Getting Tagged + the Kreativ Blogger Award

This Kreative Blogger Award was given to me by my dear friend from my Philadelphia past, Kathleen. Thanks so much, Kathleen!

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I am thrilled to have been chosen one of Kathleen’s 7 best-loved blogs and as it is with awards like this, it is now my turn to pay it forward and choose 7 of my own best-loved blogs. Of course, I love more than 7 blogs, most specially the blogs of my mommy blogger friends. But for now, I will list the blogs that first come to my mind.

1. Insightful Personhood – My sister in Christ/kumare (both ways)/great friend Aly maintains this blog. Aly is one of the most creative people I have known. She loves scrapbooking and her Christmas gifts are always a delight to receive because she thinks up different ways to wrap the package and decorate it with twirly colored ribbons or a touch of something like a cut-out Christmas tree or hanging ornaments. In this blog, Aly bares her heart. She writes about her family life as well as her insights in her journey as a daughter of God. If there is one blog I can go to to draw inspiration from, it is hers.

2. Heart of Rachel – Rachel is one of my mommy blogger friends. Her blog is aptly titled because it is ALL HEART. She writes about anything and everything close to her heart. She writes about her family experiences, puts up great household tips and anything that catches her heart. When you visit her blog, you immediately notice how bright, colorful and tasteful it is. It gives you a sense that its owner is a happy optimist. Which Rachel is.

3. Memories in the Eyes of the Digiscrapmom – This title fits Liezl to a T! She is my ultimate digital scrapbooking idol — only because I have tried, truly tried, to keep up with the 4 kids’ scrapbooks and am still an utter failure in this department. I have (by last count), 3 plastic stackables filled with long, brown envelopes of the kids’ pictures, schoolwork and other souvenirs. Maybe I do need to go digital instead of tackling the cut & paste style of scrapbooking in the days of my mom and lola.

4. Flipflopping my way around town – Fran’s a neighbor. A really close neighbor. As in — the street right behind ours. And to top it, she blogs mostly about her food experiences. Her blog is eye candy. Colorful, lots of pics, and very light reading. I love visiting and finding out what new restaurants she tried and reviewed. Food blogs are better than visiting restaurant websites because I get the real deal from people who actually tried the food and service. Fran’s blog is one such site. Of course, she is now busy with preparations to move on to another state of life (woohoo!) but she still finds time to do her foodie posts. Keep ’em comin’, Fran!

5. Wifely Steps – Toni is in the last stages of her pregnancy and is awaiting Timmy’s birth. Her blog is all about her journey as a wife. Just reading her posts makes me smile because it is so easy to empathize with Toni’s experiences.

6. The Journey of a Yogini – Meet Chona, my BYFF (Best Yogini Friend Forever). Chronological age separates us but not our free spirits. When we’re together, we talk, laugh and get into just about any topic. I love being with her. Our souls commune. We are both free spirits (or at least trying to be as free as possible within social norms, haha). This yoga blog of Chona’s shows how far into her yoga journey she has come. She started her yoga practice later than me but now, she is a regular in her ashtanga class. When you read this blog, you see the depth of my BYFF’s thoughts (but hey, she is funny when she wants to be too!).

7. TeacherJulie.com – Julie is a special education teacher. Her blog is unique in that she shares her own experiences and knowledge on special education and parenting. But that is not all her blog is about. Julie is a warm, wonderful person whose sunshine personality shines through in her posts. I love browsing her blog and finding posts that make me think deeply or laugh out loud or lead me to resolve to do something.

Part of receiving the Kreative Blogger award is making up a list of 7 things that I love so here goes:

1. Christmas – Who does not love Christmas? It’s my favorite season of the year. This is the wonderful thing about the Philippines — when September comes around, it already begins to feel like Christmas. We are probably the only country that celebrates Christmas THIS long! And I love it. I love the sights, smells, and the activities. And I love going to the Masses, hear the carols, greet familiar faces coming out of church, spending time to greet one another…

2. Hugs – I am a touchy-feely person. I easily hug and embrace people (probably sending some people who are not used to this familiarity into uncomfortable fits).  And I do love receiving hugs as well. It’s my first instinct when I am around people I love. My teen boys sometimes squirm when I hug them while they are focused intently on World of Warcraft or some other online video game but I am sure this reassures them that I love them to bits. One of the best ways to start a day is to be hugged. They say everyone needs a hug at least once a day. I agree 100% and the more frequently it is done, the better for one’s self!

3. My family – My support system. My life. My reason for being. My loves.

4. Connecting with friends online or in person – This is one of my real loves — being able to connect with friends in whatever way. Lately, I have been trying to find old friends via Facebook and am happy to report that I have been quite successful. Chatting online or meeting up at some mall for a quiet (no, scrap that.  I meant — laughter-filled) reunion really takes years off one’s face.

5. Reading books – Bookworm, bookaholic, bibliophile, bookista. That says it all. I just love books! And it’s contagious. My whole family reads. That’s why we all have bad eyes….

6. Yoga – This is one of my passions now and I must say it has helped my mindset towards many things. Despite being a Type A personality, I am better equipped to deal with stressful situations as long as I have my yoga. I also feel healthier at this stage of my life compared to when I was in my 20s and 30s.

7. Blogging – I have never been able to keep a daily diary like my Mom who has literally filled more than one filing cabinet drawer with her diaries which she started in the 1950s and has faithfully maintained till now. If I want to know what happened, say, on Christmas Day of 1980, she would have the answer. But now I have been caught by the blogging bug and while it is very far from a daily diary, it gives me a chance to put down in writing things and events that I want to preserve for life.

Now, for the owners of the 7 blogs I tagged, it is your turn to pass this award on to 7 other blogs you love and list down as well 7 things that you love.

Filipino Bucket List

My dearest friend from Philly, Kathleen, posted this on her Facebook.

How intriguing! I have my own personal bucket list — but a Filipino version? Anyway, it seemed like fun to go down the list and check those I had done already and plan for those I haven’t. Why not do the same and send me the link to your post!

Just place an X by all the things you’ve done and remove the X from the ones you have not.

(x) Walked in the flood
(x) Ate balot (and penoy) – and yes, never again for balot!!!!
(x) Ate kambing (goat), ( ) aso (dog) or () bayawak (giant lizard) – just dog (and only by accident — at a canao festival in Baguio. I only found out after our dog back home growled at me and refused to approach.)
() Ate adidas (chicken feet), helmet (chicken head) or isaw (chicken intestine) 
(x) Rode a tricycle
(x) Rode a karitela
( ) Rode a trolley by the houses along the riles (railroad)
(x) Been to the Rice Terraces – went with officemates as part of our Camera Club event
(x) Shot the Rapids at Pagsanjan
( ) Gone to the Lanzones Festival
(x) Ate with your fingers on banana leaves
(x) Ate Taho
(x) Ate aratiles
(x) Attended Simbang Gabi ( Midnight Mass ) – but never finished the whole set
(x) Played Patintero 
(x) Played Tumbang Preso
(x) Played Piko
(x) Played Sungka – I have my own sungka and shells!
() Played with Spiders (Gagamba derby)
() Climbed a coconut tree 
(x) Danced the Tinikling – at school in Philadelphia, with friend Vince Perez, during United Nations Day
() Got on a jeepney where you had to stand
(x) Got on a jeepney
() Caught fish in the canal during a rainy day
( ) Participated in Ati-Atihan
(x) Eaten fish head
( ) Got drunk from lambanog (coconut wine)
(x) Attended a Prosesyon (Procession of the Stations of the Cross) during Holy Week
() visited an inmate at Bilibid prison
(x) Gone to Baguio – many, many times
(x) Gone to the Sagada – went with officemates as part of our Camera Club event
( ) Gone to Palawan (have been to Mindoro).
(x) Gone to the the Visayas – am from there and continue to visit up to now
(x ) Gone to Mindanao – lived there as a child
(x) Lived in any other part of the Philippines – Luzon now
(x) Cut class – who doesn’t anyway? 🙂
(x) Told manananggal, aswang stories during a brownout or rainy night
(x) Slept under a mosquito net
(x) Slept on a banig (mat)
(x) Polished the floor with coco husk (bunot)
(x) Tasted durian – I LOVE THIS FRUIT!
(x) Ate pandesal filled with condensed milk
(x) Dunked pandesal into hot coffee
(x) Rode a kalabaw – once, as a child, in Guimaras Island
() Took a bath under a “poso” or by the “ilog” (in the ilog!)
(x) Used a pumice stone when taking a bath
(x) Tumulay sa kawayan 
() Kept vigil at the Cemetery for Nov. 1st
() Had their first date in Luneta
(x) Have gone inside Malacanang – field trip
(x) Gone shopping at Divisoria
(x) Has serenaded or has been serenaded (harana)
( ) Gone to Camiguin Islands
() Gone shopping in Quiapo
(x) Eaten champorado with chokolate and tuyo
(x) Eaten dirty ice cream – sorbetero ice cream is LOVE!
(x) Greeted your grandparents or elders by kissing their hand or having them touch your forehead
(x) Seen Taal Volcano – not just seen it; we were able to climb up to its crater!
(x) Watched the sunset by Manila Bay

What Kind of Tree Are You?

Joy emailed this to me.

She is an Apple Tree and the description of her self was pretty accurate. Funny, the kind of tree I am was also a fairly accurate description of moi.

(This is me — a CEDAR TREE!)

Why not try this and let me know if the tree fits YOU!
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Find out first what kind of tree you are by referring to the birth dates given. Then look up the description of your tree.

Dec 23 to Jan 01 (Apple Tree)
Jan 01 to Jan 11 (Fir Tree)
Jan 12 to Jan 24 (Elm Tree)
Jan 25 to Feb 03 (Cypress Tree)
Feb 04 to Feb 08 (Poplar Tree)
Feb 09 to Feb 18 (Cedar Tree)
Feb 19 to Feb 28 (Pine Tree)
Mar 01 to Mar 10 (Weeping Willow Tree)
Mar 11 to Mar 20 (Lime Tree)
Mar 21 only (Oak Tree)
Mar 22 to Mar 31 (Hazelnut Tree)
Apr 01 to Apr 10 (Rowan Tree)
Apr 11 to Apr 20 (Maple Tree)
Apr 21 to Apr 30 (Walnut Tree)
May 01 to May 14 (Poplar Tree)
May 15 to May 24 (Chestnut Tree)
May 25 to Jun 03 (Ash Tree)
Jun 04 to Jun 13 (Hornbeam Tree)
Jun 14 to Jun 23 (Fig Tree)
Jun 24 only (Birch Tree)
Jun 25 to Jul 04 (Apple Tree)
Jul 05 to Jul 14 (Fir Tree)
Jul 15 to Jul 25 (Elm Tree)
Jul 26 to Aug 04 (Cypress Tree)
Aug 05 to Aug 13 (Poplar Tree)
Aug 14 to Aug 23 (Cedar Tree)
Aug 24 to Sep 01 (Pine Tree)
Sep 02 to Sep 12 (Weeping Willow Tree)
Sep 13 to Sep 22 (Lime Tree)
Sep 23 only (Olive Tree)
Sep 24 to Oct 03 (Hazelnut Tree)
Oct 04 to Oct 13 (Rowan Tree)
Oct 14 to Oct 23 (Maple Tree)
Oct 24 to Nov 11 (Walnut Tree)
Nov 12 to Nov 21 (Chestnut Tree)
Nov 22 to Dec 01 (Ash Tree)
Dec 02 to Dec 11 (Hornbeam Tree)
Dec 12 to Dec 21 (Fig Tree)
Dec 22 only (Beech Tree)

TREES (in alphabetical order)

Apple Tree (Love) — quiet and shy at times, lots of charm, appeal, and attraction, pleasant attitude, flirtatious smile, adventurous, sensitive, loyal in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, many talents, loves children, needs affectionate partner.

Ash Tree (Ambition) — extremely attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with fate, can be very egotistic, reliable, restless lover, sometimes money rules over the heart, demands attention, needs love and much emotional support.

Beech Tree (Creative) — has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialistic, good organization of life and career, economical, good leader, takes no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime companion, keen on keeping fit (diets, sports, etc.).

Birch Tree (Inspiration) — vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly, unpretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.

Cedar Tree (Confidence ) — of rare strength, knows how to adapt, Likes unexpected presents, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, a great speaker, determined, often impatient, likes to impress others, has many talents, industrious, healthy optimism, waits for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.

Chestnut Tree (Honesty) — of unusual stature, impressive, well-developed sense of justice, fun to be around, a planner, born diplomat, can be irritated easily, sensitive of others feelings, hard worker, sometimes acts superior, feels not understood at times, fiercely family oriented,
very loyal in love, physically fit.

Cypress Tree (Faithfulness) — strong, muscular, adaptable, takes what life has to give but doesn’t necessarily like it, strives to be content, optimistic, wants to be financially in dependent, wants love and affection, hates loneliness, passionate lover which cannot be satisfied, faithful, quick-tempered at times, can be unruly and careless, loves to gain knowledge, needs to be needed.

Elm Tree (Noble-mindedness ) — pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, modest demands, tends not to forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of humor, practical.

Fig Tree (Sensibility) — very strong minded, a bit self-willed, honest, loyal, independent, hates contradiction or arguments, hard worker when wants to be, loves life and friends, enjoys children and animals, sexually oriented, great sense of humor, has artistic talent and great intelligence.

Fir tree (Mysterious) — extraordinary taste, handles stress well, loves anything beautiful, stubborn, tends to care for those close to them, hard to trust others, yet a social butterfly, likes idleness and laziness after long demanding hours at work, rather modest, talented, unselfish, many friends, very reliable.

Hazelnut Tree (Extraordinary) — charming, sense of humor, very demanding but can also be very understanding, knows how to make a lasting impression, active fighter for social causes and politics, popular, quite moody, sexually oriented, honest, a perfectionist, has a precise sense of judgment and expects complete fairness.

Hornbeam Tree (Good Taste) — of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egoistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgment in an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of
its decisions, very conscientious.

Lime Tree (Doubt) – intelligent, hard working, accepts what life dishes out, but not before trying to change bad circumstances into good ones, hates fighting and stress, enjoys getaway vacations, may appear tough, but is actually soft and relenting, always willing to make sacrifices for family and friends, has many talents but not always enough time to use them, great leadership qualities, is jealous at times but extremely loyal.

Maple Tree (Independence of Mind ) — no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.

Oak Tree (Brave) — robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.

Olive Tree (Wisdom) — loves sun, warmth and kind feelings, reasonable, balanced, avoids aggression and violence, tolerant, cheerful, calm, well-developed sense of justice, sensitive, empathetic, free of jealousy, loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.

Pine Tree (Peacemaker) — loves agreeable company, craves peace and harmony, loves to help others, active imagination, likes to write poetry, not fashion conscious, great compassion, friendly to all, falls strongly in love but will leave if betrayed or lied to, emotionally soft, low self-esteem, needs affection and reassurance.

Poplar Tree (Uncertainty) — looks very decorative, talented, not very self-confident, extremely courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy, often lonely, great animosity, great artistic nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously.

Rowan Tree (Sensitivity) — full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive.

Walnut Tree (Passion) — unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, often egotistic, aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions, spontaneous, unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon partner, not always liked but often admired, ingenious strategist, very jealous and passionate, no compromise.

Weeping Willow (Melancholy) – likes to be stress free, loves family life, full of hopes and dreams, attractive, very empathetic, loves anything beautiful, musically inclined, loves to travel to exotic places, restless, capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with when pressured, sometimes demanding, good intuition, suffers in love until they find that one loyal, steadfast partner; loves to make others laugh.

 

 

What’s In a Name?

Saw this post on Dine’s blog and was curious to find out what my own name meant. Funny, my name’s meanings almost hit the nail on the head (except, in my opinion, for the “flaky” part). Is it really possible that we become what our names’ hidden meanings connote? Find out for yourself….


What Jane Means


You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you.
You never give up, and you will succeed… even if it takes you a hundred tries.You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice.You are usually the best at everything … you strive for perfection.You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.

You have the classic “Type A” personality.

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.

You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.

You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone.

You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together.

At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

My Type of Guy

My daughter C1 posted this meme on her blog and curious me, I decided to take a peek to see what was HER type of guy. Well, as I scrolled down the page, it got me thinking of who was MY type of guy. I mean, hubby should be it, right? But just out of curiosity, I decided to make up my own answers along the way. So, if you still remember what it was like to dream about your dream guy, take the test as well! And….let me know!

1. Suplado = Hm..this type of guy will attract me at first but after a while, it gets tiring to deal with an inflated ego.

2. Mr. Shades = Yes, definitely racks up points with me.

3. Masculado = Mr. Muscle Man with humongous, rippling muscles? No thanks. Fit and healthy — better.

4. Guys who give flowers = Does not have to always. But it is nice to be remembered this way once in a while. I prefer chocolates though, hahahaha.

5. Smiling face = Now who wants to deal with Mr. Grumpy?

6. Hiphop = “A good dancer” was on my wish list when I was single. This was one of those “unanswered prayers”. Hehehe…..

7. Guys who ask permission before courting = Awww, how sweet. Yes!

8. Has earring/s = No way, Jose! I want to wear the earrings. Not have to compete with Mr. Bling-Bling!

9. Used to chew bubblegum = Nope, this is definitely a turn-off!

10. Long-hair = OK as long as it isn’t longer than mine!

Continue reading “My Type of Guy”

Vacationing

Cathy tagged me on this and it took a while to buckle down to thinking of my answers but finally, I am getting around to it today….

Vacationing

1. What is your favorite vacation spot?

Any place with a fantastic sea view. The sea has a magnetic attraction for me. I am not really an inland person. I love the sea, the breeze, the feel of sand running through my toes, walking on the shore with the waves lapping at my feet.

Continue reading “Vacationing”