Simple and Meaningful Christmas :)

It's Christmaaaaaas!!! :D

I gave myself a 2 week Christmas break and I'm so giggly about it hahah! I'm considering this as a reward break from all that nonstop working that I used to do. For 5 years, a buzz of pressure was always at the back of my head, if I'm not working I ought to be studying, and if I'm not studying I ought to do something productive to make the most out of that precious, precious time. I know things are entirely different now because I can finally tell myself "hush sweetie, calm down, we've got time". :)

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Photo-Stress-Busters

I think all sorts of careers get more stressful by the minute.

I used to think that what we do at work is more stressful than others, but sharing work-rants with roommates and meeting other people, made me realize that everyone else just leveled up. Expectations are higher because technology kept making a way to make everything easier and more convenient, thus more to do with lesser time. Or maybe it's the other way around: technology had to keep up with rising expectations. You see, easier doesn't always mean better (at least for us).

Stress knows no time, and doesn't give a damn. If you don't handle it then it handles you. Stress and work haunts us even until we get home. Fact is it has become a norm. And that's the sad part because it's the family that suffers the most. I'm fast realizing how much quality time with family and the people who matter, has become more precious nowadays, and making these moments count are just as important.

I came across Papa Ray's photos from his Christmas 2012 vacation and a much deserved break. What i have always loved about him is that he never fails to make his whole family feel loved and cared for even if he's miles away from them. And I just love how photographs are able to capture these precious moments that only happen once a year:

The queen of the clan: Lola Nita! :)

Baaaabiiiieees!! Super cute! :)

Pretty cousins, noh? :p

In spite of all this RH Bill brouhaha, who's to say that small families are better with wonderful smiles like that? :p

And below photo is from the birthday party of our dear friend's son. It was my first time to attend a Jollibee birthday party and indeed it was alot of fun! Baby Josh couldn't get enough of Jollibee! :)

Now I know why Jollibee is such a classic hit :)

I guess I can't blame the rising prices of cameras and other photo-gadgets. Pretty much like fashion, you don't really need high end designer clothes but you'd love to have the best quality anyway. And these photographs aren't merely images- they're frozen memories. A quick break and escape from the fast-paced environment that we have here in the city.

It doesn't really mean that we all need to burn money with those DSLR's. Almost all mobile phones already have their own camera and I'm still happy with the 5.0 megapixel snapper of my Samsung Wave. A photo may be pixelized and all but as long as it captures the memory of a moment well spent, then its worth much more than a high-end image of nothing but fake smiles.

So while we're all struggling to deal with stress levels at an all time high, let's keep counting those happy moments and just snap away. Yes? :)

The Ocean Adventure Experience :-)

For the past "n" years, me and my parents have always celebrated christmas just resting in our house and just waiting for the inaanaks to pickup their goodies. However, my mother was blessed with a brand new company car just in time for Christmas. So for a change, me and my parents celebrated christmas out of town and in the bustling town of subic to visit Ocean Adventure and to serve as a brake in of the new car. :)

First off, my parents marvelled at the beauty of the SCTEX (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway). It's one extremely long expressway stretching from along Star toll to Subic and Pampanga. The best thing about it would have to be the mountain's that were parted right in the middle to allow the vehicle to pass through instead of having to climb it. It was a beautiful sight though i couldn't help but wonder how the hell they did it, and how much damage it could have brought. On one hand, maybe this is better because it allowed the remainder of the mountain to be left untouched.

I didn't really have alot of expectations with Ocean Adventure because i thought it was just a simple theme park with a couple of fishies swimming around haha. Well it is a theme park, yes, but of a topnotch class i have to say.

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And Though It's Been Said, Many Times Many Ways...

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,Jack Frost nipping on your nose,Yuletide carols being sung by a choir, And folks dressed up like Eskimos.Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe, Help to make the season bright. Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow, Will find it hard to sleep tonight. They know that Santa's on his way; He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh. And every mother's child is going to spy, To see if reindeer really know how to fly. And so I'm offering this simple phrase, To kids from one to ninety-two, Although its been said many times, many ways, A very Merry Christmas to you 

When I think of Christmas this song always plays in the background. :) I just love the classic rendition of Nat King Cole. Makes you want to sit in a couch as you feel your insides warm up :)

This Christmas has been very very meaningful to me, in the sense that a couple of things have inspired me to really share my blessings. This year has just blessed me with so, so, so much. And it really felt good to give it back to the universe, in a more significant manner. More so, when I knew that those whom I shared it with, badly needed a blessing. 

At one point it has gotten sooooo stressful. I mean I wasn't really used to it. I'm used to spending Christmas only fussing about myself, my family, my monito, some friends, and one inaanak. But this December was a different story altogether. All the extra-curricular activities and gift-giving/ gift-wrapping/ gift-hunting with schedules that are hard to beat, was almost driving me crazy.

But then when all was done and given, it felt very FULFILLING. :D :D And for this I have him to be thankful for. Thank you for really inspiring me with your ENORMOUS heart. :) :) Being with you is seriously life changing in all aspects hahah. 

"This is the message of Christmas: We are never alone. - Taylor Caldwell"

I think I just experienced the real essence of Christmas.  :) 

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Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.

- Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas

Why I Don't Want Christmas Everyday (And Other Rambles)

Haha, I'm missing this bloggie. December has been an incredibly BUSY month for us. BUT it was also exciting :D Will post some of the photos soon. PLUS a new venture that we're also quite excited about.

I'm getting a blogpost ready and I'm quite keen with peppering this blog with some product and service reviews :-D  Honestly I'm not very sure yet with the niche that I'd like to focus in, but while we're at it, I'll shoot in whatever comes to mind and whatever we're exploring at the moment and I tell you it's quite a handful! hehe! It's really fun to plan things and daydream and get some of these plans kicking. :D :D

Christmas is coming, yey for Papa Jesus and for celebrating relationships! :D Parties abound, reunions are on the way. And I'm really thankful that we have seasons like these. Some say that Christmas is merely a pagan ritual and that we're not really supposed to be celebrating Jesus. But seriously who cares? haha.

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