Photo Gallery: Landscape

The Colors of Hawaii
Posted by May

Many times, words fail. And when they do, I push that button and click it goes, capturing what my sight can express the way words can't. Welcome to my old hobby with a new DLSR camera.

*Copyright 2010 May Rogers. All photos cannot be published without permission by the author.

Glorious Waimea Sunrise, Kauai

Menehune Ditch - Read article here



Poipu

 

Hanapepe Lookout on a rainy day

cold waters of Brennecke Beach

stormy, chocolatey day at Waimea Pier

My winning entry to Hawaii Magazine's readers' photo competition

Featured in Hawaii News Now live TV broadcast

Monolith Dome, Kauai

Old Stone Church of Waimea

Traveling to Kauai?
See and learn more about Hawaiian Islands travel here.

***

PHOTO GALLERY- Captured Moments (Florida)
By Tess M.

My interest in photography is driven not only by my desire to capture anything visually appealing but moreover to seize fleeting moments that I can always bring with me later in my lifetime. Attached every picture is a story behind and, with my 2 year old simple point and shoot Nikon Coolpix S210, I must say, I have made special memories:

"Sun Down" (St. Pete Beach, Fl)

"Fly High" (Lido Beach, Sarasota, Fl)

"I am Home..." (Hidden River, Tampa, Fl)

"Untouched" (Lettuce Lake, Fl.)

Dunedin, Fl.

"Serenity" (Lettuce Lake, Fl.)

Tampa, Fl.

          (Please do not use photos without author's permission. Thank you) 

Do-it-Yourself Home Crafts

Christmas DIY Decors
created by May

We have a lot of old tree ornaments that I dont find very flattering for our themed Christmas Tree. I didnt want to toss them out because these were my husband's favorite childhood ornaments. So, to make use of some of them, here are some do-it-yourself ways to save the old, unused tree ornaments:

Tree Ornaments. Buy a cheap planter from a nearby garden shop, $1.00. Transfer some of the low growing plants and trim them to same height. Get a piece of old ornament and glue it on the planter box. Money spent: $1.00

DIY photo by May Rogers

I have boxes of unused gift ribbons that I do not find useful for me to reuse and resend this Christmas. I like to buy presents with new wrappers and new ribbons and tags. But I am trying to be eco-friendly in everything especially packaging (I'm also repackaging Trendygirls shoes and accessories to be more environment-friendly) so I found other home projects so I could use these old ribbons.

Old Gift Ribbons. Get a candle you have lying around the house. Get a ribbon, preferably organza material with glitters and tie this ribbon around the candle. Now you have new Christmas decors around which cost you nothing! Tip: do this to 2 or 3 candles to brighten up a corner in your kitchen or room.

photo by May Rogers candles in the kitchen

It is my first Christmas after living in Korea where Christmas is not celebrated. So, I wanted to follow the American custom of hanging stockings with family names embroidered on them. Where do I start?

Personalized Christmas Stockings. I went to dollar plus, a store selling cheap small items such as crafts and home accessories. I got 2 stockings for $3.00 each but they don't customize so I had to do it myself. I bought embroidery needles and thread (they are different from sewing needles and thread) and I drew our names, stitched them with gold thread and in less than an hour, we have our very first Christmas stockings! We do not have a fireplace yet so I hang them in living room wall.

Dollar plus stockings $3.00 each made of felt fabric

writing my name on it

not the best embroidery but it works!

Our island-theme home furnishings need to be spiced up. We have lots of fabric left-overs from previous projects so those scraps must to be used for something else that could help brighten up our too-simple household look.

Table Runners. They are expensive when purchased at a mall. So I thought of making one. Of course, when it comes to sewing, I suck so my hubby did this for me. I chose the fabric patterns. Just a simple rectangular cut and finish it with bias tape. I wanna attach tassels to both ends too but that has got to wait till I get to Singer Warehouse.

Our DIY leaf-patterned table runner

Christmas Theme boxes
Stack Boxes are popular home decor but they cost too much. Finally found cheaper gift boxes with hard board at Sears for $2.40 each. Stack them up in your room. You can put your cosmetics and other accessories, they look pretty, decorative boxes and your room will be clutter-free! I chose a design that can go with any season.

stack boxes can go as high as 4 levels

Call Me Mrs. Gadget

Posted by May
Embracing my new status in life as a "Mrs somebody" is slowly creeping up on me. Let me count the ways: My new hyphenated name added to my already long hyphenated name, the constant usage of OUR, planning and making healthy meals, ironing shirts, decorating and selecting HOME FRIENDLY tools and decors, and the dishes! Don't even get me started on the dishes and the hours spent in the kitchen. I am practically on my way to being a Stepford Wife.

When I was still single, I used to personally blog about my days as a single girl walking around town, shopping and nights of parties to attend to. The lastest chic malls, the newest bags in town, the trendiest shoes! Well, that was 2 years ago and now I do this (writing no-brainer articles about shoes, bags and stuff) for a freelance living. Then, enter the NEW GIRL with wifely duties who blog about wife gadgets and DIY home decors, healthy meals and planting! Oh, planting. Where do these words come from? Ah, from the freshly-baked, self-inflicted knowledge I, to my big surprise, quite enjoy.

So, today I blog about WIFE GADGETS -

Gadget #1: SLAP CHOP. Makes fine chopping quick and easy in less than 2 minutes. Slap Chop is the latest in my "wife-friendly" kitchen gadgets collection.




Available at Ace Hardware $12.00



quick and easy

Gadget #2: Coffee Bean Grinder. In Kauai, coffee is a special product due to vast plantations that produce Kauai's popular Kona and Kauai Coffee. Since we buy coffee beans as opposed to ground coffee, we had to get coffee bean grinder. Coffee beans stay fresh no matter how long they get stuck in a jar.

Coffee Bean Grinder at Walmart $15.00

Sisterbrooms First International Exchange Gift

My Journey in Finding Pamela's Gift
by Tess

When the idea of exchanging gifts came from one of the Broomsisters weeks ago, I felt immediately excited. This is my third Christmas away from home and I won't deny that I already miss the traditional Monito-Monita of the Philippines. Thus, when sisters had finally organized the mechanics of the exchange gift activity, I couldn't wait to go to the mall to get my gift for Pamela Anderson, my monita.

Armed with my only clue: lunch, my mission was to find something that will represent my new home, Tampa, Florida. I made some researches and even asked my husband and colleagues from work for some great ideas just to make sure that I would pick the perfect gift. I had so many ideas cramming my head that when I got to the mall I immediately rushed to the section I had in mind, but to my dismay - not even one from the items I wanted was available! 

It was truly heartbreaking, I must admit. However, one thing I learned in life (and my husband's favorite saying): Rejection and dejection are God's protection! When I didn't find any of the items I wanted to give my monita, I took it as my clue that probably God had a better idea of what gift I should give her. And, true enough, after giving up my stubborness, it was then that  I had my eyes on the right item. I caught it smiling at me while standing tall at the Fine Dining section. It was like love at first sight; I knew there and then, it was the right gift for Pamela!

Lesson of the Experience: Let go and let God! In giving,  it is really the thought that counts.

on the way to the mall

preparing the package

writing a greeting card

Merry Christmas, Monita!

     

Santa Knocked On the Door Today

by Tess

My husband and I just got back from our weekly grocery when I got the BIGgest suprise of the day! Ho, ho, ho, ho, Santa came to deliver a package from an exotic state.

I was so delighted when I saw where it came from. But my excitement was suddenly belayed when I realized I already received my order from her. I thought, what is my beautiful classmate up to this time?

I got suspicious and thought probably she was my monita. As part of our Christmas tradition, I planned to wait until Christmas Eve to open the box. However, I was not certain. Thus, to my husband's insistence I slowly did a peek a boo.  

Two wrapped gifts inside (yipee!)

A magazine and 2 Sinigang Mix (yummy, yummy!)

and finally, a love note...

Very sneaky, I didn't even think that I was her monita (surprise, surprise), but definitely I am VERY thrilled! The gifts will have to wait until Christmas Eve before they will be unwrapped; can't wait...

Thank you, Broomsisters for this Exchange Gift idea. It was fun! Let's do it again next year.

Ms. Betty Boop, you're awesome! Thank you and Merry Christmas!

***

Journey to Receiving Pamela's Present from Tess

posted by May

Tess sent me a SOTC package for her monita, Pamela Anderson. Since Pamela is my mom, I thought of saving Tess the "excruciating" shipping fees by asking her to send it to me instead so I can 1. include it in my cargo  to save my mom customs fee and 2. so I can get a glimpse of it, to take pics instead. My mom has no time for this. Whatever Pamela gets will be displayed in our Manila house.

So I waited eversince Tess told me she already shipped it. After almost 2 weeks, it has arrived. Today I got a dilapidated box and the post office lady said "I feel sorry giving his sorry-looking box to you". And I said, no problem, it's expected. I have been dealing with shipping boxes (shoes for many months now so I'm not surprised). I was worried about was the "I hope it's not ceramic or glass".

And surely, when I opened it, there it was. A green cute thing broken into two. My heart was broken! It is really cute and I wanted to have it. So I emailed Tess right away to let her know what was up. We signed up for an international exchange gift, this is part of the excitement. I just hope Tess didnt cry over this.

So what can I do? If Tess didnt buy the shipping insurance, it's as good as money tossed. So I decided to do what I can. Glue it back to one piece. And I DOCUMENTED it and decided to share it on SOTC, where it should belong.

All in all, I wanna say thanks to Tess. I Love IT. I'm sure my mom will, too.

opening the box

removing the plastic packaging

this is it!

decided to put it together with epoxy

taped it to dry

tadaa! as good as new (just dont come any closer)



Fairy Tales (Weddings & Commitments)

Never leave your partner behind
by Olive
My vow to my husband on the day we got married was "I promise to be your woman, your wife, your best friend and you partner."

I believe that is how my role going to be in his life so as his to be in my life.

During the first year, it was not smooth sailing. There were many conflicts and arguments but the root cause was not because we have less love for each other but because of merely misunderstandings. These misunderstandings did not intend to be misunderstood but was caused by being different persons born with different cultures, ways, values in some matters, and languages.


As years passed and fifth year has just begun, I then realized how much both of us have changed as better persons with much better relationship as husband and wife. The more we have appreciated the kind of persons we were and have become. Reciprocated love and understanding was turned on in our relationship. By ourselves? I got no idea for I never told myself that I should do to him what he does for and to me.


During these years, I have realized how God has been working in and on our marriage. How God has changed me to be a better wife, partner, woman and best friend to my husband and the same thing happened to him. If it were only by ourselves, our five years would not be as meaningful, beautiful, and enjoyable as how our marriage had been.

From this time, I am certain, that God will not let me leave my partner behind, not in any chance when my partner wants and need me.

As we start our new life, after five years, I believe that as I put my faith in God for my marriage to be a lifetime, we will face the new pleasures, obstacles, and adventures in life TOGETHER. As we say it in Filipino language, "Walang iwanan!" (No one will be left behind!).

To me: Marriage is not a contract, it is a mutual commitment, not only to each other but so as to God.

SEALED WITH A KISS!

Beauty Essentials

Facial: 3 things I can't live without
posted by May
Women of certain age require daily beauty regimen to maintain healthy and youthful-looking skin. It doesn't matter where I go, I always brings these 3 things with me. Maybe my cosmetic bag can be left at home but I can't leave home without layers of sun protection. I used to work 10 hrs a day so I used tubes and tubes of eye creams but I stopped using them when I REALLY realized sleep is the best eye care. Every now and then we need to visit a dermatologist and use microdermabrasion to eliminate dead skin cells. Lucky for us, we can now buy these to use at home and minimize expensive derm clinic expenses.

The thing with these facial products, women cannot use different products all the time. Sensitivity to ingredients can worsen what we are trying to fix. So, I stick for what's tried and tested. As long as you know what you're buying and what your skin needs, you are protected.

My all-time favorites for many years:

what it does: LOREAL rejuvenate skin with SPF 15



what it does: MAXI PEEL concealer, makeup base with moisturizer



what it does: ST IVES treat skin for damages, firms skin