Best Christmas Cards Ever!!!

What a way to start my 2012 being remembered by old friends and family back home in the Philippines. I got these cards from the mail today,I guess coming from home you expect cards to arrive late. But It does not matter when I got it, what is important is the thoughts that came with it. Best Christmas card ever! This one is from my Mom, It made me cry too much, I can't breath. I need to drink a glass of water after reading it. I miss my mom so much, I wish she she lives next door cause I could need a hug. What motherhood taught me was being thankful I still have my mom around and that I regret every bad things I did when I was young that made her cry. I love her so much, and my Dad and I miss my siblings too. Yes Mom, It'll get better in time!

This next card came as a total surprise. Shout out to my dear "Chinito Tsinelas" who was my co-anchor/road manager/friend during my radio days...love you gor and yes I was surprised! Thanks kapatid and so are the gorgeous/good looking friends who took time to write a message for me. So thoughtful of you guys!!! ♥ luvettt!!! ♥

To the gorgeous sister I have Joel, Bianca,Tootsie,Jommel and Jolenz. Thanks everyone! I cried when I got your card too. Made me miss home sooo bad! I'll see you when I see you girls!

Shout out too to all my girlfriends here in Cali who sent their Christmas Cards, lovely cards...Thank you so much! You all made my 2011 so memorable that I have too much to look forward to this year when it comes to FRIENDSHIP. Have a happy 2012 everyone! And to everyone reading this...lots of ♥♥♥ from me and my family!

♥...Our Christmas, Then and Now...♥

"Our 2010 Christmas Tree in 2010"

"The girls's Photo op with Santa in 2009."

" Bridget's First Christmas ... in 2009 "

Santa's Elf...Moi. Pasko 2010

Photo op with Santa in 2010

♥ Our 2011 Christmas tree ♥

" Photo op with my Elle-2010 "

" My little helpers - Christmas 2010 "

" Cutting our own Tree...2010 "

" Christmas Morning...2011 right after we came home from church "

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

From Our Family to you! Merry Christmas everybody!

"It's easy to get caught up in all the business of Christmas, but I'm wishing you a peaceful Christmas full of the most important things."

Not again!?!

My heart breaks when I heard the news that again my country, the Philippines has been hit by a devastating natural calamity killing hundreds of people and leaving thousands homeless. Not again!?! We have not completely recovered from the previous ones yet and here we are again. I can't help but asked WHY?

I can't stop crying when I saw this photo of a father holding his daughter on his hand. It's heart breaking! It's something that you wouldn't wish to happen to anyone even to your worst enemy.

My heart goes to the people who lost their love ones, who's lives are never going to be the same. The sad part is that knowing our government? and how slow everything works, I don't think these people are going to be helped anytime soon. The saddest part is it's Christmas, how are these people going to celebrate the holidays? It'll be so hard to move on, but knowing us Filipinos and with our strong faith to God we'll stand up again from this trial. The help may not all come from the Government (cause it's impossible) there will be a lot of private citizens and organizations that will lend a helping hand. We'll get through this.

Read this link Storms pound Philippines in the thick of night, kill at least 436 and watch this video.



For Your CASH Donations:

BDO Dollars Account
ACCOUNT NAME: ABS-CBN INC.- SAGIP KAPAMILYA
ACCOUNT NUMBER : 39300-81622
SWIFT CODE: BNORPHMM

Fantasy of lights

We've been going here since 2005 but put off the last two years from some unknown reason I really can't remember . Last night we came after the rush so there will be no line waiting to get in and glad we did cause we were able to take our time. It was fun, fun for the three brats most of all I guess that is what's important. My eldest keeps screaming " This is the happiest night ever!" and my two year old was the happiest cause it's her very first time.

For $15 entrance fee I admit my expectations were a little too high. I thought there will be new lights display, but it's all the same so again I'm glad we put off the last two years so it was all totally new to the girls. Sort of. Then what bugs me the most is that the display is littered with sponsors billboard. I see more ads than lights lol! I think the revenue from the advertisement is not enough so they up the fee to $15 this year. It should be free. Aside from those and little things like, the car behind us forgot to turn his headlights off, staff forgot to hand us the 3d glasses my kids are expecting and the candy cane too in the end, we had fun. Our girls had fun, I hope!

How to thin out thick hair?

Oh how I wish that is me asking that question. How to thin out my thick hair? Cause mine is 'volume-less' and thinning. It is almost depressing. I'm just taking away my focus to my hair and look on the bright side. At first I blame it all to my three pregnancies within 6 years, they say it could be brought about by hormonal changes after pregnancy, but for the love of me, my youngest is now 2 aren't them hair supposed to grow back? Thick and luscious? Arrggh! I've been dealing with Alopecia ever since my college days ( which was ages ago btw!) yes they grow back, but every time I hear them doctors tell me I have an autoimmune disease,It scares the cr*p out of me. But it is not life threatening according to my doctorS (with an S, coz I've seen a lot) that is maybe why it's been disregarded by them and dermatologist I've seen a lot of times...:(

It's an autoimmune disease- I've had it since my late teenage years- a disease where the body attacks good parts of the body ,it is attacking its own hair follicles that is. It is not pretty, it really is not pretty. I've had steroid injections ,topical cream etc...the good thing is my hair grows back but it sure is not pretty. So how to thick out my thin hair? Minus 1 gorgeousness point for me,,Arrrghh! ... :(

Baby Talk: Bridget's Vocabulary

Additional New Words of Bridget As of 11/12/11



1. Puh-pol - Purple
2. Bul - Blue
3. Puh-puh - the Number 2, lol

as of 11/26

1. Dada hop hop- When she saw her dad limping ( dad injured his foot )
2. up - yay! she knows how to say up.
3. wan- number one
4. toh - number two

as of 11/30

1. wet - wet
2. tow - cold
3. tats - tights
4. top - blouse/shirt or top
5. pop pop - popcorn

as of 12/11

1. mama wash - when she wants to watch TV
2. wap - wipe
3. hun - hand

Her vocabulary is rapidly developing so all my previous worries are gone.

♥ Dad's B-day Surprise ♥

I've been meaning to post this pic but I keep forgetting.

Guess where these lil girls were going? To daddy's room we go!!!

They love their Dad soo much, sometimes I think they love him more than me! They really do. It's okey.

Some Things I'm learning from my kids and other kids....

1. Say "Cheese and Sprinkles" instead of saying "Jesus Christ!" and her reasons? you wouldn't believe her reasons behind. - from Doniella. my 6 yr old.

2. That it's okey to wear read socks if you wearing an open toes sandals. It actually looks good.- from Doniella

3.

Kid: Mom,this one is too expensive don't even try it on!
Mom: But I like it honey!
Kid: look mom,it's 100 and zero,zero. We can't afford it right?

- over heard
a kid talking
to her mom at
Macy's fitting
Room.
Lesson: don't try on something you can't afford, lol!

4.

Boy: Dad,do you know who Michael Korrs is?
Dad: I don't, do you?
Boy: He is a guy you know.

- A Kid to his Dad looking at
a Michael Korrs Shirt.

Lesson: Get to know the designer of the shirt you're thinking of buying.

5. Korin, my middle child is a one accident prone kid like me. She gets Boo-boo at least 4- 6 times a day or more. So I'm always ready with kisses but lately she's asking for not just kisses but hugs telling me " It hurts more so I need a Hug Mom...Kisses are for little boo-boos!"

Lesson : Kiss can't take all the pain away sometimes we'll get better faster with a big hug!

"Da Best Ang Pasko Ng Pilipino" ABS-CBN Christmas Station ID 2011

I miss Christmas celebration back home. It's been years!.

I'm Officially Vegetarian ... c')

After thanksgiving day,I don't know if it's just because of too much food on the table or what, but we decided to completely turn away from meat. And by that I mean we cleaned our refrigerator, our pantry and all. No trace of meat anymore, all gone! I've been doing some readings about becoming a vegetarian and there's a so many interesting things, a lot of good reasons for being a Vegetarian. As I continue educating my self, It will be a lot easier to adopt the lifestyle. I am going for it for Personal health reason, now the ethics and environment concerns that will follow. I don't don't yet If I'm going to take it that far,we'll see. It's a lifestyle I'm going to live one baby step at a time. I'm not really a big meat eater in the first place but I love meat,and Fish too. Becoming a vegetarian is not a one day process I know. I definitely need support cause I am an emotional eater, that's where my problem begins. Saying NO is one thing too, cause if you are Filipino part of our being one is to always being invited to take part in your friends and even neighbor's meal. The very famous Filipino line "kain tayo!?!" meaning "come let's eat?!" and since I'm new my taste bud is still not adjusted to it, I would still remember and smell my non vegetarian food. It' will be tough.

Learning different terms like Vegan, Vegetarian, Fruitarian...Flextarian is driving me coo-coo so I think I'll be cool about it for now and try not to fill my brain with too much info out there and again, take little baby steps. The adjustment won't be too much, that's for sure coz my kids are not really meat eater,thank goodness, my husband was a vegan for 11 years (returning now after many years, lol), basically for the most part, it's only me who needs all the adjusting. Yesterday I was really craving for meat, I went to one of my friends house they were having dinner,the piece of pork on her table feels like talking to me saying 'come take a bite',it's funny! Told my husband about it and when we got home last night he made me dinner (sweet huh?). It was a meatless & soy-free Gruyere chik'n cutlets made by Quorn, to my surprised it tasted just like chicken but It's a little bit on the pricy side. It's something we can't afford to do everyday.

look at this little cute piglets? now how can you eat them? ooops,Did I say I'm not going to take it this far? lol! well...they really are cute little thing though.

Wordless Wednesday-Just goofing 'round...can you read my Lips?

Tried on a red lipstick...The color I had doesn't match my skin tone (what is my skin tone by the way? hmmm? ) so it ended up being erased.

...The Randomness Of Me ...

So how was your day? ---- So far, not that good. My first grader has to skip school today coz she is not feeling good. Mr. Cough go away soon will you? please?!?

Really.What are you doing tomorrow?----No plans yet, the usual stuff,home chores and chores and chores.

Are you crushing on anyone? ----Nah,too old for that.

If So what is their name? ---- Mr. No one

What school do you go to? ---- I wish to go back to school soon if money and time permit!


Do you consider yourself fashionable? ----No, I wear what's comfortable even if it's so last year lol!

Are you a copy cat? ----No, cause I believe that what looks good on other people may not be for you.

Have you called someone a copy cat? ---- Oh yes!

But anyway who is your favorite atrist/Band
Why? ---- Bruno Mars as of now.

Whats your favorite song by them? ---- It will rain,Count on me,Grenade and so on....

Do you believe in love? ---Of course I do!


Has your heart been broken? --- Yes!

Do you want your ex back? --- NO!

What are you doing right now? ---- Answering this survey and I don't have any clue why I'm doing this.

When was the last time you cried? --- Last week!


Have you ever cried during a movie? --- All the time...it's embarrassing sometimes :)

What is your favorite show to watch with your children? --- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, And The movie ' Gnomeo and Juliet ' which by the way, they super love!!!

What is your favorite memory from your children?---- Their birth dates, It was the hardest for me. I had 3 C-Sections and it was not easy like some of us were told. I had two breech babies that was why I can't have them natural

Have you ever been to family counseling?--- Almost.

Did you give something up or quit something in your life in order to have a family? --- Yes. Coming to America and being away from my family and friends. Giving up the job that I love there.

Are you at the place you thought you would be when you grew up? --- Not really. And by that I mean, I never really dream of living abroad or away from the Philippines.

Will you tell your kids what to wear or will you let them pick out their own clothes? --- as of now yes,with the young ones. I'm taking this opportunity that they're still young. Coz pretty soon I won't be able to do it like with my eldest.

Where are these babies?

It feels like yesterday, what happen to them? Where are my babies?

- Doniella was barely crawling here in this photo,now she is 6, can't stop her from growing and how time flies, Where is my baby Della?!

- This photo was taken when Korin was just 7 months old, She is now 4 yr old. Almost everyone thought she is a baby boy cause of my color choices back then but she's growing up to be a beautiful little girl.

My little two yr old Bridget was just 7 month old here too. I love my bridgeybrat so much.

I miss them when they were little babies, I miss their smell,nursing,babytalk,cooing,diaper bags ...etc. I miss everything about babyhood,even those moments that took my sanity away for a little while like the long nights lol. They grow up to fast.

Our turkey on top of the table playing 'Turkey in the straw'

Being her mom is one of the my many reasons why I am forever grateful. Here she did a Thanksgiving intermission number for us. She played Turkey In The Straw last night. We are so proud her!



She was very shy playing for us so she decided to play under the table instead so nobody could see her, lol!

Our Humble Thanksgiving Feast

My Favorite Candy Yam...love!!! I gotta have this every year or else,lol!

Guess who didn't make it to dinner?

Where's the peepz? all turkey out!?

Our honey baked Ham...yum!

I'm Filipina so there's gotta be something Filipino on the table..Pancit and Lumpia, kind of out of place there but glad I have it.

Made Lumpia from scratch,yay! not perfect but good enough!

Fun in the Winter Sun!

California is a perfect place, weather wise it really is. We have warm dry summers and mild, wet winters. I think we had one of the best Indian-Summer this year. Here we can still have outdoor activities with friends and family at this time of the year, we have lots of picnic areas to choose from with picnic tables. I am so lucky to live a minute away from the most popular regional park and recreation area of our County. I love that the playground equipments offers a wide array of play system. And the lake is just beautiful! The one thing I hate about it though is the goose poop, you see them everywhere. Forget throwing football or playing soccer in the field,you'll step on one for sure. Good thing they have many park benches to sit on.
With three kids, it is sometimes hard to spend hours at the park for their dose of outdoor fun. It's just too much for me cause they all go three different directions, even after repeating our only park rule "Stay Together!" hundreds of times. They're kids, what can I do?
Sometimes we settled playing inside or around the house. They don't love it as much as getting all dirty and sweaty at the park but it's enough. I just wish I have a nicer back yard, where I can let them play unsupervised without worrying they'll run off. A backyard where I can relax sitting on my Adirondack Chairs reading my favorite book,magazine or crocheting.

♥ My Thanksgiving message to ya'll ♥

I came across this quote/Poem online and I thought its is worth spreading!

"When we count
our many blessings;
It isn't hard to see
that life's most valued
treasures are the
treasures that are free.

For it isn't what
we own or buy
that signifies
our wealth.

It's the special
gifts that have
no price:
our family,
friends and health. "

I would like to take this opportunity to Thank everyone who reads my blog. All my friends, co-bloggers, new found friends and strangers who take time reading,joining,following and leaving wonderful comments on my blog. I appreciate it so much! You are one of the many reasons I am so thankful this year. Have a wonderful thanksgiving ya'll!

Yes, they were pancakes,my pancakes :)

How can one screw up a pancake? easy, let me make it for you..lol! That's me. I'm an expert....wahhh! I was just trying to make it from scratch. And it came out like this. My mother in law made some from scratch when she was here and the kids love it. My pancake is hopeless, I'll just go back buying ready mix pancake or stick with the french toast,now that's easy.

Carpet and kids....Love!!!

We clean our carpet at least twice a year, or three at the most. With three kids though I think I need more than that. I have two kids under five yrs old, the living room is now their territory, it's their playground,their kitchen sometimes their bedroom. So don't be surprised when you visit me and see my super messy carpet, it is not the greatest looking carpet in the world I admit.

It's been months since I had my carpet cleaned. And the mess is extended inside our car. Oh our poor car, there's cheerios, french fries, you name it it's there. I need a Car carpet cleaning tips please. But anyway, I'm sure I'm not the only one. Right? It definitely needs a professional carpet cleaning cleaners Austin. Here's a link to The Steam Team, the number one choice for carpet cleaning in Austin and Dallas, Texas. So if you live in those area definitely check them out @ http://www.thesteamteam.com/austin-cleaning-services/ they will provide you with the most complete carpet cleaning service anywhere and they guarantee their work. I have a friend in Dallas that told me her office is using this guys services and they rock!