Bb. Pilipinas Annual Christmas Charity Day

Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. Annual Christmas Charity Day

The Annual Christmas Treat for the less fortunate of Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. was held on Dec. 29, via a Special Preview of Splendide The Grand China National Acrobatic Show. Around 2,000 kids from different orphanages in Metro Manila were treated to a show of breath-taking stunts and routines by the Chinese Performers. Reigning Bb. Pilipinas Queens Ma. Venus Raj, Czarina Gatbonton, Diane Necio and Nicolette Henson along with former queens Nina Ricci Alagao, Janina San Miguel, Lia Andrea Ramos, Mary Ann Umali and Patricia Fernandez as well as Mr. Philippines World winner Alvin de Joya and BPCI Chairman Madame Stella Marquez de Araneta were present to hand out treats and gift packs to the invited guests. Splendide The Grand China National Acrobatic Show will have it's regular run until January 2, 2011 at the Big Dome.

Photo credit : Opmbworldwide

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

I have always loved Christmas, no matter how much money I had to spend, or whatever the circumstances. It is a happy time -- a sad time for some, depending on their memories. I haven't, since I was a child, been as excited about the presents I receive as I am about Christmas itself as a special day. I love the spirit and the traditions as much as anyone can. The baking, eggnog, cider, and dinner are family traditions that I treasure, as are looking for and decorating the tree.

I will miss, once again, my loved ones who can't be with us. The memories that I have of my father, who is deceased, and my mother, who is in a nursing home, my grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends that are no longer with us I especially cling to.

I am thankful that I have a son and daughter, sisters (boy did we scheme), nieces, nephews, in-laws, and so many friends to share the spirit of Christmas with. It is with these loved ones that I can remember past memories with, because they were there also.

When my sisters and I were growing up, the entire Christmas season was made special by my parents, grandparents, and my aunt. The night before Christmas was exciting for us, and my father would get us so fired up that we could not be contained. He was truly a character. This was while my mother, at the same time, was sewing our clothes, doll clothes, and getting the presents ready to put under the tree. I never understood how hard they worked to make it a perfect Christmas Eve and day until I was a mother. There is no telling what they went through providing three girls with many a Christmas to remember.

Christmas Eve we would go to my granny's house, and my granny and aunt would let us open one present. Then my granny would let me help her prepare the orange salad. Everything she did was so special.

After getting our presents on Christmas morning, which daddy handed out in Santa Claus fashion (with a ho ho ho), mama would get everything ready so that daddy could cook breakfast. It was always a special treat. Then we would go to my granny's house to open presents from my granny, granddaddy, and aunt. We were exhausted by the end of the day!

Once I had my own children, Joey and Angela, Christmas had new meaning. Between Joey stopping everyone in mid present opening to remind us that "we needed to remember what Christmas was truly about; the birth of Christ," to protecting all presents from Angela (she opened them and rewrapped them), we always had eventful Christmases. It was always fun watching their happiness. I remember Angela offering to give up her presents to give to the poor, which we did, but Santa brought her gifts also, and Joey shaking because he was excited about his REAL, and I mean real, train set. Bicycles, dolls, video games, guns, and the most popular trend -- they enjoyed them. There are too many memories to write here, but I hope they hold these memories close to their heart, just as I do.

During this season, I hope that we all remember that this holiday represents the birth of Christ. Without him in our lives, much less would be possible. I thank him every day for the things he does for me, and I ask him why he doesn't allow other wishes, knowing he has a reason. I can't imagine my life without him, and this is one birthday that is well worth celebrating. I am thankful that I have a Christian family and children. Happy Birthday JESUS!!

I am blessed to have all of you in my life, and I can't wait for the next year! I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas.  Love you, friends.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

INTERIOR DESIGN IN PARIS

VICKI ARCHER ~ FRENCH ESSENCE

SUZANNE KASLER ~ INTERIOR DESIGN IN CONNECTICUT 

AND A LITTLE CHRISTMAS CHEER

CAROLYN ROEHM ~ PORCELAIN BLOSSOMS

See you soon,

MERRY CHRISTMAS,

Teresa

xoxo 

Image Country Living

AN OLD SCHOOLHOUSE TRANSFORMED WITH CHRISTMAS CHARM

Owners of a giftware business, Harriet and Lachman Campbell purchased this former schoolhouse and renovated it. During Christmas the home bustles with children coming home from school, and the aroma of cinnamon, greenery, and baked goods in the air provides the perfect backdrop for the festivities. ENJOY!

Wouldn't you love to come home to this home during the holidays?

See you soon,

Teresa

xoxo

Images via English Home

Gingerbread Dudes, Gals & Pups, plus *the best* gingerbread cookie recipe

 

EVERY year, I say I'm going to make gingerbread cookies more often.  And every year, I forget. But I'm making these again next week (and quite possibly the next week and the next).

I'm going to beg you....MAKE THESE COOKIES!  They are some of my favorite cookies ever....soft, chewy, spicy...delicious!

I had a little too much fun making these.  The gingerbread dudes and gingerbread gals were just decorated with a bit of royal icing.

Was it wrong to start pairing off the gingerbread couples? It's like eHarmony for cookies over here. 

{Sign you've spent too much time with your cookies? You start staring at the gingerbread girl wishing you had her outfit.}

Here's a little trick for making hair from Martha:

Use a garlic press (this is the only thing I ever use mine for). Just fill it with dough and....

.....squeeze. 

These gingerbread scotties could not be easier.  A little collar, a little spring of holly...voila! Gingerbread Scottie Dog.

Here is the recipe.  I'm going to go out on a limb and call it the BEST GINGERBREAD COOKIE recipe EVER.  (I can say that because it's not my recipe, it's from the Southern Living Incredible Cookies cookbook.)





Gingerbread Cookies

(modified from Southern Living Incredible Cookies)



1/4 c. water

1 & 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 c. molasses

1 c. butter

1 c. sugar

5 c. unbleached, all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. coarse salt

1 & 1/2 TBSP ground ginger

1/2 tsp. allspice

1 & 1/2 tsp. cinnamon



Line baking sheets with parchment.



Stir together the water and baking soda until dissolved. Stir in the molasses; set aside.



Beat butter & sugar until fluffy and combined.



Whisk together flour, salt and spices.



Add to the butter mixture, alternating with the molasses mixture. Begin and end with the flour. Form dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and chill 1 hour.



Preheat oven to 350.



On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with a floured cookie cutter and place on baking sheet. Freeze for 5 minutes before baking. {They are going to spread.}



Bake 10- 12 minutes (for a large shape). Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet, then transfer to cooling rack. Cool completely before decorating with royal icing.    

 What are you waiting for?!?  Go make 'em!!

Orange or vermillion red combined with hot pink has always been my favorite combination of colors. It has an unusual brightness that is festive. The fact that it blends beautifully with Christmas decorations doesn’t hurt.

Not Christmas decor, but I loved the colors for this time of the year.

Designed by Melissa Warner, Julie Massucca and Carrie Miller.

The vermilion red and hot pink is a perfect combination of colors.

Now on to the Christmas decorations...

I just thought these were beautiful images.  Hope that you enjoyed them!

So Far This Week

Jingle Bells

More Christmas Cheer

Christmas at the Coast

Martha's Blue

Christmas in the Mountains

Miles Red ~ Lonny Magazine

Christmas in Texas

Thank You Melissa!

Thank you Cassandra!

Rooms That Scream Christmas

Lonny ~ Christmas Issue

Martha ~ When Do You Sleep, Girl?

A Special Thank You and the 2009 Atlanta Homes

 and Lifestyles Christmas House

Tabletop Christmas Trees

See you soon,

Teresa

xoxo

Images 1, 2 Southern, Images 3-5 Lonny, 6-house beautiful, 7-8, my home ideas

Dotty Winter Trees

...otherwise known as the "Trees of Indecision."

As soon as I saw these two-tone trees from A Dozen Eggs, I knew that tree cookies were in my future.



But, since I seem to have an obsession with dots....whether it be on cakes or apples or presents....I added some dots.

The indecision came in with the sanding sugar and the wood grain trunk. To sugar or not to sugar. To wood grain or not to wood grain.  Those were the questions.



{You know you are having serious cookie issues when you wake your husband up at the crack of dawn to say, "Sweetie, which do you like better, this plain tree trunk or the wood grain one?"}

Wood grain it was.



Now, *someone* in my house does not care for sanding sugar.  (Not the way it looks, but the way it tastes.)  Had I known this before marrying him, we would have been in for some MAJOR pre-marital counseling.

I, on the other hand, love that bit of crunch on a soft sugar cookie.  So, I went for half and half.



To make these trees, you'll need:

• royal icing in green, light green and brown (AmeriColor Leaf Green & Chocolate Brown)


• squeeze bottles


• disposable piping bags 


• decorating tips: #2 & #3


• toothpicks


• sanding sugar


• fan shaped paint brush

Dotty Winter Tree Cookie Tutorial:

With a #3 tip, outline the tree on green, piping 3 sections of the tree.

With a #2 tip, outline the trunk in brown.



Thin the green, light green and brown icings with water, a bit at a time, until it is the consistency of thick syrup.  Cover with a damp dish towel and let sit several minutes.



Stir gently with a rubber spatula and transfer icings to squeeze bottles.

Working 6-8 cookies at a time, fill in the trees in the 3 colors of green.  Use a toothpick to spread to edges and pop large air bubbles.

Come back over the filled trees while the icing is still wet and drop on dots of thinned icing.

Fill in the trunks in brown.  Use a toothpick to spread to edges and pop large air bubbles.



Let dry overnight.

The next day, set up a sanding sugar station.  Mix equal parts meringue powder with water.  With a small paintbrush, brush the mixture on the area to be sanded.  Sprinkle on the sanding sugar and shake excess over a coffee filter.  The filter can be used as a funnel to go back into the bottle.

For the wood grain, I used a cookie painted technique from Renee of Kudos Kitchen.  She is a fabulous artist, check out her painted tiles, and she shared a video of how to add wood grain on cookies at University of Cookie.

Basically, mix water with food coloring....a 1 to 1 ratio or so.  Trim your fan brush, so that it is uneven.  Dip the brush into the food coloring mixture, dab on a paper towel and brush onto your cookies. (I used the same technique on the Harry Potter broom cookies.)

Tell me....are you a sanding sugar lover like me, or do you side with Mr. E on this one?