Picture-Perfect Thursday: Blurred Beauty

These photos by Cheryl Maeder are so dreamy they almost look like impressionist paintings. I have never considered blurred pictures to be this beautiful...

Enjoy!

Picture-Perfect Thursday: Random Prettiness

Found some really beautiful photos over at Black Eiffel. Posting them here for their sheer prettiness...

One word: Adorable.

Up house!
If it's from National Geographic, it must be real. (It is, in fact.)

Kate Spade thinks of the most fabulous images.

Following the yellow brick road gets even more confusing.

Google pillow!

An iPad Christmas message

Striped mini

Gingerbread laptop


Have a great Thursday everyone!

The One About Having Your Cake and Eating It Too

When I visited Cebu International School two weekends ago, I made small gifts for my former nursery students who are all in kindergarten now (How have they grown!). These were just small, simple gifts to show that I still remember them.

I found a cake slice template on the Internet (forgot already which craft site) and made these...

I used scrapbook paper, my bone folder (to score the edges), and regular glue to seal the edges (I forgot to buy rubber cement). And yes, there is a missing piece. :)

I think they turned out okay.

A small slice such as this...

...can churn out a bountiful harvest.

Happy crafting!

Picture-Perfect Thursday: Lovely Package

Oops! I did it again! Picture-Perfect Thursday is one day late again! This time, though, I totally forgot to upload the pictures. I had them all ready yesterday morning and then the thought of blogging about them flew out of my mind.

Anyhoo, this week, I pay homage to lovely, lovely, lovely (oh, but they really are that lovely) packaging. I'd buy these if only for the packaging.

These are perfume bottles.

The bottles do the deciding for you.

Pasta noodles in really nice boxes.

This puts the "box" in boom box.

Pure happiness

This just made the panettone even more holiday-ish.

70% chocolate, 30% whimsy

Out came the sneaks

Cork has never looked this nice.

These are - would you believe - wedding invitations. In Greek language, there is a saying that uses the term "hang" instead of "marry." So when the father of the bride says, "I will hang you," it means he will tie you with the bond of marriage.

Makeup. I. Drool.

Juice boxes! Nifty! :)

All pictures from Lovely Package

The One About Being Back in Cebu

Last weekend, Hon-some and I took on a trip back to Cebu -- my first visit after leaving it for Manila two years ago. I've made some really good friends there and it was great to be back!

We arrived in Cebu at 6:00 am from a 4:40 am flight (excited much?). I've been wanting to try breakfast at Hebrews at I.T. Park but it was still closed when we arrived so we ate in Jollibee instead. Hahaha! Everyone knows how fast a Jollibee meal can be consumed and with nothing to do until our 12 noon check-in time at our hotel, we hopped over to KFC and ate some more. Teehee! When we were full, we went to Ayala Center Cebu at The Terraces and had coffee and tea at Postrio.

After a heavy breakfast, we had a light lunch after checking in at the hotel and off we went to Cebu International School where I taught for two years to visit friends and former students (read: nursery students). I'm such a...

My Cebu-based friends and I had dinner that night.

We started the following day late and headed to SM Cebu for lunch at Don Merto's. I got a voucher (I'm such a coupon person!) from Buyanihan for a meal worth P600 and paid only P299!

I had the pork ribs while Hon-some had their bacon cheeseburger.

Mixed vegetable soup

Baked potato to go with my pork ribs

Mozzarella bites with marinara sauce. It was almost finished before I remembered to take a shot of it.

After lunch, we headed to Paradise Village to pay my former landlord a visit. Come dinner time, we met up with my Cebu-based cousin at Maya Mexican Restaurant. I have been wanting to eat here. I just had my birthday and I never really planned a big celebration in Manila because I wanted to splurge (it's pricey kasi) at Maya. I got my wish!

The place screams Mexican with its handblown glass candles and Aztec-looking masks. It's run by those who operate Abaca resort.

Group shot before eating!

Quezo Fundido!

Chicken Enchiladas!

Chimichanga with Carne Asada!

Best Mexican food I've ever tasted!!! I'd go back to Cebu as often as I can just to eat in Maya!!! That won't be a problem much longer, though, because Maya will be opening a Manila branch this year! Can't wait!


On our last day, we spent the morning fixing our stuff and purchasing pasalubong...

100% Belgian chocolate lace cookies from Don Merto's (only in Cebu!)

Cebu lechon
"Best roasted pig in the world" - Anthony Bourdain

Last shot before we leave.

It was indeed great to be back! :)

P.S. Did you notice the sport shirt parade going on? (white, red, orange) Hahaha!