Few Days to Christmas Day

Christmas is few days away. I decorated my small space in preparation for the joyful occasion. Just simple decors I could get my hands on. I do not want to spend anymore for Christmas decors.

This is my living room. My two seater couch are now stuffed with Christmas throw pillow.  I found some old Christmas cards I was supposed to mail to friends but they changed addresses. I got them stuck on the door and cut out stars out of metallic paper.

My little Christmas tree occupies a corner on top of my shoe drawer The two teddy bears are my favorite stuffed toys. They are gifts from youngest bro from his trip to Ireland and Oregon U.S. years back. Partly hidden beside my old television are some Christmas presents I started wrapping for my family members.

I am not saying do not spend for decors. Go ahead if you have budget.  I am simply sharing how to enjoy the Holiday Season. That is without giving away your precious earnings if budget is tight. 

Happy New Year!

No cook Media Noche for busy people. My niece and I agreed to order from our favorite pizza restaurant.  At least I save my effort going to the supermarket for groceries. Likewise another way of saving on my electricity bills as I use electric stove for cooking.  The daughter of the sister and I share an apartment.

A family member invited us to join their Media Noche but we declined as we got work before the Eve of New Year. I am just happy I am home to celebrate New Year this year and also home on Christmas. Christmas and New Year happen to be my day off. Some of my office mates filed vacation leave to join their relatives in the provinces.  I was among those requested to cover for the absence of some employees due to Holiday Seasons. I was only granted vacation leave for December, the 5^th and 26^th. Unused vacation leave though can be converted to cash.  At least, I was given a week vacation in November. Thankful enough for the week rest from wearing my headset at work.

Despite some bits of odds at work at the beginning of 2016, it was a changeling and awesome one.  To my blogger friends, blog visitors and the whole WWW... 

Yuletide 2015

Aside from getting a good sleep on my day off, working on my laundry and house cleaning. Decorating my small living room kept me busy this Christmas. Happy atmosphere attracts good vibes.  

Vintage Christmas chain, I would say. I gave this to my mother to decorate our living many years back. I found it well kept inside one of her treasured boxes.

Christmas will not be complete without this famous tree.

It is nice dressing up my pillow cases for the occasion. 

Huggable bear Santa Claus guarding the entrance to my living room

Sorry for the mess on the dining table. Those blue ribbons were made out of biodegradable trash bags. I thought of wrapping up some boxes with white and blue biodegradable trash bags. They look nice on top of my wardrobe. No need to spend on expensive Christmas decors. You can work on DIY decors you can find around your home. 

   MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

A Visit to Remember

Despite the merry makings and hassles of traffic jam, they have not been forgotten. I visited our parents resting place 27th of Dec. I was amazed by some people who were already at the place even before I arrived. I was at the place at around seven in the morning. Children were happily chasing some butterflies with mommies and nannies running after the restless tots. Some visitors brought with them their breakfast and happily munching under a wide umbrella shielding them from the bright sunlight. Yes, folks, it was a warm day that day! I had to leave after at least an hour of visit. 

Keepsakes of Christmas 2014

The Christmas tree, I decorated as early as the first week of December will be hibernating for a while until the next Christmas. I could probably add more Christmas balls by then. I just could not capture the twinkling lights even if I use my digicam instead of my phone. Oh, you probably notice the teddy bears are not there yet on my first post. They were given to me by my youngest brother when he and his family visited me at home. He got a job assignment in Ireland and Oregon U.S. He knew I love teddy bears. :)

The Poinsettia flowers had fallen off from the twigs. Now, new green leaves shoot up, indicating a new life. I am keeping my fingers crossed I could keep it alive until the next Christmas. 

Some of the Christmas presents I received. These are priceless gems to me. My special thanks to the gift givers. There are more gifts, actually. I used or ate some of them already. :)

Folks, Christmas 2014 is over. As we look forward to the coming year 2015, I am wishing you ALL, a PROSPEROUS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! Cheers! :)

Christmas Card

I received this card from an ever thoughtful friend in U. K. Thank you! 

~To all bloggers and my blog visitors ~

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Setting the Mood for Christmas ~ 2014

There is no place like home. It feels great to be home after work. I started putting on some Christmas decor to welcome the Holiday Season. 

Poinsettia, my favorite Christmas flower. I bought this at the flower vendor selling all kinds of flowers right at the entrance of the shopping mall where my office is located. 

The grill on the window is great for hanging Christmas decor. That grill was not in there last year. 

My little Christmas tree. The cell phone camera I guess is too bright. It did not capture the blinking Christmas lights. At the background is my room. 

I miss the bigger red couch. These little ones will do while I am working on my budget.The bigger red couch had big tear. I do not like to have it repaired anymore. I gave it to friend who wants it. I was on tight budget when I moved. I bought the cheap couch. It served me for about three years. It had a tear, the tear became bigger. I decided to take it out of my living room to give way to the next set, hopefully early 2015. Feeling optimistic. :)

New Year 2013

Simple Pre- New Years Eve dinner

My niece and I had our dinner for New Year the night before. I have work the 31st of December. Last Christmas we had our Noche Buena also a day before the event. We had to choose a day where I am on day off. I do not have time to cook.  We had to buy cooked food for our dinner. My niece wanted lechon last Christmas Noche Buena.  For the New Year, she wants her favorite El Pollo Loco chicken.  For info about this chicken restaurant just search the web. 

Let There be Lights

These star shaped Christmas lanterns were lighted first week of December. Unique place where they were hung, it is right below the handrail of the bridge close to my apartment.  Both sides of the bridge had those white star shaped lanterns. It saves me from turning on the light bulb at night on my terrace when I am watering my plants before going to work.  The lighted stars at night, look lovely! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Family First

My sister and I, years back at our house in the province.

Folks, spam did not get into my blog it is why I was on vacation from blogging. I had just some activities for the past few weeks that got me so tied up. We had team building at work around the third week of April. Last week of April, my youngest brother and my sister came. My sister stayed with me for a week. The three of us, me my sis and my niece, my sis daughter who stays with me had bonding time in those days I am off from blogging.

The last time I saw my sister was October last year. She did not come last Christmas. She is lazy traveling when there are too many people. When she is in Manila that is the time I am on vacation from household chores. She does almost everything, from house cleaning, laundry and most importantly cooking for me and her daughter. Our stories do not seem to let up from our childhood years to our preteens. She is a good cook.  I always missed her cooking style.

A Day to Remember

Yesterday, Feb 5 is the 85^th birthday of my late father.  I went to the memorial park to bring flowers and candle.  My parents were laid to rest in the same place. The memorial park is not close to my house. I do not visit my parents too often. Except if there is occasion. I am a bit guilty for not visiting them last Christmas as I used to do. Despite the difference of the place where they are now, we still belong to one family.

I was amazed by the number of people at the memorial park. Cars were neatly parked at the designated parking spaces. Family members were having lunch together under the shade of a huge picnic umbrella. Some children were running around to probably ease their boredom or simply just to play. Are you not wondering how quickly children could invent a game on any occasion? 

Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas!

I had been away for almost a month online to attend to various activities last month and even as the Holiday Season come.  Last November, I started working on some shopping and decorating my apartment to set the mode for Christmas. I made it simple decors I do not want to spend a lot. I got tired of working overtime just to have additional budget. Maintaining a bigger home costs more than when I was staying in a room good for only one person. The good thing about having a bigger apartment is I could decorate my house and has bigger space when my family members would visit.

Best Ever Year 2011

First day at work was alright. Except as we expected being a Monday the calls were voluminous. Over time work was required. Some of my office mates were not able to report for work. Either they went abroad or been with their respective families during the Holidays. They were stranded on their way back to Manila. I was excused from going on overtime. My voice corroborated my alibi. I had just recovered from allergic cough. I was happy to be home early.

I know some countries or other places are getting ready for the Three Kings celebration by the 6^th of January. 

I hope and wish you, ALL the BEST GIFTS from these Wise Men. I also hope the star that guided these Wise Men will guide our way to the BEST YEAR, 2011!

Thank you 2010 Welcome 2011

I had not been feeling well this past week for the reason my allergy came back. I still reported for work though. I had runny nose followed by dry cough again, after Christmas celebration. Working in a fully air conditioned office at night is a total discomfort. I am glad a mute button on telephone was invented. At least it saves me from being rude, should I accidentally cough with a customer on the other end of the phone line. I got lucky, somehow. I was granted vacation leave on New Years Eve. I got calls from my two sis in laws if I want to spend New Year with them. I declined the invitation politely. I do not want them to nurse me while in front of the table with the kids around. My nun landladies went out of town for their yearly meeting. I have the whole big house to myself.

At twelve midnight I heard the blowing of horns, firecrackers and sounds of pyrotechnics. I was tempted to go up to the third floor of the house where we hang our clothes to dry, to witness the joyful celebration. But, changed my mind went against my first idea. The reason, the more I will fuel my allergic cough. I busied myself with replying to the SMS some friends are forwarding to my cell phone. With all the noise outside I tried to sleep. The antihistamine cough syrup helped. I rested all night unmindful of the interment sounds of firecrackers from some neighbors who are willing to burn their monies. In the morning I went out to buy bread and sachet of instant coffee feeling much better. And… ready to welcome the start of a new morning of a great year 2011.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Essence of Christmas

Christmas fever had subsided a bit. What were probably left under your Christmas tree are empty boxes and empty gift bags. These are proofs of fun and excitement for the whole family. While your ref is still loaded with ham, pasties, all sorts of food stuff. Some are presents from your neighbors, office mates and some friends who believed giving food stuff is sign of abundance. Some Filipino families believed, when you have plenty of food at this time of the year. You will never go hungry the following year.

My 11 years old niece and cousins from her mommy side.

While my nieces and family kids are enjoying stuffs we could afford to give them. I felt sad for children roaming around the streets of Manila asking for some coins passersby could give them. Their presence actually reminded me of my childhood. I had to share a doll with my sister. My father could not afford to buy each one of us toys. My older brother got a little lucky. He enjoyed a toy all to himself. There was several years gap between my sister and my youngest brother. When our youngest brother was born, my sister and I would spare some of our school allowance so Santa Claus could fill the plastic bag he would hang on Christmas Eve. He liked the plastic bag because he wants bigger gifts that will not fit into a sock.

Christmases had changed when we all graduated from college, found jobs. My siblings had married. Both our parents are not with us physically to open their Christmas presents. I know from where they are, and if given a chance to say – hello from heaven. - They would be happier to see everyone of our family member has gifts for everybody and still enjoying the spirit of giving. The essence of Christmas! ♥

Christmas Mission Accomplished

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We broke the tradition of opening the Christmas presents at Christmas Eve. At this time, when Manila is jammed with people, when roads are not travel friendly. It is nice to be seated inside a car with someone driving for me. I felt like I am a real princess. I was with my youngest brother and his family yesterday.  It was my youngest brother on the wheels for the three of us. The princesses are me, my sister in law and their precious daughter. My brother feels awkward to let my sis in law drives, despite her good driving skills. I am of course saved from the stressful traffic jammed driving. What a great excuse from someone who does not know how to maneuver the wheels!

My sis in law and my niece came to Manila around middle of Dec after their brief New York visit. My brother came from Singapore last 22^nd of Dec. It was our parents Wedding Anniversary, 22^nd of Dec. After a day rest and I guess after sorting out their Christmas presents for us.  My brother invited me to go with them to visit our parents at the Memorial Park in Novaliches Quezon City. I was kidding my companies our old folks are probably happily dancing tango in heaven on their Wedding Anniversary. Tango is the favorite dance of our parents. He headed to Sta. Rosa City in Laguna, Southern part of Manila after the brief visit. We were visitors of an older brother and his family. Our mission was overwhelmingly successful. Helpless gift wrappers piled on top of each. Empty plates and glasses with remnants of food particles were left to dry on top of the table. They became the mute witness of a happy get together.

The happiest guy is my nephew. My youngest bro bought a laptop in Singapore for him. My nephew will pay for his computer in twelve months without interest. He surely knows what to buy with his hard earned monies. His cousins from our side and the side of his mom were benefited with Ang Pao envelope with few pesos in them as his cash gifts. The young lad believes in giving as the true essence of Christmas. In return for his generosity, my nephew received a laptop backpack bag for his precious laptop from my youngest brother. A Christmas present I believed my nephew had never expected. I was home at around 10pm. Exhausted from lack of sleep, as I still had work Wednesday night, but happy for the events of the day. ♥)

Shopping Malls

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Miss me folks? No worries your princess is very much alive, walking and running. I had just been extremely busy this week. I completed and mailed my Christmas presents to my sister and her family. I had to do a quick shopping to finish my Christmas presents for my two brothers and their families. It is good I only have one nephew and three nieces. Otherwise more budgets are needed. I am done with those of my godchildren. Next are for my close friends. With limited budget, I had to stay longer scouting around shopping malls. I am glad in December malls have new stocks, no problem in looking around.

I mentioned about my transferring to a bigger place next year in my previous blog post. Meaning bigger than the room I am renting now. I had to start scouting for some appliances I had to buy when I transfer. I tried to scout for some at the big shopping malls but the prices are exorbitant. I do not use credit card. I am glad I found a small appliance store where prices are reasonable. That is one advantage of living on tight budget. I learned to be imaginative to buy items within what my money could suffice and enjoy little luxury. I had observed mall owners had been wiser. They do not have too many items. Once some item is sold, they replenish their stocks.

I had been mentioning about shopping malls in the Philippines. Does it mean Filipinos have plenty of monies? Not really. Big shopping malls in Manila are not solely for selling merchandise. Some malls used the building to house offices like Call Centers. Some malls are good place for conventions and meetings for small delegations, amusement centers, restaurants, fast foods etc. Some mommies who live close to the shopping malls would simply bring their children to enjoy rides and play. The slow moving animals that would drain your coin purse are great treats for the kids. The air conditioned shopping malls are believed to be better and safer for the children rather than open space playground.

Wish List

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At work, some of my team mates got excited about our draw lots for our Kris Kringle activity this Christmas. We have our wish list for each one to receive the item or items we wanted as Christmas presents. We set a minimum budget, but no limit is set after the budgeted amount. Being busy bodies, we agreed we had to indicate at least three items on the wish list for availability of the items. I was in doubt if the three items I listed are within the minimum budget. I do not want to ask for too costly presents. I had to shop around at a nearby mall. Canvassed for the prices of the three items I wanted. The result, I will edit the items on the wish list comes Monday.

When my nephew and nieces were much younger Santa Claus could easily follow their wish list. When they got older their likes and wants had changed from simple toys to higher hierarchy of needs and wants. Now, I guess Santa Claus would rather give them monies. In this way they could shop on their own and have the presents they wanted to have.  I hope in the near future I would be the one to be asked for my wish list.

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Speaking of budget, I promised myself not to spend too much this 2010 Christmas. I will be transferring to a bigger apartment or condo unit around March next year. I am allotting some monies for home furnishings and appliances I may need to buy.  My bookworm niece will be here in Manila to work. I do not want to look for a place that is furnished because some appliances may not be working alright anymore. I do not want to pay higher electricity bills for nothing. Second hand appliances are not energy efficient. 

Its Christmas

Here it comes! It is December again, the most anticipated month of most Filipino children. This is the month of family gatherings, parties here, there and everywhere. In the Philippines we spend lavishly on Christmas, not only on gift giving and parties, but with our Christmas decorations. The most common decorations in our homes and offices are Christmas trees and Christmas lanterns, we call Parol.

Children anticipate Christmas presents from dads and moms, godparents, nearest kin and close friends. Underneath the Christmas tree is the best place to gather all the presents and open them at the same time on Christmas Eve, after a family dinner we call Noche Buena. 

 

Christmas lanterns line up busy streets at night. Or continuously illuminate homes until the wee hours in the morning. Forget about Earth Hour 60 in December. After all, comes March, is the time for synchronize celebration of Earth Hour. To most Filipinos December is the most expensive month.

No matter how we thought of the Holiday Season. Let us not forget the essence of this especial occasion. Think of something special why you celebrate Christmas. I do not want to touch on religious beliefs and magical Christmas. Just make this Holiday something that will become special and make you happy. If it makes you happy to give, then nobody is going to stop you. Remember it is more blessed to give than to receive. If you have no one to give your presents to, I am here.☺