Santa's Toy Factory

Santa's Toy Factory

My sisters and I went out for a dinner in one of the restaurant in Nuvali.  As we were passing by Crown Asia, we noticed this spectacular Santa's Toy Factory. Crown Asia is the builder of Valenza homes, a  25-hectare Italian-inspired community located at the center of Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Building a grand Christmas display is a yearly tradition of Crown Asia.

Checking it out with my sister Cel

The grand Christmas display had been bringing good cheers during the yuletide season.  People, young and old are visiting the area for picture taking.

Kids and kids at heart are enjoying the majestic Christmas display

With my stepsister, Darling

HO ! HO ! HO ! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE !

Santa Claus' Toy Factory is always a very busy place.  Elf by elf, toy by toy, Santa's Christmas toy factory is bustling with so much activities !  Toys, toys, toys everywhere ! But every elf is working hard and having fun.  Each elf devotes his or her special skills to make the best toys possible, so that ever boy and girl, children around the world, can get the presents on their Christmas or holiday wish list.  Santa and the elves hope that kids throughout the world have what they need to be healthy and happy.

Christmas Goodies ! ~ Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

BANANA CUPCAKE WITH PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING

I was thinking of what to give to my friends and relatives this Christmas and I came-up with baking some cupcakes for them.  The best gift is the one that comes from  your heart and you really made a big effort for it.  I stayed up so late just to finish my cupcakes.  I baked a total of seventy two (72) pieces of banana cupcakes with peanut butter frosting.  This is yummy !!!

INGREDIENTS :

Cupcakes
   *  2 cups all-purpose flour
   *  1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas
   *  1/4 cup buttermilk
   *  2 eggs
   *  1 1/4 cups sugar
   *  1 tsp vanilla
   *  1/2 cup vegetable shortening
   *  3/4 tsp baking soda
   *  1 tsp baking powder
   *  1 tsp salt
Frosting 
   *  1 cup creamy peanut butter 
   *  6 cups  confectioners' sugar
   *  1/2 cup butter, room temperature (1 stick)
   *  1/4 cup milk (If you prefer a creamier frosting, you can add more milk)
   *  Chopped Reese's Peanut Butter cups

 DIRECTIONS :

Cupcakes
1. Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit
2. In a mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar together.
3. Add eggs, buttermilk, vanilla and bananas.
4. Mix until combined thoroughly.
5. On low speed add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
6. Stir together until combined.
7. Line muffin pans and fill with batter about 2/3 full.
8. Bake for 15-20 minutes until cupcakes are set and a toothpick comes out clean.
9. Remove the cupcakes from the baking pan and let cool completely before frosting. 
Frosting: 
     1.  Combine peanut butter and butter and mix on medium speed until combined. 
     2.  Slowly add powdered sugar and mix until incorporated. 
     3.  Add milk slowly until desired consistency is reached. 
     4.  Pipe frosting on cooled cupcakes and garnish with chopped up Reese's Cups (if desired)


 Baked banana cupcakes with peanut butter frosting and garnished with chopped Reese's peanut butter cups



 This is my Christmas packaging for my cupcakes.  I decided not to put frostings on some of my cupcakes for those who wanted it just a plain banana cupcake.

  A pack of six (6) cupcakes in a Christmas box



Christmas House Packaging for solo cupcake



I baked seventy two (72) pieces of cupcakes for my Christmas gifts.  Here are some of the finished goodies ready for delivery.

A Look At the Puzzle Mansion

The Puzzle Mansion

Have you heard of the Puzzle Mansion ?  Located in Tagaytay City,  it is a bed and breakfast and a great place to stay with your family during the weekend if you plan to visit the cool and cozy, Tagaytay for site seeing.  It is the home of the “Largest Collection of Jigsaw Puzzles of Any Size, Shape or Form”. The puzzle collection is the work of Gina Gil-Lacuna, Guinness World Record holder for having the Largest Collection of Jigsaw Puzzles in the World ~ 1,028 puzzles. Guinness World Records awarding ceremony was held last November 29, 2012.

Gina Gil-Lacuna in her jigsaw puzzle and souvenir/gift shop at 2nd floor of the Puzzle Mansion

Part of the collection are huge puzzles of renowned paintings

Religious images puzzles

Aquarium, Abstract Design & Stained Glass Balls

Souvenirs of the Sea

Monalisa

3D Spider man and the Watcher

3D Taj Majal

3D Famous landmarks and places around the world 

3D Wooden Puzzles

The Name of the Rose

Christmas Eve

Various Puzzles on display at the Puzzle Mansion

PUZZLE MANSION

Address: Purok 4 Cuadra St. Barangay Asisan, Tagaytay City, Philippines
Telephone: +632 661-0019, +632-425-5195

Mobile: +63 905  225-0229
Email: puzzlemansion@gmail.com
 Website: http://thepuzzlemansion.com/

Operating Hours:
Monday to Friday: 7 am to 7 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 7 am to 8 pm

Entrance Fee: P100 (including kids)

A Bewitched Halloween ! ...LBA Trick or Treat 2013

It was the annual "Trick or Treat" in our village last October 26, 2013 and dubbed as "Bewitched."  I have been enjoying this event every year since my family moved here.  I enjoyed putting up scary decorations with my step mom but what I love the most is seeing children in their cute halloween costumes and all smiles as they knocked on every house and receiving their goodies. It is fun and how  I wished we had this event during my childhood.  Trick or Treating is not part of Filipino culture.  It came from western culture and is gaining popularity in the Philippines.

Cupid and Twinkle

 "Our family prepared some candies for the kids.  Somebody might stole these goodies so we are guarding them"

 The living dead made by my step mom

Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen,
Voices whisper in the trees, "Tonight is Halloween!"
~Dexter Kozen

Welcome. The witch is in.

"When witches go riding and black cats are seen,

 the moon laughs and whispers this is near halloween"

 Our Halloween decors in front of our house

Kids and their pumpkins... It's the season for 

Halloween howls and pump grins

 There is a cute little angel !

Trick or Treat! Give me something good to eat. Give me candy.

 Give me cake. Give me something sweet to take!

 What a boo-tiful mask !

 The monster is taking a photo of my dog, Cupid

 Little devils... Just hanging out with their ghoul friends

Run for your life ... there is a walking dead on the lose !

 Sit for a spell and have some brew

 Felix and Anne, our house members... Boo to you from our crew !

The kids with their mommy... Having a spooktakular 

good time !

Caution ! Scary pumpkin head

My father and the children

Trick or Treat. Be so sweet. Give me something good to eat.

 Our "Boo-tiful" and special family members ~ Twinkle and Cupid

We are too cute to spook

Look at my head dress, this is cool ! Mama Zen made this.

From us... 

 HAVE A HAPPY SPOOKY HALLOWEEN ! 

May our best "witches" go with you

The witches fly
Across the sky,
The owls go, "Who? Who? Who?"
The black cats yowl
And green ghosts howl,
"Scary Halloween to you!"

~ Nina Willis Walter

Photo from hokiang.com