Simple Valentine Celebration @ Home

I am not one of the many women fortunate enough to splurge on gifts for their loved ones on valentines. I am but a LUCKY stay-at-home wife/mom blessed with family to care for. I am blessed to have a gift of creativity to make something for my spouse. Handmade gifts is totally PRICELESS. The effort on putting together gift and words is far more special than a store bought one....

I woke-up at 4am to start my plan...When my hubby hopped in the shower. I immediately snuck out of the house to take the gift and chocolates in the car, placed it on the dashboard where he can see before he takes off.....and I ran back becoz it's freezing outside. Hoping he wouldn't notice I hopped on  the computer and read the SWEET message he posted on Facebook. 

Out of all the picture...becoz we met online and he was browsing my friend's friendslist when he spotted my profile picture, the rest is history.

I went back into the room and under the sheets before he got done. Then later on he asked if I went out....not to spoil my plan, I used the camera that I left in the trunk for an excuse.

Hey its the thought that counts LOL

He left and came back to leave something for my step-son (an excuse)....He brought me EVERLASTING flowers (artificial LOL he knows I only like one stem but he couldnt fine one)!!!

 Tossed in my kid's bags their suprises.

I gave my handmade pop-up card when hubby came home. I received LOTS of hugs and smooches. He surprised me with CHOCOLATES (Im a CHOCOHOLIC!), a gift.....and got back rub!

I prepared a different menu for the night. I usually do on special occasions.

Pulled pork @ mini-muffin with hershey in the center and home-made strawberry syrup.

Hubby LOVED it and was stuffed.

I try my best with whatever resources I have to take each occasion up a notch...That's just what I am, I love LOVE....I want people around me to feel special and loved... 

Eventhough my Valentine started with a news that my friend MYRIC@PetitesPassions's brother-in-law passed away and I had to send her the message. He died valentines day. It just made me realize that we should ALWAYS show the LOVE to people around us...Not only on valentines or any occasion BUT EVERYDAY. We cannot bring back life and regret we didnt show them enough of our love, or thank them for the opportunity to be loved by them. LIFE is PRECIOUS.......We don’t know whose name God will call next. We don’t know when any of us will be called home. It’s best for us to show our love and appreciation to each other while we can, while we are still alive. Too many times we neglect to do so and live to regret it. So many times funeral wishes are where all the love and appreciation are expressed. Many people don’t know how much they meant to us until they’re dead—we don’t always tell the people we love how much they mean to us until it’s too late.At funerals all the flowers, messages, and tributes written would make any heart melt, but the person who would have appreciated them most cannot read them. It’s always better to express how we feel when people are still alive; then the tributes we write when they die would be just a reinforcement of what they already knew.

 1 John 4:7,8

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 

MERGE Google+ And Blogger/Adding Linky Follower widget

I have just merged my Blogger Account with Google+ due to the upcoming change in GFC (Google Friend Connect). 

I am very new to blogging and I am not in the Flow of this yet. To loose the blogs I follow would sadden me, I love reading their blogs and looking at their amazing creations. 

To me it is like reading a Newspaper in the morning (but I'd much rather read blogs and pin than read how the world and the government is in a mess right now, its quite depressing!). 

I DO NOT want to loose my FEW beautiful followers.

All of this changes in GFC and new ways to get connected made everyone panic and confused.

Specially on how they can save the friends they have kept in touch with for years.

Everyone have put a lot of effort into making each blogs unique, entertaining and informative and we have to KEEP that connection. It takes a lot of time to gain followers and friends afterall. 

Here is to MERGE Google+ and Blogger account:

1. Go to Draft.Blogger.com/edit-profile.g (if not logged in then login to your Blogger account)
2. Then click on Get Started from yellow notification box

3. Select the check box the end of the page and click on SWITCH NOW button

4. Now they will ask you which all blog of yours you would like to add in your Google+ Profile’s Contributor to box (appears in ride side in your Google+ profile)
5. Click on ADD BLOGS and if you would not to add any blogs then click on SKIP button

Now your Blogger profile will get redirect to your Google+ profile, all new comments you will make will have your Google+ profile’s real name and link instead of your Blogger profile, you will also get Author information in search results for your blog.

If you want to use different name in your Blogger profile and Google+ profile and want to continue the same way then you should not switch your Blogger profile to Google+. In case if you did and want to revert back you can do it anytime by going to Draft.Blogger.com/revert-profile.g.

SOURCE

To Add Linky Follower widget on your sidebar:

Heather, Brett & other bloggers created a NEW subsciption platform called Linky Followers. Stop by At the Picket fence to read on the step by step and detailed explanation @ Linky 101.

I HOPE YOU WOULD FOLLOW ME BECOZ I FOR SURE WILL FOLLOW YOU!

BEAUTIFUL DAY TO EVERY BEAUTIFUL WOMEN!

Pound those EXTRA weight......

 My Oh my! Time flew by so FAST!

 

Lent starts Feb 22... Giving up fast food... Meat on fridays... Whatever Will Help....

 

I need to create a calorie deficit to lose some weight anyway....I figure it would be a lot easier to cut back on calories a little at a time. Afterall making little changes adds up in the long run....AND Long-term result is what matters.

A friend's friend suggested this website MYFITNESSPAL. 

 It has all the foods in the data base, calories and all. After about 2 weeks it becomes a habit and you start cutting a ton of stuff out on your own. Sounds Great! I dont have to work TOO HARD!

 

So I am going to give it a try. 

I sure hope to stick with it this time...

Wish me luck haha!

Apple Pie Baked in the Apple

Its a beautifully fantabulousiciously georgeous day. Yay!

I was going through my facebook updates and this yummy looking pastry caught my eye.

 

Who wouldn't drool seeing that?! It looks pretty and delicious!!

 How to make it:

You will need 6 granny smith apples, 1 pie crust, 1/4 cup sugar and 1tablespoon brown sugar. 

Cut off the top of 4 apples off and discard. Remove the inside of each apple with a spoon very 

carefully, as to not puncture the peel. Remove skin from 2 additional

apples and slice very thinly. 

These apple pieces will give you filling needed to fill the four apples you are baking. 

Mix sliced apples with sugars and cinnamon in a bowl. If you prefer more or less cinnamon and sugar, 

make adjustments as desired. Scoop sliced apples into hollow apples.

Roll out pie crust and slice into 1/4 inch strips. You can also add a strip of pastry inside the top of the 

apple almost like a liner to add a little more texture/sweetness to the pie. Cover the top of the apple in a 

lattice pattern with pie crust strips. Place apples in an 8×8 pan. Add just enough water to the cover the 

bottom of the pan. Cover with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 

20 minutes or until crust is golden brown and sliced apples are soft.

 I am going to try this!!!!

Hope you ladies had a great day!!!!

Bunks for multiples...

A Very Pretty Stylish Bunk bed for your kids.....

Checking my kindness meter......

It is hard to be kind A LOT of times...Because our nature as a human is bad. Once we get comfortable and be ourselves naturally, our normal character slips and we unknowingly become a jerk or become rude....

There was this joke about a wealthy lawyer and two poor men:

 A wealthy lawyer was at the back of his limo and he saw two man eating grass at the roadside,

He ordered his driver to stop and he got out to investigate. Why are you eating grass? he asked the one man,

We dont have money for food the poor man replied. Come along with me then, but sir I have a wife with two children, bring them along and come with us too he said to the other man.

The other man said, but sir I have a wife and two children, bring them as well said the wealthy man. They all climbed in to the limo. 

On their way, one fellow said,

Sir you are too kind, thank you for taking all of us with you. The lawyer replied Oh no problem, 

the grass in my backyard is two feet tall.

Rude isn't it?

Kindness is being good to someone. Doing good for someone. Being helpful and considerate IN WORD & IN DEED. But what people do in reality is the opposite.

Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version (NIV)

 ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Very often when we think of people being kind, we think they are being Merciful. But acts of kindness is not we find in the society we live nowadays. People ALWAYS expect something in return.

As I contemplate in 2 Samuel 4-9, King David's love for his dearest friend Jonathan, He wanted to extend his kindness to the rest of his family. He found this guy named Mephibosheth, a crippled man & considered the lowest in the society back in those days. King David looked past that, he sat and eat with him, and treated him as his son. He took him in & he showed him KINDNESS.


Looking at it at present, who are these crippled servant that have nothing to offer? US! We were carried to the table of the Lord. We became the son of our King. He took us in and looked past our flaws and said, "that is my girl/boy!, that is my child!" ,"that is who I am going to use!"

I remember this play we performed back in highschool Les miserables, 

a story about Jean Valjean and he was in jail...

The day that he gets released in prison, no one in the town will take him in. 

Everyone says "he is a loser, he is an idiot, he came from prison, we will not take him in".

There's only one in the town who will take him in, the priest. 

He welcomes him in church, he took him in his own home, sits him down and make him meal...he gave him a bed to rest in so he can stay and sleep that night and not worry.

When the priest went to sleep, Jean Valjean is sitting there eating his meal and realizes he is using silver utensils, and candlesticks on the table is silver as well.

He looks around to see if the priest is sleeping, took the candlesticks throws it in his cloak and started to walk out.

The priest in woke up, saw him and asked what was he doing. 

He punched the priest in the face and runs out as fast as he can.

The priest that has been so kind and gracious to him. 

The next morning the police caught him, kept Jean Valjean the prisoner. They took him to the priest, threw the candlesticks and utensils at this priest's feet and said 

"look at the person you took in he stole your things!"

The priest looked at the police in the eye and said, "he didnt steal those from me, I gave them to him. 

Let me go and get the rest." He went insde and gave the rest of the candlesticks to Jean Valjean.

And Jean Valjean, as the police walks away is broken in the moment. The priest looked him in the eye and said 

"Now go, and do likewise. Go and be gracious. Go and be kind to people."

That is what God has done for me, for us. I stole from him many times. I have ripped our god off many times. But he said, you didnt take that from me I gave it to you. He continues to give me the rest, pours us more blessings...more promises, more mercies...all the days of my lives! 


Romans 2:4 .....it is the kindness of God that leads a man to repentance. 

The very kindness of god breaks a man or a woman...

Remember the bully beats up the little boy for his lunch money everyday for months straight. The bully would say, "give me that lunch money!" then the lil boy would ask "why are you doing this to me?" one day the bully doesn't beat up the lil boy. The lil boy walks up and say "Hey! Here, I wanna give you my five dollars." And the bully didn't know what to do.

What shatters people more than a powerful point. Making a point in your life is showing kindness to them. People dont know what to do with that.

Kindness is getting ABOVE the norm and MORE than the usual.
Kindness should have an impact. Being thoughtfu,l being considerate...
We need to grow that relationship in Christ making conscious efforts to advance those things. If there's enough of Jesus in your life it will naturally develop and starts to produce fruit.

As the saying goes:
People dont care how much you know until they know how much you care...

I am supposed to be the light and the love of Jesus....
A man or a woman of integrity, who is kind and compassionate finishes first in eternity. Those are the people that are remembered and blessed and praised in family and friendship circle.

I've got to live it out....

The Challenge is to extend this kindness First to the people who are closest to you....Second, to everyone else.....It is not easy both ways. But remember "We cant be friends to everyone but we can be friendly to everyone...."

Luke 6:27 New International Version (NIV)

Love for Enemies

    ²⁷ “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹ If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. ³¹ Do to others as you would have them do to you.    ³² “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶ Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Kindness is the very language which the deaf can hear and a blind can see.

People will not remember your status...They will remember your character. 

Kind words are short and easy to speak but it echoes endless.

If I install a hidden cam in all corners of your house, work place, or a mic in your phone.....What do you think would I see? Are you generating this kindness like you are supposed to?

Let your light shine before men so they would see your good work and glorify God who is in heaven. It should shine so bright that it radically changes the people around us.

I have been TAGGED...you're next!

What else would be nice to do for a break from cleaning than to play a fun game while having a hot chocolate. My friend Myric of Petites Passions tagged me! I always stop by her blog when I feel like browsing the internet after my usual daily chores in the morning. Her posts are very insightful and I enjoy reading them. She is a woman with a very strong character and personality which I admire very much. Her fun spirit is contagious and encouraging. She is the very reason why I gave blogging a try, I know I dont have talent in writing and my english grammar has yet to improve, but she gave me a boost and here I am in blogland enjoying all the posts of very wonderful lovely ladies including hers. She have a very special place in my heart because she is one of the few people who walked with me in my early years of life being a Christian. I truly cherish those times. She is a good friend. Pay her a visit, You will love her!

Let's get this game started!

............................
The Rules:
1. You must post the rules.
2. Post eleven fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then
create eleven new questions to ask the people you've tagged.
4.Tag eleven people and link them on your post
5. Let them know you've tagged them!
...............................

* ELEVEN FUN FACTS ABOUT ME *

1. I love love love ANYTHING chocolate.
   
   
2. I am very flexible. My husband calls it freaky. I always show him how far back I can bend my fingers.
   

   

   

   

   
3. I am an artist married to a Redneck. Totally opposite! I dress in my own fashion while He wears his boots, only his boots matters (I guess that'e the redneck fashion thing)....cant take his boots away from him! I sketch, He fixes truck. I make things pretty, He improvises things.Good thing is...we are both Nutty!
   
   
4. They(family) all know Red flag will be up when they see how OCD I get. I do things more than usual like A LOT of cleaning......
   
   
5. I love dancing which made me popular in my younger years. I just felt Im too old for it now so I switched to singing, it worked. We are a family of artist. We ALL dance good, sing good, sketch/draw good...and landed in salon hehhee.
   
   
6. I am EXTREMELY thrifty.....while my hubby is a GOPHER (gopher this, gopher that). I am addicted in Craigslist like everyone else. My motto is the cheaper good quality, the better. I am not a fan of brands I am a fan of looks & quality.
   
   
7. I eat fresh lemons with sugar. I put chocolate mix in my oatmeal. My hubby is weirded out by it.
   
   
8. I learned haircutting, hairdyeing, make-up (everything salon-related) and worked in a salon at a very young age of 12 just by watching my mom. I also save up that way cuz I cut my own hair, do my own nails, do my own make-up, dye my own hair........
    
9. I own the weirdest, nicest, loveable dog....he bites food and chews them (he is too observant that he learned that from being around me) and he would not eat it anywhere but on the carpet....He is the tamest dog in the world that I know of, he loves me like his own mommy and We love him so much.
   
   
10. I am a woman&man rolled into one, I guess being the eldest has something to do with that cuz my dad would always call me for help...I weld, I do carpentry, I fix electronics, I paint, hubby said I have a racer's foot...I cook, I decorate.....I'm a redneck asian.....jack of all trades, girlscout.....
    
    
11. I am a fun sister, fun mom, fun wife & fun to be with.....that I know of heheh.
    
    

*MYRIC'S QUESTIONS FOR HER TAGGED FRIENDS*

1. Where is your ideal retiring place?
   Where my husband is that's where I will be. He wants to retire in Montana.
2. Which food you do not see yourself eating?
   Monkey delicacy of China and that new fetus soup they have...It is gross and unacceptable!
3. If you have an opportunity to ask one question to your favorite celebrity, who and what question will it be?  The Duggars. How does she make it work and what resources she uses for homeschooling.
4. What do you think is the most romantic food?
   Chocolate!!! It's an aphrodisiac (wink wink**) and a comfort food too. Wait, is that food?
5. Who's blog do you visit the most?
   Pettites Passions....5 love languages...Make-up junkie...Too many to mention........but I visit first the ones who followed me, becoz they are not very many hehhe
6. If you are to award one blogger who and what would it be?
   That's a toughie. There is a lot of very informative, creative and inspirational bloggers that have daily posts, so I would pass....But If I were to award them, I would paint something or sketch them, then have it framed & they would receive a piece of me for an award.
7. What are you passionate of the most?
   Besides being a child of God, a mother & a wife, I'd say Arts, I love sketching and crafts ever since. I can spend the whole day sketching. Actually any form of arts I am passionate about. I have learned arts can be expressed in many ways. I have expressed it in salon, in home, in dress, in food, in singing & dancing, in parenting etc...
8. What other foreign language do you wish you could speak?
   Being in US, Spanish would be essential...I would love to learn to speak German, Italian and Japanese.
9. Which era in the history would you like to go back for a visit and why?
   Jesus' time....I want to see him in his earthly body and see the miracles he performed and actually listen to him in person.
10. Were you a member of a club in high-school? If yes, what was it?
    Yes. Glee club. Home Economics. Usually the ones with arts & crafts or singing & dancing...
11. Do you prefer Savory or Sweet dish? I have a salty palette on dishes. Sweet & Sour.

*MY QUESTIONS FOR MY TAGGED FRIENDS* 

1. In your own opinion what one tool is essential in crafting nowadays?

2. Do you have a family recipe that is passed on to you by your great great grandparents?What recipe do you consider your specialty?

3. What is unique about you?

4. Which part of your house do you re-arrange the most? the least?

5. Which blogpost bumped up your number of followers/guesting?

6. If you would be in one TV program, w/c one would it be & why?

7. What first 3 things would you do if you win the lottery?

8. If your husband was given a chance to plan your wedding, what things do you think he would do?

9. Valentines is coming up. What would be your dream romantic date?

10. What jumpstarts your day? Makes you day lazy?

11. What do you do for fun?

*Tagged Blog Friends*

ShabbyChicDiva

Vicky @ MessForLess
Honey @ 2805
Sheri @ RedRoseAlley
Kim @ LazyCowgirl
Patricia & Paula Ivy&Elephants
Kathy @ DelightsomeLife
Cindy @ WhimsicalMusings

Now You Are It!

Have a Fun Weekend!!!

Give Away @ Mess for Less

Vicky @ Mess for Less is giving away Skateboard Bible by Thomas Nelson Publishers.
This Bible would be perfect for boys who love skateboarding and sports as it has cool graphics on the front and comes with a free skateboard decal.
Maybe you know a girl who likes skateboarding. This would be ideal for her as well.

The decal makes a great conversation starter.
When other kids ask your child about the decal and what it means, it is a great opportunity for your child to open up and share about their faith.

This Bible has a lot of great extras such as a presentation page for personalizing, full color maps, verses you should know and a dictionary/concordance.

The Bible contains the full text of the International Children's Bible.
This version is a clear and trustworthy translation that will be easy for kids to understand.
As I had the chance to examine it further I realized that this would be a perfect Bible for anyone.
The words and thoughts are communicated so clearly that someone who has trouble with other translations would certainly feel comfortable with the Skateboard Bible.

Buy it: 
You can purchase the Skateboard Bible at Amazon for $20.51 or visit Thomas Nelson and pick one up there. 

Giveaway: Win it

The great people at Thomas Nelson are giving away a Skateboard Bible to one lucky Mess For Less reader. Stop by Mess for Less page for Rules & Entry.

HOW TO.....make flash glitter text.

Did you like my new header for valentines? Here's how to do it.

I have another widget I wanted to share with you Luvleh Leighdeez!

 Yup! I have just got done posting my scrolling text tutorial (please feel free to check it out). 

Now for the next one, I wanted to share with you where to get flash glitter text.

This is the link to the website:

 http://freecodesource.com/flash-toys/myspace-flash-text/index

I use the glitter text as my header. I think its stylish but you can adjust the style or effects according to your taste.

This is how it should look like when you pull up the page:

I love this website because it has a lot of different style of glitter for the texts.
They have enough selection of fonts you can play with.

To create:

Type out the words on the text box & the rest of the stuff you want to customize, size, glitter design, fonts style.

Dont forget to check or uncheck the boxes to achieve the effects you want.

 Adjust the size of the fonts. 

I used 100 on mine.

I am using 3 column minima

At the bottom copy HTML code. 

Go to blogger--->design--->add gadget--->look for HTML/javascript--->paste the code--->save--->position the gadget to where you want the glitter text to appear on your page.

Mine appears like this.

To use it as header (like mine):

 Go to blogger--->design--->choose the gadget on the upper part of page where the header is--->click on add gadget--->look for HTML/javascript--->paste the code--->save 

On the same page go to edit header--->upload any image--->on the placement part, click on instead of title and desciption.

This is how it should look like:

If you find this tutorial helpful please do share to everyone and dont forget to link it back to my page.

Have fun decorating!

HOW TO....put scrolling text on your page.

 Hello Lovely ladies!
It is a wonderful chilly morning. I had fun modifying my page yesterday.
Finally I have something I can share with you.
It may not be about decorating the house, or arts, or crafts, not cooking, but I hope you would enjoy playing with it and applying it on your pages.

Today I am going teach you how to put scrolling texts on your page.

I ran a search for scrolling text and I am sharing with you this website with lots of other widgets you can use to make your page interactive and entertaining.

The websites I use:

1. http://freecodesource.com/index.php?page=myspacegenerators/marqueegen

This is how it should look like:

Type out the words on the text box & the rest of the stuff you want to customize, size, direction of scroll, fonts, color etc.

On the right side click on generate code and copy the code. 

Go to blogger--->design--->gadget--->HTML--->paste the code--->save--->position the gadget to where you want the scrolling text to appear on your page

------------------------------------------OR----------------------------------------

2. http://www.myspacegens.com/handler.php?gen=marquee

Type out the words on the text box & the rest of the stuff you want to customize, size, direction of scroll, fonts, color etc.

At the bottom click on submit 

(this is how the next step should look like)

Copy the code. 

Go to blogger--->design--->gadget--->HTML--->paste the code--->save--->position the gadget to where you want the scrolling text to appear on your page

 This is how mine look like:

If you find this tutorial helpful please do share to everyone and dont forget to link it back to my page.

Have fun decorating!

I have been Liebe-Fied!!

What more can brighten up your morning than waking-up to find out that you got an AWARD.

Isn't that amazing! I am still very new to blogging and My Blabbing still is a work-in-progress.

 I am going through a "bloggers block" lately. 

It is so wonderful to receive the award and have something to display on my page.

Hopefully I recover from "blogger's block" (its more of coming up with words to share....What can I say, it's ENGLISH!!!! I have to learn more!).

 

Grab the button on the side------->

This award is given to bloggers with less than 200 followers, in the hopes that it will bring many new friends/followers.

Leibster is German and means 'dearest' or 'beloved but it can also mean 'favorite'. The idea of the Leibster award is to bring attention to blogs with less than 200 followers. So, in the spirit of good fun I am passing this award on to five other bloggers. Please stop by and visit them.

The Rules are:
1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

2. Reveal your picks for the award and let them know.

3. Post the award on your blog.

4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the blogshare-other bloggers.

5. Finally and the best rule of all..........have fun and spread the love!

I really dont have friend bloggers with less than 200 followers so I am just spreading away the LOVE!!!!

Here are my blog picks, in no particular order!

 1. Sheri/Jess/Nel@RED ROSE ALLEY 

2. @BREAKFAST@SHABBYchicDIVA 

3. Honey @2805

4. Kathy@ADelighsomeLife 

 

I enjoyed reading their blogs. Go by and check them out for home improvements, furniture revamps, pretty crafts, good food and good read!

Thanks again Myric@PetitesPassions!