Take 5: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse

Happy Lunar New Year!!! Gung Hay Fat Chow!

This year marks the year of the Horse on the zodiac calendar.

General characteristics of those born this year are energetic, bright, warm-hearted, kind to others. They like to talk, are entertaining, enjoy large crowds. They never give up and strive to make themselves better. They are independent thinkers and carve their own paths in life.

Our family celebrates the new year with a hearty gathering: an exchange of red envelopes, a traditional 8 course meal and just a basic good time. Our Mom preps all day and all night! Sometimes for weeks. Trust me, she wouldn't have it any other way. Each dish is symbolic. Every family has their stand-bys.

Ours include:
1. Chicken: Health and Family Togetherness (served whole)
2. Noodles: Long Life (served uncut)
3. Eggs: Fertility (our fam likes century eggs)
4. Fish: Prosperity / Abundance (another item served whole!)
5. Seeds: Wealth (this is served in a soup, along with water chestnut: symbolizing unity / wood ear: longevity / black moss: wealth)
6. Shrimp: Liveliness
7. Lettuce: Prosperity (we eat this with a filling for a lettuce roll. the filling also has oysters : good fortune and good luck
8. Sweet Cake: the sweetness to symbolize a rich, sweet life; while the rise of the cake is for "rising" prosperity for the new year. Served in a round shape to symbolize a cohesive family. It's a good way to "sweeten" the New Year.

Just listing these items leaves my mouth watering!

Wanna give some a try for dinner tonight? Here are some suggestions:

1. Chinese Lettuce Cups by Mary Kate Tate & Nate Tate

2. Soy Sauce Chicken by Rasa Malaysia

3. Chinese Marbled Tea Eggs by Steamy Kitchen

4. Shrimp Fried Rice by Wantanmien
      bonus: She has her own YouTube channel! She demos every recipe and has English subtitles!

5. Chow Mien Noodles by Rasa Malaysia

No matter which items you decided to include in your celebrations, have a Happy and Prosperous 2014!

xo halloJAK

Field Trip Friday: CHA Mega Show 2014

A couple weeks ago, Sis and I got to go to CHA Mega Show 2014, in Anaheim Ca.

I gotta say, It was a TON of fun! All craft genres were represented: beading, jewelry making, paper, printing (both 2-d and 3-d), stamping, needleworks, yarn crafts. Basically, you name it, they had a booth for it.

There was a lot of emphasis on mixed media: companies really trying to appeal to alternative or unconventional uses to their products. There were a lot of Make and Takes. Fantastic opportunity for all in the crafting world to see what is new and emerging.

It was a whirlwind; but here are some highlights.

1. The Lion Brand booth recreated the 7 Wonders of the World, with yarn!

The 7 Wonders of the Yarn World

Great Wall of China

done in crochet granny squares and hexagons

 

Easter Island
love the knitted cable sweaters

 

 

Stonehenge

check out the texture and color detail for the moss

 

  

Taj Mahal

 lots of texture and embellishments

 

 

Mayan Ruins

colorful stripes and chevron

 

 

Leaning Tower of Pisa

great detail in the open lace work 

 

 

Sphinx

check out the detailed hieroglyphics covering the stand

2. Arm Knitting Demo and Knit-Along with Vicki Howell

I've seen this done before but was hooked once I tried it myself

 

 

3. Pretty Displays with lots of Yarn, Paper and Lace
Squeal!!!

We have more photos! Hop over to our Pinterest page and have a look.

xoxo halloJAK

 

Take 5: Printable Calendars for 2014

Let's just start by saying that I'm a bit OCD with calendars and lists. I have them everywhere, which can be a good and bad thing. A bit of an organized chaos.

January is best time to get organized and start to year off on the right foot.

Everyone's taste is different and with that in mind, here are some free printable 2014 monthly, daily and weekly calendars from around the web.

YEAR AT A GLANCE

via I Should Be Mopping The Floor

 

I can't get over how cute and funny the blog name is.

 

 

via Love vs Design

 

For those who can't decide, you have 10, that's right 10 designs to choose from.

Now, which one? 



MONTHLY

 

via The Creative Exchange

 

These are perfect for your desk. I really like that every 2 months fit an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper.

Compact and Pretty!

 

 

via Oh The Lovely Things

 

Another calendar fit for the desk.

Fun, Festive and Modern!

 

 

 

via My Owl Barn

 

For you owl lovers, you get to choose from 50 different artisans!!!

It customizable for every month.

If you can't decide, there is a pre-made version.

 

WEEKLY / MONTHLY Write Ins

via Kate and Trudy

 

Clean, Color Coded, with space to write notes.

Easy!

 



via Elli

 

Confetti and Calligraphy all around!

 

 

via Nina Design Studio

 

This one is perpetual; you just need to write in the dates to coordinate with the days of the week.

 

Sweet!

 



PLANNER

via the handmade home

 

For those of you going all out, this one is all inclusive.

EVERYTHING is in here.

Hewww. That was exhausting! But well worth it!

Hope this gets you motivated and organized!

Have a great weekend everyone!


PS. If all this isn't enough and you want more options, check out our Pinterest page!
Follow us to get more updates and links.

xoxo halloJAK

Ringing in 2014!

via

How is it that 2013 is over and 2014 is here? This year went by so quickly!

Wishing all a Happy, Safe & Prosperous New Year!

 

xoxo halloJAK

It's beginning to look like Christmas!

via

December has been a whirlwind and it's not over yet. One more week till Christmas!!!
As I type, I have more boot cuffs and scarves to crochet.

We have one last holiday show this weekend @ the Downtown Flea in downtown LA. If you haven't been downtown in awhile, it's the perfect time to go. With so many new eateries opening up, you can have brunch and shop for the holidays. Perfect!

xoxo hallo jak

Holiday Shopping and Patchwork Santa Ana

 

With Thanksgiving behind us and Christmas just around the corner, I really have to get started on my
shopping list, while still doing our shows!

Enter Patchwork Santa Ana.




It's a great show with lots of vendors and good food. Our booth this year is on 3rd Street.

Hope to see you there!

xoxo
hallo jak
jen and kris
 

Black Friday Sale!!!

In the spirit of saving on Black Friday, we're offering 25% off everything @ our Etsy Shop!

coupon code: BLKFRI25

Get it while you can! Code only good for Friday, Nov 29th.

xoxo

hallojak

jen and kris