Behind Those Walls

As part of my daily posting and the last post in March, thought I'd let you all in a secret. Well, not many people know but there are things about me that are behind those walls and not even the people I work with everyday know them. I'm sure we all have those that we don't bother to talk about because they are not related to anything we do in everyday life or maybe because, not all people we deal with can relate to them. Like blogging for example, none of my family do it.

Behind those walls, I am:
1. Called these alliases: NancyLee in my scrapworld; Leenanz @my photo/social networking world; Little one by mom Iris; Honey Ko by my honey; Kevin's wife to most of Parksville!
2. I speak Filipino, Pampango, English, Spanish, count in Cantonese!
3. I love photography, washi tapes, pretty papers and fresh flowers.
4. You can find me on facebook, instagram, flickr, blogger and some scrapbooking sites.
5. I hoard, I squint, I smile a lot, I burp like an islander!
6. I am a Filipino-Canadian, pretending to be an Argentinian in other life.

There you have it! Just a few things about me. It's been a journey doing this daily blogging in March and what record breaking since I started this blog in 2008! Hope we'll all have an April full of good stories to cherish. And to those who sent me some lovin', thank you so much! Hugs!

Blessed

Wow! Another month passed us by again. Don't know about you but as the month draws to a close, I find myself pondering a lot of what had happened, what could I have made differently to have made things better? But well, we can only do so much.

 As I was working on Shimelle's next Starting Point challenge, I thought of using 3 photos that I printed on a cardstock that were meant to go into my PL. Unfortunately, I had no more spot for them but I couldn't put them together on this layout so as I turned everything around over and over again, I came up with a theme, "Blessed". Boy didn't that make my choice easier?

I also had this pp stamped with my SC stamp that I was dying to use and everything just fell into the right places as soon as I chose my photo!

I also added some heart cut-outs from a wrapper of chocolates that my honey gave, to remember this day that he took this photo of me... and used a doily from another restaurant we went to on that particular week.

Voila! I love how it turned out. I wanted to show all patterned papers I used up so one photo was perfect. And glad I used a dark background to hide my journaling because it ended up so sentimental as I was writing down my thoughts on life in general....

Lesson I learned? 1. "count your blessings", especially, at times when you feel the emptiness...2. scrapbook it! I find it so therapeutic when you put your thoughts into art, however you want it: paint, draw, journal, etc. Trust me, it helps!

The Bayside

Once in a while, we'd love to sit, relax and enjoy a spectacular view, just watching, listening to some music and the whispers of voices around. What better way to enjoy this than having it over a glass of good wine and good food!

I posted about this place in Parksville way back the first year I had my blog. It must be the only place for restaurants, that showcases a spectacular view where you can enjoy the whole scenery of the Parksville beach. Of all seasons we've been there, I'd say spring is the most I enjoy it. The beach looks so calm and beautiful barren from the table where we are usually seated. My side of the view can get busy and be full of people from all over the world at summertime.

See the white capped mountains? Just gorgeous! This is my honey's side of the table. Honestly, this whole view is visible to all patrons of the restaurant whichever table you get, be it by the window or the lounge. I love how they kept the design as it was when built in the early 80s, and I love that there's an access to go out there and enjoy a walk at the beach. I also love the fact that it's not just a restaurant but one of the known resorts/hotels here in town, and that you can go upstairs on the other side where you can enjoy your drinks, sunshine and a louder crowd. But this Sunday, it was so relaxing to just sit here and stare while we were enjoying a light lunch. We could have sat there for ever....


His lunch: hot chicken wings...

My lunch: seafood chowder, really good!

Creme brulee for dessert: raspberry, white chocolate, cream...

Just the right amount at the right place, with a gorgeous weather!

Project Life: Week 9

First of all, I'd like to thank Shimelle for not just her inspiration but for having picked my take on her Starting Point again as one of her faves; and for all the feedback I received on my layouts, for your time and your nice thoughts. For someone who considers herself always a novice on scrapbooking, your time and thoughts are very well appreciated, and will always serve as my motivation to be the best novice scrapbooker I can be. Thank you so much! One of the best things about this hobby, you gain nice friends from the distance...

Moving on, like I mentioned on my previous post, I am sharing my Project Life, week 9 here...

I was able to record as much of the Leap day on the 29th and made a Life Capsule.

Whoever finds this cannot open the envelope until the next Leap Year!

Most of the journaling is kept inside, and one page made simple. Still working on the

photos for my March PL and I'm afraid it won't get done before April kicks in. Oh well...

Time to get shopping at SC so will see you again. Happy crafting!



Sketch of the Week

As promised, I just wanted to share my page that I made this weekend based on Shimelle's sketch. It started out with 2 photos of my last year's cherry blossoms but it didnt' feel right to put them both horizontally. One of the photos was taken in portrait and I panicked because I'm not good at turning sketches around. After laying the photos, I had another challenge. I had these 3 patterned papers of flowers that I wanted to use for my theme but I didn't know how to put them together. Until finally I thought, hmmm, why not turn the embellishments on the sketch as my photos and just cut these patterned papers as the photos on the sketch? And here's the result....

I used a combination of old and new SC kit again with the new Dear Lizzy pretty chipboard embellishments.

I kept the page as simple as possible and I wanted to see everything spring on my page: the colors, the photos of cherry blossoms, the new spring embellishments. Thank you to my honey who actually adviced me to keep it as simple, the way it is... It just makes me smile as much as it does, whenever I pass by this tree on my way to work. And thank you to this sketch challenge that it did challenge me to think outside the box and to finally do something with my spring photos. I guess it also helped that the weather is just as beautiful that I got so inspired to do this page. I have it displayed on our mantel now as part of the celebration...

I love spring: it's my favorite time of the year! How about you?

Playing Along

Another scrapbooking weekend after that escape I made for taking photos yesterday. And of course, it's always inspiring whenever I start with Shimelle's Starting Point. For some reason, I get the mojo back and I don't stop until I loose the day's light and then, my honey starts closing the blinds for our tv viewing. So, I did not only one but two challenges, and a catch-up on my Project Life. Wow! that's a record break for me. However, as I go through my Project Life photos, I didn't realize that I needed to print a lot and now I am stuck with Week 10. I hope to get caught up by the end of this week because, you know why? It's April almost! Man! where did time go? Anyho, here's the challenge for this week and my starting point below.

As the name implies, I try to copy exactly the same layout as Shimelle's then take it as my own for the rest of it. I used my SC new kit from March and some Amy Tan's embellishments. Come to think of it, it's almost time to shop again. This March flew by like a speed bullet!

I was almost happy with the result and thought of just doing an insert for the journal but nah! Here's the almost finished page....lots of block cut-up papers and not a single flowery embellish. Hmmm....

And here's my actual finished page. I thought it's now complete after I did a bit of journaling here.

I now have an "almost" completed album of our holiday photos by just playing along at Shimelle's challenges since I started last year. I couldn't stop flipping the pages today, and I feel so happy to see my pretty photos and papers compiled in an album. What a difference!? I can't wait to share them with my family in the Philippines and maybe do a post once it's done.I also wanted to share a finished page of another Starting Point challenge that I started here.

Tomorrow, I will post my page for Shimelle's Sketch comeback. Meanwhile, hope you are having a great start to the week! And for those who took the time to visit here, thank you so much. Let me know what you think....

1st Spring Weekend in Photos

Another gorgeous day to you and me... so how are you enjoying the weekend so far? If you may ask, I'm still in my house coat and contemplating on laundry. But before I go further, I just wanted to share more photos and this time from the good ol' fashioned photography, with my best friend, NIKON. It was such a beautiful morning that I made an escape while my honey was working at his office. Still frosty and cold but hey, when it's sunny like that, take advantage! Spring here is so unpredictable and it could snow again for all you know. So here are some of the photos I took on my venture. Hope you'll enjoy them as much as I still do.

So glad I came early! I was able to gather a lot from this meeting!

Moving on, Mr. Crow was having some time alone up there....

Ooops! I feel like I'm being followed....

And look what they leave behind?

see the white specks on the ground? feather everywhere...

Time to go....

and one more of the millions of these (I might post a seperate blog).

Have a great Sunday!

Signing off

Wishing you all sweet dreams....

March Photo a Day

Are you playing along? So far I got mine up to date with everyday photo and posting @my365 and instagram. A few more days to go and time to start a new month again at Fat Mum Slim. Have a great weekend and remember to take photos!



1. Healthy start to a day off, 2. #Marchphotoaday gorgeous blue sky today!, 3. #marchphotoaday 3: my neighborhood is a busy one, 4. #marchphotoaday 4: missing our beautiful lamp on his side of the bed...., 5. Flowers bring smile to my day...., 6. Beautiful sunset...., 7. #marchphotoaday day 7: I wore #mylisaleonard live,love necklace my my bff's gift, blue top, 8. #marchphotoaday day 8: looking through the windows at work this am and at home at lunch, 9. My little red dress, 10. Our view..., 11. Spring visit with mom..., 12. What's left, 13. Spring, 14. Beautiful sunset right on our window..., 15. #marchphotoaday 15: car, 16. #marchphotoaday 16: sunglasses, 17. Nature's beauty, 18. Fun time!, 19. #marchphotoaday 19: funny, 20. #marchphotoaday 20: before/after, 21. #marchphotoaday 21: yummy!, 22. #marchphotoaday 22: sink, 23. Peeking....24. Not available

My Currents

Time: 6:32 am, half asleep
Location: in our comfy bed
Smelling: the aroma of fresh brewed coffee
Drinking: a glass of water
Enjoying: the warmth of the sheets beside my honey
Talking: to my honey about getting up early
Listening: to the brewing of coffee in the kitchen
Loving: the comfort, the smell and a good well rested sleep
Thinking: I should get up, enjoy a fresh cup and blog about the present
Wanting: to do what I'm thinking to do
Wondering: if I should just do it and start the day early
Wishing: you and me a better day than yesterday with lots of things accomplished, lots of funny and good stories to share at the end of the day....
Sharing: with you a photo of my new pot of pretties that was given to me by a client, just to show appreciation of the little things she thought meant so much to her....
Hoping: that there are more people like her who are happy with the small things in life...
Waving: bye for now and make it a good day!