The Highlights of 2017

As with any other year, 2017 was a roller coaster ride. There were great things and not so great things that happened the entire year. But, I would like to focus on the good experiences that 2017 has brought us.

I must say that this year is full of surprises. First quarter of the year, my favorite cousin turned 40. I led the organizing for her surprise birthday celebration to which everybody, thankfully, were cooperative. This is the first time that I edited a video greeting and I am so glad the output turned out fine. We also achieved our goal to make her cry, haha!

We also went back to Kidzania last September with some of my cousins and Johan's cousins. It is always a fun trip whenever we go to Kidzania and I am sure this is going to be an annual thing for us. Hopefully next time the smaller cousins can join us as well.

Johan turned 7 this year and I planned a small surprise birthday celebration for him. We booked the Nicayeren Resort in Batangas that we went to last summer and invited our immediate families to help us surprise Johan. See my post here.

My Papa is a huge fan of Engelbert Humperdinck that when he found out that his idol will be having a concert at the arena close to home, he posted a Facebook status.

After he posted that, my sisters and I immediately checked online if we can afford the tickets, haha! Good thing that the venue near my parents' house did not cost too much, we were able to secure an SVIP ticket for Papa and surprised him the next day when he drove us to Taytay.

Work wise, this is the first time that our team went out of the office to celebrate Christmas. We gathered contributions and asked for pledges so we can have a raffle of some sort. We received a lot of pledges that everybody went home with something! Me and my friend, Fem, also organized a few games to everybody's delight. Seeing everybody having a good time, laughing and thanking us makes all the effort worth it. Credits to my officemates Amiel and Fem for their effort in picking up and buying the raffle prizes and thank you to the whole team for joining the games and for their monetary contribution as well. Next year ulit, guys?

As 2017 is coming to a close, this is also the first time that our family had a staycation on  Christmas Eve. We were able to get discounted vouchers for an overnight stay at Exchange Regency in Ortigas and were lucky enough that we were able to book a room for December 24. My cousin's family sent me a message telling me they will also be staying around Ortigas but their hotel room does not have the same perks as ours at Exchange Regency. My cousin's exact words, "Pwede ba kaming makisaing?" Hahaha! To which I replied, "Bakit makikisaing pa eh di dun na kayo sa amin maki-Noche Buena!". And they did! It was the most fun Christmas Eve ever!

Finally, to cap off the year, my cousins and I together with our husbands and kids trooped to the SM Mall of Asia Arena to watch Disney on Ice: Everyone's Story. I've always wanted to bring the kids here and I'm glad that we get to watch the show with the rest of their cousins. The kids had so much fun! Well, I speak for myself, but I can't help but sing along to the Frozen songs and the Disney Princesses theme songs!

2017 was a great year. Here's to looking forward to what 2018 has to offer! Happy New Year, everyone!!

A New Year, A New Chapter

Here's something to motivate all of us this first day of 2013. 

I have tried really hard to become a positive person and I think I achieved being one in 2012 but I know that I can do more and be more. When I first read this quote, it made me realize that our days indeed make up the book of our lives and when the time comes, I'd love to read something worthwhile, something sensible, something happy, something with a lot more lessons than regrets.

I'm keeping my New Year's Resolution plain, simple and feasible.

1. I aim to spend even more time with my family and when I say more time, I mean spend less time on the computer, on my phone or in front of the TV whenever I'm home. I remembered the time when our computer broke down and those were great evenings where I get to spend playing with and reading to my son after I arrived home from work. I felt that Johan was happier during those times because I am not stressing over him going to sleep so I could go online.

2. Don't succumb to negativity at work. I am one person who gets affected easily but the year 2012 made me a little stronger and I was able to deal with negativity better but still there were times when I can't help but  get stressed out like everyone at work and I sure didn't feel better afterwards.

3. Say I love you more often with the husband. Hubby and I are not really vocal persons when it comes to our emotions and I think we both find it too cheesy to say I love you upfront to each other. But, we've been saying I love you to Johan often enough that made me think why don't we begin saying it to each other as well.

4. Learn that not all things happen according to plan. I am an OC person - everything has to be in it's right place or a person should be acting a certain way. It's about time I learn that not everyone's brains work as obsessive-compulsive as mine, I cannot force everyone to be positive but I can be a good enough positive person that can inspire them to become one, I'm not going to die if hubby left all the cords and the towels in disarray (again) and the world is not going to end just because I got a grade below 95% on my accuracy report at work.

5. Get inspired - to blog more, to be happier, to be at peace, to live a good life.


May 2013 bring us all the good things and inspire us to pass it forward as well.

Happy New Year, everybody!

The Top Five Things I am Thankful for in 2012

Today's the last day of the year and instead of posting my New Year's Resolution, which I'm sure will just be the same as last year's, I'd rather end the year on a positive note and look back on all the things I am grateful for in 2012.

1. Friendship

Our college buddies

Hubby and I met during college so it's no surprise that we have the same circle of friends throughout the years. Our classmates were Pete, Christian, Wilmar, Abi, Lloyd, Precious, Vic, Josh and missing in the photo is my bestfriend Mhy, now based in Singapore. Then Josh and Vic got married, Christian married Precious, I married Deck, Mhy married Deck's childhood friend Bong, then Pete and Wilmar met their wives Joey and Cordia and well, Lloyd (in orange) is still single. We each lead different lives, evolved from students to adults and now parents,  we raise our kids differently - bet despite these differences we remained friends and good ones at that!

New friends. Being with great people to share office chismis with, rant about things work-related or not with, pig out with every Friday after a long, tiring week - these people are what make work seem less like work.

2. Family

I must have done something good for God to bless me this abundantly. My family keeps me grounded, my son (and his future) keeps me motivated and my husband supports me all the way. I truly could not ask for anything more but to keep them all safe, healthy and happy.

3. Work

This is the wonderful Pettigrew family who owns the company I am working in now. As Mr. Dave Young, our CEO, said "You were all lead by God to PPSI for a reason and it is a pleasure working with you." Being able to go back to work this year is truly a blessing. I have been looking for a job and have been interviewed by several companies but nothing really matched what I was searching for. PPSI gave me what I prioritize the most - morning shift, weekends off, competitive salary plus perks and accessibility from home. My work has opened up a lot of doors and fulfilled a few of my family's dreams.

4. Dream fulfilled

I'm sure all families have been dreaming to buy their own cars. I am just thankful that our prayer was granted this year. Perseverance, hard work, strong will and a lot of prayers did it for us.

5. Time

It has been an additional 366 days more into my life. I am more than grateful for all those days - be it good or bad - because I get to spend most if not all of it with the people I love. Each day of 2012 that I was blessed with, I made sure I made the most of and I did try to do good as much as I can. 

Stay positive and look forward to all things awesome that'll happen in 2013! Happy New Year, everybody!

Lit Up

Just like last year, when the clock struck midnight on January 1st, we were on our rooftop to watch the night sky light up with fireworks.

I was worried that Johan might get scared once the fire crackers start exploding but we were so proud of him when he barely flinched at the loud booms around us, well, maybe the bonnet and the jacket hood that I placed over his ears muffled some if not all sounds.

But, really, we were so happy that he got to enjoy New Year's Eve celebration like all children should.

Johan amazed at the firework displays

The little boy's face lit up when he saw the bright lights

May we all have a prosperous, peaceful, healthy year ahead!

A Year of Positivity

source

2011 is not really a bad year but I wouldn't call it my best year yet. Of course, I am thankful for my husband, our son and our families. Truly, the best things in life are free.

Christmas 2011

However, I would say that I've had better years when it comes to my own well-being - mentally, physically and most especially, emotionally. 2011 found me at my worst emotions, ever. My mood swings are far worse than those when I was pregnant and I hate to admit this, but yes, I am such a hypocrite for acting like everything's okay even if my anger is eating me from the inside.

So, for my 2012 Resolutions - I vow to remain on track, not to get distracted, and keep a steady pace down the road to P.O.S.I.T.I.V.I.T.Y.

Here are some quotes that struck me the most and I realized would make some great New Year's Resolutions:

1. Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says "Oh Crap, She's up!" 
2. Don't look back, you're not going that way.
3. Whatever you are, be a good one.
4. Live without pretending, Love without depending, Listen without defending, Speak without offending.
5. Declutter.
6. Find a beautiful place and get lost.
7. Don't stop dreaming because there is nothing wrong in wanting something more.
8. Don't worry about what may or may not happen tomorrow, God will help you deal with whatever things come up when the time comes.
9. Remember that just because today is a terrible day doesn't mean tomorrow won't be the best day of your life. You just gotta get there.
10. Do more of what makes you happy.

Happy 2012, everybody! I hope we all have a better if not the best year of our lives!

Happy 2012!

Christmas '09

It was mine and Hubby's first Christmas together after getting married. We celebrated the 24th at their home in Cavite with his parents and his sister's family. It was a little sad because they don't celebrate Christmas Eve the same way that me and the Yboa clan did. They just slept the night away whereas with my own family we stay awake until midnight so we can exchange gifts and share Noche Buena. On the 25th we went to the annual family Christmas Party of our family, the Tan side, where we celebrated it at our cousin's almost finished house in Las Piñas. There, my hubby witnessed our crazy and super fun celebration of Christmas. There were a lot of gifts, plenty of food, long lines to get our "aguinaldos" from aunts and uncles, "paagaw ng barya". Hubby told me later that we are one big happy family and he can't wait to share Christmas again with our family. Yey! At last, we won't have to argue as to where we should celebrate Christmas every year.

Looking Ahead to 2010

With just hours before it'll be officially 2010, allow me to post my goals for the coming year - here is the ever popular New Year's Resolution!

1. Make an effort to learn how to cook complicated dishes for my hubby. (So we won't have to live on the usual Adobo, pork steak and fried everything.)

2. Start a tradition for hubby and me. 

3. Eat healthy and work out more.

4. Learn a sport.

5. Convince hubby to travel. (at least for our wedding anniversary)

6. Be less of a compulsive buyer.

7. Attend mass religiously.

8. Worry less.

9. Save, save, save for the rainy days. 

10. Get pregnant. (We're fervently praying for this one)

I felt truly blessed in 2009 that despite the minor setback on the finances and health there are still a lot to be thankful for. I am praying for a better if not the same blessed year ahead and I am wishing you all a happy and safe 2010!!