...my birthday!!  man another year coming up on age (and so quickly again).  for the next days and into next week i'll be dedicating the posts to "birthday" themed subjects like cake, parties, outfits, and gift wrapping and packaging. 

of course you know i had to compile a birthday list of what i'm dreaming (drooling is the truth) about. 

sources:  polaroid z340 instant camera, the supernatural by Philosophy, macarons, HOMAKO necklace, House of Harlow ring, tribal arrow sweatshirt, Marc Jacobs skirt, Madewell skimmers,
 "the photographer" tote, lenox helmet by bern, journal, heart veneer sunnies by Tumbleweeds


♥happy wednesday.

i love cooking and baking especially.  with the warmer months ahead of us it reminded me of baby showers, and birthday parties.  these goodies were from last year when i a friend asked me to make cake pops for her nephew's birthday.  i love the original cake pops on a stick, but they never turn out the way Bakerella does it...she's in a category all on her own.  so i did a bigger version of Bakerella's cake pop ice cream cone recipe and it worked out...pretty well i might say.

i didn't take any step-by-step pictures of how i did them, only the end result.  so i just wanted to share.  but i will share the variations:

cones:  i used the regular sized sugar cones, because it was a bit challenging sawing off the ends to each cone.
cake ball size:  instead of the average size of the cake ball, i used a 1/2 cup measuring cup to measure the size of the "ice cream" part of the cake pop.


everything else follows Bakerella's instructions, plus it's fun to cruise her site.  these would be great for any type of party for favors, or an alternative to the traditional birthday cake.

photographed by : some of my somethings.


♥ happy wednesday

i can't believe january is over and now it's february and the weekend is upon us again.  the days are flying by and i'm realizing that i need to take advantage of every day.  so with that said, i think tomorrow i'm gonna make some homemade snickers bars...yes it's that image your drooling over above this text. (thank you Pinterest for tempting me with this weight-gain worthy treat ). 

the weekend seems like a "stay-in" weekend (for now), so if you are staying in here's some links to keep you occupied:

i want to make one of these for my sister's bday.
new in this shop
this is my dream pantry, take a tour.
a good round up of last minute ideas.
yes, please.


♥ happy weekend.

N.E.E.T's September 2011 issue!  i'm not exactly sure how i let it slip by, but life sometimes gets overloaded.  If you haven't read a N.E.E.T issue yet, set aside an hour or so and sip some chai tea and click on the pages ...to be inspired.

hapi wednesday!

... some savory, sweet and fun.

{tomato-basil soup, chewy chocolate meringues & boba smoothies}

hapi friday!

hey there! yes i've been away from the blog for awhile....just so much happened this weekend...it's been an overload.  lot's of prayer, lack of sleep, reflection and change.

to start off my return, thought i'd post my 10 hapi : things.  also, as you may have noticed, the title of the blog has changed (but don't worry this blog is still filled with much happiness). hope you enjoy the post.

























1.  snowball food trucks.  man i really wish that Chicago had a Skylite Snowball truck roaming around....i would order every flavor.  spotted on You Are My Fave.


























2. diy bracelet.  i spotted this on honestlywtf,  it's a bracelet made out of washers and hemp rope....following the "hardware" jewelry trend.  genius.


3.  dual purpose program guides.  of course only Martha Stewart would make a wedding program already filled with confetti. 































4.  polaroid birth announcement.  eek!  this is a great diy idea from Fresh Baked Paper Goods.


























5.  Bash Please.  this event production company is so artistic and looks at the aesthetic of moments.  check out the rest of their awesome studio tour here.  photos by : Laure Joliet
























6.  love that lasts.  this is a pic of when tay & nay celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary (circa 1990). a few days after nay passed away they would have celebrated their 70th anniversary.  happy 100th tay, nay you are missed.




















7.  spring shoes.  i'm a big shoe fan....and i'm loving these from F21.

so i'm back from my hiatus of blogging....felt real strange not posting anything for awhile.
finals went well and yet another semester of graduate school is at my door knocking (started this week)
and i'm itching for this degree to already find its end.

last weekend was a variety of being spent celebrating my mom's pre-birthday at the Trump Tower Chicago Hotel downtown...and it was really relaxing...(pictures to post in future posts).  amongst the fun spent shopping, taking the sites in....it was also spent reflecting on life.  it's ironic how at church we just had an outreach called "life is short"----and during the weekend je's dad was admitted into the hospital for pneumonia----it might not seem much to some, but being Christian you see those that don't know God (no relationship) and see how short life is for them....without knowing and participating in God's love and goodness.  thankfully, je shared to his dad about God's love, and now comes the part of continual feeding of God's word.

May is upon us, along with many birthdays!  well...it was my mom's birthday may 3rd and... HAPPY BIRTHDAY JASMIN! and my tatay (my grandfather) is turning a wonderful 100 years old this sunday (saturday Philippines time). how i wish i could be there to hug him and wish him in person a blessed birthday.

also....it'll be one month till my birthday comes...hee hee..and i couldn't help myself but to make a birthday wish list (this will never get old) .  there's so much more, but these are at the top...

sources: (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5)

hapi thursday

found sparkleskitchen on the front page of etsy....the macarons are lovely. (p.s. there are more flavors).

























via charlottes fancy, the inspiration and products of Littlephant are so fun !














and...happy tape!  i already have a line-up for my wrapping paper ideas.

hope you get to check out these shops!  they are all on my "wish-list" of shops.
happy wednesday.

haven't posted a "hapi things" post for awhile...and these posts are one of my faves.  hope you like....

1.  quirky stationary.  this new stationary line from Sapling Press is hilarious =)
























2.  TopShop.  this retailer is putting up shop here in Chicago this s/s 2011!  thank you TopShop.





















3.  ice cream sandwiches.  i'm really tempted to order these Beachy Cream treats.


















4. jak & jil blog.  this blog is a spot trending blog and the pictures are on key.







































5.  pretty tunic dress. sublte pastel pink for spring...of course it's Anthropologie.
















6. long lashes.  my best girl pals scored me these Lash Food products from a beauty show here in Chicago recently...and it works. big thank jasmin & len .




7.  Freelance Whales simple. sweet. original.







































8.  vintage cameras.  i really want to buy this Kodak Duaflex...hmm, maybe?




















9.  Chicago neigborhoods. wicker park, little village, lincoln park, oak park, the loop. chicago is eclectic because of the diversity of its people and communities.  source found here






























10.  Forage Bow ties.  Fitting for spring. Also, love the blog of these cool creators.

hapi weekend!

as i mentioned in the previous post there will be main staple features on the blog...including this one: 10 hapi things.  these are things that will make you smile, be inspired to make or buy...and most of all make you and me hapi! enjoy...