It's Time to CONNECT!

My 2012 officially started today. We've been on vacation mode for a few weeks now.
Spending the holidays in our new home was a great way to end 2011. Yes 2011 was
a good year for us. As for 2012, it's going to be better!

Instead of the usual New Year's Resolutions, I've decided to welcome 2012 with a
theme: CONNECT

I wish I had some witty acronym on hand. Unfortunately, Creating Opportunities
Now by Networking, Executing, Creating and Trying doesn't exactly work wonders
for me. lol.

In case you missed it, I am now faced with the challenge of creating a new life in
a new country. One month into this new life and I already know that my life is no
longer what it used to be.

Hence the need to CONNECT.

1. Connect to the One Above
Sadly, I'm having a case of "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about
many things...." My prayer time has taken a backseat to all the things that need
doing. I definitely need to block off more quiet time. Lately, my prayer has been:
Lord, guide me that I may be a source of blessing to my family and to all whom I
encounter.

2. Connect Within
I know it's only been one month but I'm already longing for some me time. Since
the move, little M and I have been inseparable. No daycare for now. It's been great
as I get to see him grow. But it does have it's tiring moments. And, I have yet to
resume my VA work. I intend to do a shifting of sorts --- do errands and take care
of M during the day. Then do VA work at night. I know it's doable; I did get the
idea from a mom who works part time in the evenings with a bank.

3. Connect to those Beside Me
Okay, I know this sounds cheesy, but all whom we love, regardless of age, need
our time and attention. I am consciously trying not to let every day life get in
the way of BEING there for H and little M.

4. Connect Back
A few months before I left, an expat's wife commented that the price one pays
for living overseas is the possibility of returning home then discovering that one
is already out of touch with the people that stayed on back home. I am truly
grateful that technology has made it easier for H and I to reach out to people:
Skype, FB, email, sms, etc are all there for us to use.

5. Connect Anew
New country = new experiences = new relationships. It doesn't get simpler
than that.


I'd like to end by saying Thank You for being a part of this Pinay Mom's 2011
Adventures. I hope we continue to journey together in 2012! An abundance
of blessings to you and the ones you love!

Merry Christmas 2011 : Emmanuel by Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ

Emmanuel by Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ

Isang dalaga'y maglilihi
Batang lalaki ang sanggol
Tatawagin Siyang Emanuel
Emanuel

Isang dalaga'y maglilihi
Batang lalaki ang sanggol
Tatawagin Siyang Emanuel
Emanuel

Magalak isinilang ang Poon
Sa sabsaban Siya'y nakahimlay
Nagpahayag ang mga anghel
"Luwalhati sa Diyos!"

Isang dalaga'y maglilihi
Batang lalaki ang sanggol
Tatawagin Siyang Emanuel
Emanuel

Isang dalaga'y maglilihi
Batang lalaki ang sanggol
Tatawagin Siyang Emanuel
Emanuel

Isang dalaga'y maglilihi
Batang lalaki ang sanggol
Tatawagin Siyang Emanuel
Emanuel

Kahuluga'y "Nasa atin ang Diyos!"
"Nasa atin ang Diyos!"
"Nasa atin ang Diyos!"

- - -

Kuya B (3 yrs. old): "Mama, whose birthday is it?"
Kuya B's Mom: "Anak, we're celebrating the birthday of Jesus."

I had not heard those words mentioned in a looooonnnnnnggggg time.
So much so that I consider myself blessed to have been reminded of
the true reason for Christmas.

A Blessed Christmas to you and your family!

A Day in the Life of an Overseas Filipino

The December 2011 Calendar

My goodness, how time flies! I can't believe it's been a week since M and I moved

into our new home. I'm really happy that the family is finally together again.

As you can see, we're starting over... I thought it was about time we made a

calendar for our Christmas activities... Unfortunately, we didn't have a printer,  

so I hand made the calendar instead. 

Yes, moving overseas is not just about packing your bags and leaving; more

so when there are kids involved. This move has long been planned and prayed 

for. Our non negotiable: we'll do this only if the family can be together.

I share this because I know many Filipinos dream of living overseas. Don't 

just jump and take the plunge. Pray and discern. Research and prepare as

much as you can. 

If you're leaving a spouse or child behind, give yourself a deadline for how 

long you will be apart. Learn from the mistakes of others; there are way too 

many broken OFW families. Refuse to be a statistic!

A new adventure has begun. It is scary and exciting at the same time. We 

continue to pray for His blessing, guidance and grace.

p.s. I just realized that I did not say much about what my day is like... It's 
not all set yet... However, the goal is for me to do VA work during the 
evenings so that I can take care of M during the day. 
... Oh yes, the calendar photo is dark as it was taken late in the evening...  
Computers and toddlers don't exactly work well together...  As such, I have
limited my computer use to late at night... 

Happy 11/11/11!

I was trying to be cute when I took this picture.

Little did I know that it was a sign of things to come.

M and I started the day by reading these books:
Ang Mabait na Kalabaw

Go Baby Jaguar

Daniel and the Lions

Once Upon a Potty

Had breakfast... Checked emails... Made calls...

Then it was off to the bankS to settle stuff...

Oooh, the Soderno @ Molito Tent is up.
Can't wait for the Soderno Nov 18 Opening!

Boy was it hot!

Walked over to Jollibee for a quick lunch.

I decided to try the Jollibee Chicken and Mushroom Pasta.

Hmmm, can you guess the taste by the appearance??? LOL.

Rushed off to a seminar that shall not be named!

Staff: The Seminar starts at 2:00pm. You are 8 minutes late.

Me: But the traffic was terrible and I travelled so far!
Staff: Be early next time. You need to fill up the forms BEFORE 2:00pm.
Me: Can I submit the forms now and just attend the seminar next week?

Staff: No. Come back next week.

Me: Grrrrrrrrrrrr...

Dropped by SM and bought a few stuff.

Oh yeah, it was still super hot outside!!!

Who said 11/11/11 was a lucky day???

Yes, I was still on Grrrrrrrrrrrr mode....

 Decided to cool down with a Serenitea Okinawa Milk Tea

50% Sweetness with Pearl and Panna Cotta

Ahhhhh... Things were beginning to pick up...

Now THIS reaaaaallly made my day!

Got home just in time for Skype with H.

Had breaded chicken for dinner.

Watched the kids while they were at play.
Z fished out this hammering set from the "parked toys" area.
Suddenly, this old toy was cool again.

Ended the day by putting M to sleep.

11/11/11 is part of my 101 Things in 1001 Days Challenge... I'm quite happy that
my documentation for 11/11/11 turned out a lot better than last year's and the year before's.

Setting Up a Home Management Notebook System

Sometime during my first year of marriage, I ran across Simple Mom's Home 

Management Notebook System. I didn't think much of it then as it was just H 

and I. However, now that we have a toddler in the family, there's a real need 

to be more organized with the way we manage our home. 

In a nutshell, a Home Management Notebook is a home version of a work 

planner. It's most useful for:

- Work At Home Moms: there's the challenge of getting work done at home

- Homeschooling Moms: the home has to function as the kid/s' school too

- Large Family Moms: the home seems to need more organization when there's 

  more than 1 child around

- Busy Moms: the moms who manage multiple projects at any given time  

- Organizing Junkies: for those who want to do things just because 

If you're interested in setting up your own Home Management Notebook 

System, here are some free resources that can help get you started:

* Simple Mom has great articles and free printables

* A Bowl Full of Lemons has an inspiring reader challenge

* First Day of My New Life provides a useful list of printables  

* Design Finch also provides free printables

The family's big move is now set. The storage box sitting by the door is a physical 

reminder that big changes are on the way. I pray that I can continue on with my 

work at home set up; but I am keeping myself open to all the opportunities of my 

new home. If you haven't guessed yet, setting up a Home Management Notebook 

System is my current mental and emotional blankie. Better and brighter days up 

ahead!

Pinterest is so addicting!

Lately, something has been keeping me up late at night... It's that offbeat little
site called Pinterest! Pinterest is a virtual pin board that allows you to organize
and share all the interesting stuff you find online. Talk about eye candy; Pinterest
has got me dreaming and drooling for good eats, exotic locales, beautiful clothes
and more!

And it's not just me!!! Apparently, it's now Techcrunch worthy =)

If you think it's all look and see, well, there are people out there who actually
challenge themselves to create stuff they find on Pinterest.

If you're looking for something new to do or if you're feeling curious about
what people elsewhere are doing, drop by Pinterest and be amazed at what's
happening around the globe.

Need a pinterest invite? Subscribe to Pinay Mom Adventures and send an email to:
emailmamamia@gmail.com

05 Nov '11 Manila Virtual Assistant Seminar

Whoopee! Pinay Mom Adventures is nearing it's 100th Post! As a way of celebrating,
I decided to pay it forward by giving a short sharing at the Nov. 5 How to be a Virtual
Assistant Seminar. Yes, I attended this Seminar last April 2010 and have been a Work
at Home Mom since then. Who would have thought huh?

And yet, I could not help but feel excited by the new insights gained from the Virtual
Assistant Seminar. New tools, new approaches and new friends. Thank you Jomar,
staffers and attendees; I had a blast! See you all online!

If you missed the Nov. 5 Virtual Assistant Seminar, you may want to check out the
online version here:  http://bit.ly/onlinevaseminar


Image courtesy of Jomar Hilario