No Room For Hypocrites

One thing that really ticks me are hypocrites. I know I cannot change the world and wish that everyone is just as transparent as I am. That's not how the world works. Every now and then in our lives, we come across people we thought are good people, trust-worthy and who we can even consider as friends. However, these so-called friends are just not who we thought them to be.

This year, I vowed to myself that I will not have any room for two-faced people in my life. Well at least not in my close circle. I just hate it when people lead me to believe they're real and I welcomed them in my close-knit friends, only to find out, it's a one way street. I think it's not even a one-way street. It's a cul-de-sac!

I'm wary on trusting people now especially the ones where they seem to be extra nice but deep inside, they have already betrayed you. I want my 2013 to be right. I don't need people who only know me when they need something. I don't want people in my life who only call me when they need a favor. I certainly don't want to acknowledge people who say good things about me but can't look me straight in the eye without fidgeting and glancing to the right and actually mean what they say.

I'm done with all of the hypocrites around me.  I'm better off without the "Tupperwares!" I have my real friends and they may just be few in numbers but their strength in good character when combined is enough to topple even the strongest hypocrites around.

Good bye and good riddance plastics! This 2013 is my "good vibes" year and I have no room for all of you. You can just stay at my back. That's the only place you will be - BEHIND ME!

Creative Christmas Gifts

My creative juice is not yet back but I am really trying hard to get the groove back in my arts and craft projects especially now that it is the "ber" month. That means, Christmas is just around the corner. That means too, I have to start making my Christmas list as we are spending the holidays back home.

I want to be creative this time with my gifts. Last time we bought things that are a necessity to the recipient. I am thinking of making accessories like necklaces and bracelets to my female relatives and friends. I can check bead suppliers here in Dubai for some nice, chic and funky beads and I can probably start working on the project.

If the accessories does not materialize, I am still thinking of getting personalized items to my family and friends. It will be an interesting Christmas gift list this year. I wonder if I can finish all that I plan to do before we go home.

Re-connecting With Old Friends

Who said Facebook is bad? Well, not me! I can be biased too you know. I just appreciate Facebook more now that I have lessened my gaming time and focus on socializing and connecting with family and friends. And very recently, I got to reconnect to close friends I have lost contact with when I left the Philippines.

I am very glad that this social network site is running and able to connect people all over. I know others still don't like Facebook. It depends on how you use it and how you set your privacy settings. I have set mine closed for friends only so other people cannot view my profile just like that. You can be secured in Facebook too as long as you check your privacy settings regularly.

I do not glorify Facebook though. I am just glad that it can act as a channel to bridge the gap of long-lost pals and family members. It is also a great avenue to use when you need to communicate to them in one go, aside from the email of course.

I am so happy my close friends found me here again. It is so nice to relive the happy times and go forward knowing that this time, they are there to move with me. Happiness!

Fake Friends

Life is so much better when you are surrounded by real friends, the real people who will be there for you no matter what. There are times when you thought a friend is a real friend because this person treats you nice when you are around. This person makes you feel special and loved and when you turn your back, it becomes a different story.

I wish people can be real for once. I don't deserve people like that in my life. So, I decided that I will remove these kinds of people in my life. I don't have to deal with them and I certainly don't have a space for them. I am happy now and I want it that way. One less insignificant and fake person in my life will not make a big impact to me. I have other real friends who love me just as I am!

Until We Meet Again

I will never get used to saying good byes nor farewells. It's not a happy feeling when you know someone so dear will leave you here. Although a part of me is sincerely happy for my friend's decision to go back home, I feel a tug in my heart because I will miss her company so much.

My good friend Marie of 8 years is finally saying good bye to us this 15th of July to pursue her dream of opening a business in the Philippines. We have talked about our dreams many times already and finally, she will be living her dream and seeing it fulfilled.

I am very happy that she will be free from the corporate bondage and do as she wishes without the authority of someone higher than her except our Almighty. I am equally excited because she always wanted to be a businesswoman and in few days, she will be one.

I know it's not good bye or farewell for us because we will see each other again soon. She lives near my place and we are in the same province in Bulacan. Although she will be away, I know the communication line will never sever.

I will miss you Marie. I will miss your hearty laugh and funny jokes. I will miss the words of wisdom and spiritual guidance you always impart but most of all, I will miss the sisterhood and friendship you unselfishly gave me, Glecy, Lizette and Grape.

So, I guess it is more apt to say... until we meet again. Take care and live your dreams!

A Surprise in the Mail

Gone are the days when people wait for the mailman to deliver something special from the post. I remember when I was a kid; I always waited for the mailman to deliver some letters from relatives and friends from far away land. I would wait with bated breath on the arrival of some great news and goodies through the snail mail. However, times have changed drastically. Most people don't send stuff anymore. They email or chat but never write the old school way.

Well, today is different. Just when I thought that the snail mail is going extinct; I received a very pleasant surprise from the mail and it was from my dear friend in NYC!

DN sent me a hand-stitched picture of a little girl flying a kite with a quotation. It is so beautiful. I showed it to my colleagues when I opened the parcel. They loved it and I loved it more!!! I was gushing like the little girl I used to be waiting for something good in the mail. She also enclosed a card with a very touching caption. 

I am really thankful for the gift of friendship and to know the fact that we have never met in person yet and we both feel the connection. We are like kindred spirits, sisters from different mothers, great pals of long ago and yet, we only met through Facebook.

Thanks DN! I am so happy and very touched by your generosity. I told you before, you didn't have to bother with anything. Your friendship alone is a great gift in itself. You are a wonderful person!

Thank Goodness for Friends

I am the kind of person who has very little circle of friends. However, I do pride myself for having a small circle of pals because they have been my friends for as long as I can remember.

I am very choosy when it comes to building friendships because I value relationships so much. I take friendship as a serious relationship where everything is built on "trust."

I have had my fair share of friendships gone sour because the trust had been broken or we just grew apart. I have tried reviving a "fallen" friendship too at one point but was rejected. So, I get hurt too in this friendship business. It is just not easy to keep real friends these days.

I am glad though that despite the lack of time, my friends and I still get in touch through various means like emails, chat rooms and phone calls. I am glad they are still around to give me a nudge when everything else seems to go astray in my life. I am really thankful for the few friends I have who are always there no matter what.

Friends are really like wine. The older the friendship gets, the better they become. Thanks to all my friends. You are all heaven sent to me and my family.

Girls Talk - Childhood Friends

I have plenty of childhood friends. In fact, I recently reconnected with them thru the help of Facebook. See, I told my husband that Facebook has its good points ;)

There are too many to name and I don't want to name names for the sake of not hurting other's feelings if in case I forget to mention someone.

So, most of my childhood friends are in my Facebook. Even one of my friends way back kindergarten is now my renewed friend in Facebook. Thank goodness for Facebook!!!

Tribute to my Blogging Friends

Who said blogging is just a mere activity where you sit and warm your chair for hours on end? Nope, not me! It is more than that. Believe me...

I am writing this as a tribute to all my blogging sis and bros I have met through the blogosphere since I started more than 2 years ago.

I never thought I can find immense joy in writing and getting to know other bloggers out there. Little did I know that leaving comments would actually forge friendships.

I am very happy and truly honored to meet all of you (you all know who you are!) who have made my life more colorful, meaningful and exciting. I have extended my family far and wide to include my blogging friends all over the world.

Thank you. You all have made a difference in my life.

And the Award Goes to...drumroll pls.

Blogger pals make my blogging life so much happy and worth all the time and effort because we all share the same passion of blogging, we foster great camaraderie by supporting each other, we share personal thoughts and feelings, some I have met and have been grateful, some have been my close blogger pals and some I can actually call my kindred sisters in the blogosphere.

Thank you so much Bingkee for the great friendship and for recognizing me.

So it is my honor to present this award to all my blogger pals. You all deserve this.

Best Mom Award from Best Moms themselves

I am thankful to have met these two lovely moms in the blog world. I am happy as well that I have been recognized by these two best moms as well for being a best mom. Thanks ladies! I truly honor this award. Beth and Kikamz, you two rock! Hahaha!



The rules:
1. Show the award logo in your post. 2. Pick a picture you have with your kiddo/s. 3. Post should include your best experience as a Mom. 3. Nominate other blogger moms out there that you consider the best mom, like yourself.

Well, being a mom is a 24/7 career. It's a very gratifying job if I may say because you get all the hugs and the slobbery kisses of your kids. Everyday is a best mom day for me even if my daughter and I squabble on petty things. We enjoy each other's company so much that she has become my little buddy, my shopping conscience, my mini-me, my fashion stylist, my royal highness, my hairdresser, my own daughter... We enjoy our togetherness that sometimes I forget the boundaries of mother-daughter stuff, forgetting all those authority over a child. For her, I am her mom AND her best friend and for me, I am her mom AND her best friend. I'll never forget the time when I got bed-ridden because of pneumonia and she carefully stroked my forehead, took a bowl filled with cold water and she wiped my face, cleaned my arms and legs. She acted as my nurse and she even made me a paper TULIP (which happens to be my favorite flower!) so I could get better. This was last year. I asked her why she was taking care of me when she could watch cartoons and read books instead of sitting by my side, she said "Mama, because you always take care of me too..." Awwwww... No other job in this world can ever replace the gratifying career of MOTHERHOOD. I am blessed to be a mom.

Our fave place in the world! Paris! My daughter loved the place and even quipped that when she gets older, she'd buy a house and we would ALL live there. Wow! Made my heart melt...


This was our first Disneyland visit in Hongkong and the year after that, we went to Disneyland Paris. I remember seeing how happy my princess was, the sparkle in her eyes each time we took the rides and hubby was so supportive of us, allowing us (especially me!) to act-out the kid in us. Imagine a 34 year-old (I was 34 then when we went there) mom running around like crazy just to get ahead of the line? Oh, that would be me!

Buzz Lightyear ride in Hongkong Disneyland. We had fun shooting those aliens. We're both "kids-at-heart." Well, at least my daughter is a bonafide kid. I am NOT!


Shopping at Siam Paragon, Bangkok, Thailand. My daughter is my "shopping conscience" because she always reminds me when to "stop." ;)

I am giving this award to the special moms I know: Cherry, Mommy Liza, Mommy Ana, Sarah, Niko, Chriss, Shiela

A Fabulous Award

Wow, another great award from a great scrapper friend named Sarah of Paper Tree. Thanks Sarah and congratulations on the arrival of your new bundle of joy =)

Now as part of this award I have to list my five addictions:
1. Traveling
2. Blogging
3. Facebook
4. Fridge Magnets of different places
5. Bags and Clothes!!!!

Oh and then I get to award 5 blogs that I think are fabulous:

Cherry - http://pinaysinglemommy.com/

Bingkee - http://www.fliploveusa.typepad.com/

Cely - http://www.mynewhorizon.net/

MsRay- http://www.msray2008.com/

Riaboo - http://www.continentalfairy.com/

Blog Friendship

I never thought that being in the blogosphere can create multitude of friendships across the globe. I have met few of my Filipina blog pals already during my recent vacation in Manila, have corresponded thru emails to some of my blog pals in America and Spain, and have sent Dubai goodies to my Norweigan blogger pal named Renny and his wife Diane.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a package waiting at the reception from my friend Renny of Terella. It was so sweet of Renny and his wife to send us special gifts from their place and each item has their own place in the house now! I really appreciate the time and effort spent to hand-pick those gifts for us. Each one is really special.


Renny, I promise to keep Mr. Troll happy by playing the classical CD you sent along. I think he'll be very happy to be in a home filled with love and happiness. Renny and Diane, our warmest hugs and sincerest gratitude for the tokens and most especially, for this wonderful bond called friendship which my family and I will treasure for life.

God Bless!

F.R.I.E.N.D.S

I am thankful to have real, great friends in my life! Thanks for being around.

(photo source: email from a friend)

The UN-Desperate Housewives*

I have many great friends and I am very proud to say that I have managed to keep all of them. I don't know if there's a specific ingredient which makes friendship last, same as marriage but somehow, my friends and I kept the friendship alive.

This is for my mafia here in Dubai who has seen many of my ups and downs in my career and personal life. We have been together through thick and thin, sickness and in health, until-death-do-us-part kind of thing. We enjoy each others company inspite of our differences. Infact, it's those differences which make us all tick. We're like puzzles put together in the proper place and time and I am privileged to have them in my life. They are like my extended family away from my real family back home. We have squabbles too like everyone does but we know how to mend a hurting heart because we're all true to each other.

It's good to have true friends who will be by your side. For expats like us, we long the company of real friends who will listen in every woes, laugh with us, cry with us and share with us life's beauty and promises. I'm happy to have my mafia. I'm pretty sure my life here won't be the same without them.

*special thanks to a good blogpal of blogcatalog - Aorspectacles (http://aor-spectacles.blogspot.com)! I renamed the title from The Mafia to your suggestion which I think is really, really, really brilliant! Muchas Gracias, Merci, Graci, Domo Arigato, Salamat po... =) <----- That one's a big smile from me to you Aor!