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Archive for April, 2011

Lucky bamboos are great indoor plant. In Eastern practices, lucky bamboos were believed to bring the positive “fire” elements or “chi” in every home or offices.

I made a simple tutorial on how to make and grow a lucky bamboo (botanical name: Dracaena)   here.

It sits in my blue stoneware jar whose lid was broken by who else, my youngest kid:(

Look at how green the leaves are and how the stems look healthy.

SIMPLE TIPS ON CARING FOR LUCKY BAMBOO:

*keep the water on the vase to an inch high only.

*keep the water safe by replacing regularly.

*place the vase near a window where it could get minimal sunlight.

*too much sunlight may turn the leaves yellow.

*you may put small amount of liquid fertilizer into the water to keep it healthy.

*i suggest to spray little water onto the stems and leaves also regularly.

MORE PHOTOS HERE

I hadn’t finished the curtain I was sewing which I mentioned here. Too many preoccupation… too many events… happy and sad.

My mother-in-law passed away on on the eve of Easter Sunday. She was hospitalized for at least three weeks having undergone craniotomy (brain surgery). She had survived the operation but other complications later on manifested which makes her immunity very week. She is now at peace with the Creator.

If things went on as per my schedule, I would have finished the curtain first week of April, but as things went bad, my sewing nights were put to a halt. And, I thought, I needed a curtain change before the Holy Week. So, I started running my thrifty imagination.

I want a new curtain. But, since that wouldn’t be possible, I had to mix and match some of my old pieces…

Please, bear with my cheap decorating ability, and also the blurry photos, camera set-up has been altered by daughter:(

These old curtains were product of my sewing addiction some years back. The creamy satin fabric were a gift from my brother in 1997. The yellow sheer, I bought at discounted price.

Bought this sheer fabric at discounted textile store.

This deep red satin valance was sewn out of nearly forgotten drapes in my storage. Hubby hated the color, saying it was too bloody dark. Thus, I cut it to make short valances.

At least now, my window has been treated with old drapes. Hope to start sewing after my mother-in-law’s burial…

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Along with the old carpenter’s box that I had found at my brother’s storage, I also get to find mom’s old wooden house decor. Thought my brother had already threw this away, or had been in total wrecked after years of hibernating in the dark storage room. I remember how this wooden decor hangs above the back of our front door when I was in my early teens. Yet, it survived the years. Whew!

I am not really sure what color to apply, I felt I needed a “lift” to make this decor had a nice transformation. I’ve been thinking green. So, after mixing three color paints which were the available paints while I’m doing the project…I was surprised it turned out to be the perfect green I wanted…an olive green shade for the decor…thought it was perfect ^_^

After getting the desired paint color, thought I needed to add a smorgasbord of my favorite thingies…

Placed a small bunchy bunch of paper mache flowerettes in a bottle of Cacharel mini perfume that works as a vase.

I also placed in side by side these cutie framed angel and my froggy in the moon, a long-time favorite stuff ^_^

See what I mean, a closer look of my froggy…a little old but still loved it:)

Of course, for a little personal touch, I added mine and hubby’s thingy framed  picture  and two miniature wooden clogs in the middle. Aren’t they cuties?

There, I hang it at the end corner of our closet…

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Really don’t know how my love for candles started. I think it began when I attended a training on candle making about four years ago. A training for women sponsored by our local municipality. It aims to provide training and ideas for home based moms who wanted to try a small business in the comforts of their home.

Glad I get to learn candle-making and stuffs. I didn’t get to start doing business out of it but learning the process gave me tons of ideas. Then, I realized, I had collected dozens or so of different candles.

Here’s my newest bargain loot.  Found me these twin candles for $4 and as always, seeing it for the first time in the shelf, it was love at first sight. I was hoping to find another box, but I didn’t like the design of the other one, so I settled for this box.

Opening up, it was just  plain looking candles, I must agree…

But, these twin frosted crystal was to rave about. The label said it was Made in Germany…Should it be true?

There they are, twin pink candles…Wouldn’t you fall in love?

A bit closer look of the dainty blooms around it…Who couldn’t  resist such charming beauties…I could only stand in awe^_^

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Fiesta is over here in our small town. Shops were leaving. I get lonely thinking I’ll gonna missed the shops I frequented for hauling some thrifty finds.

This is the bargain shop where I had bought decorative plates, mugs, glasses, candles.  Plates here cost a dollar and below. Even cents, mind you. They have discounted bakeware and silverwares, too.

Here’s the white stonewares that sells like hotcakes the night we went there. The price says, “every thing five pesos” (was it $0.15 or even less?). Too bad, I didn’t pick any because the teapots ain’t got any lids. That’s why it on sale ^_^.

Lucky for me, I found these trio of shakers ignored by most buyers. I don’t intend to use them as salt and pepper shakers. I have other things in mind. Hmmm….

c

And, these trio of petite cups were an instant hit for me. I thought of adding them to few of my collection. And, also thinking of spray painting them with a bold color. I don’t know just yet…For the meantime. I am happy with just those little thrifty finds this week. I hope some of the shops would stay…I should see tonight:)

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One may get frustrated seeing the lovely red pumps on display few months ago at regular price have been included in the clearance sale this month on a 70% discount. Good thing that even running short on cash, we can have the cash advance we wanted to get those fabulous things we desire.

Living on an era where technology is synonymous to existence, a payday cash advance is just one click away. There are companies that offer hassle free cash advance loans. The fast and secure online application process is guaranteed to provide satisfying results no other can offer. Approval rate is high once requirements are submitted completely.

There was a time I had fallen into the charms of little angel figurines. I collected those tiny ones and displayed them lovingly in a small shelf. I was pregnant then with my first child. I felt so much joy collecting angel figurines realizing only that I have amassed more when I already had three kids and those that are on displayed were starting to lessen one by one. Until all that’s left were these…

I sooo love this “giant” baby angel. “Giant” because she’s the biggest amongst them. This lovely angel clad in yellow bikini was a gift for my first born daughter way back in 1993 at her Christening. Yes, it withstand many disastrous falls at the hands of my three rowdy kids. Thank heavens!

There she was prayerfully sitting atop my personal Bible and a prayerbook.

And with few smaller figurines that had survived and few lovely fairies…

SHARING THIS POST AT

I have plenty of house chores especially in the morning. Even at this time when school is off, my work seems to be more doubled. I could barely find time for fun. I get a little envious when a friend sent me a message few days ago saying she’s in a bar watching a concert. She said she’s just enjoying her life. I wished I could have more time to do as she was.

I guess, now is not the time yet. My mother-in-law is still in the hospital and we decided to visit her in the hospital later in the day. I busied myself to work hoping to finished just in time. I was about to start watering the plants when my sister-in-law phoned in asking me if I could get to the hospital as soon as possible. I wished I haddallas lawn maintenance to help me finished the work in my garden. Because sensing the emergency in her voice, I hurried down to dress up quickly. Grabbing my personalized tote bag, I hastily hit the rode. While I was riding a public transport, I kept on praying. Please Lord Have Mercy, keep my mother-in-law safe…

At the hospital, I was relieved that my sister-in-law just needed me to take care of my mother-in-law as she had to go to the municipal hall for some papers. I was glad that our patient can be more responsive today than it is yesterday. A good recovery sign.

Before heading home that evening, we decided to bring home some stuffs that were used up in the hospital. There were water tumblers, cups and few dirty hand towels. Good thing, we had brought the kids backpack and we had placed all the stuffs in there. Sister-in-law and me were discussing that if their mom could be out in the hospital in two weeks time, we’ll definitely have reason to celebrate and have fun.

This is just one of those days when I hated shopping with kids! Ooopppsss, sorry, my bad.

How can it be, when this little kid wanted to push her own cart and filled half of it with it her munchies. Lots of it!

We told her, since most of the items were hers, she should wheeled it to the counter and pay for it…

Look at her face…she blurted it too loud…“I’m just a kid, how can I have money to pay for these!”

JUST A RUNNING TIP:

-Have a separate time shopping for home necessities. Don’t ever forget to list down the items you’re going to buy, or, you’ll end up spending more.

-Too many kids at home, especially this vacation time, means, too many mouths who will get hungry every time. Stacked up on cookies, spreads, loaf breads, juices…as they are likely yanking up the fridge’s door looking for food.

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I have bought 2 pieces of faux flower bouquest yesterday as I am planning to give them as gifts to my daughter’s teachers. I picked somewhat radiant colors; an orange blooms and a pink one. They were so cheap at our local market, where an assortment of flower bouquets and greens were displayed. So hard what to pick, really. I settled for these two, they’re of the same kind, so that both teachers will not compare which one is prettier, except the color preference.

I'm in the mood for haggling yesterday and I got each bouquet for $1.20. This is the pink one. I had to cut half of the stems...

because I planned that the flowers will be as either a corner or center table display. Found me this 2 odd shaped "plate" for 30 cents, hmmm, no need to haggle e ^_^

Grabbed me some unused styro for my fillings/stuffings...I glued it firmly down the plate for it will hold down all the flower decors.

see now the picture?

Added some green ferns and some more and some dried twigs I found in my yard.

Placed some dried moss to cover the styro.

Here's the orange faux buds...

Simple, you must say...

look at mr. froggy hidden behind this huge leaf

There's the pink bud.

I love this one...sooo radiantly pink!

One look at the center table, before wrapping it out. I was hoping the teachers wouldn't read this blog that they may know that this thrifty flower-do only cost 2 bucks at the most! MY EFFORT? I guess, that could never be THRIFTY! ^_^

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