Monday, December 26, 2011

Caroling

During the Christmas season children roam around our village and sing Christmas carols in front of every house. At first the people in our village welcome them and give them some coins after they sang but later on people get annoyed and just let them sang until they get tired since nobody meets them outside to give something. My kids even get tired of saying “patawad” when a group of children, one after another, comes and sing carols. II just laugh at them as they say “patawad”, meaning sorry, but we ran out of coins to give. I remember when I was a kid, I also did sing Christmas carols house after house, but it was different during those days because we don’t just sing. We prepare for it. We used tambourines and we have guitarists to make our music pleasant to hear. Now children just sang and don’t even intend to finish a song just to get their coins.



Old and New

These pictures were taken on the same day..First official picture from my new work ....

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(taken on our first official day...notice that it was still dark outside? It's because we are on an early morning shift..new set of colleagues)

...and last picture from my former office. Visited them on their small Christmas gathering. I missed them.

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with my best (preggy) buddy, Lilet.

Three Ways to Keep the Family Intact and Attain Happiness During Financial Emergencies

Family is the foundation on which the Nation and Civilizations are built. When families decline, nations, civilizations, and economic prospects decline.

Until the 1960s, United States was a net creditor nation, and the families were intact with low percentage of divorces and single parent households.

After the inauguration of great society under President Lyndon Baines Johnson, the Welfare State started to grow at an enormous rate and the percentages of broken families or households skyrocketed.

Economic recessions and depressions and deep financial or monetary crisis can lead to cataclysmic consequences for the family.

While payday advance lenders can certainly help you with immediate financial needs, the family support system and the family itself should be the principal focus of stability.



As the financial elite wage an insidious war on American people through the Federal Reserve, generating massive boom and bust cycles, the collapse of American family is constantly imperiled.

To counter the ill-effects of bad economy on the family, follow these three steps:

1. Live together


Living together in love and warmth should be the first priority during times of emergencies. If your loved ones such as your parents can accommodate you if your husband died, or there was a quarrel at home, see if you can move in with your parents, aunts, uncles, siblings if you are at good terms with them until the shock resulting from death, or differences with your spouse are fully resolved.

Practice yoga or other forms of meditation to help keep you calm and composed during difficult times. Although it is easier said than done, remaining calm and learning how to combat stress, uncertainty and fear can help you a lot during difficult times.

Do not be a burden on your hosts, whether they are your parents or other relatives. Try to help them in household chores, until you recoup from your loss and readjust to the new realities.

2. Communicate


Talk regularly with every member of your family. Cook meals together and share thoughts, feelings and plans for your common future together. Communication allows you to build trust with others. If you speak your mind in a calm and composed manner and offer constructive thoughts and solutions, the chances of some discord erupting out of nowhere in a moment of tension and exasperation can be greatly lessened.

3. Minimize Your Material Needs


Do not hanker for material needs besides daily necessities. Greed, avariciousness, covetousness and a constant headlong pursuit of material objects is a sure fire way to lose your mind and dig a deeper financial hole for yourself and create more family tensions.

Make relationships your focus, work with less, and try to exercise self control until your financial situation becomes more stable and upward looking.

Today, more than 70% of Black children are born out of wedlock, more than 50% of Latino children are born out of wedlock, and Whites are not far behind with illegitimacy rates surging to 28 percent.



Monday, December 19, 2011

Dreaming Pink

We’re once again planning to purchase a property that we can call our own home and I am now working on it. My daughter was excited when she learned about it. It’s also her dream to have a new home and she even had her own idea in mind what her room would be like. She wanted it to be in the second floor of the house because she loves going up and down the stairs, she wanted her room to be painted pink and with a hand painted princess like headboard design she wanted those cute kids switch plate covers to match her princess room..and yes, we’re still on the process and she’s already dreaming.

Work Mode

I am now on my second week of training for my new job. My body clock is already adjusted to my new schedule and I must say I can still cope up. What can I say with the new work…so far, the load is light since we are still on training I am just having headache because of the information overload. There are so much to take note of and analyze with regards to their system such as their reporting engine, their processes and lots and lots of other stuff like that. Whew! So far so good but I just hope that my next schedule won’t conflict with my other schedule next week.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Bento #77 - To-Si-Log Bento

tosilog

This is going to be the last bento for the month since the next three days is the little girl's third quarter examination, she only needs to bring light snacks and on Friday will be their classroom Christmas party. They will be back on January.

Today I woke up at 3am just to prepare this since I will leaving at 4:30 for work. And since I don't have enough time, I only prepared what I thought can be prepared in less than 10 minutes. So this is it. To-Si-Log is a common breakfast combination of Filipinos. To-Si-Log stands for TOcino (sweet cured pork), SInangag (Fried Rice) and itLOG (egg). SILOG or fried rice and egg is a common breakfast and varies only with what other viand is paired with it. But what's common is TapSiLog or Tapa (beef), fried rice and egg. For today, I also packed her some sweet mangoes for dessert.

That's it for now, happy Monday!

Saturday, December 10, 2011

No Longer a WAHM

Yes...after a year of being a SAHM or WAHM, I'm going back to work. I don't know how it went because things happened so fast but I believe this is willed by God. I only want to be thankful for the new opportunity. It won't be the same as my previous job but I will try and see what's in store for me. Will I survive...? We'll see ^__^

But hopefully, it won't be affecting my passion for bento and blogging and writing here. I will still be actively posting bento here as long as I can. For now, I'm welcoming the changes with all my heart.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Bento #76 - Butterflies & Matryoshkas

butterflies

I was able to buy new food picks yesterday and I was excited to used them because they were inspired by the Russian doll known as matryoshkas. They are just too cute that I bought them though impulsively, haha!

Today's bento is consists of fried brown rice topped with butterfly shaped ham and cheese, slices of kani (crab sticks) wrapped with ham and some mini wafer biscuits.

TGIF!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Bento #76 - Ham, Egg, & Cheese Sammies

ham egg cheese

It's Thursday, whew! Days pass by so quickly and I am beginning to feel sad. It's because I will be starting to work again and unfortunately with a shifting schedule. That's what's keeping me busy the past days. I am completing the work requirements before I start next week. Thus, the pile of bento photos. And I feel sad that I may not be able to make bento snacks for the little girl. But still depends on my schedule. As much as I can I won't stop doing this :).

Anyway, today I packed her some mini sammies and mini wafer biscuits. I also included some jell-o for her dessert.

Life has been on constant change and though I'm welcoming it, I can't help but have this really uncool feeling. I'm having mixed emotions...o_0

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Bento #75 - Bacon and Berries

bacon

My sister was able to buy strawberries and she gave me some. After months of waiting, finally, strawberries are now in season :). So today, I packed some for the little girl. She came home with an empty lunch box. But when I asked if she ate the strawberries, she said she was not able to eat them since her classmate asked for it and she gave them all. hmmm...

Anyway, she was able to eat the rice though and that's what I'm more concerned of. I topped her rice with some crispy bacon bits to make it for palatable and it worked! :)

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Bento #74 - Sausages & Mini Cookies

sausage


Hello Tuesday! Little girl didn't have classes yesterday so I was spared from waking up so early, hehe!

Anyway, heart-shaped vienna sausages and oatmeal chocolate chip mini cookies it is for her snack today. Hope little girl will be able to finished all of this. Since I learned that she sometimes gives out everything to her classmates, and that she's not finishing her food because she runs out of time, I only packed her what I think she can eat during her break. When I pack her too many, she moans that she can't finish before they start the class again. So there, a few scoops of rice, and some cookies for her carbs.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Gift Ideas for Men

Whenever I prepare for my Christmas gifts, I always had a hard time thinking what gifts to give for my male relatives and friends. Believe me, it’s hard to think of something. Do you share the same experience? That’s why I was so relieved when a friend introduces me to a site that gives gift ideas especially for men. If you’re interested you can click here and see great items for guys.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Bento #73 - Chicken Nuggets Pocket Sammies

nuggets

Pocket sammies for today's snacks. Little girl began loving this nugget sammies since the first time I pack her with it. She loves the pork floss toppings as well. She requested that I should make this every week. For today, I also included some mini wafer biscuits and some grapes for her fruits.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Bento #72: Ham & Egg Roll

ham & egg

First bento for the month of December! :) And since I am rushing, I only need to say a few words...

Happy December!