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It’s November!!! This week's Happy Planner Layout

This week’s Happy Planner layout is flowery — because, well, people in Manila are currently bringing flowers to the cemetery for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day. Haha! Joke lang. What actually happened was: what I  wanted  for this layout didn’t quite work out, so I ended up adding flowers and leaves instead. Hence, that curved floral thingy smacked right in the middle of the spread. Such an  ugh  layout, but oh wells. I used the  Happy Memory Keeping Floral Memories  and  The Encourager  sticker books for this week’s spread. Sentiment for the week:   Girl, you are super amazing. Crafty things I worked on last week  I finally turned my  Bee Happy Weeklies Aall & Create “paper dolls”  into cards ! It was a little #Inktober inspired project I worked on one afternoon just so I could play with my Distress Oxides again. I made a  hybrid scrapbook layout  for  Traci Reed’s Sketchy Sunday  — it’s a layout for my...
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This Week’s Happy Planner Layout (and Christmas Decor!)

Late (well, just a day late!) but here’s this week’s Happy Planner layout!





For this spread, I used the Colorful Leopard Happy Planner Sticker Book. Honestly, this one isn’t really one of my favorite (or maybe not a fave at all). But since I’ve been working on @kellybangscreative’s Frankly Liza collection, I’ve had animal prints on my mind for days—so here we go: an animal print-themed layout for the week! Not as bold and colorful as Frankly Liza, but it still carries the same fun vibes. I’ll be making a separate blog post about that collection once I finish posting all my projects - so stay tuned. Meanwhile, check out a flip through of my first Frankly Liza project:



And since I already started talking about faves (and not-so-faves), here’s a little peek at the top layer of my journaling cart - the one where I keep my go-to stickers and journaling supplies. Top layer because those are the ones I grab for all the time. I think I’ll blog about this cart one of these days… and maybe even my other two carts too! (Though let’s be honest, I always say I’ll blog about these things, but we’ll see how often I actually get to it when I’m blogging).





This week’s sentiments are simple but meaningful:

  •  “Put your heart into it”
  •  “Just be kind"



I also added weekend stickers—“weekend vibes” and “beautiful weekend”—to manifest a good one! Last weekend was a stay-at-home kind of weekend, which I absolutely loved. Sure, we went out for grocery shopping, but honestly, it feels like forever since we just stayed in. And the old souls in us enjoyed every bit of it.


What’s in this photo is not just this week’s layout, but also my current planner companions - my Spanish latte (A fave from my self-named “Sip Happens” drink list hehe!) and an ensaymada we discovered through a friend. It’s been such a comfort food whenever we miss home. A few weeks ago, my husband attended a meeting at the office where the Saudis brought some. He said he liked the ensaymada because it’s my favorite, and yesterday, one of them even gave him a whole box because they know he likes it. 

Christmas Decor is Out!

Ton and Ana stockings are 10 years old today! They were a gift from my friend, Tanya c/o her mom, Tita June. Lucky's came a 2 years ago, when I asked one from Tanya for the cat. haha.


Yes, I’ve already brought out our Christmas decor!! I've been putting up my decor every 15th of September - exactly 100 days before Christmas so I just had to do it this year too! Most of it I've put up yesterday, but I’m never really done decorating until Christmas actually arrives. I love adding, changing, and tweaking little things as the season goes on.


30+ inch Cricut project back in 2023 - on its 3rd Christmas with us here in Saudi!


New this year - Christmas pillow cases from Kaye all the way from the Philippines!

One of my favorite traditions is Craft with Sarah’s Christmas Countdown. Every year, the projects I make become part of our holiday decorations. And the best part? When I start decorating the next year, some of the handmade pieces get a second life in a friend’s home here in Saudi. She has four kids, and seeing my handmade decor bring extra warmth and joy to their Christmas makes my heart so happy. It feels like my crafts get to celebrate twice!

Check out my Christmas Countdown projects in these Facebook albums:



Houses are from Sarah's 2023 Christmas countdown, another on its 3rd Christmas!


Christmas countdown shows 95 because the second cube doesn't have 9! haha

Mini Christmas tree with Hawaii Christmas Ornaments from Chummy




I’ll also be sharing photos of another favorite collection—our yearly photo keepsake ornaments. I’ve been collecting them since we got married, and it’s so special seeing the memories add up on our tree year after year.



Here’s a peek at what’s up so far - still looking for 2024 and 2025 ornaments too!








Of course, we have one to remember our first cat, Lucky's mom, Lucy.


And can you believe it? We’re 99 days away from Christmas! Yayyy!

Book Corner



Last week, I managed to finish six books and I just have to highlight one: Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry. Oh my goodness, it was such a tear-jerker!!! I was literally crying my eyes out during the ending, and I felt so silly because I was alone at home. But yes, big kudos to Lucinda Berry for writing such an emotional and powerful story.

Sweet Cravings



I finally baked Tres Leches! I’ve been craving it since July when I tried a strawberry shortcake from Saadeddin. It was soft and decent, but I realized I had been expecting a moist, milky cake - and nothing hits the spot like my own homemade Tres Leches. Haha!



This bake did come with a little price though—I burned my finger and now have a blister. Luckily, it’s on my left hand so I can still work and craft. Priorities, right? 

Blog Update

Quick blog note: I finally set up Google Analytics! That means I can now track how many people are visiting and where they’re coming from (more accurately than with Blogger's tracking) - basically, I’ll get a clearer picture of how my blog is doing. A small step, but it feels like a big win because I figured it out on my own! hehe!

That’s it for this week’s recap—planner, books, baking, and all the cozy little life updates. 



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  1. BeaBooSeptember 16, 2025 at 2:37 AM

    Me (while reading): wow! Ang gaming stickers ni Beshie!
    Sabi (showed her phone, nasa shopee siya): ay ang galing! Stickers din tong sinisearch ko ngayon nay.

    I really really really superduper love your photo frame Christmas ornaments sis!!! 😍😍😍

    And your ensaymada and cake made me crave something sweet 😆🤤 Btw, I hope your finger and upper lip gets well soon 😘

    Good job setting up Google Analytics! 👏

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 16, 2025 at 3:42 AM

    It would be nice to put photos of a zoo, safari or ocean park visit on your flora and fauna mini album.
    You never fail to include your weekly sentiments, and the “Just be Kind” is really great.
    Your Christmas decors are out of hibernation. It’s their time to shine again and bring out the festive mood. All are meticulously maintained and every item has a story to tell.
    Your Christmas tree trimmings reminds me of Kenny Roger’s song (though not a Christmas carol), its “Through the Years”. It shows you and your hubby’s transformation (from 10 pounds lighter to 5 pounds heavier😊.
    Including a stanza from this song which is fitting for the two of you.

    “Through the years, you've never let me down
    You turned my life around, the sweetest days I've found
    I've found with you through the years
    I've never been afraid, I've loved the life we've made
    And I'm so glad I've stayed right here with you
    Through the years”

    I’m actually singing it while I’m writing this reply and feeling nostalgic at the moment.

    The Tres Leches cake you baked looked better, and you did not scrimp using fresh strawberries compared to the corn flakes topping from here.
    You are a indeed a lifestyle expert!
    -aMOMymous


    ReplyDelete

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