Are you Vanilla or Are you Chocolate?

If you can't decide, then why not be both?

This week on my blog, we're adding some Tada! to ice cream.

Scoop some vanilla ice cream on a parchment paper-lined tray. Allow the scoops to firm up in the freezer. As the ice cream freezes, melt some chocolate (milk or dark chocolate...it's all up to you) in a double boiler & allow to cool slightly.

Take out the ice cream from the freezer and pour the chocolate sauce on top using a ladle. Return to the freezer when the ice cream begins to melt or, if you work fast, when all the ice cream balls have been coated in chocolate. Freeze again to let both ice cream and chocolate to harden.

Tada! Vanilla ice cream enrobed in chocolate.
Can anything be more mouth-watering than that?

I Scream for Ice Cream

Happy new week everybody!

I looked through my freezer this weekend and I found some neglected ice cream. Gasp! I know, I have no excuse for ignoring this heavenly dessert, but if sweets like lemon meringue pie, strawberry shortcake and banana pudding find their way to your fridge, you would forgive me if I allowed the ice cream to "chill" for a while.

So this week on my blog, I'm serving up some icy treats that turn plain ice cream from blah to Tada!

Ice cream + cookies

Tada! Ice cream sandwich!

It's an easy snack that both adults & kids will love.
See you tomorrow for another icy cold idea!

Ice Pops

It's all about cool & sweet this week when we turned plain old ice cream from blah to Tada!

Here's another idea using a recipe adapted from Gourmet magazine:

We'll turn vanilla ice cream into Strawberry-Vanilla Swirled Frozen Pops!

Here's what we'll need:
1 lb strawberries, hulled & halved
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 pints vanilla ice cream, room temperature
12 (1/3 cup) ice pop molds or 12 paper cups and 12 wooden sticks

Here's what we need to do: Mash strawberries in a large bowl with a potato masher or fork. Add the sugar and the lemon juice. Add in the vanilla ice cream and mix just enough to combine.

Spoon the mixture into molds or cups -- I used an ice cube tray.

Add the wooden sticks & return to the freezer until firm.

Tada! Pink popsicles with bits of juicy strawberries.
Go ahead and indulge!

Have an awesome weekend everyone!

Five Things for July

How is it July already? Let's relish every day with a good mix of work and leisurely activity! 

 

The beach we frequent in the Jersey Shore always puts up this installation during the Fourth of July. It's the American flag made from painted red, white, and blue seashells...TADA! I applaud the creativity and patriotism for all beach-goers to admire and enjoy. 

There's no such thing as too much ice cream and gelato, would you agree? A visit to our local ice cream shops like Dairy Queen and Van Dyk's help beat the heat and are always a welcome treat...TADA!

At home, I like brewing iced tea by mixing different tea bag flavors (this one is pomegranate and cranberry with black tea and honey). Sometimes I add some fresh fruit like berries and peaches for some natural sweetness (or tartness)...TADA!

Summer reading! Don't you love it? I borrow most of my books from the library and sometimes they have a library sale (for as low as $1). When I'm done, I donate my books to The Little Free Library...TADA!

If you're looking for a summer craft with the kids or your friends, try tie dye t-shirts...TADA! You can find the tie dye tutorial here. Make summer memories with cute souvenirs to keep.

May your July be calm, cool, and creative!

Pink & Green Goodies

Hello everyone! It's all about inexpensive, earth-friendly and personalized gifts this week at blah to Tada! and yesterday I told you about a swap I joined hosted by Gypsy Mermaid. Our theme was "pink & green" and look at what I got from my awesome swap partner Becky:

I excitedly opened the big box that came in the mail and a wide smile appeared on my face when I saw this cute bag! I love bags! They're so dependable for groceries, carrying books from the library and keeping extra stuff accumulated on a trip like souvenirs and gifts for family & friends. I always carry an extra bag in my purse. If MacGyver has a Swiss Army knife, I have an extra bag...it has saved my life countless times!

I feel so special because Becky made this bag. It's reversible, too, with stripes on one side and polka-dots on the other. How adorable is that? I've already baptized it as my official bag for summer...oh, the places we'll go!

There were more goodies inside the bag!

Like this lovely handkerchief which reminds me of afternoon tea parties and lace parasols. It's already a Tada! but I know what I can do with it to make it even more Tada!. But you'll have to wait for it in a future post!

I'm enjoying the scent of these pink votives. I already put them in clear glass votive holders, ready to be lit!

Don't you love the shade of pink on this gelato dish? I'm already dreaming up ice cream sundae concoctions as an excuse to use it. Vanilla Bean ice cream topped with strawberry slices (so sweet at this time of year) and a dollop of whipped cream in this compote spells P-A-R-T-Y!

Hershey's Kisses dressed in pink...can anything else be more romantic?
(I really like how chocolates dress appropriately for each season)

Any crafter will find use for scrapbook paper even if the craft of choice isn't scrapbooking!

How dainty are these pink & green beads, tulle, lace and vintage belt buckle! Trust me, even the clothes pins and pearl-head pins will be put to good use.

And finally, stationery and pens! I'm not sure if I told Becky that I enjoy the art of letter-writing but she was right on the money! They arrived at a time when my stationery supply is running low.

How wonderful are these gifts -- so personal from somebody I've never even met. Thanks again Becky! I must blame you for rubbing off the "swap bug" to a novice swapper like me!

A Watercolor Painting Collab

My friend Terri proudly announced that she was starting a new hobby--watercolor! I only had encouraging words because making art is a good alternative to scrolling on your phone, it promotes mindfulness and creativity, and has been healing for me, personally.

To support and enable her, I suggested a collaboration. I call it Claire x Terri Creative Collab.  

On postcard-size watercolor paper, I made these painting on one side:

Spring Blossoms

Frozen Desserts

Under the Sea Creatures

I left the other side of the page for Terri's own watercolor paintings using the prompts I started.

I mailed these to her (she lives in Canada) with the hope that she gets excited about our team project.

However, these postcards never made it to her. Sigh.

So I sent her a new batch (praying with all my might that they would get to Terri this time around):

Then she sent me a message that the envelope arrived...TADA! She was also excited to start. 

On the left side is my fish.

And on the right side, Terri added her octopus. Isn't he cute? We call this piece, "Keep Swimming."

On the left side are a few flowers I drew.

And on the right side, Terri added more blooms. We call this piece, "Secret Garden."

On the left side, I painted an ice cream cone and a soft serve cone. 

And on the right side, Terri painted some lollipops. We call this one, "Sweet Treats."

She even said, "Thank you for coming up with this idea. I enjoyed it so much! We definitely have to keep this going." We're planning to do doodles next. 

If you have an artsy pal, why not try it out?

And that is how we turned some blank pages from blah to TADA!

*****

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Last Summer Hurrah

Hello everyone!

I'd like to honor a woman of strength and courage, Queen Elizabeth II:

via CNN

I'm not British and I never saw her in person, but I feel a sense of loss. She's the only monarch I grew up to know, I always paused when I saw her on TV, I watched several documentaries and even "The Crown" to learn about her life story. And what a story it was -- a 70 year reign! Thank you for your service, Ma'am. I can only echo what one British man said when he paid his respects to the Queen: "Rest in peace and rise in glory."

*****

This Thursday, September 22, is the first day of Autumn. How has summer flown by so quickly? Sharing with you some photos that turned my summer from "blah to TADA!"

1. The taste of summer:

Eating lobster rolls and clam chowder

Homemade Caprese Salad with Proscuitto

Checking out new pastry shops like
Machine Shop in Philadelphia, 
Tatte Bakery in Boston, and
Kingston Bread & Bar in New York.

Trying new ice cream flavors at Jeni's,
Il Laboratorio del Gelato,
Matcha Cafe' Maiko, and Dairy Queen.

2. Going on new adventures:

Weekends at our favorite beach

Visiting the Presidential Libraries of John F. Kennedy and 
Franklin D. Roosevelt. There's a special passport that gets
a stamp for every new one I visit.
Can't wait to see the rest!

Bounty at the many farm stands & farmer's markets!

3. Getting lost in fun summer reads:

Cooking from a variety of cookbooks like
Korean American, Snackable Bakes,
A Table, and Colombiana.

Riveting novels including those by Lucy Foley
(she creates characters that one can get so invested in!)

I also read newly released picture books like
"Holding On" by Sophia N. Lee & Isabel Roxas.
It's about memories made between
a grandmother and her granddaughter.
I wrote a book review on Positively Filipino.

4. Doing something creative everyday:

Filling my sketchbooks with watercolor drawings.

Designing my own stationery & sending snail mail...TADA!

I hope you had an exciting summer, too. Here's to the new season and what's ahead!

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Cardboard Party

If you have giant cardboard boxes hiding in your home, consider bringing them out at the next kiddie party you're throwing. With some heavy duty tape and paint, you can turn these boxes from blah to TADA!:

via dwellings by devore

A tiny cottage

via Apartment Therapy

A castle for a prince or princess

via Pinterest

A fort filled with plastic balls

via lullaby lubbock

A fun ice cream truck {where you can serve real ice cream!}

via The Party Wall

Or a farm tractor -- wonderful for photos!

Aren't this awesome?

Wishing you all a colorful weekend!