So Cute It Hurts

woke up this morning and smiled at the rising sun...

Happy New Year!!! Well, a tad bit late. Sorry things have been so quiet around here. I am just finding it a bit difficult to get back into a routine after the holidays.

But i think today's a good day to get things back on the groove. Just because, today's the day i entered the world. It's also a new found appreciation for all my mama did to get me into the world on this day so long ago. It has been a beautiful adventure. I've had the privilege of traveling to faraway places, eating great food and laughing a lot, getting a wonderful education, made some wonderful friends (like you, yes you) and finding the sweetest man.

I can't resist, i have to show you a recent gift made for me by a very creative and thoughtful friend, Pei Li. These handmade life size and miniature size macaroons are just so beautiful and yummilicous. It came with a really beautiful french style container. This surprise gift is so wonderful i can't even begin to explain how overjoyed i am about it. Thank YOU so much sweet lovely friend!

What a beautiful day to get to celebrate, too. The weather is perfect and i see all kinds of good things in my immediate future. Here's to a year older. I'm looking forward to it.

May 2012 bring you and your loved ones much joy, love, prosperity, health and peace!
Be back soon. Until then, love to you and yours!

pardon me

as i distract myself from getting things done.

This week has flown by. The mister and i were secretly taking about finding a little "cottage" where we could call home. I think we might have found that place we like. The location is sweet. This new place has tons of potential but it needs a little tender loving care. I will have my own studio space with sunlight pours in, and we even get to have an outdoor space, so all is good. The mister and i both agree that we are pleased as punch.

I have serious gardening in my blood. We always had a small garden growing up, my papa's favorite place to hang out during his free time. I grew up eating fresh okra, tomatoes and squash. It was so much fun helping dig potatoes and pick and snap big bowls of green beans. And wonderfully delicious. I think it's only natural that i definitely want to have a garden patch and want to grow some food of my own one day too.

Big weekend ahead. Once again, there is sewing and scheming involved. I bought load of beautiful greens. So, if you have any good recipes for just about any type of leafy green, please send them my way. Have yourself another lovely merry happy weekend! More soon ~ love to you and yours!

(images: The mister at home)

Out of the city

...and into nature.

The above photos pretty much sum up my life during the long Easter weekend. Bliss. My mood was changed from completely anxious and overwhelmed to relaxed and optimistic. As i looked through our little vacation photos yesterday night, i was reminded of how i felt that very evening i snapped these shots. It was one of those beautiful evenings that make the weather here in this country {"summer"} so wonderful ~ the crispness in the seaside air and that beautiful evening light falling all around. To top it off, i was in the company of my love one. Good times indeed.

I'm hoping to post one of my "many" craft projects sometime this week. I hope you are having a lovely week so far. I will pop in again soon. Until then, have lots of fun. Love to you and yours!

neat-o

Hello there, and Happy Easter weekend! It has been a really good one so far. I have fully recovered (thanks for all the sweet healing comments).

I'm all packed up and ready to hit the road for a sweet short weekend trip. No agenda, except for a long-awaited trip to soak in the sun and some exploring with my camera. We bought a set of cute rice ball and sandwich bento boxes {for the road trip} ~ i made some cute little rice balls and salad, he made some french ham and cheese toasted sandwiches. These bento box lunches do look fun, both to make and to eat.

I'll be back soon to bend your ear and hopefully upload a few photos i snapped on my work in progress(s). Have yourself some fun on a lovely sweet Easter weekend! Lots of love to you and yours.

Take it easy, friends.

sticky, sweet and cuteness

Just like that, another week has flown by. 

Today, let's take a trip to Antwerp Belgium to visit a lovely little shop along Melkmarket that also functions online for those not living nearby. Antwerp, a beautiful city blessed with amazing architecture, fashionable shops, inspired artworks and restaurants. It's commonly known for it's rich culture, history and world class shopping areas!

Among all these amazing shops, lies this very cute sweet little shop, Akotee. One thing that lured me into Akotee really, was the red with white dots logo and shop design! Yes, i'm such a dot nerd!

I did a little research and found out that the owner, Sonia Rymenas, opened her first shop in Antwerp back in 1973, inspired by Mexican culture. As time went by with many evolutions, Akotee was born. This little shop offers many useful, funny, sweet and sometimes strange "goodies". From special clocks, lamps, polka dot heels (!) to all kinds of bags for bikes, shopping, and casual in beautiful bright happy colors. You name it, they have it all!

I spent some time ooooing and ahhhhing over everything! Lovely, aren't they? I couldn't resist the sticky sweet cuteness of this special and very successful brand ~ "Kitch Kitchen". I treated myself to one of their lovely bags.

I hope that if you're ever there in Antwerp, you'll seek it out. Now it's time to go, i'm afraid. But don't worry, Akotee online is just a mouse click away! I'll be back next week with some weekend tibits.

Have a lovely merry happy charming weekend! Lots of love from me to you!

Celebrating paws-perity...

Hello out there. I'm still here, just feeling a bit quiet lately. The heat wave floating across this city of shared stories is making me want to hibernate a little. Thanks so much for all the sweet words about our re-engagement. Your kindness and congratulations mean the world to us. We had such a wonderful time celebrating. It was perfect in every way.

The man and i made it home a couple of days ago and we're happily settling back in. I must admit that i am having quite a hard time getting back in the swing of things here at home. It was so nice hanging out for a few days catching up with family and close friends. Together we made and ate comfort food, told stories, some games played and a whole lot of relaxing. I think i just had a perfect Chinese New Year vacation.

I simply couldn't attain blog balance without a few vacation shots.

Nian Gao ~ Chinese New Year Cake.

My favorite cookies ~ Love letters and bee hives.

Mama's little orange tree.

Pretty fake flowers at the mall.

Happy Neko family wishing you paws-perity.

More soon on SoCuteItHurts craftastic news ~ a little hint here of what is coming up! Have a lovely merry happy paws-perity week, months and year! Love to you and yours!

Hearts and sweetness

Happy day after Valentine's day. Things are really good here. Kinda humid, but good. Kim and i are still visiting family ~ having a warm and snuggly holiday. We are eating continuously {yum}, sharing lots of stories and one of us {*cough Kim cough*} even played enough Counter Strike to work up a small addiction among my two brothers.

Remember i mentioned something about  "a very special announcement" in fryday's post?

I received the most amazing valentine's gift.You can probably guess what he did from the above photo ~ he re-popped the question and we renewed our engagement with my family. It was a lovely surprise and very romantic.  As for the plan, we're not sure what kind of celebration we want but defiantly something along the line of small and cozy with handmade goodies all around. I'm sure you'll be reading about the plan or quite possibly many plans as the days, weeks and months unfold.  

I have some photos of my pretty Chinese New Year edibles, Valentine's day heart-shape tea bag treats {they were a hit!} and things, but I'll get to those soon. In the meantime, hope you get some sweetness in your world this week too. Love to you and yours!

some of my favorite things

Now that the holiday season is over, things are slowly returning to normal. Well, mostly, i am still sleeping in later than usual and taking my sweet time eating every meal. For now, or at least a couple more days, i will continue to savor the slow, stay in your pajamas a little longer days of post-holiday season.

 

 

 
I do want to show you these lovely loot! I picked up some great vintage feel storage box bags and postcards with illustrations by the talented Nicoletta Ceccoli the other day while thrifting on my vacation. There is almost angelic, fairytale quality to the soft focus that Nicoletta achieves with her acrylics. I couldn't pass them up and out the door they went with me.

 

 

 
Nicoletta Ceccoli is now one of my many favorite Italian painters and illustrators. In an interview on Arrested Motion, Nicoletta cites influences from many famous artists like Mark Rydan. Her work has been exhibited at the Bologna Children's book fair seven times and many famous art gallery. I really enjoy her artwork so much that I will certainly be on the lookout for the children’s books she has illustrated to add to my collection!

A little early birthday treats for myself. More soon. Stay warm out there and lots of love to you and yours.

Update: In case you are one of those curious little birds, my birthday is just a day away ~ January 8 {Yep same birthday as the king of rock and roll Elvis Presley}

bright and merry

 

I promise I haven't flown the coop ~ i've just been busy enjoying the holiday season and having a good time. The christmas celebration was very cozy ~ enjoyed my fair share of delicious food and drinks, and gifts. I hope it was bright and merry for you and yours.

 

I love a nice tradition, and i think i'm gonna start creating one of my own. I'll be back soon with more good times talk.  Happy holidays to you and the ones you love.

Sunscreen? Check. Camera? Check. Parasol? Check.

I'm back from a lovely weekend in a little cozy resort, Avillion Village Resort, just about one and a half hours drive from this lovely city og brotherly love. Avillion was excellent... and a wee bit exhausting. The heat was no joke and this time, i did remember to re-apply sunscreen at regular intervals ~ learned after my last getaway that ended with a nice little sunburn to prove it. It was terrific and i hope to return again in the future. The sight of this lovely resort as i took slow walks embracing the smell of sea water... made me run back for my camera.

So before i launch back into craft projects and non-resort daily life in this city, i thought i would share some of my favorite photos i took with my little new slr. {My sincere apology if the quality of my photography skill is lousy}

 
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
If i had more brain power, i would love to send a note to every single one of you who commented about Bones with his new friend Hannah {they are going off soon to a lovely home}. Each and every comment made me smile. Thank you for your kind words. I will be announcing the winners to my lovely teaspoon giveaway soon ~ so stay tuned!

Hope you had a lovely weekend. Lots of love to you and yours!