My Year-end Questions

Hi to my few and valuable reader(s)!

I am just too excited for the year end because it grasps me for more opportunities for new things, new ideas, new goals, new plans, new experience, new friends and new wisdom for the New Year.  I don’t know,,, but a brand new year always thrills me for everything about my life.  How about you, can you relate? Do you want some transformation for the coming year? How excited you are to face 2014? Be optimistic and act now!

New Resolutions (photo from Lifehack)

For the last part of 2013,  I made some different acts to improve myself by reading, increasing my financial literacy and finding a true happiness that I can barely share to everyone.  And I realized that assessment is quite important in pursuing my purpose in life.  With the help of Valorie Burton, she gave me an idea to five questions that will offer me an opportunity to grow and consider better possibilities in my life.

I am happy to share it to you.  Maybe it will help you also in discerning your goals and focus on the coming 2014.

You can start your journal(like what I'm going to do) by answering the following questions as a better start for your prosperous new year.  Now, prepare your journal book and copy these questions. 

1.      What is the biggest lesson God has offered me over the last year?

When we take time to learn the lessons that our trials and triumphs teach us, God is able to mold our character and use us in greater ways. When you ignore the lessons of life, you often find yourself repeating the same mistakes and enduring the same challenges time and time again.

2.      What is my "divine assignment" at this stage of my life? 

 Our purpose can transform over a lifetime. In order to remain in synch with God's timing and purposes, we must seek His "assignment" in the various seasons of our lives.

3.      This time next year, what would I like to see different in my life?

In other words, what's my vision?  You need a vision for where you are going in the coming year. No matter how insignificant you think your life is, God wants you to be deliberate about setting goals and moving forward. God's word tells us to "write the vision and make it plain" (Habakkuk 3:2). That means we should write it down and make it clear and specific. Don't overwhelm yourself with a lot of "New Year's resolutions." Instead, choose something meaningful, even if it is a seemingly small change, and take deliberate steps forward.

4.      What have I been procrastinating about? 

Putting off goals and things that God has laid on your heart to do is stressful. Fear is often the culprit and the New Year is a great time to ask yourself if it is time to get unstuck and pursue certain goals or drop them altogether, thus freeing yourself from the burden of an incomplete task hanging over your head.

5.      How could I make more of a positive difference in the lives of others in the next 12 months? 

Our lives really aren't about us. They are about the purpose for which we were created. What is it that you'd like to do by this time next year that will impact others in a meaningful and positive way?

 

Let’s be reflective and notice what we’ve learned and what we’ve accomplished this year that makes us happy and purposeful.

Celebrate our progress and keep moving forward!

Happy New Year to everyone!

#CertifiedPositive 2014 Planner

One of my long-term personal goal for the next years is to improve my reading habit especially the most important book of the world, The Bible.

I have several attempts of bible reading plans from the previous years but I was a"ningas kugon".  I can't make it a habit.  I need more prayers for that. 

For 2014,  I really want to start a spiritual goal where I can incorporate it to my journaling, goal setting, expense tracking and activities scheduling.  The reason why I keep my eye for the 2014 planner in the market as guide in fulfilling my ultimate goal.

I'm just happy to share that I found the planner perfect for me.  It has everything that I need.  And it might fit your needs too.

Journaling and keeping a planner are the two basic attitude of successful person.  I've been doing that for several years and it helped me a lot to manage my time, finances, goals, plans and daydreams.  I may not be a successful millionaire but I'm proud to say that I'm half successful in doing the duties assigned to me.  As a mom, a wife, an employee, an employer to my helper, tutor to my kids, a friend, a daughter, a sister and as a blogger.

Through the plugging of Bettina Carlos in Instagram, I learned about #CertifiedPositve 2014 Planner.  I ordered online and scheduled for meet up.  Dyaaaaaaraaannnnnn....... I got it!



2014 #CertifiedPositive Planner

This is the Certified Positive Story

"Today, we live in a busy and fast paced world.  It seems like 24 hours is not enough with so many things going on in our daily lives.  We experience exhaustion, stress, panic, anxiety, and even depression.  In the end, we sacrifice either rest, exercise, read a good book or time for GOD.

It all started with our founder's desire to serve the Lord.  After many prayers, God finally answered her and gave a vision to help people be reminded of God's love for them so that they can EHEM (Experience Him Each Moment).  This is how the 2014 Daily Interact Certified Positive Planner came to be.

The idea came in during a cold and rainy dinner with a good friend last December 2012.  The Lord prepared the team and the people to be involved and finally, we officially kick-started the project last August 23, 2013.  Though most people say it was too late to start, we still pushed to make this because whatever God started, we believe that He will finish, and finish on His perfect time.  In all the trials and start up birth pains, we put our hope in the Lord. 

Today, Certified Positive continuously aims to create a positive community to give hope, encouragement, and love in Christ.  We share with you our story as this planner stands as a living testimony of the power of faith and God's unconditional love amazing grace for all of us.

Be Blessed! Be Certified Positive"

What's unique inside?

A positive act guide to experience HIM every moment and do the pay-it-forward-act-of-kindness every day.

Daily guide in reading the Bible.  This is what I like most.

Stickers and cards for positive thoughts and goals.

Bills Payment Tracker is made easy for me.

I have special space for my Personal and Spiritual Goals

Monthly budgeting will be easy as 1 2 3.

My daily expenses has its own page and take note I can categorize it as WANT or NEED.  It will be a great guide in monitoring my expenditures. 

And stickers to keep me reminded of the positivity and inspirations.

It has monthly testimonials from ordinary people who are experiencing GOD and sharing positivity.

You can order at here

Be a goal-oriented! Be inspired! Be positive! Be spiritually guided!

Cheers for 2014!

Effort Sarap

Whew!  I love morning rush!  An eight-to-fiver working mom without a helper, how's that???? Quite challenging, isn't?  Well, this is really the dare for a homemaker.  Buti na lang malapit lang ang office ko, I can manage.  I have no travel time so I can do more household chores without being so late in the office.

But....where is she, my helper?  Mmmmm..... after the holiday she advised me that she will come back on Sunday.  Fine!!!! Oh my goodness ,anong petsa na???? Wala pa rin sya today.  She's not feeling well daw.  Sick leave lang ang peg.  I am a considerate employer and I value the health of my employee so I allow her to have a good rest.  And these are the consequences.  Always in a hurry! I have to do every single detail in the house.  In all the chores, managing kitchen is my priority.

Preparing breakfast and baon for my grade-schoolers should be enjoyable and easy messy.  I dropped by to the nearest wet market and shop for my cooking needs. Here are my picks!

Calamansi

Garlic and Onion

Tamarind

Green Gulay

Gulay pa din

Fresh Maya-maya

Fresh Shrimp

Fresh Squid

 I love fresh foods.  Most of my buy this week are sea foods.  Shall I say, "Meatless Week" for my kiddos.  As much as possible I avoid using umami when cooking.  We can cook delicious servings without using MSG.  An effort can replace the pleasant savory taste of mono sodium glutamate can add to our food.  And the following are my efforts as replacement for umami.

1.  I used clay pot when boiling the tamarind fruit to extract the sour taste for perfect sinigang.  I added a pinch of salt while boiling to mix the salty and soury taste.  It's better to cook sinigang at clay pot to avoid the chemical reaction.  Clay pot is so cheap.
2. Onion and garlic are must-have in my kitchen.  The more onion and garlic in the recipe the more it became tasty.
3.  When marinating, I used calamansi.  It's cheaper than lemon.  But it brings different taste enhancer to cooking.  That's why it is also a must-have.
4. Veggies are the best!  When I'm cooking sinigang, the more the veggies the more savory taste.
5.  Chili, ginger, tomato and pepper can be added too for other menu.  Spice up your life!

My Family's Favorite: sinigang na Maya-maya

My boys joined me in my cooking at our little kitchen.  While preparing the ingredient, M and R are throwing jokes and knock knocks.  It became our another bonding moment.  The big boy also assisted me in cooking.  He did the paghahalo-halo and tikim tikim portion.  Haha!  While the little boys are preparing the tables for a perfect dine-in at home.

I have to cook a recipe for a day because I have limited time.  Init-init na lang.  My son M keep asking me if I added "magic sarap" to my sinigang.  I said "No son, I added "effort sarap".  He enjoyed the vegetables.  He ate everything, even the onions.  And telling me, "Mom, masarap pala talaga ang "effort sarap".  Woooowww! a heart-melting comment.  M is my number two fan.  He never fail to appreciate all my endeavors.  I am exerting my best for R to be influenced in eating veggies.  He's a typical boy who likes fried :-( .  But I taught them to eat what is on the table.  Kids are really different!

I also prepared pang-baon for school, for frying.  It's one of my kid's favorite.

Marinated Boneless Bangus, ready for frying!

Adobo sa Gata-Pusit

Pancit Canton

Fried Small Lapu-lapu

 
On the other hand,  I enjoyed doing all the household chores however it lessen my "me-time".  I can't do my exercise.  Waaahhh! This is bad, I'm missing my "tight abs goal".  My abs are getting fluffy again.  I can't focus on my diet scheme because of foods in front of me all the time.  Napapakain ako ng mga luto ko. Hihi!  I hope my helper is feeling better now.  A pile of laundry is waiting for her.

Oh, I love this career!  I thank God for the strength.I'm looking forward and excited for my next cooking.

It's my pleasure to be domesticated!

Hurry! Bid Now! For UNICEF Auction for Action

Let us support Daphne Osmeña-Paez's advocacy on children by bringing together over 90 artists in art, design, furniture and jewelry to support the unique education program: Supervised Neighborhood Play Program.  Notable artists and designers are contributing their work of art to benefit the SNP which promotes organize home-based early learning program in remote, conflict or disaster-affected communities and informal settlements area.  Supervised Neighborhood Play Program will assist trained volunteer workers and parents to gather children in a house, shaded play area or under the tree to help children learn through organized play.  It helps our children to develop their learning and skills by listening, singing, interaction and even following simple instruction.  Doing things enjoyable makes the children develop their knowledge, curiosity, confidence, thinking, planning, organizing and decision-making.  I experienced that from my own kids.  I know the importance of early childhood education.

Grabbed from her blog

“I have personally seen how play makes learning more fun and engaging through my own children and the children I’ve met during my trips with UNICEF. Play makes children happy and children who feel secure and loved usually do better in school, are more self-confident, have good self-esteem and are able to cope more easily with life’s challenges,” said Daphne Osmeña-Paez. 

And here are my idol's auction picks.

Grabbed from Daphne's Blog

Grabbed from Daphne's Blog

Auction for Action will end tomorrow.  So hurry visit ebay to see all the pieces and you can drop by at Yuchengco Museum.

Grabbed from heart-2-heart online

Hey, art lover!  Do your action, bid now! Sharing is caring!

“I have personally seen how play makes learning more fun and engaging through my own children and the children I’ve met during my trips with UNICEF. Play makes children happy and children who feel secure and loved usually do better in school, are more self-confident, have good self-esteem and are able to cope more easily with life’s challenges,” said Daphne Oseña Paez. - See more at: http://sofielicious.com/unicef-auction-for-action/#sthash.6g5Sph5k.dpuf

brings together over 90 artists in art, design, furniture and jewelry to benefit a unique education program to provide children access to early learning: Supervised Neighborhood Play Program (SNP). - See more at: http://sofielicious.com/unicef-auction-for-action/#sthash.6g5Sph5k.dpuf

brings together over 90 artists in art, design, furniture and jewelry to benefit a unique education program to provide children access to early learning: Supervised Neighborhood Play Program (SNP). - See more at: http://sofielicious.com/unicef-auction-for-action/#sthash.6g5Sph5k.dpuf

Look! It's All About Me Personalized Book

I really admire kids who love reading.  I wish I had a childhood like that.  he!he! Ya....because I was not raised as a book lover.  I don't know.  Maybe because my mom was trained also that way.  She did not insist us to read comics, magazine, newspaper or books.  Besides she had no budget for that.  For her,  we must first do our task before doing such kind of thing.  We have to pick up firewood, fetch water, sweep the ground and a lot of household chores.  Her dialogue.... "Wala kang magawa?? Magkayas ka ng walis para may baon ka."  (You have nothing else to do?? make a broom sticks so you have allowance!).  We only read at school. Then at school,  I can't remember any library.  The books we were using then was slightly torn and to be shared by two students during class.  Oh, sad!  But that's true.  Maybe DepEd during that time don't know that there's a school in our place. Ha!ha! That's a history.  Today is another story.   The reason why I'm not so engrossed in reading until college.  Reading was my sleeping gadget. hahaha!  And everything changed and it's not too late.  I want to read and read and read.  And I do it everyday already even just an hour.

So I realized that parents have big influence to kid's love for reading.  We must not underestimate the value of reading.  We all know the gains of it. I love to buy books and e-books for them.  My eldest win it already.  He likes reading.  In fact, our "dream house" has small library. Like this one.

Photo from Home Designing

 Or his room will look like this one.

Photo from Stylish Eve

For now, we're collecting books to read anytime they want.  One of my pick is this personalized book.  I found it so cute and will catch my kid's attention.  I chose to pick one of the story as part of my youngest's birthday surprise last October 6.

Mic-mic is the lead character of the story  He's so excited to finish reading it.  Names of his friends are also included as part of the party.  The print is very nice and colors are so vibrant.  So inviting to kid's playful minds. It's also a hardbound that will last for a lifetime.  A good memory for his 8th birthday.

Placing an order is an easy step.  Just visit their site and find out.

The order will take approximately 7-10 business days to arrive at your door for deliveries in the Philippines, and 10-15 for Worldwide Deliveries. You also have the option to pick up your order at their office address. In this case your order will be ready for pick up in 6 working days.

The courier has nice packaging.

I also included a personalized gift wrapper.

  There are other four designs to choose from.

One good thing,  it's a Filipino product.  A very nice gift idea for kids who loves reading.  A way also to encourage kids to love reading.

They offer other products like Personalized Coloring books, wrapping paper, wall art and place mats.

No doubt, Mic-mic likes it.

Website: www.lookitsaboutme.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LookItsAboutMe
Twitter: @LookItsAboutMe
Instagram: @LookItsAboutMe
Pinterest: LookItsAboutMe

Read, explore, learn and enjoy!

Happy Reading!

Christmas Bazaar 2013

Christmas is fast approaching and the busiest days are coming.  To help a bit for your planning, check out these upcoming bazaars.