for my 33rd Birthday

I cannot begin how to thank everyone who remembered my day :). I was overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and greetings from friends and relatives abroad and back home. Again, thank you! You know who you are, I am still sending out Thank You messages in FB, I want to personally thank each one of you. An Aunt of mine commented that I am Ms. Congeniality because of the long birthday greetings in my wall hee hee. I was really overwhelmed. Thanks for remembering and for making my day extra special. xoxo.

Muchas Gracias! Merci Beaucoup.

The Child in YOU.

Tell me about your childhood.

Tell me about what you woke up to each day, and what woke you up. What time on your clock? Were your sheets soft? Were they thick enough? Could you remember the scent of the sun on your pillow? Or were there more important things than sunshines and pillows? And did it matter? Did it matter if you woke up early or not?

Did you get lots of presents during Christmas? Did you celebrate Christmas? Were Sundays fun days, or were they just gloomy transitions to Mondays? Did you have ice cream on Sundays? Or were there more important things to spend on than ice cream?

Tell me about the people around you. Were they nice to you? And what is "nice" for you? Did they smile a lot? Did they smile at you? Did they tell you you were pretty and did they tell you enough? Did they hug you when you were good? And what is "good" for you? What is "bad"? What did they do when you were bad?

I'll tell you about my childhood. Let's compare notes.

Then maybe we'd understand each other more, and judge each other less.

Purging Season, oh yeah!

Yes, it's purging season on my end. I finished making back-up copies on photos and documents in my laptop as well as DH's PC. It took me almost 2 days to complete that particular purging task. Thanks to our neighbor who accidentally pull out and cut our cable, internet and phone connection, thus making me offline for almost 4 days. Also, I was able to catch up with some unread feeds in my Google Reader. In the process, I was able to unsubscribe to sites I do not really read, I have tons of those! I finally purged websites and blogs about gossips, mostly showbiz/hollywood, hee hee. Anyhow, as I was checking my feeds, I chanced upon these 50 Fabulous Ways to Save Money from THIS BLOG, such a nice read.

1. Balance your checkbook... avoid bank fees.
2. Empty your spare change in to a jar.
3. Bring your own popcorn to the movies... forgive yourself for sneaking it in.
4. Make coffee at home.
5. Eat out less often.
6. Shop the sale sections.
7. Purchase gifts throughout the year and store them.
8. Wash your car at home.
9. Turn off the water when not in use.
10. Take a picnic to the park vs. eating in a restaurant.
11. Distinguish between your wants and needs.
12. Water your lawn in the evenings.
13. Purchase fewer "trendy" items that need to be replaced each year.
14. Carry a calculator in your purse.
15. Mow your lawn less often.
16. Pay your bills on time... avoid late fees.
17. Run your dishwasher only when full.
18. Track your spending.
19. Use Coupons.
20. Do your nails at home.
21. Only get the occasional manicure.
22. Maintain your car well.
23. Wash your clothes less often.
24. Pay off your credit cards... avoid interest fees.
25. Empty your fridge before shopping again.
26. Stick to a budget.
27. Turn off unused lights.
28. Purchase vehicles used.
29. Use your local pet store shot clinic for pets.
30. Increase your insurance deductibles.
31. Visit your state's controller office and claim any of your unclaimed property. Click here for California.
32. Grocery shop on a full stomach.
33. Maintain excellent credit... avoid higher interest rates.
34. Carpool.
35. Pay ahead on your mortgage.
36. Shop craig's list! www.craigslist.com
37. Exercise outside vs. the gym.
38. Avoid shopping when feeling emotional.
39. Complete your returns!
40. Grocery shop with a list and stick to it!
41. Simplify! Need or want less...
42. Use the mail in rebates!
43. Purchase store brands or generics.
44. Sport a low maintenance hair style.
45. Get facials at your local beauty college vs. spa.
46. Make conscious spending decisions vs. autopilot choices.
47. Shop the Internet.
48. Pay your savings first.
49. Accept "hand me downs".
50. Organize your receipts and warranties so you can find them.

Easy Living for Your Family

Image via Wikipedia

Maintaining a healthy and happy home life for you and your family is not always easy. It seems everyone is involved with a busy life — work, school, church, sports and so on. Additionally, each family has a distinct personality within it and that means an extra challenge. Learning to communicate effectively within the family unit can be difficult at times due to these differing personalities. However, with just a little help, the challenge of working together to communicate can be achieved; you just need to understand that speaking the same language of mutual love and respect is the foundation.

Here are just a few very simple tips to help you and your family with that communication that will make easy living for your family a cinch.

Relationships

Building better relationships between family members is the cornerstone of establishing strong communication abilities. Understanding that each person may express and interpret feelings differently is the first step.

Look at the different ways people express their love for each other. Some may simply say “I love you,” while others may simply hug someone. Other people may spend extra quality time or give gifts. Alternatively, those receiving those communications of love also have different preferences. Some people may truly need to hear the words verbally, while others may truly feel loved when receiving a gift. Other family members may feel special when another person performs a task or special act for them.

Determining the Differences

When trying to determine your individual family member’s communication needs, you should observe them and see what makes them tick. You will need to take note of what words or acts make each individual the happiest. Maybe your oldest child is searching through the paper for San Diego apartments for the move to college and he is struggling. Your spouse spends a few extra minutes helping him and you see how happy that child is with the extra attention. You will know that this child likes quality time as an express of love.

Another child’s smile may light up the room when her sibling gives her a little, heartfelt gift. This child appreciates and loves the thought behind the gift that represents her sibling’s feelings and love.

Just a little time and commitment to understand how your family interacts and communicates will help you achieve an easy and comfortable home. Each family member will know how to effectively deal with others within the family unit for a strong, cohesive family.

BEAT the FEAR!

We all have fears but these fears hinder us from achieving our most desired goals. Step out of your scaredy cat self and move on and climb up to your fears. We can do this!

"To me, FEARLESS is not the absence of fear. It’s not being completely unafraid. To me, FEARLESS is having fears. FEARLESS is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, FEARLESS is living in spite of those things that scare you to death. FEARLESS is falling madly in love again, even though you’ve been hurt before. FEARLESS is walking into your freshmen year of high school at fifteen. FEARLESS is getting back up and fighting for what you want over and over again … even though every time you’ve tried before, you’ve lost. It’s FEARLESS to have faith that someday things will change. FEARLESS is having the courage to say goodbye to someone who only hurts you, even if you can’t breath without them. I think it’s FEARLESS to fall for your best friend, even if he’s in love with someone else. And when someone apologizes to you enough times for things they’ll never stop doing, I think it’s FEARLESS to stop believing them. I think allowing yourself to cry on the bathroom floor is FEARLESS. Letting go is FEARLESS. Then, moving on and being alright…That’s FEARLESS too. But no matter what love throws at you, you have to believe in it. You have to believe in love stories and prince charmings and happily ever after. That’s why I write these songs. Because I think love is fearless."


Taylor Swift

Wednesday Happy Thoughts

Happiness is...

1. My cousin turning 17 tomorrow!!!
2. Turkey-filled fridge and more, all ready for the Thanksgiving Parteh!
3. Some netbooks shopping whee, can't wait for Black Friday sale eh?!
4. Overwhelming Blog opportunities. Whew!
5. My exchange gift turned donation from my Twitter "mommy".
6. Happy to find out that my Twitter "baby" got her gifts already and she and her baby are happy about the gifts.
7. Funny old photos tagged in FB for our upcoming highschool reunion hahah! Can't get enough of those photos.
8. NETFLIX new arrivals.
9. DS acing his workbooks.
10. And again, my core group: Friends and Family. THANKS MUCH and Happy Thanksgiving.

Our Grandparents and Folks, in general

Here is a YouTube video I shared in my other blog and thought of sharing it here too. I was just telling a friend sometime last week that if I had the time, funds and chance to go home every year (or make that twice a year :)), I would. Just so I could spend more time with my parents, siblings, lola, aunts & uncles and in-laws. Life is too short and this is one of the downside of migration. Being too far away from families and people that matter most.

A friend shared this in Facebook and it is a touching reminder not to ignore people who matter, especially the elderly in our family.