New Years Resolution : Save Money in 2010

2009 is coming to an end, and as we welcome in 2010, let's be thankful for the blessings of the past year and welcome in a brand new year of more blessings, greater opportunities, success, and wealth!

So, after all the holiday expenses, it is just but fitting to start 2010 with a resolution to save money. Here are just a few of my suggestions on how mommies like me can do just that. :)

1. Make a grocery list, and stick to it.
It is always wise to make a grocery list before heading on to the supermarket. That way, you are focused on buying only what's on your list. It is also good practice to schedule your trips to the grocery. Try to schedule it for example an hour before your scheduled time to pick up your child from school. This way, you are time-constrained and do not dilly-dally inside the grocery store (more time inside the store tempts one to buy more than what's needed). Aside from money, you also save time and car gasoline. Oh, and by the way, get those coupon codes for even more savings!

2. Cook at home.
It is much cheaper to cook meals at home than to eat out at restaurants or order from fast-food chains. It is a healthier option, too! :)

3. Iron clothes once a week or twice a month only.
Schedule ironing of clothes to just once a week or twice a month only, so that you can save on electricity costs.

4. Go green. Recycle.
Instead of buying garbage bags for your trash cans, recycle used plastic bags from the grocery.

5. And the best advice I can give: Save first!
Once you get your family's monthly income, immediately put at least 10% of the total amount to your savings (if you can afford to save more than 10%, much better!). Then, budget what's left for your daily expenses. This way, you are sure to save some amount monthly. Try to think of it as an "expense". Once you've put it in your savings account, forget about it and make do with what's left. Then you are not tempted to buy unnecessary things and you are able to save up for something more important like your child's education, your health, or your house/car insurance.

These are just some simple ways on saving money this coming year.
Want more tips? Check out 30 Ways to Save Money.

I wish you all a year full of peace, happiness, and prosperity!

Happy New Year, everyone! =)

Holiday greetings

Knowing I'll be too busy the next couple of days, I'm sending an advanced holiday greeting to all my online buddies. Wishing you all a blessed Christmas! May it be filled with peace, love, and happiness!

I've been busy...

Here's what's keeping me busy these days...

making a list,
checking it twice,
shopping,
shopping,
and more shopping!
then, wrapping,
wrapping,
.... and still wrapping!
Oh, no! Only 7 days to go before Christmas!!!
Gotta finish soon!

Here are just some of the wrapped presents... still a lot more to go! Wish me luck! :)

Christmas Rush

You know Christmas is just around the corner when...

1. The malls are unusually packed with people, that "malling" becomes too tedious: no parking space available, long lines at the cashier, long waiting time at the restaurant during meal time.

2. It's just 5:30pm and yet it's already dark outside.

3. The wind becomes colder at night ("simoy ng Pasko", as we call it).

4. Children start singing Christmas carols by your gate/door.

5. Christmas lights and decors adorn the streets.

6. You start making a "list" (a.k.a. trying to remember all your "inaanak", hoping you don't miss out on anyone =) ) ...

7. ... and checking it twice! (wishing you won't go beyond your budget..hehehe...)

8. The local TV networks begin airing their "Christmas station ID".

9. You're picking a nice family photo and using that to send Christmas greetings around the globe.

10. You start reminiscing about the year's events, knowing that it will soon be over.

Here's hoping you'll enjoy the days ahead, and feel the excitement awaiting Christmas! =)

Hubby's 30th

Happy birthday to my wonderful, loving hubby!
All these (except for the store-bought cake) I prepared with much love to celebrate his 30th birthday. :)


Click here for more weekend fun! :)

Trick or Treat!

Halloween

^

Happy Halloween!

My Little Fairy Princess
Trick or Treat!
on to the next stall...
checking out her treats! =)

How was your Halloween?

Please Register!

If you care enough for our country, please go out and register to be able to vote for next year's national elections. Do check if your voter's registration status is still active (it becomes inactive when you haven't voted for the past 2 recent elections). If not, have it activated once more. Encourage your siblings and/or children 18 years old and above to register as a new voter. Update your status when you've married. Just please go out and register. You have until October 31, 2009 to do your responsibility as a Filipino citizen. YES, it is both our right and our responsibility to vote for our leaders. And the more important thing...go out and vote wisely on May 10, 2010. It's the least we could do for our country.

St. Pio of Pietrelcina

After learning about St. Pio from the show "Rated K", my husband wanted so much to visit the chapel of St. Pio in Libis, Quezon City.

Today, we were finally able to attend the Sunday Mass at the Chapel of St. Pio of Pietrelcina.

Please do visit the official website of the Philippine Centre for St. Pio of Pietrelcina
to learn more about St. Pio, and why many come to venerate him and offer petitions in his name.

Below are pictures of our Sunday visit to St. Pio's Chapel.

Entrance. We were queued in line, waiting for a vacant parking space.

Side entrance to the Chapel.
A picture of St. Pio
We didn't expect this many people! We arrived a bit early, but there were no more seats available, so we were standing throughout the Mass.
After the Mass, many stayed to pray for their intentions.
There was a room for lighting candles and offering petitions.
The Prayer of St. Pio

Masses are held daily, except Saturdays.
Sunday Masses are at 10am, 12:15pm, and 6pm.

Facebook addict

Are you a Facebook addict?

I think I've started to become one.

Hmm...I wonder how it happened, in just around 3 months, I've become addicted to this social networking site. To think that for the longest time, I didn't want to create an account! Only to my sister-in-law's non-stop prodding that I finally gave in. I said, oh, what the heck, just create an account, and let it be. But, lo and behold, much as I don't want to admit it, I am now officially hooked!

I actually don't use it to upload my photos (I like Multiply better in terms of photo-sharing), more so neither for Mafia Wars, nor for FarmVille, Farm Town, or whatever form of farming, nor for any other application whatsoever (no offense to those who enjoy these games...they might be really fun, I just haven't started learning them yet... I'm afraid I might get more addicted to Facebook if I try any of these games.. LOL :) ). I mostly log on to it to check out on my friends' status. I was initially overwhelmed knowing that I have a lot of friends already in Facebook, from my long-lost childhood friends, to my old neighbors, to my high school classmates, to relatives I haven't seen for the longest time, to my former teachers and professors, and the list goes on and on. The "chismosa" in me got me spending hours just looking at what's going on in other people's lives.

I don't know how to describe it. Maybe Facebook just has a certain magic that creates the illusion that we are never alone, that each one of us is connected in one way or another. As they say, we are all just six degrees of separation apart. Who knows, maybe you who are reading this right now, might just be my second cousin's husband's high school teacher's neighbor's friend. He..he.. ;)

Rain, rain, go away...

The past weekend hasn't been a great one, at least not for most Filipinos.
While I am very thankful that my family and friends are all safe, I continue to pray for the victims of the heavy rains and floods. I pray that those who are still out in the cold will remain steadfast and strong. I pray that those who lost their homes and especially those who lost their loved ones will keep their Faith. I pray that the spirit of Bayanihan will continue to ignite in all of us.

Anyway, this is a picture of my daughter looking out the door, hoping for the rain to stop. At her young age, she may not yet have an idea of what's really happening outside our home. For her, it's just a sad day because it's raining very hard and so she couldn't go out to play.

If only life is as simple as that.

A Rainy Afternoon at Bag of Beans

This is an entry for Sassy Mom's .
Also wishing her a very happy birthday! =)

It was very hot yesterday afternoon, so we thought it would be nice to visit nearby Tagaytay. We've always wanted to try Bag of Beans Bakery and Coffee shop there. While on our way to Tagaytay, rain started to flow, which turned into a heavy downpour. Oh, geez! But the heavy rains did not dampen our spirits. We were still headed to Bag of Beans. Luck was still on our side, as the rain stopped just in time when we reached the coffee shop! Yey! =)

Bag of Beans is a small shop along Tagaytay's main highway, just past Mendez crossing. One would not easily see it, except for the many vehicles parked in front of the shop. It has a small bakeshop, and down a few flight of stairs, amidst the green gardens, is the dining area for dine-in customers. There are small cabanas for a more private gathering. We stayed inside one of the indoor dining areas (there are also outdoor dining areas, but since it just rained, the tables were all wet). Hubby ordered bottomless House Blend Coffee. I ordered Mocha Frappe. Yaya ordered a single serving of the House Blend Coffee, too. We had Cinnamon and Raisin Bread (yummy, a must-try!) for everyone, and Blueberry Cheesecake for the 'little one'.

House Blend Coffee
(according to hubby & yaya, bitter in taste)

Mocha Frappe

(ok, but personally, I like Starbucks' version better)


Cinnamon & Raisin Bread
(so yummy! we took home the unfinished half loaf and it was still delicious the morning after! )

Blueberry Cheesecake

(nothing special, but not that bad, either)

Though it was a rainy afternoon, we still had a nice, relaxing time in Tagaytay. :)

The Countdown Begins

Christmas is just around the corner!
Countdown begins NOW!

It's just 100 days before Christmas! =)

Just checking in...

I haven't been able to blog for quite a while since I've been busy managing our household, taking care of my hubby and our baby, and doing online tutoring. Plus lately we've been always on the road, going places, with lots of family celebrations this month. But don't worry, I'll be back soon, sharing with you stories from my recent activities. :)

Hope all is well with all my blogger friends. :)

August 21, 2009: Araw ng Dilaw

On August 21, 2009,
Make Ninoy and Cory’s spirit of sacrifice live within you.
Sa Araw ng Dilaw,
Wear something yellow.
Light a yellow candle
to remember Ninoy and Cory’s love for the Filipino.

And if you’re on the road on that day
Keep the flame of Ninoy and Cory burning.
Along with a thousand other cars, switch on your hazard lights from 6pm to 7pm and spread the country’s Yellow Spark far and wide.

The Wonderful Gift of Life

Just recently, we attended two birthday parties that both depict how wonderful life is, whether it is just beginning, or whether it has gone through a lot of happy and sometimes sad memories.

Here is my godson on his 1st birthday: innocent, full of energy, & happy!

And here is my grandmother on her 91st birthday: wise, full of life, & happy!

How great is the Lord for the gift of life, and how wonderful life is with the people we love!

Thank you, Tita Cory!

With one decision, you made a difference.
A change that rocked the world,
Made headlines, and ousted a dictator.

With sheer determination, you gave a chance
For democracy, for freedom.

With a single call, you united a once-divided nation.
You walked the streets, thousands flocked the highways.
You silently prayed, the nation's voice was heard.
You started a fight, the entire Filipino people won.

With your courage, we became strong.
Your Faith gave us hope.
Your generous offering of yourself made us rich.
And even in your weakness, we were united in prayer.

Thank you, Cory, for all that you are,
For the freedom that you fought for,
For the democracy that you won for us,
For the nation that you united.