Best Award

Last Sunday is Mothers' Day and yes, I was expecting for a gift from kids and DH. And they didn’t disappoint me. I got scented colored pen, a pair of slippers, tote bag and a lovely wooden clock.
After lunch, they handed me another gift. It’s a small envelope and inside is another wooden thing. It’s small and simple, yet very meaningful.
I’m proud to show this to everyone and I can’t help but smile whenever I look at it (the truth is I laughed hard when I saw it the 1st time).

To Alden, Bea, Soy and Pia – Thank You very much for this award. - for appreciating my efforts, and for making me smile and even laugh everyday! You’re the best “Amo”! hehehe!

Meeting Friends Across the Miles

I am lucky to have many good friends from way back to first grade (hey, I was 7, then) until this time. Even luckier that most of them are just a stone throw away from me (plus the fact that my BFF happened to be my DH). Others are reachable via skype, ym, phonecalls and SMS.
Meeting people “online” (hobby or business related) is a different thing. Basically, it’s a sort of “Hi and Hello” especially if they are from other countries. Exchanging ideas and stories, sharing traditions and beliefs and other stuff deepens the acquaintance. You’ll wake up one day and regard them as “friends”!
I am blessed to finally meet in person my friends in Singapore and Malaysia when our family spent our “summer” vacation there.
The first one is Wati. She is lovelier and sweeter than I thought. I was deeply touched when she took time to accompany me and my DDs to shop at Laine’s Scrapbook Store (I felt I was a li’l girl, brought to an extremely huge candy store). The next one is Mich - so elegant , very accommodating and as generous as ever. She spent time visiting us at the hotel with her equally nice kids. We were supposed to shop till we drop, too but my DD was not feeling well, then. Both Ladies, are new found friends from scrapbooking world.
I also had the chance to meet Rashidah and Charlene. They are from Science related companies which we are dealing with for the past several years. When we finally able to put faces in each names… it’s like as if we’ve been together so many times before. Hugging each other came so naturally.
In Malacca, My family also met my DH’s friend back in college – Avi – who spent time driving us around town, had dinner with us (and made sure we’ll have a taste for some of “the best” of Malacca) and still the one who brought us back to the bus station on our departure.
In KL, aside from Mich, we have Sam and his wife Rajani. We had a sumptuous dinner at their lovely home with their kids and other members of the family. Pia had a great time playing with Rowena (their DD).
All these people are busy and occupied with lots of things that need to be done…. yet they took time to see us, chat with us, and have fun with us. And indeed, we’re grateful. Our vacation will never be as wonderful as it was, if not for these people…. whom we call as FRIENDS!

Will post pics soon! Promise!

Extended Love

I am deeply touched by the people who are so passionate for this craft (scrapbooking) that they even extend their love to my DD who at a very young age is more passionate and addicted than me.
At first it was only the LB Scrapaholics who are fond of giving stuff to her, then came Joan Yap of Scrappin Moms who is so fond of giving away "goodies" whenever we visit her at her home. Next is Master Iris Uy when DD insisted to have an autographed copy of MM Mag where Iris' LO was featured. Even Ms. Nette of MLA shared her generosity to Pia when she met her at the Attic. This time, even our good friends from Scrappinkids are also sending her scrapbook goodies to encourage her to scrap more.
She's down with fever now for almost 3 days due to Tonsilitis, but this doesn't stop her to scrap. She made one 12x12 LO on Sunday night as entry to Kidscanscrap.com , and an altered item on Monday night. She's up for a mini album but still conceptualizing on the theme.
She's so excited to use all the RAKs she received. And mind you, what belongs to her is HERS, and what belongs to me is OURS! Very clever, isn't she? One thing we don't share is scissors coz she's left-handed!

They're Here!

Emily of Manhandled is so sweet! She sent the twilight buttons via USPS since UPS requires a lot more paper works. Knowing I'm afraid that it might get lost somewhere she said she's willing to replace it then if it happens. Good thing, the buttons arrived safe and sound! My DDs are so excited (so do I) and don't know which to use first! Here it is!

While this one was handcarried by DH from Singapore....

Soaking Wet!!!

It was a mixture of emotions – fear, disappointment and grief. I was busy last Sunday editing pics of our lanterns for SK when DS on a “panic mode” said “your scrapbook is wet!” The message didn’t sink in at once because there’s no reason for my scrapbook/s to get wet! The sun is up (definitely, there’s no rain) and they are secured in my playroom (drinking/eating is not allowed). I went to our playroom and lo and behold!... it’s not the scrapbook…. but the scraproom! Everything is dripping wet. Words didn’t come out in my mouth but the tears flowed unstoppably. I don’t know which one to touch first, to dry up and to save. I keep on crying as I wipe each pack of PPs, embies, tools. My AMM tote has water in it. My trolley and carry along bag were not spared, too. DD and DS used bath towels in drying up anything they can touch. DH is the one mopping the floor and giving instructions to my kids. I guess, we're all shocked! Where did the water come from? Our garden hose was left hanging by the fence and its nozzle facing the playroom’s windows. Maybe a street kid got thirsty, used the garden hose to drink some water and most likely don’t know how to turn it off. The water pressure was at its peak since the water hose was used in cleaning the car that morning (that explains why in just few minutes the playroom is soaking wet). Whoever could have seen me in that particular moment would be amused as to why this “girl” is crying over those wet stuff! Only a scrapbooker will surely understand!

This Kid Can Scrap!

Yes, she can… and I’m proud of her. She showed interest in this craft when she was barely 4 yo only. In 2007 , she joined her first online challenge (actually it’s for adult scrappers only) at “my scrapworks” (Valerie Salmon’s sketch and scrap challenge). What amazed me is her enthusiasm to scrap. She even encouraged her siblings and her father, too to join the challenge. You can view her entry here:
She’s always in the mood to scrap and she’s the one who never gets tired of “pushing” me to scrap. She’s fondly referred as “honorary member” of LB Scrapaholics coz’ she’s always present in our crop sessions (whether we like it or not!) LOL! She even joined some of online crops and recently an online tutorial at Scrappinkids. She actually had received several RAKs from wonderful scrappers whom she idolized (LB Scrapaholics (of course), Master Iris Uy, Wati and Michelle of Scrappinkids).
Finally, Chix and Issa recommended one site that caters to kid scrappers! And look here....

SK's Online Tutorial

Last Saturday, Pia and I joined the online tutorial over at Scrappinkids! It was Jessy who patiently gave us the instructions. It was a blast, and we had so much fun. It's a worthwhile experience made even better with my DD's presence.
Here's our finished Lanterns!

This is Pia's creation. I did all the cuttings (since she isn't allowed yet to "play" with the craft knife). The next one is mine!