My first sketch

You can tweak the simple sketch to your liking.
You can also turn the sketch around. You can add matting, torn edges on the tic toe square.. options are simply endless.
As edges are bare, you can place borders- sew on it, cut it, punch it.
The divisions on the tic tac toe shape can be replaced by ribbon.
All squares don’t need to be pictures – it can be also be embellishments . The no. of pictures is not at all limted. As long as there are pictures!
The circle on bottom left corner can be embellished with flowers, diecut or chipboard w/ caption around circle . These are just mere suggestions, of course.

The inspiration came from reading about using negatives of chipboard. The tic toe square shape came from my kids puzzle pieces. I kept the chipboard excess and WALLA! fantastic!

I will upload my sample very soon...
My challenge is for you to give it a go.

In recent dev'ts this weekend, I wanted to channel the 'negative vibes' and turn it to something good and positive. It is my special way to show ppl that PINOYs are a generous group. We are the kind who would give an 'arm and a leg' to help friend out. We are a peace loving and caring bunch and its the love of this hobby that truly has united us.

I am willing to send some RAKS who can spring out a take on my very simple sketch. I am willing to send these anywhere in the world. Just give me some love and make a layout about anything your heart desires, no special theme,-- just you creative freedom in one layout.

You can send the layouts to me at this email patnjo2k@yahoo.com. Be sure its in my mailbox by the 1st April and will announce RAK winnners soon after.


Thanks ladies. You can also ask some friends of yours from different groups, countries to join this challenge.

Leave me a note in my chatterbox should you want to take me up on this RAK offer.

cheers,.. hope you all have a great day!

Cyber Crop at Scrap with V

Cyber Crop at Scrap with V
Scrap with V is having cyber crop all weekend,so head on over to the site to check out at this link: http://www.scrapwithv.com.auThere are great challenges and games,.. prizes up for grabs too,...its my first time to even sketch a layout -- simple one but i hope the ladies can whip up magic on it...

just want to share some family pics

I want to share some family pics,... some from xmas,..hahah its already MARCH, hey where did the time the go !We had a blast because Santa came to visit us to bring gifts and money envelopes.The children where simply flabergasted to see the big man in the red suit and had their jaws dropping as he came in the room.....the joy and laughter from the children where just the best.. definitely music to Santa's ears.... then again, my smarty pants Jeromee boy said to Santa "time to get changed now lolo...." So I guess he didnt really believe it was Santa after all..

Grace under pressure

What happens when you have 3 kids and you need to go to grocery...

they chuck a tantrum? wrong!
one poos and you need to clean them up. WRONG!!!!!!!!!
they start fighting and starts to cry!!!! wrong....

oh all that happend on other days but not today,..it is something NEW,....

we all go out blissfully and Jerome and Jorel in great fighting spirits because they had long afternoon naps... so the door shuts behind me and i did verify with Patrick if he has our house keys --- he loudly tells me yes!

I then follow down the stairs with my 2 year old hung on on my left hip....
Patrick forgets something and dashes back to the flat with our keys, comes back down seconds later to tell me the house key wont open our door,..

Heart starts to thump -- man are we gonna get locked out?!!!-- Only had one diaper, wipes and 3 bottles of milk for the boys in my bag,....

I then try it myself and realise, darn the knob wont open with the key - it clicks and turns but it won't open.. verdict the kids must have played with the door and they must have turned the button too far for locking and had done so we cant open the door without a key. The door opens with one key in my batch, the knob and the deadlock,..

So i come down to tell Pat....I was ticked alright! His darn solution is to be Tarzan and climb up the window and destroy the screen to go in,.. I was thinking more locksmith or find a person who can pick our lock... grace under pressure alright,.... we were near arguing but you know after 8 years we never ever get to boiling point now -- we get inis but not so much we ruin our day,..

Patrick the smart one remembered a key duplicate place in Blacktown - and $6 later we had duplicates... Walla! We go home and open our door,... we then ended going to grocery and to cap off our evening -- a massive storm hit as we took the kids in to the car! Talk about timing !

The kids loved the fast swift movement and pouring of rain on our windshield,.. and so thats all in days work in the YAP household !

Scrap with V

So glad to have stumbled into Scrap with V site and so priveleged to be a member of their design team.

The girls here are fab and so talented,.. some of the girls are getting published in Australian Scrapbook Magazines as we speak!

So visit this site soon and Vanessa (the sweet owner of the site) has ordered up a storm from the CHA 08 new releases,... so we are all raring to see that come into the site soon,....

I am excited to start designing and sharing ideas with all my fellow DTs.
Here is the link to the site: http://shopping.scrapwithv.com.au/

Little boy extreme!

Jerome Matthew turned 4 on the 4rth February,... He has improved heaps in the tantrum dept but we do have our days when CONTROL isnt a word I can enforce. Last Sunday we didnt make it to church bec of his little episode. Its something about doing anything he doenst want to and him reacting extreme about it. So we proceeded to the mall bec we were late for the mass service and as we left an hour later -- I had to carry him from the mall to the parking lot. Patrick cannot deal with this physically with his bad back of course -- so super mom had to cart him. He kicked and cried the whole process only for him to nap as soon as we got home...

He then woke up happily -- na parang nothing happened ha! And we decided to fulfill the promise we gave the kids to ride on the train. 'Simple pleasures' and the boys were so behaved when we got on Blacktown and arrrived in Parramatta. We let them play in a free playground in the mall and I hurriedly tried to catch Lincraft (darn it was closed already!). I then got Patricks cheapo pasta (from the pasta shop --- regularly 6.50 BUT was only $4 because they were closing)... I came back with Jorel and Jerome was still in the best of moods haaaay extremes I tell you ! We got back home again and he wanted to ask me if I had fun but really he wanted me to ask him that question......

I pray the LORD will let him mature especially in school. I was told the by his Teacher Mrs Wyzbee that he is so well behaved in school,..you can imagine how much I sigh with relief hearing that,...

Here's pic of him a little scrawny but so heavy... he eats the most compared to the 2 boys but doenst put on anyway weight - must be him being so active and energetic all the time....

Unsuccesful driving test

I failed my practical driving test in the last 3 minutes of the exam -- why? A sign that says 'road works at 40km -- man where is the road work oh my gosh!,.... its funny the instructor said sorry that I failed but she had no choice because its her job to follow the guidelines of the test.

I dont feel bad about the fail -- I know I did great and the instructor told me so -- but an overspeeding is an auto fail on the test,....

I feel bad because Patrick will have to readjust his sched to pick up the boys at 2:45 to be at school at 2:55 pm. Thank GOD he just works across our flat and the school is like 3 minutes drive only. I pack his lunch now for work so he can duck out at that time of the boy's dismissal time.

I have given Patrick a responsiblity that should be mine to take and this FAIL means 6 weeks no solo driving on my learners permit. DRATS! Its a setback alright but they say to fail is to teach one a lesson. My lesson is --- to not breathe normally till the testing officer says I passed. bwahahahahaah!

I wil try to rebook my driving test on the 17th March to an earlier date so I will call the RTA office weekly to check for cancellations. It is my hope that it will better news hey, next time round.

finally scrapping... here's my god daughter Raphaella's bday layout at one!

Isnt she lovely... such a sweet girl --- my goddaughter is making me clucky for a little girl now!

My god daugher Raphaella Ysabel turned one and I had made my first layout in months for her. Her mom Aileen loved it so I am thinking --- its must be good hey? I am so challenged by girly layouts I tell you.

I realised though - even if scrap styles are changing I am gonna stick to the same way I scrap --why because it makes me happy and I am not stressed by it all,.. this layout only took 40 minutes to finish.

Here are old friends who I have met some 15 years or so ago.. most of us are moms now,....

Here is Aileen and my best friend Catherine.The girls there are Aileen's daughtersAJ and Raffy and Catherine's Caitlin who is my god daughter too...

The DG (domestic goddess) survives first day of school

I was so lucky Patrick accompanied me to school with the 3 boys in tow,... Jacob on first day resisted and so the Principal helped me and she carried the boy in to the kinder room. Next stop was pre-school where Jerome couldnt wait to go into the classroom as I signed him in and got his name tag on him and we found his cubby hole to put his bag in. I gave them breaky of fried rice and thank goodness they ate. I have to replace the lunch meal cause I knew that they will not eat in school (true enough they only ate the biscuits I packed). There is a peanut allergy scare there in school so they are not allowed to bring peanut butter and even nutella which are my kids fave,... sad,... Jacob, I was told, cried at recess and at lunch time loooking for me,.... however Jerome was way fine,.. he didnt even show signs of separation anxiety, he was happy in his new environment.

The second day was harder though because I was alone this time round. I had to make the 2 older boys stand on the sidewalk while I hung their back packs (no yaya to carry it for them) and I took the Jorel off the car seat. I opted not to stroller and not to park at the back of the school but the pedestrian crossing stressed me so much. The passing cars where conscious of school zone but I really was frantic to get the kids crossed and with them walking hands clasped together. And we made it. I had this funny feeling people were looking at me as I carted off the 3 boys from pedestrian crossing into the school grounds. Something about '3 boys against one mother' they they must have found amusing. I will use the parking at the back by next week because it so close to the school property and even if they run off-- am confident no car will be around to give me a fright.....Jacob made the assembly line better yesterday but he had this face that said to me, 'mom dont leave me'. He carried along that worried look as he walked up the steps to the classroom however I was comforted he was good that day from teacher's feedback. Picking up wasn't too bad. I just can't park so good..

gosh its my test on Tues to convert my license, I pray i pass then my husband and I will have gone thru all rigors of migration into this country. After the license, we can breathe easy then.

Its a brand new week nest week. Good luck to me! whew!

weekly updates of the domestic goddess..

Oh man its been catch up week this week -- I had to fold and fix into the wardrobe about 4 baskets of wash,.... not to mention unload our busting hamper of clothes and do 3 loads -- oh my thats waiting for me to fold too,.. darn,.....

Oh well -- I have to take it w/ my kids -- they are resilient and they learned to dress themselves all on their own (without yaya and without me)... In the mornings when we havent really taken a bath yet, they would go their respective drawers to find jocks, shorts and shirts,.. and they proudly come to me and say "MOM, I done it mom, look shirt short, I done it". They are toilet trained as well and really just call me when time comes for a wash, they wash their hands (never mind the messy soaked sink,..) I am trying to train the little one too to do his no.2 in the toilet,.. he hates it bec he lets out frustration everytime I make him sit there but he will soon get used to it....

My packages finally came from Deals Direct for chrome shelves (like my racks in the PHils) and drawers (resembling cropper hopper).. E parcels have to be delivered to my doorstep and darn delivery man didnt bother buzz my flat, he just put a card to say pick it up at the post office. I was so ticked -- I had those delivered because I knew it was bulky now I had to make Patrick do a run on his lunch time just to get them. I made a complaint just to let them know I never left my house and no body bothered to call or buzz me,.... some ppl -- just so darn lazy,..... I also complained at the company I bought the item from so they know I didnt pay for delivery just to pick it up at the post office... I am no whinger --- but you should get what you pay for --- and thats getting your packages at your doorstep...

Patrick helped me set up the shelves and drawers and I can finally say am all set. My dutiful mom arrived from a short Manila trip into Singapore and she was so kind enough to bring some of my wish list of scrapbook items left over there. So anytime my brother comes over -- he will bring some of it and the rest mom will bring over... Funny my shipping of 14 boxes also made the route via sea freight MLA-SING-AUS.....

Heres how the furniture looks like..

I sorted my embellishments into stocker boxes now chipboard, sticker of any kind, rubon and various (acetate, paper diecuts, plastic etc),... I am still tossing whether to get it the CLIP IT UP by Renee, I found it at $42 dollars for the base and $24.50 for the 2nd tier at an online in the US.

In case you are interested, you may find it at this price at this site. http://store.scrapbooking

-warehouse.com/

clipitup.html you can also find the 2 items on sale on EBAY too and so check it out.

Anyway chances are I will just agonized over this and never end up buying it ....

........ Que sera sera ...........

Tales of the new Sydney driver (episode 2)

Here I am talking more about my driving... I feel writing it, saying it out loud will teach me to be a better at it.. to be more alert and aware that I am the one behind the wheel..

The switch from the BMW to the TOYOTA Avensis was drastic. The BM had a stiffer accelerator and steering and it speeds off slower than the TOYOTA. My car on the other hand has a softer steering and accelerator I termed as feather touch. So you can imagine the near whiplash when I accidentally step on it hard..... Haay naku! I know I will be borrowing Papa's 15 year old car for my Feb 5 test (thank god for that car !) because I dont want to fail and I dont want to pay another 43 bucks --- worse wait for another slot na seems set back another 4 weeks,..... SCHOOL is starting and I need to be the bus driver for the 2 kids haaay!

SO New Years day when I parked behind the BMW at my moms house-- I nearly knocked into its rear...... you can just imagine how my heart raced a 100 kms per hour,... i stepped on the accelerator too hard and good thinking 99 (oh thats me ok !) stepped on the brakes.... and the kids were still in the car at the time.

And if thats not enuff we went Thurs night late night shopping to buy some things..... I hand brake the car and did not put it to park (blame it on my inexperience you know)... Since I driver closer to the wheel --- darn! Patrick swapped with me to do reverse park and he stepped on the accelerator... Imagine my panic I was outside of the car watching him cope with the panic and trying to press brake. The episode was heated because he blamed me for driving too close,... I said to him -- 'man, why did you step on the accelerator then'. He said 'why did you not park it',... And i did tell him if he thought I was too close why did he not adjust it and walk in, the lever was so easy to reach... I guess we were both we were coping with what happened. The panic, the nervousness, just all that. The children were all still strapped in the car then..

My knees shook after,.... Patrick's foot was strained from trying to stop the car. Despite the bad little incident -- we were able to have a family dayout in the mall. Jerome is better now -- still running but less tantrums now... A far cry from the lashing out he did with my 3 yayas back in Manila. Now Patrick had a good run -- just chasing after the boy.....

Thank god we didn't bump into anyone that time.... Thank god we had still a fun family day out that evening.... And thank god Patrick and I were level headed after the incident.

(as you are reading this and you dont know -- I have only been driving since Sept 14)

We have our own car now! FINALLY!

This is our first Xmas holidays here in Australia - and how special to end the year by getting our ppl mover, a Toyota Avensis. Its a sporty family sedan to fit 7 comfortably. Admittedly - am extra careful using this car since its brand new and slightly wider compared to the BMW we borrowed from my dad for 2 months. I have to get used to it because school starts in 4 weeks for the 2 boys.

When Patrick drove it up my mom's house -- the children shouted 'wow' upon seeing our car. They seemed so happy with our choice....

We rang my inlaws too (our dear sponsors for this acquisition) and they seemed happy we have our own car now and not borrowing anymore.. God bless my inlaws... how wonderfully generous they are,....

Tales of the new Sydney driver

I have been driving heaps around here because my hubby is yet to take his driver's practical test And with my 3 months allowable driving time with Phil license, I am doing my best to better my skills and be more alert on the road. Sure I get smirks when my parking is not straight or I take longer to park but I told myself -- if it fits the line and I dont knock into anyone when I back up, its fine.

I prepared a few days for my Drivers knowledge test and thank God I passed. I wasnt worried about doing it again -- it was paying the fee each time you fail was the issue,... so I am thankful I swung a PASS on that particular test.

However as I left Patrick in the flat and walked down the kids to the car (yes I strap them all in their car seats and back up and lock the garage.) I was feeling quite great that day,..... till this thing happened.....

I take the same route to my mom's house from Pendle hill to Blacktown --- and suddenly -- I saw a furry dog ran in front of me,... no leash. Its illegal to have a dog run off like that -- but he was really running toward his home,.... I pressed the brakes but heard a loud thump,... my heart raced and the kids started saying -- "mom what happened?" My father's old BMW has front lower bumper -- fender is it called dunno? I think he hit that..... If I had crushed him with the wheel, I think I would have not seen him run of to his owner. I am just glad when I pressed the brakes with quick action, there was no car tailing me to hit my car's behind. I quickly parked to the kerbside and pressed on my hazard lights. I left my kids in the car -- as I spoke to the owner who seem too distraught to talk -- she was hugging her dog like you would a baby. My heart was racing too... I said sorry and did tell her I tried to stop and she made me feel better by saying it wasnt my fault bec he did run in front so swiftly towards my car. I am no dog lover but I asked her if there was anything I could do for them... she said nothing and walked into her house..... So I drove off........ I was in the speed limit too of 50 kph -- even less being a slow driver with my 3 boys in the back seat.

I am glad the experience didnt faze me much as I did my test and drove for my mom to shop for meats and grocery that day ,... thank god...

Here's hoping I get our new car nxt week -- I won't be in any accidents,... Lord pls. take care of me as I drive..... Bless the ppl on the road and grant me the alertness and safety of driving my children everyday....

wishing everyone a good new year everyone........
my kids so love the holidays with so many toys, cousins to play with,...

god bless you all and take care everyone esp with the fireworks !

People's reactions

I have done a fair few things the past weeks, buy food at the chinese take away, gone to the bank and opened an account, arranged my govt payments etc.. I am pretty amazed how ppl react to the idea of me having 3 boys one after the other. With no yayas around -- i have to cart of the 3 rugrats with Patrick in all those establishments..... Ppl cant seem to resist to ask about my children, their ages and how they are at home... Some chuckle and say "oh having 3 boys it must be fun..." and they have this really weird facial expression. Some say 'good luck' to me (heck am I taking a test or something that I need a good luck?) --- and 'surely you will have a better deal in about 2 to 3 years'. Some just have this funny laugh giving me the impression -- its not possible to live normally with 3 boys.. I even get constant questions if my kids were twins --- worse they say my boys are triplets and you see those ppl whispering... Some say it out loud and a couple of time -- I just said they were triplets.... (and have a little laugh myself). g

However it is possible to live normally -- not perfectly but --- just live simply and man, just dont expect a spot less house alright, not a full structured day but is feasible to get things done (just not all in one day). I dont get to do the same things I used to do like go shopping and arrive home and all the kids have been fed and have had a bath...

My day is like -- I wake up try to give a decent breaky to the kids - have my bread and coffee..... Give them a bath (complete with brush teeth and lotion the body ha) and then we play, watch tv.. I spend my time folding the clothes (3 sets plus Patricks-- madami yon) and fixing our wardrobe.. I am still in the process of organizing the stuff the came with our 13 boxes. I then prepare Patricks lunch and in between mind the children or change diapers.... We muck around too -- I am like a clown at times,...... and they laugh so loud! I guess these are the memories that I will treasure -- the past year admittedly I was way to busy for them. I am after all making up for that time,....

I love hearing when I give them their biscuits and milk the simple words like "Thank you very much MOM",.... nakakatuwa sila,.... they appreciate me,... I am glad the 2 boys will have spots for school na rin. Jerome will go to private daycare at $51 per day so he goes there Tues and Wed. Thurs and Fri he got into Public Pre school and a whopping $ 7 a day only. Jacob goes to the same school for kinder and I only pay $27 per year --oh my ---- how affordable is that. My 2008 will be more routinal with the kids in school and only Jorel with me at home from 9 to 3pm. I start my year to driving the kids and picking them up the Primary school -- just a like a typical mother should...

That wraps up my day--- for those ladies who are the nicest who take the time to read my mutterings -- ty -- you are true friends,... I am still adjusting so I guess the nxt few posts will be about my day.... those who have left messages -- you guys trully warm my heart -- ty for the support

Tthings that I have learned

I am not perfect, I dont claim to be able to do everything....the first days in Sydney has been easy -- with my mother in law here -- it was good to have a second pair of eyes.

She left today and it was a good day to say the least -- I had expected her departure will drive me up the wall -- but the kids must have known to be good -- to help mommy out...

At lunch when my mil left -- it was tearful good bye -- I had thanked her for everything she has shared with us -- kahit makeup ko, lotion ko -- she really showers us with so much... We both resisted to be too emotional and all she said 'its ok dito naman ako sa January ulit..'

I put the kids to bed at 1pm -- no more dragging or tearful outburst -- they march like soldiers because my everyday bribe is we would hop in the car when Patrick arrived and look at the trains at the train station. I had a plan to do the laundry, to fix my clothes (with the 1.00 for 10 pcs from the BONDS outlet -- the company where Pat works) and to do the dishes,.. True enough my baby 2 and 3 were asleep in about 10 minutes -- Jacob continued to whimper and talk to himself. I did the chores ----- and even managed to shower a good 20 minutes (wash my hair and loofah -- wat a feat !)..... I even decided my dinner menu in the shower.. thats my quiet time from about 2 to 3: 30....

Jacob didnt sleep and he walked out of the bedroom with this funny smile.... oh well - at least he had his milk and rested right?

So about 4ish I bathed the boys ready for their pjs (and our evening drive to mom's house) and then did my vegie stir fry and fried tilapia... I even managed a tomato and soy garnish for the fish... The kids quietly played and watched tv in the whole time I am preparing my dinner..
And thats all in a days work...

(Incidentally -- this may sound silly -- my dry and peeling hands are finally healing --- the gloves are finally doing the trick to bring back my smoother hands.....)

So I am adjusting, the kids are responding more to me. I am trying to be less stressful in terms of carrying out orders on the children,.. hopefully they soon realise am alone and they need to help me by cooperating..

am getting there....

We have arrived in Sydney

It was a long no. of hours as my boys and I left from my Laguna house to go to Pilar Village and then to the airport,.. I was just so worried about my baggage allowance and my kids coping in the airport and plane that I didnt realise my top was back to front. For ppl who know me -- I try as best to prepare for major events in my life however this was one of those days I was too preoccupied about everything else. Anyways the baggage was A ok ! and we were even 7 kilos underweight -- darn i left my big shot and supply of Mamy Pokos with all that worry -- ok I can live with that,.. better underweight.... than excess right?

So my 3 rugrats -- 2 in strollers and one walking was really raring to go since the whole waiting at the check in drove them crazy,... Imagine this picture -- they were running and floor polishing the whole airport floor! Some very concerned passengers tried to scare my kids to behave but -- haaay i felt like my kids were like monkeys let loose,...

My mom and mil just let them be as long as they were within eyes' view --- the baggages were finally checkin - our seats taken and darn we got there at 4:30 and finished quarter to 7,.... how swift is that -- NOT!

We got so hungry and settled for some wonton soup -- good thing Jerome let me put him the stroller as we made our way to Gate 2 -- we passed the immigration with no hassle and stopped over duty free for some Shea Body butter from Body Shop,.... My mil was just the best because as my mom bought some for my sister's order.....she asked me if I wanted.. God bless her she bought me 2 and darn had I ask for more-- she would have given me... My kids cooperated to get some dinner and had their food same time as us... so after their food recharge again they went on running fit over the seats -- the ppl stared and laughed -- I just sat down and gave up.... My mom said just put up with it.

So our whole trip was not so bad -- we got on our seats and we got 2 window seats and aisle -- I had the baby Jorel who made mash out of my whole body -- felt like i was being massaged by force! He did sleep the whole trip but each time he really wanted to change position -- he would cry and whimper and so you can just imagine I didnt sleep either..Jerome had been sleeping blissfully all stretched out between me and mom. Jacob who demanded the window seat slept soundly nxt to MIL... He was no bother to my dutiful MIL who wanted to bring us to OZ....

The food was usually bad and they took so long to turn of lights that delayed my kids sleeping... I was tired yes but we got to OZ and we got thru immigration then customs with no hassle.

Patrick has the nicest smile to see the boys -- he kept saying how much they have grown in the longest 6 weeks of his life...I got a nice smack too and thank GOD he missed me too! hhaahaah He better!....

So the past days --- after our arrival here hasnt been bad -- I was just psyching myself up that its all going to be better tomm -- my kids havent been in their routine of eating and sleeping but we are getting by.

I have been sneaking of with my Patrick and MIL to buy our living, dining and bedding furniture and our appliances. We also had to buy boosters for the kids so we can squeeze them in my fathers all BMW -- no real budget to buy a van just yet...

We had our washing machine and ref delivered today. I cleaned for 2 hours today -- kitchen, vacuumed the 2 bedrooms. On Wed our furniture -- tomm. I will be continuing to clean the bath room tommorow,... How domesticated can one get !

We did our massive grocery to buy everything a house needs -- cleaning agents, kitchen needs, cooking needs and food for the kids to eat at home.... haaay it will not end till nxt month all this need to do stuff !

So that recaps what I have been doing here.... the kids are ok -- not bad I guess but I just hope they dont continue to bash my nieces or the Figueroas might ban my children offlimits in the family home

Lucky ME

I have no photographs to show for this party but yet I wanted to capture the exact emotion of how I felt at the despidida my wonderful friends threw for me.... here goes.....

It was a special day -- its one of those days that would really forever be etched in my mind and my heart,.. its a venue filled with people who have touched my life and I have touched too. I knew somewhere down the road -- if you take the time to talk to a person, offer anything -- advise, a story, a simple joke or just even a simple email or ym message -- it makes a difference. For that I am glad that all this people in my party -- I have really shared special moments of my life.

My hobby is a way of life and the friends I have met are a part of me. They have affirmed me in ways unimaginable,.. their sweet words, their beautiful layouts and the fact they gave me their time -- I am so humbled and so happy to have across them along my creative journey....

I am a very sentimental person -- I dont forget little gestures, I dont forget to try and give some thing back,.... and I guess all this people found something special in me.... I am finally starting to realise that HECK -- there must be some thing good in me. I have always felt that I was never perfect, never the one that people relied on or one that people sought for anything. Its a great feeling to be loved, to be wanted and to be appreciated. All my life I always felt I was not good enough. It was yesterday that I finallly felt I measured up,.. that meron pala akong halaga.

Everyone knows I always go beyond the call of duty, hangang kaya ko gagawin ko. I stand proud to say that I have done my part to help all my friends and to be honored like that yesterday -- 'nakakahiya man' but it truly warmed my heart. I promised myself I wouldnt cry much -- if I can hold it I will. I guess I was a little successful but there were moments I couldnt comprehend how these people spoke about me. I was so touched. I was really moved to tears.

I equally stand proud because my mom was by accident there to see and hear my honoring. Of course I would forever talk about my group to my mom and I fell tickled pink she lived to see that -- just so she knows how much I love my group and how proud I am of all of you. Its also nice to show her what she helped me achieve since she is my NO.1 supporter of my scrapbooking.

For now my work ceases -- its time to really do my 'mommy duties' -- get used to it and when I get on my feet again -- I will come back with vengance -- and hopefully get back to the scrapping swing of things again,....

To my Scrappin moms partners -- I will always miss having you close to me,.... I am forever grateful you helped me realise my dreams. I will be forever grateful -- you accepted me and just loved me for who I am,.... I thank you for sharing your talents with me -- you guys all inspire me to do better in my craft. Thanks so much for the love and the support,...

To Tin and Mia, my bosom buddies -- ty for the venue yesterday and everything else,.. will see each other soon.

To our suppliers, Nette, Vivian, Helen, Mitch and Marinela -- ty for taking the time to see me off -- am so touched you were there,... Thank you for the support you give Scrappin moms, I hope you all know, we will do our darndest to help the scrapbooking industry.

To the LB Scrapbaholics -- ty for going the distance to see me off again -- you guys are the best ! Keep learning and keep winning contests ok !

To the Pinoy scrapbookers, Nita, Jane, Lee, Donna (hope i dont forget anyone...)-- ty so much for the laughter, for the friendship and for the support in all Scrappin Moms activities.. Soon I will also join the PS challenges too !

My other friends, GIGI, Mela, Arlyn, Candy, Christine , Alby--thanks again for attending, I hope you guys get more into the hobby! I will surely miss the laughter and the chats we have !

Tito Jeff and Tito Meng, for providing the photography and comedy spiels of the day ! hahah

April too for twisting my husbands hand in writing a special note for me -- thats a milestone alright ! Definitely scrappable

those also who sent their layouts -- oh my,you guys really floored ME with sensational layouts -- ty...so touched to have it in my album -- salamat talaga.... ay naku lagot ang SYDNEY -- will be super bombarding them how great scrapbook artists my friends are !

thank you all too for making me QUEEN For a day!

I love my friends

The weekend has just passed and we organized what would have been Punta Fuego sleep over with neverending chat and scrap time.. however we ended up at Ria Mojica's house... I understand now that we neednt have a near to perfect setting to have an excellent weekend. The company alone was PERFECT already!

Just the sheer laughter and great company was enuff to really make me realise how lucky I am to have my friends,... we laugh,we cry over the littlest things and we are all in the same wavelength about a lot of things.

I think this is what really hurts me most to leave the PHILs.. all my life I have struggled where I belong, where I feel at home -- I have found my home thru my friends,... its with them I feel like I can just be ME and its with them I feel I can be much more too. They give me confidence to reach higher and it is thru them I have realised my dreams. I am not perfect but with them -- imperfections are irrelevant -- because they whole heartedly accept ME who I am.

With them I feel like I am piece of a puzzle and I fit perfectly into the mould... I feel that I have worth when I am with them.

I will miss them -- my life has been perfect the past 5 years having them around.
I hope they will miss me too -- and i look forward to coming home again -- hanging out, scrapbooking with them and just laughing with them to our hearts content,...

We may not have had pictures to show but in my heart ---- the memories will forever stay --- to keep me going,... to help me even as I move on to OZ...

ty girls -- you guys are the best !

Patrick you are the best!

Patrick and I have been communicating thru webcam and yahoo messenger since he left for Australia. There were weeks that he was so so there -- but he did get job almost instantly but its not his choice - he wanted it to make sure there was money coming in. He is that kind of person, he wants to ensure the future of the family. He is in fact a worry wart when it comes to finances. He would always say we are poor and we have no money. He is the financial analyst of this household, I just run the household and take care of the kids.

So he got the job at AMP okay! However he is not happy with this job --- its not his field. A job that came from agency came up and its seems tailor fit for his Industrial Engineering experience in Manufacturing. He was so eager to get that, and I could sense an air of interest and enthusiasm from him, unlike the past weeks. I needed to hear that from him as I worried for him - he hasnt been away from us for more than 1 week !

I am just happy my family is keeping him busy and he himself wills to be happy and not miss us too much.

And so today --he was very ecstatic! The job he didnt look for and the job he wanted so much -- he got it. By the grace of GOD he is really putting all of our plans into place. Now the search is on for the apartment close to his work. Incidentally the present job he has is 15 mins drive from my moms house where Patrick is staying. Now the new job is 8 minutes drive ! How good is that ! And now we have to really find a house in the same area, a school for Jacob too. I think we can revert back to the same routine there. Patrick had his job here just in the Laguna Techno park and he would leave for work just after the school bus picked up the boys. Also he would come home for lunch to see the kids before they go to sleep for afternoon nap. Its real family time once again.....

God has been listening to our requests and prayers, for that I am glad and ever so thankful.

Scrapfest 4 - A Shining Success

Every Scrapfest we live and learn from each event and we trully believe that we are keeping our goal to share and teach techniques to our participants.

And Judging from their smiles and even their tears, we have continued this tradition with an extra plus of our scrapbookers... and 'extra plus' is that is we trully care for them. Every event is planned around them and we always have them in mind when planning for demos, to the food and even to the contents of their loot bag!

Our demonstrations were set up in U shape format to allow our participants to enjoy and learn from our "I confess" demonstration . I also sensed that the participants were a lot more confortable in this set up and they breezed through the demonstration with ease. I noticed a lot of newbies attended and I am so glad they did because we need to grow us a community. Some of the newbies already had potential and so prepared to be wowed one day ladies by the new breed of scrapbookers. Scrappin Moms idol was with the intention to set up a competition that will give rise to the talent and ingenuity of the Filipino Scrapper. A lot of them would not even care or have the guts to join but with much prodding they did.

We believe in them and we believe there is something there to tap.

Our 12 finalists are winners in their own rights --- they have lived through all the challenges with much gusto and drive -- not to just win but to challenge them selves to think and scrap outside of the box.

As we saw their work displayed, I had to grab my jaw from dropping straight on the floor because I was flabergasted on how each layout came out. Even as the winners were being announced -- our shining 12, I had felt like a mother getting all teary eyed for her childs' award. I was so impressed and so glad we gave them a venue to show their talents.

The Scrapfest was born this OCTOBER thru the great bayanihan of our suppliers. I am personally thankful to them (alongside my mommy partners) because they always give their all out support to us.

We thought of Scrappin Moms IDOL so close to the Scrapfest but jumping on the sponsorship band wagon was our beloved Scrapbukan.com and Lasting Impressions. Sahrie and Vivian needn't hear our full details - they just believed we were cooking up a great competition. And following their tracks our other friends from My little Attic, Visual Creations, Memory Lane, Buzy Bee and CID Systems who realised too, the scrappers here need to sink their teeth into something.

It is an event at the end of the year and most sponsorships are ignored for any industry. I refer to them as my angels because they have such kind hearts ! Julie and Sheryl of Bookoto lent their extra mile hands to us and helped us get sponsorship from Creating Keepsakes, Leisure Arts, Creative Memories and Somerset Memories. Scrapbukan.com under the capable hands of Sahrie Wenceslao again generously donated the KI papers in our lootbags. And to top it all off -- the photo finishes of all photo finishes, Del Monte Kitchenomics who are as excited as we are with our partnership - generously donated their products and became a highlight of our demonstration "I confess"...

All our suppliers generously donated products for raffle and loot bag and I would like to recognize the following, Elizabeth of King Jim, thank you for always supporting us in our events.
To Yellow Violet House, Rekindled Moments, Visual Creations for the wonderful lootbag scrapbook items and raffle prizes. My Little Attic, Scrapbooks Hawaii, Lasting Impression, Memory Box, and Creative ME, thank you for the wonderful raffle prizes you gave. Marisa of Scrapbooks Hawaii, thank you very much for the wonderful card kits and for helping us celebrate World Card Day.

Special thanks go out to Working Moms' Editor in chief, our beautiful friend Dedet Panabi who is always ready to lend us a hand in spreading the word about scrapbooking. I personally appreciate all the help you give us and I am glad we are the catalyst in jumpstarting your memory making goal for Zachary.

What a way to go out of Manila, to see an event full of smiles and bags full of shopping goodies and of course 12 idols who outwitted themselves to reaching the end of the 2 month competition.
As I write this, I feel a sense of pride that I was able to touch a lot of people with my infectious passion for the hobby. I may not join enough contests to win (dont you worry soon I will do that too) but its so nice to win the hearts of many scrappers and their hugs, kisses and nice words to say good bye was just enuff to make my heart burst of happiness. I heard nice words said about me that day, and I know if it weren't for the Scrappin Moms team, my dreams will never happen. I know they are a great team to continue on the traditions we have started and for sure they will even surpass our present achievements to bigger and better things! I would like acknowledge the heart and soul of Scrappin Moms, April Lim who takes care of almost everything you can think for Scrapfest... you are the best !

I know have made a difference and to me thats an excellent achievement in itself. Geographically, I maybe far away, but in spirit and in the egroup -- I will be around.............