Friday, June 27, 2014

Summer 2014 Manifesto


Summer officially started 6 days ago and so far so good!  There were some showers and {a bit} of thunderstorms during the week but the weekend seems very promising ... hot and humid! LOVE it! After the horrible winter we had, I made a list of the things I want to do this summer. May the odds be ever in my favour!






Thursday, June 26, 2014

The Builder


I was working on my Project Life week 22 in the 2nd floor craft room overlooking these beautiful climbing roses in our backyard when I noticed this Townsend's Solitaire flying in and out of the rose trellis.


I grabbed the camera and that's when I noticed that every time it is flying in, there was always a fibrous thing in its mouth.  


Aha! this one is making a "home" on the gazebo surrounded by blooming roses!




Saturday, June 21, 2014

Many Shades of Peonies


My roses are in full bloom and so are the peonies! Just look at all these delicate shades .... so lovely! 








Friday, June 20, 2014

Strawberry and Mint Yogurt Popsicles


Fresh strawberries are in season and the mint I planted four weeks ago are ready for first harvest. I also have a jar of organic honey I bought from a local bee keeper. They make a perfect healthy breakfast on top of Greek yogurt. BUT why not kick it up a notch and make popsicles out of it!


While doing the pictorial for this post, I finished a popsicle already. It's refreshing, creamy, and tangy without worrying about the calories! A perfect alternative for ice cream ....



Strawberry and Mint Yogurt Popsicles

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt
1 pint fresh strawberries {mashed}
zest of one lemon
juice of half small lemon
15 leaves of fresh mint {chopped}
1/2 cup honey {can be substituted with 1/4 cup sugar; adjust to desired sweetness}
1/4 cup milk

Popsicle molds

Procedure

Put half a teaspoon of mashed strawberries at the bottom of each popsicle mold.
In a bowl combine remaining strawberries and the rest of the ingredients.
Mix well.
Fill popsicle molds with the strawberry and mint yogurt mixture and freeze overnight.







Monday, June 16, 2014

Coming Soon ... Chicken Tales


Can't contain our excitement so I need to share it! Several years ago, hubby and I wished for a new place with a bit more land where we can plant lots of herbs and vegetables and keep honey bees.We prayed and worked hard  for years to make this happen ... four more weeks and our dream will become a reality.  We will be moving out of the suburb to create new memories in the country side. And God gave us more! Our new place comes with a beautiful chicken coop that is home to at least a couple dozens of free range chickens that lay organic brown eggs. 


While waiting for the closing date, the current owner is patiently teaching me how to care for my new babies. My heart was full of joy the first time I visited the coop, held one of the chickens and collected the fresh eggs. I still have a lot to learn but I know right off the bat that the chickens don't like my bright orange toe nails!

God is good ... all the time!




Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Lately in the Garden


The bees are back collecting nectar from my lilac tree and the climbing roses are budding! All the tomatoes we planted 2 weeks ago are flowering too ....


Although we are moving to our new place in July, we still added some columbine and Siberian bellflowers in our collection of flowering plant. We planted them in big planter so we can bring these babies with us ....


If only we can bring them all ....




Thursday, June 5, 2014

Bites and Nibbles @ Max's Restaurant


Like most Filipino families, Max's (a popular chain of restaurant in the Philippines) was frequented by my family when we were still in Manila. A favorite place to celebrate family milestones or a place to have a relaxing Sunday lunch with grandma and grandpa. So, I was a excited when I was invited by a group of friends to have lunch at Max's here in Toronto. The place is nicely decorated and can accommodate big groups. I felt the Filipino hospitality from some of the waiters too.  

The menu is familiar since it has all the famous dishes that made Max's popular back home. I was expecting the same taste {or at least closer} to its original counterpart. Not exactly. The fried chicken, the claim to fame of this restaurant was just OK.The "sarap to the bones" goodness is missing. So is the Fresh Lumpiang Ubod {fresh vegetable roll}. The  vegetables and the brown sweet sauce were good but the crepe was a bit too thick for our liking, On the other hand the Mikibihon {noodles} and the Lumpiang Shanghai were both delicious. And oh, the sisig! It was very tasty that we had to order another serving with matching rice.


The Halo-Halo for dessert was a treat. Its been a while since I had this treat complete with leche flan and ube ice cream. 

Will I travel to Vaughan to eat here again? Maybe. But not soon. There are other Filipino restaurants around town that may not be on the same level  but definitely serve delicious Filipino foods at a more affordable price.


Max's Restaurant
121 - 1520 Steeles Ave West 
Vaughan Ontario 

Max's Restaurant on Urbanspoon





Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Project Life Tips : Creating Cards and Inserts Using PicMonkey


Now that I am officially "addicted" to Project Life, I have my share of PL cards/inserts from different designers or companies. I am not a hoarder ... yet ... because I only buy what I will use for sure. However, there are instances that I need a specific design to complete a spread but I don't have the appropriate card or insert for it. In cases like this, I find PicMonkey Photo Editor VERY useful!

It is so easy to create cards using this application and it's FREE! There are also lots of  easy to follow tutorials available in the net. All you need is your imagination! Here are some card I designed...


I make 2 different 3x4 designs in a 4x6 template.Then I print them as I print my photos and voila! Here's how the cards look on my spread ....


Have fun creating!



Nature Speaks God's Words


Every year  we wait for them. We know one or two "robin families" will make the trees in our yard their transient homes while they nurture their young. This year is no different. They let us see them and we let them be .... truly, man and nature can still live in harmony .... 


See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19

God is good, all the time!


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