Strawberries + Chocolate = Happy Hubby

I'm not a big fan of chocolates. I tried several times to develop an appetite for it but I just don't like it. My hubby on the other hand can finish a bag of kisses in no time. We were in Belgium several years ago and there's this street where you can buy all kinds of chocolates you can imagine. He was like a kid on Christmas morning ... he can't decide which one to open first. By the end of the day he ate more than a kilo!!!

If strawberries are in season, I love making this treat for him ... juicy strawberries dipped in Belgian Chocolates!

Insert stick in strawberries.

Cut good quality Belgian chocolate in small pieces. Put in Pyrex bowl and melt on top of near boiling water. Add small amount of cream, butter and espresso on melted chocolate.

Dip strawberries in melted chocolate. Refrigerate for at least an hour.

Place individual strawberries on cupcake paper.

Serve and Enjoy!

Think happy and sweet thoughts!

Mei Ann

Smiling From Within

Wow .... what a week!

Last month, I shared on this post that I there will be changes as far as my professional life is concerned. The change happened last July 19th ... that's when I joined a new company in a new position. Not entirely new, I should say, because I've done Product Management in not so distant past. The thing is, I am back in an office environment after being out in the field for the last 6 years!

It was quite an adjustment this week ... taking the subway everyday @ 7AM with my dear hubby instead of driving alone from one appointment to another ... sitting in my office in front of the computer with my brain spinning like there's no tomorrow ... eating my daily home-made lunch in the office lunch room ... everything is new again and I'm embracing the changes with a big smile!



Change is definitely a blessing. It will take you out of your comfort zone but it will let you see things in a different perspective. At the end of the day, you will give thanks with a big SMILE!

Have a great weekend,

Mei Ann

Fun & Cute

Have you seen the new Card Style from Paper Craft? My golly wow, the ladies outdid themselves again!!! To celebrate the release of this "must have" magazine, Cath at Moxie Fab World is hosting a Card Style Week challenge. First on the list is "Fun and Cute Style Challenge".

I thought I'll give this a try with this card I made on a rainy afternoon.



The raindrops background, the rain boots and umbrella are just too cute! These are all in my stash and didn't give a second look at them until that rainy afternoon. I just love everything about rainy days! Don't you?

Think happy thoughts!

Mei Ann










Supplies:

• Cardstock - Reflections {white}
• PP - American Crafts (everyday line}
  
• Stamp - My Favorite Things {sentiment}
• Ink - Memento {tuxedo black}
• Others - American Crafts {ribbon} , Fiskars puncher {boarder}, Jolee's boutique (3D stickers}

A Fabulous Saturday Afternoon

July 10, 2010 ... while almost everyone on the street was sporting the tiniest pair of shorts and tank tops to fight the sweltering heat outside, about 15 pairs of well-dressed ladies and gentlemen {including moi and my hubby :-)} gathered at the private room of The Brock House restaurant celebrating our dear friend - Pamela's "fabulous" 40th birthday!



I made this very simple yet I should say elegant invitation for Pam. The mini dress form on top of my sewing table inspired me with the focal point of the card. My friend Pam likes to dress up so I thought this simple design would be fitting {no pun intended :-)}



I embellished the front page with aqua gems in various sizes and used the same color for the cardstock inside the card. A single sunburst flower in bright yellow-orange stamped on top the of the message was the other focal point. The birthday girl loved it and so do I!



That's my dear and fabulous friend Pam .... Hey girlfriend, wishing you all the good things that truly matter! Life begins at 40!

Much love from all your "fabulous" friends!!!!!

Mei Ann

You Are My Home

We are finally back at home sweet home after a short summer break in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Oh, six days of nothing but blue skies, hot sunshine, soft white sand and gentle waves ... couldn't ask for more {or maybe I could pray for another break like this before the summer is over :-)}!



Why is it that no matter how much you enjoy your vacation, you still long for the comforts of your own home ... your so familiar bed ... your own domain? I was inspired by that thought in mind when designing this card. I guess and the beautiful colors are inspired by The Play Date Cafe Challenge 37.



Thanks for dropping by and I hope you are all enjoying your summer as much as I do!

Cheers,

Mei Ann

Celebrate

Still on celebration mode! There's so much to be thankful for and I could not let an opportunity pass me by without capturing what I feel through papers and colors!!!


Cheers!

Mei Ann

Blessed @ 43

I turned 43 today. No, I refuse to fuss about my age. I would rather count my blessings from above ....


I am blessed with so much love from my wonderful family. They are the reason for my being ....


I am blessed with friendship that goes beyond seasons .... Tey, you are a gift I will forever treasure ....


I am blessed to work with beautiful, smart and kind people. They made me appreciate who I am and what I am capable of ....

I will pray tonight with gratitude for I am blessed with things that truly matter!

Thank you from my heart.

Mei Ann

Who will miss you?

I had dinner last night with my colleagues from work to celebrate the retirement of Paul {after 35 years in the industry!}. We went to one of Paul's favorite hang out places - the Bobby C's Dockside. The weather was perfect so we had an 'al frecso' dinner overlooking the beautiful lake Ontario.



For someone who's been in the business for 35 years, Paul's unwavering enthusiasm and passion for his craft are just a couple of things I would like to emulate. You will definitely be missed ....



.... by ALL of us!



Life starts @ retirement dear Pauly! Enjoy a well-deserved life with your beautiful family and with all the Callaway golf goodies you brought home yesterday, we wish you more "birdies" on the fairway!!!

Cheers,

Mei Ann














Supplies:

• Cardstock - Reflections {white}
  
• PP - s.e.i. {alpine frost}, Jillibean soup {talk soup}
  
• Ink - Versa Magic {jumbo java}
• Embellishment - google eyes
  

Thank You Teachers

Another school year is about to end. It's the time of the year when parents express their gratitude to the all the teachers who mentored their children. Not having kids of my own didn't stop me for making this "thank you" card for a teacher. I was out with my best friend Tey last Saturday and she was looking for a gift for Bea's teacher so I volunteered to make the card to go with the gift.



How I wish I can make cards like this during my school days. I would love to give it to my 2 favorite teachers ... Miss Lucia Mateo, my Religion teacher and Miss Dolly Soriano, my Pilipino teacher and fourth year adviser. They influenced by formative years and thought me not to be afraid to follow my dreams. In their loving hands, I am a clay. With the patience of a potter, they both honed me to be the best I can be. Thank you so much my dear teachers. I hope I gave justice to your teachings ....



Cheers,

Mei Ann

Bianca's Birthday

I made this card for Bianca's {my friend's daughter} birthday. She turned 1 year old today. There was a part in the program when Bianca was carried by her dad in the middle of the dance floor for her "first" dance. It was so cute and sweet ... just the 2 of them ... father and daughter ... a captured moment indeed!


Going back to the card, I attempted to do a dimensional design to capture the playfulness of the dolphin using pop-up glue dots.


Ahh, the joy of simple things ... a cute card, a happy birthday and watching father and daughter's first dance ... priceless!

God bless,

Mei Ann

3 S's {Sand, Sun & Sea}

photo courtesy of bid4assets

The countdown begins! South Carolina here we come!!!

My hubby knows how much I love being in the ocean so for my up coming birthday he booked a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC. We both can't wait to walk on the shore at sunrise, finish a book while basking in the sun, enjoy a nice dinner and wine, or simply just stroll on the boardwalk.

Ahhh, I can almost feel the the soft tides on my bare feet! One more week ....

Have a great weekend.

Mei Ann

I Believe

In less than a month, I will be "trekking" on higher grounds. The roads are different but not entirely unfamiliar because I have taken the same challenge in not so distant past. Nervous? I wouldn't say no but I am also very excited and enthused. I am looking forward to new challenges and reaching new heights. I will make a difference. I believe!



Obviously, this card is inspired by what's coming out from within me. Sunrise marks a new beginning. I made the sun rays background using shading technique and combining fired brick distress ink and sunflower yellow Tsukineko die ink. Mountain represents bigger challenge. Again shading/grading technique using peeled paint distress ink. Horses define hard work, focus and winning. I will not have it any other way! I believe!

Have a fantastic day,

Mei Ann



Supplies:

• Cardstock - Reflections {white}, Brazzill {mud pie}
  
• PP - American Crafts (everyday line}
  
• Stamp - G Studio {sentiment}
• Inks - Ranger Distress Inks {peeled paint, fired brick}, Tsukineko {sunflower yellow}
  
• Embellishments - Dress it Up buttons {horses}, black gems
  

CPS Fan

When Carly Roberston of CPS e-mailed me about a month ago, I have to read her message twice to make sure that I understood it right .... she asked me if it's OK to feature my work based on a CPS sketch for the Facebook Friday Fan blog post! What a blessing! You can read the CPS post here.

As soon as I got the sketch, I worked on this card using my favorite color combination : gold, aqua and black.


I stamped and heat embossed the flowers in gold to match the ribbon. I also matched the aqua background with the aqua gem embellishment on the butterflies.



Thanks again Carly and the rest of CPS design team for continuously inspiring us with your sketches and your great designs!

Thanks for dropping by and have a fabulous weekend!

Mei Ann

Rain or Shine

It's been raining on and off here in our neck of the woods for the last 2 weeks and I LOVE it! Oh yeah ... I love hearing raindrops on window panes ... I love the smell of grass after a rainfall ... I love the burst of sunshine in between rainfalls ... I love the inspiration that rain brings out in me ...

:Sometimes I see myself as a child in a rain storm, running around trying to catch all the drops in my mouth. I long for adventures to be like the raindrops the child saves and not those which crash on the ground!:

The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain! ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Cheers!

Mei Ann

Supplies:

• Cardstock - Reflections {white}
• PP - American Crafts (everyday line}
  
• Stamp - My Favorite Things {sentiment}
• Ink - Memento {tuxedo black}
• Others - American Crafts {ribbon} , Fiskars puncher {boarder}, Jolee's boutique (3D stickers}
  

So Thankful

Whew! What a tough week it has been and I am sooo glad it's over :-) ! I'm not going to dwell on it on this post but suffice it to say that I am blessed and my prayers were answered! For that, I am forever grateful!

For this thank you card, I used the color inspiration from the current Embellish Magazine Challenge : brown, yellow and coral.

To be honest, I don't think I've used this color combo in my previous projects so I was struggling at the beginning. That's what challenge is all about! It pushes me out of my comfort zone!!!

For the watering can template, I took advantage of the free template from Waltzingmouse Stamps.

"I thank you, Lord,
for the victory that growing brings.
In surrender of everything
life is so worth while.
And I thank you, Lord,
that when everything's put in place,
out in front I can see your face,
and it's there you belong."

Mei Ann

Supplies:

• Cardstock - Brazzil {mud pie}
  
• Stamp - TPC Studio {sentiment}
• Ink - Versa Magic {jumbo java}
• Label - Martha Stewart
  
• Others - Prima flowers, EK punch {butterfly}, gems
• Template - Waltzingmouse stamps {watering can}