Category Archives: family

The Gift

Posted on December 11, 2008 by greenbucks| 20 Comments

One of my favorite songs is “The Gift” by Jim Brickman.

Isa sa aking paboritong kanta ang “The Gift” ni Jim Brickman.

For me, the most important gifts we can ever receive in our whole lifetime is LIFE and LOVE. LIFE because we exist and we enjoy God’s blessings as well as trials. LOVE because if we love God and the people around us everything will fall into place.

Para sa akin, ang dalawang pinaka-importanteng regalo na ating matatanggap habang tayo ay buhay pa ay ang BUHAY at PAGMAMAHAL. BUHAY dahil tayo ay naisilang at nag-eenjoy sa biyaya at pagsubok ng Diyos. PAGMAMAHAL dahil kung mahal natin ang Diyos at ang ating mga kapwa, maayos ang ating buhay.

Family. Isn’t it that they mean everything to us and we give them our love?

Pamilya. Hindi ba sila ang ating buhay at sila ay ating binibigyan ng pagmamahal?

Posted in blogging101, family, Litratong Pinoy, Memetag, Philippines, Thought Bubbles

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Frugal Christmas

Posted on December 7, 2008 by greenbucks| 23 Comments

I have started a series of Frugal Christmas posts about personalized Christmas gift tags, being on the lookout for that “perfect” chocolate chip cookies recipe so I can bake these as as gifts and handmade paper stockings as tree ornaments.

I hope to feature more of the things/ideas that I want to do.

To further perk me up, I have decided to do the Weekly Question about Frugal Christmas ideas/practices.

Check out this New York Times article: No Job and Fewer Gifts

So the Weekly Question is:

What frugal or practical Christmas tips (does your family practice) that you can share to cut down on Christmas-related expenses but not necessarily sacrificing on quality?

My answer:

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Posted in blogging101, family, Interesting Topics, Money Watch, Philippines, Urban Living, Weekly Questions

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Frugal Christmas: Handmade Paper Stocking Tree Ornament

Posted on December 6, 2008 by greenbucks| 15 Comments

For another Frugal Christmas post, I present “Handmade Paper Stocking Tree Ornament”.

Here is my post about Personalized Christmas Gift Tags.

My two younger children did these, two for each of them. When we were looking at these ornaments when we hung these, I thought the paper stockings look old-fashioned when put side by side to newer and more modern designs of tree ornaments these days.

Materials:

  1. red construction paper
  2. white paper scraps, preferably Japanese paper
  3. craft glue
  4. Scrapbook embellishments

I just instructed the kids about what they should do and they did these quite well. Another post will be dedicated to the instructions and tips.

For now, we sit back on our (almost) modern furniture and enjoy the crafts hanging on the tree that they made.

Yes, there is going to be another post about another handmade paper ornament that they have done.

Posted in family, Money Watch, Philippines, Photos, Visualizations

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Looking for Baked Goodies Recipes

Posted on December 5, 2008 by greenbucks| 3 Comments

I am on the lookout for the perfect chocolate chip cookies recipe or the perfect fudge recipe.

Why? I plan to give these away to relatives and friends.

Because I am determined to practice “Frugal Christmas” though of course, because I have forgotten the baking lessons I have had eons ago, I may even be spending more than I care to if my baking forays will end up as failures.

Not to mention getting those necessary equipments for these experiments mean another extra dip in my already dwindling resources, I am still determined to do these and not shop for other gifts besides those for my students.

Below is something I made that comes from a recipe for blueberry muffins but I decided to put these in mini loaf pans so the kids can have slices instead of muffins. Turned out ok, I guess since they ate everything. Or maybe they were just hungry.

If these are not too good to give away, if they are edible at least and not life-threatening ( 😀 ), my kids would be more than willing to have these for themselves. I know how they loved baked goodies.

For those people I know who are eternally looking for the best fat burner, hah, get ready to eat these baked goodies once I perfect the procedure. As if.

Posted in Dining, family, For Information, Money Watch, Photos

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21 Days to go Before Christmas

Posted on December 4, 2008 by greenbucks| 21 Comments

Today is December 4. And if my counting is right, it is just 21 days before Christmas. Are you excited already?

Ika-4 ng Disyembre ngayon, at kung tama ang bilang ko, 21 na araw ng lang, Pasko na. Eksayted ka na ba?

Last year, we didn’t put up a Christmas tree. We just decorated the front door with the usual garland decoration that we have been using for years. I wanted to see if my family can feel the Christmas spirit with our home devoid of decorations. Other than that, I was too busy and too stressed out to put up a tree.

Noong isang taon, hindi kami naglagay ng Krismas Tree. Isinabit lang namin ang aming garland sa harapang pinto ng bahay. Ito ay ilang taon na din naming ginagamit. Gusto kong maramdaman ng aking pamilya ang diwa ng Pasko kahit wala kaming mga dekorasyon sa bahay. Tsaka isa pa, ako noon ay napaka-abala at pagod upang makapag-dekorasyon pa.

The children did not mind not having a tree. In fact they didn’t ask why. The Christmas spirit? It was felt because we know that loving each other is enough to make Christmas a truly memorable experience for them.

Hindi naman nagtanong ang mga bata bakit wala kaming puno. Ang diwa ng Pasko? Naramdaman naman namin dahil alam namin na ang pagmamahal sa isa’t isa ay sapat na para maging mas makabuluhan ang Pasko.

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Posted in blogging101, family, Litratong Pinoy, Philippines, Thought Bubbles

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