Hmong money belt/hlab nyiaj cross stitch

Apparently I don't know why my blog looks so weird. Will recheck in a few days. Another that I would like to add is that I tried to upload the video on youtube but seem like the program that came with my computer isn't uploading it properly. So I'll be busting out my laptop and redo everything again. I also was able to find extra stabilizer fabric so will be uploading more pictures soon.

I'm finally done sewing the money belt for my mom. Now, I just need to go out and buy some fabric stabilizer before I start cutting, bordering, and sewing everything together. I don't know what kind of fabric stabilizer but will definitely post a picture which you can buy it at your local Walmart or fabric store.

I record step by step but there will not be any talking in there since there are tons of background noise. However, I will explain it on this blog to make it more thorough so you'll have a better understanding of what's going on.

<-------- 43="" and="" any="" around="" aside="" be="" below="" belt="" border="" but="" can="" cut="" decided="" did.="" did="" didn="" do="" don="" fabric="" fold="" for="" from="" goes="" hlab="" i="" if="" inches="" it="" just="" last="" length="" like="" long.="" looked="" made="" make="" making="" measure="" minute.="" my="" not="" of="" one="" or="" originally="" otherwise="" out="" p="" picture="" record="" since="" t="" take="" that="" the="" this="" to="" too="" txoj="" waist.="" want="" what="" where="" which="" wide.="" wide="" wider="" you="" your="">I did not record or take any picture on making the belt/hlab. It's basically the same as the square but you just keep on going. I would say, leave about a few inches at the end so you can border it up with the pink border.
Since I cut my fabric a bit too wide, I decided to add on and make it wider otherwise before it was like the picture right below. If you don't like it wide, you can cross stitch like the one below and border up all around. You can check my pervious post (on this link) of the other money belt that I did so you'll know what I'm talking about.

Choosing what kind of colors you want is your choice. As long as it's vibrant it'll give your cross stich a pop.

Another note to add is that it's up to you if you want 1 or 2 border around your pattern. I like using green and yellow. If you just want one border, use a vibrant yellow for it.

<----- a="" above="" after="" and="" as="" at="" be="" being="" belt="" big="" bit="" border.="" border="" bordering="" bottom="" but="" can="" cut="" did="" everything.="" extra="" fabric="" green="" i="" if="" inbetween="" it="" left="" ll="" longer="" look="" my="" nbsp="" okay.="" on="" p="" picture="" piece="" pink="" putting="" s="" second="" see="" sew="" sewn="" shown="" square="" that="" the="" time="" too="" top="" under="" we="" will="" yellow="" you="">
On the sides and bottom, after putting on the stabilizer to make our fabric thicker, you'll be cutting 6 dots out. If you count from the yellow border, count 6 dots out and cut the excess off. I will have more info when I get to that point. I'm just letting you know ahead of time in case you cut your fabric too short. The reason why I said 6 dots out is because that will ensure our pink border to be put on evenly.

So........let's get started!!!

First, start out by making the green pattern. You can click on the picture to make it bigger.





Second, Make the pink pattern.

Third, Add the border outside of you pattern.

Once, you add the border, cross stitch the color on the inside too.


Last, is make the flower (petal) and border the green/yellow all around.

Since I made the belt/ hlab 43 inches, I made 6 squares. If you have time on your hand, you can make this within weeks. If you don't, it'll take a while to make. My paj ntaub won't be perfect but I'm making it with my own hands and giving it to my love ones. Many people will not appreciate handmade things but I will let you know, it's not something you can do easily in a jiffy. It takes time and dedication. The reason why people are not selling these for cheap is because it's hard work. It take lots and lots of time. You won't realize how much work it is until you make it yourself. It may not be perfect, but it's from your heart and hopefully, will be handed down from generation to generations if kept in good condition.

The reason why I'm making a tutorial of this is to those that wants to learn but don't know anyone that will show them how. My camera isn't that great but at least it will give you an idea of what I'm doing and how to do it.

Again, once I buy the stabilizer and find a quiet alone time, I will show you how to border it and sew it all together.





Finally got the video up on youtube!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRAq8bujRZ8

I upload more videos but don't have time to blog it. Check out my channel on how to put the pink border on, sew it together, and cover it up. At this time, I'm currently trying to record on how I put beads/coins on but my little busybody doesn't agree so I will upload whenever I can. It could be tomorrow or weeks.

Process of making Hmong money belt, Hlab Nyiaj, soon?????

I posted about the Hmong cross stitch money belt, hlab nyiaj, last year and my sister asked me to show her the process of making it. She knows how to cross stitch but the wants to know how to border it evenly and cover it up. I've learn bits from my mother in law on the process of putting it all together. So, I will be showing picture to picture on the process of bordering it up, sewing it together, covering it up, and coining them. It'll be so much easier than just seeing bits of the process and yet still have to guess on how to make it.

I'm currently trying to finish up on the last square like the one above. It takes time since I have a needy toddler on my hand. Since I made enough for my girls and 3 of my sisters, I'm making this one for my mom. It's definitely a different style compare to the ones that I've been making but yet still similar.

I won't know how long it will take for me to load up everything but I'm trying as best as I could and will put lots of effort in it. It may not be the best looking one but hey, I made it myself and am showing everyone how I did it. If you find a better of making it, good for you. This is the way how I learn it and it works for me.

Google Express Review

I was able to use a code from a friend to get $15 to use at Google Express ( www.google.com/express ). I order on Friday and got my things on Monday. I had an allergic reaction to something and my eyes was so swollen that it took 2 days to go back to normal again. I was thinking, how am I'm gonna to shopping with this huge jelly swollen eye? Google express to the rescue! Unbelievable at how fast it arrived to my place. My husband created an account and order on Tuesday and got his the very next day. So far, it's been positive for the both of us. Would we order from google express again? Absolutely! Down below will be the steps on how to get $15 off your order today!

1) Create a google account or if you have one already go to step 2.
2) Go to google.com/express
3) At the top right, mouse over My Account and click on membership
4) Join free for the first 3 months; you can cancel at any time
5) Add your credit card (must be first time credit card on google express)
6) Once you join, shop things up to $15 ($15 at one store = free shipping)
7) At checkout, apply my code UKC8GY3WS to get $15 off your first order

It's free money right there. I spend $17.98. With the $15 off and free shipping, I pay only $4.82. It's for a 20 roll Scott 1000 sheet toilet paper and Bounty 8 pk regular paper roll. Again, my code for $15 off is  UKC8GY3WS. Happy shopping!

Paj Ntaub

For the past year, I've been busy taking care of my kids and was doing cross stitch. I was able to finished 4 of my project within 3 months before I had my baby and was able to coin 2 out of the 4 cross stitch. I stopped coining 2 of my cross stitch, hlab nyiaj, since I was starting to get backache coining with a huge stomach so I decided to make 3 more cross stitch for 3 of my sister that aren't married yet. So far after having baby, I'm barely finishing them. Just one more piece to go then I'll have to border it and sew it all together before coining them. I wanted to take picture of the process and totally forgot to, so once I'm done with the ones that I'm currently trying to finish, hopefully, I will remember to take pictures of each step. It will probably take a while since I'm in the process of buying a house.

This is the one that I'm currently trying to finished. I did all of the 6 squares and just need to finish up with the long one that goes around the waist. This is the one that I only took a picture of with my phone when I was starting out.

Below is the how it looks like when I border it up and sew it all together. It took a lot of work.
To me, I feel like this was the hard part. Obviously, it was my first time making these, so my corners aren't that great and I was just starting to get familiarize with my sewing machine. It was a lot of steps and very very back breaking. When it comes to coining, it's a bit easier once you get it but very back breaking.

The picture below is the one that my mother in law made for my daughter. It was my first coining and didn't do too bad.

With these, it takes a LOT of patience and time. After making these, I now understand why they're so expensive. It's a lot of hard work and best done with no infant/toddler around.



April 24, 2016

Update:

I found a picture of the first 4 cross stitch that I did early last year.

Zojirushi Classic Bento Vacuum Lunch Jar Review

I will be doing a review on the Zojirushi classic bento vacuum lunch jar. It's more like my husband review since he was the one that mainly use it. The lunch jar is supposed to help keep hot foods hot or cold foods cold without the need to having to microwave it or required refrigeration for about 6 hours.

Last year my husband went through a phase where he would only bring sandwiches/salad to work only because he was tired of waiting in line to use the microwave at work. It takes him almost 5 minutes to walk to the lunch room and from there, there would be a line. Since the microwave is small with low watts, it takes longer to heat up foods so the line barely gets going. By the time he's done heating his foods, he only have about 5-8 minutes to eat before walking back to his work station. He feels rather rushed.

    After complaining about being so sick and tired of sandwiches and salad, I did some research and came upon the zojirushi lunch jar. There were so many option to choose from but I decided to get the classic bento vacuum lunch jar. My husband was iffy about it since it was about $50, which is pretty pricey, but I rather have him eat regular foods than eating sandwiches that won't fill him up. On the side note, we're asian so rice will fill us up better rather than sandwiches/salad.

    The reason upon deciding on the brand zojirushi; there's thermos and tiger brand, I bought a zojirushi rice cooker on amazon two years ago and love it. I had no problem with it at all so my thoughts on the brand was positive.

     Once the lunch jar came in, I use it immediately the next day. There was no need no carry lunch cooler as it came along with a bag already. You don't even need to refrigerate the food and just leave as if in the jar.

   As shown in the picture, it came with 3 container. The smallest one is basically for soup which I use for the main dish. If there's liquid, it will leak a bit but not enough to cause a mess; you just need to wipe it. It's small but enough to fill my husband up till he comes home from work; yes he does have a big appetite. The second/middle container is the biggest of the three. I use it for rice. As for the the third/top container, I don't use it often unless I have extra cookies lying around for hubby or if he wants to pack pepper to work. The container do have a smell to it after a while but it doesn't bother me as much. It's not incredibly smelly but enough to bother some people. Once filled with food, it's not noticeable. I usually microwave with the lids off and that was the first couple of months only.

     The whole container itself or the jar (the one you put all three small container/tupperware in it) is really easy to clean. If I pack food with liquids, there will be a small spill; more like leaks, it won't stain there or cause it to be smelly if not clean after a few days and comes off easily. The soup/liquid container is sometime hard to twist open. I love how the whole container itself have a place to put the chopstick; the only thing that I wished was another place to put the spork instead of having to put it in the bag. The chopstick is plastic while the spork is a very good quality spoon/fork that will last for a long time. For the bag,it fits in everything nicely and I was even able to fit in a can of pop at the top along with a few napkins on the inside pocket. So far, its been a year and a half and still no rip or any type of wears from the bag. Everything is still in good condition.

    **So the question is: Does it keep hot foods hot?
                    The first couple of months, before I put in the three container filled with food, I would fill the jar with hot tap water first to ensure that it keeps the food hot/warm longer by the time my husband eats which on the instructions, it says up to 6 hours. I pack an hour or two before he goes to work, he drives 45 minutes to work, and doesn't eat till 6 hours later. From what my husband says, the food are still hottish warm when he eats. He doesn't need to microwave anything and just eat it right off the bat. The last few months, I've been packing a few hours early and didn't heat up the jar like I usually do which the food are still  hottish warm but not cold enough to need reheating.


     ** Does it keep cold food cold?
                     I have not yet tried it with cold food at all. I don't even think it will fit a sandwich unless you cut it up into small pieces.


     Overall, to me, it's definitely worth the money spent. I saved money on food and my husband gets a good meal during work without the need to wait in line or having to eat in a rush. The price may steer most away but I assure you that it's worth every penny. His coworker had asked him about it since it's different and they actually like the idea of not having to reheat their foods again but the price factor steer them away. I too wouldn't had spent money on it if not for my husband complaints about having to wait in a long line to reheat his food and not having enough time to eat by then.



Click link to the Zojirushi Classic Bento Vacuum on Amazon.com

Schick Hydro Silk TrimStyle review

The schick hydro silk trimstyle is my very first BzzCampaign of the year. I was one of the lucky ones to received it. The razor has hypoallergenic moisturizing serum and the skin guards is supposed to protect from irritation. It has 5 blades to give the most closest shave you can get. The trimmer comb can be adjust up to 3 setting and is waterproof.

It comes with the razor and trimmer along with one triple a battery. I've used it immediately once I received it in the mail. It's really simple to put the battery in. All you have to do is twist and pulled from the trimmer part. I don't want to go into every detail but the trimmer definitely works and when wet too. I haven't used it completely in the shower but did rinse it with water and had no problem with it. You just adjust the length of the comb setting to however you want it and press power to get it working. It trim the hair cleanly without any tugging or trouble. The razor is pretty much like their hydro silk sensitive care. So far I have no irritation from it and my legs feel silky smooth.

 *The comb can be taken off easily and the instruction/direction are on the inside.



The only thing I wished they had was a cap for the razor. There were a few times when my hand was brushing up against the razor when I was trimming. Luckily I was careful and didn't cut myself. Other than that, I love using the hydro silk trimstyle. It makes it easier to clean there. I have a prego belly so the trimmer was really easy to use. I would recommend this to anyone that's looking for a trimmer and a shaver all in one together. The ones that I would recommend the most is to all the pregnant ladies. It's hard to clean there when you have a belly and using this trimmer is really easy without the worries of getting cut there. I'm looking forward to using this often.





****** I received this product from Bzzagent.com. For more information, please visit Bzzagent.com

1st skincare Routine

I usually don't have a skin care routine but recently started with one. I'm becoming more aware of the fact that I'm getting older day by day. During winter last year, I was constantly battling with dry skin. Even with moisturizer on at night, it doesn't help. My face was cakey whenever I put on foundation so finally, during Mother's day, I told hubby to only get me skincare product  and nothing else. He took me to Target and I got myself the Laneige toner, emusion, bb cushion, water sleeping mask, and the Olay facial brush.


So far, I love everything that I bought. I no longer battle with a flaky face whenever I put on foundation or bb cream except by my nose area. With using the facial brush, I kid you not, you will break out during the first two weeks. It's mainly because it's cleaning those dirt that are inside which are coming out. I would say for myself, that I don't breakout as often but it vary on each individual.

After using the items above for about 2 months now, my face definitely feels much smoother and more firmer than before. I'm happy with the result but am currently trying out different cleanser until I find the one that I like best.

Here are my review on the products that I've used:

* Laneige water sleeping mask
       It has made my face feel sooooo silky smooth the morning after using it. I feel refresh in the morning and do notice a difference. It's a must try out of all the product above shown if you don't want to spend on all of them. It's around $25 and I believed it was the cheapest one out of all the others.
       The container is plastic that feels really high quality. It's easy to open and close and comes with a little stick.

* Laneige Power Essential Skin Toner
      I bought the normal to dry skin since I have dry skin. I have never used toner before so I was afraid that it would be too harsh on my face but so far, I have not break out or anything. It does help take off extra makeups that are left from cleansing my face. It doesn't burn or dried out my face.

      The container is plastic that feels really high quality. All you do is twist the top to open it.

* Laneige Perfect Renew Emulsion
        The one I got was for all skin type. I wasn't too sure what Emulsion is but after reading what's it for on the Laneige facebook page, it's a light moisturizer. I use it after cleansing my face during the morning. I used to use it during the night after using the toner but I'm now using a Roc night cream since I'm starting to be aware that I now have wrinkle (crows feet).

    The container is made out of glass. There's a cap on it that you can just pull it off and just pump out the moisturizer.

* Laneige BB Cushion
     I got myself the light. There wasn't any to test out to know what colors it look like so just to be on the safe side, I took light. I feel like it's a bit light or white for me but it works after using blush and bronzer. Next time, I will surely buy the medium just to try out. One thing I love about this is that it came with an extra refill which is a plus. I believed the price for it is around $30. I've been wearing it often and one thing that does bother me is that I have to dig on the side just to get a bit of product out since pressing on the cushion in the middle doesn't have much. It doesn't break me out and makes my face looks smooth. The coverage is light and a bit buildable. Overall, I would definitely buy this again especially with an extra refill .

     The BB Cushion feels really high quality. There's a button on the side that you press to open it. Inside, there's a mirror and the bottom is where the sponge is. Once you move the sponge, there's a plastic that you have to open on the side to use the cushion which the bb cream is there. All you do is dab the sponge once or twice to get the product and dab it onto your face. It's easy and simple.