Salado Wildflower Art Show

Last Sunday, DH and I went to the 11th Wildflower Art Show in Salado (located between Waco and Austin, Tx). Around 50 artists and artisans participated and showed original creations from yard art to home art to blown glass. It was fun checking out all the artworks, food, and live music. DH was happy to find an ammonite that he's been looking for on ebay at a much cheaper price.

Here's a snapshot of the blown glass. So pretty! The artist even holds classes for those interested in making their own glass art.

After the show, we drove around the main street which is lined up with antique and art shops and bed and breakfasts. Perfect for a weekend getaway! We'll definitely be back to look at those art shops. I'm excited to find an oil painting that I can display at home. Preferably that of the bluebonnet, the state flower of Texas.

At 6 Months

Dressing the Part

I checked out the GO International Dresses Collection at Target last night. They're re-issuing some of the dresses that were part of the collection for the past five years. There's a bunch of choices at affordable prices, but since my belly is big already, only one dress fit me comfortably.

So this is my first ever maternity dress :) It's not a maternity dress per se, but you get the picture.

Here's the link for the collection from thebudgetbabe.com available from March 13 through April 10, 2011.

Target GO International Designer Collective Look Book (Part I)

Target GO International Designer Collective Look Book (Part 2)

Forty is the New Thirty

DH celebrated his 40th birthday last Sunday with a simple lunch together with some members of our extended family. He wanted a quiet celebration so we just stayed at home and prepared some food. It was a lovely coincidence that his grandma, aunt, and niece were visiting someone near our place the day before, so they ended up staying the night in our house and joining us for his birthday lunch the following day.

I baked him a carrot cake (my first), roasted chicken (another first), and made classic pinoy sweet-style spaghetti that his family surprisingly liked. I guess coz it's different from the spaghetti that they're used to. (Note to self: have a stock of the sweet-style sauce).

DH helped me by mixing the cake ingredients and basting the chicken every 15 minutes for two hours. He joked that I was making him work on his special day. But if I did it all myself, I bet you lunch would've turned into dinner!

I'm happy that I'm learning to cook a lot. The carrot cake and roasted chicken turned out delish. I've always thought that cooking is extremely hard. Now, I'm learning that it's not and that it's so much fun and rewarding. I'm also lucky that DH loves to cook. I can't imagine being the only one  responsible for preparing our meals.

me with the birthday boy

carrot cake

it came out good!

pinoy-style spaghetti

right out of the oven. so yummy!

i wonder what he wished for

looking goofy

pretty Lilly

with mom, grandma, aunt, and Lilly

Besides his turning 40 being a milestone of sorts, DH's birthday this year is extra-special since he is to become a dad for the first time. He also had a successful knee reconstruction surgery. He's been going to physical therapy religiously and his knee is on the way to being fully mended. This year is also his last in the navy. He's retiring in March 12.  I'm happy and excited at the new horizon awaiting him. Thankful to the Lord for always keeping him safe, sound, and well-grounded.

To my DH...Happy 40th! You're the best!

At 5.5 Months

Quality Over Quantity

I came across this interesting read about shopping a few days ago. Something about how French girls shop. Now I wanna look for the book. It sure is hard to stop being an impulsive buyer. God knows I've tried. Clothes, shoes, and bags tempt us poor girls all the time. I have my share of new clothes which have never been worn, cluttering my closet space. It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, but I'm hopeful that now that I'm about to become a mom, I'd be a more responsible and sophisticated shopper. Quality over quantity should be my shopping mantra. Time to channel those chic French girls!

The way to shop…

If she can’t afford it, she won’t buy it. If it doesn’t fit (or make her feel good, or flaunt what she’s got), she won’t wear it. If she can’t find it, she won’t compromise. If she loves it, she won’t toss it. She reuses it, rethinks it, lets it age.

When a French girl shops, it isn’t a solitary act of buying something new. It’s part of a lifelong process of editing her environment, making small but meaningful additions to her home, her closet, her life.

When you shop like a French girl, you buy only one of anything – and make sure it’s the best quality you can afford.

- from Entre Nous: A Woman’s Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl, via Andrea

On Liquid Eyeliners

I had too much time on my hands today so I tried doing what I've always wanted to do. Put on liquid eyeliner. I watched tutorials on YouTube before embarking on my quest. I didn't realize it was HARD. I wish I was one of those women who put on make-up like it's nothing. Oh well...it's not too late to learn, right?

Here's a couple of snaps. Not bad for a first-timer. Next time, I'll try the wing-tip.

7 Things That a New Baby Really Needs

Read this link What a New Baby Really Needs from time.com and it is quite timely as I am four months away from popping out my little jelly bean. DH and I are trying our best not to go crazy over baby stuff. We're first-time parents so the temptation to fall prey into buying every beautiful and cute thing for our baby is huge. As of now, all we have bought is a crib with attached changing station.

I'm researching on the basic stuff that our Tala would need for her first six months and this article is a good reference.

Sunday Barbecue

I invited fellow pinoys last Sunday for a barbecue in our house. DH made perfect barbecue pork ribs  and chicken while I prepared the pasta, avocado and cantaloupe salad, and fruit salad. Our guests brought macaroons and cassava cake.

It was a delight hosting the Miller family. I got to know them through DH who recruited Mrs. Miller's son in the navy. Her son is now deployed at Camp Pendleton in California where DH was based for 10 years in his younger years.

Mrs. Miller introduced us to the Filipino community here in Temple. We get together for picnics, the annual Christmas party, and other activities.  I miss my family back home and spending time with my fellow pinoys every once in a while helps. As the saying goes, you can take the Filipino out of the Philippines, but you can never take the Philippines out of the Filipino. :-)