Christmas is Over But You Can Still Plan for Next Year

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So we’ve moved into a new year, and the festive period has come to a close now. We’ve all had an amazing time with our families and friends. But now it’s time to get back to the mundanity of the daily grind. It’s unlikely many of us will be looking to next Christmas already, but this is actually a pretty good idea. I think that the best way to improve and enjoy the festive period is to make sure it’s all planned out in advance.

Christmas Almost!

Yesterday as I turned the calendar to December I was wondering how fast time went by. Above was our tree the other year and it seems like am staring at it for the first time. I must admit I am not really into Christmas trees or any decoration for that matter and I am ashamed that I am not. The hubby and my mother in law are the ones always eager to put up one. This year I chose blue for our color theme. I have yet to take a photo of the tree though. I hope I give justice to my favorite color LOL.

The Birth of Jesus

A story that always draws me to my knees and makes this soul and heart embrace humility....

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...as told in Luke 2 

NIV (New International Version)

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The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

Oh Winter Wonderland, Christmas Almost

Me with Frosty ☺


and I find myself singing fa la la la la la la la la!!!!

A very merry Christmas one and all!!!😙

~the lobby, Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point, San Fernando City, La Union

posted from Bloggeroid

Gifts for Someone Kooky This Christmas

If you know somebody who could be considered ‘kooky’, you’re probably worrying about what to buy them for Christmas this year. You can’t just buy them something normal - surely they’d frown upon it? Here are some kooky ideas to suit all budgets!

A Design Your Own Perfume Set

Instead of splashing out a fortune on some expensive perfume, buy a ‘design your own perfume’ set. This way, the receiver will be able to way a scent totally tailored to them in every way. It’s a lot of fun to do too!

Music Pillow

Christmas Thoughts

I can't believe Christmas season is here again! The atmosphere has become jolly in the streets, in the mall even in the office and the hospital. I've been checking out department 56 villages here and there and realizing how swiftly the days have passed. On Monday our institution will be sponsoring the merry-making at the Christmas village and whew it seems only yesterday when we listened to Christmas carols and ate to our heart's content the delicacies for sale at the stalls.

 



All Wrapped Up: 3 Of The Best Christmas Gifts For Her

The whole Christmas present thing can turn into a bit of a nightmare, especially around about now with the big day fast approaching. And why is it the biggest problem spots are the people who should be easy? Mum, sister, girlfriend, you ought to know what they want, right? Wrong. If you’re anything like me, you trawl the shops searching for inspiration that never comes and end up panic buying something she has to pretend to like come Christmas day. Well, not this year! Here’s a list of three great gift ideas for the women in your life to make the whole thing just a little less stressful.

Image Source: SherryRose

How To Buy The Perfect Present Without Worrying About The Cost

Whether you're looking for Christmas presents, you have a loved one's birthday coming up or you're attending a baby shower it can be hard to find the perfect gift. For many people, it can be worrying to know how much they are expected to spend on gifts. However, when it comes to presents it really is the thought that counts.

Christmas Stock Images

Present website www.whositfor.co.uk advise that we should think more about the gift rather than worrying about how much it costs. When someone gets a gift that they really love, they don't worry too much about how much it costs. Instead, they are just happy that you have taken time out to think about something that you really like.

The Ultimate Guide to Spending Christmas in London

Christmas is a magical time of year, but no more so than in London. London seems to celebrate Christmas with style and aplomb. There is a smattering of tasteful Bavarian markets throughout the city. The Oxford Street Christmas lights are sure to please everyone. They have become something of an institution in the UK. In short, Christmas-time in London is truly magical.

Every year, Christmas seems to get bigger within the Capital. So, if you are keen to head to London this December, there is a wealth of things that you can do.

Let’s find out more.

Hyde Park

Hyde Park transforms itself into a winter wonderland during the festive season. From mid-November, there is ice skating, festive cheer and sculptures to enjoy. Traditional Bavarian food is on offer in the form of bratwurst and crepes. There is also ice skating within the confines of the park too. You can head to Santa’s Grotto with the kids and make their Christmas one to remember.

Pug Girl

6 Things We Only Do At Christmas But Should Do More Often

The idea of Christmas will put (most) people in a good mood. Everyone has their favourite part of the festive season, from spending time with family to the food and drink. However, there is no reason these much-loved activities cannot be enjoyed throughout the year.

1. Sing together. The only time you can get away with singing with your family round a piano is at Christmas time. But it doesn’t have to be this way. If you love to sing why not join a choir, an acapella group or just sing in the streets (you might even make a few bob).

Image from Flickr

Christmas, Almost

Everywhere I go these days, the spirit of Christmas is already felt in home and hotel decorations. I guess it is time we start giving colors to our living room too! ☺

More important than that though we all must share our blessings may it be Christmas season or  not afterall, the real meaning of the season is heartfelt giving, genuine caring and unconditional loving! ☺

Gifts You Can Make For Your Loved Ones This Year

We're quickly approaching the time when we need to start thinking about what we're going to buy for our loved ones this Christmas. When you start to look at presents you'll usually find that there are plenty of choices around but they're not always special enough  to give as gifts. If you're looking for fun and exciting presents to give family and friends this year why not consider making your own?

When you start to look at crafty things to make there are loads of ideas. The trick is to find something within your abilities and give yourself plenty of time to make it. Websites like http://grandmalikestosew.com can help with this.

A Baby Bonnet

If you know someone who has a baby or is pregnant then baby bonnets can be a good choice. The great thing about baby bonnets is that they are quite easy to make and you can easily tweak the style of these. This type of gift can even be given for birthdays and baby showers, so the possibilities are endless.

Finger Puppets

If you have young people to give gifts to then why not make finger puppets? You can make a whole family of them in all sorts of different ways to suit the child you are giving the gift to. If you're a crafty person then finger puppets can be a great way of using scraps of material up.

Flickr

The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide 2014

With the cold nights drawing in, and winter is well and truly on its way, it’s time to start thinking about Christmas. Yes, it’s that time of year again where we all start writing out our wish list for good old Saint Nick. Among the excitement of the festive period, it’s time to start thinking about gifts that we can bestow to others. After all, while it’s nice to receive gifts at Christmas, it’s also great to see the look of wonderment on others faces too.

So, with Christmas just around the corner it’s time to start getting creative. After all, no one wants yet another sock gift set. It’s time to start looking at unusual and quirky gifts that everyone is sure to love.

Here is the ultimate Christmas gift guide for 2014.

Hades2k

Christmas 2013: Project Smile

Yesterday was one of the most fulfilling days I had at work. Maybe because the Christmas spirit was lingering in the air and everyone seemed kind and gay. 

Inspired by my blogging besties' gift-giving at an orphanage last year I set off  on a Christmas project: smile! 

The delicious not too sweet treats from Chynna cupcakes helped me spread the holiday cheer among the sick and their families.

The most fulfilling celebrations are the ones which are purposeful and shared. 

May you all have a meaningful day!

Happy birthday Jesus!

The Lantern: Just Another Christmas Story

She was walking along the shore watching the sky change color. She was at it again, trying to bring back the memories at the end of the day. She thought that if she could catch the rays of the sun, precisely the same light waves it would change everything. So she kept writing on the sand, his name next to hers with cupid's bow and arrow. She'd replace the image as soon as the waves crept to erase it. The water tickled her toes and she giggled. The sand turned yellow and made cupid's bow glisten. She smiled, that kind of smile that 's out of this world. "I see you! It is you Alex! What took you so long?" She began running towards the water. With arms outstretched and hair hanging loose she jumped into the water. The sun was almost gone. It painted the world a mixture of peach, velvet and gray. Save for the fishermen meters away the area was almost deserted. She felt the splash of fluid on her trunk and the wind blew on her ear. She could see Alex waving and winking at her. She closed her eyes and took a dive. He was finally here and her heart sang with the sky as the gigantic ball of light disappeared and made way for night. As a huge wave encompassed her being she lost control of her limbs and gave in to the weariness of her body. She was panting when she regained consciousness. Someone has been blowing air into her lungs and she coughed and coughed before she could open her eyes. A woman thrice her age lifted her torso and embraced her, softly rocking her body in a lullabye. "Ssssshhhh hush now Ana dear." She whispered as she gently stroked her hair. "Alex has long been gone Ana, he has gone to the afterlife long ago but we have each other dear don't despair sssshhhhh ssshhhh hush now dear." The woman fought back the tears as Ana stared her straight into her eyes and said "No you are wrong I just saw him and he was calling out my name!" "My son is gone Ana, he drowned years ago here. You were with him remember?" She looked out into the vastness of space and for several minutes remained pensive.  The sound of distant motorboats brought her back to her senses and she began to cry.  She groaned in anguish like an abandoned child.  "Alex!!!!!!!!!" she called out struggling to crawl her way to the ocean. It was the fifth death anniversary of Alex on the day of their wedding. She passed out crying in the arms of Alex's mom.

Three years after she was standing on the same spot watching the sun kiss the sea. A child  was holding her hands asking her to play on the sand. The child began scribbling on the ground.  She drew a huge heart and wrote her parents' names on the sand. Ana loves Andrei. Ana smiled and gave the child's shoulder a pat. She breathed a sigh and smiled. She whispered to the wind and said "Forgive me Alex, I bore the son of Andrei but it was always you I loved. Forgive me because the pain I gave you made you take your own life thinking I never loved you at all. Forgive me."  Shaking hands touched her nape and she froze. A voice said "he has forgiven you, I feel it. My sons both loved you and now we must move on." My grandson is waiting and Christmas is just hours away. Ana smiled with tears welling up her eyes.  The two women embraced and watched the sun give way to the stars twinkling above the universe.

Angels We Have Heard On High! Dawn Mass, St. Michael The Archangel Parish

Please play the video below before scrolling down to feel more of that dawn mass atmosphere...

Merry Christmas San Fernando!

Walking the streets in the city, I could feel the holiday cheer. Although everywhere in the country there is some sort of cost cutting when it comes to Christmas celebration as a way of sympathizing with the typhoon Haiyan victims, one could still feel the jubilation at the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

the giant San Fernando City, L.U. Christmas tree in broad daylight

Nativity Scene at the Provincial Capitol

The spirit of giving lives on- wearing shirts for the benefit of typhoon Haiyan victims

..there are numerous governmental and non-governmental efforts to send love to those in need~

because no tragedy could ever stop everyone in my country from being the happy, caring people that we are...

Merry Christmas One and All...

May everyone find peace and joy in the simple celebration of the birth of our Savior...

...I will share with you scenes from the Christmas village next time, to keep you posted...

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Healthy Thoughts: Waiting For Christmas At Home

Look who are eagerly waiting for the Christmas Season at home...

Drawing the curtains we could see a foggy shimmer of the sky in the morning....

...and our pets having a grand time lazing around the porch with our Christmas decors...

I wonder what they want for Christmas....

 

...that's one of our cats with the Christmas tree looking like its tail...

 ...seems to be saying, don't you dare touch our tree! :)

 ..and there's our other cat, guarding the tree by the lawn...enjoying the first rays of sunlight..

..and our dog M resting underneath our dancing stars..

We're still planning our Nativity Set, what materials to use and where to put it up.

I could almost picture our pets sleeping beside baby Jesus on a manger and beside the three Kings.

I bet if they could speak our language they too would agree with the family's wish for Christmas...

"comfort for the sick, food for the hungry, hope for the weak and peace in everyone's heart"