Highlights From My 31st Birthday

The theme for this week is very timely. Like Niko who's a November celebrant, I too just celebrated my 31st birthday yesterday.

First, I would like to take this chance to thank all those who remembered and sent their greetings. To those who texted me and left me messages on Facebook. My phone was buzzing the whole day. Thank you guys!

Nothing extravagant happened this year, but it was one of my most exciting birthdays. I started the day like the usual, woke up early, brought my son to school, ate breakfast with my husband, went online for awhile. Lunch time, I met up with my mom in a nearby Red Ribbon branch to get my cake. I was pretty excited to try their sugar free cake, Mango Passion.

*I consider that the biggest gift I received was the sweet and loving gesture of my other half, who cooked for me on my birthday. I really appreciate the effort and love he poured... The food was very delicious. Thank you baby...(entry on my food blog)

*Being with my family is a special blessing. It's a Wednesday, middle of the week, one of the busiest. My husband has work, but he went on leave, my son has school but he stayed awake and didn't take his afternoon nap just to celebrate. My family is my life, it's the only gift that money can't buy.

Other than that, I still received some tokens of love for this year.
An advance birthday gift---

*The DVD of my much awaited game Left 4 Dead2. I love watching zombie movies. This game will take your breath away.

*A new wrist watch, finally. I would always promise myself to get a new watch, pero hindi natutuloy. Well, my husband made sure that I am wearing one before the year ends.

I like the part when my husband told me that his co-workers helped him look for it. Well, that explains why they were very excited and happy to greet me more than once on my birthday. Hugs for you guys! Will see you soon!

*I also received something from my in-laws in GA. That, I'll keep to myself. Thank you Mama...
*Actually there's more... but I need to stop here. Let me keep the rest as a little secret from you guys for now...

So what was your best Birthday gift ever?! Go to: Girls Talk! and share it with the rest of the girls!

Little Green Thumb

We all had our Monggo seed planting moment right? I planted mine in a soft layer of cotton with water. And it drew out my curious side and eventually, led me to confusion. It was weird thinking why my seed grew from a piece of wet cotton.

Well, my son's experience was far different from mine. Thank God they got rid of that cotton theory and Franky was asked to bring a cup of good soil for planting.

Looking at my son's heartful work from planting a seed to growing a plant, was another moment for me to cherish.

I didn't even recognize that he planted monggo seeds, I thought it was peanut.
Smiley Face

His mission, to keep the plant alive by watering it everyday. Next, I'll teach him to plant vegetables that we can also use for cooking.

Happy Tuesday to you guys!

Happy Birthday Niko and Fedhz!

I was surprised that November is the month for most bloggers. May I proudly say that one of them is Niko. A mother to an adorable little girl, a sweet wife, a jolly person and a good friend. Though we haven't met in person, Niko is one of the people I met online, whom I know who will always remain true. I am very grateful for the opportunity given for our paths to cross in the blogosphere.

This lady owns several blogs by the way... Sites that tells her stories on life, love, friendship, inspiration, reality and fun.

Niko’s Blog
Lover Mushroom…Finally A Family!
Yena’s World
Girls Rule
Online Trends Now

0o0o
I would also like to take this chance to greet another fellow blogger
of
Home Buddies Happy, happy Birthday to you too...

My Homemade Christmas Decor

My husband and I were thinking that our Christmas Tree was lacking something. We wandered around at some department store to look for the right Christmas decor. to make the tree complete. Twigs, twigs, twigs! Silver twigs is our solution to that missing ingredient. But hey, we didn't just buy in an instant. One twig costs P120 each. A piece of thin, plastic twig. I mean, come on!

So, my husband told me, "we'll make our own Christmas Twigs".

With any Spray paint (color of your choice), "real" dried twigs (small branches will do), some glitters, gloves and a protective mask, let's get it on with the Christmas decor making! A paint brush will come in handy too.
Cover your work place with layers of old newspaper. Start spraying per leaf. After spraying, quickly apply the glitters. You can tie all finished twigs with a ribbon of different color, stick it to your tree, or get bigger twigs, then hang Christmas balls.

I first learned about making Christmas decors through my mom. She would also use twigs for our Christmas tree. Twigs she got from our front lawn. This is also a new discovery that my husband is so into it too. Love it!

More to follow and with our Finished Christmas Tree. (Naubusan po kasi ako ng spray paint, akala ko madami pang laman yung can namin dito hehehe!).

Online Mommy's Thanksgiving Contest

"The purpose of this contest is to encourage the participants to count their blessings for the year 2009. I firmly believe that God is great and always faithful to us despite our shortcomings and sins. I believe that there is at least one thing in this year that we want to thank God for. So this is your chance Let us all recall how great God is in our lives for the year 2009."

My Entry

My life is made up of my Faith, my love for Family, some time with Friends, my Chores, and Blogging. I like staying at home and concentrate on the things I just mentioned. I stay happy this way. Our Life everyday is compose of the choices we make. 2009 has been a great year, just like the past years we celebrated. The only thing that made 2009 different is the weight for every decision made matching an opportunity given. The gaining moment from each and regrets which is already part of it.

Let me start enumerating the things that made me be thankful for 2009 and what made it meaningful.

January- My Food Blog was created and is still successfully running filled with yummy surprises.

February- Mommy Moments was born. I saw this meme as a perfect way to share moments as moms. I would like to thank Chris of The Mommy Journey.

March- My original blog One Woman’s Tale turned 1 year and now going on its second. I also joined my first Blog Writing Contest hosted by Lainy’s Musings.

April- Celebrated with my parents on their Wedding Anniversary, my Mom's birthday and Easter Sunday with the whole clan.

May- My son's first school experience. Summer school! Let me emphasize on this one. This is the easiest and the biggest decision we have ever made. By gauging the most important to the least. We canceled our vacation trip out of the country to prioritize our son's education. Education is an important factor. It plays a big role in our lives, and we want him to have a good background. Aside from that, with the money we will be spending vacationing, we thought of saving it for our son's future.

June- Celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary. But the main highlight of the month was... I officially became a school boy's mom! Another milestone reached. I am very happy with this additional task (teaching my son about school). I have been waiting for this moment.

July- Gift of Friendship. Friends are there for keeps. I know that I have friends who will always be there for me.

I never count our times together, I stay happy and smiling just knowing we inspire one another. I was reunited with my childhood friends, best buds and with a fellow mom, Kara.

August- My Love For Taking Pictures. The month of August was filled with opportunities to try new things.

More portraits and feels like I'm more creative this time around.

September- The most memorable.Our month of September started healthy. My son celebrated his 5th birthday.

Still gifted with friends. This time, both old and new.

With Ate Rina and Kuya Nick

Enjoyed my first blogger event with Red Ribbon. I met several bloggers in person. It was a fun experience.

But life is not always about being comfortable or happy. Once in a while things get complicated.

The flood that hit us recently was life changing. It didn't do much damage to our (personal) daily living, but looking and thinking about the others who were hit the hardest, was just devastating. All we can do was to pray for them. Give words of hope and light that a new journey will begin. It was yet again an opportunity for us look back and to make things right. This month didn't end frustrating. The sun shined on us again. Friends, helped us recover whatever was lost. A family from America visited us after years of being away. I was able to meet (finally) some of my husband's relatives from GA.

October- Rejuvenated! The month of September was just so full "everything". I want to start October slowly. As always, an opportunity knocked at my door. I was invited to join a writing contest. Red Ribbon's White Forest Writing Contest. It was a good start. Again, it is something new for me, but no expectations were set.

Later, I went on a 2 day vacation with my family. My husband went on leave for 2 weeks, my son's semestral vacation was up too. The timing was just perfect. When I got home, I found out that I won Red Ribbon's Writing Contest. What a positive way to end the month. So, Yehey!

The good and fun part of my 2009 adventure was the fact that everything fell right into place, as if we planned it. I've become free of the stress thinking and planning activities throughout the year. It's more enjoyable, relaxing and humbling. Not to forget, for every achievement my son will make, and for every milestone that crosses his path, will always be a reason to be thankful not only in 2009, but for the years to come. The year isn't over yet. Every day will always be a day to be thankful. The moment we get up in the morning, for the food that will keep us awake and healthy, for the people who will keep us company the whole day, to a warm house we will go home to every night, a comfortable bed we lay on to sleep and for our dreams that will serve as inspiration for another day.

To join the contest: Online Mommy’s Corner

1st Prize

1 Year Free Web Hosting (worth $10) – Online’s Mommy’s Corner

1 Year dot com Domain chosen by the winner – Trends Zone

Personalized Template* – Random Thoughts of a WAHM

Site Button / Badge – All About Elizabeth

Post Signy – Thoughts and Obsessions

$10 Paypal Funds – Online’s Mommy’s Corner

$5 Paypal Funds – IT Mommy Info

1 year Featured link – bloghitlist

4000 EC – Dothyâ��s World

2000 EC – The Mommy Journey

2000 EC - Her and History

1000 EC – Our Adventure Together

1000 EC – Thoughts and Obsessions

125×125 ad space for 1 month (PR3) – IT Mommy Info

125×125 ad space for 1 month (PR3) – Life Expressions

125×125 ad space for 2 months (PR2) – All About My Life

125×125 ad space for 1 month (PR2) – Bloguardian Hellsite Overcashed

125×125 ad space for 1 month (PR2) – Mom Writes for A Cause

125×125 ad space for 3 months (PR 1) – Online’s Mommy’s Corner

125×125 ad space for 1 month (PR 1) – A Mommaâ��s Journal

125×125 ad space for 1 month – Garden of Moments

2nd Prize

1 Year Free Hosting – Rubz Online

dot info Domain – SEO Friendly Blog Directory

1 year Featured link – bloghitlist

Site Badge Button – All About Elizabeth

Post Signy – Thoughts and Obsessions

$10.00 Paypal Funds – I love Darly

$5.00 Paypal Funds- Pinay Mommy Online

2000 EC – The Movie Mommy

2000 EC – Chika Buzz

2000 EC – Friendship and Smiles

2000 EC – Lourdes’ Mia

2000 EC – Reviewer’s Haven

125×125 ad space for a month (PR3)- A Woman’s Blog

125×125 ad space for a month (PR3)- OnlineBiz and resources

125×125 ad space for a month (PR2)- Moolah Musings

125×125 ad space for a month (PR2) – Pensive Thoughts

125 x125 ad space for a month (PR2) – How I Earn Money Online

125×125 ad space for a month (PR 1) - I LűV ContEsts aNd MoRe!!

125×125 ad space for a month (PR1) – Pinay in States

125X125 ad space for a month – Shopaholic Chronicles

3rd Prize

Site Badge Button – All About Elizabeth

Post Signy – Thoughts and Obsessions

1 year Featured link- bloghitlist

$5 - Crayons and Pencil

$5 – Niko’s Blog

1000 EC – Inspirational Insights

1000 EC – Me, Myself and Jes

1000 EC – Princess Ishi

1000 EC – Prince Ethanâ��s Journal

1000 EC – My Little Angels

1000 EC – My Little Angelâ��s Journey

1000 EC – All About My Life

1000 EC – A Blessed Life

1000 EC – Tasty Exploration

125×125 ad space for 1 month (PR3) – Home Buddies

125×125 ad space for 1 month (PR3) – Coupleâ��s Love Book

125×125 ad space for 1 month (PR2) – Azumi My Lil Dolly Princess Story

125X125 ad space for 1month (PR2) – Our Clanâ��s Marveling

125×125 ad space for 1 month (PR1) – Yam’s File

125×125 ad space for 1 month – Travelin’ With Marie