Still A Merry Christmas

Greetings to all!

I regret to have not been able to post a thing or two after 6 days before Christmas. A lot has happened after the storm. The depression it has brought and the stress due to the holiday rush almost got the best of me!

But who says there is no more Christmas?

Although everything was so chaotic, no one has ever stopped Christmas, not even Sendong/Washi.

I just concluded that Christmas can never be stopped even during the worst times.

I'm happy I was able to celebrate it with my family, not to mention that it was my baby's first. :)

Amid all the pain and losses we have experienced, I never thought I'd still get to be so busy wrapping presents for everyone. I never even though that I would still experience the holiday rush. I was bit surprised that many people still went shopping on the 24th for their Christmas celebration.

Being with my family is enough reason to celebrate the joyous day.

6 days and counting down

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Days left before Christmas: 6 days 0 hours 2 minutes and counting down

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It just sank in.

Our little town was hit by a tropical storm on Saturday, December 17, 2011. A flash flood swept away homes and killed many people who are mostly elderly, children, and babies.

My heart is aching right now because of this tragedy.

Although the area that we live in wasn't affected. But when you see people lose their homes and loved ones, you cannot help but really be emotional about it.

For now, there are more than a hundred dead persons and 200 more are still missing.

Last Friday, there was a forecast on the news regarding tropical storm Sendong/Washi to hit Mindanao (the southern island of the Philippines). The news did not include Iligan City as part of the area which was likely to be hit by the storm. Unfortunately on Saturday evening (around 11 PM) while everyone was fast asleep, the storm crept in and washed away the homes near the rivers.

People in our city are not threatened by rain since we have a mountainous terrain. And, we were never affected by any storm. Our rivers have overflowed but never like this. This is the first time that our city experienced this kind of tragedy.

For now, I could not dare to post any photos that we have taken, nor write about any other details about my experience. I am still too overwhelmed to write everything.

Earlier today, we gave out food, water, and clothing to evacuees.

The auditorium where I attended college was turned into an evacuation site. When I got in, I was not pleased with what I saw. It was very heart-wrenching. There were lots of babies who needed aid.

For now, I do not want to eat in expensive restaurants because all I can think of are those who needed food. Every time I open the faucet, I feel guilty if I waste water because those people in the evacuation sites needed it more.

I know I already did what I can to help yet it still does not take away the sadness caused by this great mishap.

If anyone of you is reading this, I am knocking at your hearts to share your love for my fellow Filipinos who needed help. There are various ways that you can help, and your dollar will go a long way.

Just a note though, your help will not go to my pocket. It will go directly to agencies who are hosting the relief operations.

By the way, here a link from CNN: http://bit.ly/rTUUZ4

If you are willing to help you can check out Iligan Bloggers Society for more information. You can send your donations through Paypal. You can also check out their Facebook page for updates: http://on.fb.me/vbsEzV.

Let's all share our blessings in this season of giving. May you have a merry Christmas.

God bless you and your families.

12 days and counting down

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Days left before Christmas: 12 days 13 hours 35 minutes and counting down

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I was too depressed and lazy to post something here for the past couple of days. Also, I wasn't able to work full time again last week, but at least I was able to somewhat do some de-stressing and thinking. Anyway, what will happen will happen and I will accept it with open arms.

On Saturday, I went out with my hubby to buy some stuff for the baby. We found out about a local diaper brand from my cousin-in-law's girlfriend, and we opted to try it out. She said it works better than other popular brands, and costs really cheaper. Imagine, we saved about Php 100 compared to Huggies.

Funny brands: Lampien (diaper), Tisyu (tissue)

Yesterday, we went to church. Finally. Me, my hubby and the baby went to church after a long time. We went to a cafe after, but hesitated because a couple of cars with armed military men and policemen came before us. They look quite scary so we bought ice cream instead and went home.

Today, my baby is 7 months older. Weeee!

Athena at 7 months.

20 days and counting down

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Days left before Christmas: 20 days 6 hours 25 minutes and counting down

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This is it!

I am tired.

I can't continue with this kind of lifestyle: I barely sleep; I take care of the baby; I work every time the baby is asleep; I don't go to church on Sudays; I don't go out with friends (not that I'm really concerned with that); I don't get to buy the things I want but I buy my baby's necessities, and yet I don't get to reach my hourly quota.. I do not believe there is something wrong with me.

It is hard when you try to juggle everything not get any support  from people around you.

It's just hard. And, I am fed up.

22 days and counting down

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Days left before Christmas: 22 days 23 hours 20 minutes and counting down

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It's past midnight and I am working late again. Good thing there are two cable lines installed in this house: one in the living room and another in the master's bedroom (our room), which help me stay up until around 4 a.m.

Anyway, I was just changing channels while waiting for the baby to fall asleep and for my stomach ache to subside. As usual, I decided to tune into Lifestyle Network (my new favorite channel) where the program {Listed} is currently aired. They were featuring some stuff, and then Isabelo.

The mother's workshop turned into a part of the restaurant.

Isabelo Garden Restaurant is, well, a garden restaurant where according to {Listed} is difficult to find. It is a mother-and-daughter-owned restaurant. The mother is an artist and the daughter is (as they say) an advertising bigwig-turned restaurateur.

Anyway, I so envy the place and their concept. This is the kind of place where I want to dine in. I know my hubby would love this place, as well as my friends. And, this is the kind of business that I'd like to have as well.

OMG! Portia Baluyut is the daughter-owner! I recognize her from Lifestyle Network's Clash of the Tok-en Ones.

Their menu consists of a wide array of dishes, from pasta, pizza, to steak, and more! Yum! My type of food!

Yipeee! They serve one of my favorite dishes!

hmmmnn...pizza!

yummy!!! <3

Unfortunately, I won't be able to visit this place since it is islands away from where I am. They are located in Luzon, somewhere in Marikina. And, as mentioned earlier in this post, their place is hard to find. So, in case you want to give them a visit, I found this map online to help you:

I hope this will help. :)

By the way, don't forget to call before you go there. They strictly do not welcome walk-ins. You can also book online through their website: http://www.isabelogarden.com.

Enjoy dining!

P.s. please don't forget to tell me about your experience!

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Photos used in this blog entry are not owned by the blog owner. They are borrowed from: http://www.isabelogarden.com, http://yummydatenight.tumblr.com, and http://mibellamaureen.blogspot.com. Copyright infringement is not intended.

23 days and counting down

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Days left before Christmas: 23 days 10 hours 18 minutes and counting down

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It’s almost a year since our wedding and it’s just now that I checked our wedding presents which are still in their boxes.

Weee! I discovered some wine glasses which I might use later.

I’m thinking spaghetti and wine. Yum!

25 days and counting down

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Days left before Christmas: 25 days 8 hours 35 minutes and counting down

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My sister came in the afternoon to babysit Athena while I work. :)

We prepared pizza using white bread and corned beef.

bread + tomato sauce + onions, tomatoes, cheese + corned beef = pizza!

In the evening, I made a mango gelato which Athena loved so much. It was so good that I didn't have any time to take a photo of it!

By the way, I forgot to mention in the previous post that my cousin and her daughter who is 2 days older than Athena, paid as a visit last Saturday afternoon. It was nice to have someone to come by at our house from time to time. My hubby bought us ice cream and we spent the afternoon playing with our daughters.

Athena and Makarie

Playing with cousin Makarie.

Athena eating her bunny.

26 days and counting down

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Days left before Christmas: 26 days 12 hours 26 mins and counting down

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Yesterday was mama and papa's (my grandparents) wedding anniversary. Although papa is not around anymore, we still get together and celebrate.

We went swimming at Ozei Magoo in Linamon. That's about a 30-minute drive from the city of Iligan.

It rained on our way there. Good thing it stopped raining when we arrived at the place, because I was really planning and was too excited to let my 6-month old baby take a swim.

swimming with mamang

enjoying the water

It's really fun to see your daughter enjoy swimming so much!

the babies at the beach

31 days and counting down

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Days left before Christmas: 31 days 13 hours 28 minutes and counting down

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This was supposedly yesterday's entry. Unfortunately, we lost our internet connection late in afternoon.

An origami mobile!

It was a rainy afternoon and Athena was already taking a nap. I was busy tinkering some stuff when I got an idea for our room decoration. It led me to check out how to create a bird origami. I then discovered that bird and crane origami are different. I also found out some cute butterfly origami which I might try next time.

my creation

my crane looks more like a pterodactyl

the bird

Later in the evening, we set up our Christmas tree! My baby's first ever Christmas tree courtesy of grandma Irene.

33 days and counting down

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Days left before Christmas: 33 days 7 hours 15 minutes and counting down

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It's quite a lazy afternoon in our new home.

My baby bee is taking her afternoon nap, while I and our house help are browsing the web.

We have finally moved last Friday. We had our internet connection up and running on Saturday where I then spent my days cramming for work until early this morning, and unfortunately I ended up 10 minutes short of my weekly quota. Sad.

Anyway, we still haven't settled everything yet: The air conditioners have just been pressure washed this afternoon and have not been installed yet; It will also take 2-3 days from for our cable connection to be transferred; And, some of our stuff hasn't been arranged and kept yet.

I'll post photos when we will be able to settle everything. :)

41 days and counting down

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Days left before Christmas: 41 days 5 hours 18 mins and counting down

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I'm a bit furious of the thought that I have to work my ass off for 7 days a week: days and nights. I take care the baby, tidy up the house and prepare food. I have 0 rest day, 0 days with self and 0 social life. I feel like I'm becoming a caveman.

Anyway, I'll still stick to thinking positive amidst this unjustifiable situation.

So here I was, reading old posts just to clear off my mind when I discovered that I just lost an old blog entry.

I'm furious and I feel like crying. I want to shout. I know, there is nothing I can do to ever find it.

It's just so sad. I think it happened while I was revamping this blog.

I accidentally erased a memorabilia. I couldn't even remember whatever happened that day.

So long old entry: My Week Long Vacation 

Whatever happened that day will forever be a mystery to me.

42 days and counting down

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Days left before Christmas: 42 days 11 hours 33 mins and counting down

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It's a beautiful Saturday and I would like to share this beautiful message:

Smile. It makes a world of difference.

Dance. Who knows when you won't be able to?

Cry. Holding those emotions inside is bad for you. 

Kiss. It's one of the most wonderful things in this world. 

Laugh. What's the pointing in hiding happiness? 

Frown. Why not let them know you're unhappy? 

Apologize. You don't wanna lose friends. 

Hug. There's no better feeling than being wrapped up close to someone you love. 

Live. Because life is everything.

p.s. today my daughter turns 6 months old

11.11.11

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Days left before Christmas: 43 days 6 hours 14 mins and counting down

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I just had to make this entry because it is 11.11.11.

I checked my horoscope, and here’s what it said:

Money, money, money! Get busy today, and you can make a lot of it. There will be sudden and unexpected opportunities to leverage personal connections to better your place in the rat race, and therefore build a more solid financial future for yourself

My fortune cookie said:

  “Change is happening in your life, so go with the flow.”

    Lucky numbers: 23 48 77 2

Re: My Julie/Julia Project

I think I failed to mention what my Julie/Julia Project will be.

Since it's almost Christmas, I'll be writing my own Christmas countdown so I will have a deadline when this project will end. Although, it won't be the end of my blog. I hope.

I found this Christmas countdown counter online to help me keep track of the days till Christmas. I should be posting an entry at least once a week. I think this is a great way to record what my days before Christmas will be. It's a great way to end the year, as well.

I guess it will be quite a bumpy ride.

The contender:
Me, 25 years of age. A wife and a mom to an almost 6-month old baby by day. And, a worker/a writer by night (and at times when the baby is asleep). I have 0 time for myself and 0 social life. I'm not quite sure what I'm risking here. Maybe the risk of more nauseous moments of nostalgia in the future.

So, we'll wait and see.

My Little Prayer

Today is the last day for the work week and I still haven't reached even half of my hourly quota. Oh well, I started this week with a positive mind but my positive-thinking didn't save me from my baby's sudden shift of sleeping pattern, family gatherings, and the announced power outage to which I was unaware of. And to add, my baby got sick during the weekend. She still has colds needs me beside her every time.

Anyway, I'm not totally in despair. Although, I really needed the money badly: for my baby's vaccines which are quite expensive, as well as for her milk, diapers and most especially, it is almost Christmas!

It's now hopeless to reach my quota. So here I am, cyber stalking and just surfing to clear my mind. And I came across a lot of things. But of all the things I encountered, I would like to share this.

I think, I really need to say this prayer every day. I mostly think of expenses and get frustrated every time. I guess this prayer might help me clear my mind. Thank you, whoever you are who wrote this.

Here's for all you moms out there who are busy making ends meet.

A MOM'S PRAYER:  

Dear Lord, it's such a hectic day
With little time to stop and pray
For life's been anything but calm
Since You called on me to be a mom
Running errands, matching socks
Building dreams with building blocks
Cooking, cleaning, and finding shoes
And other stuff that children lose
Getting lids on bottled bugs
Wiping tears and giving hugs
A stack of last week's mail to read
So where's the quiet time I need?
Yet when I steal a minute, Lord
Just at the sink or ironing board
To ask the blessings of Your grace
I seen then, in my small one's face
That you have blessed me
All the while
And I stop to kiss
That precious smile

My Julie/Julia Project

I have watched Julie & Julia on HBO a couple of times and have been inspired to go back on blogging. Yet, I have too many things inside my thoughts to blog about and I always end up writing nothing at all.

Although I am now a mom and works as a home-based writer, I barely have written anything for myself; except for those Facebook rants that I post sometimes, which is sooo unhealthy for me, my relationships and people’s perception of me.

It is now 3:32 a.m. and Julie & Julia is on HBO again.

I am writing these thoughts in a piece of scratch paper in the middle of working.

I’m crossing my fingers. I hope this will make a good jumpstart for me to go back on blogging again. :)

I really hope I can do this. I can barely do anything for myself lately, with all my responsibilities as a wife and mom and a full time worker – it’s driving me crazy!

Oh well, wish me luck!

Thank you Julie & Julia for lighting this spark.