Cinderella shouldn't be the only one.

Hello! Today I'm going to talk about some other thing, a little break away from the party stuffs that's supposed to be going on this time.. I promise all the party printable will be coming your way real soon than you can spell "happy birthday". ;)

You know a thing or two about shoes, right? All the glitz and glams surrounding a pair of shoes.

I know I crave a pair of REAL glass slippers when I was a kid. You know the one that's not made of clear plastic and when your feet sweat it felt yucky and uncomfortable. But I was at the age of believing real glass slippers would have been realistic and comfortable. (come to think of it now logically Cinderella would have been suffered through the night)

The story itself, however, is somewhat logically true. "Give a girl the right pair of shoes and she can conquer the world", or this matter find herself a royal husband. She did changed her life, didn't she? Well, if you live in a third world country like me, it's a very common sight to see people, and children, walking errands barefooted. It was part tradition (our ancestors as farmers and fishermen never use anything to cover their feet working) and part poverty, actually. Children walk miles away to their school without wearing anything, but sometimes they even carry their own shoes and put them on when they arrive at school. Their shoes are so precious and lux they can't bear seeing them dirty.

This info graphic shows us how shoes can really change some children/people's life. No, I'm not trying to make you feel guilty buying a pair of designers shoes, :) but just think how a mere pair of shoes can make an impact not only for Cinderella, but also the rest of the world. I secretly wish they serve in Indonesia as well.

Via: ShopaholicMommy.com

It's a Boy Party Kit : Invitation

Now you have a party to throw, why not invites some friends? Here is a fill in the blank invitation to print. Just print along accordingly to your number of guests, and well, um... fill in the blank parts.

Well, not all the blank parts shown written on the example should be filled, for instance the blue ribbons can be left blank if you wish. The RSVP part could also be left empty or filled with another details (dress code?).

It's your party, anyway, so have fun and fill those blanks as you'd wish. Don't forget, I won't mind a few DIY alteration and creative embellishment, send us a photo of your creations! But please remember to use the file for PERSONAL USE only, and if your friends ask for it, give them the link, not your copy :) . Have fun inviting!

download

It's a BOY!

I won't be holding the vote any longer since June's almost over, so based on 12 votes, it's 7 for boys and 5 for girls. Real close, ladies, real close, I'm sorry but you girls have to wait till next time :). Thank you for all the voters!

And for my own what's-cooking-in-the-oven reveal.. it's also a B-O-Y. You're right, readers, your vote is exactly what I also have in my belly. Yay for blogger-reader mind reading :D!!

I'm gettting all your free printables ready, but in the mean time, here are some stuff you can stock up first for your baby boy shower/  little man's birthday/ mustache party. :)

Ties for decoration, thank you FullHouse for the inspiration! 

Matching t-shirts for the guests and/or the birthday boy! Shop at BirthdayCouture! 

Need a snack? What could be better than a batch of mustache cookies? Found one at ThePastryTart Bakery.

Pick your Gender!

It's that time again for Babalisme's annual Free Party Printable kit. This time, instead of getting to choose between 2 themes, I'll let you choose between 2 genders.Yes, I know, it's as cheesy as celebrity baby sex guess in tabloids (yeah yeah Snooki's reveal and Jessica Simpson mega shout-out about hers), but I'm so pregnant that all I keep thinking about are babies. Please think of this as my own gender reveal, DIY style :)

Even if you're not planning any babies after all or baby shower parties aren't really on your agenda, please DO VOTE. I promise I won't make the whole kit too "baby-ish", for example, the boy party kit would be still proper for a little boy's birthday, family gathering in man-ly moods, or even a casual lunch with your besties. I pledge there will be no pacifiers or diapers graphic!

Vote away, GIRL or BOY?

ps. I will be doing a free printable based on your vote, not my own baby gender. but I will also reveal my baby gender along with the result :)

Hi Again

When one of my blogging pal said in an email nearly a year ago, "I think I gave up blogging, but we can still be in contact and I will still be an avid reader of your blog." I was "Whaaaa..aat??!" I enjoyed her blog very much , it's tidily structured and decorated, plus, she's one of those who update her blog regularly every week. She's even much more diligent on that part than I do. I was, "What has gotten to your mind? You can't give up now?!" Well, the same thing almost happened to me. I almost gave up blogging.

On my blogging hiatus, I was so consumed with life and all things happening around me, I was away from the keyboard for almost half a year. I do still read my favorite blogs and what my pals have to say on theirs, I enjoy blogosphere as usual, from outside, looking in. Well, now that I missed Easter, mother's day, father's day, The Queen's Jubilee, and lots of merry things we usually find here, I AM HERE now :) 

Sooo.. a quick catch up about me. I'm 7 months pregnant, it wasn't as easy as my first, so I partly blame the pregnancy for my blogging absent and Baby G is now almost 4. She will be when her sibling arrives. To my pride and joy, Baby G is now fully toilet trained (bye bye diapers, HA!)  and is a master on counting 1 -20 also knowing her ABCs. Pictured above is her own art exhibition.  

June is babalisme's annual FREE Party Printable Month, as usual, you will get to choose between two themes and the chosen one will be shared for free! I will reveal both themes tomorrow, and yes, it will be linked  to my pregnant mood. I hope you don't mind :D

glad to be back. xoxo. 

Just a Quick Note

I apologize (again) for my hiatus, and yes, maybe not on the blog only but everywhere else, facebook, twitter, pinterest... Life's getting in the way, as usual, more than it ever was for both me and Fredy, my partner in babalisme. Put simply, things are not looking quite good, no, not with each other, it just happens that our own personal life (and health) are not going well. So, let's hope and pray for the best! I hope we can have more fun here real soon! Thank you for your understanding!

Double New Year Wishes

table calendar by millimeter milligram 

I'm so sorry for the lack of post and absent in the blogosphere, oh, how I miss visiting and reading blogs. I have been really busy and the start of this year. First, we decided to renovate the old house. Yes, it's the same house my husband's been living for 20 years and hasn't been renovated since, so, Yes, it has few holes and some cracks, shessh. Also, I have been working on my new website which has been on hold for quite some time due to technical problem (now I regret not taking programming classes). Not to mention the usual job deadlines and daily chores. During the middle of hectic planning here and there, I found out that I am expecting my second! Baby G is going to be Big Sister G!! Oh, golly.

So I'm sorry for all the delays, all the late promises and email replies, I'll get back to you later. All I can say is thank you for being a loyal reader and stay tune for more fun this Valentine and a G-I-V-E-A-W-A-Y coming right away. Just bookmark the blog and don't miss out!

Happy belated New Year and Happy Chinese New Year!

What's your resolution this year?

Santa's Mail

I just want to thank you everyone who put a good use of my Christmas Mail Tags printable, either you downloaded it last year or this year, I am really happy to bring extra smiles upon your gifts. I have seen it repin-ed again and again on pinterest, God bless all you pinners, and recently, darling Anna sent me a picture of her gifts using the tags!! It really has made my day waaaay brighter than ever!

Thank you Anna! And thank you Imagine Lovely for featuring Christmas Pal tags at her blog!

Happy holiday!

Brown Paper Packages

..tied up with strings are seriously one of my favorite things in the world. I sometimes don't care what's inside I just want to cherish the crisp brown paper and the strings as long as I could. When this gift giving holiday coming, I can't think of a better way to wrap presents. 

project wedding

connection photo

shane powers

Thank goodness I'm such a dweller on wedding blogs (yeah, yeah, I had my wedding, and not planning to have the second one, but I can't resist) I found all these wrapping ideas at emmaline bride. Go have a visit for more ideas! I think they''re mighty suitable for holiday too! 

Nativity Scene Printable!

It's beginning to look a lot like my favorite time of the year and .. 

...Babalisme's annual holiday printable is here!! this year I'm giving away a nativity scene for you to play. I am guest blogging at Design Dazzle for this one as a part of Toni's 100 Ideas of Christmas Wonderful, so grab your copy there by Design Dazzle! Here's a sneak peak.. 

Toni has also test drove the printables on a cookie sheet and using magnet paper for the dolls! Here's how it looks : 

Please don't stop on making the dolls purely as dolls. Hang them on a tree, use them as gift tags, or create your own modification! 

So what are you planning for this holiday? How do you decorate this year? Please share! 

And do share your own nativity scene printable if you happen to play with it :D 

Happy holiday! 

Paper Straw 101

all pictures are taken by me and please do ask for permission to share/(noncommercial) use.

Last month, one of my dearest friend, who lived in the States was finally home for after 5 years abroad. We emailed frantically before her flight to Indonesia, and she asked me, "Would you like to get something from here?" And I answered without a doubt, "Striped paper straws!" She was bewildered, thought I might ask for something more... pricier or fancier? We LOLed about that till now, how I see the exaggerated beauty of striped paper straws or being a "paper straw nerd". So here I am, the nerd, giving you the lesson, on why paper straws are really pretty, functional, and underrated. *cough* ahem. Let's begin Paper Straw 101 

The number one reason you've got to love them, is they are pretty cheap and add a dash to your purpose; party, baking, or craft, quite easily too, without any cratfing skill or whatsoever needed. You are also saving the earth if you choose to use paper straws instead of their plastic counterpart. I've been a user of plastic straws my whole life, and my sole fear of using paper straws would be the liquid bleeding through or it gets mushy after it soaked -or sipped- long enough. Read this for I tested it myself : it's not regular paper and as long as you're not chewing it like crazy, the paper is very well sturdy. I soaked mine for 24 hours non stop then it's finally to grow limp a little. Your party wouldn't last that long, isn't it? 

My friend bought these via Bake Sweet Etsy, and according to the seller, they are made in USA, made by 100% recycled paper, bio-degradable, free of bleach and chlorine, and an FDA approved ink for the stripes. I told my friend to purchase from ebay or amazon instead, but she said that the lower prize might not bear the same quality and spesification, and since this is a "paper" straw you'd stuck in your mouth and your drink/food, I'd better stick with the higher quality instead. But the choice depends on your purpose, though. These are the paper straw up close. Pretty neat,eh? You can't barely seen the overlapping paper here. No leakage! 

                            

Technical things : covered! Now let's move our lesson to a more exciting part. Decorating with paper straws!! They come in every prints and colors, my friend only bought me stripes one, so I'll mention them with the colors only from now. If you are, like me, captivated with all the colors available, do stick to classic  primary hues. Like this red, for instance. 

Red alone is great for parties with theme such as : 

carnival, circus, christmas, (why did the first 3 begin with a C?) folk-ish forest friend, snow white, baseball, ladybug, cat in the hat, classic train, cars, strawberries, and fire engine. 

With other colors red could be used in theme, such as : 

pirate (with black or gray), nautical (with navy blue), christmas (with green), any girly theme (with pink), any boyish theme (with baby blue), sock monkey (with blue or yellow), and watermelon (with black and green).

But don't count out un-popular colors too, like this one in gray. I think they are really understated, it's one of my favorite colors, and to achieve manly, grown up, or neutral theme party, this one is a must! 

Gray alone could be used in a baby elephant themed, baby whale, grown up halloween, rustic chic, baby hippo, any white related theme (to add dimension, there's no white striped straws is there?), rock and roll, vintage,  and so on. See? It's not lesser than red in theme count.  

And paper straws can also be used outside drinking matters. Don't believe me, check out this links provided from the craftiest people in the blogosphere  : 

1. cupcake topper 
2. cakepop holder, see here also. 
3. wreath, a great how-to here
4. garland, I know it's hard to believe, but it's true! 
5. napkin ring and table centrepiece.  

See? Don't you love paper straws by now? Do tell me your ideas or link, and share me your ideas on how to use lovely, practical paper straws! 

 

BTW, If you happen to live in Indonesia, my friend bought me too many, so if you'd like to get your hands on these paper straws yourself, please email me. I got the paper straws in these colors, although they are not in the same quantity :

1. light gray
2. bright red
3. lime green
4. navy blue
5. pastel yellow
6. pastel pink
7. pastel green
8. pastel blue

Be promptly quick! These are running out of my hands very fast! For those of you who live in US, Europe, or AUS do check out Etsy, Amazon, or Ebay, those are a great source of paper straws stock!

Rub a Dub Ducky

Like Ernie of Sesame Street, I do have a thing or two about rubber duckies. They utterly cute and happen to bear one of my favorite color, yellow!! And they squeak! I don't own a bath tub now and I certainly miss  taking a bath with those guys.

thank you Amesh for taking a picture of babalisme printables with your favor goodies!!

If you're a fan of the duck like me, check out a rubber ducky theme party hosted by Dreamesh for her son's 3rd birthday! It's a splash and get wet outdoor party, good thing to be Indonesians is you can host a summer-y party at any time of the year, and everyone seems to have a splashing good time!

Happy birthday, Yuara, and congratulations, *cough* an expecting mother, Amesh for throwing out such a great day! Yuara, enjoy your last moments of having your mom and dad solely for you. *evil laugh* just kidding. I know you'll be a good brother, Yuara. 

On the side note, the winner for kyandkin giveaway is allwiredup! Congrats, Dee! 

Winner!

Hello, folks, did you miss me? I think this year is my busiest to date, I have been on blog absents for most of the time, I'm so sorry! Not to worry, today's about good news only.

*fanfare*

I'm going to announce the winner of Cloud Street Lab giveaway! Thank you for all of you who came to participate and join the fun. If you don't win this time, you still have the chance to enter my other giveaway with goodies from kyandkin. Don't forget to increase your chances with additional entries! Soooo, about the winner..

*drumroll*

It's number 29, Jill Hogan, 14, Snowfairy, 23, Kimberly, 44, Kartika ,49, Elizabeth  ! You will be contacted soon by Cloud Street Lab to redeem your prize.

And for you, my lovely readers, there are lots and lots of Christmas ideas right here, so stay tune, everyone. Also, babalisme will be participating in Christmas Wonderful event at designdazzle ; 100+ craft ideas and 30+ blogs from all around the world pitching in for a wonderful, crafty, and even edible Christmas projects. Don't you dare miss it!

(un) Spooky Night

Halloween is approaching! yaaaay! I'm going as Tintin this year, and Baby G as Snowy, Tintin's dog. My husband is not dressing up, but I secretly wish he would be my Captain Haddock. 

Today's post is about Halloween decorating though. Lots of my reader been asking on how to celebrate Halloween in not too scary nor too kiddy atmosphere. Indi, here, would like to decorate her parent's house, and as fellow Indonesian, I'd really, really know how conservative  things get around here. A friendly smiling skeleton would be considered outrageous. So here are some tips for you if you wish to celebrate Halloween, without the ghouls and witches.

Mandatory rules : no spooky creatures and/or animals, fictional or not. If you thirst for blood and gore, ignore this post.

Think of a not too scary theme, obviously. Think : Harry Potter potion class, not Saw nor Frankenstein. This arrangement by Martha Stewart is a perfect example. You get the mood of curious glass specimens, but not too hair raising as in a siamese twin fetus jar.

Going for classic literature this year? Think subtle gothic theme, like Poe's Raven instead of Stoker's Dracula. I found BrooklynLimestone's Raven themed dinner party decor is breathtaking but none bone chilling. Visit them for DIY dinner ware! See? No blood in sight!

Think outside of the box, in this case, pumpkins. Give your orange buddy a rest and arrange some flowers instead. Before you say that I am talking about the wrong holiday, take a look at this very fine example by OneCharmingParty. Pick your flower in a Halloween color scheme. For a grown up party, take white or purple ones or neutrals like grayish green.  If you want to bring out some oranges without the pumpkin, pick an orange or yellowish colored blooms. Decorate with monochrome vases. Tin can such as the pic works well, but I think vintage-y gothic vases work well too. Be sure to contrast the pairing; black or dark flower go with opaque white vases, white flower, black vases. Don't mix white flowers with glass jars or white vase or it'll scream "I do" instead of "boo". 

If you must, MUST, use pumpkins, please don't carve faces on them. For chic effect do paint, tie a bow, hang a tag, scribble your pumpkins in every possible way you can think of. Damask for pumpkins? Now that's what I call trendy. PaperCraftConnection will show you how and inspirations.  Think Audrey Hepburn chic, not Morticia. 

My final advise, think of Halloween as your un-holiday decor. Think of a color scheme of black and orange instead of vampires and werewolves. It does makes decorating easier if you stick to a color scheme instead of sticking to a theme. You've probably seen it everywhere, but Amy Atlas' pure genius (not evil genius) dessert tables spell C-H-I-C along the way. She showed the way to use color scheme perfectly, black and purple, traditional orange and neutral.

I hope you're inspired (and motivated. *now get out of your screen and get decorating*)!! What are you dressing up as this Halloween or how do you decor your house this year? Do share! 

Giveaway : kyandkin

Again, another giveaway to indulge this month! kyandkin is Heather and her two daugthers : kylie and kinley, hence the name of the shop, obviously. And today she's in the mood of giving away of her handmade comfy leggings in winner's choice of color! Isn't that amazing? Yes, you can win your own custom made pair of leggings!

If you love form and function equally, you'll love kyandkin. You know if you shop for toddlers clothing, you can't really abandon comfort and safety. I live in Indonesia, hot and humid, yet I (and my Baby G) is totally in love with kyandkin nightgown. They're 100% cotton, so soft, comfy, and she's not having rash or  red elastic marks on her skin. If you love details, you love kyandkin more. Don't believe me? oh, you got to see the handmade packaging she does, it's very intimate, it's like it's really specially made for you, it literally IS sewn to your order, but, you know, there's just a huge difference between carrying a paper/plastic bag from the shop complete with price tags and getting your clothing sewn and folded in a handsewn fabric bag. 

Also the same Q&A applies to all my giveaway hosts! Here's Heather's... 

• My biggest hindrance in crafting/designing is finding time sometimes, it's difficult sometimes with 2 little ones running around, BUT it works out, for now, most of the time - lucky me!
• Crafting/Designing projects that I am most proud of when I was a kid is pretty much anything, I love to create. there's a sense of accomplishment with any craft once I complete it. 
• The harshest criticism/ insult that I have ever received about my craft/design works is haven't received any thus far...
• If I were an animal, I'd like to be a bird...would be neat to fly for just a bit :)
• If I were about to lose one of my five senses I'd rather it'd be my taste, all the others I wouldn't want to take away, seeing that I love to see, smell, hear and hug my little girls!
• I'd mostly get awarded for craftsmanship, taking my time with pieces
• If you could choose a celebrity for a sibling, it'd be jennifer aniston, I love her personality, and her style!

THE GIVEAWAY! 

So you want to win a pair of custom made leggings on your color of choice? Read on. 

How to enter : 

Please be a follower of my blog (clickety click the GFC corner there) AND name 1 favorite item from the shop. 

I will pick 1 winner with random. org. and the winner will be mailed by Nov 28th, 2010 at 14.00 my time (same day 07.00 GMT). So please, be sure to leave your email. Giveaway opens to US readers and international ones too if you agree to cover the shipping fees. 

Additional entries : 

*each task gain you +1 entry and mention as separate comment with your link or name as proof*

Like babalisme on FB

Follow babalisme on twitter 

Like kyandkin on FB 

Follow kyandkin on Twitter 

Heart your favorite item from kyandkin. 

Heart kyandkin etsy shop. 

Pin any item from Kyandkin Etsy shop to your pinterest. 

Tweet per day with link to this giveaway. 

Share on your FB wall per day about the giveaway. 

Gain 3 extra entries if you purchase from kyandkin during the giveaway. Mention with your etsy name in 3 separate comments. 

Winter's coming! So don't think, comments away! Keep your legs warm!