Samples of my paintings..all in Coffee medium ,inspired by my trip in Petra, Jordan.
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Coffee Art ” Petra” it has to be seen to be believed
The siq the end of the siq Petra (rocks) the gate The ruins en route passage mystery to see is to believe awesome the chair beauty is everywhere alone it is not the cloth that oppresses women, it is the illiterate mind -
Coffee ART anyone?
Have you found yourself at times, alone? drinking coffee? reading while drinking coffee, chatting while drinking coffee? have you ever wondered, your day will passed by doing nothing? oh well, i am a person who will always look for something to do, learn and try new things, so here’s one of my favorite pastime – painting using coffee inspired by my trip in Petra-Jordan.
lined the border with a paper tape 
my paraphernalia 
watercolor brushes 
my coffee table Here’s some of my finished painting using my favorite coffee.
camel look 
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How to wear Spring’s colorful trend when you are 50 and beyond?
I have a conference to attend in less than two weeks…you bet I’m in a shopping mood! But how can I wear all those colorful dresses? Lemon Zest yellow, emerald green, Monaco blue,nectarine orange? Shall I stay with white and black stripes?… What?… no problem? Come on, I am fifty-three years old! 😦
It seems that fashion industry forgot that there are women beyond fifties who are still working and loving every shopping moment. I have suffered enough to choose my jeans, those dreadful lowest hipsters where I hold my breath so as not to show my bulging tummy 🙂 Oh well, let us be brave ladies!
My fashion mind says, YES you can! all you have to do is choose the color that will match your skin tone. After all women today are more flexible, more resilient and yes! we will survive the trend. Isn’t it enough to say “no”to every dinner invitation because you wanted to have those jeans? Life is too short to say “no”, enjoy every moment, enjoy every fashion, you will never know what you gonna wear when your six feet below the ground.
Well, let me show you what color I choose this spring time:
White trouser looks better, dont you think? Tips:
1) Choose colors that match your skin tone.
2) Mix and match, gone are the days when you have the same colors from head to foot.
3) If you can’t find the right color of dress, accessorize with bright colors.
4) Conquer your fear of color, be trendy who cares if your fifty and beyond, just add your “POISE”!
loving the white lace skirt, paired with shades of blue silk top So ladies, Let’s go…shoppingggg!!!
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My food trip with Chef Kevin
My Kevs with Ashley and Alexis Gabriel Spring break here he comes…my dear chef Kevin. I was excited to see my youngest son, so eager to know what had transpired from his 6 months studies in Culinary Arts Academy of Switzerland. I was looking forward for this moment, to see the changes, physically, mentally and gastronomically speaking.
I also braced myself by going to the gym everyday and get a balanced diet before this moment comes, because I know very well that our common ground is …FOOD! huh..eating is fun but gaining weight is not 🙂
So here it is, Enjoy our Food Trip:
salad preparation First stop: Our Kitchen, though I have 4 burner stove at home, only two are working, with 16 guest on Friday “brunch”, I was thinking he wont make it on time but I was wrong. First ,only one stove works because one of our friend decided to show his expertise in Lebanese cuisine. Chef Kevin was very cool, answering all our questions, teaching us how to cut and do simple plating. At the same time he was also learning how to do lebanese dish “wara en áb”(grape leaves with rice and meat). It was fun working with family friends and most of all-seeing chef kevin doing his thing with gusto, I am relieved that he is happy where he is at this point of his life.
homemade sauces 
chicken/beef risotto 
beetroot salad 
lamb chop with pasta We are grateful to our family and friends and of course,to our guest server, Ashley Gabriel. Yes, they did survive all,… kidding aside, it was an enjoyable day!
homemade vanilla ice cream with kiwi sauce 
Ashley – server of the day 
and this how preparation of Wara enáb looks like:
improvised cooking…only in Jeddah 
Second stop: Being away for six months who would not crave for “Shawerma” ? An arabic sandwich stuffed with chicken or beef mixed with arabic garlic sauce,parsley ,tomato, pickled cucumber and french fries.
Shawerma Third stop: Business Lunch at Outback steakehouse, situated along thalia road in Teatro Mall. The bread crust is dark chocolate brown in color , hard but so soft inside was delicious, though Chef Kevin was not amused completely, he went along eating his steak. He commented that the soup is like an instant soup out of maggi bouillon cube.:-)
refreshing 
Outback steakhouse Fourth stop: Raj- Finest Indian Cuisine, located at Thalia road serving indian and continental cuisine. We opted for indian super spicy meal! yummy and chillin hot!
mix kebab,chicken tandouri, nan and beryani The fifth and last day of eating out, feeling already bloated and can not imagine the hours I will spend in the gym, once this is all over, huh!
Mayrig resto Mayrig, is an armenian restaurant serving armenian and mediterrian cuisine. He asked, Where is Armenia? oh well I really don’t know but according to my research :Armenia is landlocked in the South Caucasus. Located between the Black and Caspian Seas, the country is bordered on the north and east by Georgia and Azerbaijan, and on the south and west by Iran and Turkey.(Wikipedia)
Armenian Cuisine Anyhow, the place is along Andalus district, it looks like a private villa restaurant, a refreshing site along the corniche area.I like the Armenian tabouli as cold appetizer.
Well that’s all folks, till Chef Kevin comes again!
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Beautybeyondfifty meet sweet sixteen’…JS prom
Queen of the night Yes, the beauty beyond fifties, made their way to the JS prom of sixteen and below. A reminiscence of the past comes rushing back; I guess mothers are more excited as their daughters/son to look for their own attire of the evening. This is the night to wear the best suit, gown or dress, be the king/ queen or prince/princess of the night and be the Star and shine!! : Young and adult are all excited.
I came late from work and hurried up to the venue, I decided to wear casual, anyhow, my mission was to take my photography in different level…Wow, what level? ZERO level, my D7000 first prom!
Kidding aside, seeing the faces of the mothers, their eyes bewildered to what will happen to their daughter/son. As I looked around, I remember my own JS prom, back then, Miss junior and Senior was already chosen, I was Miss Junior and Miss Alma Mater but I haven’t seen my mother so excited to what I should wear on that particular night, all I heard from her was.. ”ikaw na naman?” (You again?) so for me, that was not a big deal! Whether I wore pink gown or white gown, I still have the crown. I am not in the cotillion either because I was on the stage as the Muse of the Junior and Senior.
Oh well, I don’t have daughter to experience the shopping mode to get a gown and jewelries to match the occasion, although when my first son went to JS prom, I was more than thrilled, I was there to choose his suit and be excited for his moment…from flowers and corsage, to picking her up from her house, his first dance with his first girlfriend..That was the magical moment!
mother and daughter 
And so what’s new Jeddah, I had the opportunity to be invited four years ago to the JS prom and last night was not a different one. Parents were present to support their daughter and son, School staff and the guards are on look out too, after all we are in a very conservative country. JS prom was like a beauty pageant where there were judges to decide who will be the King and Queen, Prince and princess etc. I did not witnessed the turnover ceremony (I was late), but I heard it was great!There were a lot of pretty young ladies, wearing nice gown, make up, long fake eyelashes and flashy hairdo. The young men were also equally elegant in their suit. It seemed they were not bothered by the heat, all smiled and poised! And when the winners were announced, parent’s faces are overrated of joy, all the effort were vindicated but of course, there were “ah” and “ oh” (positive and negative feedback) but who cares, free dance was announced, this is the moment the junior and senior are waiting for but wait… what? Please take your parents to the dance floor…Come on you’re kidding!!!
So there you go …when beautybeyondfifty meets sixteen and below… it’s hilarious!
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Special Photo Challenge: Inspiration
blog is like a desert – an endless body of thoughts My discoveries are endless…I will continue to learn… to share… to dream…and to inspire!
i got my inspiration from my sons passion in photography It is hard being alone in a foreign land where a woman’s voice is as rare as the rain pours. I was inspired to write my thoughts, what is happening around, the places I have been, the people I have met. I was inspired by other women who continues to fight, to dream and live happily in-spite of their difficulties.
bonding with friends, laughter and places are inspiration Yes, out of boredom, i was inspired to start blogging but not to out pour my negativity but instead to inspire other women, to motivate them that there is beauty beyond fifty. I was inspired to learn how to take pictures from my sons who are both artistic on their own merit. I was inspired by the feedback i got from the readers.
self timer is on! at 53 I can still run and jump I started my blog February 7, 2011, three months to go and a year will pass, I will continue to blog, a memories of my days, places,friends and my families and to my would be grandchildren and their children,to them…my memories,my thoughts, my life beyond fifty will always be remembered.
cheers!
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Weekly photo Challenge – GREEN
I see with my big eyes something that begins with a letter G…green
green grass in Zurich Switzerland 
green at chapel bridge 
green at lake Luzern 
green at chapel bridge 
green chair at Luzern park 
green at Lucern Switzerland 
green at shifa cave 
green at al shifa 
green at Madain Saleh 
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MOVE OVER – American tourist in Zurich
classic tour in Zurich Hence, I am flying early back home; I decided to travel a day ahead to Zurich. Travelling alone with a big luggage in tow is a hassle on train but I manage to find my seat. I put my luggage in front besides an empty seat hoping no other passenger will need to sit on it. After a few stops, a smiling couple sits beside me and I am so apologetic about my luggage. They smile, nod their head and shrugged their shoulder off signaling they are not bothered at all. Thank goodness!
Arriving at the Zurich airport on time, I went straight to a waiting hotel shuttle bus. Looking at my watch, I still have the afternoon to see the central town of Zurich. Great!
subway i got to enter to get into the other side of the train station in Kloten I hurriedly put my things in my room and walk to the train station. The trip took around 20 min and I only have 5 minutes to reach the bus station to where the city tour begins.
inside the subway It seems the bus is already full when I reach the place but the conductor waves signaling there’s another seat unoccupied.
So I hop in and found the only seat available with a guy sitting with his legs wide open, I politely excused myself to
get into the window seat but he didn’t move at all.
He said, “This seat is too small for two” so I went at the back of the bus trying to find a place and looking to all the passengers, huh! Every seat has two passengers whether fat or thin, big or small, I look again to this guy and he was also thin and definitely I’m not fat! So what’s the problem?
I look at the driver/conductor and with my eyes wide open and arms open, an attitude of “come ‘on do something, where I gonna sit? He got up and with German accent , he talk to the guy whose legs are still widely open, He argues but the driver speaks in German language trying to tell him, this seat is for two understand!
I excused myself again, went to the window seat and the lady (his companion) next to our seat said to him “go to the window so you can see better” so while we are switching I commented, “you know we all paid for this tour, everyone should have a fair share”!
i missed all the nice view If only I have enough time, I would love to go down from the bus and refund my fare but I remained seated, half of my butt on the seat and half is out (with my eyes rolling , I told myself this is gonna be my day!) The bus started to move, I put my feet firmly on the floor trying to balance so I won’t fall and positioned my camera to take pictures, I want to get his face but I hesitated, not to fuel the fire more than to burst, we are after all in a foreign land. Who needs trouble?
After 20 minutes, he started a conversation, his legs still wide open and half of my butt still out, rolling my eyes again, ah what now?
He asked, from where are you?
Me: from Philippines (my reply is as stiff as my neck, trying to get a good picture of the scenery)
the best i can get (fuming) He: Oh! a lot of Filipinos in America ( I know you are trying to tell me you are an American)
Me: yeah, of course everywhere there’s a lot of Filipino tourist, here in Europe and in America! Everywhere! (keeping my eyebrow down)
He: I mean Filipina nurses working in a hospital. (His voice more relax so as his legs, my butt still out!)
Me: So you are working as what? (I didn’t roll my eyes, but one eyebrow a little up; I wonder what he is up to)
He: I am a medical doctor.
Me: oh I see, and what specialty? (Professional and an American Doctor, where is your etiquette? Or just simply be a gentlemen!)
He: Neurology (Oh my! And you are acting like that? Have you look around and see all the passengers in two’s seating comfortably) Yesterday, we were on the tour also and it wasn’t like this, the seat are wider.
Me: this is a classic bus, so what do you expect? I was in Boston last year and they have the same seat, it was fun! (unlike now, thanks to you…)
He: Oh you been to Boston? (This time his legs a bit closing)
this is a memorable picture (really with my butt out) Me: Yes, I am a Dentist; I did my post grad in Aesthetic Dentistry in University of Minnesota. And now my youngest son is in his first year in Cesar Ritz College of Switzerland. You should visit the Alps, the chocolate factory in Gruyère, Geneva, we had great time last year…(in short, mr. american tourist, I am professional and I’ve been to many places in the world but I don’t act like you, we are all tourist after all!)
I felt he moves his butt and closed his legs a bit but I remained seated as before, No way, I won’t move closer to you Mr. American tourist in Zurich!
Just a small note for you: Please the next time you are on tour be kind and be gentlemen!
Good Manners are universal!
MOVE over !
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Weekly photo challenge – renewal
Renewal – state of being made new,fresh or strong again. One rainy day, birds under the trees, waiting for the rain to stop. Strolling along the street, I can’t help but stop and took this shot. I was inspired to walk more, instead of just going back to bed and hid under my blanket i decided to take more photos.
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Road trip to food trip: MANDI, who needs a decent food in the desert?
wondering whats cooking? I need a decent food!!! Shout out of the day during our trip to Madaín Saleh. Decent? Civilized? Is there such a thing as civilized food? Knock me out three times but our group defines decent food as no fat, no cholesterol, and no salt, in short a “healthy food”.
We wanted to have fun so no restrictions! Diet was not in our vocab for the three days and two nights were on the trip. Carbonated drinks, chocolates, chips, nuts, hotdog, hamburger, candies, bring it on!
When we were looking for a place to stay, we came across a restaurant that prepares “Kabsa”-an Arabic dish made of rice mixed with traditional spices, either with chicken, camel, goat or lamb.
kabsa …mandi A popular way of preparing meat is called mandi. This is an ancient technique, whereby meat is barbecued in a deep hole in the ground that is covered while the meat cooks. Another way of preparing and serving meat for kabsa is mathbi, where seasoned meat is grilled on flat stones that are placed on top of burning embers. A third technique, madghūt, involves cooking the meat in a pressure cooker. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabsar
On our first night, we went to the place but they were too busy preparing for a big gathering, we were not able to buy the kabsa , we opted for a chicken instead of Lamb.
BIG? HUGE! 
indoor picnic The salon of the rented apartment has a flat cushions sofa, the usual way of eating Kabsa ( i heard ) is by placing the big plate on the floor and everyone shares, so basically we had a picnic inside the apartment.
happy together 
the on-lookers, the man is putting spices to basmati rice (long grain) The following night, everyone agrees, we are not going back to Jeddah without trying the “Kabsa” so we went back again to the same shop and they welcome us with an open arms.The big plate with 4 kilos meat (lamb) cost Sr 500, wow! we are not big eaters! We got the medium plate with 2 kilos of meat and one whole chicken for Sr 250.
boiling meat 
flame under They boiled the meat before putting it into the deep hole with a flame underneath.
ready meat for barbecue 
o la la wanna have some Camel? 
boiled meat 
two men, putting the rice into a boiling spiced meat stock 
wow heavy!just goofing around! Did we survive? of course we did! A well satisfied palate and a belly of happiness. Cheers!
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Dr. Myriam- The Dental Aesthetic Clinic 
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