JAMMIN’………Loquat Jam-min’

These two are learning only from the best!

We have this huge Loquat tree at my parent’s house, and for the last 20 years I’ve been climbing the tree and picking the fruits. It’s really an amazing tree. Everyone who has tried the fruits of this tree are amazed. This past weekend, we (my sister, her 2 kids and I) harvested the tree, and I took home all the loose and bruised fruits, to make jam with. It was my first time and I just googled some pointers and tips! So Monday evening, I was “Jam-min’ till the break of dawn.” I think it came out legit!

 

Happy Breakfast

Choosing to be happy is something easier said than done. But every morning, I choose to make that day an amazing one. Even if it’s just by making a yummy breakfast for myself!

Happy Wednesday!

Bridal Shower for my Pen Pal!

The bride mentioned a few words like Spring, and Cheerful for her shower and I created a simple invitation in addition to some fun decor, and party favors. We had a cute Spring Time brunch at a small restaurant in downtown LA called Ledlow.

Thanks for letting me craft up some stuff for your party Jean! I had so much fun!

J and J Wedding Invites

I was honored to be able to work on a wedding invitation for a friend of mine. Jean I met when we were probably about 11 or 12 years old and we have been faithful pen pals for over 2 decades-we wrote to each other the old school way, with paper and pencil! Throughout the 20 years, we met up only about 3 time and once was by chance in Rome at a bus station. Although she has now moved down to Southern California from Northern California, we continue to write real snail mail to one another.

Definitely a friendship God knew we would both need when we grew up!

Jean’s fiancé is also her neighbor, so we illustrated the way they met on the invitation with the doors opening up next to each other. Jean and Jerry, thanks for letting me have a hand in your big day!

 

Paper Flower Making-#WElovePS

My all time favorite stores West Elm + Paper Source combined to create a Paper Blossom Making class. It was the perfect place to meet up a good friend, catch up, craft a little and share some smiles!!

Surrender

My world flipped upside down, once again today. But it’s nothing that I could have controlled or even prepared for. It’s like a natural disaster. How do you prepare for such a thing? How do you protect yourself from its devastation?

Scotty, my foster dog is going through that as well. He’s back from the owners that “rescued” him from me, only for me to find out he was abused AGAIN. What did he do to deserve it?!

And through the last few months, I’ve learned that certain things in life cannot be controlled, and what can we do? For me, I’ve learned to surrender to Our Lord and trust that His plans are the most beautiful and hopeful…..and for those that things that I can control, I’m going to make the best of.

Today…..we didn’t cry over spilled dog food. Instead, we took some photos with it and had a blessed day!

 

Love is stronger than any fear

The two of us have gone throughout things most people cannot even fathom, and even so, I love this guy with all my heart.

“Love is a decision, not an emotion”

-Lao Tzu

…..and I’ve decided to love him always and always.

Christmas in Calabasas

It has been a really rough year for me, but through the darkest of times did I learn so much about myself, see how much my family loves me and witness how important your true friends are in keeping you on your feet.

To make sure I was going to have a nice holiday season, I had a small get together at our place in Calabasas AND we got a real Christmas tree for the first time.

 

Apparently I quilt now

Another one of my friends is having a baby this year and I thought it would  be fun to attempt a quilt. So I found some cute fabric and youtube-ed a few videos and made this fun little quilt. It wasn’t too bad for a first attempt at quilting.

What’s a gift from me with out a custom made card! Wishing lots of Joy and Happiness to the Lai family!

Happy Father’s Day

Most of the time, I live vicariously through my sister’s 2 kids. My husband and I continue to struggling with starting a family of our own, so I need to use my creative outlets somewhere, right?!!!! I’m lucky my sister let’s me do fun things with her children, and, the kids don’t mind hanging out with me!

We took some fun photos for them at my parent’s house, and created gifts for Father’s Day!

How cute would it be if we used these “mis-printed” photos on top of some cupcakes?!!

Wishing all Father’s (Especially my own dad, who does so much for us)………….and those who yearn to be Father’s, a very Happy Father’s Day!