Our little Christmas Tree

 May this Christmas time bring smiles and good laughters to  every one of us...

Just around the corner...

gets me so inspired and feeling like a kid again to see Christmas trees and all the gleaming festive lights!

my Xmas 2010 in Japan

My New Year's resolution...(learn how to say no)

Come to think of it...we all have had in one point of our childhood that we would usually make a long list of resolution about things we wanna improve or resolve with earnest decision or determination. But to our dismay like mine...I would always end up doing it again and again. But somehow I've noticed that as I grew older each year I came to realized that matagal na akong di gumagawa nito. As we grow...we mature and we end up knowing what is best and what is better. For me the best thing I can do for my self-advantage is to know when and how to say NO. Yes...saying NO sometimes is better and the right thing to do in the first place. In the hope to help others sometimes put our patience to test...that would just lead us to greater dilemma. So, I just learned from my past mistakes that I put first my self advantage before taking others into consideration. If it'll just do me no good and will just hurt me, then why say YES. It is of true deeds and values to learn how to help others...but let's be wary how it will help us also in the long run. If it will create only some ripples why do it?! Now for me, the best thing to do is to learn how to say NO. I have this attitude of being so generous...to a fault...this uncommon generosity sometimes would lead others to take advantage of the situation. I have a lot of experience on this matter. Help but don't put yourself into something that can jeopardize you in any way.

There's a lot of ways to help. One is helping an institution. Say like, an orphanage. We can share by giving small things you can afford without emptying your purse. Helping within the bounds of your budget. It is a good sigh of relief to see them smile with a little gifts you share with them. Rather than being used with some who can work naman for themselves. Me, we've been helping some wounded women and children also. That way I am sure that we're not taken advantage or anything. They do not ask for it. We want to do it in our own volition to help. We do it because we want it to happen.

Sharing our blessings to those who are really in need is an act to alleviate other's sufferings and also an act of humanitarianism. That is the true essence of giving and sharing.
Christmas...is just around the corner so let us spare some from our own pocket to do such act of kindness...!

The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.
(Mother Teresa)

Wintry air of Christmas...

It's christmasy na talaga...the wintry cold breeze...and the rush. Everybody seems to be all agog and making time to look for something for their loved ones. This is a time of giving and sharing. Young and oldies share the same feelings.
Last Yuletide season of 2007 was the most emotion-filled Christmas for me. Filled with mixed feelings...that was my saddest because first time I left the house during that special part of the year. They spent it with tears longing for a mother figure who doesn't stop telling you do this and you do that first dearie-commands at home. I am their favorite alarm clock who'd always wake them up in the morning! I am their yaya...their soulmate...their barkada...their master...their alipin forever just like Madge to her children, as how Tack would put it to words. Really...to be away with our children is the worse part of our lives. And that decision lalo pa't Christmas...ay talagang nakakadurog ng puso bilang isang nanay. But anyway, that travel away for three long months that would have been 6 month long dapat ay napadali ang uwi ko. Fighting my gloomy-nanay-side...I was nevertheless enjoyed the trip. And I can truly say that the 3-month long stay there was really awesome. It was really a getaway vacation. And that I cannot forget...a treat...a much needed time to reconcile with everything.

An awesome relaxation indeed to reminisce!
I love flowers!

Just around the corner...

The -ber month has just started about five days ago and at this early you'll hear X'mas songs being played now over the radio. Yesterday when I was at the mall I saw an influx of window-shoppers looking for the best but cheaper Xmas decor. I have always been fascinated with big X'mas trees with flickering rice bulbs. I enjoy rice bulb than any other bulb. I just love it. We once had an 8ft tall X'mas tree but fell down maybe because the base was not so securedly fastened. I gave it away right after the season with all those imported trimmings. Now I want a not-so-tall but a medium one. A simple one with simple trimmings will just be fine now. What is important to me right now is to pennypinch. Now I am tamed when it comes to shopping. I only bring home usually a small bagful of some necessities. No more extra expenditures that has nothing to do and not needed naman. Impulsive buying will only get us to nowhere. Stashing money for future use or saving for our future nest egg is more important and wiser decision for a mom just like me.
I have noticed that what I bought usually would only end up in the cabinet or in the shelves and just become a kept trash and be given away after sometime. I have learned to apply the less is more practices in Japan. The sala usually have only what is essential..sans all those abubot. Buying what is beautiful to our eyes and later on giving it away or worse throwing it away...what a waste of money I thought! Now I am much wary of how to spend money than before.
Giving gifts' none of the highlights of X'mas. Sharing is the best part and children mostly are looking forward to wrap everything and unwrapping is the most awaited moments. So make a list now, it is better to shop and save gifts 'til this early than to make a rush...

Enjoy and be a wise shopper!

Mixed emotions...this coming Christmas

One month to go and we're in -ber months again and so we smell Xmas this very early. Making lists of what to have for our loved ones and things to give a way in act of sharing for those who are less fortunate. This is something that everyone has been looking forward to. Young and old alike is ecstatic every year to celebrate this special day. But I cannot help myself but be with mixed emotions now that I've already been hearing carols over the radio. I spent last year of Christmas outside the country and it felt great to be in foreign land. I saw how Japan being a non-catholic, has overdone excessive decorations along the airport with those huge Xmas trees that stood sentinel to greet and welcome visitors like me. I couldn't believe how they put such a gigantic decorations with all those thousands of glittering lights. It was indeed awesome and had given me so much happiness in my heart. I felt like a kid that time. Those things I saw and experienced has evoked and shaped some good memories that will stay to linger and I will cherish for the rest of my time. Being with people we love most is the best way to spend this occasion. Now that I am here, I can make it up to my kids when that 2007 Xmas had been the saddest for them because they spent it without me. What truly matter is the best time to spend it with love and so much care because indeed Christmas is a love month for everyone. I am sure everybody feels the same way too.

Making ready for Christmas is always a delight to me.

Everybody do enjoy the pleasant odours that fill the house during Christmas time...and I do remember my kids gathering around the table whenever I make fruit salad...they'd always pick over the raisins because they hated raisins for reasons I still do not know...'coz I do love raisins! And oh they loved licking the stirring spoons when I'm done preparing.

I would hung stockings for them and I would noticed their curiousity to wake before daylight to look for some gifts...sigh...how fast the time is...they are all grown ups and they still want to be treated as babies...as what I still do now. I still do enjoy being a mom to them...

Christmas is just around the corner...

Whoah!!! Christmas is just around the corner and I can't help but miss home. I'm gonna miss cooking their favorite pastas...with heavy cream...the Pinoy calderetta which is always present on the table...the gelatin with heavy milk...the desserts...the chicken inasal with tanlad leaves inside the belly...my chili BBQ na ubod sarap...the hot arroz caldo with sotanghon...sigh...I'll miss fixing the table for my kids. The opening of the gifts...I left some gifts for them under the Xmas tree and my gifts for Mishah and Enzo...their Xmas costumes I bought from Tiendesitas. But then anyway I sure hope their celebration would be a happy one even without me...I promised to make it up when I get back home soon.

Here in Japan, we have ordered na our 15 cm. cake prior for Xmas...and would you believe it costs a whooping 2,835 yen. It has some fruities on top...that's what I like. They don't have Xmas here since they are non-Catholic, but slowly they are adopting the Xmas season for the children I guess. I just hope in due time they'd understand the true meaning of it and learn that we have but one creator. As I see it, Japan is very religious like us...but all in all we are created but one god...

Christmas in Japan...

I feel great seing Christmas decor in Japan. Being a non-Catholic (I hope I'm right) country they also observe Christmas. I can see decorations everywhere I go. This huge one in the picture is one great example. And so I miss home.