Irma's So-Called Life

My Favorite Love Story

2012-02-14T08:36:00.000+07:00

Surprisingly, my favorite love story comes from an animated film and not those dramatic or cheesy romance movies.

I wanted to watch Up because of the cute kid, Russell. It was supposed to be comedy, adventure and animation in one. What I did not expect was crying through the love story of CARL and ELLIE. It was one of the sweetest I have seen. A couple of years later and I would still cry while watching Up.

Carl and Ellie met when they were young kids. They became good friends, fell in love and got married. Life was not easy for them, they were not blessed with children. They still enjoyed life and each other despite that. Their love story continued until their old age.

Ellie fell sick and eventually had to die. My heart sank. Poor old Carl. He ended up bitter and grumpy. And then he met the cute boy, Russell.

The story focused on Carl's adventure with Russell.

At the end of the movie, Carl went through a scrapbook from Ellie.

This is the page that made me cry again.

I found the one who is loving me and would love me like Carl. The kind of love I want is one that would last until we are old and gray. I used to be afraid of growing old. Not anymore. I guess I was afraid of growing old alone.

Happy Valentine's day to my one true love - my dearest husband! We will definitely have a story like Ellie and Carl.

Happy Valentine's day everyone!

By the way, what's your favorite love story?

Unfollow, Unsubscribe, Unfriend

2012-02-03T15:24:00.001+07:00

Keeping up with today's social media sites eats a big chunk of my time. I love how social media connects me to family and friends I miss and it connects me to the world. However, it is not my priority.

Time is not the only thing it eats up, it influences my values and outlook. I definitely have to be cautious. I need to guard my time and values.

Social media sites have these three features I am not afraid to use:

Unfollow

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If you're on Twitter, this is a popular word. I am not using Tweetdeck or some other tool which would help me organize my account. I feel my presence in Twitter is still not too hard to manage. I keep the number of people I follow to those who I personally know (family and friends), those who would help me with my spiritual walk, the news, celebrities (show business, politics, fashion, sports).

There would always be a difference in opinion. I welcome and respect different viewpoints. But the things I definitely cannot tolerate are foul words, negativity, too much gossip, shallowness, and attacks to my beliefs. I would immediately unfollow.

Pinterest has the same button and I would use this so as not to get overwhelmed with too many ideas.

The interesting part, there are people whose blog and boards I follow but not their Twitter account. Let's just say I do not need to know details of their every day lives.

Unsubscribe

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I subscribe to more than a hundred blogs in my RSS reader. New posts daily can be as many as 150 entries. I wold quickly skim through the titles, mark those I want to read and send those that would be useful in the future to Evernote. When a blog owner has not posted in a quarter, I'd immediately unsubscribe. It allows me to subscribe to other blogs where I would learn.

Facebook used to have the "Hide" button for feeds or updates I would rather not see. It has been replaced with the "Unsubscribe" button. And yes, I use this. Facebook can get very personal. My connections in Facebook are those I personally know or mutual friends or distant relatives. The first thing I unsubscribe from are game updates. Next would be those who use foul language or would be fighting someone or those who are just simply negative. Uhm...I definitely do not need to know about these things. If it is against my beliefs and values, I would rather not read it.

One other thing I unsubscribe from are junk e-mails!

Unfriend

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When it's someone I discovered I do not know at all, I unfriend the person. Then I had a realization that I can keep anyone who wants to be connected to me. I have things to share with them - my blog entries and the gospel. Somehow through my writing I could bless everyone who reads it.

Life is much better when you're surrounded by positive people whom you can learn from. I definitely do not need bad vibes and I can eliminate them if I choose to. There is not enough time in a day and I want to make sure I am using my time wisely.

What are other things you do to increase your productivity?

Planning My Weekly Menu

2012-01-31T08:48:00.000+07:00

As a newlywed, my cooking skills were close to non-existent. At our home in Bulacan, it was my mother who is the queen of the kitchen. I also think I eat so little then. No wonder I was way thinner back then.

Now that being a homemaker is my full-time career, I have no choice but to plan meals and cook. We are raising a toddler whose appetite seems to grow by the day.

I can cook. Just give me a recipe and I would do it. We lived on sandwiches and salad back in Cebu. But that can't happen now as I have to plan my menu around our little boy, too. Our meals need to be kid-friendly.

I plan our menus but I don't have several meals plan to rotate. I have favorite dishes and I discover new ones from browsing blogs and Pinterest.

Our dishes for the week should be based on these categories:

Beef
Fish/Seafood
Pork
Poultry
Pasta
Soup
Sandwich

I try my best to incorporate and "conceal" as much vegetables into a dish. I also like using the slow cooker so one dish must be a slow cooker version.

I collect recipes throughout the week. I have gone paperless now and keep all my recipes in a folder in Pages. Their recipe template includes an image so I always put a photo of the dish so I know what the outcome should look like.

I pick out the 7 dishes for one week. By Saturday, I would have finished my grocery list.

Since Filipino dishes are not widely available here, I found that I am cooking more and more of it. A big thanks to Ang Sarap blog for all the easy-to-follow recipes.

Our three favorites:

Pancit Molo

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Skinless Longaniza

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Pinoy Spaghetti

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Another blog where I get my recipes from is Gina's Skinny Recipes. It's a low fat version of most dishes. In our recent annual medical exam Jed and I were warned to watch what we eat or our blood levels would be in danger. Now, it's hello healthy low fat recipes.

I am loving these recipes:

Asparagus and Poached Eggs Over Pasta

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Crock Pot Bolognese Sauce

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Quick Skillet Steak with Onions and Mushrooms

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For recipe ideas, chekc out my Food board on Pinterest. I have over 280 recipes pinned.

How does your menu planning work? And what are your favorite recipes?

Happy cooking!

The Proverbs 31 Woman: One Virtue At A Time (E-Book)

2012-01-17T16:16:00.000+07:00

The first book I finished for this new year is the free e-book, The Proverbs 31 Woman: One Virtue At A Time. The recommendation was to read one chapter a day. But I could not wait, I finished it in one day. It is an easy read at 43 pages.

The author Courtney is from Women Living Well Ministries. I found her excellent blog while blog hopping and I immediately added hers to my RSS reader. What led me to her blog was the free e-book and the topic of Proverbs 31.

I will never be tired of studying Proverbs 31:10-31. I have stated many times how I aspire to be one. Yes, that woman which Solomon wrote in Proverbs is not just a pigment of his imagination.

How exactly can women relate the verses to one's daily life as wife, mother and homemaker? According to Courtney, we can all be a Proverbs 31 woman if we:

Are a treasure to our husbands (v. 10)
Trusted by our husband in all aspects (v. 11)
Act - not just words and promises (v. 12)
Work with eager hands even with the mundane tasks (v. 13)
Find the best deals for the family and stretches the family budget (v. 14)
Rise up early and make sure the house is up and running (v. 15)
Make our her dreams happen (v. 16)
Keep our house clean and strong enough to do chores (v. 17)
Stay productive until evening (v. 18)
Works on mundane tasks or house chores without complaining (v. 19)
Help those in need (v. 20)
Prepare our families for each season in our lives (v. 21)
Dress with class (v. 22)
Support and speak highly of our husbands (v. 23)
Strive to excel in our craft (v. 24)
Exude confidence (v. 25)
Speak wise and kind words (v. 26)
Manage our household effectively (v. 27)
Make our family proud of us (v. 28)
Hear praises from the one person who matters most to us - our husbands (v. 29)
Value our faith more than superficial beauty (v. 30)
Have a happy family (v. 31)

I hope you are as enlightened and refreshed as me. Now, every time I have to tackle a house chore I least like, I think about the Proverbs 31 woman and I stop complaining and do the task willingly. When I am tempted to be idle, I remind myself there is more I could do.

The Proverbs 31 Woman just raised the profile of stay-at-home wives and mothers. We all can become so much more than society is depicting us to be.

If you want to read the e-book, you can get it for free by "liking" the Women Living Well page on Facebook. Click on the Free E-book button right below her photo.

I had been blessed with this book and I want more women to be blessed as well.

Enjoy reading!

"It's More Fun in the Philippines"

2012-01-13T12:27:00.002+07:00

Do you know that in 2050,

"The Philippines will leap frog 27 places to become the world's 16th largest economy."
- from CNN Business Blogs "World's Top Economies in 2050 Will Be...."

Wow.

Definitely time to be back home by then. Who would've thought Javi's future may be brighter in his home country?

I have said it over and over -- I love my country, the Philippines. No matter where in the world I am, I am proud to be Filipino. Given the choice, I would not have left. But as you all know being a wife trumps being a Filipino.

I will keep my citizenship for as long as I can. Until death, perhaps? It is a part of who I am. I want it to stay that way.

A few and a half weeks ago, the Department of Tourism launched its new tourism campaign. Wow Philippines had been great and served the country well, however, times have changed and we need to be more competitive thus the new logo and campaign. The current DOT Secretary Mon Jimenez worked with advertising agency BBDO Guerrero launched the new slogans and logos:

International

National/Local

It's simple and true. If someone asks why visit the Philippines, you now have an answer.

"It's more fun in the Philippines!"

What is more fun? "Well, whatever you can think of? Eating. Shopping. Hanging out in the beach."

Why is it more fun? "It's because of the people - the Filipinos!"

The response to the campaign was amazing. Filipinos all over the world came up with their own versions. Some excellent, others were brilliant, a few were witty and there were those "what-were-they-thinking" versions.

My favorites are:

The best pig in the world!

Breathtaking scenery

My favorite breakfast ever

The perfect cone

The whitest and finest sand

There are no words to describe this one.

For an almost complete gallery of memes created, please check out their Pinterest board.

Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet came up with the complete information how each of us can help the campaign. Every Filipino can be ambassadors. Check out his entry here.

It's definitely more fun in the Philippines. I miss home every single day.

My Vision Board for 2012

2012-01-04T11:40:00.000+07:00

Since I am a visual person I decided to create a vision board for 2012.

From left to right:

Row 1
Pray MORE this year
Angkor Wat, Cambodia - the one destination I want to go
On my wishlist: Tory Burch Reva in Fresh Tan

Row 2
Learn to poach an egg
My one word for 2012: FORGIVENESS. Learn to forgive and to ask for forgiveness
On my wish list and to learn: Adobe Illustrator

Row 3
I commit to live a healthier lifestyle
On my wish list: a nice watch for Jed and myself
Finish The Purple Book

What do you hope to do/go/own/learn/commit this 2012?

Hello 2012!

2012-01-03T13:26:00.000+07:00

I love New Year's. It's a chance to start over.

Resolutions? No. Never worked for me.

Goals. Yes, I did set goals. I met 11 out of 12. Guess what did not work for me? (Hint: I now regularly go to Browhaus at Siam Discovery.)

Yesterday, the genius who is Seth Godin said this:

You don't need a new plan for next year. You need a commitment.

It's like he was speaking directly to me.

Okay, I get it, Seth. No more new plans. I actually need to COMMIT first. Commit to the resolutions, goals, and plans I made years ago. Some of them failed, others are still in the process, and some needs continuance so I will be a better person than the previous year.

In one of my reading time, I discovered this manifesto from Aileen's blog, Creating Clever. She pretty much laid out what I'd like to pursue this 2012.

The Aileen Manifesto

Don't you agree that what's written in the manifesto is a great way to live 2012?

It's a brand new year, what will you commit to doing this year?

May all of us have an amazing year!

2011: A Year in Review

2011-12-31T18:07:00.000+07:00

Source

I failed to work on a newsletter that would go out with our Christmas cards. When I found a format I like, it was already too late as I needed to mail out the cards right away. And with the format I wanted I had to learn a little bit of Photoshop which still confuses me.

For now I will do a simpler version of of what happened to me/us in 2011.

HOME:

Will always be wherever we three are.

But for this year, home has been Bangkok, Thailand.

We moved to our place early this year so it's the our first spending the holidays at our home.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Jed and I have been married for 4 years!!
Javi turned two years old and is now officially a toddler.
We found our church and met awesome friends!

PLACES TRAVELED:

We finally went around Thailand and visited Pattaya, Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

Jed went on his business trips to Australia and China.

We went back to the Philippines and went back to our favorite places such as Boracay and Tagaytay.

NOTABLES:

Jed

Still working for the Shangri-La group. Attended his very first small group/bible study. Plays the keyboard in church on some Sundays.

Irma

Mastering the art of being a full-time homemaker and mother. Blogging when I find the time. Belongs to a mommies small group. Loving my time here in Bangkok.

Javi

Hospitalized for the first time. Learned how to walk, run, hop and jump. Still in the process of learning how to talk. Is just the most adorable kid to mommy and daddy. Charms mommy every single day. Finished his first swimming class last summer. Attending a weekly Kinderjam class.

MOST AWESOME THINGS I DID:

Started my Starbucks City Mug collection
Watched Breaking Dawn on its first screening day in Thailand
Mastered the skill of commuting via train with a toddler and a stroller and a big bag.
Survived being a single mother for a week when Jed was away for his business trips.

EVERYTHING ELSE:

Jed and I went on "date nights"/Watched the Hillsong United concert./Started our Sunday evening "movie night" tradition./Got wired this year with our BlackBerry and iPads./Had more visitors and people to meet up here in Bangkok than Cebu./Survived the flood crisis in Thailand.

Watch out 2012, we are welcoming you with open arms!

So how was your 2011?

Simplifying My Journal

2011-12-30T13:08:00.000+07:00

Keeping a journal is my thing. When life was simpler, I used to write down my thoughts every night before I sleep. Then I got married and Jed would tease me about my habit. Life happened. I quit my job, moved cities, had a kid - in short, I could not write religiously as before.

So what did I use as a journal?

My journals

I had no problem redeeming a Starbucks planner as toffee nut latte is one of my favorite drinks. When I wasn't too happy with the Starbucks planner, I discovered those girly Belle Du Jour planner. Then I realized the BDJ planner is not mommy-friendly so I stopped using it.

I finally owned an iPad which means journaling turned digital. I now use an app called Chronicle to write down my thoughts and prayer. It's still what I use up to this day.

Until I discovered this excellent idea through Pinterest. The main idea is to write down just the highlight of your day in an index card keeping it as short as possible. This will go on for the next years until the card gets full. I like the concept. It's simple and if I write everyday it would fun to see what I had been doing a particularly day when I write down my entry the following year.

Source

But of course, I had to customize and create my own version of the great project. Instead of index cards, I looked for a small notebook with enough pages.

I found just the right Moleskine notebook. Moleskine proved to be sturdy so I did not mind spending a little more if the notebook will last me years.

Look what I picked - Moleskine Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) edition

My new Moleskine journal

Now that begins the first of my many projects for 2012.

What do you plan to start this new year?

Print Your Own 2012 Calendars

2011-12-29T10:32:00.000+07:00

Gone are the days when I would troop to the local bookstore and buy myself some nice yet expensive calendar. Since I no longer work, I do not get those freebie desk calendars. As a stay-at-home mother, my needs have changed and while a desk calendar may look pretty, I need a more functional monthly calendar that I can write on.

A big thanks to blogsphere and sites such as Tip Junkie, I found several free printable calendars that would suit my every need.

To those who has not gotten their 2012 calendar yet, I am sharing with you those that I love.

Please click on the link of each caption to direct you to the website where you can download the calendars.

Year At-A-Glance

From Creative Mama

From Clementine Creative

From Red Stamp

From Home Life Weekly

Monthly

From Tricia Rennea

From Home Life Weekly

From Creative Mama

From Tom Kat Studio

From Tip Junkie

From Clementine Creative

And I found this really pretty Birthday Calendar from Elephant Shoe Love via The Pretty Blog

From Elephant Shoe Love

The other thing I love about printing your own calendar is you can adjust the size and print just the right one for your needs.

Happy printing! May we look forward to 2012 with so much hope.

Restaurant Discoveries (Bangkok Edition): Somboon Seafood and L'ulivo Bangkok

2011-12-27T13:13:00.001+07:00

I know we are settled in Bangkok when we now have our favorite restaurants to dine. Yes, it took us longer to find our favorites. To begin with we were absolutely clueless and the language difference posed to be a bigger challenge. Unlike Manila and Cebu, restaurant recommendations would be from friends through word of mouth and from the reputable food bloggers.

A big thanks to social media, we are slowly threading our way to the best restaurants in Bangkok.

Somboon Seafood

We pass by this restaurant every week on our way to church. And then I read this article on CNNGo.

41. Best crab curry in all of Asia
At Somboon Seafood on Surawong Road, you’ll find a plate of their famous crab curry on every table in the joint. Surrounded by a thick, sweet sauce, the juicy chunks of crab ensure there’s hardly anything for the waitress to clean up. According to legend, one fan from Singapore actually jets up to Bangkok just to get his monthly fix.

I love crab. It is probably my most favorite ingredient. My face brightens up and my eyes light up when I see crab being served to me.

When my family recently visited us, we decided to bring them to Somboon. True enough, CNNGo was right.

We are finally here!

Somboon's fried curry crab

The BEST fried curry crab there is

Eagerly awaiting our food

The other dishes we ordered were equally good. We only took photos of the curry crab. It's the star of the restaurant. Jed and I will definitely be back. Next time, I will just order the fried curry crab and seamed rice. Yum!

One great thing about this is the proximity to where we live. It's right at the beginning of our road. My siblings and I walked after dinner. It took us about 20 minutes.

Somboon Seafood

69/7-11 Surawong Road, Silom, Bangkok

Phone: +66 (0)2 233 3104

L'ulivo Bangkok

For our fourth wedding anniversary, Jed found a newly-opened restaurant for us to have dinner. It's called L'ulivo Italian Cuisine. He accidentally saw it while walking and was recommended to him by one of the chefs at the hotel.

Be still my heart, the restaurant exceeded my expectation.

L'ulivo is an Italian word for olive tree. The chef owner Danilo Aiassa is Italian. The restaurant reminds me Lolo Dad's Cafe by Chef Ariel Manuel in the Philippines. They both have a homey feel to their restaurants which are categorized as fine dining. Another similarity is their open kitchen.

The facade of L'ulivo

The welcome drink

This next dish was not on the menu. Chef Danilo asked what we wanted for Javi. We asked for spaghetti with meat sauce and he served us this yummy dish. Jed and I couldn't help ourselves. We had more than a few bites.

Javi's meal - an excellent spaghetti with meat sauce

Risotto with foie gras

According to their restaurant manager, Carlo, this cod fish dish is one of their best-sellers.

Cod fish

Sea bass

And we thought we were full, then Chef Danilo sent over this ravioli dish. It was excellent.

Ravioli with spinach
This was actually on the house!

Javi's tray of desserts

Chef Danilo asked us what dessert we wanted and we left it up to him. This pie was pretty special.

Our special dessert

I think Javi was the only kid in the restaurant. And boy our two year old has all the energy in the world. In order to keep him busy, the restaurant provided him with crayons and some coloring pages.

He truly enjoyed his time at L'ulivo. Maybe a little too much.

Happy 4th to us!

Jed gave me flowers. He hates giving flowers.
But he loves me and I love flowers.

What a great way to celebrate our fourth anniversary. New Italian restaurant. Excellent dining experience. Service was impeccable. The chef, restaurant manager and staff were all very accommodating.

And the best part is we only have to cross the footbridge to get to the restaurant. We can actually see L'ulivo from our balcony.

I told Jed I wanted to go back to L'ulivo for his birthday.

L'ulivo Italian Cuisine

43 Soi Naradhiwas 7

Naradhiwas Road

Sathorn, Bangkok

Phone: +66 2 6775756

Facebook page: L'ulivo Bangkok

End of the Year Update of my Starbucks City Mug Collection

2011-12-26T14:00:00.000+07:00

I started seriously collecting Starbucks City mugs this year. From my one and only Cebu mug at the beginning of the year, I now have 17+1 in my collection. At first I wanted city mugs from cities I have been to, but a fellow collector convinced me to collect from the rest of the cities. I particularly like the current style so might as well collect and collect. Got into thinking that when I visit the other cities someday, the current collection may no longer be available.

You may wish to read my previous posts on my collection here.

Special thanks to my husband, siblings and best friend for collecting for me and lugging my mugs in their checked in baggage and carry ons.

After my trip to Manila, I have 9 more new cities. It's either I bought them personally, or were given to me as gifts.

Bacolod
Boracay
Manila
Pampanga
Tagaytay

Jakarta
Singapore
Tokyo - the odd man out

Below is an updated list of the city mugs I now own (as of 26 December 2011) --

1. Bacolod
2. Bali
3. Bangkok
4. Boracay
5. Cebu
6. Chiang Mai
7. Jakarta
8. Manila
9. Melbourne
10. Pampanga
11. Pattaya
12. Phuket
13. Shanghai
14/15. Singapore (2 versions)
16. Sydney
17. Tagaytay
plus Tokyo

I am open to trading. I can source city mugs here in Thailand. You may send me an e-mail message at irmaloveslife@gmail.com.

Here's to more travels and friends/family who travel willing to buy me mugs in 2012!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

2011-12-26T13:30:00.003+07:00

May you all be blessed this holiday season.

Thank you for a wonderful year!

There Is No Place Like MANILA

2011-12-23T09:49:00.000+07:00

While we call Bangkok our home now, Manila is a place I want to go back and settle sometime in the future. This is our first trip home after moving and three weeks definitely were not enough.

It definitely was the busiest three weeks of my life, and boy it took a toll on me. There would be days when I'd tell Jed I'd rather stay home that day. We stayed at my family's house in Bulacan so my mother could spend more time with her only grandchild but this means we had to commute to Manila every day. And with a toddler who is also adjusting to a different environment, taking him with us is a challenge.

Since he was reunited with his car seat, some days went well.

Sitting happily in his car seat while watching Barney

I had been wanting him to ride that carousel at Shangri-la Plaza mall. I just didn't think it would make me dizzy.

Round and round...and round and round.

Javi gets his best haircut in Manila.

Finally enjoying his haircut

My sister loves playing with Javi.

Showing his new toys to Tita Via

For two years in a row, our visit to Bulacan/Manila coincided with All Saints' Day. For Filipinos, it is a tradition to visit your dead relatives in the cemetery. It was that time again to visit Tatay's tomb.

On our visit to my mother's siblings, they threw a small get-together for Javi's second birthday. I miss those birthday cakes from Red Ribbon. And the pancit from PAsig is always the best.

With our relatives from my mother's side of the family

Very happy to set foot in my favorite places.

Hello Ayala Avenue and Serendra

Friends Meet-Ups! Sadly, the photos I have are less than half of the people we met. It was too chaotic for me to pull out my camera and take photos.

With Neyza and the gang at Serendra

With the Atienzas at LJ's The Lollicake Factory

An absolute MUST: Lunch with Cheryl at CIBO

Oh, diet was thrown out the window. I was an eating machine. So many food I missed - from the taho vendor and lugaw from Tita Pining's to excellent food at Antonio's. I created my own rule of eating those that I missed but definitely no to second servings. There's is no room for seconds when I have a list of what I wanted to try.

New restaurants. Sweets. Old favorites.

I ♥Filipino food. And Vietnamese. And the others.

I had to have my haircut in the Philippines where I could explain what I want to happen and the stylist would get it.

Thank you, Ogie Rayel and TFE parlor in Balagtas

We checked out new places such as the Ayala Triangle. So much has changed in this area. This used to be my constant view when I was still working and the embassy held office in Allied Bank building. I love every minute I spent with my family.

Brunch with my family at the Ayala Triangle before we head to the airport

Presenting our mini sari-sari store in our luggage. Wish I could have brought more. But those cans of Purefoods items and bottled sardines are heavy. My happiest times during our visit was going around the local supermarkets - SM, Landmark and Waltermart.

Yes, you are coming with us to Bangkok

Filipinos celebrating Christmas way too early was an advantage for us. We definitely felt the Christmas spirit.

Early Christmas in Manila

My apologies to friends and family we did not see. We really wished we could clone ourselves and meet every single one of you. There's always our next visit.

Looking forward to visiting Manila next year.

Many Ways to Help Typhoon Sendong Victims

2011-12-21T10:03:00.002+07:00

I was so disturbed the other night. All I could think of was the calamity in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. I have distant relatives who live there and thankfully no one was harmed. There was this urge for me to help out in any way I can despite the distance.

I have never been this grateful for social media and the internet. Twitter was a key tool. There were so many ways one can help through donations in cash and in kind.

https://twitter.com/#!/apangilinan/status/148821971608670208

If we were living in the Philippines, I'd cancel/return all Christmas gifts then just donate the money to the victims.

Donate to Red Cross now. This is the easiest way for those living abroad with a Paypal account.

https://twitter.com/#!/philredcross/status/148752727692939265

https://twitter.com/#!/philredcross/status/148699655067283456

Donate to UNICEF now.

https://twitter.com/#!/unicefphils/status/148714666795864064

You may donate cash to buy underwear and slippers for the victims through Rock Ed.

https://twitter.com/#!/rockedradio/status/148303759125127168

I salute LBC for all their hardwork. You may leave your donations in kind at any LBC branch in the Philippines and abroad. Makes me wish they have a branch in Thailand.

https://twitter.com/#!/LBC_Foundation/status/149084955610316801

https://twitter.com/#!/LBC_Foundation/status/148946998337347585

https://twitter.com/#!/LBC_Foundation/status/148947224385171456

For other ways to help out, check out these links --

A kind hearted individual compiled this almost complete list to help out in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan.

Another excellent list compiled by Rock Ed Radio.

Many ways to help from Blogwatch.

Seriously, there is no excuse why one cannot help out.

Let us be a blessing. It feels awesome to give.

Fourth

2011-12-13T19:18:00.003+07:00

Today, Jed and I are celebrating our fourth wedding anniversary. Wow!

It wouldn't have crossed my mind we would be celebrating in Bangkok.

For our fourth, I am framing a "word cloud" version of our wedding vows. Until I learn to work around Photoshop, this would have to do for now.

Jed's Vows

My vows

It is not a perfect life. The most important thing is we are going through it together. We stay when the going gets tough.

Oh and we can't go through it on our own. We call on God.

Our guide: the Bible

Spirit-Guided Relationships: Wives and Husbands

And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body.

As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

And yes I have!

Happy fourth and many more years of togetherness.

Birthdays, Cakes and Great Restaurants

2011-12-06T09:02:00.000+07:00

The timing of our recent Philippine trip could not have been more perfect. We celebrated three birthdays - Javi's, my mother's and mine. My birthday wishes did come true.

Javi turned two. My mother is 65. I am 35.

I am brave enough to admit how old I am. I was teasing a friend that with the age comes courage. I have reached this point where I am just grateful that the Lord has blessed us so much. Oh, it has never been smooth sailing but I feel at peace.

My family is big on celebrating birthdays - or any special occasion. When my father was alive, we would even go out for Philippine Independence day. It usually was the time to check out all the good restaurants. As you may have known by now, we love to eat. And because of social media, I am more informed now of the newest and great restaurants.

For this year, there were no grand parties. Even my mother opted for an intimate celebration. I personally prefer intimate family time over parties.

The first birthday celebration was for Javi. Jed and I missed Filipino food that we picked Cafe Juanita for the occasion. Every Sunday at lunch, they serve buffet.

I was pleased to learn that Cafe Juanita is in a new location. I did love the new place. It is not as cramped as the old one.

The new Cafe Juanita in Kapitolyo

I did not have any photo of the buffet spread. I was too shy to take photos. Every single dish was so good. There was the best kare-kare, adobo, mechado. And my mother went for a second serving which is unusual for her as she would always opt for dessert.

Happy 2nd birthday, Javi (who fell asleep)

My mother turned 65. It is a monumental age. We wanted something special for her. She only deservs, Antonio's Restaurant in Tagaytay. It's the only Philippine restaurant who made it to The Miele Guide's Top 20 Restaurants in Asia. Dining in Antonio's is in my bucket list. And I gladly crossed it off for my mother's birthday.

Happy birthday, Nanay

Antonio's Restaurant

A fine dining experince

We all felt right at home

Lola did get her wish of spending it with Javi

I seriously did not think I would get to spend my birthday in the Philippines. But as fate would have it, Jed was allowed to extend his leave because of the flood crisis in Thailand.

For my birthday, we traveled to Clark in Pampanga to dine at C'Italian Dining. I read a review which then convinced me to drag my family there for lunch. My siblings could not join us as they were on a trip to Japan then. Can't say they missed me on my birthday as they were on their dream trip.

Their panizza is the best!

Another excellent dining experience

Happy birthday to me!

I got another treat on the evening of my birthday. I met my high school friends for an intimate dinner at the House of Rubio prepared by my dearest Jo and organized by Aileen.

Dinner at The House of Rubio
Photo from Tammy Mendoza.

Apart from restaurants, we also love cakes.

Our birthday cakes

Happy. Blessed. Grateful.

I know it's because of these gatherings which makes me look forward to celebrating birthdays rather than dread that I am getting older.

How do you make your birthday special?

Sun, Sea and Sand

2011-12-04T09:52:00.000+07:00

Okay, it took a while to get this series of posts running. I got distracted with adjusting back to our life here in Bangkok. Plus I needed a motivation to write again. Oh, and the photos take a while to edit.

It's already December and I can slowly feel the cooler air in Bangkok. Or is it only my imagination? Now this would be a good time to recap our recent trip to one of my favorite destinations in this world, BORACAY.

And after four years, I am back on the island. My last trip there was before I got married. Boy, a lot of things had changed in four years. I am now married with a son.

Boracay did change, too. It is more commercialized now with so many new establishments. I still remember when it was still difficult locating an ATM machine on the island. Now, ATM machines and even banks are all over.

However when I set foot on Boracay beach with its finest sand, I remembered why this place will always be a favorite.

The beach at Station 1

Perfect scene - blue skies, inviting water and white sand

Boracay's landmark - Willy's Rock

Willy's Rock on Station 1

Willy's Rock

For me, Boracay has the finest white sand in the world

We stayed on Station 1 for the first two nights. We wanted to experience the life on Boracay itself. This trip was more family friendly as we had Javi with us. So no more drinking our hearts out 'till after midnight. Come to think of it, I didn't even have a sip of margarita on this trip.

We found a good deal at Residencia Boracay. We all know how accommodation is hugely overpriced in Boracay so the rates at Residencia Boracay fit our budget. I love their location which is in the quiet part of Station 1.

We enjoyed the time we spent on the shore of Station 1. Beautiful sunsets, walks on the beach, best swimming experience and access to home-grown restaurants.

Perfect sunset on our first afternoon

A trip to Boracay will never be complete without several stops in Jonah's

Did you know that first-ever Cyma is at the D'Mall in Boracay?

My newest find on this trip: Real Coffee's Calamansi Muffin and coffee

On our third day, we transferred to Shangri-La's Boracay Resort and Spa. I seriously have no words to describe how beautiful the resort is. So grateful my husband works for the Shangri-La chain which allows us to experience the resort without paying an aram and a leg because of his discount.

Experiencing Boracay, the Shangri-La way

Everything was perfect - the room, the pool, the Adventure zone which Javi enjoyed tremendously, the gym (yes I woke up extra early to workout) and the free shuttle to D'Mall. There even was a birthday cake for Javi even if his birthday was a few days away.

We still, of course prefer trying out the restaurants in the main Boracay area so I was pleased to learn the resort has a shuttle which could take us to D'Mall during meal time.

My three favorite things on this trip:

Quiet time with this view

My favorite breakfast

Watching the sunset with the two most important men in my life

Boracay, you are still worth going back to!

Our 2011 Family Photo

2011-11-15T07:49:00.001+07:00

I am back!

Together with our trip to the Philippines, this blog has taken an involuntary hiatus. What a memorable visit! Happy to see family and friends. Happy just to be in the Philippines.

One task I had planned was to have our yearly family photo taken. In this age where social media is the prevalent tool, one really needs decent looking photos for profile pictures.

We had an informal family shoot last year for Javi's 1st birthday which were taken by our good friend, Joemarie Silva of Catchlight Photobooth/Mobile Studio. This year, he was the man again. We were extremely happy with how the photos turned out.

A glimpse of our favorite shots:

My new profile picture

Couple shot

Hands shot

Mother & son

Father & son

Javi and his long lashes

**Special thanks to Kuya Joem, Ate Eppie, Neyza, Chuchi, Nathan and Ding.

For family portraits similar to ours, please contact Catchlight Photobooth/Mobile Studio via their Facebook page or you may e-mail them at catchlightmobile@@gmail.com.

We are so ready for the holidays!!

Excited

2011-10-18T11:48:00.004+07:00

"I'm so excited and I just can't hide it..."

This is exactly what I am feeling right now. In less than a week, we will be home. Yes, Philippines will always be home even if we live here in Bangkok.

I had been so busy the past week I couldn't find the time to blog. As you know, Thailand is suffering from one of the worst flood ever. Please keep on praying for this country, and somehow we will be spared. For the first time in my life, I joined the panic buyers in stocking up food and necessities. Having a son really did change my views as I do not really panic.

Now back to happy thoughts.. We haven't been back home since we moved here last December. We are going home for my mother's 65th birthday. There is no grand party, we just want to celebrate the day with her. As it turns out, Javi will also be celebrating his 2nd birthday in the Philippines. We wold also be home for Halloween/All Saint's day. The timing couldn't have worked perfectly. So looking forward to spending time with family and friends.

I have this list in my mind (I have not written it down yet) of what I want to do while back in the Philippines. It's a random list of what I want to do and eat, and places to go.

First stop would have to be supermarkets! Oh how I've missed SM (Savemore) and Landmark where every single item is familiar. I can't wait to "hoard" things we have missed like red hotdogs, pancit canton, corned beef and try new items on the shelves. Would you also believe I am looking forward to buying Pampers diapers as that brand is not being sold in Thailand?

I have missed my mother's home cooked meals but I also miss eating at the fast food chains like McDonald's (remember there is no Quarter Pounder here in Thailand), and introduce Javi to Jollibee. My list is so long it includes Tapa King, Bacolod Chicken, etc.

As Javi is eating regular food now, I can't wait for him to try food that are distinctly Pinoy such as taho, lugaw (rice porridge) and pancit from Nory's, and so much more. I just know he will like them.

Living in a city like Bangkok made us miss the beach so we are off somewhere with white sand.

We want to hang out in UP so Javi can enjoy running (yes he prefers running to walking now) in the garden and eat lunch at the Beach House. I can almost taste the pork barbeque, ginisang monggo and salted egg.

We are looking forward to driving again. It would feel weird to be on a left-hand side road and not riding the train to go to places. Traffic is not scaring us. I really believe Bangkok traffic is worse.

My grin is up to ear as I write this. It would be great to be home.

Well, I have to go back to reality and take care of errands/tasks before we leave. And then there's the task I am avoiding, packing! Packing is something I used to enjoy. But now that I am packing for the entire family, it is no fun!

To our family and friends, see you very very soon!

Thank you, Mr. Jobs

2011-10-06T18:11:00.000+07:00

This morning I woke up to sad news.

Apple co-founder and chairman has died.

I found out through CNN's notification on my iPad.

The world has lost a visionary.

And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact

that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented.

- US President Barack Obama

“Steve Jobs was the greatest inventor since Thomas Edison.

He put the world at our fingertips.”

- Steven Spielberg

(one of the founders of Pixar rival, DreamWorks Animation)

"Steve, your passion for excellence is felt by anyone who has ever touched an Apple product (including the macbook I am writing this on right now)."
- Sergey Brin, Google co-founder

I do not know anything about Jobs’ spiritual life or his relationship to Christ.

I know, however, that Steve Jobs made an incredible contribution to the field
of Christianity. God has used his efforts for good.

-Pastor Ron Edmondson

Did you know --

http://twitter.com/#!/jwmoss/status/121787093683945472

May we be inspired with his life.

Steve Job's Stanford Commencement Address in 2005

And his 15 best inspirational quotes.

Thank you for my iPod mini in Pink, iPod Classic, Jed's iPhone and our iPads. These things made our lives easier and more enjoyable.

Rest in peace, Mr. Jobs.

Tuesday Morning Thought: Blessed

2011-10-04T08:09:00.002+07:00

October is finally here - the month I have been waiting for. Since I gave birth to my little boy on this month, I have always looked forward to October. I am overly excited about our planned trips.

For this week, I feel extremely blessed.

Yes blessed, not lucky.

I stopped believing in luck. And started believing how God has so much in store for me and my family.

Have a great week guys!

Simplifying My Make-Up Kit

2011-09-29T11:49:00.000+07:00

This year is all about simplifying my life. Who needs a complicated life anyway, right?

My old make-up kit is this plastic container which contains make-up I bought when I was still working. Oh, I love my brands - Shu Uemura, Bobbi Brown, etc. Buying these brands can get pretty expensive. I have several palettes of eye shadows, blush, lipstick. My husband knows how expensive these things are when I asked him to buy me make-up brushes from Shu Uemura. I bet he's very happy I don't use that much make-up now.

My lifestyle definitely changed when I became a stay-at-home mom. I hardly had time to fix myself and put on make-up when Javi was very little.

But now I want some color on my face so hello make-up again. I am not an expert in putting n make-up and all those make-up products. I put on make-up for only 5-minutes and I've always loved the "no-make up look". For special occasions where I need to be fully made-up, I just go to a salon.

I looked at my old make-up kit and found that I have so many beauty products that I couldn't even empty out. And I am pretty sure they are all expired and breeding bacteria now.

I have this small pink make-up kit which I use when we travel. Well, it is now my simplified make-up kit which will contain only the essentials.

My simplified make-up kit from Beabi

L'Oreal eyeshadow brush
Shu Uemura blush brush
Shu Uemura eyeshadow brush
Body Shop tweezers

Shu Uemura White Eye Light pencil
(to open up the eyes)
Maybelline gray eyebrow pencil
MAC eyeliner in Slate
Laura Mercier eye pencil in Special Brown
(favorite)

Clinique Color Surge Eyeshadow Duo in Beach and Plum
(I have always loved the texture of Clinique eyeshadows on my eyes.)

Maybelline Hyper Curl Volume Express in Very Black
Shu Uemura eye lash curler
(favorite)

NARS blush in Orgasm
(favorite)

Kiehl's lip balm
(favorite)
MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Bare Again
(Love this!!)
Clinique 07 Sheer Petal lipstick
(Love this. This came in a set and can't be bought individually.)

That's it!! I will stick with these until I used them all up or they've expired.

How about you, what's in your make-up kit?

Pamamanhikan

2011-09-27T11:35:00.000+07:00

Last weekend, my family went through this Filipino wedding tradition, pamamanhikan.

According to Wikipilipinas, PAMAMANHIKAN means:

The groom is expected to speak to the parents of his intended about his intentions, then his parents as well must call on the bride's parents to gain their approval and to plan the wedding, a practice called pamamanhikan. This custom appears to have been established by the Philippine pre-colonial Malayan forebears.

It is traditional for the groom's parents to pay all the wedding expenses, though some couples now pay for their own wedding. The bride's parents may also offer to assist. These arrangements can be discussed during the pamamanhikan.

My brother formally asked for the hand of his fiancée for marriage from her parents and family. My immediate family was there as well as all my brother's best friend and the living siblings of my mother and deceased father. Both sides of the family were well represented. Really sad I missed it as I have never been to one.

I love what pamamanhikan stands for. It shows respect for the lady the man is intending to marry and to her family as well. It is no easy task as the man will bravely face the overly protective parents of his fiancée to ask for her hand in marriage and to assure the woman's family, together with his own family, that she will be taken care of.

The pamamanhikan took place mid-afternoon so my family brought snack for my future sister-in-law's family. I really appreciate how she sent me photos as the pamamanhikan was going on. I particularly was envious of the food they got to eat.

In this modern age, you'd think pamamanhikan is a dead tradition. I'm afraid not. There is one friend whose fiancé came alone as his family lived abroad. He had to go through the pamamanhikan on his own. Hats off to the guy for bravely facing my friend's family, especially the father. Another friend who was abroad attended her own pamamanhikan via Skype. Her fiancé proceeded with asking her hand in marriage even if she was not around physically. What a sweet and thoughtful gesture.

I love Filipino customs and traditions that show respect to one's parents such as pamamanhikan, the use of "po" and "opo" when talking to older people and the "mano po" greeting. And I intend to pass these on to Javi and our future child or children. As a parent, I am responsible of teaching him/them about his Filipino heritage.

So proud of my brother for going through the pamamanhikan. I can't help but think what my father would say if he had been there. Makes me miss his presence so much.

What other Filipino customs and tradition would you want to pass on to your children?

Update to My Starbucks City Mug Collection

2011-09-23T10:38:00.001+07:00

I was surprised that the entry about my Starbucks city mug collection has had one of the highest views.

Didn't think there would be that much interest on it.

I just want to thank my husband and siblings who I have coerced into buying me the city mugs on my list. And I'm equally grateful to good friends who have helped me grow my collection.

Out of this craziness I met a fellow collector who is willing to trade mugs with me. She also changed my mind into collecting mugs from cities I have never been to.

So I had to come up with new guidelines:

For uniformity's sake, I only collect Starbucks City Mugs 2008 Global Icon series.
Any city (or even country) will do as long as I don't have it yet.

My updated list of city mugs I own are:

Bangkok

Chiang Mai

Pattaya

Melbourne

Sydney

Bali

Cebu

Phuket

Shanghai

Singapore (not in photo)

Thank you guys!!

Let me know how I can help you out with your collection. Leave me a comment or send me a message at irmaloveslife@gmail.com

Enjoy your Friday!

Unwritten Rule

2011-09-21T13:14:00.000+07:00

There is an unwritten rule between married people. It is never to talk bad about each other to anyone whatever it takes.

I found this on Pinterest and thought it was a great reminder for me.

Image source

I was inspired to create something that is more politically correct which the wife or the husband can use.

So here is my own version --

Enjoy the rest of the week!

Brilliant Uses for Ordinary Things

2011-09-20T16:08:00.000+07:00

My primary role is being a homemaker. I had found so many great ideas on Pinterest which I wanted to share with you about keeping a home, recipes to cook, organizing tips, and so much more.

For now I wanted to share how your ordinary household item, say baby powder, would have a purpose other than keep one feeling fresh. Who would have thought that the things we have at home can be used for something else?

Image from Pinterest

Apparently, baby powder gets the sand off.

Image source

Cucumber peelings can get rid of ants.

Image source

A slice of bread keeps baked goods soft and moist.

Image source

WD-40 will remove crayon marks from any surface.
As a mother of a toddler, this is definitely an assurance.

Image source

Marshmallow keeps brown sugar soft.

I have tried it and it worked!

Image source

Lastly, the ultimate extraordinary uses of 16 ordinary household items (from toothpaste to chalk).

Again, I hope you learn something new from this post.

If you have other brilliant ideas, feel free to share them in the comment form.

Mid-Week Encouragement

2011-09-14T08:42:00.000+07:00

Heaven knows I need encouragement every single day.

It's Wednesday and my busiest day of the work week.

The first two reminders are Miss Universe-inspired. Miss Angola was crowned as this year's Miss Universe. It only proves that being dark-skinned is beautiful. So everyone please, enough with the whitening creams and glutathione, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.

God made you that way which means nothing is wrong with you.

This is also a constant reminder to raise my kid/s secure of their physical aspects. Nothing is wrong with the color of their skin or the color of their eyes, or the shape of their nose. NOTHING.

Image from Oh The Lovely Things via Pinterest

Image from Pinterest

Image from happy healthy beautiful via Pinterest

And this is my personal reminder today.

I will keep on repeating this as I haul my toddler and his stroller over to CentralWorld

for my small group tonight.

Enjoy the rest of this wonderful week!

Single Mother for a Week

2011-09-11T08:07:00.004+07:00

ou would think I'd have been used to it by now, but I haven't. If there's one thing that makes me really unhappy, it's when my husband goes on a business trip. I hate being weeks apart from him.

Having Javi made things different - I was kept so busy yet it was challenge taking care of him on my own.

Jed went on another business trip recently. If we were still in Cebu, Javi and I would have been enjoying ourntime in Bulacan with my family. But since this is Bangkok and the airfare is much more expensive, we have no other choice but to stay.

This was the second time Jed has been away on a trip since we moved to Bangkok. The first time was too crazy I didn't have time to write about it.

I guess the second time was definitely easier than the first as I knew what I am capable of doing. I have no problem during the day as Javi and I are used to being on our own while Jed works. It's the evenings that I dread and the fact that I don't get a break from taking care of Javi.

So how did our week without Jed go?

Day 1: Woke up early and saw the beautiful sunrise. Even wrote two blog entries while Javi was still sleeping. It was a Sunday so we went to church. Touched by our friends in church as they took turns in looking after Javi while I bought our food for lunch and when I had small group.

Day 2: We checked out a Kinderjam class. Javi wouldn't go down and was just holding on to me. When he finally did, the class was over. This is a day of failure. My first try at cooking using my new slow cooker was a fail. Three out of four baked potatoes were inedible. I finally finished the movie Bucket List and I cried my heart out. I felt lonely in the evening as I miss Jed.

Day 3: Uh oh.. I can feel a migraine coming. It's that time of the month. Javi and just stayed at home. My cleaning lady came over. I cooked a delicious Broccoli and Cheese Soup.

Day 4: Migraine was in full blast. Aaargh! The day went in slow motion. Grateful my small group was moved to Sunday as I could not get out of the house. Thankfully I even had the energy to cook our food.

Day 5: Woke up migraine-free. Yay! It was a productive day for us. Went to our neighborhood grocery to shop for what's missing in our house. And I knew I was well when I started sticking to my to-do list. I organized our medicine "basket" and Jed's closet, paid bills online, started editing my Linked In account and finished typing our wedding vows ready to be framed again.

Day 6: Javi and I were hoping to shop at the opening of Uniqlo at the CentralWorld. We retreated as the line was horribly long. There is no way I would be in queue with an active toddler and a stroller.

The crazy line to Uniqlo

There's more

We shopped elsewhere and had a nice quiet lunch at Burger King. I cooked lasagna using the slow cooker and it was a success. This was a happy day as Jed arrived in the evening.

We were both so happy Jed is back. Javi would no longer have to talk to his dad via Skype video call every night.

I was particularly relieved Jed was back. I now have more time for myself. There are just things I can't do with Javi all wanting my attention all day. I couldn't be in front of the laptop for long period of time as he would be climbing up the table and would want to play with the keys and mouse. Now I have time to go down and exercise at the gym - one thing I could not do without Jed.

There's a good thing with Jed being away, we had more sleep. Javi slept earlier and longer. Jed comes home late so the little boy would still be playing with his dad so he sleeps later than I would want him to.

I guess you'd wonder how I managed to take showers. The trick is to take showers while Javi is still sleeping. But what if he wakes up early, I would shove the iPad into his hands and that is enough to keep him busy watching the Sesame Street videos on You Tube and Barney shows which I have uploaded.

We survived again!! Oh, I prayed hard every single day.

Jed is back and he brought me this --

Have a blessed Sunday!!

My NOT To-Do List

2011-09-04T18:00:00.000+07:00

et me try to be different and list down things I will not do.

Now why the heck would I do that? Can't I just focus on my To-Do list?

I was inspired by my favorite two bloggers, Lara Williams of To Overflowing and Michael Hyatt. Lara came up with her post, what I DON'T do, so I can do what I do. I really think it was brilliant of laying down what you cannot do so you can focus on the bigger things. Not long after, Michael Hyatt came up with his Do You Have a Not To-Do List? He listed the activities he will stop doing for the sake of greater productivity.

What actually inspired me more to come up with my own NOT To-Do List is slide #6 from Michael Hyatt's tribute to Steve Jobs which says:

iMentor Steve Jobs

View more presentations from Coach Bay

SLIDE #6

Say No to 1,000 Things

"It's only by saying no that you can concentrate on the things that are really important."

Let me say that is enough to convince me to come up with my own version.

I do not --

IRON. Ironing is my waterloo and I spent so much time trying to do it and I still don't get a favorable result in the end.

CHAT. Now that I am running a household and taking care of Javi, I do not have the luxury of time for chatting. When you find me online on Facebook chat, that would definitely be by accident. However, I have a handful of people I am in constant communication with through BBM and YM - Jed, my two siblings, and a handful of friends.

PLAY GAMES (Other than Bejewelled Blitz). I easily get addicted to games. So I dare not start on Angry Birds or Plants vs Zombies. I know myself and I know I will not stop. Case in point, Bejewelled. And I get very competitive. No more new games for me, I have things to do.

READ GOSSIP. There used to be a time when my morning would not be complete until I have read the Entertainment section of all major dailies. Times have changed and I find I have no use for those information anymore. I would even be the last to know what goes on in the lives of celebrities.

FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE TO BLOGS FOR ITS MERE POPULARITY. I am subscribed to 77 blogs in my RSS reader and it takes a chunk of my time everyday going through a hundred plus posts. I constantly reassess my subscription and I choose those blogs which would help me with my walk with God, help me become a better wife/mother/person, encourage me to live simply and teach me to be a better homemaker. Yes, I would often not know what the latest happenings are but come to think of it, do these things really matter? This also applies to the people I follow on Twitter.

SLEEP IN. Yes, my little boy is sleeping longer now and I have that luxury to sleep in during weekends. But, it just doesn't feel right. I discovered I am a morning person and I enjoy being up as the sun is rising. It is a beautiful thing to watch from where I sit in the morning during my quiet time. I like the idea of getting so much done in the morning leaving me free to relax later in the day.

BELIEVE IN LUCK, SUPERSTITIONS, HOROSCOPES, MERCURY RETROGADE AND THE SECRET. I only believe in God and His words. I do not let my life be ruled over by all these things. I do not let them stop me from the things I need to do. When I want something, I ask God for it.

The goal here is to saying no to these things so I have more time for the important things and God's plan in my life.

It's your turn, what's in your NOT To-Do list?

Sunday Morning Thought: Disposition

2011-09-04T07:08:00.001+07:00

Image from Pinterest

I went through a phase recently where my mind and emotions tricked me into thinking I am not happy.

I resented my husband's long work hours. My active toddler was too much for me to handle. I was feeling homesick. Suddenly, Bangkok did not quite look promising. I lost my appetite for Thai food.

I was depressed.

But I held on to God's words. I prayed even if it sounded I was ranting my heart out.

God was very patient with my stubborn self. And my dearest husband, too.

I asked Him why I can't snap out of this phase.

He told me to just do one thing. I got up and obeyed.

My disposition changed. I felt happier.

Since then I make an effort everyday to just focus on the good things. I saw everything in a new light.

While I frown upon my husband's long hours, he is fulfilling his role as our provider. I am grateful for a husband who works hard.

While it is so hard to keep up with my little boy and am trying hard to understand his temper tantrums, he is the sweetest and most adorable boy who amuses me every single day. I have this cutest little person who keeps me company the entire day that Jed is at work.

It is definitely up to us how our world is going to be like.

Think good happy thoughts and you will be happy. It's as simple as that.

Favorite Scent

2011-08-31T06:54:00.000+07:00

Thought I'd share with you what scents make me happy. Yes, I have a few favorites over the years. My father was a big giver of perfumes. My mother has her own collection which I think were too many and how would she be able to use them all.

My brother eventually inherited my father's love for buying perfume or cologne for the women in our family. And boy, he has a good nose. He would always get me a scent that I would love. It was guaranteed.

Who would even think I'd like the scent of jasmine? Jasmine is sampaguita, right? My memories of sampaguita was of my father buying them every Sunday to put in the image of Jesus Christ we have in Bulacan.

My favorites are: (clockwise) (1) Bath & Body Works Cotton Blossom, (2) Bvlgari Voile de Jasmine, (3) Bench Baby Cologne Lemondrop, and (4) L'eau Par Kenzo.

I would rotate these four scents. The Bench cologne when I'm at home. Cotton Blossom when I go out and it would be so hot to wear eau de toilet. Although the last I heard, Bath & Body Works phased Cotton Blossom already. Kenzo when I want a scent that would linger more. And Bvlgari for those special occasions and whenever I want to feel good. It wold be something I would wear to a wedding. But guess what, during my own wedding, I forgot to spray some as I was so excited.

Thinking about these scents this early in the day is enough to energize me.

So what are your favorite scent?

Sunday Morning Thought: Direction of Life

2011-08-28T08:09:00.000+07:00

ow why do I have all these touchy feely thoughts most Sunday mornings? I guess I feel more relaxed knowing Jed is around to help me with Javi. I usually leave our weekends free to do what we want as a family. It is our time to catch up with each other. The pressure of the work week has taken a back seat. Yes, I say work week for me, too, not just for Jed. I work non-stop during the week - running a household, taking care of the little boy and blogging when I can squeeze it in.

For this Sunday, I found inspiration from this quote --

Source: Kate from Pinterest

I have days when I would feel that being a stay-at-home mom is not what I should be doing. I definitely could do so much more than this. I get a little jealous of friends who travel so much. And you know that one of my passion in life is traveling. I could not help but think it could have been me. Or when I hear of updates from my former office and the events they had to organize, I would think, "I used to breathe and live organizing those events." Yes, I had a fantastic career ahead of me. Then God called me for something else.

Oh, I did not take it too well at first. I mopped around our house in Cebu. I had a hard time accepting my new life and roles. Then Javi came along, but boy he did not make life easier.

Yesterday, as I was watching my son eat on his own, it gave me a sense of accomplishment my job then had never given me. It may not be big things, but my major accomplishments now include weaning Javi from the bottle and hearing him say new words. I love being a mom. I love that he would run to me every time he would hear Barney's "I Love You" song and give me a big hug and a kiss. If we have a nanny then he might run to her and not me. That would be hurtful, right?

Then I got into thinking that if most working mothers were given an option, they would choose to be a stay-at-home mother.

I am where I need to be. Thank you, Lord, for making that happen.

Be blessed this Sunday!

God's Best Kept Secret

2011-08-23T12:46:00.000+07:00

Here's my first shot at creating my own printable. I like being reminded how I should live my life. I want to surround myself with positive thoughts.

Thanks to Centsational Girl for her tutorial on how make printables. And Michael Hyatt's post on Bob Goff's tweet for the timely reminder.

Let us all be God's best kept secret!

Favorite Printables, Part 2

2011-08-19T08:00:00.002+07:00

I never thought I'd post something under printables this soon. However my favorite bloggers created something I totally like and I just had to share it with you guys again.

Danielle of Life's A Journal produced an improved version of her daily pages.

Source: Life's A Journal

I love all the little tick boxes which makes it easier to tick off what I have accomplished. She also included icons for medicines/vitamins so not to miss taking them daily. B, L and D stands for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You may wish to write down dishes for the day or simply log on your calorie intake for those who are watching their calories.

Tip Junkie released her 2012 Free Calendar. I am using her 2011 Calendar which is in the cork board as part of our command center. The best thing about her calendar is it's free. I like that it's so girly. She customized her calendar to reflect holidays of the US.

Source: Tip Junkie

You may download her 2012 Calendar here.

Hope you find these printables useful as well.

Amazing Thailand: Phuket

2011-08-17T08:00:00.002+07:00

Our recent trip to Phuket was unplanned. I got a message from my husband saying he filed for leave and I was already wondering what the heck we would do when goes on leave. We definitely can't stay at home the whole time, it'll drive us crazy. I suddenly found myself booking tickets to Phuket. He arranged our accommodation.

Phuket is in my Thailand bucket list. But I didn;'t think I would be ticking it off as early as now.

The perks of having a husband in the hotel industry means he has access to industry rates and he has colleagues who would give us discounted rates.

The Resort

We scored a deal with Radisson Blu Plaza Phuket in Panwa Beach. What a beautiful resort! We were even upgraded to a Junior Suite. Javi absolutely loved the big space for him to run around. I was too happy with the his and hers sinks.

Our Junior Suite

The facilities were excellent. The seaside pool was stunning. I loved lounging in the bed instead of just a chair. There is a beach although it was low tide most of the time. We enjoyed the gym and the Sapparot Club (which is the kid's play room). Yes I was waking up early so I could run in the tread mill. I have to continue my Couch to 5K program.

Resort facilities

We were advised to go island-hopping to Phi-Phi Beach or the James Bond one. Jed and I were both not keen with it and instead opted for massage treatments at the Talay Spa. My question is, "Is there even a bad massage here in Thailand?" Every massage place/spa I go to, the massage therapists are all wonderful.

Massage treatment at the Talay Spa

The Attractions

Since we chose to be stuck in Panwa Beach area, we did our own exploration.

Jed's colleague who gave us our very good rate at the Radisson was also in the resort that time so he showed us his discovery. Ten minute walk from the resort led us to the baywalk of Cape Panwa. We just missed the sunset but we could still see the change in color of the sky. There were a number of hotels, restaurants and convenience stores in the area.

Cape Panwa after sunset

I was consulting this blog, Phuket 101, for tips on where we could go. There were only two attractions in our area - the first is the Panwa View Point. It is the highest hill in Phuket and the view point gives a 360 degree overview of the island. There is no entrance fee. One just has to climb the too many steps.

Panwa View Point

The other attraction is the Phuket Aquarium. It is not Siam Paragon's Ocean World. But for 100 baht per person, it is worth checking out. I loved aquariums and seeing different sizes, colors, and kind of fish was a delight for me. We were hoping Javi would be entertained, however he appeared scared at first then he was throwing tantrums (terrific twos) and later wanted to climb over the fence.

Phuket Aquarium

The Food

I had been warned that Phuket is uber expensive. Well, Boracay is horribly expensive, too, as it is a tourist destination. So I was expecting prices would be more expensive than Bangkok especially when Phuket attracts more tourists than Boracay.

I am prepared that food at the resort is expensive. I am pleased to learn it is not as expensive as I assumed. I am so happy to find a number of restaurants outside the resort which serves Thai cuisine. Well, I know they could've been cheaper but it's about the same price as we pay for every meal here in Bangkok.

Tree Top Restaurant
Right in front of Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket

The other restaurant we tried is along the bay walk of Cape Panwa.

Sawadee Restaurant

And of course, we have to have dessert. We found this little nook which serves cakes and ice cream. For two nights, I picked their Ferrero ice cream. It is right next to a mini supermarket.

The Trading Post

We all know about the tsunami that hit Phuket in December 2004 brought about by the earthquake in the Indian Ocean. It was still heartbreaking to read and watched what happened then. There were videos and photos on display in Phuket Aquarium.

Phuket Tsunami, December 2004

Our Phuket experience had been very relaxing. The three nights we spent was enough for now. I loved how quiet Panwa Beach is compared with the Patong area. Jed and I do not need bars and the nightlife. What we are after now is quality time with each other and with our little boy.

Panwa Beach
from my BlackBerry camera

This was from my point and shoot camera which I played around a bit.

Lastly, I added another city to my collection.

Interesting how the icon for Phuket are the same boats I took photos of.

I wonder which city in Thailand we will visit next. My bucket list only has two - Chiang Mai and Phuket. And I have already visited both cities.

My Reminder for the Day

2011-08-16T06:51:00.000+07:00

When I feel overwhelmed and there's too much on my plate, I need this reminder.

Source: Trudy via Pinterest

Breathe in, breathe out.

Sunday Morning Thought: Home

2011-08-14T07:35:00.000+07:00

nd we are back from a fantastic time in Phuket. It was one of our most relaxing trips. There is no housechores to think about and do, I had my break. Jed was not working on this trip so Javi and I had his full attention. All of sudden, Javi was showing traits that he is growing too fast and nearing the stage of "terrific" twos. (I will continue to say "Terrific" and not the other "T" word.)

My more detailed entry on how our trip to Phuket will be available by end of the week. Right now, I am still smiling remembering our bonding moments. We stayed by the pool side, Javi loved the water and would not leave the pool. We took naps. We ate to our heart's content. We walked and checked the scenery. This is why I love traveling with my two boys.

We got back last night and as soon as we landed in Suvarnabhumi Airport, I immediately thought, "It's so nice to come home to a nice airport. Sadly, I can't say the same for Manila airports, especially Terminal 1.

On our taxi ride home, I got into thinking how in our eight months here, I have made Bangkok my home. It was the same feeling I had when I would arrive at the airport in Cebu, it was home. I love the feeling of opening the door to our place, and there is that sense of familiarity. No matter how great the bed was from where we came from, nothing beats the feeling of being in your own bed.

No matter where I am in the world, home is really where my two boys are.

Source

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Why I Love Traveling

2011-08-09T07:08:00.001+07:00

have a passion for eating good food. My other passion is for traveling. There is so much joy in going to a certain place and exploring it. The older I get the more adventurous I had become that I wanted to visit exotic beautiful places. I am so blessed to have visited these picture-perfect places.

My travel philosophy
Source

Work was what brought me to so many places but that did not leave me much time to explore.

When I met Jed, I was so happy we share the same passion for traveling. And since then he had been my favorite travel companion. That would also explain why we chose Baguio City as our wedding destination. Our day was just perfect. We couldn't have held the wedding anywhere else.

Our family got bigger and we had our little boy. If you think having a baby would put a stop to our love for travel, the answer is no. We were blessed to be in Cebu then and we had a car so it was very easy for us to go on road trips and visit the different towns and cities.

It may be harder to travel with a small child. Imagine what I'd have to pack - diapers, bottles, several sets of clothes, milk, baby food and so much more. But that still did not stop us from traveling. Oh, our hotel room would get crashed with a toddler running around wanting to check out every single thing. I would have to disconnect the telephone line and hide all the pens, notepads, books and coffee table books.

I want my little boy and future child to be well-traveled. The world is a big place and I want them to explore it. There is so much that they could learn as traveling is another form of education. The experience and things they will learn from visting new places will not be taught in any school.

Why I will never give up traveling
Source

One day, I will go to each city on my travel bucket lists.

Let's All Say BORACAY, Not Bora

2011-08-05T06:36:00.000+07:00

Family and friends, I am pleading with you to stop referring our beloved Boracay as "Bora". I am also appealing to the Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, to my dismay, called Boracay, Bora. Now this may sound like a lesson in geography.

When you say "Bora", you are actually referring to an island in French Polynesia called Bora Bora. Once you talk to a foreigner and say Bora, sadly Bora Bora will come to his mind right away, not our Boracay. I am also curious so I did a little research and I am sharing photos of how Bora Bora looks like.

Beautiful, right?

Well, we have our own beautiful island called Boracay.

Boracay has the famous grotto.

Boracay's white sand is the finest there is.

Sunset in Boracay is one of the most beautiful thing on earth.

My name is Irma, and I feel bad or sometimes horrified when other people would refer to me as Erma or worse called me Irene. I have a beautiful name and I wish people would stick with that. I know Boracay feels the same way. Its name is distinct so why don't we all use it, right?

It's not as hard as you think.... BORA...CAY! See!

Sunday Morning Thought: Grace

2011-07-31T07:58:00.000+07:00

Image from Pinterest

There was a time in my life when I used to think GRACE was what it says in the photo - a little prayer you say before a meal. And there were those people I know who were named Grace. When you look through a dictionary, grace is (1) elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action, (2) a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment, and (3) favor or good will. But we all know God's grace is more than those things.

As my faith in God evolved and my situation changed, I found myself praying more and more for grace - every single day. It's like an armor which will shield me from the enemies.

In fact, I pray for grace more than patience. A wise woman in my small group shared how she stopped praying for patience and prayed for grace instead. When you pray for patience, God will not give you patience but He will give you the opportunity to practice your patience. Now that scared me and decided I will also ask for grace. Let's just say, patience has not really been my strongest trait.

Now what's all the fuss about grace?

Image from Lamplight via Pinterest

It is by God's grace that we have been saved - not because I have been good or have done good things. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

I pray for grace when I have to get through a situation I do not really like. So I may handle the situation and not let myself look like an embarrassing fool.

My day to day life as a stay-at-home wife and mother is exhausting on its own, I ask for grace when I have to deal with my very active toddler who tests my limit every so often. I also need grace when my husband has to work late nights or when he has to go away on business trips.

There would be instances when I feel like the grace is wearing off, I need to be reminded how God's grace is sufficient and how His power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Every time I say I cannot or do not want to, in reality I can because --

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and [a]earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need [b]be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].
- 2 Corinthians 9:8 (Amplified Bible)

The sign is right all along, grace is a way to live. May our every day life be filled with God's grace.

Sharing My Favorite Printables

2011-07-28T06:54:00.000+07:00

Printables are stuff which one can print on their own. I find those related to home management very helpful. As I read blogs, I see several versions of a printable and I choose one which style and format fits my lifestyle.

What I do with printables is I print them then either laminate them or put them in a card case so I can write on it using a non-permanent marker and when I'm done I could easily erase what I wrote then I'm ready for a new day or week. It saves me ink and paper, too.

Still clueless on what printables are? No need to wonder anymore as I'm sharing my favorite free printables..

A Daily Page or Checklist

From Life's A Journal via Pinterest

I love how it has a space for goals, daily to-do's, appointments, tasks, fitness goals and even a checklist to keep track of the number of glasses of water one takes in.

I have searched around for many versions and Life's A Journal is the one I like best.

Weekly Calendar

From Arian Armstrong

In a weekly calendar, I prefer that my week starts on a Monday.

Menu Planner + Grocery List

From Craft Sew Create

Menu planner and grocery list in one page saves me time. I love this version as it already has categories in the grocery list section.

Notepad

From Arian Armstrong

What made this notepad more cool is that it has one of my favorite Bible verses, Philippians 4:8-9.

Birthday Calendar

From Lemon Squeezy via Pinterest

I'm currently using one where each month is on a separate page. I like this version as it consolidates everything in one page.

Should you wish to get copies of each printable, please click on the link below each photo. It will direct you to its website and you may download them in jpg or pdf format. These are all free, so print away.

I know this would help you, especially the homemakers, as much it helped me.

Have a great day everyone!

Finding Myself in...Pinterest

2011-07-26T07:11:00.002+07:00

I have discovered Pinterest. So far I like it and it has proved very useful for me. As I am visual person, it helps having all my ideas in one place or it is called a "board" in Pinterest.

All I have to do is browse through other people's posts or in Pinterest it is called "pins." Most of the members have excellent ideas. What I do is grab what interests me and I "repin" it in my own board. I created several boards such as places I want to visit, style and fashion, ideas and tips for the home and so much more.

Sharing with you posts/pins that describes me --

From louise m via Pinterest

From Lisa via Pinterest

I know I have this gift -

From Lotta Metsarinne via Pinterest

Now, attention all husbands! This one is for you.

From Deidre Maxwell via Pinterest

Here are a few ones I can relate to --

From Marion Monica via Pinterest

From L'dell Martin via Pinterest

From Katey Walton via Pinterest

As it turns out, I am an introvert.

From Margo Marshall via Pinterest

Last week at small group, we talked about being a Barnabas and in simple words, this sums it up.

From Megan Gaudette via Pinterest

Lastly, this tugged on my heart a bit.

From Corey Ahern via Pinterest

Follow me on Pinterest, I am irmaloveslife.

By the way, if you want to try out Pinterest, send me an e-mail at irmaloveslife@gmail.com and I will send you an invite. That's the only downside as it needs an invitation to get in. That's probably the trend right now - look at Google+.

Have a great week everyone!

Breathtakingly Beautiful

2011-07-21T07:03:00.000+07:00

Have you ever had one of those moments when your jaw literally dropped while looking at a view? Simply because the view was breathtakingly beautiful. I had my I-don't-know-how-to-describe-it moment where all I could think of was how amazing our God is for creating such a landscape.

So what sceneries made my jaw drop?

Lake Louise in Banff (Canada)

View of Château Lake Louise

I am so blessed to have seen this scenery twice. The first I laid my eyes on it, I literally had no words to describe what I saw. It was that beautiful. The second experience was eating lunch at Fairmont's Chateau Lake Louise while enjoying the spectacular view. I had the chance to walk around the lake and admire the scenery.

Niagara Falls - Canada side (Canada)

Niagara Falls

Canada is a country blessed with picture-perfect sceneries. Another one which took my breath away was Niagara Falls. My memory of Niagara Falls was from the movie Superman in a scene where Christopher Reeves flew over the falls. I had no idea the falls were gigantic. It made me stop and just admire what God has made.

Sunset in Boracay (Philippines)

Image from Flickr

I firmly believe that the sunset in Boracay is the most beautiful. Other would say the one in Manila Bay is. But there is something about watching a sunset while sitting down on the beach, feeling the finest and whitest sand on your feet, and sipping a cocktail drink with an umbrella on it or an iced cold beer. Now that is the life.

El Nido, Palawan (Philippines)

Big Lagoon

Jed and I made one of the best decisions to go to El Nido Resort for our honeymoon. The experience was worth every centavo of the money we paid. I have no words to describe how beautiful that part of the Philippines is. My favorite activity was going around the lagoons in our kayak. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Now, what places made you drop your jaw out of its magnificence?

I Am A Potter Geek

2011-07-19T07:07:00.002+07:00

Last Sunday, it was the end of an era for me when I watched the last of the Harry Potter movies. I started being hooked on Harry Potter when my sister introduced it to me back in 2001. I clearly remember that it was around Halloween. She was done with the first book and I had nothing to do so fine, I read it, too. I really did not give it much thought at first. Come on, what's so special about a little boy who has magic? I guess I spoke too soon as the moment I turned those pages I was sold.

I remember running to the bookstore to buy the succeeding books when I finished the first one. I had to go to Ho Chi Minh City that time and guess what kept me company - my Harry Potter books. It was definitely a point of conversation. My boss then knew about the books as her wife read it to their sons. At the airport, I saw people with their heads down reading Harry Potter. The lady who checked us in at our hotel in HCMC recognized the book which I had to put down at the counter as I had to sign my name in the hotel card.

Oh, and I would reserve ahead of time when the new books would come out and I would bring them around with me despite the size and weight.

The popularity of Harry Potter was phenomenal. When Book 6 came out, I was reading it slowly - yes, I love my books - then it happened someone told me the ending. I was furious. So furious. That when the final book came out, I locked myself at home and would not come out until I finished the entire book. I got to practice speed reading then.

The books were made into movies. I was skeptical. I have and will always love the book more than the movie adaption. But I admit, it was great seeing the characters come to life on the big screen. When I read the books now, I have the actors playing the characters in mind now.

I prefer Harry Potter over Twilight for so many reasons. J.K. Rowling is one excellent writer. I enjoyed reading each of her book and she transported me to this whole new world of wizards and witches, and where non-magic people are called muggles. I feel for little Harry who was orphaned at such a young age. Who would've thought he was some sort of superstar in the magic world?

Oh boy, I shed so many tears from reading the Harry Potter books, I felt every emotion. Last Sunday as I watched the last movie, I was teary-eyed as I bid farewell to Harry Potter and the gang.

Thank you, J.K. Rowling for keeping me entertained for 10 years. From a single mother, who used to write her books in a Starbucks store, she is now the richest woman in Great Britain even surpassing Queen Elizabeth.

I leave you with this tweet from Emma Thompson, apparently a statement from THE Stephen King --

"Harry Potter is about doing what's right in the face of adversity.

Twilight is about how important it is to have a boyfriend."

My Dream Destinations (Philippine Edition)

2011-07-16T07:59:00.001+07:00

It's a long weekend here in Thailand for Asalaha Bucha and Khao Pansa or the Buddhist lent. Jed and I were thinking that if we only had a car, we would surely be out of town. We fondly recall our time in Cebu where we frequent road trips to different parts of Cebu.

The Philippines is a beautiful country. I am extremely proud of my motherland. I just changed my profile here in Blogger and Twitter to state my citizenship. I want the whole world to know where I come from.

I want to continue my dream destination series but this time of places I want to visit in the Philippines. my top five are:

Batanes

Marinduque

Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa

Misibis Bay

Misibis Bay

Palawan

Amanpulo

Vigan

What are your top five places to visit in the Philippines?

Have a great weekend everyone!

Dating Advice for Young & Single Ladies

2011-07-12T19:58:00.005+07:00

There is this urge for me to write addressing single ladies. My heart bleeds for women who are in bad relationships. I know God definitely has someone better for them. The longer they stay in a relationship with the wrong person, they are clearly missing the opportunity to meet the right person for them.

While I am clearly not an expert in this area, I have had my heart broken a number of times. I know how it feels to get hurt, to be left alone in thin air. I had days when I couldn't go to work as I could not think clearly. There came a point when I thought Mr. Right would never have found his way to me.

I borrowed my friend's prayer asking God that the next man I meet would be THE one, if not then please do not send any man my way as I did not want to get over a broken heart again. At the beginning of year 2003, I declared out loud at work that year I would meet Mr. Right. True enough, Jed and I started dating 3rd quarter of the year.

God is truly good and amazing. He had the right person for me.

As I deepen my walk with God, I realized that if I knew the things I know now and I have this relationship with Him, my heart would not have been broken that much. But God has a purpose for every single thing that happens to our lives, right?

My values were twisted then. My idea of a perfect relationship was based on Sex & The City. Thinking about those times make me cringe now. I was admiring the relationship of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie when all along I should have been rooting for Team Jennifer. Up to this day, after three biological children, Brad and Angelina are still not married.

I just want to share a number of great insights and relationship advices from brilliant and godly individuals whose blogs I follow.

The best dating advice --

The greatest advice I can give is this:

The way a man loves God is the way he will love you.

The way a woman loves God is the way she will love you.

from Bianca Juarez, The Best Dating Advice

When you're dating the wrong person --

#3 – If you are always defending him/her to the people who know me, love me and love Jesus. (Love is blind…and many times you cannot see the blind spots that others can see so clearly.)
#4 – If you find yourself not wanting to talk about him/her in front of the people in your life that you know may disapprove of the relationship for some reason. (Because…when this happens you are choosing to ignore what the Lord could be trying to make obvious through others because you are too involved emotionally to make a rational decision.)
#10 – If the Lord has specifically spoken to you and instructed you to end the relationship but you can’t/won’t because you either “don’t want to hurt them” or you fear that if you end this relationship then you won’t have another chance at one.

from Perry Noble, 10 Reasons I Should Not Be Dating Him/Her

How to find out if your relationship is in trouble?

You Are Not Spiritually Compatible.
You Have To Continually Defend The Relationship–Especially To Those Who Love You.
PDA
Sex IS The Relationship
You Hope That Marriage Will Change The Person. (this is the biggest LIE)
You Find Yourself Trying To Bargain With God.

from Perry Noble, Six Signs The Dating Relationship Is In Trouble...

Women, please let the man pursue you.

You deserve it. Think of Bella in Twilight being pursued by Jacob and Edward.

#3 – Be Focused
I say this a lot when talking to single ladies…but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not settle.
The Bible says in Ephesians 3:20 that God is able to do more than we could ever imagine…that’s HUGE!
I have seen WAY too many ladies settle, hoping that they could “fix the dude up!” Ladies–God didn’t call you to fix him…only Christ can do that.
If you are in Christ then you are the King’s daughter…and you do not need to settle for the boy who can’t accept responsibility…you need to wait for the man who is WILLING to fight for your heart.

from Perry Noble, How To Be Pursued By A Guy

Still waiting for Mr. Right?

4) Celebrate the moments of “loneliness.” Trust me, when you start having a serious and committed relationship, and you begin a family and take on other things on the side — that alone time can be a luxury.

from Liz Claudio (Guest Post from Samantha Johnson) Things I Wish I Learned When I Was Single

This one is absolutely true. Right now, I dream of alone/ME time as I rarely have those anymore. Gone are those days when I can do absolutely anything I want when I want to.

What are You Looking for in a Spouse? Why not Create a List? from Don Miller.

How many times do I need to remind you that you deserve the best?

2. Aim for excellence. If you realize that God is with you then you will not settle for anything less than the best. If you realize as well that in everything that you do (how you work, how you speak, how you dress up, how you handle your money and time, etc), you do it unto God, it should change the way you do things.

from Anna Moran, (For) All The Single Ladies- Part One

6. Wait for God’s best for you. BELIEVE ME, HE EXISTS. I may have done many mistakes in the past but I am so thankful that I waited for JA and that I did not settle for anything less. When he comes, you will know. There is no formula to knowing it, but, I need and beg you to have two non-negotiables: He must love and fear God & He must love, honor and respect you.

from Anna Moran, (For) All the Single Ladies–Part Two

What if he's married?

1) Perhaps the most common reason that everyone uses for getting involved extra-marital affairs is that the husband has been sexually and emotionally suffering in his marriage for a long time. "They have been having serious problems before I even came along," you say to yourself. Therefore, you cannot possibly be responsible for a marriage that falls apart.
My friend, while it is true that the marriage has probably been going through a lot of problems before you came along, you are taking away that crucial opportunity for the husband and wife to have no choice but to cling to God so that He may perform miracles on their marriage. It is never your job nor your place to be the source of the solution.

from Samantha Johnson, You Love Him But He's Married

I am so blessed to have married a man who is committed to following Christ. I grew up believing men are polygamous, easily tempted and at one point in our marriage, he is bound to cheat on me.

And this is why it is important to find a man who loves God. Someone who will put your needs above his. Someone who will love you the way Christ loves the church.

Ladies, do not even doubt that you deserve any less.

My Dream Destinations (International Edition)

2011-07-08T12:16:00.012+07:00

Inspired by my earlier post on travel souvenirs, I put on my dream cap and started thinking of my dream destinations.

If I won the lottery, what are the ten destinations I would check out?

Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

The Christ the Redeemer is included in the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Great Wall of China (China)

Machu Picchu (Peru)

New York City (USA)

New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of

There's nothin' you can't do

Now you're in New York

These streets will make you feel brand new

Big lights will inspire you

Let's hear it for New York, New York,

New York

- Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys

The Empire State Building is one the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

Prague (Czech Republic)

Every time Jed and I see a movie filmed in Prague, we would always tell ourselves, we want to go there.

Pyramids of Giza (Egypt)

One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and an honorary in New Seven Wonders of the World.

Santorini (Greece)

Taj Mahal (India)

Included in the New Seven Wonders of the World and the Seven Wonders of the Medieval World.

I love how the Taj Mahal symbolizes eternal love.

Tokyo (Japan)

If you won the lottery, where would you want to go?

Remember, it all starts with a dream.

Photo credits:

Angkor Wat http://www.sacred-destinations.com/cambodia/angkor-wat

Central Park, NYC http://worldislandparadise.com/backpacker-zone/most-romantic-wedding-locations/attachment/central-park-new-york-city-ny-6

Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro http://www.topnews.in/regions/rio-de-janeiro

Empire State Building http://theamericanlife.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/the-empire-state-building/

Machu Picchu http://www.bestsingletravel.com/Peru.html

Old Town Square, Prague http://www.citypictures.org/r-europe-148-czech-republic-198-old-town-square-prague-czech-republic-3322.htm

Tokyo, Japan http://www.travelasianplaces.com/tokyo-japan-luxury-world-class-five-star-hotels.html

Help Wanted: Starbucks City Mugs

2011-07-04T16:15:00.011+07:00

Update as of January 20, 2012: A separate page is created especially for my collection, for fellow collectors and would-be-traders. Check it out here.

Traveling is one of my passion. How I wish we had more money to spend on it. Back when I still working, I had the opportunity to visit several countries in North America and Southeast Asia. Of course, I'd want something to remember the country so I would buy those little souvenir item from each country. From paperweight to miniature stuff, I thought collecting magnets would be better as I would see them all in our refrigerator. Eventually, I got tired of the refrigerator magnets. They all look out of place.

Last year, I saw a couple of friends' album in Facebook of the Starbucks City Mug they collected from all over the world. And then it hit me, "Why didn't I think of that?' The answer is the Starbucks City Mug Global series is not available until 2008. They weren't available the time I was traveling.

Now, I've decided to start collecting them so I started off with Cebu before we moved here.

As we go around Thailand, I have several additions - Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Pattaya

Jed traveled to Australia so he got me - Sydney and Melbourne

I visited Bali in 2005. My best friend made a trip there recently so she got me a city mug of Bali.

Just when I stopped frequenting Starbucks coffee, it's when I have this desire to collect their City Mug 2008 Global Icon Series. The Philippines alone has 10 city mugs.

They look so pretty together.

I particularly like the overall mug design with the name of the city and an icon of what the city is famous for. Let's take Bangkok as an example and look at the details of the mug.

Photo from http://fredorange.com/mugs/bangkok--tuktuk_1796.html

Left is the back portion of the mug which shows Bangkok skyscrapers. Right is the front of the mug where you will find the city name and the famous icon which is a tuktuk.

My two guidelines in collecting are:

For uniformity's sake, I only collect Starbucks City Mugs 200s Global Icon series.
I only collect from cities (NOT country mugs) which I or Jed had actually visited.

I need help in buying city mugs from:
Philippines

~~Bacolod~~
Baguio
Batangas
~~Boracay~~
Cagayan de Oro
~~Manila~~
Naga
Pampanga
Tagaytay

Asia

Hong Kong
Kuala Lumpur
Penang
~~Singapore~~

Canada

Banff
Calgary
Montreal
Niagara Falls
Toronto
Vancouver

U.S.A.

Chicago
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Miami
Seattle

If you can help me in anyway, please get in touch with me by leaving me a comment or sending me an e-mail at irmaloveslife@gmail.com.

And if any of you are collecting these city mugs, I can help you with the Thailand part of the series. Leave me a comment or send me a message.

My biggest thanks!

Early Mornings

2011-06-29T13:22:00.003+07:00

I have written about my early mornings in Cebu. I couldn't believe I was waking up at 5:00 AM then. A year after, waking up at 5:30AM seems late.

Moving to a new place means new routines. When we moved to our own place, I started waking up at 6:00 AM just so I could exercise using my WiiFit. In one of Rick Warren/Saddleback Church's podcast, I realized I needed to put God first in my life, which means I must schedule quiet time first thing in the morning. That was when I started waking up half an hour earlier.

Weeks later, I found my way to Kat's blog, Inspired to Action, as I heard she was giving away a free e-book. I'm a sucker for freebies. Her free e-book is Maximize Your Mornings which is especially targeted to help mommies create an effective and life giving morning routine. It was a short book which I finished in a day. Every thing she said made so much sense and she has tips on how I can improve that hour and a half all to myself before the rest of my day starts.

Photo from http://www.soimarriedamennonite.com/

My 90 minutes now go like this:

Wake up
Get dressed in my exercise outfit

Worship. Now this is new to me, I would only read the Bible and pray without praise & worship. This actually helped set the tone.
Bible Reading. I use the You Version app for my reading plan. They have several reading plans and it now keeps track of your completed plans. I also subscribe to Purpose Driven Connection Devotional by Rick Warren & Saddleback Church.
Praying. It's my time to talk to God for Him to hear me out, and for me to listen to Him. Kat has prayer calendars for husbands and children which I use as my guide.

Exercise. I still do exercise on my WiiFit Plus but I feel like I am getting bored with them. Thanks again to Kat, I learned about From Couch to 5K plan.

I never liked running. I can walk though as I love walking. But since I needed a challenge, and after watching episodes of The Biggest Loser where all contestants are running on the treadmill, I wondered if I could also run. My friend confirmed that this plan works so why not give it try. My goal is not to run a marathon, I simply want to lose weight. I miss my exercise classes at Fitness First in the Philippines. But since I do not have the luxury of time as before I need whatever form of exercise I could do. I am now on Week 1 Day 2 of the plan. Remember when I said I don't like running, thankfully I have discipline as I wanted to stop a number of times. But I felt great after the workout and my body muscles were sore which means it is working.

My 90 minutes all to myself now ends. My husband is now up to get to ready for work and my little boy would soon wake up.

I noticed in the couple of weeks that I had been doing this, I have more energy and no longer sluggish. I am accomplishing more in a day. I get the more important tasks.

You, too, can have great mornings.

Six Months and Counting

2011-06-28T14:48:00.007+07:00

We have reached the sixth month mark of living here in Bangkok. We are happily settled here in Bangkok.

Our two bedroom unit is looking more like a home now. I finally hung the frames in each bedroom and started on a photo wall right by our dining table.

I found my routine, too. I have my nail salon, waxer, eyebrow groomer and a massage place. I love how a supermarket opened in the mini mall next to our building. It solved my grocery shopping dilemma.

I have gotten used to life without your own car. It is challenging and exhausting to ride the BTS Skytrain with Javi but I got used to it. It's either the train or riding a cab in Bangkok traffic. Yes, you choose the lesser evil.

The heat is unbearable. It feels like we're in a sauna all day. The good thing about is the laundry dries up so fast.

We arrived here and Javi wasn't even walking yet. Six months later, he is now running and I am the poor mommy who chases after him. My little boy finished his first swimming class, too.

When we moved to our own place, the farthest I had been to was the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Fast forward a couple of months and we have visited Pattaya, Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai.

Overview of the beach in Pattaya

Wat Chai Wattanaram in Ayutthaya

Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai

And visitors just keep on coming. Would you believe that we have more visitors here in Bangkok than Cebu? Both sides of our families have visited us. Friends from my hometown in Bulacan found their way here, too. I am so looking forward to the visit of two of my best girl friends. Reunion is so sweet.

New friends are not that difficult to find. The Lord is leading us to the right people.

What I never thought would happen is the way my spiritual life is growing. When I learned about our move here, it made me wonder what God has in store for us in a Buddhist country. Everything fell into place and I was astounded.

We found our church. We met a lot of wonderful people. Jed started playing the keyboard again. We both belong to a small group. I finished my One-2-One and am going through The Purple Book now. Who would've thought that the goals (#4 and #5) I set for 2010 may happen here in Bangkok?

And because we have great friends from church, Jed and I get to go on "date nights" during the day. These wonderful people look after Javi for a few hours.

We still have so many places to explore, food and restaurants to try. I am looking forward to the opening of Uniqlo and IKEA in the next couple of months.

So what's not to love about Bangkok? For now, none.

Work with Diligence (Small Change #18)

2011-06-19T22:31:00.004+07:00

This is the last small change from Elizabeth George's book Small Changes For A Better Life: Daily Steps to Living God's Plan.

Diligence is another powerful word similar to discipline. According to Dictionary.com, diligence is the constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.

Finishing this small change series took a lot of time and diligence. I would not have finished this if it were not for my determination and perseverance.

Did you know that diligence affects every area of our lives?

What motivates us to be diligent?

By being aware that life is short

Let me just share with you what motivated to finally hang the frames here in our house. It is the idea that our time here in Bangkok may be short. God may want to move us again. I want to enjoy our stay here to the fullest by accomplishing as many things as I could. And I start off with hanging the frames in our home.

By knowing God's plan and purpose in our lives

It is amazing when you have an idea of what God wants to happen in your lives. We just had a prophetic session in church this afternoon and it motivated me to be the best I could be starting with being the supportive wife for my husband and a mother raising a leader and worshiper. And there's so much more in the horizon for the three of us. Keep in mind that faithfulness and obedience will bring you blessings you would never have imagined.

Stewardship

This life is a gift from God. What do you do with God's gift? Take care of it and use it for God's purpose.

For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

- 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT)

Awareness of the time of the day

Time management is the key. Keeping a to-do/task list will keep us productive. Planning one's day in the morning helps us accomplish more during the day.

Writing and reflecting on these small changes has helped me put God first in my daily life. It touched on every role I have - wife, mother, homemaker, daughter, sister, friend and so much more. It prepared me to do more and reach out to more people.

This has been a learning experience for me, and I hope for you, too. I would love to hear what you learned from this series.

To read about the first 17 small changes, click here.

The Concert That Almost Didn't Happen (How I Fell In Love With Hillsong United)

2011-06-16T16:37:00.005+07:00

I am rock fan. I used to say I would give up my life savings should U2 come to Manila for a concert. When I said that I only had 25,000 pesos (around USD 580) or in my savings account. The next group on my list is Cold Play. I am fascinated that Chris Martin married Gwyneth Paltrow. Imagine him singing to her every night.

I have this thing for men who sings and can play the guitar. Then God is funny, I ended up marrying a man who can sing, but instead of guitar, Jed plays the keyboard. My dear husband is a balladeer.

As my relationship with Christ deepens, I found myself listening more to praise music. While Jed listens to Don Moen, I listen to Casting Crowns and Hillsong United.

Then I heard Hillsong United would have a concert here in Bangkok. I immediately asked our friends from church to buy tickets for Jed and I (and possibly Javi.)

The weekend before the concert day, I still have no idea where the concert will be. Are we going to bring Javi with us? Would Jed be able to get out of work early?

I just know how much God wanted us to watch the concert when all of a sudden, our friends from church fixed everything else - we now have a ride to the concert venue, someone volunteered to look after Javi.

As the people were entering the concert venue, an announcement was made that the show might be cancelled due to electrical problems. The drummer had been electrocuted six times while the stage caught fire twice.

Now that was awfully scary. While I felt sad, I understood. I felt sorry for the person who had to give the announcement and for the concert producer. I was teasing our friends to think about what to buy when we refund the ticket.

We didn't leave the venue even after the announcement. We somehow had faith the concert will push through or that I would have a glimpse or the band members. Most people stayed and they even sang songs while waiting.

At almost 10 o'clock in the evening, the concert started. Who would've thought, right?

Here's a tweet from the drummer, Matt Crocker --

Nothing will ever stop us from praising God with our friends around the world...not even being electrocuted...hahaless than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet ReplyMatt crocker
MattyCrocker

It was worship in an absolutely different level! It was like watching U2 but much better as everyone was worshiping God. Before this concert, I had no idea my type of music can be made into praise/worship songs.

I even had a vision. I saw my little boy worshiping God the way Joel Houston does - singing and playing the guitar. There is this prophecy that Javi will grow up to be a worshiper.

Sharing with you my favorite Hillsong United song at the moment, From The Inside Out.

A thousand times I've failed

Still your mercy remains

Should I stumble again

Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades

Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else

My purpose remains

The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades

Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart, in my soul

I give you control

Consume me from the inside out

Let justice and praise

Become my embrace

To love you from the inside out

Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades

Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame

And the cry of my heart is to bring you praise

From the inside out

Lord my soul cries out

Be blessed everyone!

Amazing Thailand: Back in Chiang Mai

2011-06-15T13:08:00.010+07:00

I ticked off an item from my Thailand bucket list - we took a trip to Chiang Mai a week and a half ago.

On my first trip to Thailand nine years ago, I visited Chiang Mai for work reasons. I immediately fell in love with the city and with Thailand.

I felt giddy and excited when I learned Jed could bring us with him. I am so excited to bring Javi to the places I had been to before.

At the northern part of Thailand, Chiang Mai means "New Walled City." In fact, visitors can see the original 1296 earthen ramparts while going around the city Chiang Mai reminded me of Cebu. The two cities have similarities as the second largest city outside the capital in terms of economy. Chiang Mai prides itself of having more natural forest cover than any other province in the north and it has Thailand's two highest mountain peaks. It attracts visitors who love nature and want to be close to nature.

What I loved about our recent trip to Chiang Mai:

1. Thai Airways

For this trip we didn't fly via budget airlines. One can really tell the difference. We never felt so important and special as we had Javi with us. We were first to board. We were given bulk head seats. They even served meals, not just crackers, on domestic flight. Fortunately for us, there was an empty chair beside us going to Chiang Mai, the little boy had more room to play and was kept busy tinkering with his own meal box.

2. Shangri-la Hotel, Chiang Mai

I am not saying this just because my husband works for the Shangri-la chain. The hotel in Chiang Mai - a city resort - is a beautiful property.

I was too happy to have found the Kid's Room. Instead of watching our hotel room got ransacked by the little boy, he was busy going around the Kid's Room playing with different toys and other kids staying at the hotel.

Kiddie sink and toilet

3. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

A new place I checked out with my two boys is one of northern Thailand's most sacred temple atop Doi Suthep's summit.

The road to the temple reminded me of the road to Tops in Cebu.

As I entered, I saw gold-plated Buddha statues. I have never seen that many Buddha states in my life.

The temple's famously photographed gold-plated chedi topped by a five-tired umbrella erected in honor of the city's independence from Burma and it's union with Thailand.

So many bells

Posing under the heat of the sun

4. Maesa Elephant Camp

It felt surreal going back to Maesa Elephant Camp. I fell in love with elephants after my trip to the camp nine years ago.

We watched the elephant show and the program was more or less the same as before.

Musical talent show and dancing

Elephant Football League

Elephant Artists Show

Dart Game Show

How elephants work - logging and lumber work show

We didn't get to ride the elephant as Jed had to be in another appointment. It turned out to be a great idea as Javi is terrified of elephants. We discovered this while we had our photo beside them.

5. Shopping at the Night Bazaar (and Tesco Lotus and Airport Plaza Mall and even the hotel shop)

We found out stuff are cheaper in Chiang Mai. Jed ended up shopping. He had his suit made. He found shoes on sale. I shopped for my Starbucks City Mug. I now have Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

I have always loved the night bazaar. On my first trip, our hotel was smacked right in the middle of the night bazaar. I remembered how my colleagues and I would have dinner and drinks at the Kalare Food Center. To my delight, this place still exists. Sadly, we didn't get to eat there. When we were supposed to go back to the Night Bazaar, it rained so we ended up staying at the hotel.

After a busy day looking after and running around with the little one, I love ending my day with a glass of wine.

Chiang Mai, I want to go back. I have yet to try the famous Khao Soi (northern chicken curry noodle), ride the elephant with my two boys, go back to have dinner at Khun Kantoke and visit a few more tourist spots.

Amy Poehler: "You Can't Do It Alone"

2011-05-30T21:59:00.007+07:00

My best friend posted this in her Facebook status,

"Continue to share your heart with people even if it's been broken. Don't treat your heart like an action figure, wrapped in plastic and never used.
-- Amy Poehler at Harvard College Class Day 2011

It definitely caught my attention. Before I knew it, I was crying and laughing my heart out watching a 15-minute video of Amy Poehler giving a speech at a recent commencement exercise at Harvard University.

What an odd choice for a speaker at a Harvard graduation. Amy Poehler is am actress and comedian. She is also a good friend of the Tina Fey. She is even known as the blond Tina Fey. If only there were more of them in the industry - those who actually use their brain.

Sharing with you excerpts of her speech.

By the way, her speech was funny and hilarious but it hits you and makes you think real hard. I can't stop thinking about it so I'm here writing.

And if I wanted to give you advice as an actor, I would tell you this: don't do it. Don't be one. There are too many. I have a lot of talented friends who aren't working. Sorry, no more room at the inn. I bet you are great, but just work with the human genome instead.

All I can tell you today is what I have learned. What I have discovered as a person in this world. And that is this: you can't do it alone. As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration. Other people and other people's ideas are often better than your own. Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life. No one is here today because they did it on their own. Okay, maybe Josh, but he's just a straight up weirdo. You're all here today because someone gave you strength. Helped you. Held you in the palm of their hand. GOD, Allah, Buddha, Gaga. Whomever you pray to.

They have helped you get here, and that should make you feel less alone. And less scared. Because it has been a scary ten years. You were young children when you watched planes hit the World Trade Center. You quickly understood what it was like to feel out of control. Your formative teenage years were filled with orange alerts and rogue waves and unaccomplished missions. For my generation, it was AIDS. We all grow up afraid of something. Taking off your shoes at the airport. My generation had to get used to awkward PSAs from boys to men telling us to use protection. But during those tough times, we realized how wonderful it felt to be part of a group.

Listen, say yes, live in the moment, make sure you play with people who have your back. make big choices early and often.

If you are scared, look into your partner's eyes. You will feel better.

I cannot stress enough that the answer to a lot of your life's questions is often in someone else's face. Try putting your iPhones down every once in a while and look at people's faces. People's faces will tell you amazing things. Like if they are angry or nauseous, or asleep.

You never know what is around the corner unless you peek. Hold someone's hand while you do it. You will feel less scared. You can't do this alone. Besides it is much more fun to succeed and fail with other people. You can blame them when things go wrong. Take your risks now. As you grow older, you become more fearful and less flexible. And I mean that literally. I hurt my knee on the treadmill this week and it wasn't even on.

Try to keep your mind open to possibilities and your mouth closed on matters that you don't know about. Limit your always and your nevers.

Continue to share your heart with people even if its been broken. Don't treat your heart like an action figure wrapped in plastic and never used.

Even though, as a class, you are smart, you are still allowed to say, "I don't know." Just because you are in high demand, you are still allowed to say, "Let me get back to you."

Which leads me to my final thought: would it kill you to be nicer to your parents? They have sacrificed so much for you, and all they want you to do is smile and take a picture with your weird cousins. Do that for them. And with less eye-rolling, please.

This is what I want to say. When you feel scared, hold someone's hand and look into their eyes. And when you feel brave, do the same thing. You are all here because you are smart. And you are brave. And if you add KINDNESS and the ability to change a tire, you almost make up the perfect person.

Inspiring thoughts for this evening.

Borrowing Amy's closing, I wish you love and light, joy, and much laughter.

(PS/ Thank you Ney for sending me the rough transcript of the speech.)