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!! 

Looking Back to '09

2009 has brought equal servings of happy and not so happy memories. There were a few goodbyes - I waved goodbye to my friends at work when I resigned in early September and our family bid farewell to our dear Tito Boy who passed away in late September. Along with the goodbyes came a lot of new beginnings - I married my hubby on our 8th year anniversary, my best friend's engagement to hubby's longtime friend and the birth of my brother's son Vince. 

2009 indeed is full of ups and downs, bumps along the road but still I find myself looking ahead to 2010 with a smile on my face and hope in my heart. So long 2009 and come right in 2010! Happy New Year Everyone!

Wish Granted!

I posted what I wanted for Christmas from my sister RK a few days ago. Wish granted! Yay! Thanks, RK, for the BDJ 2010 Planner. Blogging my Christmas wish list proved to be quite effective! I might be doing the same thing for my birthday on January. Hmm, I should start thinking what to wish for...

Here's to hoping you all received the gifts you wanted for Christmas! Belated Merry Christmas everyone and may we all have a happy, abundant, healthy and stress-free New Year ahead!

Christmas is for kids!

Yesterday, my sister-in-law told me of a place where I can buy toys at very low prices. If you are new to Divisoria or even a frequent visitor like me, you might not notice this place because it does not have a sign outside not even a huge banner. The building only has a small tarpaulin which says "Bodega Sale".  It's not very eye-catchy but believe me, once inside you'll find yourself surrounded by lots and lots of toys and yes, they don't cost much. A remote-controlled car is priced starting at 150 pesos. One particular toy that I really want to buy for my nephew, Cedric, is a huge firetruck with lights and sounds and blows out bubbles from its pipe. Super cool at a very low price of 250 pesos. There are many toys to choose from some priced at 3 for 100, you can even get a small car for only 20 pesos. I walked around, compared prices and when I'm done I joyfully went home with two huge plastic bags full of toys!

I know I posted a blog a few days ago saying I won't be buying gifts this year due to my limited budget, but, I just can't let Christmas pass without giving away some presents (for the kids, at least). It saddens me to think I'll be the only one not walking around distributing gifts come December 25th.  So this Christmas, I will only be giving away presents for the kids in our family, I will make it up next year for those kids at heart (oldies, hehe!).

I want the BDJ 2010 Planner for Christmas

I am a self-confessed OC that loves planning ahead and making lists. Birthdays, expenses, daily chores, books I've read, monthly and yearly goals - everything is listed down, believe me. So having a planner is a must for me.

While everyone is going gaga over the 2010 Starbucks Planner (it does look good but spending a lot of money just to get it is so impractical for me), I am gearing towards the less expensive one yet almost as good if not better than the Starbucks one. It's the Belle de Jour Power Planner 2010. Besides having the usual pages for daily scheds, the BDJ Planner also has sections for goal setting, budget, various articles on health, beauty and career, and like the Starbucks planner it also has discount coupons from many lifestyle brands such as: All Flip Flops, Urban Salon, Celine, CMG, Folded and Hung, Michellis, Pizza Hut, Plains and Prints - to name a few. 

The BDJ Planner is the one for me so please, anyone, gift me one for Christmas?

(The "anyone" I'm referring to is my sister, RK, which I hope reads this post, hehe!)

Advance Merry Christmas, everyone!

My Horoscope Says...

Coincidence? I don't think so. I'd rather put it this way, "God indeed answers prayers." So, thank you, Lord, for answering mine. 

Goodbye, happy days!

It's official. Contract has been signed. Starting January 4, my life as a housewife is over. Welcome back, Corporate World! 

A Little Angel was born

December 3rd, 2009, 4am - I received a text from my brother Paulo informing me that his wife Mildred's water bag broke and that they are already at the hospital.

December 3rd, 2009, 8am - I got another text from Paulo asking me why our mother wasn't responding to his text messages. I had no idea so I texted Mama to tell her Mildred's in labor already.

December 3rd, 2009, 10am - Mama finally replied back but she's not asking about Mildred. She asked me if I want to accompany her to the mall to play Bingo. WTH?! I replied back with the message telling her Mildred's already at the hospital ready to give birth anytime that day.

December 3rd, 2009, 2pm - My sister Roan finally set up a conference call with me, Paulo and Mama. By then, Mildred already gave birth (after 10 hours of labor) to the 14th member of our family they named Vince Andrew. Mama was at the mall and that was the first time she heard about her new apo. It appeared that she wasn't getting all our text messages. She then texted my father and together they went to Batangas to see their third apo. The rest of the family will visit Vince Andrew on Saturday, December 12th.

Welcome to the family, Vince Andrew!!

A Different Christmas

It's December once again and I hear Christmas carols everywhere I go.  It's a little hard for me to get in  the spirit of Christmas given the fact that I am now a stay-at-home wife, with no monthly income. For the past years, since I started working, I would have my list ready during this time of the year. My list would be categorized into groups: officemates, friends, aunts, uncles, female cousins, male cousins, nephews, nieces, godchildren, siblings and parents. 

This year would be different as lacking the financial resources that I once had, I have to say "pass" to gift-giving this year. I know I could always ask hubby for some shopping money but it won't be the same. It always felt good (I admit, a little proud even) to spend my hard-earned salary in buying gifts for everyone. Even the bumps and push along the streets of Divisoria, wrapping each present myself and signing the gift tags are quite enjoyable. 

As Christmas draws near I know it will be a little more difficult for me. It makes me sad not be able to bring gifts for everybody come December 25th but then I kept telling myself that gift-giving is just icing on the cake. To be with my family over Christmas Day lunch and dinner, to laugh with everyone and to relish the moment that we all went out of our ways just to be reunited as always (every year) on Christmas Day... I feel better already. 

There's always next year anyway. =)