guess what...

i found my knitting needles and my hidden stash of yarn.
here we go.........{*goes off to knit up a storm}

Super Skinny

Ever since Rio started going to Paul Mitchell the School I've been an addict to their products. Every single one of their products smell amazing, therefore making your hair smell amazing and each does wonders for your hair. Currently Rio is working on a fundraiser to get her to Las Vegas for a hair seminar thing with Paul Mitchell Professionals. She's been selling gift bags of hair products each containing shampoo, conditioner, and a few styling products ... and of course we got some.
Here are a few of my favorite products.

Super Skinny Daily Shampoo and Super Skinny Daily Treatment. Both leave your hair super clean, smooth and soft. And both reduce drying time ... brilliant huh?


Super Skinny Hair Serum Amazing ... need I say more?
Both Hold Me tight and Work Up hair sprays smell amazing and are my all time fav. styling products.

Third time's a charm

Two days ago I made my third tote and a little cell phone case
YAY!

That little cell phone case gave me a hard time though, I ended up breaking yet another one of my sister's needles (sorry sister*). Anywhos ... I'm quite proud of myself and I've gotten better since my first tote. Though I haven't completely perfected my craft yet, I think I'm ready to sew up a storm of Christmas presents, what do you think? Well first I think I've got to run out and restock my sister's supply of cotton lining and grab some for myself
.... then the sewing can begin again.



'Ello Mate!


Me and my sister found that we really enjoy watching
Samantha who?

It currently airs at the same time as Heroes on Monday nights,
but there's only one episode left of the season. I think Samantha who? just might take up our Monday nights from now on and if not, if we're out looking for fabric or something, we can always catch it online. It's such a cute and fun show and the cast is wonderful.

As for Heroes ... I can't believe there's only one more episode left!

After Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Dinner

The day after Thanksgiving is always an essential part of the the Thanksgiving experience, albeit black Friday shopping or post Thanksgiving get togethers.

I got to enjoy the later of the two, because I slept away most of the morning trying to recover from the food comma that consumed me ... missing out on all the "early bird specials" and black Friday crazies (those seemingly friendly old people who in the instant you turn your back, will run you down with their shopping cart just to get that $10 deal). I'm some what relieved I missed out on that experience this year, but I did end up shopping later in the day but just to walk off all I gain the night before. Haha.


Our little post-Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving get together was a hit, thankfully everyone who said they'd come made it out and as requested everyone brought something to share with the group.

Rio and Rachelle were as hospitable as always and held dinner at their place. It was a nice surprise to walk in and see their darling little Christmas tree up and ready for the Christmas season.

To my surprise I found my missing best friend who I hadn't seen since my last bunsoy outing to the movies a few months ago. I love this girl to pieces.

The Pernites siblings brought the goods. Glenn brought over his Playstation2 and Ate Gladys brought the guitars!

Before everyone got there Rio was 'bout ready to rock out ... but we waited and played after dinner. *Note: Rio and Rachelle's lovely flat panel TV in the background. They got it at 5 in the morning at Bestbuy .. two perfectly good examples of Black Friday crazies. Lol. Kidding.




How can you tell who's the hungriest at a party?

They have a tendency to linger around the food. Kidding! I love my sisters, and but I still called them the three little pigs when I took this shot.



In an instant Emem and Rio's bulgogi was gone. This poor little piece was the last of it.

Hungry? I think so. Lol.

After everyone was satified with the food, the games began and laughter filled the whole apartment.



Rock stars*

The look on Angie's face = priceless.


Good times. Good friends. Good food. Bliss.


I love them all to bits.
Twas a lovely Thanksgiving for sure.

Church Turkey


I know I already blogged about my thanksgiving dinner with my family and one with my friends, but I actually had a third. The day before thanksgiving we gathered at church for an informal thanksgiving fellowship, in replacement of our weekly (Wednesday night) prayer meeting. It was nice just to spend time with my church family in fellowship, worship, games and more. I had a lovely time and I'm truly blessed and grateful for a wonderful church family. Though we may not be a perfect church, what church is?, this is my family and I love them to bits.



My godson in a Diongzon sandwich*





Rip what you sew

No pun intended. I thought today would be a darling day to sew. The rain made for melodic background music and being that Thanksgiving just passed, it's about time to get started on the Christmas presents.

I started with cutting out all the fabric for my next project, then I sat my tush in front of my sister's singer and went to work. I thought I had this one in the bag because it would be my second try at making this book tote, but the catch was that I'd do it all myself from start to finish ... no assistance from my lovely sister this time, because she had her hands full with our little monster being all sick.

As I began my project I had things well at hand. But some where in the middle I realized that I made a pretty big mistake in sewing two pieces together when I shouldn't have I had to take out the seam ripper. Oh boy.

I think I sat there for more that 45 minutes ripping out a seam that went the entire length of the bag both horizontally and vertically, but I eventually got it out. I don't ever want to do that again , I've learned my lesson and next time around I think I'll get it right. Tomorrow will be the big test.

Here's the end result. Not bad ... but not perfect.

the end.

Collection of the week {09}

I find that I have a strong inclination towards firms or studios who specialize in either graphic design or photography... never both at the same time. I'd rather have a really great graphic design firm, or a brilliant photography studio. I'd keep them separate.

Graphic design and photography are two different art forms and most of the time they go hand in hand, but it's really alot of work to have one design firm developing both at the same time. For most graphic design work you have to have good photographic work to start out with or else you'll be doing a lot more work for yourself, hence that availability of stock photography.

Personally, I'm completely torn between the two myself. I can see myself working in a strictly graphic design development studio one day, and if not I can picture myself developing photographs for an amazing photography studio. I know myself and I think if ever I had the means to open up my very own design firm (most likely not...but who knows) I'd open one that would try to cater to both my design and photographic needs. If anything I'd open a design studio and then partner up with a great photo studio, or something like that...maybe even the other way around. Ok now I'm just babbling about my aspirations.. back to the introduction of this week's collection..

Well this week I decided to share a little about this studio called Spink. Its a pretty small firm that develops both graphic design work and photography. In all honesty I like their design work much more than their photographic work, because I think their designs are more aesthetically pleasing ... but their still trying to make it work and I love them for that.
.
Spink is headed by a young graphic designer, Kayla Schwisow. Her designs are lovely, but not as girly or whimsical as I usually go for, but lovely none the less. I really looked into her work when I found out she design the packaging for 24's season five disc set. Great work ... and great series might I add. I love 24, it's a shame that I ditched last season for Heroes. But that's what the DVD sets are for right? Lol.

thats all.

Thanksgiving Dinner 2007

Twas a lovely thanksgiving with my lovely family. As usual we had a traditional American thanksgiving dinner, but with Filipino flare. Haha. Here's how it went down.



(a view of my cousin's back yard from the kitchen window)

The adult table

The kid's table
Me and my sister had come to a conclusion that the only way we'll ever make it to the adult table is when we get married and have kids of our own to replace us at the kid's table. Age is not a factor. Lol... For now we'll be forever chowing down with the kiddies.
While dinner was still being cooked me, my cousins gina and my mom decided to goof off for a bit.





....Finally dinner got started

Nono was telling me a joke.. see my face? I didn't get it at first. LOL. Here's the joke.

"Why is the cranberry sauce so red?
Because it saw the Turkey dressing."

Oma and Nono*


The kids... Minus two of the boys.

After dinner we made like the Vontrap family and the singing began.

Three generations of the Gatti's sang La cucaracha.
And the rest of the fam watched and tried to sing along. Haha.

Then my very Filipino uncle Bruce sang his original song...
"Bawal Umihi dito"
Then my cousin Gina followed right after her dad and sang her original song, "Life's better"
... she's only 14, so beautiful and talented.. I love her to pieces.
Cousins.
We adopted my best friend into the fam for dinner. Lol.


My sister, about to pass out from a food comma.
I felt the same way by the end of the night.
Thanksgiving day ended with the traditional Movie out. All the girls went out and watched Enchanted as the Aunts and mothers went out to the Outlets to get a head start on some black Friday shopping (they're mad hardcore). Anyways... Enchanted was soo cute and too funny. Disney hasn't made a really good fairy tale story in awhile so it was exciting to feel like a little girl again. Go watch it if you haven't ... It'll make you feel all warm and bubbly inside. Lol.

Hope you had yourself a Happy Thankgiving.