Dreaming Of A Home Library

19 OCT 2018 • BY LINA S DELA ROSA

Dreaming Of A Home Library

I’ve been dreaming of a functional and beautiful library at home.  We have a rumpus or theatre room that serves as a playroom for now. I noticed that the girls are using it less than they were preschoolers. Their interests are changing. They like to do more reading, writing, crafting and drawing. And they don’t have many toys as they used to when they were smaller.

My girls have learned to love reading, and I always encourage them to when they have free time. When we go shopping, we prefer that they buy books instead of toys.

Now I’ve been thinking of converting our playroom into a home library. I want the room to be a place for them to do their homework, craft projects, play board games or simply relax and read their favourite book. I also want it to be a place for them to hang out with their teenage friends in the future.

I’ve been searching for the look that I want, and I know it will be a big project for us. I’m sure I want the shelves to be white, and I’m thinking of reusing our current Hemnes bookcases and TV stand and buy a few more enough to cover the whole wall. I also like the idea of having a window seat which adds a sense of cosiness and comfort to the room. It will provide additional seating and storage if fitted with drawers or cabinets. I’ve seen many DIY projects where they used bookcases from Ikea that were made to look like built-ins by adding baseboard and crown moulding.

Here are my 5 favourite looks for our future home library.

1) I love everything about this DIY library by Kristin From Bliss At Home.  It looks bright, beautiful and organised. I like the baskets Kristin used at the bottom shelves to organise items which look like magazines. The brass library lights complete the look.

source: Better Homes and Garden

 

2) I love how Kate from Censational Style updated her home office bookshelves by painting on the back panels using a kitchen sponge which made it look like a wallpaper. What a smart and creative idea! She used Besta and Billy bookcases from Ikea to create this gorgeous custom look.

source

 

3) This home library by Sarah of Thrifty Decor Chick looks cosy with the modern grey chairs and upholstered stool.  It makes me want to curl up and read a new book or magazine while drinking my favourite green tea. I also like the cabinets below which hide things neatly and free from dust.

source

 

4 ) Who wouldn’t love the modern look of this home office by Chris from Just A Girl Blog? She painted the back of the shelves using a pleasing shade of blue from Benjamin Moore. The animal print rug enhanced the space and added sophistication.

source

 

5 ) The all-white look of this home library by Amy from Eleven Magnolia Lane looks refreshing and stunning for me. I love how she used the colours brass, blue and black from the picture frames, willow plate and books to add interests. The white chairs and the black and white cushions tied it all up, creating a cohesive look and feel.

source

 

Architectural Digest listed 35 home library ideas with beautiful bookshelves designs. You might find the style and inspiration for your own home library here.

With still so many things to prioritise like finishing and tidying our backyard and garage, I’m not even sure when we can start planning it. I’ve been subtlety bringing it up to hubby so he has an idea on what he’ll be up to if I suddenly found a window of opportunity for him to start the project, ha!  For now, I will continue dreaming until the day I’m reading a book while sipping my roasted rice green tea. Can’t wait!

Do you have any home project in mind? Please do share.

 

Thoughtful Gifts for Christmas

05 OCTOBER 2018 ∞ BY LINA S DELA ROSA

Thoughtful Gifts for Christmas

It’s never too early to start our Christmas planning and shopping. I try to prepare in advance to avoid stress and still enjoy the holidays with my family and friends. I make a list of all my family members, friends, little children and keep it updated every year.  It’s important to note the person’s interests or preferences, your relationship with the person, and their age. We need to make sure that we get the age-appropriate gift, especially for children. When it comes to choosing gifts for the youngsters, I always ask my girls’ expert advice and suggestions. You’ll be surprised to learn that the kids know what is the latest trend on toys.

I have a few friends who create beautiful things which would make memorable gifts. They have found their passion thru their hobbies and turned them into a home business. I am excited to share their creations with you which might serve as an inspiration for you to pursue your hobby or passion like them.

My good friend Dona loves sewing, and she makes beautiful home linens like cushion covers, table runners, kitchen towels and reusable bags. Another good friend Nanette likes collecting different kinds of indoor and easy-to-care plants, and now she makes them into beautiful succulent arrangements. She also loves crocheting and used to sell her creations in weekend markets and school fundraisers. Our friend Erwin has turned his artistry into a hobby and finally into a home business. He creates fabulous wood decor signs which would make great gifts for any occasion.

I like giving personalised, reasonable and well-thought gifts. Remember, we don’t need to break our budget to come up with a special gift. All it takes is careful planning, creativity, attentiveness and maybe a little window shopping.

Here’s my list of thoughtful gifts for Christmas 2018 ♥.

Reusable Bag
A practical and environmentally friendly gift for a good friend. Now that several stores have stopped using plastic bags and we are encouraged to recycle, this bag is a timely gift.

Cushion
Kids will surely love this personalised cushion with their names on it. Soft and snuggly, it would make a great addition to their bedroom. You can also add your favourite quote or saying.

My friend has different kinds of printed fabrics like the charcoal coloured cushion cover with flower print she made for me.

Kitchen Towel
Lovely personalised kitchen towel in plain calico cotton will add charm to your kitchen!  It would also make an excellent gift for special events like wedding, anniversary or housewarming.  You can have it customised by adding your favourite quote or saying.

Table Runner
The table runner is a perfect accessory to your beautiful home. It can be used as a dining table or a hall table runner. I love the neutral colour which fits into any home interior style.  You can have any custom size made.

Succulent Arrangement
I can’t resist these elegant succulent arrangements! Although flowers are popular as gifts for any occasion, I think we should consider giving succulent arrangement. It’s pretty, easy-to-care-for and you can enjoy it for a longer time.

Wood Decor Sign
I love the “gather” wood decor sign that my friend made. It’s a beautifully crafted home wall decor, hanging on the dining room wall. He also makes name wood signs that are excellent keepsakes.

Wooden Coaster
A useful gift for dad, boyfriend or the newlywed couple. Keeps the surface of the tables clean from spills and helps maintain peace at home =).

Trinket Tray
A personalised and pretty trinket tray for your jewellery organisation. It’s a great addition to anyone’s dresser, bedside or hallway table. You can also use it as a catch-all tray for your loose change, keys or chapsticks.

Journal
Personalised journal is the best gift for someone who loves to write and record their life experiences. Don’t forget your travel buddy who loves jotting down the exciting places you’ve visited, popular restaurants you’ve tried and the best meals you’ve eaten.

Baby Onesie
Cute and comfortable onesies for the little ones. It will surely bring a smile to mum and dad’s faces!

Books and Stationery Set
I love giving information books, colouring books, pencils and crayons to kids. For the kids who love reading, you can give them books about dinosaurs, solar system, animal kingdom, crafting or travel. It helps expand their general knowledge, and you can play a trivia game with them where they get to ask you a question about the book they read.

Please visit Dona’s Facebook page NCase It! for your custom cushion covers, table runners, kitchen towels, reusable bags and many others.  You can also check Nanette’s Facebook page Little Nina’s Designer Garden for her pretty succulent arrangements.

Have you started planning and making your Christmas list?  If not, find the time to sit down and start soon!

Inspirational Quote:Fear As Part of Life

28 SEPTEMBER 2018 ∞ BY LINA S DELA ROSA

Accepting Fear As Part of Life

I’ve read that we need to strengthen our courage muscle to face our fears. I think it will help us to put a stop to what’s holding us back, maybe in accomplishing our goals or fulfilling our purpose in life.

We can face our fears by putting one foot in front of the other.  We need to keep moving forward, and then we’ll realise that what we feared is scary, is not scary at all.

I will be courageous and confident, and I look forward to a better me.

Thai-Style Green Apple Salad

19 SEPTEMBER 2018 ∞ BY LINA S DELA ROSA

Thai-Style Green Apple Salad

We love Thai food and me and hubby frequent the Thai restaurant near our home. One lunchtime, Kelvin decided to try their whole fried crispy fish served with green apple salad on top. The fried fish and fresh salad go so very well together that I was inspired to re-create it in our kitchen. I remember, growing up in Manila, my mum makes a similar salad using green mango with shrimp paste or fermented fish.

Since the green mango is not always available here, the crunchy and tart green apple is a great alternative. If you want a punchy heat on your salad, don’t be shy to add red chillis and red onion.  I like to sprinkle lots of roasted peanuts on top for the added crunch and flavour. You may omit the peanuts if you have allergy concerns with a guest or family member.

Coriander is my favourite herb. I love the bold lemony-taste flavour and aroma. I know many people don’t like it and if you’re one of them, you can substitute it with mint for freshness. The dressing is simple to make. You only need 3 ingredients, lemon juice, sweet chilli sauce and fish sauce.  I used the sweet chilli sauce as a sweetener in place of sugar.  The salad goes very well with roasted, barbequed or fried meat too.

THAI-STYLE GREEN APPLE SALAD

Serves 3-4 persons.

INGREDIENTS

For the Salad:

• 2 big green apples, cut into strips

• 1 big tomato, seeded, cut into strips

• 1 cup coriander, loosely packed, roughly choppped

• 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, roughly chopped

• half of small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)

• 2-4 red chillis, thinly sliced (optional)

For the Dressing:

• juice of 1 big lemon

• 2 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce

• 1 tablespoon fish sauce

The dressing will make about less than 1/2 cup. I usually use only 1/4 cup of it and reserve the rest. Pour 1/4 cup on the salad first and taste before you add more. If you don’t have fresh lemon at hand, you can use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar.

DIRECTIONS

1) Combine green apples, tomato, coriander, onion and chillis in a bowl.

2) For the dressing, combine the lemon juice, sweet chilli sauce and fish sauce in another bowl.  Mix very well.

3) Pour the dressing over the salad and toss.

4) Transfer the salad on a platter.  Sprinkle peanuts on top.

5) Serve immediately with your favourite fish or meat dish.

Cut the green apples into thin strips.

Mix the ingredients for the dressing.

Chopped salad ready for dressing.

Tomatoes can be substituted with shredded carrots. I also like adding fresh green beans, cucumber strips or chopped iceberg lettuce for more bite. The dressing is very versatile. You can use it as the dipping sauce for fried spring rolls, Vietnamese rice paper rolls and roasted meat or fish. Raid your fridge crisper and make your own salad tonight for a healthy meal accompaniment!

Now, I’m salivating as I finish this post. Let me know what you think.

Crazy About Singapore

7 SEPTEMBER 2018 ∞ BY LINA S DELA ROSA

Crazy About Singapore

Last weekend, I watched the blockbuster Crazy Rich Asians. I’m a sucker for romantic comedy films so I just can’t let it pass and not watch in the big screen. I find the movie heartwarming and identifiably funny at the same time.

As I was watching it, I was once again reminded of the country Singapore that was our second home for 8 long, fruitful years. We left behind many wonderful memories, good friends and colleagues. We miss the delicious food and all the beautiful attractions and places that we frequent. Here are our must-see and things to do in Singapore.

1. Shopping and Dining at Orchard Road
Orchard Road is the shopping mecca of Singapore. From high-end brands like Chanel and Louis Vuitton to big fashion retailers like Zara and H&M, you can find anything that your heart desires. You can walk on the long stretch of the road and enjoy people watching too. There are numerous restaurants and cafes to relax and rest your feet after all that shopping. I love the Japanese department store Takashimaya which is housed inside Ngee Ann City. They often host events at the event hall at the basement level. Depending on the time of the year, there can be a Food Festival, Kids’ Toy Sale, Branded Clothing Sale and Homewares and Kitchen Sale. Don’t forget to check it out. They also have a big food hall that you wouldn’t miss. It gets a bit busy at times, but you will not be disappointed. There’s a wide range of food, desserts, tea and speciality food to try.

2. Merlion Park
Don’t miss to have your picture taken at the Merlion Park in front of Fullerton Hotel and overlooking the Marina Bay. The Merlion is Singapore’s national icon with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. Its head represents Singapore’s original name, Singapura, or “lion city” in Malay.

3. Sentosa Island
One day is not enough for Sentosa Island. It is a man-made island where you can find Universal Studios Singapore, Resorts World, SEA Aquarium, Siloso Beach, Butterfly and Insect Park, Tiger Sky Tower, Cable Cars among many others. We love going to the Adventure Cove Waterpark and our girls always have fun with all the exciting water rides, slides and unique attractions.

Shrek’s Castle at Universal Studios Singapore.Universal Studios Singapore

4. Marina Bay Sands Hotel
The famous luxury hotel with the breathtaking infinity pool. If you want to see a 360-degree view of Singapore, you can go up to the SkyPark Observation Deck and Infinity Pool for a fee.

 Stunning view from the hotel room.

5. Gardens By The Bay
We were able to see the Flower Dome a few years ago, and it was amazing seeing a wide range of flowers and plants. It helps relaxes the mind and warms the heart, and you’ll leave with a renewed appreciation of nature. We would like to go back again and see the other gardens, lakes and sculptures.

6. National Museum of Singapore, National Gallery of Singapore
If you want to learn more about the history and culture of Singapore and view the world’s largest public display of modern Southeast Asian art, don’t miss these two.

7. Singapore Flyer
Experience the amazing view by riding Asia’s largest observation wheel.  After taking in the spectacular view, you can dine at the food stalls nearby serving authentic local fare.

8. Chinatown
Chinatown is a fascinating place surrounded by shops and hawker centres. You’ll have a peek at the Chinese heritage and culture, bursting with the colours of red and gold shophouses, temples and museum. I love walking down the street market where I usually buy gifts and souvenirs to take home. The many food stalls will also help you satisfy your local food cravings.

9. Singapore Zoo and Night Safari
The last time we visited Singapore Zoo was when the girls were still toddlers, and I’m sure they have forgotten it. We would like to go back again and see the animals roaming around in their natural habitat. If you want to experience the world’s first nocturnal zoo with your kids, then visit the Night Safari which opens after 7 pm. There are walking trails if you want to explore by foot or ride the tram to go around.

10. Sample the Local Fare
Singapore has a very diverse culture, and you shouldn’t miss trying different types of food. Don’t end your holiday without trying the very popular, delicious and spicy chilli crab with mantou. If you have already tried the chilli crab before, how about black pepper crab? If you’re not a fan of very spicy food, then the salted egg crab is definitely for you!  Here are other local dishes you should try.
• Chicken Rice (one of the national dishes of Singapore, there was a time I ate this for lunch for 5 straight days)
• Cereal Prawn (crispy fried prawn cooked with cereal oats, tastes so good, a favourite in Chinese restaurants)
• Crispy Baby Squid (one of our favourites, must-try)
• Oyster Omelette (for oyster lovers like me)
• Dim Sum (affordable and can be found in any hawker centres, siew mai, barbecued pork bun, sticky rice in lotus leaf and many more)
• Kaya Toast with Soft-Boiled Eggs (love this for breakfast with tea or coffee)
• Bak Kut Teh (pork ribs soup served with fried dough and dark soy sauce, I eat mine with rice)
• Sliced Fish Soup (healthy sliced fish soup in fish broth with vegetables, served with rice or noodles, one of my favourites)
• Sambal Stingray (charcoal-grilled stingray wrapped in banana leaves served with sambal paste on top, surprisingly delicious, never tried stingray until we moved to Singapore)
• Char Siew (caramelised barbecued pork, one of Kelvin’s favourites)
• Char Kway Teow (stir-fried rice noodles with sweet dark sauce, egg, pork lard, Chinese sausages and fish cake)
• Wanton Mee (noodles tossed in meat-based gravy served with wontons, pork cubes or char siew and bok choy)
• Nasi Lemak (Malaysian dish with coconut rice, fried chicken or fish, fried anchovies, peanuts, sambal or chilli paste, egg)
• Roti Prata with Chicken, Beef or Fish Curry (soft and chewy prata dipped into the delicious curry meat sauce, best eaten with hands, really miss this)
• Popiah (a version of fresh spring roll filled with cooked carrot and turnip strips, small prawns, boiled eggs, Chinese sausage, lettuce and bean sprouts)
• Rojak (a mixture of dough fritters, bean sprouts, beancurd puffs, radish, pineapple, cucumber and roasted peanuts with a sweet-savoury black prawn paste sauce)

Roti Prata with delicious curry sauce.

We like going to No Signboard Seafood Restaurant for our chilli crab fix and Crystal Jade Chinese Restaurant for our favourite dim sum and Chinese food.  Din Tai Fung is also very popular for its delicious xiao long bao. There’s so much more to add, and I could go on and on. Be adventurous, and don’t be afraid to try something new.

There are many more attractions to visit and experience too. Before you visit Singapore, make sure you do your research and list all the things that the whole family would like to see and do. Once you have completed it, sit down with everyone and have a vote to narrow down the list. The ones that didn’t make into the list is something to look forward to on your next visit.

Don’t forget to dive into the rich culture and soak in all the fun that only Singapore can offer. I’m sure you will get crazy about it too!  Enjoy!