Being Happy - A timely message from Pope Francis

BEING HAPPY

by Pope Francis

"You may have defects, be anxious and sometimes live irritated, but do not forget that your life is the greatest enterprise in the world. Only you can prevent it from going into decadence. There are many that need you, admire you and love you.

I would like to remind you that being happy is not having a sky without storms, or roads without accidents, or work without fatigue, or relationships without disappointments.

Being happy is finding strength in forgiveness, hope in one’s battles, security at the stage of fear, love in disagreements.

Being happy is not only to treasure the smile, but that you also reflect on the sadness.

It is not just commemorating the event, but also learning lessons in failures.

It is not just having joy with the applause, but also having joy in anonymity.

Being happy is to recognize that it is worthwhile to live, despite all the challenges, misunderstandings and times of crises.

Being happy is not inevitable fate, but a victory for those who can travel towards it with your own being.

Being happy is to stop being a victim of problems but become an actor in history itself.

It is not only to cross the deserts outside of ourselves, but still more, to be able to find an oasis in the recesses of our soul.

It is to thank God every morning for the miracle of life.

Being happy is not being afraid of one's feelings. It is to know how to talk about ourselves. It is to bear with courage when hearing a "no".

It is to have the security to receive criticism, even if is unfair.

It is to kiss the children, pamper the parents, have poetic moments with friends, even if they have hurt us.

Being happy means allowing the free, happy and simple child inside each of us to live; having the maturity to say, "I was wrong"; having the audacity to say, "forgive me".

It is to have sensitivity in expressing, "I need you"; to have the ability of saying, "I love you."

So that your life becomes a garden full of opportunities for being happy...

In your spring-time, may you become a lover of joy. In your winter, may you become a friend of wisdom.

And when you go wrong along the way, you start all over again. Thus you will be more passionate about life.

And you will find that happiness is not about having a perfect life but about using tears to water tolerance, losses to refine patience, failures to carve serenity, pain to lapidate pleasure, obstacles to open the windows of intelligence.

Never give up .... Never give up on the people you love. Never give up from being happy because life is an incredible show.

And you are a special human being!"

Advent Activity 2016

We started doing our Advent Activity when my princess was just 2 years old. It's a bit of a challenge of what activities that we can do and enjoy at her age but I'm glad that we enjoyed it. As much as I want it to be a yearly Christmas tradition, we missed doing it last year :( I want to make it up to her so I decided to make it longer (her first 1 was just 12 days) and now that she's 4 years old, there are more activities that we can do but there are also some factors to consider such as time to do the activities, our hectic schedule and our vacation. In this crazy month where schedules are super full and the to do's are endless, I want our activity to focus on the reason for this special season. Pinterest has always been my ally in almost all things that needs planning: recipes, party's, gift ideas or diy and of course, for advent activity ideas. Honestly, there are tons of suggestions that I'm so overwhelmed to what I really want to do (because I want to do all of them) and to limit myself I listed all the factors that I have to consider.

And these are my criteria for our advent activity:

• simple - I want this not just to be our bonding time but also our rest period and also something that I could assemble easily
• mobile - so we can bring it even on our vacation
• meaningful - so she can understand the reason for the season
• relatable - something that a 4 year old would be able to grasp
• fun - an activity that she would enjoy and look forward to
• to make up for last year, I want it our activity to start from December 1 so it has to be 25 activities.

It helps a lot when you have this criteria so you're more focused on your search for the best activity that would suit your conditions. And this is what I came up with:

1. Story of Jesus - each day there will be a passage to read and it's about the story of Jesus

Source: HowSweeterIts

2. On My Way to Bethlehem - whenever we complete the activity of the day, we would stamp the roads (circles with numbers) until we reach Bethlehem

Source: Pinterest

3. Building the nativity - this is a coloring activity and each piece is a part of the nativity scene.

Source: Routly

4. Small trinkets - a small token that she gets after completing her coloring activity.
     1 Kung Fu Panda Busy Book
    12 small kung fu panda character toys (included in the busy book)
      1 bracelet from  Family Mart.
    10 World Icons Charms from Family Mart
      1 necklace that I won from Istorya.

5. Envelope packaging - the scripture, piece for coloring and the prize are small pieces that would all fit in to an envelope. Since it's very handy, it's not much of a hassle to bring it on our vacation.

Presenting our Advent Activity for 2016:


Day1:

Passage: Luke 1:26-28, 31

Coloring Piece: Mama Mary

Surprise Treat: Bracelet

Day2:

Passage: Matthew 1:18

Coloring Piece: Mama Mary

Surprise Treat: Kai of Kung Fu Panda

Day3:

Passage: Luke 1:46-55

Coloring Piece: Angel Gabriel

Surprise Treat: Philippines' Jeepney Charm

Day4:

Passage: Matthew 1:20

Coloring Piece: Donkey

Surprise Treat: MeiMei from Kung Fu Panda

Day5:

Passage: Matthew 1:21

Coloring Piece: Innkeeper

Surprise Treat: Japan's Cherry Blossom Charm

Day6:

Passage: Matthew 1:22-23

Coloring Piece: Stable

Surprise Treat: Viper of Kung Fu Panda

Day7:

Passage: Luke 2:4

Coloring Piece: Manger

Surprise Treat: USA's Status of Liberty Charm

Day8:

Passage: Luke 2:5

Coloring Piece: Cattle

Surprise Treat: Tigress of Kung Fu Panda

Day9:

Passage: Micah 5:2

Coloring Piece: Shepherd 1

Surprise Treat: Paris' Eiffel Tower Charm

Day10:

Passage: Luke 2:6-7

Coloring Piece: Sheep1

Surprise Treat: Mantis of Kung Fu Panda

Day11:

Passage: Luke 2:7

Coloring Piece: Shepherd 2

Surprise Treat: Australia's Koala Bear Charm

Day12:

Passage: Isaiah 9:6

Coloring Piece: Sheep 2

Surprise Treat: Mr. Ping of Kung Fu Panda

Day13:

Passage: Luke 2:8-11

Coloring Piece: Shepherd Boy with lamb

Surprise Treat: Korea's Korean Girl Charm

Day14:

Passage: Luke 2:12

Coloring Piece: Angel 1

Surprise Treat: Master Shifu of Kung Fu Panda

Day15:

Passage: Luke 2:13-14

Coloring Piece: Angel 2

Surprise Treat: United Arab Emirates' Dubai Burj Khalifa Charm

Day16:

Passage: Luke 2:15-18

Coloring Piece: Star of Bethlehem

Surprise Treat: Bao of Kung Fu Panda

Day17:

Passage: Psalm 95:6

Coloring Piece: More Stars

Surprise Treat: China's Lucky Cat Charm

Day18:

Passage: Luke 2:19-20

Coloring Piece: King 1

Surprise Treat: Li of Kung Fu Panda

Day19:

Passage: Luke 2:21

Coloring Piece: Gold

Surprise Treat: United Kingdom's Big Ben Charm

Day20:

Passage: Luke 2:22-24

Coloring Piece: King 2

Surprise Treat: Crane of KungFu Panda

Day21:

Passage: Luke 2:25-32

Coloring Piece: Frankincense

Surprise Treat: Thailand's Elephant Charm

Day22:

Passage: Matthew 2:1

Coloring Piece: King 3

Surprise Treat: Monkey of Kung Fu Panda

Day23:

Passage: Matthew 2:1-2

Coloring Piece: Myrrh

Surprise Treat: Po of Kung Fu Panda

Day24:

Passage: Matthew 2:9-10

Coloring Piece: Camel

Surprise Treat: You Are My Sunshine Bracelet

Day25:

Passage: Matthew 2:11

Coloring Piece: Baby Jesus

Surprise Treat: Kung Fu Panda Busy Book

I'm happy that she enjoyed it so much and she looks forward to do it everyday. She remembers that we have an activity each night and insists on doing it even though I feel that she's already tired. It also shows her creativity in her color choices and her improvement in coloring. Needless to say that she's also very very excited with the small surprise inside. She got the rules and sequence of each activity:

1. After opening the envelope, we would read the blue paper which contains the story. It's so nice that she would even ask questions about the picture and what it's all about. She also remember that all the stories is about baby Jesus.

2. After the story, the pink paper is for her coloring activity. She looks forward to what figure that she will color on that day. When we were on vacation, we passed by a life size nativity scene and I was able to explain to her that each picture that she's coloring is a part of this scene and I believe that helped her grasp the big picture of what we're trying to do.

3. One of us (me, her dada or her Ninang) would check her work and then she would get a stamp for completing her task.

4. After she got the stamp, she can now open her surprise. And of course for each stage, she knows that Mommy will take her picture.

I'm glad that this activity also taught her how to be patient because after opening her surprise treat, she can only hold and play for it for about a minute, after which she has to put it back on our advent activity envelope. She knows that she will have all of it on Christmas after we completed all our advent activity. Her Day 10 activity was done while she's on the airplane, it's a nice activity to do a long haul flight. On Day 11-17, we were on Australia but since the envelopes and colored pens are very handy, our vacation didn't stop us from continuing our advent activity.

I'm so happy on how it turned out and it makes me more excited for next year.

Merry and Blessed Christmas!!!

Update: This is the finish product of my daughter. I'm one proud mother.

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A trip to Pan De Amerikana

There are days when you just want to hang-out in a very relaxing place, have a nice conversation and eat good food. You know, the simple joys of life. I always adored restaurants which is known not just for their good food but also for their ambiance and character. I've seen a lot of pictures of Pan de Amerikana in Marikina. Those giant chess pieces really got me interested, who wouldn't, right?

When you think about Marikina Food Trip, this resto should definitely be on your list, but then for us, the timing wasn't always right. We're in Marikina most weekends but then we never had the time to drop by this beautiful place. And one fine Sunday, we finally did.

It looks pretty interesting from the outside but you'll be wowed when you get inside!

October Daily Photos

October 1: The 30-day Plank Challenge

Oct 2: reunited with my favorite Tuna Wrap

Hot Tomato is really hot

Yesterday we attempted to stop having rice in an effort to lose some belly fats. Well, I had fruits for breakfast which is my usual. Lunch time, we had Pork Sinigang so we only had the vegetables, meat and soup. All throughout the day I was just snacking on fruits (strawberries, grapes and bananas) and I was feeling super full especially after I had green tea.

After a busy day and a 30-minute stroll in the mall to do some price canvassing for a TV, well, I was really hungry as in very hungry but I don't want to eat rice. Subway wrap crossed my mind but it's still not good enough. From IMM we transferred to Westgate Mall and then I remember this restaurant which I've been wanting to try for quite some time now.

The place is called Hot Tomato and their main menu includes grilled meat and pasta. The good thing about them is that the price is pretty affordable even for steaks. Way much better than the price of Aston's.

We both ordered their Steaks and Prawns which consists of a steak, 2 grilled prawns, lettuce and aglio olio pasta. Would you believe that that order only costs SGD13.50? Pretty good, right? And it looks good too.


Now, you also have the option to upgrade it into a meal for an additional SGD3.50 (SGD2.50 on their lunch time express 11AM to 3PM for weekdays only). This option consists of garlic bread, soup of the day (top up SGD1 if you opt for their other soup) and a choice of drink (iced lemon tea, lime juice, coffee, or tea). It really is affordable, right?

Racking it up!

We're back in Manila and back to living in our condo. It's convenient to live here when it's just for vacation but we find it challenging to fit in all our things and where to hang out clothes when you actually live here for an indefinite time. Condo living is restricted with space and hanging the clothes inside your unit is not only an eye sore but takes up so much space as well.  We try to find ideas via Google search and Pinterest of what type of drying rack is applicable for us and our space. We have a balcony beside our bedroom where we think is suitable for this purpose but it shouldn't be very visible since the condo admin prohibits showing of clothes in the balcony. We also want to to look neat when not in use. That's quite a requirement and a challenge. And we came with these choices:

1) Accordion Drying Rack

        Full stretched of the drying rack

 

          Neatly stacked when not in use.

    We bought this accordion drying rack in Handyman store in Trinoma at around Php5000. 

Wine Experience of Beginners

We are new to wine although we're very much interested to wine pairing and wine itself for quite a long time now.  I've always associated wine with happiness, romance, good food, intimate conversation, celebration, classy, and long lasting. Well, that's how I see it based on the movies that I watched and the helpless romantic in me. Whenever there's a scene wher the couple are on a date to celebrate their anniversary, or their still just getting to know each other, or the guy proposing or there's just something to celebrate, there's always wine or champagne in their table. I remember a scene in the movie, the devil wears prada, where Anne Hathaway was cooking her dinner. She prepared a very simple dinner for herself, a pasta paired with a wine and she looks so satisfied and happy. Even in birthdays and weddings, we always toast with a wine. And whenever a classy couple having steak for dinner, it's always paired with wine and everything seems super delicious. 

Then there's the picturesque vineyards looking so elegant and divine be it in Italy or France. When the camera is focused on the grapes, the oh so beautiful it seems so sacred grapes that will be made into wine. Picture that then ask yourself if you want a taste of the wine that it would become.

The thing is, wine is still alcohol and I'm not fond of the bitter taste of alcohol. I can't drink beer cause it's bitter. For cocktails, I'm a frozen margarita girl and maybe a moderate amount of cosmopolitan. But wine, I don't know. Honestly, I'm quite afraid that if I find it too bitter it will ruin how I see wine.

I like my wine sweet, not fruit juice sweet but a good blend of bitter, sour and sweet.

Cebu's Zubochon Experience

It is a well-known fact that when you're in Cebu, Philippines, you should HAVE their famous Cebu Lechon (Roasted Pig). One of the known Lechon Restaurant in Cebu City is Zubochon, we have heard of CnT and Rico's as well but Zubochon's name was stuck in my mind. While we were checking in at the hotel, I immediately asked the receptionist where is the nearest branch of Zubochon and they mention Escario branch but it's quite a long walk from the hotel.

Since our afternoon nap took longer than expected, we actually didn't know where have dinner since the mall is already closed. The receptionist told us that we can still try the restaurants and fast food in Cebu IT Park, good thing they offer service car for hotel guests and we only paid 50php since it is farther that Cebu Ayala Mall. We were surprised as there are so many restos and fastfood like Jollibee, McDonald's and KFC that are still open, it was around 11pm when we arrive there. We were driving around, looking for a restaurant that will catch our eye and at one turn, I saw the logo .... Zubochon's logo! And in unison, we told the driver where we want to eat and we all excitedly walk to see if it's as tasty as they said it is.

For a party of 3, this is what we had:

Part of Zubochon's menu featuring the main dishes

Zucchini Spaghetti

I've been reading about Zucchini as a pasta replacement for quite a lot and it got me curious.
I love pasta, I really do! It's just that I'm trying to lose some weight and some flab in my tummy and so I'm looking for the healthy alternatives that can make me eat the foods that I like. You see, when you're trying to lose weight and you cut down on food and try to stay away from "sinful" foods, you feel deprived and will eventually craved for those foods everyday and trying to lose weight and converting into "healthy living" an agony.

So finally, I had the motivation and eagerness to try zucchini as a pasta in my spaghetti. Here's how I did it but I think, it still doesn't look like a pasta.

1) This is optional, but I decided to peel off the skin of zucchini.

Mia's Hello Kitty Purrrfect Party

Mia's 2nd Birthday was celebrated in 3 different places. We were in Cebu on her actual birthday and blew her birthday candle in Zubochon restaurant. A few days after, she had a celebration in Jollibee Petron Diego-Silang in C-5 Road Taguig, with family and friends in Manila. And finally, she also had a celebration after almost 2 months in McDonald's Ridout Tea Garden in Singapore. That's what happens when you live abroad.

Both celebrations in Jollibee and McDonald's were Hello Kitty themed parties. I didn't prepare much for the party in Manila since Jollibee's Party package covered it all. Although I asked a friend to make a crayon/paper organizer to give away to kids. And here is her beautiful creation:

#100HappyDays Challenge - Completed!

Yes! I did it! I've completed the #100HappyDays challenge. And here they are, my #100happydays pictures from my instagram account. I've used hashtags: #100happydays and #100happydaysofdio.

Remembering Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou may be gone, but her wise words will leave forever.

In remembrance of the great and inspiring woman, here are my favorite quotes from Maya Angelou:

1.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

2.

Be are beautiful as you can be, for yourself first, and then to anyone else with enough good sense to see it too.

3.

If you have one smile in you, give it to the people you love.

4.

Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.

5.

I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

6.

I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.

7.

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

8.

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.

9.

Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.

10.

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style

11.

You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.

12.

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

13.

If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?

14.

Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it!

15.

Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.

16.

The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.

17.

You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!

18.

My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.

19.

I don't know if I continue, even today, always liking myself. But what I learned to do many years ago was to forgive myself. It is very important for every human being to forgive herself or himself because if you live, you will make mistakes- it is inevitable. But once you do and you see the mistake, then you forgive yourself and say, 'Well, if I'd known better I'd have done better,' that's all. So you say to people who you think you may have injured, 'I'm sorry,' and then you say to yourself, 'I'm sorry.' If we all hold on to the mistake, we can't see our own glory in the mirror because we have the mistake between our faces and the mirror; we can't see what we're capable of being. You can ask forgiveness of others, but in the end the real forgiveness is in one's own self. I think that young men and women are so caught by the way they see themselves. Now mind you. When a larger society sees them as unattractive, as threats, as too black or too white or too poor or too fat or too thin or too sexual or too asexual, that's rough. But you can overcome that. The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself. If we don't have that we never grow, we never learn, and sure as hell we should never teach.

20.

Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.

21.

No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

22.

When you learn, teach, when you get, give.

23.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

24.

Be present in all things and thankful for all things.

25.

The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but they don't know my story...

You words rock Maya Angelou. Thank you for the wisdom and inspiration. Rest in Peace now, you've done a great job here.

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A taste of BaliThai

Last Tuesday we had an impromptu farewell sort-of lunch for our officement but then the news is not at all complete. It wasn't a farewell but a movement in position, still it's a happy news and a reason to celebrate by sharing a delicious meal over stories.

We chose BaliThai in IMM and ordered the following (which is enough for 4 hungry people although I must say, we over ordered the rice).

1. Mango Salad

2. Mixed BBQ Platter

3. Shrimp Paste Fried Rice

4. Tom Yum Soup

5. Fried Chicken in Pandan Leaves
They served us a crunchy snack which is not so spicy and has a bitter after taste with a chili sauce (which tastes so good, I mean the chili sauce). I wasn't able to take a picture because everyone ate it immediately after it was served.

The food are all ok as well as the service. The servings are for sharing so it's good for groups than for a solo eater. The ambiance is quite relaxing as well.

Will I go back? Why not? 

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Satay by the Bay Experience

Whenever we have friends/family who visits here in Singapore, we only bring them to 2 place to eat and experience the local dishes here (of course when time permits, Hawker especially in Maxwell is the place to go to), Makansutra Glutton's Bay (just beside Esplanade) and Song Fah Bak Kut Teh (along Clarke Quay). Just last week, I've heard from a friend of this new makan place in Gardens By The Bay, which is Satay By The Bay. It is located in between Gardens by the Bay and Marina Barrage, take the jogging/biking path. The setting is pretty much similar to Makansutra Glutton's Bay but your view of course is the waterfront and green lush along the marina bay.

Here's what we had for 3 hungry adults:

1) We ordered the following at Boon Tat's Street Barbeque Seafood. All the 4 dishes amounted to S$47.

Cereal Prawn S$15

Chicken in Pandan Leaves S$12

Bokchoy in Oyster Sauce (but it seems they forget to put the oyster sauce) S$8

Seafood Fried Rice S$12
2) Satay at 70 cents per stick.

Mixture of chicken and beef satay. They also have mutton and pork.
3) Ice Kachang at S$2.80

Perfect refresher on a hot weather
It was a good meal and just enough for 3 hungry people. The view and ambiance is very relaxing.

For More Info on Satay by the Bay, visit the following website:

http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/dining/satay-by-the-bay.html

http://www.sataybythebay.com.sg/about-us

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