:)

True color shining through...

2012-01-19T18:42:00.001-05:00

Matthew is 6 1/2 weeks old now and I already see a lot of his personality shining through! Ben and I see pieces of ourselves in him and it's fascinating to watch Matthew play the parts out.

In light of Matty being 6+ weeks old here are 6 observations I found in Matty so far...

- The little guy is stubborn. He gets that from both of us but more from daddy :P
We've been trying to get him to turn his head left so he can work out his neck muscles but no matter how hard we try to turn him he insists on looking right. Even in his sleep we'd turn his head left then immediately he'll turn right. We can't win.

- He's a light sleeper and sleeps with his mouth open. That attractive trait comes from me. Ben and I mastered the art of tip-toeing around the house. There's a couple spots on our floor that creaks and we've learned to never step on that area cause just one creak is all it takes to stir him up. These days I've been turning on the heater or classical music to create white noise which has been helping.

I find it cute when he sleeps with his mouth wide open and he just seems so content in dreamland. Only thing is that I have to close his mouth when we travel inside the subway. Yucky!

- "Herculaean" baby. He gets that from both of us but more Ben. We noticed how strong Matty was since week 2 when we laid him on the playmat and he held onto one of the toys for his dear life. At week 3 he rolled over from his tummy to his back at his pediatrician appointment and the doctor was floored. Can we say sports scholarship??

- This isn't really a personality trait but he has long toes and fingers like mommy. It's one of the first things I noticed when he came out. Like most mommies the first thing you do is count to make sure they have all 10 fingers and toes. Maybe one day he'll be able to pick up things with his feet just like me! Haha.

- Distinct expressions. He gets that from me cause you can read how I'm feeling through my facial expressions. Matty will give us a clear sign when he's done drinking milk by crinkling his nose and closing his mouth shut. He also lets us know when he's about to poop cause he has a visible "poop face" and turns tomato red when it's about to explode.

- Falls asleep when being read to. He gets that one from Ben since he dislikes reading so much. Today I tried to read an interactive Elmo story book to Matthew but already by page 3 he was knocked out. I hope he'll like reading one day especially the Bible!

Matthew is here!

2012-01-13T17:55:00.001-05:00

Napping Hard

So Clean :)

Loves bath time now

Has mommy's long toes

*****

I can't believe it's been almost 6 weeks since Matthew arrived into this world! So far it's been a whirlwind of a journey just getting used to our new routine of changing multiple diapers, feeding late into the night, tummy time on the playmat then doing it all over again. I'll be honest it gets rough sometimes especially when I'm sleep deprived and only eating 2 meals a day but I wouldn't trade this experience for the world!

Things I love & learned about being a mommy:

- Love burping Matthew after his feeding. It's so satisfying hearing that man-sized belch.
- Love it when he randomly smiles in his sleep. Makes it all worth it.
- Love hearing his cooing and grunting. He's such a little man.
- Love his bushel of hair.
- Love how calm and cute he looks during bath time. It's now his favorite activity.
- Love watching the hubby play with our son.
- Learning to be an expert multi-tasker. I can feed Matthew with a bottle holding my chin while scarfing down my meal.
- Learning to eat my meals faster. I used to be one of the slowest eaters known to man-kind but with all these additional responsibilities I've learned to take fewer bites.
- Learning to change a diaper under 3 minutes.
- Learning patience especially when I'm sleep deprived.
- Learning to sacrifice my own needs for another human being. That's love.
- Learning to become a better person, mother and wife because of Matthew.

Make it Personal

2011-11-18T17:36:00.001-05:00

Love these personalized pillows and wall art from Red Envelope! Perfect gifts for the holidays :)

2011-11-03T09:41:00.002-04:00

 36.5 weeks

I'm tired.

{ Free Giveaway: Lo & Sons! }

2011-10-31T15:14:00.004-04:00

Who doesn't love freebies?

Simple Blueprint is having a giveaway week and today it is from Lo & Sons!

There are several ways you can enter to win. Check out Simple Blueprint for more details on how you can snatch one of their sophisticated and stylish bags.

My cup overflows

2011-10-31T11:08:00.001-04:00

4 years ago from today I said "yes".

6 months after that we got married.

3 years after that found out we're expecting.

Thank you God for being so good to us.

We give you ALL the praise.

The "Sunday Face"

2011-10-26T16:24:00.000-04:00

I miss my second trimester already cause that's when you have the preggo glow and your body hasn't reached whale status yet so you still look cute in clothes. Now that I'm on my third trimester I'm back to having the sleep deprived look, with dark circles, baggy eyes and uneven skin tone from all the hormone changes.

Since I'm home most of the time I don't put on any products but when I go to church on Sunday that's when I try to maintain some sense of normalcy by dressing up a little and putting on make-up. I'm not there to impress anyone but there's something about being in a public setting that challenges me to make an effort to not give up on myself.

This all sounds pretty vain but something about putting on a nice outfit and primping yourself that helps boost your spirit and be pregnant with confidence. You'll be surprised but a lot of preggo women struggle with their body image as they progress into their pregnancy and become depressed.

Trust me I'm no expert when it comes to make-up and beauty products but I've learned a thing or two over the years from my beauty guru friends and reading Glamour magazine. With that being said I'd like to share my beauty regimen with you!

1. Cetaphil Skin Cleanser. Leaves skin feeling silky smooth without drying it out.

2. Neutrogena Toner. Can find it at any drugstore and your skin will feel refreshed after wash.

3. Clinique Moisture Surge. My first splurge on moisturizer and will never go back to anything else. Best for moisture deprived skin.

1. Fresh Primer. Helps even out all the bumps and pores before putting on foundation. It's light and I LOVE the scent.

2. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. It's like liquid foundation but lighter and gives off a dewy look to help liven up the face.

3. Balm Shelter Tinted Moisturizer. Perfect for the pale winter skin and goes on smoothly. Only need to apply little.

4. Bobbi Brown Brick Shimmer. My sister-in-law bought me this and I love it. It gives your apples a natural look without looking super flushed.

5. Bobbi Brown Liquid Gel Liner. My friend got me this for my birthday and it's the best thing for anyone who have extra fat on their eye lids. I always got liner smudges until I used this. It stays on without the smudge!

6. Stila Concealer. Been using this for 8 years and it's been my lifesaver for my face when I get those pesky pimple scars and circle of doom around my eyes.

7. Maybelline Mascara. This is the OG of mascaras and it goes on lashes well without gooping.

8. Sugar Rose Chapstick. Been searching high and low for a chapstick that'll keep my lips moisturized longer than 5 minutes and finally found this one. It stays on for a while, moisturized and protects your lips from the sun/wind.

Thrifty Nifty Mommy

2011-10-21T10:25:00.000-04:00

Last night I went out for a birthday dinner with my close college friends and one of our conversation topics was thriftiness.

With the economy at an all-time low and families continuing to grow we need to be smart about how we spend our money especially when you're about to start a family. It's nice having new things and the latest gadgets for your little one but seriously your baby isn't going to care. All it wants is your milk and love. There are some compromises though where you need to buy new equipment (i.e. breast pump) but before you buy something new look for coupons, deals and freebies. Can you tell I'm a coupon queen? ;)

Here are some money saving tips that I've learned so far and other moms have passed onto me which I'd love to share with you!

{ Strollers }
First time moms-- don't get suckered into buying a brand spanking new $1000 stroller! If you plan on having more than one kid you're going to need a two-seat stroller anyways. I bought my Bugaboo Cameleon on Craigslist for $350 (normally $1,200) and it was in great condition.

Tip: Search your local Craigslist, eBay, Gilt Group or Amazon. Make sure to wash the fabric before use!

{ Formula }
If you plan on giving your baby formula from the beginning or after breastfeeding the cost of buying formula can add up. I signed up at similac.com and they sent me these formula cans which normally cost $17-19 bucks each!

Tip: Sign up at Similac.com, Gerber.com, Enfamil.com. Also, look out for freebies at your OBGYN clinic. They usually have out free formula, totes and magazines.

{ Clothes }
Hand-me-downs. If you have friends who have kids that are older and have clothes that are just lying around take advantage of it! Don't buy a lot on your own cause the chances are your friends and family will buy you plenty for your baby shower.

Tip: For basic onesies 0-3 months: OldNavy, Target

{ Cribs & Changing Dressers }

This is one time where I wouldn't buy second hand because cribs now have new safety regulations so it's better to buy a new one. There are lot out there that are easily $600 and up but I found this affordable and mod looking crib and changing table dresser set on Walmart.com! This set cost us less than $700!

Tip: Walmart, Amazon. Look out for updated safety regulations and read all the reviews of what other mommies think of the product.

{ Diapers }
I've been told by all moms that I'll probably be changing diapers at least 10 times a day. That's a lot of diaper doodie. Ha.

Tip: Sign up at:
- Diapers.com and you'll receive free shipping your first two orders. You'll also get 20% off your first diaper order.
- Amazon Mom and you get free prime shipping for 3 months and if you subscribe to certain items you'll get an extra 15% off.
- Target has good deal on diapers- like buy 2 boxes that are on sale and get a free gift card. If you have a Target card then you can get an additional 5% off all your purchases right there on the spot.

{ Coupon Savings + other survival resources }
- If you're already signed up with Bed Bath Beyond you can use their 20% off coupons at the Buy Buy Baby store. They'll also accept coupons from Babies R' Us.

- Gap.com: For maternity nursing bras and baby clothes. They always have at least 30% off everything every other week plus free shipping

- Breastfeeding resource: Great website for info on breast feeding, potential problems with b'feeding and possible solutions: KellyMom

Forgetful Much?

2011-10-19T10:14:00.003-04:00

Lately I've been having several "pregnancy brain" moments. For example, almost every day this week I kept forgetting to bring my phone before I went out, was close to missing my doctor's appointment and simple things like getting up to get water but once I actually get up forgetting why I'm walking towards the fridge.

With that in mind here's a cute solution by Simple Shapes on Etsy for those forgetful moments :)

Boy Wonder

2011-10-13T10:41:00.000-04:00

This week I started laundering Matthew's clothes and it took 5 loads! He seriously has more clothes than I do now. A lot of moms have told me "don't go crazy on clothes cause they'll grow out of them quickly" but I can't help browsing and buying tiny little clothes. Zara Kids has an adorable collection and here are some of my faves for boys :)

Maternity/Family Photos

2011-10-07T12:52:00.004-04:00

Last Saturday Ben, Roscoe and I took maternity/family portrait photos at Alley Pond Park in Bayside, Queens. It was supposed to rain that day but our amazing photographer, Sonia Lim, prayed really hard that week and low & behold the clouds gave way and the sun shined through. PTL!! I was cranky from waking up early that day and from hunger pangs but the photo shoot ended up being so much fun!

Can't believe I'm 32 1/2 weeks already!

Thanks for all the love and support from all our friends and family <3

You can view rest of the the pics here:

Sonia Lim Photography

Happy Friday!

Cutie BOO!

2011-09-29T12:30:00.000-04:00

I'm not into the whole Halloween tradition except the fact that Ben proposed to me 4 years ago on that day. Haha. Anyways, Halloween is a good excuse to dress up the kiddos and pets in fun costumes. If only Matthew was born earlier I would dress him up but until then here are some of my faves :)

Friday Clean Up

2011-09-23T14:04:00.002-04:00


Our living room after decluttering for 3 hours.


Bedroom. Bought yellow daises for splash of color.

Happy Friday :)

Baby Shower(s)

2011-09-20T18:13:00.001-04:00

This past Saturday a few of my close girlfriends threw me a wonderful baby shower :) It was very chill and sweet just the way I would've wanted it. The theme was baby elephants (it's one of my favorite animals) with a light blue & canary yellow color scheme. The girls did such an amazing job on the food which was Mexican themed since I love Mexican food and the dessert was probably the best thing I've ever had. Yuri Kwak, from Le Macaron Patisserie, baked a delicious, gorgeous cake with mini macarons on the side. Everything was so thoughtful. I was very touched. I'm truly blessed by all the love and support from all my friends.

Not only did I have a shower but Ben had his own 'Men's Baby Shower' at our place. It was a great time of eating take-out BBQ and having good conversations. To make it interesting Ben and I came up with an idea for the guys to answer advice giving questions to give to Matthew in the future.

Here were some of our favorites along with some pics from the shower!

The advice jar for Matty :)

Where should Matthew go on his first date? How old should he be?

McDonalds- start off slow-nowhere to go but up. 25 years old.

What's the first classic movie Matthew should watch? Why?

Remember the Titans

brotherhood
racial reconciliation

Cinderella Man

manhood
overcoming tribulation
taking care of family

Godfather II

evading the authorities
learning how to keep secrets
making illegitimate income (i.e. selling durgs, under-the-table fantasy baseball)

Who should Matthew go to for relationship advice- mom or dad? Why?
Mom knows "What Women Want" so go talk to mom

Top 3 things Matthew should do as an older brother (when he gets siblings).

1. protect them
2. pay for them
3. beat on them (when necessary, to learn respect)

What sport should Matthew play and why?

All of them and then beat your dad in all of them so he feels old.

Fall Loves

2011-09-09T13:23:00.001-04:00

Being preggo doesn't necessarily mean you have to wear maternity clothes or shop at a maternity store. In my case it makes me look even more "maternal" if that's even possible. With the weather in NYC cooling down 1-degree at a time, here are some of my fave fall looks for mommies and all :)

1. Vitrine Gleam Polka Dot Blouse, ShopRuche.com; 2. Organizational Art Necklace, Modcloth.com; 3.H81 Chunky Pointelle Beret, Forever21.com; 4. Timex Vintage Original, Piperlime.com ; 5. The Moor You Know Cardigan, ModCloth.com; 6. Double Breasted Coat, Zara.com; 7. River Thames Blazer, Shopruche.com ; 8. Checked Print Trousers, Zara.com; 9. Yuketen Chukka, Madewell.com; 10. Defined Lines Scarf, Anthropologie.com; 11. Vintage Matchstick Cord, JCrew.com; 12. Full Course Load Bag, Modcloth.com; 13. Maternity V-Neck Waist Dress, Asos.com

Another Milestone!

2011-09-06T11:03:00.002-04:00

This week marks the beginning of my third and last trimester!

It's crazy how fast time flies. Just seems like yesterday I saw those two lines on the test sticks. Reflecting back the past 7 months I can't help but feel tremendously blessed, joyful and thankful. We've finally decided on a name- Matthew! It means "Gift of God" which he is!

Bringing another life into this world is truly a miracle and it isn't easy as people think. My heart goes out to those who are trying or are going through a time of loss. His timing is perfect and His plans far exceed the ones we make ourselves so don't give up hope.

{ Handmade Things }

2011-08-31T10:05:00.009-04:00

Love these fun, hand-knit quilted baby play mats from Peppermint Pinwheels! There's something about handmade items that make me feel at home. You can even add a personalized applique on the back to make it more personal.

2011-08-29T08:55:00.001-04:00

Hurray!
Goodbye Hurricane Irene. Hello sunshine.

Things said...

2011-08-22T14:56:00.002-04:00

¹⁴if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

"Keeping your eyes off yourself is real humility."

Nesting Mode

2011-08-16T11:51:00.007-04:00

As of late I've been in "nesting mode" and dreaming up ways to spruce up our kiddo's space. I love simple, clean design with hints of color and spunk. Of course he's not gonna care if I choose blue or canary yellow prints for his blanket but I guess this is more for me. Haha. When it comes down to it my hope is that he'll know how much his mommy loves him.

Here's some of my favorites nursery inspirations:

Mini DIY

2011-08-13T12:20:00.004-04:00

I am all about recycling and helping the environment one step at a time however it was starting to get out of control and messy at the Shim home. We used plastic and paper grocery bags to sort our recycling but it was getting to be much and sometimes Roscoe would easily rummage through it. So yesterday I bought these trash cans from Container Store (for cheap too!) and made labels for each category:

Happy recycling :)

What's in a name?

2011-08-10T11:39:00.002-04:00

Recently I've have been asked by several people if we've figured out names for our son yet. We've thought of several but haven't found one that's stuck yet. It's hard to give a name to a person you haven't met yet and don't know what their personality is like. I even thought about doing a public name poll to see which gets the most votes like but realized it shouldn't matter what other people like since we're the ones that will have to live with it especially our son!

I believe the meaning of name carries a lot of weight of how the person will turn out to be. Obviously it might not be to the T but it seems like that's how it's happened in the Bible and so I've been trying to find names that our son can live out.

The name Helen means shining "light" and Ben means "son of my right hand".

What does yours mean? :)

patterns, textiles + other likes

2011-08-08T11:59:00.011-04:00

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

* 1. Goldfish Pillow, Fanciful Accents; 2. "&" pillow, Alexandra Ferguson; 3. Pomeranian Pillow, Fanciful Accents; 4. Thro Tufted Round Pillow, Fanciful Accents; 5. Ooh La La Pillow, Alexandra Ferguson; 6. Moroccan Leather Pouf, Market Street; 7. Henna Green Tea Candles, Market Street; 8. Thro Lambs Wool in Tiger Lily Orange, Fanciful Accents; 9. Flash Chill Iced Tea Maker, Takeya; 10. Morse Coded Necklace, Coatt (www.coattonline.com/jewelry.html) *

24 weeks!!!!

2011-08-06T22:49:00.002-04:00

Things Made...

2011-08-01T09:30:00.001-04:00

Made my first nursery doll!

10 things I love about Seattle

2011-07-15T08:51:00.022-04:00

I'm going back to my hometown of Seattle tomorrow! I can't wait to see my family and enjoy life in the burbs for the next 2 weeks. With that being said here's top 10 reasons why I love Seattle and why you need to visit. [Not in any particular order...sort of]:

1. Nature + clean air. Washington, also known as the "Evergreen State" or "Emerald City", has the best air quality because of the vast amounts of Evergreen trees. If you're an outdoor buff like me there's so many places to hike, kayak, rock climb, etc all within 20 minutes apart from each other.

2. Pike Place Market. I know it's kind of a cliched icon but after living in Seattle for 10+ years I went there for the first time last year and LOVED it--ambiance, fresh produce, fish market, plethora of delicious food, sights and sound.

3. The People. I guess you can say this about any place in the burbs but the people of Seattle are SO nice and courteous. Drivers actually yield to the pedestrians, not the other way around. Not only that but the city is luring more artists, musicians and eclectic people into the city.

4. Family + Friends. Anywhere you go nothing beats family. Our house is like a hotel where people just come in and come out whenever they please and I miss that" full house" feeling. My friends and I go back all the way to junior high and I love how I can always pick up a conversation where we last left off last year as if I never left.

5. Mariners + Seahawks. OK so they're not the best sports team in their leagues but I'm still a loyal fan. It's such a family oriented event and the fans are the best. The Seahawks stadium is known to have the loudest fans in NFL which makes the game more exciting to watch.

6. The rain. Most people would be repelled by the 9-months out of the year that it rains but I love it. It's not the torrential kind of rain or annoying mist rain but it's a light rain that kind of brings out the emo and artists side of me. The sound of it is like one of those Brookstone nature tracks.

7. Food. Whenever I went back home I just went to my staple spots-- Cheesecake Factory and Red Robin-- since it's hard to get it from here in NYC but my friends started introducing me to all these cute places to eat and food trucks. Seafood is always good and I recommend going to Ivar's Seafood or Elliott's Oyster Bar.

8. Sleepless in Seattle. One of my favorite movies and the kid Jonah was so cute! It used to be a tradition of mine to watch Sleepless in Seattle before I go back home. Must watch if you haven't already!

9. The 3 months out of the year that it doesn't rain. Yes, it doesn't rain all the time. If you're not a fan of rain then June-August is the best time to come. As much as I like the rain I also love the consistent 70 degree and blue skies that happen everyday during this time.

10. Coffee. My vice, addiction, crack. You think Starbucks is everywhere in NY it's EVERYWHERE in Seattle. But there's a lot more coffee shops that are popping up in Seattle that are so delicious.

Top Pot Doughnuts & Coffee

Stumptown Coffee

Currently Craving...

2011-07-11T20:08:00.004-04:00

...Macarons

Committed

2011-07-11T09:25:00.002-04:00

Last night I went to see "Committed" perform at the Highline Ballroom. If you don't know who they are they were last year's NBC's "Sing-Off" contestant winners! They're an acapella group that have the most smooth-like-velvet voices I've ever heard and they're also Christian. I wanted to ask them what their experiences were like after becoming famous, how they maintain their quiet times/walk with God, what they do to keep themselves grounded, how they train their voices, etc. Of course the line to get their autographs was uber long so I'll have to ask next time. Enjoy this little clip!

It's a...

2011-07-09T15:42:00.006-04:00

{ at 17 weeks }

...B O Y! We were supposed to find out officially this coming Monday on my 20th week but last week at my check-up we had an ultrasound and the kiddo decided to let us know early :) I had a gut feeling that it'd be a boy since I've been having so many boy dreams and the hubby comes from an all-boy family. We thought it'd be funny if we saw wrong and it's actually a girl. Either way I'd be happy. We're excited to nest for our little boy :)

Dwell with Dignity

2011-06-21T12:20:00.012-04:00

For a while I've had a deep passion for interior decorating. More specifically decorating homes for low income families who can't afford the time or materials. I couldn't find any organizations here in NYC that does things like but I ran into this awesome non-profit organization called "Dwell with Dignity" based in Dallas where interior designers and volunteers donate their services to help low income families. Their mission is to help families escape poverty and homelessness through design; one household at a time.

According to their website "the lastest Census figures showing 15.7 percent of Americans, 47.8 million people, living below the poverty line, it’s nice to see people using their industry—even something so seemingly superficial as interior design—to reach out and help."

Here are photos of before and after the makeover:

Current Cravings...

2011-06-20T22:08:00.012-04:00

Baby Bel Cheese

patbingsu
aka: shaved ice with ice cream, fruit, mochi & red bean topping

anything spicy

chocolate covered pretzels

grapefruit

**thanks to the mother-in-law she gave me a whole bag full :)

Pops of Summer...

2011-06-18T12:13:00.005-04:00

Inspired from the beautiful summer weather today I did a raid through Ikea online as they have some cute summer accessories/textiles to brighten up your space. Here are some cute finds with affordable prices!

(The image came up small so click on the collage to view larger scale)

Happy 3rd Birthday Roscoe!

2011-06-17T12:03:00.003-04:00

Roscoe vs Watermelon

<3

QT Corner...

2011-06-10T09:56:00.005-04:00

I've been reading Ecclesiastes lately and it's probably one of my favorite books because King Solomon was a man who had everything- wives, mansion, money, wisdom, kingdom- yet after accomplishing and gaining all these things he came to a conclusion that none of these can satisfy a man's soul. Everything is meaningless. He drills that in several times too. KSol sounds like a Debbie downer and extreme but it's refreshing and a great reminder that only God can satisfy my every need and that I need to come to fear the Lord again.

Reading Ecclesiastes also made me think a lot about the people of New York. How most people seem to strive so hard to reach the top of the corporate ladder, earn lots of money and buy lots of things to make them happy. On the outside it may seem they're rich and fulfilled but inside they must feel empty. For myself even though I'm not that go-getter, ambitious type I can see how I've easily fit myself into the lifestyle of liking worldly things too much. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with buying things for yourself or having fun but I think it gets scary when I enjoy these things too much and be immersed in it to the point maybe I don't need God cause everything I want is right at my feet.

I conclude with this passage that I read this morning and it was rejuvenating to read it again. Hope it speaks to your heart too.

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

¹ There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

⁹ What do workers gain from their toil? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time.

{ helen & ben + 1 }

2011-06-07T16:59:00.004-04:00

To those who still read this blog I have some BIG news to announce. Ben and I are expecting our first baby, and we couldn't be more thrilled. Praise God! :)

I just started my 2nd trimester and we're due Nov. 27th around Thanksgiving. It was hard keeping the news in, especially as I was feeling nauseous and exhausted during the 1st trimester and having a hard time eating all the things I love most (meat). So we're thrilled to be able to share the news now.

We'll be finding out the sex of the baby in 5 weeks! We both have a hunch that it's a boy but I'm okay with whatever we have and can only ask for a healthy child. Will keep you posted when we find out. Yay!

Fun DIY Spring Crafts on a rainy day

2011-04-13T13:23:00.020-04:00

***

It's raining April showers here in NYC. I hope it'll bring May flowers (and sunshine) because I'm already over this weather! I've been getting cabin fever the past couple days just working from home but what better way to introduce Spring with some cute D.I.Y (do it yourself) crafts to spruce up your wardrobe or home.

Here are a few of my faves that I'm dying to try:

Hardware Store Décor

From: Countryliving.com
Especially when you're living in NY and running out of storage
you have to utilize vertical spaces and wall space. What better way
to store your knick knacks than in these chic storage tubes?
http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/hardware-decor-0211

Animal Tote Craft

From: Countryliving.com
Animal prints will not go out of style for a while
so why not have fun printing your favorite animal
on a cute tote for casual outings or grocery shopping!
http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/animal-tote-craft-1110

Flower Hair Pins

From: katyelliott.com

If you get bored of your hair as easily as I do then
this is a cute way to give your hair some pop and color.
http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2009/02/flower-hair-pins-from-handle-spout.html

Tree Wallpaper Art

From: Countryliving.com
This is a great idea for those who are expecting or have kids right now
to spruce up their room with these cute patterns and colors.
http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/easy-spring-crafts-0309?click=main_sr

Ribbon Shoes

From: Countryliving.com
Got a pair of flats that are from several seasons ago
and ready to chuck them?
Before you decide to do that add a dash of color and
patterns to plain old flats.
It'll make your toes twinkle ;)
http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/spring-step-mar07

Ribbon Roses

From: scrap-a-little.com
This cute DIY project goes perfect with anything.
You can make it into a brooch, attach it to a plain bag,
shoes, hair pin, or children's wear.
http://www.scrap-a-little.com/2009/07/tutorial-for-ribbon-roses.html

Happy DIYing!

2011-04-11T19:04:00.003-04:00

Open The Eyes of My Heart

2011-04-08T12:46:00.001-04:00

Mustard seed size faith goes a long way.

2011-04-04T22:53:00.002-04:00

I'm in that place once again.

2011-03-17T15:48:00.002-04:00

what a beautiful day!

:)

Sniff Sniff What's that smell?

2011-02-17T10:52:00.016-05:00

Ah well of course it's the smell of wedding season just around the corner. I say that cause I'm flying out to L.A. today to see my brother-in-law get married. It's the first of many weddings to come in 2011.

With that in mind I recently bumped into this beautiful line of bridal collection Anthropologie BHLDN. came out with, Here are some of my faves from their collection.

***

Eyelet Medley Sheathe

Pleated Fantasy Gown

Burnished Organza Gown

Randomosities

2010-11-07T21:15:00.003-05:00

Naps are so awesome. I just took a 2 hour one. Thank you God for the needed rest.
1-on-1 girl bonding time are so valuable.
Will enter the work week being mindful and thankful for the job I have.
Shalom.
Greatest priority: an intimate and vibrant relationship with God.
Living everyday by His GRACE.

2010-11-04T13:03:00.004-04:00

Ezekiel 37

The Valley of Dry Bones

¹ The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ² He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. ³ He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”

⁴ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! ⁵ This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath^a]" enter you, and you will come to life. ⁶ I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸ I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

⁹ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

¹¹ Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. ¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’”

Walking on Sunshine

2010-06-30T12:18:00.004-04:00

Phew! What a summer it's been so far in New York City. The weather has finally cooled down today but with summer in mind it's inspired me to create a mood board for a summery interior. My recent obsession? Citrus colors. The lime and yellow colors bring a fresh pop into any room which creates a mood of summer cool and youth.

Inspired

2010-05-25T17:11:00.010-04:00

This is why I want to be an interior designer

2010-05-14T11:16:00.005-04:00

Ben and I are leaving for the Bahamas tomorrow to celebrate our 2-year wedding anniversary! It's crazy how time flies and I'm truly thankful for this gift of marriage.

Inspired by the sun and sand, here's a mini collage of looks I would wear to the beach or weekend getaway. Click to see bigger image. Enjoy!

2010-05-14T00:46:00.002-04:00

I want MORE.

Chalk it Up!

2010-05-12T11:55:00.013-04:00

If you're looking for an easy-peasy way to spruce up your place and you're on a budget Chalkboard Paint is the way to go!

Why is chalkboard paint so great? It's practical, adds an element of playfulness, and has multi-functional purposes.

Here are some fun solutions to make an ordinary space to a well-dressed one:

Add quotes or make your own interchangeable art to create an instant conversation piece.

Hang mini chalkboard cube frames in your hallway. It's an instant eye-catcher and neat way to leave quick notes.

Paint fun shapes and decoration for kids and adults to enjoy. Perfect for kids rooms!

Turn an ordinary door into a door-of-art or to write down recipes for efficiency.

Create a to-do chalkboard on a piece of canvas or wood. Add a dash of style with a cute ribbon or rope to hang.

Chalkboard doesn't necessarily mean it has to be black. It also comes in different colors to match the decor of your place.

Paint one side of a wall with chalkboard to make a dramatic statement and add magnetic paint to put cute magnets or hang art pieces.

Bored of your car? Here's a way to grab someone's attention on the road. Just don't ride it out on a rainy day like today!

Who I'm Trying to Become

2009-12-16T22:00:00.004-05:00

"In the Book of Acts, we read that Paul--after his conversion--people distrusted him because he used to persecute the church, but now he praised it. 'Is this the same guy? Can't be! Nuh-uh.'...It's amazing how folks can't see you, cause they want to keep you in that past. Some of our greatest problems in ministering to people is that they knew us back before we came to the Lord--"

The same thing with Paul...They saw him...they couldn't believe that this man's from Jesus, because they looked at his past--

They just looked at his past. And when we're still looking at ourselves through our past, we're not seeing what God has done. What He can do! We're not seeing the little things that happen in our lives--

When people tell me that I'm good, my response is, 'I'm trying,' But there's some people that know me from back when-- anytime I make that trip to New York--and when they hear I'm the pastor of a church, all of a sudden, it's like 'I know you gettin' paid, boy. I know you gettin' paid. I know you.'"

He paused. His voice lowered.

"No, I say. You knew me. You knew that person, but you don't know the person that I'm trying to become."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an excerpt from the book, "Have a Little Faith" by Mitch Albom. Upon reading it I felt a pang in my heart. Why? I was overcome with the sad realization that I'm actually one of those people who freeze framed, held on to the memories of people in their former self rather than accepting the person that they're striving to be. Why am I so quick to judge? Who am I to have these judgments yet when Christ came to save wretched soul like us He relinquished our track record and chose to love us instead. It's amazing how much hope He has for us. I'm truly humbled.

Roscoe Bombasco's first day

2009-04-21T10:29:00.002-04:00

2009-04-01T18:45:00.002-04:00

I decided to continue with my journey of re-reading my xanga entries from 4 to 5 years ago. It's kind of weird that I'm being encouraged by the stuff I used to write about. I didn't realize how transparent and honest I was about my life and faith. I miss having intimate conversations with God during my walks to school or sharing my frustrations with Him after a discouraging critique on a project. During the hard times I felt pressed but not crushed (just like that song) because He reminded me to minister to myself. Yes, minister to yourself. I remember that His Truth, His Promises, His Word set me free from whatever circumstances I was facing and allowed me to continue walking forward. Maybe it's easier for only children to do that since growing up we had to keep ourselves company by talking to ourselves in our minds and give ourselves pep talks. Or maybe that's just me. But really when there's a heart that genuinely desires to know our Father and there's an open heart to hear what He has to say it's only natural that whatever circumstances you face, God has given us that power through that time seeking Him, to be able to face anything. God doesn't give us more than we can handle but He gives us the proper equipment to keep from harm, to persevere and face anything.

2009-03-29T22:17:00.005-04:00

It's been a while since I've checked my xanga but tonight I decided to visit my posts. Below was the first entry I read and I can really relate to it today:

Thursday, September 30, 2004

Currently gone to: "Unwaxed" retreat

Reveal yourself to us Father

*************************************

An excerpt from an article written by none other than Tim Hughes

It's easy to praise when everything is going to plan. It's more of a challenge when everything around us is falling to pieces. It takes great faith to say when life is incredibly hard - "You are good." But this is the deal. God is good and is forever worthy of our praise. It's not dependent on our feelings. Day and night, always the same, God deserves our highest praise.

I think we'll find great comfort and healing in the church by allowing space to respond in this way. To be honest and real about how we really feel. To allow questions and doubts to rise, but in that place to respond to God by worshipping His holy name.

"I will praise You. I will praise You.
When the tears fall still I will sing to You.
I will praise You. Jesus praise You.
Through the suffering still I will sing."

When The Tears Fall - Tim Hughes

2009-01-22T10:25:00.002-05:00

Today Roscoe went to get neutered. He's gonna have a cone over his head for the next week or so. Poor guy :(

update on life

2008-12-04T22:10:00.004-05:00

Once again it's been a while since I've updated my blog. Mah bad ;)

Here's an update on what's been going on with my life since it's so darn interesting.

Remember the house plants that I was raving about in my first (or was it second) post? I'm sad to announce that the zebra plant perished 2 months ago due to my laziness. BUT I'm proud to say that the rest of the plants are still alive and well. You can never go wrong with cactus :)

I started my job as a part time dog walker 2 weeks ago and I LOVE it! I've always loved animals especially dogs since I was little so this is kind of my dream come true. So far I've been walking a golden retriever puppy named, Jack, golden-doodle (golden retriever & poodle mix) named Ollie and two big poodles named Max and Winnie. Other than picking up their doodie, I have so much fun with them, playing in the dog park and getting to know other dog owners while I'm at it. Who knows maybe one day I'll get to own my own dog walking business. The skies the limit.

Jack about to bury the ball

Jolly Ollie

This rarely ever happens but this year I've been in a Christmas-y mood whatever that really means. Like "I feel it in mah fingers, I feel it in my toooes" kind of feeling. (If someone can guess what movie that's from kudos to you!) Anyways, I digress.

Since two weeks ago, I've been playing Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas Album on repeat to the point where Roscoe has willingly put himself in his kennel and Ben has been using his head phones when using his computer. My favorite Mariah Christmas song has to be "All I Want For Christmas Is You." It's so catchy. With that being said, it's time to take a poll:

What's your favorite Christmas song and/or movie?

2008-11-03T19:30:00.000-05:00

hi.

warm fuzzy feelings

2008-09-24T09:46:00.005-04:00

Gahh I can't believe it's been 4 months already!!!!! God's been so good and gracious to us. Love you beb!!

and now one of my closest friend is getting married this weekend!!!

What do you wish to happen by the end of the day?

2008-09-19T09:28:00.007-04:00

Fifty People, One Question: Restored from Benjamin Reece on Vimeo.

I stumbled upon a short video of 50 people in New Orleans responding to the question, "What do you wish to happen by the end of the day?"

For me, I wish that I'll be able to jog 3 miles without heaving or feeling sore at the end of the day.
Ben and I jogged few weeks ago around Morningside Park for about an hour and towards the end it felt like our legs were dragging 100-pound rocks. That's not good. :T

So I return the question to all of you out there:

What do you wish to happen by the end of the day?

Mamas and Babies

2008-09-08T13:18:00.007-04:00

This past Sunday I had an amazing opportunity to volunteer serving the young, single mothers through an event called "Beauty for Ashes" which was organized by our church's AHAV ministry. I was so captured by the vision of the event which was to pamper these young, mostly single women and their children with a lovely evening of dinner, dancing and photos of them and their kids to show how special they are and that they're loved by God. I honestly didn't know what to expect other than that I really wanted to see God move and that I really wanted to be part of that.

At my table I had three young mothers who just moved into the Covenant House less than a week ago with their children. I was pretty nervous talking with them cause they were kind of shy but when asked about their kids their faces lit up and shared endless stories of them with proud voices. At times I'd forget that they're teenagers but when it came time to dance, which was one of the activities, their youthful soul came out and showed that they still got their groove. I think the women really appreciated that time cause it seemed like they don't get many chances to have fun like that.

One of the moms at my table shared about her experience with church. She stopped going cause she got into a fight with a friend. She misses going to church cause she loves gospel music but at the same time she disliked how it made her cry. It reminds her of the hard times she's going through. I told her maybe it's not so bad that she cries cause it could be God speaking to your heart and He wants to take all that pain away. She just shook her head. I didn't know what to say except inside I was praying that God would show her His hope and that whatever hard times she went through that He knows.

I think the women and children got to experience a glimpse of God's love for them. It was a joy to laugh and dance TOGETHER with them. It's not just them who needs His touch but even we who do believe in Him need to be reminded of His love, joy and hope. I don't know what the future lies ahead of them and it's kind of discouraging thinking about the possibilities of what may happen to them but there definitely is hope and anything is possible with Him.

...and Roscoe was his name-O!

2008-09-02T09:44:00.010-04:00

Hello again! Sheesh I really should be banned from the blogging community for being so unfaithful. But I appreciate those who've been so encouraging and reading my previous post. :) Just to update, the plants are still thriving in their new pots and it even looks like I have to get even bigger pots cause they're growing so fast! If anyone is sunburned, has stretch marks or open wounds I'll give you a piece of my aloe plant. Hehe.

As most of you might know Ben and I have wanted a puppy for a long time as long as I can remember- before we married, dated or were friends. I don't know what it is about them but they're just so darn cute, playful and loyal. So last weekend we strolled into a pet store and found our little Frenchie. It was love at first sight. He wagged his little nub of a tail when we greeted him and had a gentle spirit about him. After much consideration we decided to take him home with us. We named him Roscoe (just like the Chicken n' Waffles place). Roscoe's been such a joy and at times a pain in the booty cause he would poo/pee on himself but no matter how much I count the cost-- poo poo stamps on the floor, stinky farts, feeding, bathing--it's all worth it at the end. I know it doesn't pale in comparison but I kind of get a glimpse of how joyful and rewarding it must be for a mother when she's around her child. They bring an unexplainable joy and bring out the best and worst out in you. It might sound kind of silly but through Roscoe I'm learning how to be more patient and do things that I normally wouldn't want to do in love. I hope I can permeate those characteristics to people around me.

Here are some pics of Roscoe on his first day home :)

Playing with his corn toy

He loves sitting on daddy's lap

Ghetto booty

Got caught ripping paper

Spooning with daddy

the green thumb-elina

2008-08-18T10:46:00.000-04:00

Hi! Okay seriously I'm the worst blogger. I know I should update more often. I'm trying :T So as of late I found a new unexpected hobby-- gardening!!! (or more like watering/transferring plants into a new pot). I know. I've already been called out that it's 'social suicide' and how I'll end up being one of those ladies that wear huge sun hats, mom shorts and gardening gloves.

But despite what my new status ends up to be I enjoy nurturing, watering and watching my plants grow. It all started when the in-laws came over for dinner and mom-in-law bought us six different kinds of plants as housewarming gifts-- aloe, zebra plant, cactus, bogonias and I forget the name of the other two but it's the kind you find in all Korean homes. Since then I've faithfully watered them every other day and let them bask in the sun. I feel like a parent watching their kid grow right before their eyes. I must be doing something right cause my plants aren't dead yet.

This past weekend the hubs and I went to Home Depot to buy a new home for two of our plants cause their roots are already growing out of their pots. I was stoked. We bought potting soil, two plastic pots and a red mini shovel.

Zebra and Bogo (before)

Zebra (after) was too lazy to take picture of the other one.

My goal one day is to grow vegetables, fruits and other plants on our balcony. I'm sure the hubs would love that. muhaha.

:)