Merrymaking during the Yuletide Season

I'm so excited. Christmas is one of the many occasions that I always look forward to every year. It is the time of the year when I feel so blessed. It gets me very excited every time Christmas is nearing. As early as September, I already start planning for the gifts that I will buy for my family and friends because I don't want to go through the hassle of the holiday rush. For me, there are many reasons why I always look forward for Christmas and I can enumerate a handful of things. First on my list would be the parties that I will be attending. I'm pretty sure that one of the highlights in every Christmas party is the exchange of gifts. Every time I look for the best gifts I always go to this specialty store in one of the malls near our place that sells a variety of gifts for every occasion. Name it, you get it. You can check unique gift ideas for weddings, christening, Christmas, valentines and birthdays including 50th birthday gift ideas. Second reason is the long vacation I have that I can spend with my family and friends. Usually, we have our high school class reunions every December in time for the holiday season. This is a well-planned activity so that everybody can attend. Also included in my list are the very sinful foods. I have this feeling that I have the license to eat anything I want without the guilt of adding up few pounds on my weight. I always rationalize that I can go on a stricter diet by the start of the year. I also make it a point to hear mass on Christmas Eve. It has been our tradition, then after which we have a get together at home. The list can go on, but these are just a few of the things that I look forward to every yuletide season.

Souvenir Shops

This is beyond my expectation. With patience and determination, at last I have established quite a number of loyal clients for my online accessory business. Within 3 months time, there is a return of investment already. Thus, my next move would be to put up a local shop where clients can actually see and buy the products. I decided to start in the province where competition is not that tough. One potential location I consider suitable is along the barangay road. Unfortunately, one prospect is also eyeing for the space since it is strategically located. His is a souvenir shop intended not only for tourists, but for local residents as well. Items include 25th anniversary gifts, wedding tokens, and the likes. Poor me, I have to look for another site where I can display my stuffs. I'm so excited that I can't wait to do some sort of interior decorating and beautification. Everything must be ready prior to the grand opening. Wish me luck!

Hand-made Business

My new baby; fashion accessories. While as I was busy doing my hand-crafted headbands; my cousin-in-law called me up and asked for assistance. He has accepted job-out orders from factories catering big companies. Since they are quite anxious as to meeting the deadline due to bulk orders, they decided to hire additional manpower to finish the stuffs. The task involved is quite simple, which is just incorporating wallet inserts into leather wallets. Thus, I immediately called our tailor neighbor for quotation. Luckily, he agreed and even gave us the cheapest rate available. Now that I have done my part, I need to finish my own business and come up with new ideas for my accessories. Although we make different products; yet, it boils down into one common denominator - survival. Life is just a matter of how you find ways and means in order to meet your needs. As long as it does not make you less of a person; then, there is nothing to worry about.

My Favorite Time of the Year

Everybody loves this time of the year. I can smell the crispness of the yuletide breeze. People tend to become jolly every time this season comes. Maybe it's because of the Christmas songs that filled the air everywhere you go. What I like most about it is the food preparation aside from the giving of gifts of course. I just love to bake; although, I don't have much time doing it lately. Thus as early as now, I already have a long list of goodies to make. One of my favorites is the carrot cake since it is nutritious and my daughter requests for it. She also does the shredding portion because for her it's just like playing. For us, it seems that there is some sort of magic during this time because the feeling is contagious. In fact, a lot of us have started buying presents for our loved ones to take advantage of various mall sales. Everybody is in the mood for it; thus, excitement overflows.

Nothing to Lose

I spend most of the time at home with the family watching television because its vacation time. After which, I see to it that my daughter takes a nap every afternoon in order to maximize growth spurt. At her age, I think she is smaller than the average children; thus, I worry a lot for her sake. Although my husband is tall, I won't take chances by not doing anything to support her at this crucial stage. Thus, I resort to various options that claims therapeutic effect whether medical or herbal remedies. I remember there is this show in one of the TV stations featuring newly discovered products. One is for growth enhancement applicable even for adults at their 30's. Not only that, other merchandise like skin care products particularly moroccan oil, skin ink, stretch mark remover are also present. Though I'm not sure about its effectiveness, still there is nothing to lose. At least, I've tried for the sake of my baby.

Family Should Be on Top of the List

Put your family on top of the list. Since semestral break is here at last, this time I make it a point to spend it purely with the family. With all the stress that has come our way, we deserve to loosen up. Our target destination is the hometown of my hubby. Since this is situated several kilometers away from the city, we can be assured of a tranquil ambiance. While chilling out at the seashore one starry night, we decided to take a quick plunge at the cool waters. It was so refreshing; thus, we stayed there for quite a while. Since it was getting late already, I asked everybody to get out and rinse. Because I savored every moment, I didn't notice that my skin and hair has become dry. Good thing I brought with me St. Ive's body lotion and organic moroccan oil for hair. At least, I won't have to deal that much with dryness. Although it was just a short vacation, we had a great fun. Everybody went home with a smile on their faces. It just shows that what matters most is how you spend quality time and not how often you bond with each other.

Hectic Schedule

No time to unwind. I was very busy lately with various stuffs like real estate review classes, wedding planning, and tutorials for my daughter; thus, I wasn't able to check my mails for a couple of days. To my surprise, I got almost 100 unread messages in just 3 days. When I go through it, I noticed that most are generated emails from several physical therapy websites offering jobs in different states. I don't know where they got my address, but in fairness to them they are every good at locating professionals through online directories. Anyways since I still have other things to do like making more customized headbands for my "soon to open accessory shop", I immediately signed out without delay as soon as I finished emptying the bulk and spam folders. I hope and pray that this business will prosper since every single penny earned here will be set aside for my daughter's savings account. Wish me luck!

Reading and Learning

I miss strolling at the mall. Going to the mall is one of my favorite past times, but due to hectic schedule I haven't been there for quite some time now. Good thing my friend asked me to accompany her to the mall for a job interview. There's an ongoing job fair that time; thus, she wanted me to go with her so that we can also watch a movie after. I agreed to meet her at the bookshop to check for new releases while waiting. I would always make sure I can grab one each month to add to my collection. As far as I can remember, reading has always been one of my favorite hobbies since grade school. Back then, there was a mini library in one corner of our classroom wherein there are plenty of storybooks to read on. Our teacher encouraged us to browse those reading materials to improve on our reading skills. So every afternoon before going home, instead of playing along with my classmates I would sit and read even when alone. Doing this almost every day made me finished all the available books. I've read them over and over again to the point of memorizing quite a number of lines. Whenever I have nothing else to do, I would always find something to read on whether a newspaper or a magazine. I always believe that acquiring new information is just like feeding your brain with the necessary nutrients it needs. On our way to the venue, we noticed people falling in line in the lobby instead at the conference hall. When I asked them what's the line for, a guy informed us that they are job ticket holders waiting for their final interview. He also advised us to go directly to the registration booth for the application form of the first timers. After two hours of waiting, she was finally interviewed and luckily got her first job. To celebrate her success, we went right away to the movie house as agreed earlier.

Me and My Gadget

It's just me and my gadget. These past few weeks, my laptop has been my constant companion. I now consider it as one of my best friends. I would say this is one of the many things in this modern world that I come to love each and every day. After winning an iPod in the raffle draw in one of the malls in our area, I was able to appreciate technology more and more. Since it's very handy for me to bring along my new gadget anywhere I go, I can easily browse the net wherever I have access to a wireless connection. Of course, I am aware that having easy access has its own advantages and disadvantages. But weighing those things, I would still say the former outweighs the latter. For sure others would disagree with me, because responsibility must also come with it so as not to create problems. At present, I can do things easily and more efficiently. I can update my status in social networking sites, check for the latest songs and movies, and even check for restaurants online. The last time I browse the net, I chanced upon an ad about a property in Tangier that is on sale. It's a great buy because of its location. It is sold at a very reasonable price because the owners are leaving the place; thus, they want to dispose it as soon as possible. My point is being technologically updated has lots of benefits. Even booking a ticket is not a problem anymore. It is so convenient that I just sit around and let my fingertips do all the work. As long as it won't harm me or other people, I will surely love using this device.

Skin Art

Down and bedridden. Being in the bed for three days now is such a boring thing. Fever, headache, muscle pain, and diarrhea; all these made me incapacitated. I can hardly move because my skin is painful to touch. Thus to alleviate my condition a bit, I managed to update my social networking account. By looking at the pictures of someone you know is like connecting with them at a distance. What caught my attention was a group of teenagers who happen to be the cousins of my friend. Their entire bodies are full of tattoos. I can directly say that they are Troubled Teens because of the way carry their selves. Although these are referred to as skin art; yet too much of it is unsightly. The new generations like to explore on what they call as latest trends. This is their way of expressing their feelings. Good thing such is uncommon in our clan or else I will surely freak out.

Successive Tropical Storms

With the successive typhoons visiting the country, I feel like this is too much of a burden for the victims. News reports show that thousands of families are affected. Little ones as well as the old suffer most. It melts my heart knowing this will not be the last. As December approaches, more tropical depressions and tropical storms are yet to come. While the entire area has been extremely devastated due to strong wind and flood, their agony has not yet stopped until there. Diseases that are water-related are adding insult to injury because it made the situation even worst. They can't even go to the nearest hospital since the vicinity is also submerged in water. Since the evacuation centers are already overcrowded, some opt to stay on the streets with their makeshifts. Good thing there are private institutions who donated shed kits for their convenience. I sincerely pray that everything will be fine and that new hope will be shining upon them.

Going Through and Getting Out of Depression

It's very alarming to know that there are increasing cases of depression nowadays. What alarms me most is that a friend of mine called me up recently telling me she is very depressed. She feels like life is not worth living anymore especially now that she's been through a lot these past few weeks. Death in the family, losing her job and marital problems are just few of the reasons why she feels depressed. She called me up because she needs somebody to talk to; somebody who will listen and not judge her. So I vowed to help her in any way I can. In order for me to be able to know more how depression develops and how it can be avoided and treated, I have to read as much articles as I can so that I will be able to give the best possible help I can. As I was browsing the net for articles about depression and I chanced upon a recently published article about new discoveries regarding Lyme disease. I did not pay much attention to it though because I'm not very familiar with the disease. Aside from that, it was not my primary intention for browsing. Through reading articles, I now understand how the condition works and how complications develop because of it. It's so alarming that serious complications like diseases can develop if a person is depressed. I also learned the obvious and atypical signs and symptoms of depression and how to be able to recognize them. Knowing all these things, I am more confident now that I can be of better help to my friend. I'm already planning to set up a meeting with her so that we can talk about what she's going through and how we can find ways to divert her attention and not dwell much on her problems. I'm looking forward to seeing her get out of her present condition and survive all the trials she's going through right now.

Dinner for a Cause

I'm so excited for the coming weekend because I received a call from one of my closest friends who is very active in charitable works. She invited me to their "dinner for a cause" on Saturday, which will be held in one of the fanciest restaurants in the city. The proceeds of the said dinner will go to their funds that will be used for various medical missions. Aside from the fact that I will be able to help by participating, I also look forward to meeting other people and gain new friends. I also plan to volunteer in their next medical mission; hence, this would be a good start for me.  As human beings, I feel we have a moral obligation to help each other in any way we can. This would be a good outlet for me to extend a helping hand to the needy ones. Just thinking about it makes me all the more excited. In the meantime, I'm very busy preparing and deciding which dress to wear for the occasion.  After giving much thought on what to wear, I finally decided to settle on an elegant black little dress I have that goes perfectly well with the formal dinner. After that I turned on the television to let time pass by. And guess what, as I tuned in to my favorite channel I saw an advertisement of pressure washers arizona that features two grumpy old men demonstrating the product.  It was so hilarious that I can't help but laugh out loud. After a while I turned off the television to take a short nap. However, I can't do so because the thought automatically pops out of my mind every time I close my eyes. I'm looking forward to it already. Until the next update.

Learning to Appreciate Life

Appreciating life's worth. More than a week ago, I attended the death anniversary of our grandfather in one of the cemeteries in Cebu. Relatives and close friends gathered together for a mass. It was followed by a simple dinner at one of the nearby restaurants. On our way there, we saw a salesman demonstrating to a group of people how to use portable pressure washer. For whatever purpose it may serve the memorial park that I do not know. At first, I thought there was a commotion; thus, I was quite apprehensive when I saw the large crowd. I really can't help it every time I encounter occurrences that involve rumbling and fighting. It just makes me nervous maybe because of the experiences I had when I was still a child. Anyways, a very important lesson I learned is that life is too short, so we should learn to appreciate and make the most out of it. Do not wait for the person to pass away before you express how much you love them. Although death is also a celebration of life since it brings the family closer; still, there is nothing happier than to have an intact family full of love and affection. So start it now and waste no time.

Losing a Loved One

Losing someone close to you is one the most painful experience a person can bear. I recently experience that kind of pain because I lost a very dear friend due to a tragic accident. It's been a couple of days now since her passing, but I'm still grieving for her loss. I'm still in the process of accepting the fact that she is no longer around. We can no longer talk, hang out, eat together or watch movies together. The last time we talked was two weeks ago and she promised to treat me for lunch because I was not able to attend to her husband's birthday party. We agreed to meet one day and have lunch and probably watch a movie together as this has been our favorite past time. People going through the same thing I'm going through right now have different ways of showing their pain and grief. I know grieving persons go through different phases of grief and so am I. I'm doing my best to face and accept the truth that she is no longer here for me. It's just that every time I'm alone, the emptiness automatically sets in. But I know I will eventually get over this. In order not to feel depressed, I keep myself busy by surrounding myself with people who are willing to listen and support me. I'm just so lucky that I have friends like them.  Amidst all the pain, I received a call from a friend who is now based abroad inviting me to pay her a visit to forget the trauma. I learned that she is now working as a receptionist in Car Rental Australia. I wish I could fly there soon, but I know I still have to secure some documents. I'm looking forward to it already. Hope it will help me forget.

Enjoying the Freedom of Being on My Own

Independence is indeed a big thing. Finding a new place to settle down, whether buying a new house or renting a new apartment can mean many things. It can mean a new beginning for some or it can also mean independence for others. Just like looking for a Boarding School, looking for a new place to stay is sometimes stressful. Before you decide the place to live in, you have to consider many factors. Among the very important things you need to consider in choosing a place to live in could include the following: proximity of the location to your workplace, or to your children's school, or to the supermarket, availability of transportation and many other things. More importantly, you should also consider the safety of the neighborhood and the location. I once experienced this when I first moved out from my parents' house to be on my own. That was when I got my first job. I was so excited at first because I thought it would be the best time to prove to myself and to my family that I can already stand on my feet and look after my needs. And I thought I would be enjoying my independence for the first time. But the move was not that easy at all. I had a hard time finding the right place for me. It took me a week before I decided to get that apartment that was close to my workplace then. I was so lucky I have friends who helped me during the actual move. The first few days were the busiest because I had to arrange my things, decide on which furniture to buy, linens to use and all those stuffs. After accomplishing all those things, it was only then that I started enjoying my sense of independence. But it was not easy at all; thus, I thanked God I survived.

My Most Treasured Gifts

For many people, friendship is one of life's precious gifts that is worth treasuring. I only have a handful of friends which I really consider true friends. The reason why I only have few true friends is that I'm not the type who just collects without screening. I do believe friendship is not measured by the number of friends you have. I am very meticulous when it comes to choosing my buddies. I have to observe first and prove that he or she is worthy of my friendship. I categorize friends depending on the impact that person has in my life. But once I consider you as my friend, I will be your friend for the rest of my life and I will do everything to make you feel that you are not only my friend but my family as well. I will make an extra effort to keep the friendship alive. For me, one way to keep the friendship strong is constant communication. To keep in touch with my friends, I often text or call them just to check on them. One time, I phoned my friend who is now based in Nevada working as a physical therapist just to greet her on her birthday. She was so excited upon hearing my voice. She also shared her excitement because she received an invitation from the California Physical Therapy Board to attend in their annual convention. We talked for more than an hour making up for the lost time. Although distance keeps us away, that doesn't change the friendship at all. Communication is still there no matter what happens. That's why I won't trade my friends for anything else in this world because I consider them my best gifts.

Travel and Fun

I accompanied my cousin yesterday afternoon to the airport to fetch her best friend who flew in from Australia for a short visit before proceeding to Paris for her next work assignment. She is planning to stay only for a week so we have to maximize her short stay. My cousin invited me to go with them, so that I can help her organize their activities. Being the organizer that I am, I agreed to plan and make an itinerary for her vacation. It's a fun-packed week and I know she will truly enjoy all the activities that are in store for her. As we waited in the airport for her arrival, I busied myself reading my favorite book. I'm so hooked with it that I bring the book anywhere I go so that I can read it if I have a chance. As I sat there reading, my cousin was just listening to her favorite songs on her ipod. It's her way of fighting boredom. After about an hour of waiting, we saw a group of tourists emerged from the arrival area and two people approached them offering car rental deals. I did not mind them that much because a few moments later, I saw my cousin's best friend waving at us. At last, our long wait is over. We made our way to her and helped carry one of her luggage and then went straight to the hotel where she will stay. After dropping her things at her room, we went to a nearby mall to have something to eat. We capped the night by drinking coffee in my favorite coffee shop before heading back to the hotel to rest. I'm so looking forward to our first adventure in a while.

Restoration Mission

Time to do repairs. My uncle owns a resort in one of the towns in the Philippines. This has been operating for quite some time now. Since it is exposed to various elements such as heat, sun, and breeze; wear and tear is expected with the passage of time. The area that is mostly affected is the kitchen and dining area because these are the ones that are not enclosed. In other words, they are out in the open unlike the rooms, which have clear divisions. Because our main objective here is to attract clients including foreigners, it is a must to keep it in good shape at all times. Since I am the in-charged with the marketing, I need to come up with an effective idea so as not to cripple the sales. Although maintenance is quite costly, there is nothing we can do but to upgrade our amenities to make it competitive. Hence before we commenced with the renovation proper, I make it a point to canvass first to get the best value for the money. I browsed for various kitchen remodeling contractors through the net for comparison. Apart from it, I also searched for modern materials that may complement the present ambiance of the resort. The entire make-over process is not a joke. Therefore, it must be done with proper planning to avoid deficit on budget.

Jumpstart Your Day with a Healthy Routine

Start your day healthy. The first time I realized how beautiful our village is was when I took four rounds of jogging one weekend. Together with my hubby, we jog at around five in the morning when the air is still cool and fresh. Just few blocks from our residence, I saw a few people very busy even at an early hour. It turned out that they are putting up sunroom additions in one of the new houses there. They started working early because they are in a hurry to finish the construction in time for the huge celebration happening in two days. The homeowners have plenty of guests; hence, they want to utilize the space to accommodate their visitors. Since the area is facing directly towards the sun, they decided to put some sort of protection to lessen glaring. It was almost seven when we decided to stop since the sun was already hot. And besides, I still have to prepare breakfast for my family; thus, I need to be home in no time.