Not just Designs & Decorating Blog

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It's almost Christmas.  Joyful sounds of Christmas carols playing in the background as I struggle to collect my thoughts with determination to resume writing on this forsaken blog.  It's 1:00 AM. Last night was the 40th Day Prayer for a family member who just passed away.  Close family members and a friend gathered together to say our prayers.  My children were supportive.  My daughters-in-law were complacently cooperative.  My granddaughter was so sweet.  Even our dog Marley knows how to express love. Earlier in the day, my cleaning lady came with her husband and grandson to help me tidy my home for the dinner prayer. I met Abraham, her 4 year old grandson who was so cute and smart.  He got along well with Marley.  It was love at first sight.  He was thrilled and had a cute smile on his face every time Marley licked his face and ears.  When his grandparents completed their chores and were leaving, Abraham had a sad face and wanted to stay.  With some high fives and a promi

Never have I been more aware of what I put into my mouth to satisfy my cravings or hunger pangs.  I love good food period.  Good food that comes from my kitchen.  My relationship with good food dates back to when I was a young girl back in Manila, eagerly watching my mom cook and going with her to the wet market (farmer's market) to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh fishes (sometimes live) and other sea foods, depending on what we could find, fresh beef and pork, and live chickens. Lechon, Caldereta, Paksiw na Pata, Nilagang Baka, Morcon, Embutido, Callos, Sinigang na Baboy, Rellenong Manok, Pastel de Lengua, Dinuguan, and other high in saturated fats and artery clogging dishes that we enjoyed cooking and eating.  For desserts, I would bake cakes, breads, or make some delicious native delicacies like Leche Flan, Macapuno, Ube, all filled with refined white sugar (simple carbohydrates) and butter.  Lots and lots of them.  Our bagoong (salted shrimp fry), a delici

The recent winter storm blanketed parts of the country with white snow including some parts of California, Nevada, and Texas. I live a few miles from the San Francisco International Airport and this part of the Bay Area is really cold. Santa Cruz mountains and Oakland hills were unbelievably capped with snowflakes.. It's Winter Wonderland in California!? This was an inspiration in decorating our Christmas tree this year. My daughter and I agreed on this theme and she had her first hand in decorating a Christmas tree from buying the fresh tree to putting the last ornament. Inspiring her to hone her decorating skills, she was designated the one in charge of decorating the house, the Christmas tree, and buying gifts for everyone, in preparation for Christmas. I advised her that her taste will improve through the years and that she should develop an "eye" for fine art. I encouraged her to read books and magazines related to interior design i.e. Architectural Digest,

If you haven't done anything yet, start bringing out those different ornaments, glittery balls, ribbons, and decide whether you want to use your artificial tree or opt for a fresh one this year. If your budget is tight, using your old decorations and your o ld artificial tree will do. On the other hand, if you are willing to get new ones and you're able to do so, go ahead. Christmas comes only once a year and the time spent together with your family and friends, in the sanctity of your home, at this time of the year, will be memories you are passing down to your children and grandchildren. After you've decorated your tree, the outside and inside of your home, start planning your Christmas dinner menu. You may want to design/decorate your Christmas dinner table days ahead. Bring out your precious china, your silverware, crystal glasses, and crisp table linen and runners that you plan to use. This is the time you can use your grandmother's or your mother'