May your home be blessed... your love be rewarded... and your life enriched by GOD to whom we give thanks for all we have. From my family to your family... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Weekend Snapshot - 7
As the author says, everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others. That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you. Come and join the fun here.
These horse-drawn carriages are commonly known as Calesa in the Philippines. The shots were taken at Tiendesitas last weekend while doing some last minute shopping.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
A thank you note and an award
I would like to say thank you to all my blogging friends especially Ms. Tnchick of Photo Hunt and Weekend Snapshot. Happy New Year!
This award was given to me by JennyR and I would love to share this with all my friends in my blog roll.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Now, isn't that messy?Friday, December 28, 2007
Zodiac Sign
This tag about zodiac signs came from Joy. I'm a Leo and I think the description matches my personality. On being very organized - check. I like things to be always in order. Need order in their lives - check. Like being in control - check. If only I could control my kids' lives I would, lol. Tend to take over everything - check. I always want things done correctly and fast and if I see someone who seems to have a hard time doing it, I take over. Bossy - check, like to help others - with pleasure. Social and outgoing - that's me. Extroverted - most of the time, generous - check, warm-hearted - check. Sensitive - VERY. Creative energy - check, full of themselves - check. Loving - VERY. Doing the right thing - very important, and last but not the least Attractive - VERY (lol).
Tagging Rosemarie, Siani, and Crystal.
Tagging Rosemarie, Siani, and Crystal.
Virgo- The Perfectionist
Dominant in relationships. Conservative. Always wants the last word. Argumentative. Worries. Very smart. Dislikes noise and chaos. Eager. Hardworking. Loyal. Beautiful. Easy to talk to. Hard to please. Harsh. Practical and very fussy. Often shy. Pessimistic.
SCORPIO- The Intense One
Very energetic. Intelligent. Can be jealous and/or possessive. Hardworking. Great kisser. Can become obsessive or secretive. Holds grudges. Attractive. Determined. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Romantic. Can be self-centered at times. Passionate and Emotional.
LIBRA- The Harmonizer
Nice to everyone they meet. Can't make up their mind. Have own unique appeal. Creative, energetic, and very social. Hates to be alone. Peaceful, generous. Very loving and beautiful. Flirtatious. Give in too easily. Procrastinators. Very gullible.
ARIES– The Daredevil
Energetic. Adventurous and spontaneous. Confident and enthusiastic. Fun. Loves a challenge. EXTREMELY impatient. Sometimes selfish. Short fuse. (easily angered.) Lively, passionate, and sharp wit. Outgoing. Lose interest quickly - easily bored. Egotistical. Courageous and assertive. Tends to be physical and athletic.
AQUARIUS- The Sweetheart
Optimistic and honest. Sweet personality. Very independent. Inventive and intelligent. Friendly and loyal. Can seem unemotional. Can be a bit rebellious. Very stubborn, but original and unique. Attractive on the inside and out. Eccentric personality.
GEMINI- The Chatterbox
Smart and witty. Outgoing, very chatty. Lively, energetic. Adaptable but needs to express themselves. Argumentative and outspoken. Likes change. Versatile. Busy, sometimes nervous and tense. Gossips. May seem superficial or inconsistent, But is only changeable. Beautiful physically and mentally.
LEO - The Boss
Very organized. Need order in their lives - like being in control. Like boundaries. Tend to take over everything. Bossy. Like to help others. Social and outgoing. Extroverted. Generous, warm-hearted. Sensitive. Creative energy. Full of themselves. Loving. D oing the right thing is important to Leos. Attractive.
CANCER - The Protector
Moody, emotional. May be shy. Very loving and caring. Pretty/handsome. Excellent partners for life. Protective. Inventive and imaginative. Cautious. Touchy-feely kind of person. Needs love from others. Easily hurt, but sympathetic.
PISCES - The Dreamer
Generous, kind, and thoughtful. Very creative and imaginative. May become secretive and vague. Sensitive. Don't like details. Dreamy and unrealistic. Sympathetic and loving. Kind. Unselfish. Good kisser. Beautiful.
CAPRICORN - The Go-Getter
Patient and wise. Practical and rigid. Ambitious. Tends to be good-looking. Humorous and funny. Can be a bit shy and reserved. Often pessimists. Capricorns tend to act before they think and can be unfriendl y at times. Hold grudges. Like competition. Get what they want.
TAURUS - The Enduring One
Charming but aggressive. Can come off as boring, but they are not. Hard workers. Warm-hearted. Strong, has endurance. Solid beings who are stable and secure in their ways. Not looking for shortcuts. Take pride in their beauty. Patient and reliable. Make great friends and give good advice. Loving and kind. Loves hard - passionate. Express themselves emotionally. Prone to ferocious temper-tantrums. Determined. Indulge themselves often. Very generous.
SAGITTARIUS - The Happy-Go-Lucky One
Good-natured optimist. Doesn't want to grow up (Peter Pan Syndrome). Indulges self. Boastful. Likes luxuries and gambling. Social and outgoing. Doesn't like responsibilities. Often fantasizes. Impatient. Fun to be around. Having lots of friends. Flirtatious. Doesn't like rules. Sometimes hypocritical. Dislikes being confined - tight spaces or even tight clothes. Doesn't like being doubted. Beautiful inside and out.
Dominant in relationships. Conservative. Always wants the last word. Argumentative. Worries. Very smart. Dislikes noise and chaos. Eager. Hardworking. Loyal. Beautiful. Easy to talk to. Hard to please. Harsh. Practical and very fussy. Often shy. Pessimistic.
SCORPIO- The Intense One
Very energetic. Intelligent. Can be jealous and/or possessive. Hardworking. Great kisser. Can become obsessive or secretive. Holds grudges. Attractive. Determined. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Romantic. Can be self-centered at times. Passionate and Emotional.
LIBRA- The Harmonizer
Nice to everyone they meet. Can't make up their mind. Have own unique appeal. Creative, energetic, and very social. Hates to be alone. Peaceful, generous. Very loving and beautiful. Flirtatious. Give in too easily. Procrastinators. Very gullible.
ARIES– The Daredevil
Energetic. Adventurous and spontaneous. Confident and enthusiastic. Fun. Loves a challenge. EXTREMELY impatient. Sometimes selfish. Short fuse. (easily angered.) Lively, passionate, and sharp wit. Outgoing. Lose interest quickly - easily bored. Egotistical. Courageous and assertive. Tends to be physical and athletic.
AQUARIUS- The Sweetheart
Optimistic and honest. Sweet personality. Very independent. Inventive and intelligent. Friendly and loyal. Can seem unemotional. Can be a bit rebellious. Very stubborn, but original and unique. Attractive on the inside and out. Eccentric personality.
GEMINI- The Chatterbox
Smart and witty. Outgoing, very chatty. Lively, energetic. Adaptable but needs to express themselves. Argumentative and outspoken. Likes change. Versatile. Busy, sometimes nervous and tense. Gossips. May seem superficial or inconsistent, But is only changeable. Beautiful physically and mentally.
LEO - The Boss
Very organized. Need order in their lives - like being in control. Like boundaries. Tend to take over everything. Bossy. Like to help others. Social and outgoing. Extroverted. Generous, warm-hearted. Sensitive. Creative energy. Full of themselves. Loving. D oing the right thing is important to Leos. Attractive.
CANCER - The Protector
Moody, emotional. May be shy. Very loving and caring. Pretty/handsome. Excellent partners for life. Protective. Inventive and imaginative. Cautious. Touchy-feely kind of person. Needs love from others. Easily hurt, but sympathetic.
PISCES - The Dreamer
Generous, kind, and thoughtful. Very creative and imaginative. May become secretive and vague. Sensitive. Don't like details. Dreamy and unrealistic. Sympathetic and loving. Kind. Unselfish. Good kisser. Beautiful.
CAPRICORN - The Go-Getter
Patient and wise. Practical and rigid. Ambitious. Tends to be good-looking. Humorous and funny. Can be a bit shy and reserved. Often pessimists. Capricorns tend to act before they think and can be unfriendl y at times. Hold grudges. Like competition. Get what they want.
TAURUS - The Enduring One
Charming but aggressive. Can come off as boring, but they are not. Hard workers. Warm-hearted. Strong, has endurance. Solid beings who are stable and secure in their ways. Not looking for shortcuts. Take pride in their beauty. Patient and reliable. Make great friends and give good advice. Loving and kind. Loves hard - passionate. Express themselves emotionally. Prone to ferocious temper-tantrums. Determined. Indulge themselves often. Very generous.
SAGITTARIUS - The Happy-Go-Lucky One
Good-natured optimist. Doesn't want to grow up (Peter Pan Syndrome). Indulges self. Boastful. Likes luxuries and gambling. Social and outgoing. Doesn't like responsibilities. Often fantasizes. Impatient. Fun to be around. Having lots of friends. Flirtatious. Doesn't like rules. Sometimes hypocritical. Dislikes being confined - tight spaces or even tight clothes. Doesn't like being doubted. Beautiful inside and out.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Hardanger Embroidery
Hardanger embroidery or "Hardangersom" is a form of embroidery traditionally worked with white thread on white even-weave cloth, using counted thread and drawn thread work techniques. It is sometimes called Whitework embroidery. (taken from Wikipeda)
I find it easier than cross stitching. It may look complicated but once you get the hang of it you'll love it. I do cross stitch too but lately, I've been concentrating with hardanger embroidery. While cross stitch projects take too much of my time, hardanger doesn't. You can finish a simple project in just a few hours.
I find it easier than cross stitching. It may look complicated but once you get the hang of it you'll love it. I do cross stitch too but lately, I've been concentrating with hardanger embroidery. While cross stitch projects take too much of my time, hardanger doesn't. You can finish a simple project in just a few hours.
Here are some hardanger projects I've done in the past.
The hardanger pillow was done by my sister in law.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas!
May Christ come to your heart, your home, and your family this Christmas with the gift of LOVE, the blessing of HOPE and the promise of PEACE. Blessed Christmas and a Grace Filled New Year!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Weekend Snapshot - 7
As the author says, “Everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others. That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you.” Come and join the fun here.
The gay ati-atihan dancers were dancing in front of my store this afternoon. What they were doing is somewhat similar to caroling. Ati-atihan originated from Aklan, a province in the south. It is a dance performed by the natives of the island.
About Moms
I got this from my email and found the answers of the second graders really interesting. I'd like to share this to my fellow blogger moms.
Why God Made Moms
Second-graders answer questions about the women in their lives.
Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.
What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.
Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.
What kind of little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.
What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?
Why did your Mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats alot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.
Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.
What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home, and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.
What does your Mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.
What would it take to make your Mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.
If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.
Why God Made Moms
Second-graders answer questions about the women in their lives.
Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.
What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.
Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.
What kind of little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.
What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?
Why did your Mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats alot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.
Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.
What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home, and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.
What does your Mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.
What would it take to make your Mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.
If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Photo Hunt - Light
A light snack for this week's theme on photo hunt with the light reflecting on the box, lol. These are the cookies I made yesterday to give out to my friends and relatives this Christmas.
For more photo hunters please click here.
For more photo hunters please click here.
Friday, December 21, 2007
L is for L I Z A
Emmyrose tagged me ( A Simple Life) on this but since my other blog is still down I decided to do it here.
Here’s how it works:
Use the first letter of your name to answer each question. Must be places or names…Nothing made up. Can’t use own name for boy/girl’s name question. If can’t answer, skip to next one.
1. Famous Singer: Liza Minelli
2. Four Letter Word: L-O-V-E
3. Street: Leyte St.
4. Colour: Lavender
5. Gifts/Present: Lingerie
6. Vehicle: Lexus
7. Things in Souvenir Shop: Letter Opener
8. Boy Name: Luis
9. Girl Name: Louise
10. Movie title: Love Story
11. Drink: Lemonade
12. Occupation: Lift Operator
13. Celebrity: Lisa Kudrow
14. Magazine: Life
15. U.S. City: -
16. Pro Sports:
17. Fruit: Lemon
18. Reason for Being Late to work:
19. Something you throw away: Litter
20. Something you shout: Liberty!
Now, I'm tagging: Max, Siani, Juliana, JulianaRW, GBex and Serena.
Here’s how it works:
Use the first letter of your name to answer each question. Must be places or names…Nothing made up. Can’t use own name for boy/girl’s name question. If can’t answer, skip to next one.
1. Famous Singer: Liza Minelli
2. Four Letter Word: L-O-V-E
3. Street: Leyte St.
4. Colour: Lavender
5. Gifts/Present: Lingerie
6. Vehicle: Lexus
7. Things in Souvenir Shop: Letter Opener
8. Boy Name: Luis
9. Girl Name: Louise
10. Movie title: Love Story
11. Drink: Lemonade
12. Occupation: Lift Operator
13. Celebrity: Lisa Kudrow
14. Magazine: Life
15. U.S. City: -
16. Pro Sports:
17. Fruit: Lemon
18. Reason for Being Late to work:
19. Something you throw away: Litter
20. Something you shout: Liberty!
Now, I'm tagging: Max, Siani, Juliana, JulianaRW, GBex and Serena.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
What Does 2007 Mean To Me?
I was tagged by Crystal who was tagged by Juliana RW to do this meme. Thanks Crystal I enjoyed doing this tag.
~Start Copy~
Rules:
1. Copy from "Start Copy" until "End of Copy".
2. Before "End of Copy", share your best memories of 2007 include your name and your URL blog.
3. Share this tag to your friends.
For me, the year 2007 had a lot of happiness (and hope for 2008). Happiness because i see my son, grow and grow day by day. I have a great husband. I met lots of new friends from around the world via blogging ^_^ - Juliana RW
2007 is such a special year to me because a new life with a wonderful man has begun. I learnt invaluable lessons about marriage life and will always be a learner. This year has also made me become more health conscious after the sudden loss of my aunt (mom's first cousin) and uncle (dad's younger brother). I am glad that I could do something in helping to spread the "Breast Cancer Awareness". Other than that, blogging has absolutely brings joy to me as I get to know more new friends, the pleasure of writing and get paid!! Most importantly, I am thankful to GOD for He has given me MORE in everything to experience the true meaning of life which is always something new or a reminder to me. Everyday is a struggle, but I hope I will give and gain MORE in the coming years. ~Choc Mint Girl~
2007 is when I discovered blogging. Due to the prodding of my husband and daughter who have been blogging for several years. It's also the year that I met YOU, my new friends. I discovered blogging is not only fun but you can really make money out of it. It also means a lot to me because I got to spend time with my sister who went home from the US for a vacation. The quality time we spent together is priceless because we used to fight a lot when we were younger. ~ moms..... check nyo & A Simple Life ~
~Start Copy~
Rules:
1. Copy from "Start Copy" until "End of Copy".
2. Before "End of Copy", share your best memories of 2007 include your name and your URL blog.
3. Share this tag to your friends.
For me, the year 2007 had a lot of happiness (and hope for 2008). Happiness because i see my son, grow and grow day by day. I have a great husband. I met lots of new friends from around the world via blogging ^_^ - Juliana RW
2007 is such a special year to me because a new life with a wonderful man has begun. I learnt invaluable lessons about marriage life and will always be a learner. This year has also made me become more health conscious after the sudden loss of my aunt (mom's first cousin) and uncle (dad's younger brother). I am glad that I could do something in helping to spread the "Breast Cancer Awareness". Other than that, blogging has absolutely brings joy to me as I get to know more new friends, the pleasure of writing and get paid!! Most importantly, I am thankful to GOD for He has given me MORE in everything to experience the true meaning of life which is always something new or a reminder to me. Everyday is a struggle, but I hope I will give and gain MORE in the coming years. ~Choc Mint Girl~
2007 is when I discovered blogging. Due to the prodding of my husband and daughter who have been blogging for several years. It's also the year that I met YOU, my new friends. I discovered blogging is not only fun but you can really make money out of it. It also means a lot to me because I got to spend time with my sister who went home from the US for a vacation. The quality time we spent together is priceless because we used to fight a lot when we were younger. ~ moms..... check nyo & A Simple Life ~
~End of Copy~
I'm tagging Melanie and the teach.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Big Sky Media is down
My apologies to all my visitors and friends who dropped by my other blog, A Simple Life. My host, Big Sky Media has undergone emergency maintenance. According to them, one of their drives had a problem and they had to replace it. I have no idea why the back-up restoration is taking so long. I just hope that all our blogs will be up by tonight, because some of us have already lost $$$ for lapsed opportunities.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
2007 1st Christmas Tree Blog Parade
My blogosphere brother Dom who was tagged by Vera wants to see my Christmas Tree. For the past three years we have not put up a Christmas Tree. Instead, we decorated the house with garlands and a nativity set.
I'm tagging Arielle, Carver, Gattina and jams o donnell.
I'm tagging Arielle, Carver, Gattina and jams o donnell.
############ START COPY HERE ############
This is a first annual 2007 Christmas Tree Blog Parade meme created and conceptualized by OTWOMD of Bluepanjeet.Net The purpose of this meme is to enliven the Christmas spirit by showing to the world our very own Christmas trees. They say that it is on the Christmas tree that best describes how a person celebrates Christmas. So here are the rules:
- Copy the Logo of this meme (Download it on the sidebar and resize it that will best fit your blog or according to your desire) and post it on your entry.
- Take a photo of your Christmas tree inside your house. A whole shot is the most appropriate photo. And post it on your entry
- Tell something about your Christmas tree like who decorated it, what are the ornaments and accessories, or what is the theme and meaning of your Christmas tree this year.
- You can put any title on your meme but don’t forget to include this “2007 1st Christmas Tree Blog Parade”.
- Do the link train history. Put the link of your previous bloggers who tagged you and your own link, Example: Tag History: Bluepanjeet - “you” -
The link train will provide clue on “who tagged who” and at the same time a reference of data for the creator of this meme.
On The feast of Three Kings on January (The official ending of the Christmas Season), Bluepanjeet.Net will launch a mini site that will feature all of the participant’s Christmas trees for 2007 with a link back to their site. That is why it is very vital that you maintain the link history so that your Christmas tree will be included in the Christmas tree blog parade of 2007 and will be a part of history.
So tag now, you only have one month to spread this meme.
My Christmas Tag History: Bluepanjeet - Chuvaness – Rhapsody - Vera - Dom - Liza “You are the next” (Put your link here) -
############ END COPY HERE ############
Monday, December 17, 2007
Weekend Snapshot - 5
As what the author says, everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others. That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you. Come and join the fun here.
Cars on queue at the Coastal Road Toll Gate.
Thanks for dropping by and your comments. I hope you all had a great weekend.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Liza's Christmas Wishlist
My ever sweet cyber brother, GBex gave me this tag.
Here’s my wishlist…
*I wish good health to all my loved ones including my friends of course.
* I wish to be reunited with my siblings, nephew and niece who have been in the States for more than 7 years now. I miss them so much.
* I wish peace and love in the hearts of the political leaders of my country, so that harmony and order may be restored in my country. Same with GBex... but this is just wishful thinking, hindi kaya?
* I wish happiness for my family and friends in all things.
Now, I am tagging the following to list down their grown-up christmas wishlist... Nancy, Lynn and Malditang Pinay. Common guys, share your wish list with us.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Photo Hunt - Small
Theme for this week's photo hunt is SMALL. These are tank models made by my son when he was 9. They're only over an inch long so you can just imagine how hard it was for my son to build them. He also hand-painted these tanks.
This baby finch was only 3 days old when I took this photo. You can tell from the palm of my hand how small it is. The finch was blind and hand-fed, it survived for 3 weeks. The same photo was also used for my WW entry.
To view more photos from other photo hunters please click here.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
The true meaning of Christmas
I Got tagged by Rosemarie and Dom about what Christmas means to me. But before getting it done, I was again tagged by Lorie so I decided to post this in my other blog as well.
Here are the instructions for this meme:
1. Make a paragraph next to the last paragraph in the tag that is passed to you "What is Christmas to you" and put your name at the end of it linking back to your site, or the page that answered this tag.
2. You can use a title that will suit your Christmas idea.
3. Then tag as many as you can.
Christmas is an annual holiday that makes my little wishes come true. A pair of new shoes, new dress and gifts from my Godparents. That's how I defined Christmas years and years ago until… I came to Bahrain. That's when I realized what it really means. A special day to commemorate the birth of Jesus. Here in Bahrain, Christmas is nothing. It's just an ordinary working day for almost everyone, unless your boss is considerate, he'll give you at least a half day to celebrate, if there are celebrations happening. But in my case, there's nothing to celebrate literally. Everyone is at work, that includes my husband and myself. We attend the midnight (Christmas Eve) mass and that's it, go to sleep and get back to work the next day, on Christmas day. My first Christmas away from home happened in 1999. I came here in October and had the most loneliest Christmas ever in my life - without my family. That made me realized their importance. On how meaningless celebrations would be without them. To cut the story short, for me Christmas is all about Jesus and family. If you have friends to celebrate this special day with you, that's a bonus! -When Silence Speaks
~o0o~
A little while ago, I talked to my daughter about this year's Christmas being different from the other Christmases we had. She asked me why. I explained to her that my husband and I are both undergoing financial difficulties since hubby has just been doing consultancy work since March and that means no extra money for the holiday expenses, not that we give expensive, extravagant gifts, we don't. She said something like: "It's okay, we don't need expensive gifts, what is important is that we are together." Thank you, Trixie, for making this easier. (Please click on her name to see what she has written in her blog about her thoughts on this.) We have always emphasized about the real meaning of this holy day. That this is about Jesus who came to save us from sins and give us eternal life. We always make it a point to go to church during the morning of Christmas day to give thanks to the Lord. Christmas is not just a holy day, not just a time of giving gifts but a time to thank the Lord for the blessings of life. TeacherJulie
~o0o~
Christmas is about the decision that God made to save mankind! The piercing truth is that Christmas is about so many decisions. First: It is the decision of God to send us Jesus Christ. Second: It is the decision of Mary to accept the will of God and cooperate in the plan of salvation. Third: Joseph decided to take Mary as his wife despite her condition. Joseph did not understand completely and yet because the angel told him so, he decided to say 'yes', too. Sometimes I feel that the yes of Mary overstated and the weight of Joseph's yes was underestimated. If Joseph did not agree to the angel's leading, the 'yes' of Mary would have resulted in a condemnable pregnancy that could have led to a dead mother and baby. Mary should have been stoned to death if Joseph decided to say no. Joseph's decision was important. Fourth: It was also the decision of the wise Men to go another way and not collaborate with Herod who wanted to kill the Child Jesus. Fifth: It was the decision, too, of the shepherds to go in haste and tell the others what they have seen. So, for me Christmas is a story of decisions! - Dom
~o0o~
hhhhmmmm, 'what is Christmas to me?' .....it is something that is very significant to my heart... Christmas to me is approaching Jesus with an offering of simple adornments, not gold or precious stones but a pure and clean heart! It is important to remember though that it is HE who wants to come to me, to us. How we look externally and/or outwardly might not mean as much to HIM but only a pure and contrite heart!.... He wants to look into our hearts because it is there where HE wants to dwell to bring to it beauty and light. His wish is that here, within the deep recesses of our hearts and souls, which HE fashioned with love after HIS own heart, only one STAR shines brightly!.... So our hearts must carry HIM and HIM alone. For HE is the light, like no other. And if we carry HIM in our hearts, there is no need for make-up, jewelry, or even a brand new colorful polo shirt or blouse and skirt because we will radiate with HIS light and beauty and when that happens, there can never be too much. -Gbex
~o0o~
What is Christmas? hmmmm... When the month of "ber" comes and it's getting colder, Christmas is coming and i'm always looking forward for this month and weather. When i was young, Christmas for me is vacation, wearing new clothes, meeting relatives and getting more presents. But it changed when i entered college and got a job. The meaning became saving money, meeting friends and buying presents specially for my godchildren. Generally, we defined Christmas as the birth of Christ. Everyone is busy buying presents but we never thought or gave anything to the Celebrant (Jesus). This Christmas, give your present to God. Surrender your life to Him and this is the best present that you can give. - idealpinkrose
~o0o~
We celebrate Christmas because it's the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. It's all about Love why HE was born and died on the cross for us. John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." Therefore, for me the true meaning of Christmas is Love and with it comes forgiveness and reconciliation. We also remember His birth by giving each other gifts, worshipping Him, and being especially conscious of the poor and less fortunate. - Thinking Out Loud
~o0o~
Christmas for me is the ultimate reminder on how much God loves us, that He gave His only Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior. For me, its a celebration of love and a time to share our blessings to others.. a time for giving and reaching out to the less fortunate and it's also a wonderful time to be with your family. Christmas is not just all about santa claus or the gifts that you will receive or for shopping, we should always remember that Jesus is the reason for the season and let us reflect on how much God loves us. - Just Let Go/Pieces of Me
~o0o~
Christmas is about giving love, forgiving. This remind us how lucky and how God love us when he gave us his only son Jesus Christ. A time for sharing our blessing to our family, friends and to others. - Celebrate Life/My Journey
~o0o~
When I was younger, I looked forward to every Christmas because that meant new dresses, new pair of shoes, toys and a lot of presents and money from ninongs and ninangs. Now that I'm older, married, and have my own family, I view Christmas differently. Remembering the birth of Jesus and the real reason why He was given to us by God the Father is the true meaning of Christmas for me. Whether you're having an extravagant or just plain simple feast on the table, being together as a family especially on this blessed day is what really counts. Giving random acts of kindness to people you meet everyday and touching their lives in your own little way is more than giving expensive presents. These 3 are the true meaning of Christmas for me which I try to teach my children. - Liza of moms.....check nyo & A Simple Life.
Let's hear what Florence, Max, Denz and Monaco have to say.
Here are the instructions for this meme:
1. Make a paragraph next to the last paragraph in the tag that is passed to you "What is Christmas to you" and put your name at the end of it linking back to your site, or the page that answered this tag.
2. You can use a title that will suit your Christmas idea.
3. Then tag as many as you can.
Christmas is an annual holiday that makes my little wishes come true. A pair of new shoes, new dress and gifts from my Godparents. That's how I defined Christmas years and years ago until… I came to Bahrain. That's when I realized what it really means. A special day to commemorate the birth of Jesus. Here in Bahrain, Christmas is nothing. It's just an ordinary working day for almost everyone, unless your boss is considerate, he'll give you at least a half day to celebrate, if there are celebrations happening. But in my case, there's nothing to celebrate literally. Everyone is at work, that includes my husband and myself. We attend the midnight (Christmas Eve) mass and that's it, go to sleep and get back to work the next day, on Christmas day. My first Christmas away from home happened in 1999. I came here in October and had the most loneliest Christmas ever in my life - without my family. That made me realized their importance. On how meaningless celebrations would be without them. To cut the story short, for me Christmas is all about Jesus and family. If you have friends to celebrate this special day with you, that's a bonus! -When Silence Speaks
~o0o~
A little while ago, I talked to my daughter about this year's Christmas being different from the other Christmases we had. She asked me why. I explained to her that my husband and I are both undergoing financial difficulties since hubby has just been doing consultancy work since March and that means no extra money for the holiday expenses, not that we give expensive, extravagant gifts, we don't. She said something like: "It's okay, we don't need expensive gifts, what is important is that we are together." Thank you, Trixie, for making this easier. (Please click on her name to see what she has written in her blog about her thoughts on this.) We have always emphasized about the real meaning of this holy day. That this is about Jesus who came to save us from sins and give us eternal life. We always make it a point to go to church during the morning of Christmas day to give thanks to the Lord. Christmas is not just a holy day, not just a time of giving gifts but a time to thank the Lord for the blessings of life. TeacherJulie
~o0o~
Christmas is about the decision that God made to save mankind! The piercing truth is that Christmas is about so many decisions. First: It is the decision of God to send us Jesus Christ. Second: It is the decision of Mary to accept the will of God and cooperate in the plan of salvation. Third: Joseph decided to take Mary as his wife despite her condition. Joseph did not understand completely and yet because the angel told him so, he decided to say 'yes', too. Sometimes I feel that the yes of Mary overstated and the weight of Joseph's yes was underestimated. If Joseph did not agree to the angel's leading, the 'yes' of Mary would have resulted in a condemnable pregnancy that could have led to a dead mother and baby. Mary should have been stoned to death if Joseph decided to say no. Joseph's decision was important. Fourth: It was also the decision of the wise Men to go another way and not collaborate with Herod who wanted to kill the Child Jesus. Fifth: It was the decision, too, of the shepherds to go in haste and tell the others what they have seen. So, for me Christmas is a story of decisions! - Dom
~o0o~
hhhhmmmm, 'what is Christmas to me?' .....it is something that is very significant to my heart... Christmas to me is approaching Jesus with an offering of simple adornments, not gold or precious stones but a pure and clean heart! It is important to remember though that it is HE who wants to come to me, to us. How we look externally and/or outwardly might not mean as much to HIM but only a pure and contrite heart!.... He wants to look into our hearts because it is there where HE wants to dwell to bring to it beauty and light. His wish is that here, within the deep recesses of our hearts and souls, which HE fashioned with love after HIS own heart, only one STAR shines brightly!.... So our hearts must carry HIM and HIM alone. For HE is the light, like no other. And if we carry HIM in our hearts, there is no need for make-up, jewelry, or even a brand new colorful polo shirt or blouse and skirt because we will radiate with HIS light and beauty and when that happens, there can never be too much. -Gbex
~o0o~
What is Christmas? hmmmm... When the month of "ber" comes and it's getting colder, Christmas is coming and i'm always looking forward for this month and weather. When i was young, Christmas for me is vacation, wearing new clothes, meeting relatives and getting more presents. But it changed when i entered college and got a job. The meaning became saving money, meeting friends and buying presents specially for my godchildren. Generally, we defined Christmas as the birth of Christ. Everyone is busy buying presents but we never thought or gave anything to the Celebrant (Jesus). This Christmas, give your present to God. Surrender your life to Him and this is the best present that you can give. - idealpinkrose
~o0o~
We celebrate Christmas because it's the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. It's all about Love why HE was born and died on the cross for us. John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." Therefore, for me the true meaning of Christmas is Love and with it comes forgiveness and reconciliation. We also remember His birth by giving each other gifts, worshipping Him, and being especially conscious of the poor and less fortunate. - Thinking Out Loud
~o0o~
Christmas for me is the ultimate reminder on how much God loves us, that He gave His only Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior. For me, its a celebration of love and a time to share our blessings to others.. a time for giving and reaching out to the less fortunate and it's also a wonderful time to be with your family. Christmas is not just all about santa claus or the gifts that you will receive or for shopping, we should always remember that Jesus is the reason for the season and let us reflect on how much God loves us. - Just Let Go/Pieces of Me
~o0o~
Christmas is about giving love, forgiving. This remind us how lucky and how God love us when he gave us his only son Jesus Christ. A time for sharing our blessing to our family, friends and to others. - Celebrate Life/My Journey
~o0o~
When I was younger, I looked forward to every Christmas because that meant new dresses, new pair of shoes, toys and a lot of presents and money from ninongs and ninangs. Now that I'm older, married, and have my own family, I view Christmas differently. Remembering the birth of Jesus and the real reason why He was given to us by God the Father is the true meaning of Christmas for me. Whether you're having an extravagant or just plain simple feast on the table, being together as a family especially on this blessed day is what really counts. Giving random acts of kindness to people you meet everyday and touching their lives in your own little way is more than giving expensive presents. These 3 are the true meaning of Christmas for me which I try to teach my children. - Liza of moms.....check nyo & A Simple Life.
Let's hear what Florence, Max, Denz and Monaco have to say.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Wordless Wednesday #4
3-day old finch
We had to take this baby from the nest box. It was blind and the parents aren't feeding it. We hand-fed this baby and it lived for 3 weeks.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
What is your comfort food?
I received this tag from Monaco last week. Like him, I had to do it a later date because I had to do several tags before this... lol.
"what is your comfort food / drinks and why is it so? grab a picture of it and post it if you may. enjoy!"
If Monaco's top comfort foods are Sinigang na Baboy and Hamburgers, mine is pasta. Whether it's macaroni, spaghetti, fettucine or linguini I feel the warmth and comfort of my home whenever I have one.
And since it's pasta, I tried to master several pasta recipes like, spaghetti bolognese, lasagna, baked macaroni, canneloni, seafood marinara, pesto and beef stroganoff.
(photo & recipe courtesy of e-rcps.com)| SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE | |
1 lb. ground round
1 (15 oz.) can whole tomatoes 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce 2 med. onions 5 garlic cloves 6 or 7 lg. mushrooms 1 green pepper 2 tsp. ready to use oregano 2 tsp. ready to use basil 1 bay leaf 1/2 tsp. dry thyme Fresh ground pepper to taste 1/2 c. olive oil 1 lb. spaghetti Parmesan cheese, grated Extra virgin olive oil
Peel and chop onions, garlic cloves, mushrooms and green pepper. Put large skillet on burner and heat olive oil on medium high setting. Add onions, garlic, mushrooms, and green pepper. Fry for 5 minutes or until onions turn clear and garlic starts to smell strong. Pour all ingredients into a bowl and reserve for later.
Return skillet to heat and add ground beef. Fry until browned and break apart into small clumps. Returned fried vegetables to the skillet. Add whole tomatoes and chop them up. Add tomato sauce, oregano, basil, bay leaf, thyme and ground pepper. Mix ingredients well. Cover skillet and turn heat down to simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil. Add spaghetti, a little at a time. Stir and add extra virgin olive oil to avoid sticking. Cook for 10 minutes or until just cooked through (no hard white center). Drain and run cool water through spaghetti. Transfer to a bowl and add a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and a half cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Mix well. Remove sauce from stove and pour into a bowl. Spaghetti bolognese is now ready to serve. | |
I'm tagging Queeny, Forgetfulone, Lynn, Eastcoastlife and, Serena.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Weekend Snapshot - 5
As the author says “Everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others. That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you.” Come and join the fun here.
Weekend was spent at home tidying things up... and that includes the car.
Thank you for dropping by. I hope everybody had a great weekend. To view more WS participants, please click here.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
New Awards
Arlene of Dancing In Midlife Tune shared this award with me. So sweet of you Arlene! I loved it. Thank you for counting me as your friend even if we've only met. I'm sharing this award with Vienna, Irel, Melai, Sasha and Crystal.
These two gorgeous awards were given by Crystal of Choc Mint Girl. Wow! My blog is bodacious...lol. Thank you Crystal I love them! I'd love to share these awards with Schumey, Max, Arlene, Rems, Florence, Dom and Siani. Please click here to get the code.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Photo Hunt - Long
This is my niece Diana. When I checked on the theme for this week, she's the first one that came to my mind. I've always loved her long straight hair, so smooth and silky.
Happy photo hunting!
To view more photo hunters please click here.
Happy photo hunting!
To view more photo hunters please click here.
Friday, December 7, 2007
My 'me-day'
Yesterday I had a really great day. It was a 'me-day' as JennyR fondly calls it. In the afternoon I had a haircut, ala Gretchen Barreto, lol. I am lucky to have a neighbor who happens to work at David's. He charged me 50 pesos (that's a little over a dollar) for the haircut... and it was home service! I gave him a generous tip, of course ;) In the evening I had a very relaxing body massage. It was sooo good that I almost fell asleep.
It's nice to have a 'me-day' once in a while... a time to have yourself pampered and a little rest from all the stressful activities.
It's nice to have a 'me-day' once in a while... a time to have yourself pampered and a little rest from all the stressful activities.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Award #4
I was awarded by my dear friend Siani. She's been showering me with wonderful awards. Thank you!
I'd like to pass it on to the following:
I'd like to pass it on to the following:
- MAX
- EMMYROSE
- IVY
- MELAI
- SASHA
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Wordless Wednesday #3
Twenty days left before Christmas and still finishing up on the decorations.To view more Wordless Wednesday participants please click here.
Monday, December 3, 2007
All Aboard the Linky Love Train!
This tag came from Jenny R.
Tagging: Max, Crystal, Eds, Monaco, Siani, Queeny and Witchyboop
The rule:
When you get tagged, you have to add your name next to the person who tagged you and by doing so you are letting the list grow.
Limadang.com
RamblingMoo.com
blogginginmypyjamas
StylewithPassion
Chinneeq
Dora-zooropazoo
Babyshern
HiPnCooLMoMMa
Rachel’s Soulful Thoughts
When Silence Speaks
Dancing in Midlife Tune
Underneath it All
I am Dzoi
Hobbies and Such
moms.....check nyo
Weekend Snapshot - 5
Everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others. That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you. Come and join the fun here.
I chanced upon this pond while malling yesterday. The Kois were very colorful so I had to stop and click some photos. It lay there unnoticed but when people saw me taking some photos, they stopped and watched the pond.
I hope everyone had a great weekend. Thank you so much for dropping by and your comments are most welcome. Happy WS!
I hope everyone had a great weekend. Thank you so much for dropping by and your comments are most welcome. Happy WS!
Sunday, December 2, 2007
a time to focus on Love.... give love on Xmas day!
This tag was passed to me by GBex and i quote thess who passed this tag to her: "This time ’round, a fun with a special meaning tag was passed to me by my blogger pal bluepanjeet.
Most of us bloggers are still strangers to each other. Some of us do not even leave a simple “hello” to some blogs that we visit, whatever the reason is, not relevant. This meme’s aim, at least for me, is to bring us bloggers together, especially those we do not know this Christmas by this simple act of sending an e-card.
I’m for it, so I hope people whom I’m going to request by the end of this entry will also join. For the spirit of Christmas."...
so there you go my friends.....
### COPY STARTS HERE ###
How to Join?
[1] Fill up and submit the details of this form.
[2]Copy and post the rules to your blog. Include the “backward list” (a record of how the tag reached you) and add your name.
[3] Recruit for participants. Be sure to get their consent. Should they agree to join, add them to your “forward list” (bloggers you’ve convinced to join). Remind them to do item #1.
** Participants will be accepted until December 16 (Phil. time) only. On December 17, the organizer will email to you the details of your Ronito/Ronita. Send him/her a Christmas greeting via E-cards preferably on December 25.
Should time be a constraint, you can send it earlier.
Most of us bloggers are still strangers to each other. Some of us do not even leave a simple “hello” to some blogs that we visit, whatever the reason is, not relevant. This meme’s aim, at least for me, is to bring us bloggers together, especially those we do not know this Christmas by this simple act of sending an e-card.
I’m for it, so I hope people whom I’m going to request by the end of this entry will also join. For the spirit of Christmas."...
so there you go my friends.....
### COPY STARTS HERE ###
How to Join?
[1] Fill up and submit the details of this form.
[2]Copy and post the rules to your blog. Include the “backward list” (a record of how the tag reached you) and add your name.
[3] Recruit for participants. Be sure to get their consent. Should they agree to join, add them to your “forward list” (bloggers you’ve convinced to join). Remind them to do item #1.
** Participants will be accepted until December 16 (Phil. time) only. On December 17, the organizer will email to you the details of your Ronito/Ronita. Send him/her a Christmas greeting via E-cards preferably on December 25.
Should time be a constraint, you can send it earlier.
My Backward Link List:iRonnie , jeff, bluepanjeet, thess ,GBex , Liza
- add your name here.
I am hoping that the following will join:
Arianne, Cel, Denz, Emmyrose, Florence, Gelliane, Irel, Ivy, Jean, Jenny R., Liza 2 and Kellan.