February 2K11 Calendar Layout

I was asking my brother if he could spare me a picture of him and his current girlfriend for my February calendar layout. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to get the picture from his girlfriend. I thought of using a picture of my parents. However, since they will be celebrating their anniversary this coming March, I just decided to use their picture on my upcoming layouts on March. So, this left me thinking what picture I could use for my calendar layout. I scanned through the pictures in my computer to check if I could find any. I chanced upon a picture of me and my son Zion. Hmmm.. the month of February is indeed the month of love. But I guess, Love is not limited to the romantic kind. A mother's love for her son can be considered one of the most beautiful and most priceless kind of love. ♥♥♥

Credits for this layout: Strawberry Nirvana Kit by Maurine Stettler; WordArt by Word Art World;
Calendar Template from Miss Mint 2011 Calendar Stamps .

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.

You Are My Dream

I was taking care of Zion today, as he is not feeling well. We went to his pedia earlier and found out he has sore throat. No wonder he was complaining about his painful throat the entire day. As I was giving him his medicines, I tried to look closely at Zion. At almost 5 years, Zion has grown a lot. He has developed physically, emotionally, and even mentally. As I listen to him speak, I realize that I am truly blessed having Zion in my life. As I am a dreamer, my son Zion is my greatest dream.

Journalling: How fast time flies, my son... To me it was only yesterday, when you were still a baby, cuddled in my arms, finding peace and happiness in my simple and hushed lullabye. In a span of four years, you have grown so much. Now, I look at you with wonder and amazement. In a span of four years, I see the grace of God unfold. In you, I realize why life is beautiful and why it is worth living. I thank God for you. I am a dreamer and your are my greatest Dream...

Credits for this layout: Imagine Kit and Simplicity Kit both from Little Angels Designs .

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.

Elemental Scraps On-Sale

While surfing the net for digiscrap freebies, I chance upon this notice in one of the digital scrapbooking sites I frequent. Elemental Scraps is closing down its doors for good on December 31, 2010. Due to this, most of the digital scrapbooking items are on sale. Some are on 40 - 50% off, while some of the Mega Kits are on a 80-87% off. Imagine mega kits on sale as low as $1.00! And these kits are not the run-of-the-mill kits. They are bundle kits, having as much as 20papers and 40-50+ elements. Despite of my being a digiscrap freebie hunter, I just can't resist the urge to buy 3 of those mega kits. And the nice part is, I only spent $3.00 (PHP 150.00 approximately) for it! Imagine the savings I got.

So to all my fellow digiscrap addicts out there, hope you'll find time to visit the great Elemental Scraps Sale. It is only until December 31, 2010. Hope you'll also find some nice items! :-)

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

Under the Christmas Tree

I had the rare chance to stay at home today, rest, and do some digiscrapping. It was a miracle to think that Zion's nanny was on her day-off today, and we had to go out earlier just to attend the 4th day of the anticipated Simbang Gabi mass (i.e. Midnight Mass). And since Zion's nanny was on a day-off, I had the chance to spend some quality time and bond with my Zion. How fast time flies. Just some 3 or 4 Christmases ago, Zion was still a baby whom I had to carry just for us to have a picture under or near the Christmas tree (see this layout when Zion was still about 6 months old). After 3-4 years, I don't need to force him to pose near or under the Christmas tree. Since then, there is no need to beg or prod Zion. He voluntarily poses in front of the camera. In fact, he is the one asking me to take his picture. There are even those moments (like the picture I used in this layout) wherein he asks me to join him in the picture.

This picture was taken during our visit to Vista Marina in Subic, Zambales last November. There was a giant Christmas tree in the hotel's reception area, wherein everybody had their pictures taken. As expected, Zion was a very willing model/subject in my attempt to play with my camera. And since Christmas is a time for love and family, I didn't hesistate to have my picture taken with my little man.

Credits for this layout: Christmas Cheer Kit by Connie Prince available at Gottapixel.