Clearing the backlog....

In a blink of an eye, it's been three months since I've updated this blog! If you've just popped by, do know you're much appreciated! *hugs*

The last few months have been revolving around work, ministry and the children. In between, here're some scrapping projects I did:

A layout using October Afternoon papers and embellishments. Don't you love those rosettes! They were made with the Sizzix Mini Paper Rosettes Sizzlit Decorative Strip (#657177)

7Gypsies altered tray to be hung at my husband's new office. Using lots of Maya Road and Crate Paper goodies plus Prima flowers.

Challenge Layout for my LSS Made With Love. The challenge was to use bits and pieces from at least 6 manufacturer brands, and to have the word "HAPPY" in the title. Fabulous layouts came in for this one!

Will be working furiously on a wedding project this month... stay tuned and have a great month!

Victoria Gardens

In case you think you're seeing double, you really are. LOL. I used this photo on another layout couple months back. I wanted a "countryside" picture to go with the sweet vintage papers of Echo Park's Victoria Gardens and this was the perfect one. Sigh, everytime I see these holiday photos, and the kids' happy faces,  makes me wanna travel again. Gotta wait till my hubby settles in in his new job! Thanks for dropping by!

Supplies Used:

Sizzix Die: Corners, Flourish #2

Pps, Stickers: Echo Park (Victoria Gardens)

Frames: Melissa Frances

Flowers & Pearls: Prima

Bling: Zva Creative

Chipboard: Maya Road

Alpha Stickers: Echo Park, Making Memories

Others: Badges, EK Success Foam Dots

Pretty please, can I bring him home?

I'm sure you'd have guessed by now that I've tonnes of our UK holiday pictures printed :) Here's one taken outside a cafe at Windsor. My gal couldn't resist going up to the handsome guy and giving him a big hug!

Supplies used:

Sizzix: Tim Holtz Alterations #656626, Frames & Tag Set #656102

Pps, Embellishments, stickers: Crate Paper

Word stickers: Jillibean Soup

Alpha stickers: October Afternoon

Mist: Tattered Angels, Maya Road

Others: Baker's Twine, Staples

 

Reliving UK...

Whenever I look at our family travel photos, I feel extremely blessed. We've been on two trips to Europe with the children and they have rarely kicked up a fuss on the plane. The moment they go onboard (all red-eye flights), they would happily arrange themselves in the seats, all eager for the supper and cartoon treats. Finally, they would succumb to fatigue and fall into deep sleep, all the way, stretched out across our laps. Needless to say, they were the only ones among the four of us who wake up fresh and rejuvenated :)

On our last trip to UK, my boy actually got homesick the first few days so I really struggled with his moodiness. Plus we were travelling with friends so I was stressed out trying to manage him. At one point, I almost wished I was home. Fortunately, our friends were very patient and accommodative and just worked around his tantrums, using reverse psychology to get him upbeat again. Now when I look at the photos, especially the ones in which he is grinning or laughing, I've almost forgotten how upset I was and just glad that we brought them along.

I've started on an album of the holiday photos - a mixture of 12x12 layouts and 4x6 mini ones. I used mostly NoelMignon's "Delightfully Domestic" March kit and some of my own stash.

And talking about UK, my boy just asked if we can go England again during the June school holidays.

Guess he did enjoy it after all :)

And that's all that matters.

Lots of Echo Park!

When Echo Park first leapt into the scrapbook market, I fell in love with their Sweet Summertime and Walk in the Park papers almost immediately. Then came the Little Girl collection, of which I got the whole set.

I was so busy in the first three months with work, ministry and settling my son in primary school that I hardly had time to scrap. I thought English and Mandarin spelling would be the worst of it all. Then I found out there was "Show and Tell" (for 6-year-olds?!) So sleep was always the first priority when there was time! When things finally settled somewhat, you could say I literally scrapped with vengence. (Plus, ahem, there were deadlines to meet for my LSS.) I took out the Echo Park papers and did this mini album of our UK road trip last year and a layout of my (not-so) little girl.

There's more to come in the next few days. I'm in the midst of completing a 12x12 album of our UK trip (too many beautiful photos so I printed most of them) and finishing some loooong overdue wedding albums.

   



Cruise the Royal Caribbean way!

Cruises liners have come a long way.

When I stepped into the Royal Caribbean ship, the Legend of the Seas, on 22 November, I could hardly believe how exciting the cruise experience has become.

Just look at her vital statistics:
Tonnage: almost 70,000 tonnes
Passenger Capacity: 2,074
Facilities: A wide array including a 9-hole miniature golf course, boutiques, a rock-climbing wall standing 200 feet above sea level and a teen disco where no alcohol is served and no one over 18 years old is allowed,

Best of all, even the least expensive interior staterooms are spacious enough to debunk the myth that cruise cabins are claustrophobic holes-in-the wall.

It was a vast improvement from my first cruise experience 15 years ago where the room was so tiny I could roll into the bathroom straight from my single bed and if I had slept in the upper bunk, I would have busted a hole in the ceiling when I woke up.

Today, when you board a Royal Caribbean ship, there's so much you can do that 24 hours is simply not enough!

Here's what I recommend.

Breakfast & Lunch at the Windjammer Cafe. Ditch the diet. There's such a sumptuous spread that you would want to try everything. Just looking at the gorgeous colours of the salad bar and desserts are good enough to start with!

If you ever feel guilty about all that feasting, don't be. You can work off those calories at Deck 9's Pool Deck with its two swimming pools and three whirlpools...

or at the Solarium Indoor Pool with retractable roof

... or at the ShipShapeâ Fitness Centre

For some inspired exercise, take a jog around the 9-hole Miniature Golf Course while taking in the sea view...

After lunch, take a siesta in the shade on the Sports Deck...

... or jam at the piano in the Viking Crown Lounge (actually I'm not sure if  guests are allowed to do this but I can't resist a grand piano when I see one!)

At night, the lounge is a cigar bar cum discotheque . But in the day, it's peacefully quiet and a great place to sit down with a book or watch life sail by through the floor-to-ceiling windows. And oh, sneak a tune or two on the grand piano :)

For a dose of pampering, sign up for a spa or massage treat at the Legend Day Spa. They even have teeth-whitening services and exotic fire and ice manicures and pedicures! Prices start from S$109 for a 50-minute Swedish massage or Hydralift Facial.

Dinner is served at the Romeo and Juliet Restaurant. Dress to the nines and indulge in some tasty fine-dining fare like the 3-course lunch we had as part of the tour. Seating arrangements are specific and the same waiter is usually assigned to the same table every day so that he gets acquainted with the preferences of each guest. How's that for personalised service!

After dinner, catch a show at the That's Entertainment Theatre. There're are two showtimes at 8.15pm and 10.15pm. Seating is on a first-come-first-serve basis, with front row seats usually reserved for guests staying in the Suite rooms.

By the end of the day, it leaves only one thing to enjoy - your room! 

Interior Stateroom  

They'll even decorate your room with a birthday theme if it's your birthday!

A Grand Suite - Check out the absolutely fab bathroom!

And the grand-daddy of all bedrooms - The Royal Suite! It has a whirlpool tub in the bathroom (gasp!), a walk-in wardrobe and even a baby grand (double gasp!). Of course all these come with the equally heart-stopping starting price tag of S$5,000 a person.  Still, it's nice to dream :)

For sure, I won't roll into the toilet of these rooms when I turn in my bed.

Thanks omy.sg and Royal Caribbean International for inviting us on the half-day tour! I thoroughly enjoyed it! Now I'm off to pique the husband's interest in a Royal Caribbean cruise - and dream about the baby grand in the Royal Suite :)