What Else MichelleWhat Else Michelle

Color Idea For Your All-White Rental Unit

Michelle — Thu, 02 May 2013 05:51:24 +0000

Whether you’re stuck with white walls in your rental unit or just too much of a scaredy cat to dress your walls with colors, here’s a doable and practical idea which popped on me when I saw this image from Freshome.

Source

Why not add a bright colored “baseboard” on top or your walls including the narrowest corner wall? No need to be afraid of messing up your place with paint splatters not to mention not having enough of a painter’s skill. The solution, colored duct tapes!

I remember seeing some of those in True Value Shangri-La in Mandaluyong. I was tempted to buy the pink one but given the price (around P500, I think, but don’t trust me on this. I just know they’re quite pricey) and the fact that I have no idea where to use it, it’s better to leave it on the shelf.

What do you think?

No, I Haven’t Given Up Blogging Yet

Michelle — Wed, 01 May 2013 03:54:25 +0000

Welcome back to myself! I’m now on my 14th week of pregnancy and am officially done with the exhausting first trimester. Based on my 2-month long inactivity in the online world, you’ll know I’m not just exaggerating when I say I was drained of energy everyday. All I wanted to do was hibernate, even eating was too tiring.

And now, the second trimester seems to look promising. But if I wanted to be really productive all throughout the day, I found out that I need my morning fix of coffee. I’m not caffeine dependent like my husband and I can get by without having a cup. But since we don’t have household help right now, (and I prefer to keep it that way for as long as I can) I need some sort of stimulant to help me finish all the house chores, design works and help Bryce with his assignments.

My schedule is not usually that loaded but there are several projects lined up right now and I am in such a mood to organize, clean and decorate the house (my nesting instinct is already kicking in!) So, I need another cup of coffee!

My OB-GYNE advises me to give up coffee during the entire pregnancy because caffeine causes low birth weight in infants. Have any of you continued drinking coffee during your pregnancy? I’d really like to know because I’m starting to feel guilty.

By the way, the coffee artwork is a free printable that I posted long, long time ago. You can download it here if you wish.

We’re Expecting!!!!

Michelle — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:09:16 +0000

For regular readers of my blog, (are there any? haha!) you might be wondering why I went AWOL again, this time for more than two weeks. Well, this is my alibi: we’re pregnant! If you went through the early pregnancy phase, you will definitely understand my absence. For the past two weeks, all I wanted to do was sleep and browse the net for random stuff. My brain cells were in hibernation mode too so all my DIY projects were left on hold. I was feeling grumpy and concentrating on a certain thing was quite an impossibility.

And now, I’m feeling much, much better except for the annoying grumbling of tummy a few minutes after eating something. Most food don’t taste good and desserts make me throw up. AND I am ordered my OB-GYNE to take a rest for two weeks since there is a slight subchorionic hemorrhage which I hope would go away soon so I can go running again and finish my swimming lessons. Honestly it is quite tempting not to rest at all since I feel exceptionally fine now but I wouldn’t want to risk losing the baby again (I had a miscarriage early January 2012) especially now that Bryce is really looking forward to having a little sister (yes, he wants a sister.)

So, that’s it! We’re just sharing the happy news with y’all! And yea, expect a lot of pregnancy/mommy related posts from now on.

Oooh, wouldn’t it be nice to have a girl? So much cute DIY projects and another room make-over! Yay!!!

How To Decoupage A Table

Michelle — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 12:34:22 +0000

One of my things to do for 2013 is to make our center table more appealing. If you read my post, that is how plain our living room looked like for the longest time and with the white walls and white-covered sofa, I meant to add pops of color here and there.

I really like the colors in Pat Bravo’s Calla Lilly fabric design so I framed it with the 2 framed I bought several months ago. I just painted them white since they are originally black. I plan to add 4 more frames to balance things out.

If you noticed, the alcoves are gone now. Since rust is constantly staining the walls no matter how many times you paint over it, it’s just better to have it covered. There will be six square mirrors to be placed on ether side and that will be my faux windows! Hopefully it would open up the room and add more light to it. I can’t wait to have the mirrors installed. The supplier is taking forever to contact!

And yeah, I moved the sofas. The living area is too large and the sofas are way out of proportion. I may have to get rid of the sofas soon because there’s no way this area would look better with these furniture. If you’re wondering why we have a couple of sofa beds, it’s because when we bought them, we thought we were staying in this house for a few months only, then we’ll transfer to a much smaller house… but it never happened…

Anyway, that table was done by our carpenter. The piece of plyboard was supposedly a cover for the window in our dining area but I had shelves built instead. So not to waste the already painted plyboard, I asked him to weld the tubular bars (1 bar for P130. We used 2) just like this West Elm table. The table top is screwed to the base so it can be changed anytime. I love flexible furniture!

Ok, sorry, I’m talking too much. I forgot that this is a tutorial on how to decoupage a table but it really is pretty simple. Apply an even layer of Elmer’s glue (or any white glue or Mod Podge if you have more budget) on the surface you want to decoupage. Make sure sure it’s even and cleaned. I didn’t add water to my glue because I want my fabric to adhere immediately. If you’re decoupaging a large piece of furniture (like a dining table), it would be nice to ask a friend’s help when applying the glue. Otherwise, the first area you applied glue on would be dry by the time you finish the entire area. Why not glue it area by area? Well, I just find it easier that way. I didn’t have any problem with bubbles maybe because my fabric isn’t too thin. I’m not sure…

Apply about 2 coats of glue on top of the fabric, giving extra attention to the edges. This time, I added water to the glue (50% water, 50% glue) because the fabric will absorb most of the glue and undiluted glue would be so hard to apply.

And once the glue has dried up, it’s time to polyurethane it! When I was researching what polyurethane to use, most of the bloggers recommend water-based one as decoupage sealer. I checked Boysen’s website and they have one (Hudson Timbercoat) but I went to Ace Hardware in SM Annex and unfortunately they have none. I asked the guys there if the oil-based one would work on decoupaged fabric. Apparently, they had no idea what decoupage is and told me the oil-based one would leave my fabric sticky. I was in doubt but I bought it anyway. I had to find out myself…Drying time is way, way longer for oil-based ones. Direction says apply coating after 2-3 hours but I waited longer, like 12 hours, just to make sure it’s completely dry. Ok, not exactly true, I was just being lazy. Anyway, it took about 4 days to finish this with 6 coats of polyurethane. Don’t forget to sand in between coats though (I used 600 grit sandpaper) or your table would be really rough. (By the way, I painted the table base black to make it look like the real thing. haha!)

My yellow fabric turned a little bit darker when polyurethane was applied because I didn’t use clear one. I will try to find better polyurethane because decoupaging furniture is so much fun!

That piece of wood is actually narra from our Laguna Trip which I got for free. I applied polyurethane too and now it makes such a great vase tray. The two glass thingies were from Uniwide Warehouse which I got for P35/each.

I love how this table looks with our red sofa bed. I wish we had a smaller room where I can place them. I may not get rid of the sofa afterall but if ever someone wants to buy it, I’ll throw in the table for free just because I really think they look great together. Any buyers?

By the way, you might ask, why bother decoupaging when I’m using plain fabric anyway. I can paint it instead. Well, The table looks plain enough and even though it’s plain yellow, you can see the fabric texture which makes the table quite unique. Besides, I wanted that exact shade of yellow if only it didn’t turn darker. But I love the darker yellow still.

First Try on Cheese Pimiento Stuffed Chicken (Lazy Version)

Michelle — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 12:00:49 +0000

I love anything stuffed, stuffed chicken, stuffed porkchop, stuffed turkey, stuffed bell pepper. You name it, I’m gonna eat it. So when I came across Nestle’s stuffed chicken recipe, I just had to try it. As usual, I tweaked the recipe a bit and ended up with a not-so-appetizing picture. But the taste, I swear, is divine! Even Bryce ate a lot that dinner.

You can try the recipe above as it is but when I whipped up this dish, I was on my peak of laziness. So instead of following Nestle’s instructions, this is what I did. Took me about 10minutes to prepare. Hehehe!

I didn’t have spring onions available and wanted a bit of veggies in my chicken so I opted for frozen veggies.

I love pimiento so I used a lot. And that pimiento in can sure was slimy. Where can I buy fresh ones?

I sliced the chicken breast in half but not going all the way, just like when doing butterfly cut porkchop. Then instead of grating the cheese, I sliced them into thin sticks. See, lazy am I! I sprinkled some paprika, by the way, after taking this photo.

The recipe called for frying the chicken, but I know I’d mess up. I won’t be able to keep the stuffings inside the chicken, and of course, I was feeling so lazy, so I baked the chicken instead! I skipped rubbing Magic Sarap on the chicken breast because…

I added a cube of chicken bouillon and mushroom on my Nestle Cream. At this point the sauce is way too salty but when poured over the chicken, the chicken will absorb the flavor anyway. Lastly, I just popped the dish in a preheated oven. I am using a convection oven so baking time is lesser than conventional oven especially if the fan is on. My baking setting: 35 minutes at 180 C.

This is it! Served over red rice and buttered veggies. I am so going to have a second take on this and get better pictures.

For more creamy recipes, please check out Nestle Cream’s Facebook Page.

Spin the Color Wheel with Real Living this February!

Michelle — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 05:09:19 +0000

Tired of the same old monochromatic hue? Then it’s time to add more colors to your home with Real Living magazine’s Color and Paint issue! Get inspired with the hottest pantone color trends for 2013. Also in the issue, Real Living gives a low-down on 5 color choices that designers swear by!

Here are a few tips you can use to easily bring more color into your home:

Tip # 1: Give your neutral room a new vibe by incorporating pops of color into your accessories.

Tip # 2: Re-vamp your room with do-it-yourself projects that will definitely add more life to your current pieces. (Check out the Real Living notebook for great ideas!)

Tip # 3: Don’t be afraid to mix and match your color swatches together. Exclusive in this issue is a special feature on unexpected color palettes for each room in your home.

Also in this issue are home finds of different colors that will make each room brighter. Real Living will also bring you to 9^th Liberty, a new gorgeous furniture store that sells one-of-a kind pieces that won’t hurt your budget.

For more design and inspiring makeover ideas, grab a copy of the February issue of Real Living, available in newsstands, bookstores, and supermarkets nationwide for P140. For more of Real Living online, become a fan of Real Living on Facebook or follow via Twitter and Instagram.

For non-Philippine residents, you can also read Real Living current and back issues, as well as their other published books via Summit Newstand.

Shopping Guide: Ultra Affordable Decors For Your Home

Michelle — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 07:18:02 +0000

I am not the kind of girl who is into fashion accessories, probably because (1) I hate having too much stuff on me. (2) I’m reckless. By the end of the day, I’d probably just have half of what I had earlier in the day because I either lost the other half or damaged it along the way. (3) I’m just not comfortable wearing things other than clothes (top, bottom and undies). I can’t even keep my wedding ring on for an entire day! And (4) I don’t think accessories are worth spending for. Yes, I’m that cheap!

So when it comes to home accessories, I kinda feel exactly the same way but having No. 4 as the main reason followed by No.2. Anything more than P1,000 is considered expensive to me that’s why I’m resorting to DIY. But I love vases and decors and lamps and beautiful rugs. I want to have my shelves properly styled and I know I need stuff. That’s why I am so glad when a friend told me about Uniwide Warehouse along Quirino Avenue.

The first time I visited the place, I felt like I was in shopping heaven. There was a lot of beautiful vases, similar to what can be seen in malls but way, way cheaper. I’m not talking about 50% cheaper but rather just a quarter of the mall price, even lower! If you have a thousand bucks to spare, it is possible to have a cartful of stuff.

Here are some proofs:

Table lamps for P599! There are smaller lamps for P99. Personally, I don’t like the current designs but with some spray paint, fabric and ribbon trims, these lamps can be oh so awesome. Such a DIYer’s delight!

These porcelain marbles cost more than P100 in malls but you can get these balls for much, much less!

See? These can be good for DIY projects as well.

I am so in love with these ceramic pitchers! Use them as vases or group them together to adorn your kitchen cabinets.

Of course, this is what I bought, the cheaper ones. Hehehe!

If you’re holding a gathering and want some nice, colorful serving plates, here are your cheaper options.

Love that black one in the middle!

Plum vases for P599 and P199. Where else can you get them that cheap?

Sale and more sale! Gotta have these vases because 2013 Pantone color pick is emerald!

I bought that white ceramic fruit bowl for my sis-in-law’s condo but placed it near the kitchen sink instead to hide the dish washing liquid and sponges. Oh, and if you’re having a diy wedding or just organizing a posh party, here’s where you can buy really cheap wine glasses for P39 each!

Sorry for the blurry photo, but I know you’re familiar with this chinese porcelain garden stool. The cheapest I found here in Manila was P3,000, the most expensive was P7-8k, I think. Guess how much this is in Uniwide? P700! I should have bought the turquoise or yellow one when saw it. They were gone when I went back they other colors were still available. Lesson: When you see something that you really like, go grab it quick! Don’t think twice because they accept credit cards. Haha! But seriously, I doubt you’d find anything cheaper than what they have.

By the way, I must warn you that this is literally a warehouse, not a mall. So expect your hands to be all gray after you finished shopping. Everything is dusty but in good condition. Some vases may have a slight chip here or a tiny discoloration there, but hey, no one is going to scrutinize your pieces once they are up on your shelves. If you’ve got dust allergy like me, take your antihistamine before entering the store.

Uniwide Warehouse Club, 840 Quirino Highway, Gulod, Novaliches, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines Phone: +63(2)9394673

Valentine’s Arts and Crafts Fair

Michelle — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 07:25:51 +0000

Hey crafty, artsy, food and wine loving readers! There will be a 3-day bazaar to be held at Pavilion 1 & 2 at the 2nd floor of LRI Design Plaza, 210 N. Garcia St. Bel-Air II, Makati from 10am to 7pm on Feb. 14 to Feb. 16, 2013. Entrance is absolutely free for the bazaar area and poetry reading events. There will be workshops that have registration fees but the organizers for those will be collecting via their websites.

This one-of-a-kind event offers a unique opportunity to “indie-preneurs” or independent artist entrepreneurs who produce hand-crafted items with little to no capital. It aims to be a venue for crafters to network, meet other sellers and offer their products with the lowest-cost rent for higher returns.

There will be over 20 concessionaires joining the event with items ranging from custom jewelry, wire art, felt and crochet products and more. There will also be food concessionaires where snacks, meals and drinks can be bought.

So please, let us support our fellow crafters and have fun at this special event! See you there!

Reader’s Project: DIY Paper Light Shade

Michelle — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 01:47:02 +0000

I am so happy to know that there are readers who got inspired by my 25 DIY-able Paper Light Shades post and even happier to receive an email from someone who actually tried doing one of the shades. Roxanne gave No.11 a try and ended up with an unexpected result. And yes, she glued each strip one by one. I wish I had her patience.

I had a go at making one of the lampshades..No.11.

After purchasing a paper lampshade, I stuck on individual strips of paper which I had pre-cut from A4 printer paper (about 30 sheets), carefully gluing along the wired spiral line of the paper lamp using PVA glue.

Well, halfway through the process, I realised I had made the mistake of holding the lamp the wrong way up when I started, but I decided to finish it off to see how it would turn out.

It took between 4 – 6 hours (that included 2 snack breaks and a couple of girly phone chats) to complete the whole thing.

Well, it looked just like the one in the picture you put up for No.11,that is when it was held upside down, but when I turned it over so that the lamp was the right way up and could be fitted properly with a light bulb. The result was really unexpected…GORGEOUS!!! (even if I DO say so myself!)

Remember, your paper lantern will have a large aperture and a smaller one. The larger one should end up at the top.

The moral of this tale? If you find you’ve made a mistake, dont give up, just keep going because some mistakes can turn out to be better than the original.

Unexpected, indeed! Reminds me of a sea urchin and a pineapple. I think it would also look great for parties with strips in different colors and hung in groups. Now I want to make my own version of this, a smaller one though so I’d finish quickly. Haha! Thanks for sharing, Roxanne.

If you’ve have your own version of paper light shades, please share it with us.

Another Two of My Chopstick Box

Michelle — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 23:58:00 +0000

I buy a magazine or two every month and so you can imagine how much I’ve accumulated by now. And while most of them are in our bookshelf cabinet, I’d like to keep a few recent issues within reach. I usually read in the bathroom (oops! it’s relaxing hey! I know some of you do that too!) so I wanted a box near the bathroom entrance that can hold my magazines. Cheapo moi, I did two more versions of my chopstick box. One for my magazines and one for Bryce’s Kumon worksheets. For instructions on how to make one, you can read here.

This time, I spray painted the two boxes. I didn’t bother sanding or even priming them because I was too lazy. But on a good day, I probably would. Then I just simply glued a piece of scrap fabric on top to cover the jagged edges. I want my boxes labeled so I glued a piece of cork board (another scrap) so I can just pin the label and change it anytime I want to. Ok, honestly, my fabric was a bit short so the cork board was the perfect cover up solution. Hehe!

By the way, I’m not being paid to promote CondoLiving but I love it anyway. If you have a tiny house, you can find a lot of ideas here. So you don’t necessarily have to be a condo unit owner to appreciate the mag.

And this is Bryce’s box. I initially planned to have the two for me since I already did a box for his worksheets but when he saw the boxes, he wanted one. How can a good mother say no? Haha! That was felt that I glued on top and notice my attempt to do an “ombre”. I gently and quickly sprayed white paint at the bottom after the blue paint has dried.

Have you tried creating your own chopstick box? Feel free to share and I’ll gladly post your version on my blog.