DIY Earrings Suzanna Dai-Inspired

I love making my own fashion accessories. This was in fact what encouraged me to start writing my own blogs. At that time, I was making more projects because I had more time than I knew what to do with. Just when I started to write, so did my other activities like zumba, gym and breakfasts and lunches with the ladies. Yeah, I intentionally wrote the exercises first to distract you. It was actually the eating that took top priority and DIY accessories sadly took last place.

What I'm sharing today is something I made almost a year ago inspired by famous jewelry designer Suzanna Dai.When I saw the pair she had on her site, inspiration suddenly struck me. I knew the materials to use were just hidden in the cabinets. So right there and then I gave in to the compulsion to create.

 The beauty of DIY is that you don't have to use the exact same materials but instead use what is available.

MATERIALS:

circular shells with holes in the middle (2 smaller and 2 bigger ones)
       Other options for this are: washers, cardboard or any material that can be cut out in the same shape but should be firm
rhinestone chain
embroidery thread in color desired (it makes you piece look more difficult to make than when you use ribbons)
E6000 glue or any all purpose glue that dries clear and holds well
post earrings

Apply glue to the end of the thread and start wrapping around your base. Make sure to overlap and neatly to cover the end. Completely cover your base and lock the end of the thread with glue. Do the same to the other base. It should be one smaller and one bigger.

Leave a few centimeters of thread to wrap around both pieces and glue. Attach the earring posts to the backside of the earrings.

 Time to embellish! Remember, it's even better if it's not exactly like mine. Personalize your creation.

 For the middle part, I applied glue in between each rhinestone so they stayed together.

Be creative. The purpose of an inspiration is to derive ideas from. But creativity means putting our own twist on your inspiration.

I hope to have inspired you enough to make your own jewelries soon! 

Sandee

Part 1 Women's International Group- Filipino Breakfast

Sometime in March, a good friend and fellow Filipina hosted a breakfast for Women's International Group in Phnom Penh. The theme of this gathering was the Philippine culture. She asked that our group who already performed for ISPP's International Day also perform during her party. I don't know why, but we always seem to be raising up our hands to volunteer for such things or at least unable to decline when asked to. So this time around, it isn't a wonder that we said yes first and thought about it last. We are not even members of this group comprised of women from different parts of the world, save for a couple.

And I'm sure some of us didn't know what was in store for them by befriending us. Lol! Not to worry, what happens in Phnom Penh stays in Phnom Penh.

                Photo credit: Mamta Khatri

With the hostess of this breakfast who showed no hint on her face that a few hours ago she was climbing atop chairs to hang decorations.

With another lovely Pinay. The rose necklaces are a DIY project.

Photo Credit: Mamta Khatri

  The buffet table was not yet completely set up in this photo but by the time all the food were there, it was overflowing. It looks overwhelming for some but that's how Filipino parties are. That's because there should be enough leftovers to take home by the guests. Hehe..       Photo credit: Mamta Khatri

                         

 Fresh Lumpia (vegetable roll)

I love, love, love this! Palitaw is made from sticky rice flour and cooked in boiling hot water. You'll know it's cooked when it floats (Tagalog word Litaw), thus the name "Palitaw". White sugar. toasted sesame seeds and grated fresh coconut are added for more flavor.

Ever attentive to details, she put food labels and ingredients of each food.

Being pork-lovers, Filipinos have come up with different ways of cooking it. Adobo is a staple in Philippine cuisine and has many different versions. This one goes so well with Pan De Sal.

Biko, a sticky rice cake cooked with coconut milk

 There were sweet treats of halu-halo and ginatan which I enjoyed eating enough to forget to take photos of.

While the more social-protocol conscious guests left at the appropriate time after enjoying the food, we of course stayed on. One thing you normally never have to worry about at parties hosted by Filipinos is overstaying your welcome. I left before we finished but for sure some goodie bags were packed and I'm quite sorry to have missed that.

This doesn't end here. Read Part 2 of my blog for more of what was showcased on this event. 

 Sandee

                                          

What I Wore Day 2: Camouflage and Lace

A while back, I issued a challenge to myself to write about my daily outfits. Sadly, I lost that challenge because having someone there to always take photos of me isn't possible. But all is not lost. I can always repeat my outfits because I'm not a celebrity who cannot be seen wearing the same thing twice. 

I am quite excited about this outfit post so I don't mind that it's making it's appearance again, so soon after the first. Just in case you don't keep abreast of the latest fashion trend, camouflage print is making a statement this summer. I've admired models and fashionistas donning them but never really got into it because the styles I saw around simply didn't suit me. It's really best to know what works well for your body type and keeping your own style because it will add to your comfort and confidence.

That's why I was content to be an admirer and not a wearer of this summer trend. In fact I had no intentions of following this trend at all. That is, until the day lady Luck shone down on me.

This is my first and only military-print item of clothing.

 My transparent and gold ballet flats is also a current fashion rage. Another option is to wear this with heels, which I did when I wore it to lunch with friends.

 

I love how the print is supposed to be fierce but the cut of the skirt exudes girl-power.

I kept the accessories to a minimum because where I live now, there is a very thin line between being well put together and belonging to a fashion spread in a magazine. I also didn't want anything to distract attention from the lace details of my blouse which I find pretty.

There are many inspirations of this trend to be derived from fashion runways and styling by fashionistas. Or you could come up with your own like I did.  

top: Night Market

skirt: Thrifted

earrings: Orussey market

shoes: Kinggor

nailpolish: +elianto Cambodia 

Sandee

Spa Birthday at La Rose Spa

We're starting a tradition between us the beautiful ladies.. Ahem.. The friendship is fairly recent but we've shared a lot of laughs between us and a few escapades. I won't admit if any of them were naughty. But back to the tradition. It started when one of us celebrated her birthday late last year and we had to think of a way to celebrate it. We chose to have a massage together and dinner and partied some. 

Since the first one was a success, we decided to go for the same thing when another birthday came up. It's nothing grand but it's what floats our boat. And thus, a tradition was born.

For that day, I suggested La Rose Boutique Hotel and Spa which I had been to a couple of times before. It addressed our primary requirement for a room that could accommodate the three of us. The one we went to previously had beds for only 2 and one of us had to make way for the celebrant and had foot massage instead.

I've had good experiences during my past visits to this spa. They take note of which areas you need special attention or need to be careful of and you you have certain medical conditions. I like the look and feel of the place too, which the staff say, was designed by the owners themselves.

The different massage oils to choose from

 The water is shockingly hot which always makes my hair stand on it's end. But I always find it odd that after just a few seconds of that soak, my feet already feel relaxed.

After we made our choice of De-Stress Massage, on to our cleansing foot scrub.

  Our room for three

For this visit I wasn't able to fully enjoy the massage. But for the simple reason that we were too busy talking the whole time. Massage is as much psychological as physical. You have to feel it working on you. Before we knew it, our time was up.

I am not so much into massages and the only time I go for one is when I really need it. I do not fall asleep during one and an hour of just lying there with nothing to to do isn't my cup of tea. But a lesson has been learned from ignoring back aches which worsened until I could barely stand. Oh, and when hubby treats me to one, I never want to make him feel bad by refusing.

 La Rose Boutique Hotel and Spa has met that occasional need because though I generally leave out blank the part that asks whether an area needs more attention, the massage therapist does know where to spend more time on. And one time, embarrassing as it is, I have to say I fell asleep and snored! I know, because I caught the tail-end of it. I was just lying there thinking it was really relaxing and the next thing I know, my snore woke me up. It's a rarity for me for both, falling asleep during massage (my first time!) and snoring. Promise, you can ask my hubby. Hehe..

As of posting, I already had another visit there after a rather exhausting couple of weeks. They have an on-going Buy One, Take One promotion which runs until the end of this month. Oh, and while you are there, try asking for a discount card. If this review of their spa isn't enough to convince you, maybe a 30% discount off their services will. 

Sandee

La Rose Boutique Hotel and Spa

164B Norodom Blvd

Phnom Penh, Cambodia  

 

 

 

Foodtripping in Cambodia: SURA Korean Restaurant

     I've loved Korean cuisine from the first time I tried it back in Eastwood City in Manila, though the name of the restaurant evades me now. I found it very spicy but it suited my liking for strong-flavored food. There are even days when I would crave for kimchi and kimchi-based food. This started when I watched a show called Kimchi Chronicles where the hosts showed different parts of Korea as well as their cuisine. In one particular episode, the host who is also a chef traveled to a province and featured an old lady who showed him how she cooked traditional food. It had a slab of pork belly cooked as soup with kimchi. It was a while back and all I remember now is how good and yummy it looked and then I was on a mission to try and find it here.
 
    They have a lot of Korean restaurants in the city and I cannot pick which one is my favorite. But on a Sunday night, I decided to take the family for dinner at Sura because we could have an entire room to ourselves.

 

   vegetable salad, egg rolls and kimchi for starters and side dishes

 

 thin slices of pork with kimchi and bellpeppers

Kimchi-based stew with mushrooms and tofu. This is similar to the stew in the show I watched which is obviously why I ordered it. This is my favorite among what we had.

  Beef Ribs stew which tasted similar to our local humba

     That night I was particularly craving for kimchi and so most of our food were kimchi-based and spicy. Surprisingly, the kids loved them, even our daughter who normally doesn't eat spicy food. Sure, they had lots of water after every bite and they were hissing but they couldn't get enough of it.

   So, would I recommend this place to friends? Yes, I would. 

Sandee