Wilton Course 3- Completed!

After a month of doing more flowers, we finally got to the last week to complete the 3rd course.

I never thought that I will be able to make a fondant and here I am making my 1st fondant cake ever!

* Scanned copy via Iphone

I actually thought that we wouldn't be required to make a cake this time after three weeks of doing gum paste and fondant decors but then the final week came and we were to bring another cake to cover for our final class.

It was a hectic week for me with Kimi getting better a few days then getting bad the next so I was rushing back and forth from the office then home to check on Kimi and Kenzo then back to the office. It just so happens that a co-worker is on vacation in the Philippines for 2 weeks which means that her work becomes my work.... You got the drift.

* Lesson Course 3

I was actually a bit skeptical if my cake would work as it has a huge crack in the middle. I got a wee bit excited turning the cake into a two layer and it was still a bit too early to do the flipping :(. Small things like this do happen, I guess, and my instructor inform me that we will try our best to salvage the cake and turn it into a fondant cake...

* Fondant layer with a bit of detail

I was breathing a bit more normal when I got the fondant covering my cake. Yey! 

I am so lucky that I got cake-mates that are way prepared than me with molds that they readily lent me so that I can make some details to go with my cake. Some even went so far as to offer me their extra flowers and leaves... :) 

Some of my peers brought in mini cakes that are way too cute...

* Mona's Mini Creation of Blues and Browns

* Erlinda's Mini Creation of Pink and Purples

Some opted to follow the instruction of baking an 8" cake :)

* Charlotte's Splash of Red Fondant

* Daphne's Whites and Pink Fondant

I guess Fiona is the most unique in her design, opting to make a completely different theme and not making any use of the flowers from our previous lessons.

* Fiona's Kite Flying Fondant

...and mine

* Waiting for Spring Fondant

P.S. The violets are actually contributed by Cake-mate Erlinda and leaves by Cake-mate Mona...

Stencils for the hearts in the center and the border, I borrowed from Cake-mate Charlotte. Daphne bought me the fondant to share for this class. 

Thank you :)

* * * * *

WILTON CLASS COURSE 3

Michael's Craft Store

Burnaby, B.C.

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Words of Kindness, Source of Healing

I found something to past the time at work. Something fruitful.

I've found Focus on the Family. Months passed and numerous podcasts later. I have favorites that I listen to over and over. One of those is entitled "Words of Kindness, Source of Healing", a podcast that focuses on spoken words and how each word may uplift or put down someone. 

The speaker, Florence Littauer was really inspiring and I found myself moved time and again every time I listen to it.

It helped me get much more conscious with the words that comes out of my mouth for the anger may past, but the hurtful words, when said, will stay in the heart of the receiver.

Silver Boxes
By: Michael Bright

My words were harsh and hasty
And they came without a thought.
Then I saw the pain and anguish
That my bitter words had brought.

Bitter words that i had spoken
Made me think back through the past;
Of how many times I'd uttered
Biting words whose pain would last.

Then I wondered of the people
I had hurt by things I'd said;
All the ones I had discouraged
When I didn't use my head.

Then I thought about my own life,
Of painful words I've heard;
And of the times I'd been discouraged
By a sharp and cruel word.

And now clearly I remember
All the things I might have done;
But, by a word I was discouraged
And they never were begun.


Lord, help my words be silver boxes,
Neatly wrapped up with a bow;
That I give to all so freely
As through each day I gladly go.


Silver Boxes full of treasure,
Precious gifts from God above;
That all the people I encounter
Might have a box of God's own live.

Date Added: 5/08/00

Great Christian Reminder Stories

http://www.christianstories.com

* * * * *
Words of Kindness, Source of Healing

Listen to the podcast
* * * * *

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, 

but that which is good to the use of edifying, 

that it may minister grace onto the hearers."

Ephesians 4:29

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Afternoon High Tea in Surrey

It was just a casual suggestion which turned into a full scale high tea both for the moms, dads, as well as the kiddos.

Mommy Joy was hosting which meant that it will be filled with over the top home made goodness plus her collections of teas to fit every taste bud- and deliver, she did.

First off, she decided to buy a set of tea cups that are made just for the occasion. Five sets for five fab mommies :)

* Intricate detailed tea pot and cups...

* Nice golden strip at the brim of the tea cup's mouth

I readied Kenzo and Kimi for the Afternoon's rendezvous. I was so happy to finally be able to make use of the hat clip my mom sent for Kimi...

* Time to Par-Tea

We did our shared goodies to nibble for this special occasion too. We ended up with a lot of sweets and too much sugar in our system by the time we said our goodbyes. 

* Three Tier of goodies

Host: Charlie and Joy did a lot from her famous ensaymada to Chocolate mousse in choco cups, brownies, Scones with Devonshire sauce and even Ebony and Ivory (white and chocolate) in one bite little cupcakes

* Bestseller Ensaymada

- Photo by Charlie Ng

Warren and Glenda did the cornbread and Wilbert did the mini cupcakes of red velvet, carrot cakes and lemon cups...

* Mini Cupcakes... This is so cute! One bite cupcakes

Jocelyn did the classic favorites: Macaroons! She did this the night before...

* Not too sweet (just perfect) macaroons

Steve and Sarah brought the cheesecakes :)

* Little confectioner's topped on the light cheesecake

I tried my hand at the comfort food: Oatmeal Choco chip cookies and Blueberry Cheesecake

* Ready made crust with No Bake Cheesecake

- Photo by Charlie Ng

* Sweets for our Sweet Tooth 

What I love about mommy get together with the dads is that there is a lot of pictures to grab from after an event... Special thanks to Daddy Charlie, Daddy Steve and Wilbert for the photos as usual :)

* Mommies in eating mode...

(L-R): Glenda, Joy, Mel, Jo and Sarah

Photo by Charlie Ng

* Guys block

(L-R): Wilbert, Steve, Baby Shawn, Rex, Warren, Charlie

Photo by Charlie Ng

* Kiddos

(L-R): Kalen, Ryker, Braden, Sam and Justin

Photo by Charlie Ng

Kenzo was running around the whole night (...or holding onto my leg) that no one got to take his picture. I promise, he was with us this event he he!

* Sam and Kimi: Original playmates unite

Photo by Stevenson Dy

Mommy Joy plays the perfect host and even manage to squeeze in  making lot bags for us in between baking and doing teas. Love the frames!

* Our special frames :)

Photo by Charlie Ng

* Friends are a lifetime of shared experience and memories

A True friend is a gift to cherish

Friends are Forever

...our sentiments exactly.

Thank you Charlie and Joy 

for hosting the Wonderful Tea party

...but more than opening your home to us

Thank you for opening your hearts to us all.

Cheers!

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Snow... Finally!

I just got these a couple of days... 

Lucky me, the sun is coming out but...

this is the only time I am so glad that snow finally decided to make a comeback :)

* Me and Mini Me... comfort and warmth plus style :)

Yey!!!

Thanks Honey for Kimi's gift and purchasing the other one for me :) 

Love it... my warm feet say thanks as well :)

Perfectly ordinary days...

Sometimes we try to focus on the what ifs or the big moments

we neglect to enjoy the "now" and the ordinary.

Learn to enjoy everything in your life...

the ordinary are just as important as the milestones...

* * * * *

This is so touching. Every mother's sentiment...

It has taken me awhile, but I do certainly know it now- 

The most wonderful gift I had, 

the gift I finally learned to cherish above all else, 

was the gift of all those perfectly ordinary days.

- Katrina Kenison


* * * * *
Some great quotes from her book as well
Source: goodreads.com

“Not a day goes by that I don't still need to remind myself that my life is not just what's handed to me, nor is it my list of obligations, my accomplishments or failures, or what my family is up to, but rather it is what I choose, day in and day out, to make of it all. When I am able simply to be with things as they are, able to accept the day's challenges without judging, reaching, or wishing for something else, I feel as if I am receiving the privilege, coming a step closer to being myself. It's when I get lost in the day's details, or so caught up in worries about what might be, that I miss the beauty of what is.” 

― Katrina Kenison, The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother's Memoir

“Life finds its balance. Children grow up. Second chances come along. In the meantime, I could choose to savor this moment. What good would it do to allow annoyance to interfere with gratitude?” 

― Katrina Kenison, The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother's Memoir

“I know I can't make time slow down, can't hold our life as it is in a freeze frame or slow my children's inexorable journeys into adulthood and lives of their own. But I can celebrate those journeys by bearing witness to them, by paying attention, and, perhaps most of all, by carrying on with my own growth and becoming. Now it dawns on me that the only way I can figure out what I'm meant to be doing is to try to understand who I'm meant to be...I will not waste this life, not one hour, not one minute. I will not take for granted the blessing of our being here...I will give thanks...” 

― Katrina Kenison, The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother's Memoir

“...there is no such thing as a charmed life, not for any of us, no matter where we live or how mindfully we attend to the tasks at hand. But there are charmed moments, all the time, in every life and in every day, if we are only awake enough to experience them when they come and wise enough to appreciate them.” 

― Katrina Kenison, The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother's Memoir

“One of the greatest challenges I've faced as a mother-especially in these anxious, winner-takes-all times-is the need to resist the urge to accept someone else's definition of success and to try to figure out, instead, what really is best for my own children, what unique combination of structure and freedom, nurturing and challenge, education and exploration, each of them needs in order to grow and bloom.” 

― Katrina Kenison, The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother's Memoir

“we can learn to trust our maternal selves and to have faith in the innate goodness and purity of our children - even when we feel overwhelmed and the kids are pushing all our buttons. we can support one another....we can be understanding of each other and easier on ourselves.” 

― Katrina Kenison, Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry

The Vow

I used to watch a birthday movie when I was still single. Not every time but it was my treat when a nice sappy movie or a Leonardo Di Caprio movie was showing.... (Romeo and Juliet, Titanic etc...)


Here, it is not so easy... I am happy though that I finally got to watch a movie on my birth month this year. This is a rare treat for me especially here where everything like someone to leave the kids with are also a part of the process to be taken care of before you can say yes to a simple movie... 

The movie ending was not as nice as I've hoped but it was a good movie.

* * * * *

Life's all about moments of impact, and how they change our lives forever. 
But what if one day you could no longer remember any of them?

-Leo

* * * * *

Source: Ohsam-movie-quotes.tumblr.com

And a word of wisdom from Paige's mother when confronted why she didn't leave her husband when she found out about the affair...


* * * * *

I chose to stay with him for all the things he's done right; not the one thing he's done wrong. I chose to forgive him.

-Rita Thornton

Last, but not the least...

I was really surprised with this one...

This was planned months before and I was just to glad that it finally happened...

a brunch with the vanicans that turned into a surprise birthday celebration :)

THANK YOU GIRLS :)

* Les, Twins, Mel (honorary member-gracian), Steph and Candz

Great things come in small packages...

I wasn't expecting anything sparkly...

...so I was surprise when hubby handed me a small box

* Some sparkly for my ears :)

THANKS HUBBY

A Late Birthday surprise...

I could smell a surprise early morning but I was not quite sure if I got the feeling right.

I went on my routine even went so far as to attend a class that went up to 8:30 PM.

I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was up and...

* Strawberry Cake by Car :)

* Twinny and Stone waited from 7pm just to wish me a 

Happy Birthday in person

Super touched with this small gesture. I know that people are going out on dates for valentines and it meant a lot that they spent theirs- with us.

* Trio Maria :)

* Cake Cutting

...wishing...wishing....wishing

* Wish Granted :)

Somewhere in Time...

I have gone sentimental again and spent a morning watching the classic, "Somewhere in Time"

It was shown in the 1980, the year I was born but I have heard about this and watched it before when I was a kid... I really love the songs in this movie and how love transcends time, and that true love is really worth it.

yeah yeah, hopeless romantic... even at this point of my life ;)

I love the lines said by Jane Seymour...

* * * * *

The man of my dreams has almost faded now. 

The one I have created in my mind. 

The sort of man each woman dreams of, in the deepest and most secret reaches of her heart. 

I can almost see him now before me. 

What would I say to him if he were really here? 

"Forgive me. I have never known this feeling. I have lived without it all my life. 

Is it any wonder, then, I failed to recognize you? 

You, who brought it to me for the first time. 

Is there any way that I can tell you how my life has changed? 

Any way at all to let you know what sweetness you have given me? 

There is so much to say. 

I cannot find the words. 

Except for these: I love you". 

Such would I say to him if he were really here. 

- Somewhere in Time

* * * * *

* November 2006

Our Wedding :)

To my hubby,

I love you...

thank you for being a dream of a husband...

the nice thing about you is that you are real  :)

...mel

HAPPY HEARTS DAY :)

Friendship Day

I was not aware of this back in Manila, but here in Canada, children celebrate Valentines Day as friendship Day.

I don't know if this is just here in Kimi's school but I really like that idea...

So for Valentines Day...

Kimi and I prepared some sweets for her to give out in school...

* Nana made this... A perfect complement to the heart cookies  :)

* Cookies for the teachers :)

* Kimi's friendship cards for her classmates

* For hubby's co-workers and Kimi's teachers

Speaking of friends, I was quite homesick a few years ago when I didn't have friends yet

I am so glad I have a found a handful of friends that made life here in Canada really way much better...
they have become my support system when I felt I am doing a bad job as a mother
...or just a shoulder to cry on and an ear to pour my heart out when I am down...

I wanna give a toast to my special mommy friends

* Glenda, Sarah, me, Joy and Jo :)

...and to our favorite foodie (...and billiards) couple friends

* Twins and Stone

Thank you for sticking it out with us through thick and thin,

life has been much more of a blessing with you guys by our side...

Cheers!!!

* * * * *

Two are better than one, 

because they have a good reward for their labor.

For if they fall,

one will lift up his companion.

But woe to him who is alone when he falls,

for he has no one to help him up".

Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10