A Year of Many Firsts -- Thank You, 2017!

"It is not joy that makes us grateful. It is gratitude that makes us joyful."

2017, you were awesome! I think this is one of the best years for my family, and for myself. I have so much to be thankful for and I honestly don't know where to start.

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Foodie Friday: Masaganang Bagong Taon

First Friday of the month: Food and Dining

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! 
I hope you all had a memorable and meaningful yuletide season spent with loved ones. Today is the first day of 2016 and the first Friday of the month. You know what that means -- Foodie Friday here on the blog. With that, I'd like to begin by giving thanks to the Almighty for a bountiful year that has passed, and hoping for continued abundance in the next twelve months.

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Thank you 2014... Hello 2015!

Welcome 2015! Thank you for being a part of my journey this 2014.  I'm counting my blessings and wishing you more this new year.

I've had many ups and downs in the different aspects of my life this past year, but they've left me with a better perspective on parenting, friendship, marriage, family life, and personal growth.

With a grateful heart, I hope and pray that this year will be better and brighter.

I pray for courage, faith, and wisdom to face the new challenges and obstacles this year.

I pray for lesser disasters and calamities.

I pray for good health, stronger family ties, and the realization of our dreams.

For My Mom-Friday, what do you like and don't like? What changes can I do to make it more interesting for you? What are your favorite topics or features from this blog? Feel free to comment, okay? Don't be shy. :) Your inputs would really help me a lot in improving the blog this year.  I would love to hear from you, even on FB and Instagram. Share your thoughts!

Join me on my new adventures this 2015!
May this year bring you peace, hope, prosperity, and a renewed spirit! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

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Family Friday: Beat the Holiday Bug and Hangover

Second Friday of the month:  Health / Home

I think my title should have been - "failed to beat" the holiday bug and hangover. Christmas is over, and it's been over a week since we ushered in 2014.  But something tagged along with us as we started the year, and it's not what we wanted welcoming us into the new year! One weekend after another, starting before Christmas until last weekend, family members took turns catching what I call the holiday bug.  It was a combination of flu-like symptoms, coughs and colds combo, and a case of sore throat.

First it was J, then the boy, and just last weekend, it was my turn.  The girl was fortunately spared, but still experienced mild dry coughs sporadically during this period.  I've learned that many of my friends have caught the bug too, during the holidays, some even in worse cases. I believe there's a virus going around.  It was really a bummer to be sick during this festive season. 

The holidays can be suuuper stressful and exhausting, especially for us homemakers. I guess I was trying to stretch and postpone this "sick" feeling I had since Christmas.  There were still so many things to do, several gatherings to attend, taking the kids out to have fun, and it's just not fair to miss out on the revelry if I allowed myself to get sick during those times.  It's only once a year that we get to do this, and yes, it may be tiring and can suck the life out of me, but I choose to celebrate the season with my family.  I know if I get sick, the home will not "operate" and the kids will be stuck at home too.  And for selfish reasons, I don't want to miss out on the food and the treats that come with the holidays! =)  As my girl kept on saying, "Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year!"  Now, where did she get that? =)

After all that's happened over the past few weeks, I survived the holidays.  Grateful, blessed, happy.

It did not help that we were still experiencing the annual holiday hangover, and would just rather sleep until noon and lay in bed watching missed shows, or in the kids' case, playing with their gadgets.  I'm sure we're not the only ones feeling this, right?

Last weekend, my body finally gave in, just when the kids are getting ready to go back to school. At least tapos na ang mga celebration! It was just minor discomfort, so we were still able to have our Sunday family lunch at my parents' house.  I guess my usual home remedies worked - I took Biogesic for the body aches and headache, Bactidol to gargle with 2-3 times a day, and a daily pot of soothing lemon-ginger tea with honey, aside from downing lots of water in between.

I felt much better last Monday.  Back-to-school blues and stressing over the girl's birthday preparations and celebration last Wednesday may have overworked my system.  Now here I am again, sore throat and all.  The worst part? I lost my voice when I woke up Thursday morning, and J is having gastro-intestinal problems!  As I write this, I feel I'm slowly on my way to getting my groove back.  My voice is still hoarse and itchy.  J is feeling some relief.  I know we'll be fully adjusted in the coming week.  After all that's happened, I'm taking it as a cue to start a health regimen of some sorts.  I still don't know how yet, but I want this year to be a more health-conscious year for the whole family.

How's your health this new year?

Here's to good health... and wealth na rin! =)

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Humour, Wisdom, Inspiration for the New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

I've shared some round-up posts from 2013, and so, I was thinking that for the first day of 2014, I'd share some funny, enlightening, and inspiring quotes about home and family that I came across in the year that was.  Hopefully, these can serve as inspiration as we begin the new year, and also as a personal reminder that I can overcome day to day challenges if I prioritize and stay positive.

Click on photo to see my thoughts on each one.
Feel fee to like and share this post if you agree with any of the quotes and funnies. :)

On home life:

Procrastination, one thing I badly need to get out of my system, now.

On parenthood:

On daily challenges:

A big welcome, 2014! Bring it on!

Sources:  Pinterest, Instragram, SomeEcards

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
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Fireworks to Welcome 2013

I got that quote from my cousin's text greeting and I think it is so fitting for this New Year post. Whatever happens this year, let's all hope and work towards happy endings.

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2012 Official Philippine Holidays

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!


First post of the year and I'm already thinking of the next holiday. To all Philippine residents, I'm excited to share and remind you of the regular and special holidays for this year -- all 16 of them!

As declared by the office of the president, there will be six long weekends for this year 2012 -- the longest of which is 5 days straight during Holy Week until Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Bravery).
One down, 15 more to look forward to:

• January 1 (Sunday) :  New Year's Day
• January 23 (Monday) :  Chinese New Year
• February 25 (Saturday) :  EDSA Revolution Anniversary (Special holiday for all schools)
• April 5 (Thursday) :  Maundy Thursday
• April 6 (Friday) :  Good Friday
• April 9 (Monday) :  Araw ng Kagitingan
• May 1 (Tuesday) :  Labor Day
• June 12 (Tuesday) :  Independence Day
• August 20 (Monday) : Eid Al Fitr *
• August 21 (Tuesday) :  Ninoy Aquino Day
• August 27 (Monday) :  National Heroes Day
• November 1 (Thursday) :  All Saints Day
• November 2 (Friday) :  Additional special (non-working) day
• November 30 (Friday) :  Bonifacio Day
• December 25 (Tuesday) :  Christmas Day
• December 30 (Sunday) :  Rizal Day
• December 31 (Monday) :  Last Day of the Year

Next up is Chinese New Year!!!
As a Filipino-Chinese, I am happy that the government has finally recognized the auspicious celebration of Chinese New Year.  This has been long overdue, in my opinion, considering a big part of the Philippine population is of Chinese decent, and the country has deep-rooted Chinese cultural influence. The first day of the Chinese lunar year of the water Dragon falls on 23rd of January -- now declared special non-working holiday. (Date will change every year depending on the lunar calendar). We plan to bring the kids to Chinatown for the first time this year, so that is something we're really excited about.

Mark your calendars!

Free printable calendar from www.dreamstime.com

Time to plan the next vacation folks! =)

Reference:
Proclamation No. 295

p.s.
Thanks to reader Kat, I was reminded of the Muslim special holidays which were not included in the 2012 official list.
I believe dates also vary every year for those special days which are based on the Islamic calendar.  It was declared in previous years that the end of Ramadan (Eid ul-Fitr) and the Feast of Sacrifice (Eid-ul-Adha) are regular holidays as well.
2012 : Ramadan falls sometime in August;  Festival of Sacrifice falls sometime in October.

* Update
Holiday for end of Ramadan - August 20, 2012
4-Day Weekend (Aug. 18 - 21)!!!

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  
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Chinese New Year Horoscopes for the Year of the White Metal Rabbit

KUNG HEI FAT CHOI!
May the peace-loving Rabbit hop into your lives, bringing love and good fortune this year!
Happy Chinese New Year of the Metal Rabbit!

If you want to learn about your 2011 Chinese horoscopes, here's a general guide from gotohoroscope.com:
RAT - 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
OX - 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
TIGER - 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
RABBIT - 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
DRAGON - 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
SNAKE - 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
HORSE - 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954,1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
SHEEP - 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
MONKEY - 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
ROOSTER - 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
DOG - 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
PIG - 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

Note that each year, the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar falls on a different date on our Roman calendar. So, even when you were born, say, in 1973, the year of the Ox officially starts February 3, 1973 and not on January 1 of that year. Incidentally, that's the same day as this year's! That's good news to those born in 1973 if you want to know when your Chinese birthday is. Check any calendar with Chinese dates to find out because this 2011, your birthday falls on the same date of the lunar calendar in 1973! So mark that date 'coz that's your Chinese birthday.

Today also happens to be hubby's birthday, so hugs and kisses to J, from me, the boy and the girl! He also celebrates his Chinese birthday today since he was born on the first day of the year of the Ox. Now do the math if you want to know how old he is! LOL!




Related post:
Enjoy your "tikoy"/ sweet glutinous rice cake fried in spring roll wrapper!


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2011 Resolutions? Pass The Message...

I have just read this wonderful post by Jenni Epperson, who also got this list from a friend. As I read through it, I really wish I could accomplish as many from this checklist, which I'm now sharing with you (unedited):

Setting our roles in print, his+hers humor tees we wore on new year's eve -- should've read: "I Spend" instead of Keep! :) 

Guidelines for a successful and wise 2011

Health
01. Drink plenty of water.
02. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper
03. Live with the 3 E’s: Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
04. Make time to pray.
05. Play more games.
06. Read more books than you did in 2010.
07. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
08. Sleep for 7 hours each day.
09. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality
10. Know your limits.
11. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
13. Dream more while you are awake.
14. Envy is a waste of time; you already have all you need.
15. Forget issues of the past don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
16. Life is too short to waste time hating others.
17. Make peace with your past and accept your mistakes. We’re only human.
18. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
19. Smile and laugh more often.
20. You don’t have to win every argument, agree to disagree.

Society
21. Call your family and friends more often.
22. Each day give something good to others.
23. Forgive everyone for everything, even thought it’s hard!
24. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
25. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
26. What other people think of you is none of your business. Who cares?

Life
27. Do the right thing!
28. TIME heals everything.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

Feel free to share and re-post.

Hope the list inspired you. As a follow-up to my first 2011 post -- begin, the rest is easy!

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Begin, The Rest is Easy

Happy New Year everyone!

It's the start of a new year and I would like to thank you all once again for following me on my online journal for the past year and a half. I borrowed the title above from a framed quote at my old office, and I thought it encapsulates my mindset at this moment. So where do I begin?

It took some time for me to write this first post for 2011 as I'm in the middle of sorting through more than 3,000 files (yikes!!!) for the past week now since most of my 2010 files got lost somewhere between transferring to and retrieving from an external hard drive. You could say I was in a state of shock for a day or two. Thankfully, my techie-hubby was able to find a way to recover them, even the super old deleted files! Suffice it to say, I'm still working on getting back to my 'regular programming'. Please bear with me. :)

Moving on, I'm sure I am not alone with the uncontrolled eating, drinking and merry-making in the past few weeks. Who can resist the abundance of food everywhere?!? And as we begin 2011, it may take a while to get back to our normal routine and start the year with a healthier, "greener" lifestyle for ourselves and for our families.

While I was sorting out my files and browsing through my old entries, I found myself reading my Health/Wellness posts which prompted me to share these with you, especially to those who just recently followed this blog. This 4-part series were based from the parenting seminar I've attended last year, conducted by health and nutrition experts. I guarantee you'll be enlightened and will surely learn something new especially about healthy eating.
Click on the titles to read each post in full.

I.
Wellness in our family

Learn to read labels and promote a balanced diet

II.
Nutrition in life cycles

Infants and young children clearly have different nutritional needs

III.
Healthy lifestyle through proper nutrition

Do a self-assessment and plan a diet that suits your needs

IV.
About Antioxidants and Tips to healthy eating

Use your fist to measure serving sizes of the food we eat

This special series on wellness and nutrition are really worth the read and I hope we could all begin the year right with a positive outlook and better health for the rest of the year.


Note:
Top photo from 123rf.com

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Joys of the Holidays...Thank You 2010!

Hooray for 2010! Welcome 2011!!!

It's the last day of the year and I hope you all spent your holidays with a bang!

There's literally food and merriment everywhere and the air is filled with the spirit of joy and giving. Best of all, the holiday season allows us to celebrate and reunite with family and friends. To borrow a line from my friend Tina, getting together is "to remind ourselves that these people are a part of our hearts".

THANK YOU God for 2010! 

It has been a colorful and blessed year for Mom-Friday and family.

Wishing you all good health, peace, and prosperity in 2011! 

CHEERS!!!


* Mom-Finds (regular Last Friday of the Month feature) will resume in January.

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