American Dream

My brother had always been a fan of the American culture. Not that he is not patriotic or has less love for the Philippines, but if given the chance to choose a second nationality, I guess it would be American. The color of his room follows the color of the US flag - red, white, blue - you would mistake it for a kindergarten kid's room (note that my brother is in his 20's). His former plate was shaped after the American flag, and even his boxing shorts has the American flag as a design. 😁

Credits for this layout: Americana Kit by Marisa Lerin Designs.

A Whole Lotta Kisses

Part of my goal this 2011 is to come up with a Project 365 - to take at least one picture a day, and post it in my other blog. One of the pictures I took these past days is the can full of Kisses chocolates. As I've posted in my blog, I love Kisses Chocolates, and I'm also on a diet. Goodluck on my attempt to make these two things work - diet and Kisses chocolates! Help me God! Tee hee! :-)

Journalling: Chocolate is nature's way of making up for Monday.

Credits for this layout: Choco Comfort Collab Kit from Scrap Indonesia.

2010 Meets 2011

We celebrated New Year 2011 differently. Instead of staying at home, we opted to go to nearby Eastwood City in Libis to join the open party countdown for 2011. My family and I checked-in in a nearby hotel (Crowne Plaza Galleria) since my mom had discount vouchers in the said hotel. The open party countdown in Eastwood City was a big success as several musical artists graced the event, as everybody waited for the clock to strike 12. I'll try to create some digiscrap layouts using the pictures I got during the open party countdown.

For my layout today, the picture used was taken on the morning of January 1, 2011, at our room in the Crowne Plaza Galleria Hotel. I asked everyone in our family to strike a pose so that we can have souvenir pictures from the hotel. My Dad and my son Zion made this funny pose - my Dad in his unbuttoned shirt, and Zion in his diapers. My Mom saw the shot and she commented that it is like 2010 (the old year) meets 2011 (the new year).

Journalling: When 2010 meets 2011

Credits for this layout: New Year's Eve Kit by Miss Mint Creations available at Peppermint Creative; Photomask from KapiColors.

January 2K11 Calendar Layout

HaPpY NeW YeAr!!! HaPpY NeW DeCaDe!! :-)

It's the first day of the year 2011. And it's also nice to know that we're starting a new decade. I can say that the year 2010 has been a year of sorts for me. I was able to travel to a lot of places in 2010. I got retrenched from my previous work in mid-2010. Incidentally, it was a blessing a disguise, because I was able to join a much-better company after my retrenchment. I gained new friends in this new company, without necessarily, losing my friends from my previous company. It was also a blessing because one of my closest friends from elementary/high school has also joined this new company. Well, my love life hasn't improved in the year 2010, but I guess the other good things that happened in 2010 outweighed my still-zero lovelife. :-)

On the other hand, I always believe that one of the best things God has given me has and will always be my family. It is one of the enduring things in my life. Jobs, just like money, come and go. Friends may not always be there, when needed. Pictures of travels fade in time. But the bond and love brought about by family, always endures.

So for my opening layout salvo for the year 2011, I am featuring my own family - my Dad, my mom, my brother Philip (whose butt is the only thing visible in the pictures.. :-) ), my dear cousin Josie, our beloved nanny Yaya Linda, and my precious son Zion. We may not be a perfect family, as we are not perfect individually. But the support, respect, acceptance, and love, this family has are the things that keep it together.

To my family, friends, and to the readers of this blog, I wish you all a happy and prosperous new year. May this new year and this new decade bring about winds of prosperity, abundance, and of course the fundamentals - hope, peace, joy, and love (i.e. a new love life please for me! :-)).

Credits for this layout: Simple Scrap Kit and Remember the Past Kit both from Nathan Design. WordArt from Bethany's Elegant WordArt. Miss Mint 2011 Calendar Stamps available at Peppermint Creative.

Pao & Pup

Before my December layouts turn into an array of Christmas stuff, I would like to post one layout for one of my close buddies in my former office - Pao. Incidentally, Pao is also a December birthday celebrant, and he is also one of the ninongs (i.e. godfather) of my son, Zion. Pao is a level-headed friend whom I consider as a good source of information when it comes to music, film, and photography. He was one of the guys I consulted when I was contemplating which DSLR model to buy. Together with another good friend, Ron, they are the guys whom I talk to / email when I need some male-point-of-view opinions. But I must admit, that tough-looking as he is, this guy hates cockroaches the way I do (especially the flying ones). Once he had this wall post in Facebook that mentioned something about that yucky insect. It really made me laugh, and I can't help but to comment - "Wala talagang lalakeng macho sa lumilipad na ipis" (i.e. No man is macho enough when confronted by a flying cockroach).

For today's layout, I was going through Facebook earlier when I chanced upon Pao's profile picture which I found cute and funny. :-)

Journalling: Happiness is a warm puppy - Charles Schulz

Credits for this layout: Back to Basics Mega Kit available at Elemental Scraps ; Fontmoochers font available at Dafont.com

One Lucky Baby

When Zion was around 1 year old, he has this naughty habit of biting/eating small foods from someone else's hands. I'm not sure if he does it on purpose, or he simply can't reach the table and he can't talk straight yet during that time, making communication with us grown-ups quite difficult for him.Zion's usual victim had been my Dad (his grandpa) who is usually caught off guard because he is watching tv or reading the newspaper while eating. The pictures I used in this layout were taken while Zion attempts (and successfully) grabs a piece of bread from my Dad's hand. Notice how he first eyes his "prey", afterwhich, he opens his mouth wide enough (as he attempts to scare his potential victim), and finally goes for the kill. He has done this "stint" several times, and I can say that he has always been lucky to bite off the food from my Dad's hand. :-)

Credits for this layout: Bright Springtime Kit by Alba Eire Creations available at KreativeKreationsKorner; Luck WordArt by Dora's Lemonlove Creations available at Scrapstreet.com.

Strike A Pose

Last December, our office had our yearly Christmas Party celebration. This year was held at the SMX Hall near the Mall of Asia here in the Philippines. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the said celebration because of responsibilities here at home. To have an idea of what the party was like, I asked my officemate/friend Shy for some pictures taken during, and even the before-and-after shots. Here's two of the pictures she took before the party. These photos were taken at the lobby of the SMX. I was literally laughing my heart out when I saw these pics. I never realized my friends in the office had that potential (and desire!) to be models. So to Joann, Apple, and Cae, way to go ladies! Strike a pose! ;-)

Credits for this layout: Pistachio Page Kit by Tamsin McAtee Studios at Kreative Kreations Korner. Dreamer One from Dafont.com; Photos from my officemate Shy.

Gigil

I joined the Sampler Challenge for January at Kreative Kreations Korner (wherein I'm also a part of the Creative Team. This was the layout I created for the challenge. Here's a link to the January Sampler Challenge.

Anyway, for this layout, I used Zion's pictures when he was just a few months old. Notice that, young as he was during that time, he already had the penchant for posing in front of the camera! And those poses weren't your ordinary poses, they showed Zion's naughty and wacky side! Truly deserving of the Filipino expression "Kagigil"!! Tee hee! :-D

Journalling: Gigil / Kagigil: a Filipino term; noun. the irrestible urge to pinch someone because the object or person is well liked or loved; adj. incapable of being resisted or withstood.

Credits for this layout: Remix Mini Kit by Wilma4ever available at Kreative Kreations Korner. Sebastian and Veteran Typewritter fonts from Dafont.com.

January 2K10 Calendar Layout

Happy New Year!!!! I would like to greet everyone a happy and prosperous new year. I hope that as the year 2009 leaves, it would take with it all the unhappy memories the past year brought. And as 2010 enters, I wish that this year would be a much better one than last year.

As another year begins, I would like to feature a quite-funny calendar layout for January 2K10. This layout features my son Zion when he was just about 2 years old. He was staring at something at his side. But the funny thing was how he stared at whatever object he's looking at. When I showed this shot to everyone here at home, they were laughing because Zion looked very "mataray" (i.e. Tagalog word from snooty, or snobbish) in this pose.

Journalling: Look, do I look like I care??

Credits for this layout: Why Don't We Kit available at Sweet Digi Scraps; Spring Mini Kit from KevinAndAmanda.com; WordArt from WordArtWorld; Miss Mint 2010 Calendar Stamps from Peppermint Creative

Little Computer Geek

I'll like to deviate a little from the Christmas theme to post a funny layout of Zion. The photos used in this layout were taken when Zion was about 2 years old. The photos on the left side were taken while he was playing (or should I say messing) with his toy laptop. He enjoys it when he gets the correct answer and the voice command goes "Excellent!". But sometimes his bully side gets in the way and he intentionally answer incorrectly so that the voice command keeps on saying "Sorry.. try again.. Sorry try again.". On the other side, is his picture showing Zion wearing his grandfather's eyeglasses. My dad was reading the newspaper that time, when Zion suddenly grabbed his eyeglasses to try it. When Zion tried the eyeglasses, his eyes rolled perhaps due to the eyeglasses' high grade.

Credits for this layout: Techno Geek Kit from Peppermint Creative.

Cat-titude

I really find it amusing everytime my officemate/friend Glenda tells me that her uber-domesticated cat Chuchay had done "something" again. With "something", I mean an action or behavior that is not normal for a cat to do. As Glenda relates it, Chuchay sometimes behaves less like a cat, but more of a human being, perhaps minus the gift of speech (I would be scared-to-death if one day Glenda tells me that Chuchay is talking). There are times wherein Chuchay would throw tantrums if Glenda accidentally ignores him, or if Glenda is too busy to play with him. Talk about a cat with an attitude! But in the end, the master-pet tandem of Glenda and Chuchay will always be in good terms - Glenda hugs Chuchay, and Chuchay lovingly purrs back to his ever-loving master.

Journalling: I am Chuchay. Got a problem with that?!?. // I don't have an Attitude problem, I just have a Personality you can't handle!"

Credits for this layout: Little Star Kit by Andrea; WordART from WordArtWorld. Garfield font (for the "Iam Chuchay..." writeup) from Dafont.com.

Blessed Sleep

My friend/officemate Glenda showed me a picture of her pet Chuchay while the latter was sleeping. Having heard a lot of funny stories about Chuchay I was really laughing my heart out when I saw the cat's pose while it was sleeping. I was also laughing because it reminded me of how my friend Glenda slept (and posed) during our summer getaway last April. :-D. So in this layout, I paid tribute to the "sleeping" Master and Pet. The sleeping picture of Glenda was taken by another friend (Shy) during our summer getaway last April. Meanwhile Chuchay's picture was sent to me by Glenda herself. I am having second thoughts telling Glenda about this layout. She might never talk to me again. Teee heee!! Then again, perhaps I'll tell her about it... a month after I've posted the layout.. Hihihihi!! :-D

Journalling: Sleep Oh Blessed Sleep poem by Susan Aldren Lugton.

Credits for this layout: Black Night Kit by Muriel1326 available Ikeagoddess; Sleep Oh Blessed Poem from Poemhunter; Swenson font from Dafont.Com

Centerfolds 2009

If there is one magazine here in the Philippines that I really love buying, it would definitely be Cosmopolitan (Cosmo) Philippines. Aside from being entertaining, it has very informative articles about beauty, fashion, career, and even love and relationships. There are 2 issues that I never miss - the summer issue (March or April issue) wherein swimsuits for women of all shapes and sizes are featured; and the much coveted September issue which features the jaw-dropping and eye-popping hunks called the Cosmo Centerfolds.

For my layout today, I featured 8 out of the 10 (or 11) centerfolds featured in the September 2009 issue of Cosmo Philippines. Of course, the 9th centerfold, is my own little hunk Zion... in his diapers. How I wish Zion would grow up to be like one of these guys, an eye-candy to behold! Teee heee!! :-)

Credits for this layout: Life, Liberty, & The Pursuit of Scrappiness Kit from Vintage Flea Designs; Cosmo Philippines magazine September 2009 issue.

Three Peas In A Pod

My mother once told me that a fortune-teller had predicted that she would have 3 children. Well.. biologically speaking, the fortune-teller was wrong, because my mother has only 2 biological children - my brother and I. But looking at my family from a "non-biological perspective", the fortune-teller was correct. My cousin Josie who has stayed with us for the past 12 years, can be considered as my mother's 3rd child. She has stayed with us to help in taking care of my brother when the latter was just about 5 or 6 years old (my brother is now 17). Eversince, my mother has always considered my cousin as her 3rd child. Together, my cousin, my brother, and I can be considered as the "Tatlong Itlog" here at home. During long travels (such as our trip to Baguio, in the picture in this layout), we usually enjoy taking funny picture shots, just like any other siblings would.

Journalling: Three peas in a Pod.

Credits for this layout: Crazy Earth Mega Collab Kit available at Digiscrapdepot;
WordArt from WordArtWorld.

Apple of My Eye

This is one of Zion's funny and candid shots. It's quite a funny shot because he has no idea that I was about to take his picture while he's munching on an apple. It appears that he's enjoying his apple so much, he doesn't care if anybody would take his picture that time. Well, I can't blame him. Munching on an apple on a lazy afternoon, is a good way to keep a very naughty kid busy and out of trouble. :-)

Journalling: You're the Apple of My Eye...

Credits for this layout: Tutti Fruti Kit from Stacey's Scraps

Eyeglass Models

I just had to create a layout using this picture, no matter how simple it would be. This is one of the wacky photos taken with my friends from my previous work. It was sent to me by one of my friends who's also included in the picture. There's a funny story behind this funny shot. One of our "mothers" (i.e. one of the more "senior" employees) in the office was selling eyeglass frames during that time. We can't help but notice that some of the frames had "shocking" colors, we were wondering if those frames are "sellable". And so to help one of our "mothers" in selling those frames, we agreed to model the eyeglass frames for almost several hours in the office, and even took a picture wearing those eyeglass frames.

Journalling: Together friends can see things clearer and better.

Credits for this layout: Wubulous Kit by Amy Sumrall Designs.

Al's Best Friends

Now this is just a simple layout. I just found the pictures so funny, I had to create a layout for it - even without my cousin's Al knowledge and consent (hehehe..). Anyway, featured in this layout is my cousin AL closely hugging their 3 puppies. On the 2nd picture, the other puppies are shown. My cousin's family have a lot of pet dogs in their home. I even got the chance to play with one of these puppies. But I can now say, behind my cousin's tough exterior lies that soft side which has a special affection for his pet puppies.. :-)

Journalling: Embrace happiness.

Credits for this layout: New Dream Kit by Carla Holf Designs; Shower of Flowers Kit by Bonscrapatit Designs; Why Don't We Kit by sweetdigiscraps.blogspot.com; Monkey Business Kit by Mandy Mystiques Designs; WordArt by Crazy Circus WordArts by MissK POUYOU Designs.

Little Schumacher

Among Zion's prized toys are his toy cars and motorcycles. Young as he is, he knows some car models like Mitsubishi Adventure, Toyota Fortuner, and Honda CRV. Although I must admit, he has his own way of naming these car models - "Enchum" (for Adventure), "Pichuchum" (for the Fortuner), and "Arbee" (for the CRV). He calls his little toy motorcyle "Onda" (I presume this is Honda).

For this layout, the pictures I used were taken during our trip to Tagaytay last May 1, 2009. Zion was enjoying his photo shots while he was wearing his race car driver jacket. He appears proud, happy, and contented while wearing this jacket. Even on our trip back to Manila, he still insisted on wearing the jacket despite the warm climate.

Credits for this layout: Boys Kit by Claudia Sachs Designs

Friends In Burgers

I would from deviate my theme this month to post a funny layout featuring 2 of my friends in the office (from left to right) - Cae and Shy. The picture was taken while we were having lunch at Brothers Burgers at Boni High Street. When we took this picture, the first shot only shows the "Angus Burger" above Shy's head. Seeing the funny result, we re-took the picture, this time capturing both the Angus Burger and Lamb Burger above Shy and Cae's heads.

Credits for this layout: Two Soon Collection from shabbyprincess.com, Tropically Hot Collection from scrapbookflair.com, Kevin and Amanda Spring Mini-kit from kevinandamanda.com. Word Art from Scrap Pony at cesstrelle.wordpress.com.

Love is Zion

Now this should have been a layout for Valentine's Day. But since I chose to feature some couples last February, I guess I'll just have to post this layout this month - since I also devote my layouts this month to my one and only, Zion.

Pictures used in this layout features Zion in some of his most recent and wackiest shots. Knowing my digicam was suffering from a bad case of shutter lag, I am still glad and thankful that it was able to catch up with Zion's poses.

Credits for this layout: Red Velvet Hearts Collection from scrapbookflair.com.