Honestly, Another Fun Award!

Before I get into the award, I'd like to publicly thank Cathy E of "The Stylish House" for creating my oh-so-wonderful button. I won it from her giveaway and I love, love how she emphasized that she wanted me to be happy with the end result. I so appreciate that about her. And she exceeded my expectation! Look at the sidebar and tell me if that's not one of the coolest buttons around! (I hope that my readers would show me a little bit more love and grab my button. I heart you all and love to visit your blogs, too!)

Cathy, I love this blog button and I find myself staring at it before I read my posts or comments, lol!

On to the award... Christine or Xinex gave out this award to six of us who wouldn't mind revealing 10 honest details about us.

Here are 10 honest things about me:

1. I love collecting dishes, though I am not a big fan of fine china. I am always so afraid to break one! I do enjoy seeing them on others' tables and revel in their ability to keep such treasures intact and loved throughout generations.

2. I am determined to complete my very own wedding china, but not the original one because it really wasn't my taste. Plus, it's too expensive now!

3. I can't afford to travel anywhere just yet, but I get to travel the world through my tabletop designs and food, that's why I love tablescaping. I love collecting easy recipes though I don't follow most of them more than once.

4. I entertain for my children, not for me. I love to teach them how to reach out to others and food and laughter are two proven formulas to bridge any gap.

5. I was born in the Philippines, and just like Christine, both my parents have Chinese and Spanish (Spain) blood.

6. I was born in 1971, in December and the first girl after 4 boys. I have one younger sister and one step sister.

7. All of my tablescapes and ideas center around the fact that I married a wonderful man who are completely nuts about me and our children.

8. I learn what my children learn so I can continue to teach them at home as supplements.

9. I tried college twice, but the timing was always wrong. I'm glad I tried it for the third time, I graduate this May...

10. I'm short, but tall in ideas and compassion for others. My dh tells me that my best feature is my ability to make anyone feel welcome in our home.

Now, that I've bored you enough, here are the next six people, we all should get to know!

1. Cielo of "The House in the Roses" - her prose always transcends to some beautiful garden, peaceful and heavily perfumed.

2. Cass of "That Old House" - I look forward to her comments, they are so informative and you can tell her genuine interest in what you wrote.

3. Monica of "Monica's English Version" - her photographs speak of lovely memories when it was a simpler time.

4. Shelia of "Note Songs" - I love how she calls everyone dear. I never met my mom's parents, but my mom said that they she felt their happiness for her when I was born, so when I read Shelia's posts, it's like I can imagine how my grandmother would have been to me.

5. Deb of "Ladybug from Texas"- she lives near me, in another city nearby so I can't wait to get to know her more.

6. Pat of "Back Porch Musings" - her blog is so sophisticated, I'd like to know what her style is about.

With this award, make sure to list 10 HONEST things about yourselves then choose the next six you'd like to receive this award and get to know them, too!

TABLESCAPING IDEA: ("Brain loves this as much as the actual tablescapes!) Invite your nearby neighbors for dinner, you know, the ones that you always exchange smiles and hellos with. Set the table in a warm manner with simplicity to make them feel welcome. Meaning, don't pull out the big guns if they are simple folks, they might feel you are showing off. Focus the meal on allowing them to have conversations with you so you can get to know them better. Pick the best flowers from your garden, put it in a vase you can afford to giveaway. Use it as your centerpiece and after dinner, present them with it as their gift for coming.

I've Got Desserts!

Hosted by "Designs by Gollum"
Happy St. Pat's Potluck! Thanks, Michael Lee for hosting this awesome potluck! I can't wait to taste everyone's contribution to this one!

I may not have any green yet, but I do have some purple; aka,"Berry" Black & Blue Smoothie It's very easy to make and rather nutritious too!

"Berry" Black and Blue Smoothie
1 cup blueberries (fresh)
1 cup blackberries (fresh)
2 cups soymilk1 tsp. sugar or splenda
1 scoop berry sorbet

Blend the berries then strain the seeds out.
Put the juice back in the blender and add the sorbet, sugar and soymilk.
Blend until no more solids. Enjoy!

And some hidden treasures with my "Dig up" Choc Chip Cookies! Fresh out of the oven! Take one or two; you know you want one...
(*burp!*) Ooopss! Had a little too much there, did ya? That's alright, I won't tell anyone...

Bye everybody! My Irish name is Ennis Healy- so cool!

Award Times Two = Share With YOU!

Visiting awesome blogs certainly has its rewards and awards! So please be a sweetie and share this glory with me by taking it if you so wish. One thing for sure, it will make your blogs that much more awesome! AND... DON'T FORGET TO HAVE MINE ON THE SIDE BAR because... YOU are fabulous for visiting!

Thank you to whoever first gave out this award; I could not remember who shared this with me.

Thank you Monica of Monica's English Version

Thank you to all that have an award to share...

A Single Candle

Hosted by "Between Naps on the Porch"
I know Spring is just around the corner. How because my son turned one year older! Since my son's birthday was on Sunday, we also celebrated it on Monday night by inviting friends over for a dinner party. We hit Walmart that morning for some last minute ideas for the menu since it was also my week for finals, the menu planning escaped my mind.
While cruising the clearance aisles, I found this light yellow candle without any tags and I quickly formed an idea for a tablescape. I certainly didn't have time for any elaborate centerpiece and since I am a Feng Shui practitioner, often my ideas are simple and harmonious to my family dynamic and to the people we often invite into our home. (Plus, "Brain" would like to point out that we are dirt poor and are currently apartment dwellers. Meaning, we don't have that much space to entertain and yet we do anyway! LOL)

THEME:"Start of Spring"
MY INSPIRATION:
A yellow mildly scented candle

It had no tag and it was almost hidden away at the bottom shelf. I happen to be looking for candles (to bring life and light to any gathering, just like my son), and it seemed odd that the only ones available for my budget happened to be squares. So it was a very nice surprise that I found it. I used only one candle as my main centerpiece to symbolize my only and very special little boy who we love very much. I quickly stashed it in my cart and since it was tagless, the customer service people gave it to me for 50 cents! The picture is reflective of its actual size, so its price is that much sweeter.

The placesetting was dictated by the menu and the guest combination of children, teens and adults. It was a rather formal table for an informal gathering, but the look of the table allowed for a more mature conversation that engaged everyone. I did have to employ a card table to stand as an additional children's table for four as we had a total of 10 people dining plus 5 others came for the cake.


As you can see, the plates were from a previous Thrifty Thursday post. Again, I focused the tablescape on the foods that would be served. Do you like the tablecloth? It is very nice that you can even hang them on your windows. Why, because they are drapes! Yes, I couldn't find any inexpensive dark taupe tablecloth for my budget but when I saw these at a great clearance price, I snapped it up! They were originally $25 as a set, but I got them for $11.00!

The rectangular serving dishes, I ignored those for several weeks until last Monday morning when I realized that they will hold the amount of food I needed to serve. They are normally $20 each, at least that's what I saw in one of the covered up tags, but I got each of them for only $8.96! The dishes and placemats are off white, so these very white serving pieces stood out nicely, anchoring the sole candle in the middle. They are heavy and each holds a lot of food.


TABLETOP GOODIES:
Plates- "Spectrum Stripes" by Culinary Arts- Kroger; $1 each
Flatware- "Highrise Sand" by Cambridge International- Kroger; $22 for 20-piece set
Glasses- "Fire and Ice" by Anchor Hocking- Walmart; $9 for 16
Placemats- "Fresh Ivory" by Home Trends- Walmart; 75 cents each
Serving dishes- Walmart; $8.96 each
Tablecloth (2 window tab drapes)- Walmart; $11
Candle- Walmart; 50 cents
MENU:
Garlic and Olive oil Vermicelli with kielbasa
Steamed Broccoli with light scampi sauce & diced tomatoes
Wheat dinner rolls with homemade honey butter
Chocolate "Hot Wheels" birthday cake
Calamansi juice (Filipino citrus)
Thank you for stopping by; I hope to see your tablescape for today, too! And make sure to visit and thank Susan of Between Naps on the Porch with me for hosting again today. See you all at the next table!

Awesome Awards Abound!

There goes one alliteration again, man! :-)

So, I was checking on my awesome followers and fave blogs and I stumbled on Monica's post about her trunk of awards she richly deserved! And shared with all of us.

Head on to her blog and get to know her. Shelia of Note Songs just love her and I do, too!

Isn't it just beautiful! Make sure to visit Monica in Norway at Monica's English Version and get to know her and see how much she deserves all these awards!

So, along with my award on the sidebar, I pass on this award to all of you to share with others, because you all so deserve it for finding and following and just overall loving classy blogs like all the ladies that I've recently met have; over the course of almost two years in Blogland!

Thank you all so much!

Another Set of Thanks Yous

First there's these two awards that I got from visiting Cindy of "Applewood Cottage" . Thank you for such generous tokens of appreciation and friendship! I encourage all of you to take these two as well for your own collection!

Then there is the sheer fact that all of you who have visited, strolled and commented on this blog have successfully puffed up my heart that I feel like I can float up! I really love this blog and I love you all for helping me have so much fun with it... You all rock!

Don't forget to grab my award for all of you on the sidebar before you leave because it was made just for you!

BIG, BIG HUGS and THANK YOU SO MUCH!

All Awesome Awards!

Wow, I amaze myself at how much I love alliterations! :-D

Anyway, I've had the pleasure of visiting blogs that have universal awards as part of extending friendships and welcome to all visitors. And I love and appreciate them all! Thank you so much for sharing!

First Shelia of "Note Songs" sang us a sweet tune of gratitude...

Then, Dixie of "French Lique" shared her cowgirl love...

Then Candy of "Rock Candy" appreciated all those who occasionally forget...

Then Sheila of The Quintessential Magpie also rewarded those turned negative into positives...
Then Monica from Norway decided to befriend all visitors to her blog, too!
Then today, I stumbled on Debbie of Confessions of a Plate Addict and her tablescaping appreciation...
Each and everyone are lovely and oh so cute! Thank you for sharing these fabulous awards of friendships with me. Please accept my gratitude and take my award for ALL OF YOU...