Camina Balay Nga Bato, Arevalo, Iloilo City.

My husband was born and grew up in this city. But this would be our first time to visit the house. It is amazing. It gave us the chance to show our children an important part of their Ilonggo heritage.

My demitasse

A bastidor. This is Mary Magdalene. With her caged frame. They will put on grand clothing for her during special occasions, usually during the Holy Week.

The owner explaining to our kids about the history of the house.

Demonstrating the jackstone game.

Yes they are one of the very few who hand weave their shawls, sarongs and scarves... handweaving, a disappearing craft in the Philippines. At the price of Php900, you will own a priceless and classic item.

Do not miss visiting this awesome place. It is educational and fun for both kids and adults!

 One of this summer's trend is ombre. In nails, hair colors, shirts and of course shorts... 

Here's our version (it's very easy to do and will save you a lot than buying in the stores)

Salvaged old pants of the kids and cut them accordingly. 

1. Dyes

2. Disposable containers

3. Warm water

4. Rock salt

5. Bleach

I chose to wear gloves for protection as I wasnt sure if the bleach would harm my hands. Some tutorials say it's ok, but I wanted to be safe and sorry. I suggest to please wear gloves. 

Bleach the shorts. Flipping them gently to make sure results will be even. Dont worry if some spots will be darker. Wash to take the bleach off.

Mix the dye. One container for each color. Put the part of the shorts in that you wish for a particular color.

Let stay until desired saturation.

Wash with lukewarm water.

Color the other parts of the shorts. Remember to soak in only the part you wish for that particular color. Dont worry the 2 colors will blend naturally.

Wash with lukewarm water after.

Hang to dry.

Viola!!!

Arent the shorts the cutest?

Good luck now my friends!

We love road trips. This one took half the day. From Cebu City to Bacolod. Took the ferry from Toledo to San Carlos City. What we saw from our car window amazed us. It had been 2 years since we went this way. It was a sad sight 2 years back, trees were brown and dry. Plants were in no better shape. But not this year. Trees, trees everywhere!!! Lush, green and just oh so beautiful!!! The whole way I tell 'ya! It was picture perfect we just had to stop. The roads were wider too. And in concrete. It surely made our ride faster and shorter. We love it!

The trees totally amazed my kids. And I love that they get to see such beauty in nature...

And when in Bacolod... what do you do? Search the whole city for those yummy desserts, that's what!

First stop, Calea. Always Calea.

 (Photos from my own Instagram account)

Virgie's Homemade Products

Native baybaye with mascuvado.

And my all-time fave, the choco bomb:

Bob's

I just realized how backlogged I am online. So sorry friends, real life was just too busy. With two growing kids, I had my hands full the past months. Has it been half the year already? I have also decided to merge my 2 blogs into this one but I havent gotten around actually doing it yet. 

Fast forward 2013.

Kid 2 graduated from kindergarten! Yey!!! hehehe. And kid 1 moves up to grade 3. How time flies.

It had been an amazing summer for the whole family. Hubby goes on a business trip to Europe for almost a month around March so it was me and my girls... 

But even before hubby got back I have already finished packing for a road trip that very week he was arriving. It's the big family reunion that happens every 2 years. 

Allow me to share with you what went on.

In my Facebook page I call this my 'Back To Basics' album. 

Old school. How we used to do play time in the early 70's. Us 3rd generation taught the younger ones how we played.

Using sticks and the ground we walk on...

The "syato". 2 sticks needed, one short and one long. This game requires 2 teams. Here an uncle shows the nieces how it's done

The "patentero"... even the younger aunt gets some instructions. It was a cool reunion. We still had our gadget times but most of our waking hours were spent swimming, running, playing and just moving about in the farm.

I am just so thankful that my kids get to taste how it feels like to play outdoors. In this day and age that is very rare. As a mother who grew up in the 70's and spent my playing hours in the street, I was as excited as they were to be running and falling freely without any cares...

Headbands! When the kids came home from school we had a little photo shoot with their new headbands. So far these had been the fastest projects. I used the thicker yarns all by Red Heart. A simpler motif design too. 

Our Missoni-inspired (colors) headband. All in Larksfoot stitch. I have been getting my tutorials of different patterns via The Art of Crochet by Teresa. You can check her out! 
As you can see we have officially designated our laundry area wall as the backdrop of our crochet photoshoots hehehe... 
I made a similar headband, style and colors, for a friend in Florida...

So where do I begin? It had just been so crazy lately I have neglected both blogs! But now I'm here, yet again. ahihihi... Taking a little time off from new hobby. Months ago, I took on doing crochet with the inspiration of my photographer friend, Marmi. And now I seem to be working non-stop. Of course it is a non-profit thing for me. Allow me to share some of my projects for my little kids.
The headband. This had become very popular among my friends I believe I have made about 10 of them already, even shipped a couple to Manila for my niece. I love the headbands!!! So many possibilities! You can check out projects by Kristy Throndson here. 

The market bag. The girls wanted their bags to be of same exact color. We found the perfect pattern. It was so perfect we even copied the color combination... mommies, find everything here.