the songs at random times during the day. What won me over was seeing Elijah Wood on one of the episodes and hearing one of the songs in the tune of Nice and Wild's Diamond Girl. Let me tell you, Mia loves Dora The Explorer but she never says anything when the show is over. Tonight after watching two episodes (we Tivo them) she threw a little fit. She started off with a bit of crying and then getting mad all the while saying, "Gabba gabbaaaaa..." I can't believe she likes this show that much. Silly girl. I say that to her at least ten times a day.

When she's not occupied by the TV, she's usually looking at her books. Whenever she's eating and I'm feeding her, she asks for her books. When she wakes up in the morning, she climbs over me to get to her books on the nightstand. Her new favorites are Baby Beluga and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

"Swiper no swiping!"

"¡Lo hicimos! We did it!"

And lookie. Someone got her ears pierced last Saturday. I was on the fence about it for a long time. Should we...should we wait... I got my ears pierced when I was really young too so I can't remember my experience at all. We went to The Icing at the Brea Mall and I was so worried that something bad might happen. Everything went well though aside from a bit of crying which made me feel a pang of guilt. I think she looks really pretty with her tiny pink earrings and she's been very good by not touching them. When I clean her ears she says it tickles.

I have three weekends to get everything all ready for Mia's birthday party. She's almost 2! I'm still trying to find the perfect outfit for her. I went to my new favorite store, Naartjie, and I had to restrain myself. I bought her this dress in purple that she might wear. I also love these clothes by Misha Lulu. There's so many cute clothes for little girls it's so hard to decide!

Here's my latest lo for Prima. I have to get on the ball with posting my stuff. TTFN!    

We Love SF

We arrived there last Friday in the late afternoon after a loooong wait to cross the Bay Bridge. Aside from the $4 toll, it's always exciting crossing that bridge to get to the city. I took a picture of my old workplace at One Market. (It's the shorter building in the foreground.) I just feel so nostalgic whenever I see it. 

Another thing I miss is the flower vendors you find on the street. Buying flowers from the grocery store is just not the same.

Our trip was pretty much a foodfest. My goal was to hit all our usual restaurants and On The Bridge at J-Town was first on the list. Allan's favorite is Fried Shrimp Curry and mine is the Chicken Katsu Curry. The dish even comes with a fried egg on top. Gosh, I'm drooling just looking at the picture. 

Also at J-Town is Andersen Bakery and they have the best strawberry tart I've ever tasted.

Another one of our favorites is Zao Noodle Bar on California St. These are Tofu Fries with three dipping sauces and for the main dish Allan and I get the same thing everytime: Chicken In Lemon Grass Coconut Broth.

Mmmmmm.... 

I had to do some shopping too. Allan pretty much followed me around and took me wherever I wanted to go. Kinokuniya at J-Town is always a must. I bought some Uniball pens and notebooks and a couple of craft magazines at the bookstore.

We walked up Fillmore because I had to stop at Nest and along the way we browsed at the Marc Jacobs store. I almost walked away with this.

You know I'm kidding, right?

My wish was fulfilled when I got to see Timeless Treasures. This wonderful and inspiring shop specializes in vintage letters and, of course, I couldn't leave without taking some home with me. I'll post a picture once I figure out the best way to display them!

We also drove through where we use to live, right by SF State, and then we went to Stonestown Galleria for old time's sake.

The M Ocean. When I see it, I think about how Allan and I would walk from our apartment in the early morning hours to catch it to get to work by 6 a.m.   

And, lastly, this was the view from our hotel room. I think the city is trying to tell us something. We always talk about moving back someday, but who knows if that will ever happen. For now, it's nice to visit once a year and I'm already looking forward to next time when we can take Mia on her first cable car ride.

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Back to current time, I'm working on the September SOMO kit right now. I have some layouts here at My Favorite Memories where I'm so honored to have been asked to be their guest designer this month. The kit was really wonderful and I had alot of fun doing the pages.

Today I got to see my cousin who just arrived from the Philippines last Sunday. I was watering my plants in the backyard and turned around to find her standing by the sliding door. I'm unbelievable happy that she's here although I know how sad she is to leave her family behind, especially her granddaughter. I was so fluttered I forgot to take a picture of us together, but I know I'll see her again soon.

And I just want to end this by saying Thank you SO SO MUCH to all my friends who left me such nice comments for my birthday! I was misty-eyed the entire day. I really wish I could give all of you a big hug. Thank you...      

Can't think of a Title

I love these new Paintables papers from Prima because, before scrapbooking, painting was my thing. For this page I used Twinkling H20s watercolor paints and I'm so impressed with them because the colors are so bright and sparkly. Prima is having a contest using these papers and the prizes are very generous :) Here's the link: contest details.

Here's my projects for Story Of My Own's August kit.

I couldn't get this song out my head so I had to scrap it.

And here's most of the pages from my little project book. I barely have any Autumn-y pictures so I had to think of something different to do. I decided to just make it about the important days of my family...birthdays, anniversary, some of the holidays. I have to add six more pages to the beginning of this book.

 

It's been quite busy now that we're back in school mode. And now I can't pull any late-nighters. I have to sleep between 11 pm - 12 am or else I'm a mess in the morning.

(Sigh) I've got 11 minutes before I hit mid-30 and I know age ain't nuthin' but a number but I hate to see that number getting higher and higher. My life is wonderful right now, though, and I'm so SO blessed with what I have. Allan and I will be headed to San Francisco this Friday to celebrate our 11th anniversary, but what I love is that we've really been together for almost 20 years already. I had just turned 15 when we met and it's fun for me to think back on that time. At that fateful party that I didn't want to attend in the first place...

And here's one of my loves. She's wearing a Disney Princess shirt and when I put it on her she'll say, "Princess Mia!" And the shades...she said, "Oooo, I look beautiful!"

Be back next week! Oh, look, I'm one year older now...