Baby Treasures by Nina Raval

Nina is my talented niece who has been blessed with a sweet baby girl she named Katrina on January of this year. A pre-law graduate of Chapman University, she is an aspiring journalist  and teacher, whose articles have been published in the local Riverside and Palm Desert newspapers.

Baby Kat, as we lovingly call her, was born a preemie. But after the initial worries and fears, she was brought home as a healthy precious infant. Her Mom treasures every moment of holding her in her arms only to realize how fast she is growing. Here, she shares a way to remember every precious moment.

Beautiful big eyes. She's so pretty in her pink floral onesie.

Baby Kat today at 9 months old.

Knowing that my baby will soon be a toddler, I began to clean out our Tiffany Blue-painted bedroom, with piles upon piles of new beautiful clothes that she easily outgrew. After giving the majority of them to a young mother in need, I decided to keep one or two pieces that were "preemie" size, so doll-like that it seemed impossible that the fleshy baby in front of me used to be so tiny, with her head once being able to fit into the palm of my hand. It was then that I decided to keep a box full of baby treasures  so that Katrina could reflect upon them when she is older, as well as celebrate the stages of life. For now, I have printed glossy pictures of her as a newborn, ultrasound photos, lovely cards received at her baby shower, her first blanket (a knitted one donated to her when she was born), and her first fancy onesie, all in a vintage-looking hatbox that is pale pink and deep china blue. I plan to also include a diary I am writing for her and her first ballet-style shoes, which are frosted silver. I am still developing all this, so pictures shall come later.

For now, I designed a Polyvore collage, hoping to give ideas to those who want to put together a Baby Treasure Box. The first row consists of a treasure trunk-style box, a newborn coat, and a receiving blanket. The second row contains greeting cards given to the baby, ballet-style shoes, a preemie-sized outfit, a hippo toy, and a baby's first bear.

A Post for My Daughter

"A daughter is a little girl who grows up to be a friend."- Author Unknown

This post is for my lovely daughter, Ciara Katrina, as she celebrates her 33rd birthday today. Like all her other birthdays, we had a family dinner {at PF Chang's}, came home, blew her candles, and opened the presents. It was a simple but heart-warming celebration. But unlike the past years, she has many more reasons to celebrate now. After a year of life's trials and challenges and having to face big changes in her life, she has started to set foot again on solid ground.

As her Mom and friend, I celebrate her........

For being a child of God...

For her new-found LOVE...

For her two sweet and wonderful daughters and the LOVE of her life, Maddy and Summer...

For her love of the home and a natural talent for decorating {and I love her style}..... 

For her simple and feminine personal style....

For her gift of creativity {she draws and paints when time permits}......

{For getting that raise at work}

And with all my love...here is what I know...

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY CIARA!!!

A Post For Lulu

Lulu is my glamorous and fabulous younger sister who shares a passion for the home. With a successful but extremely busy career in the world of banking, she finds time to decorate her abode in the French country/cottage style, organize parties with all the pretty decor, cook, and shop..shop...shop. With the latest changes in her life, she has yet to find that new home waiting to be decorated. Lulu, this post is for you...for your love of the home and the color blue.

~The Bridal-Groom Shower~

When two people are at one
in their inmost hearts,
they shatter even the strength of iron or bronze.
And when two people understand each other
in their inmost hearts,

their words are sweet and strong,

like the fragrance of orchids.

The Couple shower invitation

A bridal shower inspiration (courtesy of save-on-crafts.com)

The pretty bride-to-be...Maria Christina Lozada...we fondly call her Ting. She is my hubby's
niece and we have seen her grow up from her crib to becoming a lovely lady and pretty soon in
September, to be the most beautiful lady in the room-the bride-to-be.

The soon Mister in the household-Jaime Alvarado, Jr. We welcome you to
the family and to many happy years of family gatherings with long strings
of in-laws, aunts and uncles, cousins and cousins, nieces and nephews...plenty of Filipino food
especially pancit...and many nights of dart home-tournaments.

Let your love be stronger than your hate and anger.
Learn the wisdom of compromise,
for it is better to bend a little than to break.
Believe the best rather than the worst.
People have a way of living up or down
to your opinion of them.
Remember that true friendship
is the basis for any lasting relationship.
The person you choose to marry
is deserving of the courtesies
and kindnesses you bestow on your friends.
Please hand this down to your children and
your children's children.


Ting-here's a photo for your inspiration... all-white collection of dishes and
dinnerware. We share the same passion for white.

A Week-end of Joy

My sister Lulu's 50th birthday, here admiring my present for her- sets of demitasse.

The three sisters still fancying around Christmas ornaments from the after-X'mas sale.

A wonderful visit to my older brother, Mario, who came down with stroke last year. His smile is unforgettable.

My younger sister Jean's visit from Northern California. Always silly, always fun.

Family Blessings

I have been postponing my creative projects to attend to the more urgent and worldly concerns of bills, paperwork, and hunting for a new job-that-pays-the-bills. So far, my morning prayers have been my fortress and my blog, a constant companion and refuge. But thanks to our God for the wonderful blessing of family whose constant presence bring us joy and love.