Our Christmas Eve

.. with Joaqui and Dominique started a little early than most families. Im afraid that Joaqui will sleep anytime that evening since he wasn't able to take a nap in the afternoon. It was a simple one for our family. My sister ordered spaghetti, I bought loaves of bread and choco cake from Aggy's and whipped a fruit salad the last minute.

Gelo and I are wearing our usual "pambahay" outfit , so no pictures of us :) Joaqui was suppose to wear a new set of PJ's with hints of the color red, but he told me that he doesn't like it, but instead wore this one as shown in the pics. ( he's the boss when it comes to his clothes and shoes). Dominique on the other hand simply can't do anything when it comes to her outfit , as in , i'm the boss, LOL.

Here's some pics..




We started it with Joaqui blowing the candle at the cake for Jesus. I wanna make it a tradition in our family from now on. I want the kids to remember that above anything else, Christmas is the birthday of Jesus, and HE is the star of the show. (never mind the pink candle hahaha)

With the super sleepy Dominique. She needs to have a pic with Kuya , and of course, dont forget the headband!


Notice some pics are a bit dark? I think it has something to do with our lighting at home. I gotta find a way to improve it before New Year.

And here's some more pics of Kuya that night..

* at the gate while waiting for Santa *

I asked him to close his eyes before i pulled Santa's gift from the box

He can't get enough of his Tickle Me friends !

We were already in bed by 12 midnight. Though it was just our small family who welcomed Christmas at home ( my sister and the helpers went to mass) , it's indeed one of the best for me coz I spent it with the people I call MY LIFE.

Hope you all had a meaningful Christmas with your families !

Shopping!

Are you finish with all your Christmas gifts? Well, not me! Our family gatherings just started out so I am definitely hitting the mall again today to grab a few gifts. Few weeks ago, I already shopped online of some sale items for my family. I panicked after seeing the prices , im telling you, its incredibly low. I shopped at buy.com because I tried their service before and I never had problems at all. From placing orders to delivery, everything was fast and easy. Oh , Im really hooked with online shopping!

The Reason for the Season

Signing off now. I wanna spend more time with the kids starting today (and I need to get gift wrappers for Santa's gifts ). May you have a great time with your family too !

Gelo, Peachy , Joaquin and Dominique

Click Away

I was busy taking pictures around the house coz I need to show this year's decors to my mom. Look at my boy, trying to imitate me with his own cheapo camera toy that we grabbed at Timezone. And here's Santa at the swing, just the same as last year , but with few new ornaments from my mom.






Finally, I was able to post some of our home decors :)

Safety first

I remember the time when I was still attending my driving lessons, and Im one excited / nervous student. My dad always told me that it's so easy to drive an automatic car, and that's so true. I was able to drive away in my first day of class , and I was even stuck in traffic because an accident occurred at the road. Since then , I always reminded myself that safety is my primary concern whenever I hit the road. We have Personal Safety Products loaded at the car, just in case of minor accidents since my husband's office is too far from our place too. I am one vigilant passenger too. I am conscious at the road, maybe because we have kids on board so we really have to be extra careful. I have seen a lot Traffic Control Devices and cones at the streets every time we go out of the house, and this is one thing that some motorists neglect while on the road, thus they encounter accidents often. One should also be aware of Vehicular Warning Lights such as light bars, beacon and perimeter lighting. These are often used to give light to street areas in use or to signal an emergency. May we all be vigilant while on the road Let's all be safe this season.

Sunday Bloggin'

I know, this looks like a meme blog nowadays, LOL. As much as I want to blog about the kids, time and sleep is something I really need so i can blog like crazy again. Anyway, the kids are doing great. They had a check up last Friday with the Pedia and Dominique had her 6-in-1 shot. I will post some pics later , I just need to finish a few assignments before the princess wakes up.

More gift options

Are you on a rush now with your Christmas shopping? Well, if you are looking for unique, useful gifts , I suggest you visit The popular online eyeglasses shop , Zenni Optical. I ordered one from them as my gift for my uncle , and everything went smoothly with my transaction. The Holiday Glass Frames From Zenni Optical are very affordable and they have a wide selection of design and colors. Aside from this collection, they still have the $ 8 Complete Rx Eyeglasses , the product that made them really popular. Imagine, with just $8 , you can get an eyeglass that doesn't look cheap at all.

Randomness - word association

Happy Holidays!

random word association I say, you think:

1. santa - gifts
2. holiday carols - silent night
3. snow - boots !
4. mistletoe - kiss :)
5. season - winter
6. candy cane - sweetness!
7. eggnog - yum
8. presents - children

More randomness here.

Flowers! Flowers !

December is known to be the the busiest month when it comes to wedding. A friend will get married at the end of the month and I feel so excited about the event. A few months ago, we were choosing for the perfect flowers for her and we found out about ranunculus . It doesn't actually ring a bell to me, as I am only familiar with lilies and tulips for wedding. So When I searched online, I found out about this very wonderful flower in pink.



I know that we made the right choice in choosing this flower and would you believe that we got it in wholesale price ( and that made us save big bucks). Aside from these, we also sourced entourage flowers from FiftyFlowers , and I just can't wait to see all the shades of pink come to life.

Saturday 9 - Holiday Cheer

1. Does the holiday season stress you out? If yes, how do you cope? - Hmm, not really. Maybe because I had a great time yesterday and I was able to shop for gifts.

2. Are you ever so busy in December that you have to force yourself to chill? - im busy with my baby, that about it.

3. Do you sleep well at this time of year? - A big NO! Not primarily of the season, but as I've said, its because of my lil girl

4. Have you ever taken a sleigh ride? If yes, tell us about it. - Never.

5. Do you live close to the parts of your family you spend the holidays with? - No. My parents and my younger sister lives at CA.

6. What will you have for Christmas dinner? - The usual spaghetti (maybe with lots of shrimps ) , Chicken and a yummy cake.

7. Do you diet after the holidays? - Thats my plan :)

8. What’s the best part of the season for you? Being with the entire family / relatives. Though I feel sad that it's the 6th Christmas that we are not together.

9. How many generations of your family get together during the holidays? - 4?

Catch it every Saturday here .

My lack of sleep.

My daughter is turning 7 weeks soon, and she's really growing fast. Some of her newborn clothes wont fit her anymore so I washed the larger ones that we have in her closet. If there's one thing that remains constant with her, that's her sleeping pattern. It's crazy! I personally attend to all of her needs so everytime she's up, I'm up too. Im lucky to sleep in 2 hours straight, and i think it happens every weekend only when my husband is here. The other day, I had a terrible headache that taking a nap won't ease the pain. Since it was too late already, I searched online for any tips that I can use. I found out some relevant cases , and I even read about acute headache . I hope this is not serious though. I checked for some medications too that I can safely use now that I am breastfeeding. I try to take naps frequently during daytime to keep me charged.

Coolness

Is it really cold outside? From my part of the world, we usually have the cold weather only during the Holiday Season. I saw it from the news that the temperature is around 19.5 C , and that is already cold for us. I rarely go outside the house so I can't feel the Christmas breeze yet. Later I'll try to stay outside and feel the cold weather the season brings. If only im not breastfeeding, I would love to sip coffee too.

Taking a break.

A few random questions..

Are you good at hiding your feelings?

** sometimes. But at most times, you can see the emotions clearly.

Do you wave when you see people you know?

** i just smile sometimes.

Is your best friend drop dead sexy?

** we are Drop Dead Gorgeous. Period.

Do you hate being alone?

** Nope, I actually long for that time. I need ME time .

Who is the last person who wrote a letter to you on paper?
** My mom, she gave me a letter when my grandma died.

Photo of the Year

In just a few weeks, the world will end year 2008, and what's the great way to end this year? Look through the happenings captured in photos. Personally, I enjoy looking at photographs at it can really tell stories. Once you see a photograph you can also see the emotions behind the image. Annually , a lot of photography sites and magazines go into a year ender photo contest, just like PhotographyCorner , a website that offers $11,500 worth of prizes to Top 10 photographers. It's so easy to join, just register your photograph for free and be one of the lucky winners of this contest and bag the most coveted award , 2008 Photograph of the Year . A lot of sponsors made this contest possible and they are giving away wonderful items and prizes. If only I have photographs to share, i would definitely join this contest.

Maligayang Pasko!

You Can Say "Merry Christmas" in 12 Languages

You can say "Merry Christmas" in: English Spanish Japanese French Arabic German Italian Swedish Portuguese Greek Gaelic Dutch

How Many Languages Can You Say "Merry Christmas" In?

The Red Bin

At last, my search is over.

Ever since we had this house renovated, i see to it that we get quality furnitures and equipments around. Having good quality materials would mean durability, so in the long run, there is more value for money because your item lasted for years. I dont mind paying a few bucks at all as long as I know the item is really worth it's price. Take the case of these brabantia bins . Some say that it's a little pricey as compared to other bins, but actually if you only know where to shop, you can get this at a cheaper price than that of the mall. This red one that i particularly like is a Touch Bin - just a soft touch to the mechanism lid and the waste bin pops open. They also have pedal bins, and sensor bins. It is so rare that you can chance upon an elegant red bin to match our black and red kitchen, so im not letting this offer pass. Online price is way cheaper than the mall and they even offer free shipping. Brabantia bins are known for quality, elegant designs and functionality - exactly the 3 things that I am looking for. And like what I've said, it comes in red.

Meet Spike

His toy dog from my mom. This dog barks and wiggles his tail when the string is pulled.

Our nth box arrived last week and it contains mostly toys for the boy. Im too excited to try the TMX Elmo and Ernie, but I can only use the demo mode now since it is still tied in its box. I can just imagine Joaqui's happiness on Christmas Eve.

As for Dominique's gifts, no toys for her yet. Just a nice book from Lamaze that I also need to wrap, and the clothes that I bought at Gymboree and RL. I need not to worry on it's packaging since I have boxes for that already.

Sunday Stealing - the christrmas meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? - gift bags

2. Real tree or Artificial? there's no real tree here, so il go for artificial

3. When do you put up the tree? - actually we didnt put up the tree this year.

4. When do you take the tree down? - few days after jan 1

5. Do you like eggnog? - yes, but not that much

6. Favorite gift received as a child? - a lot. mostly toys

7. Hardest person to buy for? - my husband

8. Easiest person to buy for? - my son . i know what he likes

9. Do you have a nativity scene? - not this year. i wish we have it.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? - email

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? - sorry but i dont like fruit cakes.

12. Favorite for Christmas dinner? - the classic spaghetti :)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? - im a bit late this year. i just started this afternoon.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? - nope.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? - anything sweet. that's why i need to take Orovo after the season because I know I'll gain weight.

16. Lights on the tree? - lights all over the house.

17. Favorite Christmas song? - The Christmas Song. Period.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? - stay home of course

19. Angel on the tree top or a star? angel

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? christmas eve after hearing mass

Join here .

gifts shopping and more

Im done with a little shopping for the holidays. Went to the mall with my family and during my first store stop, i was able to get gifts for some relatives already. Then we headed to some stores for my clothes. Since I recently gave birth, I had a hard time looking for the right one. My favorite styles wont fit my hips yet. Got a little depressed when I wasn't able to buy a very classy red dress that I plan to wear on Christmas eve. I think I should start taking diet pills . I tried five tops from one store , but I was able to buy one only. Sadness. It's too impossible to lose weight this soon. Food is everywhere. Wish I can get back to my old shape really soon.

Randomness - holiday questions

Before I search for some Washington DC cosmetic dentistry sites , let me answer a few questions that I found for this weeks randomness entry. Sorry , its a bit late.


1. what's your favorite holiday movie? - Home Alone.

2. who do you spend the holidays with? - my family. This year , we have Dominique and that makes the season more exciting.

3. do you have any special food you make each year? - Just the usual white spaghetti

4. when holiday shopping, do you stick to a budget or do you overspend? - overspend , but not really that much

5. do you decorate your home for the holidays? - YESSSS! we just finished today, so expect some pics by next week.

Join here .

Thursday Thunks

1. Do you like waffles? - Yes! Belgian with whipped cream topped with choco syrup.

2. Name 3 things that is within your reach right now, excluding anything to do with your computer/laptop. - mrs. fields brownies, water , baby bottle

3. Do you hang laundry out on a line outside? - not outside the house

4. Loss of vision, ability to speak or hearing - which do you choose? (you have to choose one....) - loss of hearing.

5. On a scale from 1 - 10, how are your computer skills? - 7 ?

6. Do you volunteer or donate to anything around the holidays? - me and my family usually donates during the holidays.

7. If a person receives a DUI while in government office, should he lose his/her position? - it depends..

8. Do you take vitamins? yes. multivitamins , vit c and vit e

9. Do you wear fingernail polish? very seldom

10. If every flower in the world only grew into one color, which color would you want? - red.

Accident Care

Is it because of the season or people are just becoming reckless lately? I've heard a lot of road accident reports over the news last week and I really feel sad that some may still lead to death of the driver or the passenger. But is anyone really prepared for this accident? Do we really know what to do? Of course, most people involve would really be in a state of shock, so getting all the help whether medical or legal should be done first. My cousin who had an accident before got the service of a Texas truck accident attorney and he won over that case. He was extended with all the legal help from this firm and he was well taken care of during the case. Would you believe that they even had free consultations and that made my cousin save some money. Isnt it great to get great legal service during this time?

Excited

I can't wait for our nth Balikbayan box from my mom. I dont exactly know what's inside except for the toys of Joaqui that I purchased at Etoys last month. I'mnot sure if I can hide my excitement from the little boy. The Tickle Me Elmo is one of our Christmas gifts for him. Oh, and aside from the box, my mom sent a small box that has the RL loot of the kids. I just looove this season!

A Pink Tree

We still dont have a Christmas Tree at home , and I dont think we are putting one for this year. But the result made me curious, I saw a really nice pink tree at the mall 2 weeks ago.

You Should Have a Pink Christmas Tree

For you, the holidays represent a time of friendship and sharing. You're happy as long as you're spending time with the people you care about. You are passionate about the holidays, and that start of the holiday season makes you very excited. You sometimes go a bit overboard in your celebrations. You just can't help it! Passionate, easily excited, sweet, giving, love, friendship, sensitive, caring Your pink tree would look great with: More pink! You should spend Christmas Eve watching: The Muppet Christmas Carol What you should bake for Santa: Rice krispie treats with red and green food coloring

What Color Christmas Tree Should You Have?

Manage and Protect

My husband is working overtime because its the end of the year and they have to make sure that everything that needs to be delivered by this time is processed. Aside from his usual production schedules at work, he also supervises the department's data management process. They see to it that all of the information in their data base is loaded, protected and backed up. It's not that complicated as it may sound because the company uses the ETL Software developed by Syncsort Inc. It's a well-known firm when it comes to high - performance software and they provide service to leading companies worldwide. Now , they are at the final stretch of their data management program at work and after that he can go back to his normal work schedule.

Flowers for ME

Thanks Kelly :)

This tag is all about “FRIENDSHIP OFFERING” with someone whom you know, to someone whom you already knew or will know in the future, globally.

::: Start copying here:::

here are the rules for this tag;
1. copy the badge and put it on your blog
2. link back who pass you this tag
3. spread this tag to at least 7 or more bloggers who you think you are friends with.

”And lovely are the blossoms

That are tended with great care,

By those who work unselfishly

To make the place more fair.

And, like the garden blossoms,

Friendship’s flower grows more sweet

When watched and tended carefully

By those we know and meet.

And, if the seed of friendship

Is planted deep and true

And watched with understanding,

Friendship’s flower will bloom for you.”

Giving these flowers to Mich and Jane . Congratulations and have a speedy recovery mommies!

Life and Creativity

I always believe that a person's creativity when it comes to art reflects a part of his life. There's a story behind every painting, behind every artwork I can see. It may be from a personal experience of the artist , or it may be derived from another person's life. I admit that I am not gifted when it comes to art, but I enjoy looking at art pieces most specially paintings. I am always curious with the story behind it. Take the case of the site http://www.artistic-lemonade.com , it focuses on how people can create wonderful pieces out of life's tough times. Some creates through life's emotional and financial struggles. This is a site that gives hope to its members by expressing their feelings and emotions through art. You can join in their forums found at http://forums.artistic-lemonade.com and get acquainted with other individuals. Who knows , you can even get inspiration from other's story. Artisitc Lemonade is starting to build this vibrant community, so please don't hesitate to refer this site to others.

Dominique at 1

Here's the best picture of the two kids during Dominique's first month celebration last Thursday. Yes, this is the best already , little boy is just all over the place , playing and running around, and I had a hard time calling him for a shot. He went to the table when he saw the cake and insisted of blowing a candle coz it's baby's birthday.


I hope I can take more pictures of them together, the princess is growing fast. But as always, I have a lot to do here at home ,and even online ( like looking for auto insurance quotes and shopping ) so that explains the lack of regular updates . Just visit me again for more pictures of the kids.