Masquerade Ball: Frozen-Inspired Costume

“And after all,

what is a lie,

'tis but the truth

in a masquerade.”

--Alexander Pope

I attended a Masquerade Ball party last month, and this could be an inspiration for dressing up like Elsa, from the movie Frozen, this Halloween.

The Masquerade Ball began in Venice, Italy and it dates back to the 15^th century. Traditionally they held elegant and formal occasions. Today, Masquerade Balls doesn't have such stuffy Renaissance dresses. The outfit you choose to wear depends on who you are, and it also reflects on the events. It's all about mystery and intrigue that counts.

Every two years the Philippines Nurses Association of Oregon and Washington (PNAOW) holds a masquerade party, which is a fundraising event to raise funds for their medical mission in the Philippines. It benefits the less fortunate people and victims of natural disasters, like typhoons and earthquakes. Our good friend Madonna was formerly the president. I always like to support a good cause, and at the same time, I also have fun.

Choosing a costume is hard and time consuming because there are endless choices. This is about transforming yourself from the old era or into a character that you would like to portray. It can be Victorian, fantasy, or Gothic. I'm not into elaborate and stuffy outfits, which are heavy and difficult to pull off. Instead, I chose the Frozen-inspired costume. It is currently one of the top Disney animated movies. Another thing to consider is choosing the mask that complements the dress. Choose a mask and wear it well, so that no one can guess your identity once you enter the ballroom.

The occasion was a success, and I had lots of fun. I also won the Best Costume for the female  category.

Beach Inspired Décor

"Memories at the beach last a lifetime."

Summer has been so busy and I’m also glad that it’s finally slowing down at work. Now I can relax and do some posts. Since it’s still sunny this weekend, and as a transition to fall, I did a beach-inspired décor as a goodbye to the long, warm summer. It’s a perfect accent in our beach-inspired bathroom. The beach is one of my favorite places to relax and unwind. I like the waves ebbing as I watch from the seashore, and I enjoy seeing the turquoise waters. It helps clear my mind and gives me inner peace. It’s my dream to have a beach house someday; I'd walk every morning, read books, and watch the sunset at the end of a day.

We went to the beach last month, and we were kind of beach hopping. It’s my first time going from Seaside and then to Lincoln City. The view was gorgeous and looked breathtaking. We rarely go to the beach as a family because of our busy schedules. So, it was a precious time for us.

For this project, I used my collections of shells and rocks, and got the sand from the beach. I recycled two empty hurricane glasses that we bought last Christmas, which formerly contained candies. Whenever I look at the décor, it reminds me of growing up in the Philippines, when I visited the beach there. I hope to return to my hometown soon.

Materials

Hurricane glasses

Shells

Rocks

Sand

Succulent plant

Candle

Turquoise necklace

Stromboli

A stromboli is a type of turnover filled with mozzarella cheese along with various fillings (pepperoni, vegetables, meatballs, or whatever you prefer). My daughters, especially my eldest, love Italian food, or anything that has cheese in it. They also enjoy this turnover because it's delicious and easy to make.

Ingredients

1 cup mushrooms

1 cup bell pepper

1 cup broccoli

Mozzarella cheese

Parmesan cheese

Italian sausage crumbles

Turkey pepperoni

1 lb pizza dough

Here are pictures of the procedure:

Strawberry Banana Popsicles

Summer is almost ending, so we went to the Farmer’s Market and bought strawberries. I love going there because the produce is fresh and locally grown. At the same time, it supports the local farmers. Whenever I go to the market with my family, I often see other people buying fresh produce and crafts. There are even other foods available that can only be found in the area.

Also, the Farmer’s Market in our area is closing soon until next summer. This means that the strawberries will no longer be in season, so we want to enjoy one last treat, with these fresh fruits. As a result, we made popsicles out of them, and we also included bananas.

Ingredients

3 cups strawberries, washed and hulled

3 tbs. sugar, divided

3 medium bananas, mashed

1 cup vanilla yogurt

1 tbs. flax seed

Directions

1.      Combine the strawberries with 2 tablespoons of sugar in a blender. Blend until smooth.

2.      Divide half of the strawberries mixture between your popsicle molds. (About 2 tablespoons each). Set aside.

3.      In a small bowl, combine the bananas, yogurt, and 1 tablespoon sugar. Stir to combine.

4.      Add the banana mixture to the popsicle mold, about 2/3 full. Next, pour the remaining strawberry mixture on top. Freeze 4 to 24 hours until it’s completely frozen.

5.      Remove from molds, serve and enjoy!

Recipe Source: http://theslowroasteditalian-printablerecipe.blogspot.com/2012/06/scrumptious-strawberry-banana-popsicles.html

Healthy Banana Split

Banana splits are an ice cream-based dessert. It is served on a long dish called a boat. This is a classic favorite with a twist that you can enjoy without the guilt. It’s a simple dessert that the whole family will enjoy, especially the kids.

It’s summer right now, so I keep on doing posts about beverages, desserts, and cold treats to beat the heat.

Last week, we had a little picnic by the lake, and it was hot in the park, so we indulged in this snack after the whole day, relaxing.

Ingredients

• 1 banana
• 1 tbs trail mix/granola
• 4 strawberries
• ¼ cup blueberries
• dairy-free coconut ice cream
• 2 tbs. semi sweet chocolate chips
• sugar-free chocolate syrup for drizzling
• cherries for garnishing

Directions

1.) Split the banana length-wise and lay the two halves in a shallow bowl

2.) Add in the fruit: strawberries and blueberries 

3.) Scoop out the ice cream and put it on top

4.) Add in all of the decorative ingredients: trail mix, chocolate chips, and sprinkles if you wish 

5.) Drizzle the sugar-free chocolate syrup 

6.) As a finishing touch, put cherries on top 

Enjoy, and keep cool in the heat! 

Strawberry Lemonade

“Love, laughter, and lots of ice –

the ingredients of a great summer.”

-From Kichenomics

It’s 4^th of July today, where we celebrate the independence of our country. Everyone is celebrating with a party or a barbecue and this is a great beverage to stay cool and drink while you watch the fireworks tonight. This drink is also the perfect color scheme for the holiday; which is red, white, and blue. 

Happy Independence Day!

What You Need:

• Fresh strawberries
• Fresh blueberries
• Simple syrup
• 1 lemon squeezed
• Pink Lemonade Vodka (optional)
• 4 cups lemonade
• Lemon lime soda

Directions:

1.) In a bowl, combine strawberries, blueberries, simple syrup, and lime juice to cover the fruit. Let it sit in the fridge for one hour before using.

2.) Start with putting ice in a pitcher. Then put the fruit and syrup mixture. Add lemonade and top off with soda.

3.) Garnish with sliced lemon and strawberry. Enjoy!

Note: How to Make Simple Syrup

1.  Mix 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Heat in a pan until the sugar melts, then put it in the fridge before using.