A whole new world!

During Christmas we usually have our "Noche Buena" (Christmas Eve dinner, gift giving and of course we don't forget to wear our red clothes. :) well just for fun! My sister Kris initiated this color coding. :) Though I missed to celebrate this with my whole family I had a chance to celebrate this almost same way, with my friend Des' family. From Christmas 2008 From Christmas 2008 From Christmas 2008 From Christmas 2008 Neither near or far from my loved ones Christmas will always stay as a wonderful time of the year. :) I'll just muse over my Christmas with my family and some relatives. Our Christmas07 :)

Today is my mama's birthday. December 18...it's been like 3 years or 4 years that we've been celebrating her birthday on Dec 18th since for the longest time she celebrates it on Jan. 19 that it's not actually her date of birth but rather her date of birth registration...hahaha! Ok, let me honor today my loving mother, she's the best mom for us her children. She's a very dedicated mom. But now no more....she's more addicted to her grand children :). I can't complain anything about her, all I can say is "My mom raised us well. :)!!! May GOD bless you with good health and long life! We love you mader, mia, mama!!! Click her for the presentation. From Movies

Christmas will always have parties, it's the season for get together too. Typically, there's Christmas party everywhere, either it's organized by the company, school, group org,church or family. Traditionally, this include songs, dances, competitions, games and of course food and drinks. And yes, I'm going to missed company, group and family Christmas party. Every December everybody's calendar are full of activities and get together from old friends and co-workers, just basically to catch up especially for those who are just visiting for the Holiday season. But Christmas is all over the world even you're near or far...It's always a time to celebrate. :)

How couldn't missed Simbang Gabi? ...this is the most popular part of Christmas traditions for us Filipinos. Not just it's famous but for us this is very significant, in which it's one way of strengthening our faith, it makes our Christmas preparation more spiritual and very intimate with the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Simbang Gabi (Dawn Mass) is a nine day novena to our Blessed Mother. It starts Dec. 16 at 4 in the morning and ends on Christmas Day. That's how it is before, but time changes people becomes busier and innovative...:) we have new ways to celebrate this like we have an anticipated Simbang Gabi..:) which starts Dec. 15 @ 7pm and ends before Christmas time. So, no matter how Simbang Gabi evolves still the traditions continues. Families, friends and even people who have not been attending mass find time to attend the nine-day novena mass. What makes it special colorful lights and Christmas carols are played everywhere, which I find very heartwarming...

If there's no shopping for me this year? that means no gifts to wrap.... and to give? :) Who can forget ...you only have once a year that you have the chance to wrap so many gifts...:) and I've always enjoy doing that...:) But I can send virtual gift. :)

It's Christmas time ...and it's shopping time!!! We Filipinos we have the longest Yuletide season in the whole universe...it's starts September to February ...hahaha! so, as early as September people are already little by little start Christmas Shopping. But even if you start shopping early still it seems not enough so, you'll end up doing Christmas rush shopping, which I find tiring but very enjoyable. :) It's fun...seeing families, friends and people together buying gifts. Malls are really jammed packed of people and even extend their store ours. Among my fave shopping place and famous and common Christmas shopping places: Greenhills Tiangge - Greenhills Shopping Center - A one stop shop for everything....yes everything you needed ...a trip to Greenhills can make your day...lots of stuff...nice and trendy...Tip: you should know how to bargain...:) Divisoria - If you want to buy in bulk and really want a good price ...a trip to Divi is not too bad. :) Not quite ...

When we're kids we always dreamed of having a big and tall Christmas tree that almost reached the ceiling of our house. We knew that kids are always fascinated by Christmas Tree, it's always been part of their childhood. But unfortunately my mom always settle for homemade Christmas tree which is 2ft tall and sits on top of the table to make it appear taller...:) smart idea right... So even when we're growing up ... our Christmas tree never grew up ...:) So, we had this longing for big and tall Christmas tree and promised to ourselves that one day will have one big and tall Christmas tree. Soon enough, since I'm the one who is artsy and into crafts in the family. We made a family tradition that every after Halloween I should be the one to set up our Christmas tree...it's been 8 years now that I've been the one making our Christmas tree ....but not for this year...:( So, i'll definitely missed that ... But guessed what ... I was never excused on setting up a ...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! December! Oh..yeah! December is always been the busiest month I believed compared with other months. When I say busy…..this does not entail work.... people are busy with parties, shopping, get together, vacation or travel. So, isn’t fun to look forward to the last month of the year? :) But, really? It’s the last month of the year? What have I been doing? Where did my other months go? Well I’ll give you and me sometime to think about that. :) This will be a different December for me….I’ll surely miss my usual Holiday activities. Waaaa!!! :( But, nevertheless there’s always the most important reason for the season . The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and let’s not forget this remarkable event this December. Coming up! Activities that I’m going to missed this Christmas. :( So,join me in singing "Sa Araw ng Pasko" - by: All Star Cast Thanks to Sandyfaalam's YouTube.

I always heard this from friends and clients that this is a well celebrated holidays here in America. Lots of food, fun time, and according to my friend's son "a day when all you have to do is EAT" :) In my case, I had an opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving with not just lots of food but with amazing people. I had a chance to travel with my friends family they're celebrating Thanksgiving in Choctaw, Oklahoma. Whew! 24 hours road trip!. It was my first long trip ever, but it was fun and smooth travel no hassle what so ever. We passed by Philadelphia, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri. I've enjoy the stop overs too...Cracker Barrel is also around the places we passed by...I love the ambiance and country food they're serving. From Thanksgiving From Thanksgiving From Thanksgiving Thanksgiving time, I'm so grateful that I'm surrounded by people that they let me feel so welcomed for me to be less homesick. Grandpa Gibbs and Grandma Gibbs that's how they call ...

I found this very interesting site that share about Choosing Voluntary Simplicity The title alone is catchy; we thought that to live simply is living by not having much, I don’t think God will be happy about this because He wants us to have much.:) Let me share with you some of the articles that I think worth to be shared and tell me if it doesn’t make sense with you. Kudos! To the writer.. for her wonderful insight and wisdom! Here are some of her insightful and life changing article. Happy reading! Some Thoughts About Voluntary Simplicit y Voluntary simplicity is a philosophy. Often called compassionate living... Learning To Slow Down Life today for most people moves at a hectic pace. A surprising number of people are convinced that they always have to be “doing something” How We Are Living A Simpler Life “There is no one way to do it right. Everybody has a different concept of how they want to live and what will make them happy. For us, the important things are our faith, o...

How can I forget this plant, I remember when I was a kid I loved to play with this plant. I tried touching it so lightly so it would not close on me but it's just so sensitive that it just automatically shut off. That's why it's named Damong Makahiya ( A shy grass) :). Do you still remember how you're amazed by this plant when you're a kid? :)

It's flattering ...whew!...:) if you're my age. :) Friend: What do you want for a drink? Me: Margarita... Friend: Hey, do you have an ID that shows your age? Me: Laughing out loud! are you kidding? Friend: Yes, common just give them your ID ... they'll be surprised... I'm lovin it! hahahaha!makes me feel young! lol!

Back in the Philippines , we’re not used to celebrating Halloween like here in the US, where people wear costumes, decorates their houses with Halloween stuff and kids go trick or treating; and every household prepare candies.:) Though, there are some in the Philippines celebrate Halloween, but it’s not very common to us Filipinos. We celebrate this event by remembering our dead loved ones. We usually call it Undas is the Filipinized version of All Saints/Souls Day. This is a national celebration, a time of year where for most of us Filipinos consider as Family reunion. :) We like family gatherings. :) We often go to the cemetery and clean the graveyards and paint the tombs of our loved ones, also we offer prayers, flowers and prayers. Like me, I've always look forward to this celebration, being with the whole family, to take time of from work, especially with people who work far away from home, this is a great opportunity for them to visit family and definitely enjoy famil...

I’ve watched US presidential election back in the Philippines, but never been really into it. Until I was here, and have seen how politicians here campaign. I’ve noticed that the president is the one who choose their VP. No big posters and signs along the streets. Media are very upfront and too liberal. So, viewers should really have to take responsibility in who to believe in. I understand now about dem and rep. But hearing both the candidates, I just simply like and agree more on the Republican candidates John McCain and Sarah Palin , well Sarah’s presence has a lot to do with me, also Mike Huckabee and Sean Hannity . I’ve always admire women who can joggle their family life and career, especially with her, a political career, which requires twice of her time than a usual career. She just has this charisma and power that I believed she can do the job. I also admired her love for her family, love of God and her values. Bet if Sarah runs as President of the Philippines I bet ...

From Taken by Me I just can’t keep this to myself….well, what do you expect for somebody who spent most of her life to the fascinating Islands of the Philippines . It’s just like throwing cactus into the sea. :) I’m just exaggerating here. But, I know having seen for the first time a snowfall, still a big AHA! From Taken by Me Though this is just a taste of snow; waiting for the real one. I don’t know if I still gonna like it. :) Since it’s my first snowfall, I let go of my childishness, went out and played with snowball; rather small snowball… :) or a chunk of crystals. I saw some snowflakes too. I remember back in the Philippines we used snowflakes to decorate windows on Christmas day, true enough; here, it comes naturally. J It just fell and formed on its own. :) Better read about snow here . I captured some but not a very unusual snowflakes. :) From Taken by Me From Taken by Me From Taken by Me

Nope…not that I’m falling… :) I mean my first time to catch a glimpse of this weather. I’m stunned to see different colors of leaves, from red, orange and yellow. I enjoy the colors of autumn leaves; I know I’m not the only one who enjoys autumn leaves. But, I’m wondering, why Fall leaves changes color? Want to know why? Just read this..:) Autumn leaf color… From Taken by Me From Taken by Me From Taken by Me From Taken by Me I just love the awesome colors of fall. That I wish they stay that way….:) but I know, they’ll “Fall” soon. From Taken by Me From Taken by Me From Taken by Me From Taken by Me From Taken by Me

Before, I thought pumpkin was just a fantasy vegetable used for Halloween and that it was just derived from our very own Kalabasa(squash)..:) now that I've seen a real pumpkin, again I thought it was a miniature man-made for display for Halloween...well, it's my first time to see this pumpkin, I was like, is this real? :)hahaha and I didn't realize that they grew as big as this ...:)since I used to just seeing this in pictures and thought that they just exaggerated the size of this vegetable in pictures. But really, why is pumpkin, becomes part of the symbol of Halloween? From Taken by Me From Taken by Me Some people here in North America, uses pumpkin to decorate their garage...which I had fun lookin...and also enjoys the different pumpkin foods available like cake,soup,cookies, pie, candies...name it...and even tried Pumpkin Cafe Latte in Starbucks...:) it only shows the abundance of Pumpkins around here ... So, maybe they still believed the old saying that pumpkin was ...

After exploring the City life of New York…I was stunned by how beautiful the landscape and surroundings of New Jersey…I never thought that there’s still as fresh and green place as this could be… I can’t help to admire the tall and huge trees around, the beautiful farm lands, manicured lawns, blossoming flowers and different animals hopping and running in the backyard. Funny, I thought I was in a zoo. Gorgeous horses, fatty cows and wild animals that often farmers are not delighted to see, as they mess up their crops and trees. But, as for a visitor like me I’m excited to see deer, ground hogs and squirrels just around the backyard. Sorry guys… I know, you just want hunters to hunt these wild animals…:) From 3rd Stop From 3rd Stop From Taken by Me New Jersey offers a diverse environment, not to mention that it’s just an hour from the big city…of New York. Which is an advantage I guess, like if you get bored to be a country girl, it’s just so easy for you to get to the city, which I...