Retreat to Wilson's Place Bed and Breakfast in Tagaytay

Rest and relaxation. That's our main objective for our weekend stay at Wilson's Place Bed and Breakfast early this month. It's our first time to visit this side of Tagaytay, which is more tranquil and with a provincial setting in a residential community. From the outside, you wouldn't think there's a modern bed and breakfast in this quiet village. It used to be an old resort which was bought by the current owners and transformed into this completely modern structure that welcomes city dwellers in their cozy suites amidst contemporary interiors and beautiful works of art.

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Fun Friday: What Makes a Fun-tabulous Kiddie Party?

Third Friday of the month:  Parties / Celebrations


11 children's parties over 16 weeks. Imagine that! These happy events filled most of our weekends since late June.  I didn't even include the invitation for tomorrow, and still expecting a couple more 'til December.  As I write this, I remember counting all the preggy ladies I know during a baby boom in our circle of friends last year. Next thing I know, the invitations came one after the other.

Eight out of eleven parties we've attended were first birthday celebrations. As expected, they were festive, colorful, loud, fun, exciting -- each one unique and memorable in their own (big) way.

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Images of Our Christmas

A beautiful Christmas day to everybody!
From my family to yours, we wish you peace, good health and prosperity!

We always spend the holidays with family, and this is only our second Christmas spent at home since we moved in here exactly a year and seven months ago.  Having our own home is truly one of the greatest blessings we could receive.  One would expect that with a fairly new house, it would be decked out to the roof...well, maybe next year  =) 

Green, red and gold.  Traditional Christmas colors and symbols are what you will find in our home, and very minimal at that. Gradually, I will collect more decor every year to achieve, as what designers call, a 'finished look' for our house.

The Christmas Tree has been our ultimate symbol of the season.  Just having a tree in our home is enough for us to feel the spirit of Christmas. This brand new 8-foot tree found a place in our living room this year.

Fresh evergreen trees have been used since the 16th century, and the first decorated tree originated from Germany.  The custom was then brought to England by Prince Albert in the 1800s, which eventually found it's way to America.  Now we can find so many ornaments in all shapes, colors, and sizes decorating Christmas trees all over the world.

I have always fancied poinsettias for the holidays. It is seasonal in nature, which makes it more 'desirable' as its leaves will only turn red starting October and may last up to February.  Afterwhich, the leaves will turn green, dry out and fall off, then wait until the next cycle begins.  I was only able to buy fresh pots this year and it truly adds a punch of color and life to our house.

This plant was named after the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Dr. Joel Poinsett, who brought it to America over a century ago.

 

Santa Claus. Kris Kringle. Saint Nicholas. I just call him Santa, and he will greet you as you enter our home.

He is know in so many different names and with so many legends and stories about him.  But I grew up knowing he is the magical and mysterious old fella that puts candies and favors in my stockings, and brings us gifts the night before Christmas...IF we were good boys and girls! Ho-ho-ho-hoo...

This is our Holy Family.  Mary, Joseph and Jesus are the main characters in the Nativity Scene, where the birth of Jesus in a manger was witnessed by the shepherds and the Magi.  These three wise men brought gifts to the new-born king, which was believed to have started the tradition of gift-giving every Christmas. Some call this the Manger Scene or, locally, the Belen -- adapted from Spain which translates to Bethlehem.

 

The Advent wreath hangs on our door which is believed to bring hope and light in our home.

Traditionally, the wreath is made from evergreen branches with five candles, which are lighted every week leading to Christmas day to symbolize the birth of Jesus. And like the Christmas Tree, this tradition originated in Germany as part their Christian beliefs.

Our wreath is quite unique as it features gold branches and a whimsical butterfly fairy, maybe to bring us good luck!

 

More ornaments such as glittery balls, a centerpiece with pears and pine cones, and twinkling tivoli lights that add to the sparkle and cheer of Christmas.

For sure, I will have more to share with you next year. 
Have a wonderful and memorable holiday season!

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Digging Damask

Damask (dăm'əsk) [from Damascus], fabric of silk, wool, linen, cotton, or man-made fibers, with a pattern formed by the weaving; e.g., the ground may be in twill weave, and the contrasting design in satin.

True damasks are flat and reversible, thus differing from brocades. Splendid patterns, silks, and dyes were used by the Damascus weavers, sometimes with the addition of gold or silver thread. Fine linen table damask is one of the most beautiful examples of the modern weavers' art, in both pattern and texture. Double damask has more picks, or threads, to the inch than single; compound damask has one or two warps and two fillings.


In the past few months, searching for inspiration for my upcoming wedding events landed me in these fabulous sites showcasing this rich, traditional fabric, with a modern appeal -- damask. This is such a great pattern for a wedding theme, with exciting color combinations to choose from that will surely make a bold statement to any event. And here I found a treasure trove of great finds with this timeless material that is very chic for the home, wedding elements, and other accessories. Indulge and be inspired as well!

History

Damasks were one of the five basic weaving techniques of the Byzantine and Islamic weaving centres of the ealy Middle Ages,^[3] and derive their name from their supposed origin in the city of Damascus, Syria.^[4] Damasks were scarce after the ninth century outside of Islamic Spain, but were revived in some places in the thirteenth century.^[5] By the fourteenth century, damasks were being woven on draw looms in Italy. From the fourteenth to the sixteenth century, most damasks were woven in a single colour, with a glossy warp-faced satin pattern against a duller ground. Two-colour damasks had contrasting colour warps and wefts, and polychrome damasks added gold and other metallic threads or additional colors as supplemental brocading wefts. Medieval damasks were usually woven in silk, but wool and linen damasks were also woven.^[2][4]

Modern uses

Damask weaves are commonly produced today in monochromatic (single-colour) weaves in silk, linen or linen-type synthetic fabrics which feature patterns of flowers, fruit, and other designs. The long floats of satin-woven warp and weft threads cause soft highlights on the fabric which reflect light differently according to the position of the observer. Damask weaves are most commonly found in table linens, but are also used for clothing and furnishings. Modern damasks are woven on computerized Jacquard looms.^[1]

: : my favorites are these cute lunch case and all-around tote / diaper bag

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