I am still on the heavy side, though (big-boned?). And because we normally desire things that we don’t have, I always have a fetish for (female) runners’ lean legs. I still dream that someday I also can have a pair of those.

Running marathons is a fad nowadays, either for the sake of charity or for fun and fitness.

I want to overcome my hate and start to have fun in running, so I signed up for two runs this year:

Run 350 (10K) in April

and Sundown Marathon (21K) in May

…also due to peer influence, and the free post-run banana! And, uhm, I need to run towards my dream!

They always say, practice makes perfect. I will be putting on my trainers and run tonight, and the night after, and the nights (and days) after that. I need to train myself as early as now, or else I can’t cross the finish line and get that medal! hehe..

Let’s see how it goes…

Every Christmas, aside from the lights that line up Orchard Road, Tanglin Mall is also one of the nicely decorated malls in the area. I see it when the bus I am on passes by, but I never get off the bus to check it out. I did today, out of curiosity.

What I witnessed there is something very refreshing to see because kids are playing, laughing and running around. And they cover themselves up with snow! Well, it’s not real snow of course. It’s foam, but I tell you… it’s cool!:)

Aside from the 10 reasons on my gratitude list, I am thankful this year because…

1. I feel that I have gained wisdom from all the people that I have got in touch with and from all the wonderful articles that I have read (see my “blogs worth reading” section).
2. I have learned that life is too short to stay at home. This year, we weren’t able to travel much, but we plan to in the next years. Our next destination is Beijing, China sometime early 2012.
3. With all the tragedies that has happened in the Philippines and around the world, LIFE IS REALLY TOO SHORT! So spend it with your loved ones as much as you can. Never pass a moment to let them know how much you love them.
4. I got married (civil wedding) last September. Our 01 October 2011 Church wedding had to be moved to 16 June 2012 to give respect to Nanay’s passing. A blessing in disguise though, it was a great relief that it did not happen on its original date because typhoon Pedring came to visit Manila. That would be a real wedding scare!
5. I have enough leave from work to spend this New Year with my family in Manila. Not to mention that we will be flying by Singapore Airlines and not by a budget airline.

New Year’s resolution

Every year we make our resolutions. What have I done this year that I want to change or improve next year? We can have a long list of resolutions, but how long do we really do something about it? From my experience, until February, or March maybe, would be the longest.

If our resolution is not intentional enough, it can be forgotten after a short period of time. We need to have a purpose for doing it. It can be for yourself or for a loved one. With a purpose, you will have enough reason or motivation to make your resolution a habit.

I have yet to make my list of resolutions. I want to make sure that I can keep it and that it will make me a better person.

I have drafted my bucket list as well, and I have a vision board that I plan to finish before the year ends to help me achieve my dreams.

“You attract to your life whatever you give your attention, energy and focus to. Whether wanted or unwanted.” (Law of Attraction)

Filipino Christmas

In the Philippines, Christmas countdown starts on 01 September (-BER months as we call it). It’s sort of a countdown also of how many days you have left to do your Christmas shopping.

Although traffic jam is very normal in the Philippines, especially in cities like Manila, Makati, etc., it increases as people start to do their Christmas shopping. Shopping malls are fully packed especially when the December comes near. Divisoria is one of the places where Filipinos go to to buy not-so-expensive gifts. Beware of pickpockets though.

Christmas is felt when streets and houses are lighted up with beautiful and colorful decors, such as Christmas trees, belen (Nativity of Jesus) and parol (Christmas lantern). Here in Singapore, we can already feel Christmas on Orchard Road with all the lights and tall and beautiful Christmas trees.

Parol

Christmas lights at Orchard

In front of Paragon Mall

Christmas songs are played everywhere. Aside from the traditional and international Christmas songs like “Jingle Bells” and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”, the best Christmas songs we Filipinos know so far is by Jose Mari Chan. “Christmas in our Hearts” and “A Perfect Christmas” are my favorites. There are many Original Pilipino Music (OPM) Christmas songs on my list, and it feels good to hear them every Christmas time especially when I am away from home.

Speaking of Christmas songs, I can say children suddenly become good boys and girls so they will receive from Santa Claus what they have written on their Christmas wishlists—“He’s making a list and checking it twice, gonna find out who’s naughty or nice. Santa Claus is coming to town”.

Christmas parties are booked in everybody’s calendars, often coming with exchange gifts. Some even have the monito/monita where, depending on the group’s agreement, they would pick from a bowl (like a raffle draw) the name of the person they will be giving gifts to (and keep it in secret), and there will be themes for the gifts such as something long/short/blue/soft, etc. Aside from the exchange gifts, of course there would be some games, drinks, and of course, FOOD!

We have the Simbang Gabi (Dawn mass) for 9 early mornings before Christmas, and bibingka and puto bumbong are very famous to be found outside the Church during these times.

Bibingka and Puto Bumbong

Families usually gather together on Christmas eve after late evening mass for Noche Buena. Hamon and Queso de Bola are often present on the noche buena table. Our Noche Buena would always have pasta, pizza and tacos. After that, we would have our gift-giving and lots of picture taking. When we were kids, our parents forced us to sleep early because they said Santa will not come if we are still up. And we actually believed them.. haha!

And of course who would forget to visit their Ninongs & Ninangs to ask for pamasko (gifts)?

For Filipinos, Christmas is about family. Even those in poverty, they find ways to celebrate the season. It’s not about how much money or material things you have but how much love you have for each other. Remember the song “Give Love on Christmas Day”? No greater gift is there than LOVE.

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) would always want to come home for Christmas. Being an OFW myself, I can see the difference between celebrating it in another country and at home. In Singapore, the time would only pass by, more often just like any ordinary day. Yes, we have friends who we can celebrate it with, but it just feels best if you have your family around.

Rediscovering the True Spirit of Christmas.

I have read the blog by Jeff Goins, Rediscovering the True Spirit of Christmas. He wrote, “Christmas belongs to the poor.”

As Christmas started when Jesus was born in a manger, we can also find the true spirit of Christmas in humble places where people are in need.

There are so many ways to give. Here are some of them:

1. “Poor” does not only refer to those who are materially less fortunate. It can also refer to those who are alone and downhearted. Give them a smile, it never fails to brighten someone’s day. A conversation with that person can also help. They probably need someone who will listen to them.
2. I have friends who pool in donations and visit orphanages or homes for the elderly. They also invite people to join in and share with them the experience of bringing Christmas to these groups. In the same way, you can also donate or join in charity events in your community. If there isn’t one, you can make an effort to start one.
3. There are institutions like the Society of the Physically Disabled that sells Christmas cards designed by their physically disabled artists. Instead of buying your Christmas cards from bookstores, you may consider buying from them instead. Your support may inspire them to go on through life happily despite their disabilities.
4. This is from Jeff’s blog. One of the best ways to give is through World Vision. They have lots of gift choices which can help children around the world.

It’s your decision in what way you choose to give . What’s most important is to give with love in your heart, and to always remember the real reason why we are celebrating Christmas — Jesus.

After days of searching for what food to bring for the potluck, I finally decided to go for KareKare. It was quite a challenge for me because it was my first try to cook KareKare, and I needed to prepare two versions, not only of the KareKare but also of the bagoong, because Maddy is vegan.

Thanks to funkyveggiemama.com, the veggie bagoong was a hit!:)

Vegetarian Bagoong

Ingredients:

1/2 Kilo of Carrots
A small can of black salted Tausi beans
A small can of yellow salted Tausi beans
half a garlic
1 onion

Procedure:

Mash the yellow and black Tausi beans and saute it with the chopped garlic and onions. Grate the carrots. Make sure to make fine because what you want to do is imitate the texture of Bagoong. Add the carrots in the pan and wallah! You’re done!

I was supposed to make the bagoong alamang also, but I realized only on Saturday that I need to ferment the shrimps for 1-2 months. Since I also had no time to buy from Lucky Plaza (the “Filipino mall” which is located on Orchard Rd), I ended up bringing the fish bagoong which I found in the fridge.

Anyhow, I still want to try making the bagoong alamang.

Bagoong Alamang

Ingredients (shrimp paste):

Procedure:

Of course I cannot do it without my online tutorial. Thanks to Meream of boredandcrafty.com.

It will be my Christmas gift for my very good friend and yoga buddy, Maddy. I hope she likes it!:)

But don’t get me wrong. I do say my thanks to God… everyday! And in every opportunity, my gratitude and appreciation also goes out to the people around me.

After reading Jeff Goins’ blog on 10 Reasons to Be Thankful & Why You Need a Gratitude List, I anyhow became inspired to make my own list of things to be thankful for. One day late is better than not doing at all, right? So, I am, and will always be, thankful for:

1. My crazy family who loves and always believes in me. I don’t see them everyday, but they always make me feel special and missed. I am thankful that now that we are older and far from each other, we have grown closer to each other. I miss them everyday and I always look forward to seeing them whenever I come home to Manila.
2. The one and only love of my life — my husband, Jojo — who always thinks of my needs before his own. He is my motivator when life is being too hard on me. He is the reason for my four years and one month of happiness.
3. My parents-in-law who accepted me to be part of their family. Sad though that Nanay had to leave so soon
4. My job which I have a love-hate relationship with. My boss can be unreasonable and crazy at times, but he is the reason why I am here in Singapore and have been surviving life here for 5 and 1/2 years now. Because of my job, I can travel and buy the needs and luxuries of myself and my family.
5. My friends who have different ways of inspiring me and caring for me.
6. Yoga and nature walks which prevent me from being a couch potato on weekends, and my friends who do these activities with me to make it more fun.
7. My blogging teacher and inspiration, Jeff Goins. It has been my lifelong dream to learn how to write well as I have always been bad at essay exams during my school days. I am still working on it, with the guidance of Jeff’s blogs.
8. Budget airlines — Jetstar, Cebu Pacific, and Tiger Airways — for providing cheap airfare going to Manila.
9. Facebook, for connecting me with old friends and relatives, and for updating me with what’s happening around. It also saves me from boredom on bus and train rides.
10. And lastly, my God who has given me nothing but the best things in life!

There are thousands of things to be thankful for everyday, from waking up to a beautiful sunrise to resting to get ready for another day. What is important is that we know how to appreciate what we have, and be thankful for even the littlest blessing that has been given to us.

Say Thanks, Make Someone’s Day

Singapore is recently promoting its aim to make the country the best home for its people, by encouraging Singaporeans to make a positive commitment to gracious living through simple acts of kindness in their daily activities. It is such an inspiring move by the Singapore government to give importance to issues like these which other countries may just ignore.

To read more about the Singapore Kindness Movement, please visit http://kindness.sg.

Since we will be spending our Christmas in Singapore, I thought of decorating our place (our small bedroom at least, since we don’t have much space in the living room), on a budget though. I went to Daiso (S$2 shop) and found all the things I needed there.

Here’s what I made:

Project #1: Christmas lampshade

These are stencils sold in packs of two. They are sticked inside the lampshade with clear tape. Cost: S$2.00.

Project #2: Little Christmas Tree

Things I used:
- cone-shaped plastic megaphone
- garlands made of colored foil
- small Christmas balls

The garlands are wrapped around the megaphone and the balls are tied to the garland. It’s that easy. Only thing is I’m not sure how long it will last as the garlands are sticked only with clear tape. I don’t worry much about it though coz I might change the design of my little Christmas tree next year. This is how it looks like now:

And since I have no star or angel to place on top yet, I let my drop-of-blood-shaped Christmas squeezeball (or humpty dumpty, as my friend calls it) sit there for the meantime. Isn’t it cute?

Total cost of the tree is S$8.00.

Making up your home for the Christmas need not be expensive. By using your imagination and creativity, you can create something to brighten up the holiday spirit.