Because I want to be a mum who bake...

People say I'm a person with many talents. I say, I'm a person with many interests.
Now baking is added to my list of "Interests". Period.

Oh btw, My Russian Cookies is sooo gooooood! People loves it!

DIY#1: Painted Mason Jars

I love colors! I love mason jars! And I love the combination of beautiful pop of colors with mason jars! I bought them in 3 different sizes for using in kitchen storing my cooking spices and also for some buttons & pencils. Now let's turn them into rustic beautiful flowers vases.

You need:

1- Mason Jars
2- Acrylic Craft Paints (I decided to go with my favorite pastel colors)
3- Paint Brushes
4- Sandpaper (Make rustic look)
5- Flowers Twines (Optional. For decoration)
6- Tacky Glue/Crazy Glue (Optional)
7- Faux Flowers

Most of items i used are from Michaels. I got them a lot cheaper using coupons

First clean up the jars and start apply one coat of paint on the jar and saving the bottom for later. Turn it upside down and start painting the bottom. Leave it dry for 15-20 min then apply another coat. Now they have a perfect pop of colors. If you want a deeper color, you can go ahead and apply the third coat. Let them stand few hours.

When it's completely dry, I want to give them a vintage rustic look by using sandpaper to rough them up a little bit. After distressing them, now it's time for some decoration. I use flowers twine cords wrapping around the mouth of the jars. And that's it!!! But if you want to add some more touch, just attach flowers or buttons with crazy glue. I otherwise will use it as flower vases, so I'll keep it simple like this. 

Now that's it all done, arrange your flowers to your preference!

I've done a lot of DIYs but I have been too lazy to put things together for a post. But today I decided to move my butt and post this DIY projects I did lately! Yay!

Celebration of passing mid twenty something

My birthday was a week ago. I went to bed hearing husband whispered "Happy Birthday, baby" and woke up hearing him whispered "Happy Birthday, baby" and then he kept annoying me by saying "Happy Birthday, baby" for a whole day before he went to work, FaceTime me at work, the moment he walked into the door back from work, while driving out for dinner, while having dinner, while coming back home, before going to bed, before he finally turned around and Zzzzz. I'm pretty sure it was closed to a hundred time.

I was surprised I didn't dream about "Happy Birthday, baby" that night.




It was snowing on that day, that my husband had to text me and FaceTime me to make sure I look out the window that he called it" White birthday."
He's annoying I know, but I love it. Haha.

Knowing how excited husband was (and I was not) about snowing on my day, I decided to dress up; grab my instant camera; go outside and took a photo.



I thought 26 is going to be a big change for me, but no, I think I've changed since I'm married to this amazing man -- my better half who each day gives me love, joy and happiness and has embraced me and let me grow into woman he can be more proud of.

... I guess? hehehe

Dear Birthday, let's be a grown-up and act like adult and this is going to last birthday post ever. Just because I think there's nothing special about birthday celebration when you're not a kid anymore. 

Let the day be the day to reflect what have you been through; all the choices you made; what change you need to make; the plans you have and what you need to do to make them happen. I wished to fast-forward my age to 26 & 30 sooner when I was 18, but I guess I'll choose to enjoy every age and stage I goes through rather than wishing I'm getting old faster. Because life does fly somehow in spaceflight speed and I miss out a lot of things and people when I was busy focus only on one thing. 

Last but not least, dear birthday, let my heart be content, be young, be humble, be eager, be courious like a child, but let my head has all the answers for all the things in the world. Let me has no fear in doing what I want to do even in the face of uncertainty; let me be confident that I can do anything I set my heart to; let me be brave enough to believe in myself; let me still love people for the way they are, let me be inspired and love. 

Handmade With LOVE

That's what I've been doing lately. My hobby float from one another endlessly. I first obsessed with sewing. I made my home curtains and there is one room left, but the fabric still sit in the locker of my table. And then I obsessed with knitting. Back home in Cambodia, I've never finished my knitting and crochet projects at all! AT ALL! When I was making a bag, I ended up getting a purse. No time. Lazy. Who else to blame? Now I got a lot of supply for knitting and I even finished knitting 5 winter hats (one was the one i wore in my previous post), 3 scarves, and 2 Christmas stockings. I'm gonna post about them later, coming with instruction and patterns of each project. I was determined to finish making scarf for my in-laws before Christmas, but my interest now is in craft. I used to make Scrapbook before here and here with my own limited supplies. But now I decided that I can't avoid going Michaels and don't pick up a craft project to make anymore! So here it is I ended up picking up a lot of stuffs, but luckily most of the items are on sale.

Instant Scrapbook! Easy. Just print your photos and stuff them in the album along with these cards and write down whatever you like! No glue, no technique and other accessary needed. I'm lazy! and I think it saves time and hassle when I want to keep up with my photos from the trips.

This is not instant scrapbooks. Well, my scrapbook projects now is making one and mail it for my cousin's daughter, my both lovely chipmunks, my family, and my wedding. It's gonna take a while, because I haven't chosen which pictures to print.

Wooden alphabet projects. It's a bit messy, but it worth every sweat and penny! Heehee. I fond of them every much and it's gonna be my handmade gift for anyone I want to send my love to. Right now, I finished making them for my own. They require the wooden alphabets (Mine is letter "M", "P", "&" and a heart board, paints and accessaries, scrapbook paper and Mod Podge (I love it!). This glue works as everything from a glue to a sealer.

 I try not to be rush and buy everything I need to decorate my home office or my husband would call it studio. Because my long and corner Beford desk from PotteryBarn which I really love is for my office and the other side is for my sewing and other project. So here it is, my craft wooden alphabet. I'm making a custom frame and it's gonna stand right next to these alphabets.

How I love stamp! Handmade with LOVE!

I love anything handmade. I appreciated and value them most! Because yes it's made with love and heart.

Anyway, I determine to post instruction and everything later. It's easier to note them here and are meant to be shared at the same time. hehehe

Come away with me

No matter how independent we both are, living as a married couple, we still love the idea of running away together. We both are just a pair of birds and I love the idea thinking us as a pair of beautiful Blue Jay.

Dear Deja-Vu!

Massachusetts, It is good to see you again. And this time, I had a lot of fun and great time with my new girlfriends with a whole new experience. If only you realized that you were the point where my life have changed forever 6 years back. I bet you won't believe your eyes that I come back as a new brave, strong, proud and confident woman.

Cook Blog: Shrimp & Avocado Salsa Dip

It is hard to find the salsa dip that match with your taste bud. I love the their sauce, even though not much, but I long for something I used to have. From what I remember, I love the combination of shrimp and avocado and all the veggies should be finely chopped, not puree. Which is why I decided to make my own salsa dip. My recipe is not complicated, but quick and easy. We just need simple ingredients you can find in your pantry and refrigerator. More importantly we don't need to wait until the flavors are all blended. I serve it as my favorite snack as well as my dinner.

 Ingredients:

3 medium sized Tomatoes, chopped
1 chopped Onion
1 diced Avocado
2 finely chopped Jalapeno
10 Shrimps
1 Cup of minced Cilantro
Juice of 1 Lime
1/2 Tsp of Salt and Pepper
1 Tsp of Olive Oil
1 Cup of Tomatoes (Pasta) Sauce

Method:

Bring water to boil over medium-high heat and pour shrimps for 5 seconds. Discard the shrimp. Leave it cool down a bit then chop them.

In a salad bowl, combine the first 5 ingredient together. Add Pasta Sauce, Salt, Pepper, Olive Oil, minced Cilantro and finish with Lime Juice. Mix them well. Now, you're ready to serve with your favorite Tortillas.

Make approximately 4-5 cups.

Note: I love them a bit sour. If you don't, you can use only 1/2 Lime.