God. It’s been a while since I talked to my friend back home. So much had happened. In six years to be exact. I called her last night. It was so good hearing from her. Catching up. We recall stuff from college and it just made missed home so much. I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home. I thought.
Her baby is turning 5. Also, two of my other good friends are pregnant too. And my best friend who’s my cousin at the same time just had her baby. A boy.
It’s just amazing to see that we are all parents now and our perspective in lives changed overnight. But we are still the same person as were, funny, crazy, and carefree, although we progressed in certain ways.
So much had happened and changed over the few years back home since I left. Old teachers got married and had kids on their own. Old boyfriends are now husbands and fathers themselves. Parents died. Working professionals. Relocation…
I paused myself and asked what could have happened if I have chosen a different path. Would I be married? To whom? If so, how many kids would I have? What kind of profession would I be in? Have you asked yourself that before?
Looking back…
About Me
Love brings ecstasy and relieves loneliness. In the union of love I have seen In a mystic miniature the prefiguring vision Of the heavens that saints and poets have imagined.
With equal passion I have sought knowledge. I have wished to understand the hearts of [people]. I have wished to know why the stars shine.
Love and knowledge led upwards to the heavens, But always pity brought me back to earth; Cries of pain reverberated in my heart Of children in famine, of victims tortured And of old people left helpless. I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot, And I too suffer.
This has been my life; I found it worth living.
adapted

Project Corner
This week's free project is from Michael's. It's a Hooded "Bear" Baby Blanket.

Materials Needed:
Bernat® Cottontots (Solids 100g/3.5 oz.; Ombres 85g/3 oz.): Wonder Dreams, Main Color MC (5 balls) Wonder White, Contrast A (1 ball) Little Boy Blue, Contrast B (1 ball) Dark Blue (small amount for eyes & nose embroidery) Stuffing (small amount for muzzle) Crochet Hooks: Sizes H/8 (5mm) & I/9 (5.5mm) or size needed to obtain gauge Cost of each project will vary depending on materials used. *** Due to the seasonal nature of some merchandise, actual availability of some products pictured may vary.
Instructions:
Note: Ch 2 at beg of row does not count as hdc.
With MC, ch 111.
1st row: (WS). 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook. *Ch 1. Miss next ch. 1 sc in next ch. Rep from * to last ch. 1 sc in last ch. Turn. 110 sts.
2nd row: Ch 2. 1 hdc first sc. *Ch 1. Miss next sc. 1 hdc in next ch-1 sp. Rep from * to last sc. 1 hdc in last sc. Turn.
3rd row: Ch 1. 1 sc in first hdc. *Ch 1. Miss next hdc. 1 sc in next ch-1 sp. Rep from * to last hdc. 1 sc in last hdc. Turn. Rep last 2 rows until work from beg measures approx 34 ins [86.5cm], ending with 3rd row. Fasten off.
Hood: With A and smaller hook, ch 30. 1st row: (RS). 1 dc in 4th ch from hook. 1 dc in each ch to last 3 ch. (Yoh and draw up a loop in next ch. Yoh and draw through two loops on hook) twice. Yoh and draw through all loops on hook - dc2tog made. 1 tr in last ch. Turn.
2nd row: Ch 3. Dc2tog over next 2 sts. 1 dc in each dc to end of row. Turn.
3rd row: Ch 3. 1 dc in each dc to last 3 sts. Dc2tog over next 2 sts. 1 tr in last st. Turn. Rep last 2 rows to 2 sts. Fasten off.
Bear Muzzle
With smaller hook and B, ch 9. 1st rnd: 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook. 1 sc in each of next 6 ch. 3 sc in last ch. Do not turn, working in rem loops of foundation ch. 1 sc in each of next 6 ch. 1 sc in last ch. Join with sl st to first sc. 18 sc.
2nd rnd: Ch 1. 2 sc in same sp as last sl st. 2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 6 sc. 2 sc in each of next 3 sc. 1 sc in each of next 6 sc. 2 sc in last sc. Join with sl st. to first sc. 24 sc.
3rd rnd: Ch1. 2 sc in same sp as last sl st. 1 sc in next sc. 2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 8 sc. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in next sc) twice. 2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 8 sc. 2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in last sc. Join with sl st. to first sc. 30 sc.
Bear Muzzle (continued)
4th rnd: Ch 1. 2 sc in first sc. 1 sc in next sc. 1 hdc in each of next 2 sc. 1 dc in each of next 7 sc (top side of Muzzle). 1 hdc in each of next 2 sc. 1 sc in next sc. 2 sc in each of next 2 sc. 1 sc in each sc to last sc. 2 sc in last sc. Join with sl st to first sc. 32 sts.
5th rnd: Ch1. 1 sc in each of first 3 sc. 1 dc in each of next 11 sts. 1 sc in each sc to end of row. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.
With Dk blue yarn embroider Nose and Mouth (see picture). Sew Muzzle to Hood, stuffing Muzzle lightly. With Dk blue yarn embroider Eyes.
Ears (make 2):
With smaller hook and B, ch 5. 1st row: (RS). Ch 1. 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook. 1 sc in each of next 2 ch. 2 sc in last ch. Turn. 6 sc.
2nd row: Ch 1. 2 sc in first sc. 1 sc in each sc to last sc. 2 sc in last sc. Turn. 8 sc.
3rd and 4th rows: Ch 1. 1 sc in every sc to end of row. Turn.
5th row: Ch 1. Draw up a loop in each of first 2 sc. Yoh and draw through all loops on hook - sc2tog made. 1 sc in each of next 4 sc. Sc2tog over last 2 sc. Turn. 6th row: Ch 1. Sc2tog over first 2 sts. 1 sc in each of next 2 sc. Sc2tog over last 2 sts. Fasten off.
Edging:
Pin hood to any corner of blanket. With larger hook, join B with sl st to any corner of blanket.
1st rnd: Ch 1. *Work 101 sc along side of blanket. 3 sc in corner. Rep from *3 times more, working through both thicknesses at hood area. Join with sl st to first sc.
2nd rnd:Working from left to right instead of right to left as usual, work 1 reverse sc in each sc around. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

:: Recent Posts
- Looking Back... - Jul 25, 2008
- Dream of Losing Weight? - Jul 24, 2008
- STOP Violence - Jul 24, 2008
- Spreading Creativity - Jul 24, 2008
- Wordless Wednesday - Before and After - Jul 23, 2008
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Sponsors
Friday, July 25, 2008
Looking Back...
Posted by Cathy at 12:51 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: memories
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Dream of Losing Weight?
Are you one of the millions whose desire is to lose weight? Well, I am one. And every time you turn your television on, diet commercials are everywhere but none of them seems to work. But hope is not lost. Have you heard about lap band surgery? JourneyLite offers programs that guide you through every step of your weight loss journey. They guide you from finding the right lapband doctor to insurance approval. They will also provide you with an evaluation to make sure that the program is right for you. It is very comprehensive and safe. Another great thing about JourneyLite is they provide extensive follow-up that is specifically tailored just for you. So if you think lapband is the answer to your weight loss dream, visit JourneyLite today.
Posted by Cathy at 5:34 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: lapband, Weight Loss
STOP Violence
Debbie got me tagged on this one.
In places where there is war, upheaval, insurgence, human rights violation, bloodshed, calamities...
Spreading the word,
1) Tibet - Philippines
2) Joyoz - Australia
3) A Fil-Am Journey - USA
4) Me and My World - USA
5) Real Expectation - USA
6) You...
Please help us spread the word, Vhiel and Soshana.
Posted by Cathy at 12:45 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Tag
Spreading Creativity
Hmmm...
How did I started?
Well, it's in my family. I've always had a bit of creativity in me. While some of my relatives are really good in drawing/painting, I on the other hand are good with letters. Calligraphy. I also like to put cute, pretty things together. Scrapbooking.
I got into scrapbooking few years ago when I got a gift set from a relative. I try to avoid hobby stores lately just to keep myself out of trouble. Specially when you get coupons, it's hard to resist.
But these days, I don't always have time for the manual scrapbooking so I got myself into the digital world of scrapbooking. Since my face is glued to the monitor most of the time and my right hand is tied to the mouse, so why not do it on my computer instead?
{start copying here}
{ created by me, please don't delete the graphics or alter it }
1. Copy the graphics designed by Cathy and then tell us your story about how you came to start designing. It doesn't matter if it's "for your eyes only" or you are designing for somebody.
2. Come back here and leave your link where you posted the story. I will add your blogs to the master list. If you have more than 1 blog you need to post the tag to your other blogs as well.
3. Passed it to people you know who makes beautiful crafts.
4. Make sure that you come back here to get the updated list of bloggers who joined the tag. This is a good way to increase our rankings on Technorati at the same time we get to read great stories.
So let's start spreading those creativity.
1. Anything and Everything in Between
2. Designs By Vhiel
3. Vhiel's Corner
4. Can of Thoughts
5. Digital Scrapbooking Creations
6. Me and My World
7. You're next...
Bloggers I know that have eyes on creativity are:
Princess of Images of Aloha
Dette of Mammadawg
Posted by Cathy at 8:50 AM 3 comments Links to this post
Labels: creativity, Digital Scrapbooking, scrapbooking supplies
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Wordless Wednesday - Before and After
To a mother like me, this is more like what I want to see each time I go into her playroom. Organized. Clean. But then again to my child’s preference…
This is more like what she had in mind.
Happy Wednesday again everyone.
Posted by Cathy at 12:01 AM 18 comments Links to this post
Labels: Wordless Wednesday
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
I Love You THIS Much Award
Isn't she sweet?!
Dette has become one of my good friends in the blogging world. And she gave me this cool award. So sweet! Love you back girl! Please check her out at MammaDawg. She has great post.
Now I'm handing this award to my good friends Debbie of A Fil-Am Journey and Vhiel of Can of Thoughts. I love you this much guys!
Posted by Cathy at 10:41 PM 3 comments Links to this post
Another Sleepless Sleepy Nights
It’s 1:18 in the morning and I should be in bed right now.
This is one of those sleepless sleepy nights. I have about five piles of laundry to go. And what in the world have I been doing for the last 8 hours? Hmm, let me think.
Darn. At 3:13 this afternoon I realized I had to send out a laptop back to San Antonio and it was too late. FedEx had already come by for the day. This means I had to stop by their office on my way home. Just another stop I didn’t want to make.
-- SomeHow.I.Tripped. --
Got home around 6:10. Gee time just flew by. My husband got this coupon from Nike for 25% off entire purchase of $125 or more. Since I’ve needed a new pair of running shoes we decided to go. I got me a new pair of running shoes, shirt for hubbiepooh, a sandal for little miss sunshine and a pair of shoes for her too. It was funny looking at her walking in her new shoes for the first time. She was wobbling. But to my surprise she has not tried taking them off. Let see how long those shoes will stay on.
Somehow from all that walking around Nike, we realized we were not in the mood for taking-the-steak-out-of-the-refrigerator-thaw-it-out-start-the-grill-steam-the-broccoli-grill-the-steak-eat-clean-up. Hmm, too much work and too late... On our way home, we stopped by On the Border for dinner. Got home around 9:40. Already? Oh, by this time little miss sunshine still has her shoes on, surprisingly. She must have liked them better than sandals. Or she just does not know yet how to take them off.
It’s amazing how time just came in a swoop and not realize how unaccomplished I was.
So it’s 1:37, I better go to bed… more coffee for me tomorrow.
Posted by Cathy at 1:41 AM 3 comments Links to this post
Labels: dinner, Kids Shoes, running shoes
Monday, July 21, 2008
First, Now and Last
I got a tagged Vhiel
So here goes...
First
* First name: Cathy
* First screen name: ccandia79
* First funeral: My uncle died and don't remember how old I was
* First kiss: not telling, lol
* First love: as is this one, lol
Last
* Last beverage drank: what else, coffee
* Last food consumed: banana
* Last phone call: HP Technical Support
* Last time showered: this morning
* Last CD played: Jim Brickman in my car this morning on my drive to work
* Last website visited: Anything and Everything in Between
Now
* Single or taken: absolutely taken and never will be available
* Gender: Female
* Birthday: last Sunday
* Sign: Cancer
* Shoe size: 6 1/2 - 7
* Thinking about: Going home
Participants:
1.) Me and Mine
2.) Creative in Me
3.) Little Peanut
4.) For the LOVE of Food
5.) Pea in a Pod
6.) SugarMagnolias
7.) Blogsilog
8.) Captured Memories
9.) Cherry’s Comfort Zone
10.) Thinking Out Loud
11.) Wishing and Hoping
12.) Buzzy Me
13.) My Precious Niche
14.) Just Me.. Eds
15.) Eds Mommy Life
16.) Can of Thoughts
17.) Designs By Vhiel
18.) Vhiel's Corner
19.) Anything and Everything in Between
20.) Me and My World
21.) You...
I'm tagging everyone!
Posted by Cathy at 4:15 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Tag
Logos/Widgets For You
Here's a widget code that your blogger friends can copy and paste them on their blogs.
Format: [Image][TextArea]
[IMAGE] [img style="WIDTH: 126px; HEIGHT: 127px" width="102" src=" IMAGE SOURCE HERE " height="112"/]
[TEXTBOX]
[textarea rows="8" cols="13" class="tiny" name="1"][a target="_blank" href="YOUR URL HERE.com/"][img border="0" width="125" alt="BLOG TITLE" src="YOUR IMAGE SOURCE.jpg" height="125"/][/a][/textarea]
Result would look like this.
BisdakPlanet Foundation
Thank you so much!
Meal Ideas
Hamburger with Double Cheddar Cheese, Grilled Vidalia Onion and Horseradish Mustard

Ingredients: 2 pounds freshly ground chuck
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 slices white Cheddar, sliced 1/4-inch thick
8 slices yellow Cheddar, sliced 1/4-inch thick
8 hamburger buns
Horseradish Mustard, recipe follows
8 leaves Romaine Lettuce
Grilled Vidalia Onions, recipe follows
Dill pickles, sliced
Ketchup
Preheat grill or a cast iron skillet to high.
Divide the beef into 8 (4-ounce) burgers. Season on both sides with salt and pepper, to taste. Grill or cook in the skillet for 3 to 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare doneness. During last minutes of cooking add 2 slices of cheese to each burger, cover grill and let melt, approximately 1 minute. Place burger on bun and top with Horseradish Mustard, lettuce, Grilled Vidalia Onions, pickles and ketchup.
Horseradish Mustard:
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish, drained
Whisk mustard and horseradish together in a small bowl.
Grilled Vidalia Onions:
2 Vidalia onions, sliced crosswise, 1/4-inch thick slices
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Brush olive oil on both sides of the onions and season with salt and pepper. Grill the onion slices for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until golden brown.
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