Do More With Less

Thursday

Thursday's desk - another altered paper bag

I recently attended a Caudalie skincare event and got this really sturdy purple paper bag. Needless to say, I got right to covering up the printed brand name on the paper bag and making it my own...*LOL*

Using bits from packaging as always...

Went with a white mat to coordinate with the base patterned paper.

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Wednesday

Workspace Wednesday - Meet the 2026 gratitude journal

Yes...we're back with the 2026 edition of the gratitude journal. Still using the Hobonichi Techo A6 because I love this size.

Previously I did my gratitude journal the year after so that I can remember snippets from the past year. This year I've decided to keep up with my gratitude journal as life happens. So I'll be sharing my 2025 and 2026 gratitude journals this year. :)

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Tuesday

Celebrating my brother's birthday with my first ice-cream cake

I haven't made anyone's birthday cake in a while...it's just been easier to buy one....but I baked a Basque Burnt Cheesecake for CNY and discovered that I really miss the therapeutic process of measuring and mixing and making something delicious. So I'm going to bake a lot more in 2026. :)

Incidentally, I also bought an ice-cream maker a few months ago and have been enjoying making my own ice-cream. So I decided to try an ice-cream cake. Back in December I served my vanilla ice-cream with blondies and it was a hit....so I went with a blondie vanilla ice-cream cake. I did run out of time and didn't manage to cover the cake with frosting but I decorated with Fererro Rochers and it looked pretty good. *winks*

I almost forgot how excited the Yams get when there's cake. *LOL*

Can you spot the upcycled packaging on the layout?

Happy Tuesday friends!

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Monday

Make Stuff Monday - quick projects

Got this little notebook and skincare envelope recently. Had to decorate them of course. *winks*

This semi-translucent envelope is perfect for gifting little scraps bits like diecuts and stickers for a creative friend.

This tiny notebook is great for little notes on the go. :)

Happy week ahead friends!

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Thursday

Meet nephew #1's girlfriend!

So nephew #1 brought his girlfriend over to meet his grandparents and his fave aunt (of course! *winks*).

They met in Melbourne last year...yes, she's tiny!

Meanwhile nephew #1 also came with a fresh new perm. *LOL*

Lots of red packet bits as embellishments since this was during CNY 2026. :)

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Tuesday

Tuesday's upcycled decorated paper bag project

Back to playing with some patterns...will this be the year that I finally use up my 12x12 patterned paper stash? *winks*

Lots of fun upcycled stuff on the decorative cluster...

Happy week ahead friends!:)

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Wednesday

Last of the pages from the 2024 gratitude journal

Well hello there friends! Let's finish up the 2024 gratitude journal.

First up...lunch at Yoro Omakase. First and last time at this restaurant. The food was really good but the portions were so small...that we went to eat something else after. *LOL* Well, I couldn't give it another chance even if I wanted to...the restaurant is no longer in business.

Next up..we had suckling pig with the extended family.

Ahhh....my first Demellier bag.

And also my first order at Teatsy for this gorgeous glasss/walnut teacup.

Bought myself some scents.

And got some gifts from Europe from the bestie. A scent and a recycle bag.

Ahhh...Christmas pressies from my cousin F.

And some from the bestie. :)

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Friday

Friday's desk - more pages from the gratitude journal

Still sharing pages from the 2024 gratitude journal...

This one was when I first got my Apple Watch.:)

I frequent this steakhouse chain in Vietnam called Moo Beef. Back in 2024, they had a 50% off steak promo on Mondays!

The next day I went for the Vietnamese fine-dining set lunch at Ly Club and the following day I got my Christmas nails!

And of course, Japanese food.

Then I got myself some flowers from the supermarket that made me happy. :)

The left page is a one-dish meal that I consider comfort food. Chicken macaroni soup. I loved this as a child but now make a more elevated version, *winks*

The right page was my second bag from Senreve. It was way smaller than I expected and can be worn as a waist bag, shoulder bag, cross-body bag and clutch. But it came in handy for most of my trips in 2025 so it was a great buy.

This was my first go at making Hainanese chicken rice and it was well-received.

My roast chicken with veggies is always a family fave.

The left page features the first char view I made using the conventional oven. I have since simplified the process to get it done in the air fryer.

The right page features my first Pandora bracelet! I won the heart charm in the brand's claw machine promotion back in July of the same year. I didn't want to spend too much so I bought a second-hand bracelet.

I realised that 2024 was mostly a single bowl for lunch kind of year...which deserves a revival for 2026 so that I have less cleanup. *LOL*

The right page feature my trio of bracelets. I got a pair of lab-grown diamond bracelets to go with my Pandora one.

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Monday

Make Stuff Monday - decorated kraft paper bag window scene

I have had this paper for like forever but never could make it work for a layout. Decided to cut it up to create a window scene on this Kraft paper bag. I think it turned out quite pretty. :)

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Friday

Friday's 9 pages from the gratitude journal

Sharing more pages this week because it's 2026 and I'm still sharing the pages from my 2024 gratitude journal *sheepish music plays in the background*

Anyway, this one was all about the Ballarini pans I scored at the store. I love these Italian-made non-stick non-Teflon pans...even though I usually use stainless steel pans for daily cooking. These are great for eggs. :)