Michi Photostory

Here are the challenges for the anniversary weeklies. 

It was only last December when I first read about Artist Trading Cards so I researched how to make one. According to the pin that I found on Pinterest, for a great ATC, you can choose from the following: 

1. An interesting background texture or environment. 

2. Subject matter such as a person, animal, creature, insect, etc. 

3. School-appropriate word or phrase. 

4. Embellishment - buttons, string, ribbon, shapes, bling, papers, etc. 

5. Draw or color onto the image to emphasize certain elements. 

For my craft project, I decided to create a Birthday ATC. I don’t have drawing skills so I used stamps for my subject matter and even the phrase. I used Ohuhu Markers, Distress Oxides, and Lunar Paste to color the image and other elements. For the paper, I used textured and watercolor cardstock. 

It took me a long time to finish these 4 ATC but I am happy with the result. I made a short video here.

And because of that, whenever my mom asked me kung kelan kami babalik sa Norway? I always say “Ikaw na lang magbakasyon dito”. Kasi naman, ang effort mag-apply ng visa and ang mahal ng airfare tapos one month lang kami, parang sayang. Anyway, at least this year, bakasyon na kami sa June. 

Also, if I ever return to Norway, I prefer the Spring Season, which is March to May, because I like cold weather. Even though I know Spring weather in Norway is unpredictable, I will still choose it over the Summer Season. 

Two years ago, we were lucky because we were in Norway for three months, from March to first week of June so we experienced two seasons which are Winter and Spring. So we witnessed the transition of trees from bare to blossoming trees. This is one thing that amazes me how trees survive the four seasons. 

This trip is memorable because there were so many unexpected events like we had a Glimpse of Northern Lights, not once but twice. 

I’ve said that Spring weather in Norway is unpredictable because you will experience sun, rain, and even snow. Yes, snowfall during Spring in Norway so it is an advantage for us because we can still experience snow. Our last trip was unforgettable because we built a snowman, and we tried skiing and snow sledding.

And lastly, during those months, we celebrated my mom’s birthday, Easter, and the 17th of May. Easter in Norway is a week-long holiday so people usually go to the mountains to have fun in the snow or travel abroad. When we were there during Easter Week, we traveled to Røros, Oslo, and Stugudalen.   

Every time we are in Norway, we always visit Rusasetvatnet if we want to do some walking. I already blogged about this place during our first visit but only shared part of it since we did not finish the trail so now, let me share the other part of Rusasetvatnet. 

Our trip was memorable because it snowed so it looks like we visited Rusasetvatnet during the winter season but it is already the start of spring season.

I mentioned in my blog post that Rusasetvatnet is an essential stop for all visitors in Ørland. It became a favorite outdoor area, hiking place, and recreation area for the locals. And I guess not only for locals but also for tourists like me because their information board has an English Version too. Let me share some information about this place that I read from their information board. 

As we walked, we saw a bonfire place, a picnic area, farmhouses, a cottage area for rent, a mini library, and an insect hotel. 

An insect hotel is a constructed habitat of wood or straw for insects like bumble bees or beetles.

Over a week ago, we went to Festival Mall to buy an aircon for the new house. Actually, there is an appliance store near our place but when we checked the price, mas mura sa Anson’s. Napansin ko nga na for the past few months na bumibili kami ng gamit for the new house, sa Anson’s kami nakakabili ng gamit like gas stove, kitchen hood, built-in-oven and now aircon. What I like about Anson’s, is they have different rates if you pay in installments, straight card and cash so don’t forget to ask if may additional discount pa kung cash/debit card ang bayad, especially, if you will buy two or more items. 

And because of that trip, napakain kami sa labas. My husband suggested California Pizza Kitchen. I had no idea na may CPK na sa Festival Mall. We liked the food here in California Pizza Kitchen but we don’t usually go to Alabang Town Center kasi so ang tagal na pala since our last visit. I’m glad, they have a branch in Festival Mall na. 

Sa sobrang tagal, nakalimutan ko na yung dati namin order so we took our time in browsing the menu. We ordered 5 Cheese + Fresh Tomato Pizza PHP795, Garlic Cream Fettucine with Shrimp PHP895, and Warm Butter Cake PHP525. Unfortunately, the warm butter cake was not available kasi wala vanilla ice cream so we only ate the following food. 

5 Cheese + Fresh Tomato: Fresh and traditional Mozzarella, Monterey Jack, smoked Gouda, and Romano with tomato and fresh basil. 

Garlic Cream Fettucine: pasta with ultimate roasted garlic Parmesan Cream sauce and shrimp. 

The serving is a little small but it is enough to satisfy our stomach. The pizza and pasta are both yummy and hindi tinipid sa ingredients. Service is fast except sa billing, medyo matagal kami naghintay. 

My mom loves flowers so when I saw this Happy Birthday SVG file, I knew I would make it. I attached the design on a 10x5-inch cardstock and added “mama” as a stopper. I did not send this card because last year, July na niya nareceived yung birthday card namin. Waah! Five months bago niya nareceived but I am still thankful na natanggap pa kasi akala ko nasayang yung binayad ko sa post office. I just took a picture of it and will give it to my mom when she returns to the Philippines before school break. 

This is supposed to be an insert card but I removed the four corners. I colored the balloons and attached a backing card. 

The Retro TV Birthday Card is supposed to be a shaker card but I have limited shaker elements supplies so I did not put anything. The card is designed by Michelle Price during the Cricut Craftfest. 

The Birthday Candles Card is a 5x5 inches card with 7 candles, It is perfect for a 7th or 70th birthday greeting card. 

The Happy Birthday Greetings Layered Card is a 5x7-inch card. We used this for my father-in-law’s birthday since madami kami magsusulat sa card.

This Easter Egg Chick Design of Digital Gems is so cute that I still made it even though I don’t have a toddler. You need a split pin or fastener to make the eggshell move. 

The Easter Bunny and Chick Gift Tags designed by Main Road Digital Creations, are part of the Cricut Craft Fest projects. You can add the name to the carrots. This design is versatile because you can use it for straw, just remove the gift tag layer. 

The following designs are all from Craft with Sarah. 

It was out first visit at Alabang West Parade and madami pala pwede kainan. My son likes Japanese cuisine so when we saw Ippon Yari, dito na niya gusto kumain. Unfortunately, 11AM pa daw opening nila so I asked my son kung sa iba na lang kami kakain or maghintay kami? Surprsingly, willing to wait daw siya. Hehehe! But I knew he was already hungry so we dropped by Starbucks and we ordered bread and drinks while waiting for the restaurant. 

Ippon Yari is not a new restaurant because it started operating in 1996 in Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City. However, the owner decided to expand their business in provincial industrial parks where most of the Japanese resided. The Makati branch is already closed but you can visit their branches in Dasmariňas Cavite, Sta. Rosa and Calamba Laguna, Lipa Batangas and lastly Alabang. Ippon Yari - Alabang branch started its operation in year 2022, so bago-bago pa. 

Anyway, we went back to the restaurant at 11AM and ang dami na rin naghihintay na customers. The restaurant has different types of tables, meron for solo diners, family, and big groups. But these tables caught my attention, parang kakaiba. You have to remove your shoes if you want to sit here.

When the staff gave us the menu, we opened it a little bit and nag-order na kami agad. Hehehe! We already checked their menu online while waiting for the opening time. We chose from the 10 Ipponyari favorites so we ordered Chashumen PHP440, Katsudon PHP400, and Nirareba Itame Goza Teishoku PHP440. 

After two minutes, the staff arrived and gave us wet towels, water, and complimentary salad. My two boys enjoyed the salad, yung anak ko na hindi mahilig kumain ng gulay sa bahay, nagustuhan ito, pati yung salad ko, siya na rin kumain. 

In less than fifteen minutes, they served our meals and we were surprised because the servings were big, hindi tinipid, considering mas mahal pa yung ibang nakainan namin. My Katsudon order has a side dish and miso soup too. 

I also read that we can get a free Yuzu or Kyoho Soda if we answer a feedback form which my husband did. 

After eating, my husband got the bill and the staff asked us if we wanted hot coffee or iced coffee, complimentary daw. Wow, ang dami nila complimentary dito, normally may hot tea lang sa mga Japanese restaurant but here we got salad, juice, tea, and coffee. 

Taste of the food is good and also, the service is fast and good. There is no doubt na ang dami kumakain dito and I’m pretty sure na babalik din kami. 

We were supposed to eat in a buffet restaurant to celebrate Valentine’s Day with our son but it was already fully-booked so we just ate at Ippon Yari after grocery. We were early so we waited for 30 minutes before the opening time. 

Again, we already checked their menu while waiting para makaorder agad. We ordered Gyoza PHP200, Tonkatsu PHP300 + PHP100 for Rice and Miso Soup, Sauce Katsudon PHP360, Natto Teishoku PHP350, and Coke in Can PHP90. 

Same as before, they served hot towels and complimentary salad while waiting. I knew they had a big serving but I was still surprised when I saw my Tonkatsu, I didn’t expect na malaki yung pork chop, hindi nga kasya sa tray. Nahirapan ako ubusin yan so next time, hindi na ko magrice and miso soup. Hehehe! 

My husband only ordered the egg kasi hindi daw siya gutom. We had iced coffee and hot coffee while waiting for our bill.

2F Alabang West Parade, 

Brgy Alamanza Dos, Las Piñas City