October 2017 Monthly Roundup

What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
- Book 2: Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder
- The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
- How to Love by Katie Catugno
- God Shaped Hole by Tiffanie DiBartolo
Currently Reading: You are Here by Jennifer E. Smith

What movies and/or TV shows did I watch this month?
- The 100 Series in Netflix
- Miss Congeniality Part 2
- Thor :)

What special days did I celebrate and how?
- My brother's Birthday!

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
- Thank you dear God for keeping us healthy this month!

What fun things did I do with my friends and/or family?
- Went to Boracay to celebrate my brother's birthday
- Met up with my YFC Campus Based friend Thea
- Went to Sta. Rosa Laguna for a quick weekend getaway with our Friends from CFC

What new foods, recipes or restaurants did I try this month?
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Annabel's to celebrate an Aunt's 90th Birthday
- S&R Pizza and Chicken, LZM's Bangus and Bulalo and Mama Lou's Pasta. YUM!
- SaladStop!

What special or unusual purchases did I make?
- I've been shopping online for Christmas gifts ♥♥♥

What have you learned this month?
-

What Saying NO Means...


Sharing a Song this SUNDAY: Stay ft. Maty Noyes by KYGO

Have a blessed Sunday peeps! (*wink*)

REPOSTING: 7 Dangerous Additives to Avoid When Buying Food For Your Family by Trisha Bautista

Here's a very nice I came across from MomCenter.com.ph about food that we need to avoid...

7 Dangerous Additives to Avoid When Buying Food For Your Family by Trisha Bautista

When buying food for your family, it never hurts to be too choosy—especially when it involves chemicals and toxins that could potentially be entering your body through the food. Although many different food options are now available in the market, that also means more harmful ingredients you and your children could be eating unaware. When buying groceries, watch out for these ingredients that will do you more harm than good.

1. Artificial sweeteners

What it is: Aspartame, a chemical that creates an artificially sweet flavor

Where it’s usually found: Equal and Splenda, as well as in diet sodas, desserts, jello, gum (anything labelled “sugar free”), baking goods, cereal, powdered drinks, even vitamins and toothpaste!

Why you should avoid it: Aspartame in itself is harmful, but also contains other harmful chemicals like Formaldehyde, and aspartic acid. So many studies have found Aspartame to be linked to diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, hypoglycemia, dementia, and much more.

Alternatives: Although it hasn’t been banned, many scientists say there’s enough evidence to prove that its use should be banned. Stick instead to more natural and less-processed sugars like cane sugar, coconut sugar, and other sweeteners like honey and stevia.

2. MSG or Monosodium Glutamate

What it is: An amino acid used as a flavor enhancer.

Where it’s usually found: MSG is commonly used as an additive to enhance flavor, mostly found in fast food restaurants, instant noodles, crackers, canned soup, and more.

Why you should avoid it: Even when we were growing up, this artificial seasoning was already getting a lot of bad rap. MSG has been linked to depression, eye damage, headaches, and obesity, because something in its chemical make-up suppresses our “full” gauge, making us eat much more than we actually need to.

Alternatives: Unprocessed salts, pepper, and herbs make for great flavoring for your dishes. A simple combo of salt, pepper, and rosemary can go a long way to season your proteins.

3. Trans Fat

What it is: A manufactured oil formed through hydrogenated vegetable oil.

Where it’s usually found: Deep fried food, creamer, baked goods, junk food

Why you should avoid it: According to the Mayo Clinic, trans fat is considered by many doctors to be the worst type of fat you can eat because it raises your “bad” cholesterol levels while lowering your “good” cholesterol levels. This means an increased risk of heart attacks, heart disease, diabetes, and strokes.

4. Sodium Nitrate

What it is: A kind of preservative used for meats. In higher doses, it’s used to kill pests and rodents

Where it’s usually found: Red canned meats like corned beef, beef jerky, and luncheon meat.

Why you should avoid it: It’s used to prevent bacteria from growing in food (hence the use in preservatives), but because of this, it can cause adverse effects. Studies have found that it causes cancer, and is said to cause damage to your blood vessels, clogging your arteries and leading to heart disease.

5. Sodium Sulfite

What it is: A kind of salt used as a preservative and to help prevent fruit discoloration

Where it’s usually found: Dried fruits and wines, preserved potato products like fries and hashbrowns

Why you should avoid it: Sodium sulfite can cause headaches, or in extreme cases, anaphylactic shock. Other severe symptoms can include a narrowing of the airways and difficulty breathing.

6. High Fructose Corn Syrup

What it is: A very refined artificial sweetener

Where it’s usually found: In almost all processed foods, especially juices, sodas, canned fruits and vegetables, yogurt, salad dressings, etc.

Why you should avoid it: Some studies have shown that the hormone responsible for telling your brain that you’re full, causing you to eat more, potentially gaining weight and towards obesity.

7. Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and BHT (E320)

What it is: Antioxidant preservatives used.

Where it’s usually found: In cereals, potato chips and chewing gum to keep them from going rancid

Why you should avoid it: Although scientists are divided on whether or not this is safe for humans (the US Food and Drug Administration deems it “generally safe,” while the National Institutes of Health says it has some links to cancer), many prefer to avoid it as much as possible.

SOURCE.

Genki Sushi Manila

Finally! Our favorite restaurant in Tokyo is now opened in Manila! Woot, woot!

So when one of our kiddos had her birthday a couple of months ago, we (or should I say she) decided to have dinner at her favorite Genki Sushi.

Our first time!


So how did we find the food and the experience?

Well, we realized that there is nothing more special in having sushi in Tokyo but it was good to know that we can have it here in our home town too if we'd like. The food was just ok. We didn't know why but maybe because there are more good Japanese restaurants around the metro so what they have is nothing special.

We loved that the chairs were facing each other though and the place was bigger and more spacious than the one in Tokyo.

I would still recommend it to all of you especially if you have a family who loooves sushi so much! (*wink*)

Genki Sushi is located at the 2nd Level, Ayala Malls The 30th in 30 Meralco Avenue, Pasig, Metro Manila.



Our Yummy Dinner at Yayoi

One weekend after a movie, we decided to have dinner at the newly opened Japanese restaurant in SM Megamall called Yayoi.


We had a bit of an experience by ordering through these tablets.


Cool, right? It made us miss Japan even more! And the food...


Everything was really good!



My kids who loooove Japanese food so, so much had the time of their lives in Yayoi. I highly recommend that you try it too! (*wink*)

Yayoi is located at 3rd level, Mega B, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. It is open from 10AM to 9:30PM. For reservations, you can call them at +63 2 634 4865.

Wednesday Happy Thoughts

Happiness is...

1. Relaxing and fun weekend
2. Reunion with Relatives
3. 90th Birthday of an Aunt
4. Parish Involvement
5. New ebooks
6. Kids love reading these days!
7. Long weekends coming soon
8. Sem BREAK!
9. Photos and Great Memories
10. Soccer Games and Goals ♥♥♥

To know how this started and credits of the header, click here.

A Quick Dinner Date with Friends

We had another dinner with friends at Xi Tian Di a couple of months ago. Yes it was a group date!


Food was superb. We had quite a number of laughs. It was a great night with friends!


...and Hubby of course!


Looking forward to more group dates soon! (*wink*)(*wink*)


Love People...


Sharing a Song this SUNDAY: High Hopes

REPOSTING: Creating a Bucket List That Matters By: Reese Fernandez Ruiz

This is a very nice article about bucket lists and making your life meaningful. So timely since I'm thinking of ways on how to live my life to the fullest (not in traveling nor getting the perfect career but by making it meaningful).

Read on and let me know what you think!

Creating a Bucket List That Matters By: Reese Fernandez Ruiz

Here is what my bucket list looks like:

- Went up the Eiffel tower – check
- Spoke at the Sydney Opera House in front of Australia’s young leaders – check
- Traveled (almost) around the world without spending – check
- Met with world leaders and awesome people – check
- Ate Desmond Tutu’s birthday cake (yup) – check
- Married the man of my dreams and prayers – check

MY LIFE LOOKS LIKE A TICKED OFF BUCKET LIST. BUT….

I could think of so many more things that I have done before reaching the age of 30 (and one of my favorites is marrying the man of my dreams & prayers!).

The truth is, life is not comprised of just trophies, certificates, countries, courses, adventures, and awards. It is also full of moments of anxiety, self-doubt, failure, and missteps. In fact, the things that really build character are the hard things, not the ones that make you giddy inside.

So whenever younger people ask me about all my achievements (and by “achievements”, some usually refer to the awards, media exposure, etc.) and ask how they could achieve them too, I always feel uncomfortable.

One, because I don’t think the awards, media exposure, or number of passports (or stamps on them) are the goals. The goals should be bigger, inclusive, and based on faith and hope for a better future for everyone. If the awards themselves become the end goals, that would be dangerous and misguided – and such a waste of time and talent. And trust me, they are not good enough as anchors. They crumble when things get tough.

And two, I don’t think that my life is a success story already told and that it could be measured based on media mileage or awards. Those are not the real achievements (they are great pats on the back though and are definitely appreciated). Behind all the glitz and glamour, I consider my real achievements to be the moments of survival, belief, hope, faith, and love in spite and despite of all the anxiety, self-doubt, failure, and missteps.

So instead of creating just a bucket list of things-to-do and places-to-go (I also have those!), I also wrote another that is more meaningful and will remind me of the more important things in life. Hopefully, for those who feel in a hurry to “achieve” and measure their achievements through external rewards, this list could help you build your own bucket list that matters:

- Tell the people you love that you love them, all the time. It may be awkward at first for some people, but you’ll remember these moments the most (my status: YES! all the time!)
- Tell your biggest failure story and share its lessons
- Forgive the people you blame for some difficult times in your life
- Lose an award, nomination, or something that you really want, with grace and genuine happiness for others
- Listen to constructive personal feedback without being defensive or listening only to respond
- And finally (but really, the list goes on), find a community that you could love and stick to – it could be a church group, organization, cooperative, artist hub, group of like-minded people, etc. and constantly think of ways to provide value to them. Serving others is one of the best ways to find your calling and passion.

When you measure your life and achievements through more meaningful metrics, all the awards, media exposure, travels, and other things that may come your way (and they will come because the world needs and loves people with passion and purpose), will be nice-to-have. But you’ll find that nothing beats the moments of survival, belief, hope, faith, and love in spite and despite of all the anxiety, self-doubt, failure, and missteps.


SOURCE.

Look What the Kiddos Got for their Birthday?

The complete set of Harry Potter booksssssssss! Woot! Woot!


And the funny thing is, I'm the one who felt over the moon. LOL!

So, yes my future "Potterheads" are waiting for a long school break and then their off to their Hogwarts experience. (*wink*)(*wink*)

A Group Date with Great Friends. ♥

A perfect place for a group date at 1 in the morning. (*grin*)

This is Tomatito at BGC in Taguig.


Here's the highlight of our group date. (*grin*)


This dessert was so, so, so good!


A night of catching up with friends, good food, wonderful desserts, I couldn't ask for a more perfect group date! ♥♥♥

Wednesday Happy Thoughts

Happiness is...

1. Fun Getaway with Siblings last Week ♥♥♥
2. Safe Flights and Boat Transfers
3. Bonding
4. Freshly Brewed Coffee
5. Back home safe and sound!
6. By simplifying our schedule, we were able to find new opportunities!
7. Blogging and Preserving Memories
8. New Adventures soon!
9. Salted Egg Potato Chips
10. Boracay ♥♥♥

To know how this started and credits of the header, click here.

Anniversary Trip to Anilao: Our Last Swim in Vivere Azure before Going Home.

Just before leaving the resort, we decided to make the most out of it and swim, swim, swim. We missed the kids though because they would love it here too!


Most especially this overlooking pool!


It is very inviting, isn't it?


Although the shore along the beach was not something to look forward to, but the view is spectacular.


We loved it here! Very, very much!


Now it's time to say goodbye to this beautiful resort. HOPEFULLY, we get to go back with the kids really, really soon!

As always, this wouldn't be possible without God's never ending provisions and blessings. Thank you Lord for another anniversary, another getaway and another bonding with my favorite person in the whole wide world - my Hubby! ♥♥♥

Impressing the Right People?


Sharing a Song this SUNDAY: We Could be Amazing by Andy Grammer

REPOSTING: Why Do #MomGuilt and Work Always Belong in the Same Sentence? by Patricia Gonzalez

Why Do #MomGuilt and Work Always Belong in the Same Sentence? by Patricia Gonzalez

A Mother Was Born

I don’t believe that it was a coincidence that I discovered what it is I really love to do around the same time I become a mother. While I was pregnant with my first baby, I knew that I wanted to quit my full-time job to take care of her. After years of not being certain I could conceive a child at all, I knew if I would ever blessed to be a mother, I wanted it to be me who would nurse her, bathe her, cradle her, and play with her throughout the day. For a while, I refused to hire any form of help, and was determined to do it all myself. It was a beautiful season we had as an inseparable duo, however short it was.

And then a Writer, and an Entrepreneur Soon After

While at home I found myself with plenty of time on my hands while my baby was asleep. And it was then that I really started to write. I set up a blog and wrote a few stories about my birthing experience, and my reflections on the newness of motherhood. At the same time, my fellow mama friend and I started taking steps toward launching our small business. We had been planning for several months, and put it on hold for a while after I gave birth. But once caring for my baby became more manageable, we started moving forward with our plans and launched our swimwear line online during the summer of 2015–when my baby Teresa was 4 months old. By that time, I was officially a freelance writer and a mompreneur. A lot had changed and the opportunities started to come one after the other…which also happened at a time when I started looking for work for two reasons 1) to help my husband with financially supporting my family and 2) because I was finding a real fulfillment in writing, and in marketing our swimwear business online. I started to think seriously about whether all this was a part of my life’s calling to do this too.

The Name of My Third Child is: Guilt

But with these changes came many feelings of guilt. By the time I started working part time with a PR agency, I also discovered I was pregnant again. My second child would be born in January 2016, and my two babies would be 13 months apart. I knew with certainty that it was necessary for me to work to support my growing family, but I also missed my children very often. I missed them even though I was away from the home for only 4 hours and worried constantly about my changing yayas. I worried that they would know me less and love me less than their yayas. And then I felt guilty as well while I worked at my desk while they played in their room at home. All this despite the fact that I had much more time with my children than most moms would hope for, and that I knew my reason for work was very real. This was no selfish whim. We needed the income, and I knew in my heart that I was doing the right thing.

Causes and Consequences: Analyzing My Guilt

And so from an objective perspective, what I was doing was something that was truly good. So where were these feelings of guilt coming from? Here are my musings:

My idea of what a good mom would be. Before actually becoming a mom, I had this idea in my head that to be the best type of mom, a woman should be completely focused on the home and on the family. So I would spend days at my desk counting down the days and hours until I could finally spend entire days at home with my baby. I had romanticized the stay at home mom, and the housewife, and was more than willing to pour my entire self into those roles. This is my vocation, I thought. Thus, when other things–namely, work started to eat into my time, the guilt came with it. When I wasn’t with my children or my husband, I felt like I was falling short of fulfilling my vocation, when in reality, I was actually working for their benefit.

Spending time with only like-minded mama friends. I remember asking my sister in law: is it still possible for me to be a good mom, while working full time? Her response to this was: “Pat! Don’t you have any mama friends who work?” And my answer to that was, well..not ones that I would talk to on a regular basis. So the only version of motherhood that I was exposed to was the housewife and the stay at home mom.

Failing to recognize that my talents, and personality are a big part of who I am. I’ll admit that even as I was busy glorifying the SAHM and the housewife, there was one aspect to it that I could not reconcile with those roles. I believe in the principle of teaching by example. And I knew I wanted to raise my daughters to pursue their dreams—whatever they would be. But how could I set that example if I wasn’t living the reality myself? And what were my dreams anyway?

At the time, my biggest dream was to be a mom. And that was fulfilled. But what if they wanted to do or be something else? How could I show them if I hadn’t achieved these things myself?

Putting motherhood on a pedestal. I had completely convinced myself that motherhood was my highest calling (and I still believe this is true, right next to being the best wife I can be to my wonderful husband)…what I did not realize that I had turned it into my only calling. I suppose that was where my problem was, and a major source of guilt. But reconnecting with the world through my work made me realize that there is much to life than caring for my family. There are people to meet, help, learn from. The world is bigger than my small family, and my role might be bigger than what I thought it would be too.

I’ve always lived very purposefully, and I slowly (and maybe also very painfully) realized that the use of my talents through work are a part of my ultimate fulfillment as a woman. And I want my daughters to understand that too. I want to set an example that women are capable of doing amazing things.

Does that make me a bad mother?

And so why does #momguilt and work always seem to belong in the same sentence? Perhaps it is high time to change that.

No, we cannot kill ourselves trying to do it all, but we also need to stop killing ourselves for wanting to do more than what our conventions require. Motherhood looks different on every woman, which is why I believe that the guilt should look different too.

SOURCE.

Anniversary Trip to Anilao: Breakfast Time!

Another highlight of our weekend in Vivere Azure Resort - our breakfast!

Although I was expecting our breakfast will be in buffet, but when I saw this, I was so glad that it wasn't.

Ok, you tell me if you weren't impressed by this plate.


(*grin*)

Add look what Hubby got for his breakfast...


Yes, he chose the healthy breakfast. Well, except for the extra bacon. HA!


Two happy tummies after this heavy breakfast, I guess it's time for a swim!

Anniversary Trip to Anilao: Our Sumptuous Dinner. YUM!

Another unforgettable meal at Vivere Azure Resort - our dinner!


It was a quiet dinner at the restaurant after a full day of the road trip and exploring the resort. We definitely needed this!


Awww, but this pohoto didn't do justice to my mouth watering steak! How I wish my camera was better! LOL!

But, after this meal, I would say that the food in Vivere Azure Resort is one of the reasons why we would go back to this resort again soon.

Wednesday Happy Thoughts

Happiness is...

1. Happy, happy weekend with Siblings! ♥♥♥
2. Free Podcasts
3. Beautiful Weather. YEY!
4. Safe Flights
5. Reunions
6. Quick Bonding with Highschool Friend
7. Wonderful Memories
8. Hugs & Kisses
9. White Sands and Crystal Clear Water ♥♥♥
10. A Week of Vacation

To know how this started and credits of the header, click here.

Anniversary Trip to Anilao: The Unforgettable Sunset.

This is probably the highlight of our trip to Vivere Azure. The sunset. It was truly breathtaking!


Do you think so too?


Aaaah, this is why I love nature and God's immense blessings so much. It is really something that you will treasure for life!


Aaah, the perfect sunset, so far I've ever seen!


We had a couple of drinks while watching this beautiful sunset and I think, thanks to this, it made our weeekend perfect!





We also thank the Lord for the wonderful opportunity!

Say NO TO BUSYNESS and YES TO LIFE!


Sharing a Song this SUNDAY: Perfect Strangers ft. JP Cooper by Jonas Blue

Another day to dance, peeps!


"Maybe we'll realize we're only human, maybe we need no reason, why."

Have a good one!

REPOSTING: 8 Signs You Need to Spend Time with Your Kids By Nina Malanay

8 Signs You Need to Spend Time with Your Kids By Nina Malanay

In today’s fast-paced and busy world, it is easy to get lost amidst all the distractions of everyday life. Often, we go through the day (or even the week!), just getting through our to-do-list and shuffling the kids through their routines. Before we know it, days and weeks have passed without any meaningful interaction with our kids.

And while most parents instinctively know that they need to spend quality time with their children, the mundane and day to day rigors of work, family and home life leave little time and energy for quality interactions. However, it is when we are rushing through the busyness of every day that sometimes erodes parent-child connections. This is why it is more important than ever to purposefully connect with your kids – to constantly refill and refuel your child’s love tank. Here are 8 signs to watch out for to know if you need to spend more time with your kids.

1. #momguilt

Parents, especially working parents, are hardwired to feel guilty that they are not being involved enough in their kids’ lives. When mom-guilt strikes, listen to it – it may be telling you something. Perhaps, you’ve had a toxic week at the office or have been battling traffic and coming home after the kids have gone to bed. Your instincts will tell you if you need to spend more time with your child.

But take heart, mama. A recent study shows that the amount of time a mother spends with her child has no direct effect on the child’s future success. Instead, various studies over the years suggest that it is the quality of time spent that creates a more lasting impact on the child. So put aside mom guilt, but do listen to the voice inside you – the inner longing of your own maternal heart – to connect with your child.


2. Your family schedule is full.

Between juggling homework and housework, sports events and dance lessons, fulltime jobs and horrendous traffic, there is little time left for trips to the playground or game nights with the family. With the day to day things that need to get done, most parents cannot even begin to imagine where to find more time (and energy!) to connect meaningfully with their kids.

If you feel like you are drowning in your to-do-and-to-go-to list, you might need to take a step back and re-evaluate how you spend your time. In our desire to get as much done as possible, we tend to neglect the more important things – meal times with the family, meaningful conversations, playtime, and family time.

Instead, simplify and prioritize. Look for opportunities in your routine where you can slow down and create an opportunity to connect with each other.

3. Interactions are lukewarm.

Consider this situation: In an attempt to spend a few minutes of meaningful interaction with your kids, you rush home after a busy day of work. You make it in time for the family dinner and try to engage your kids in a meaningful conversation. However, their answers to your questions about school and about their day went are direct and shallow, instead of the engaged response you were hoping for. Your interaction is lukewarm, lacking in intimacy and connectedness.

When your children do not feel connected to you, they find it hard to show their trust and openness to you. This is a sign that some repair work needs to be done.

Building connections take time. It is the result of the small acts of love we put in everyday. It is the everyday process of reaching out and receiving a warm, empathic response that builds the relationship and increases the level of trust between you and your child.

4. You don’t know what is going on in their lives.

Do you know who your child’s current BFF is? Or the latest cartoon character your son is going nuts about? If you find yourself clueless about what is going on in your child’s life, then it’s a sure sign that you need to spend more quality time together.

Schedule at least 15 minutes of one-on-one time with your child to join them in their world and be intentionally present. Whether it is playing with them or snuggling on the couch together as you talk about their day at school or your family’s plans for the weekend, be physically and emotionally present and respond to whatever they want to share with you.

5. Screen time trumps family time.

Are your kids endlessly glued to the TV screen? Or are they constantly playing on their iPads and game consoles? How about you?

The sad truth is that with technology taking over almost every aspect of our lives, we have become socially connected but emotionally disconnected. We are constantly holding our smartphones and connecting with people halfway across the globe, yet we ignore the people sitting across the table at dinner. We routinely interrupt our interactions with our loved ones, slipping in and out of attention to constantly glance at our phones. As a result, our conversations become shallow, losing the very essence of what it means to “connect”.

If you notice that much of your time as a family is spent paying attention to screens more than meaningfully interacting with our loved ones, it’s time to put away those gadgets. Telling your children you love them is not enough. We must also demonstrate the truth of it by our actions. Putting down our phones and getting rid of gadgets will show our desire for connection and make it clear that we value family relationships over everything else.

6. Your kids constantly ask you to play.

Is “Can you play with me?” a constant refrain in your home? If it is, then it might be your child’s way of telling you that she is craving for some quality time with you.

When your child comes up to you and begs you to play, it is an invitation for connectedness. Children crave their parents’ attention. Having one-on-one time makes them feel special. And when this one-on-one time involves play time between parent and child, it becomes more than just getting on the floor and building blocks or “driving” toy cars across tracks. It becomes an opportunity for sharing problems and concerns, a chance to be comforted as it lets the child know he is loved and appreciated.

So the next time your child comes up to you and invites you to play, indulge her with a few minutes of uninterrupted, child-directed play. It may be just what you both needed.

7. Your kids stop asking you to play.

While it is true that most kids would almost always want to play with their parents, there are times when they stop asking you altogether. If this is the case, maybe it’s because you say no all the time that your child just got tired of asking.

Often, in the craziness of everyday family life, we busy parents resort to an instinctive “no” to our children’s attempts at connectedness, particularly during stressful times of the day. But when these attempts are often shut down and rejected, the likelihood that they will ask again and reach out to us decreases. If it happens quite often enough, a little wall gets built and this leads to a break down in your relationship with your child.

So if you notice that your child has given up getting you to play with him (or read to him, or listen to his joke, or watch him shoot hoops), take a moment to slow down and reflect. Proactively be the one to ask to join him. Be the one to invite him to a game he loves. It’s not too late.

8. The kids are misbehaving.

Perhaps the most telling sign that you need to spend time with your kids is when they begin to act out. Often, children act out as a cry for help. They become overly clingy, push their limits and boundaries, become defiant or disobedient, or launch full-scale temper tantrums – all as a desperate call for connectedness.

Parents serve as an anchor, or safe base, for kids to attach to. When children feel disconnected from their parents, they feel lost and insecure – the outward sign of which is the tendency to misbehave and become uncooperative.

So if your child is trying to push your buttons, or is unusually defiant, try to spend time to reconnect with her. An encouraging smile, a word of appreciation or a warm hug can do wonders for rebuilding your connection with each other.

It’s very easy to get lost in the unending demands of life. But close family relationships are built by the day-to-day, moment-to-moment interactions that bind our hearts as one family. Prioritizing quality family time by making small changes to redirect your priorities and reconnect with your kids is an investment you can make now that will have a lasting payoff over time.

SOURCE.

Anniversary Trip to Anilao: Our Gorgeious Room in Vivere Azure for the Weekend.

After checking out the resort, we finally got our room. Yey!

And look how perfect it was as our "home for the weekend"!


This is the Cobalt Room...


The furniture is one of the best, right? We both loved it!


We felt "at home" the moment we stepped into the room.



P.E.R.F.E.C.T.! Now, it's time for our much needed nap!

Anniversary Trip to Anilao: Exploring Vivere Azure after our Sumptuous Lunch

After our very yummy and unforgettable lunch, we explored the resort more before getting our room.


It was indeed a paradise!


If it weren't too hot we would have plunged into the infinity pool already!


The water was just so inviting!


But first, NAP. We need sleep after a couple of hours on the road. ♥♥♥

Wednesday Happy Thoughts

Happiness is...

1. Fun and Relaxing Weekend!
2. Bonding with a Highschool Friend ♥
3. Friends
4. Freshly Brewed Organic Coffee. YUM!
5. Movie Night
6. Quick Date with the Hubby
7. New ebooks
8. Focusing on what REALLY Matters
9. Family
10. Buffalo Wings ♥

To know how this started and credits of the header, click here.

Anniversary Trip to Anilao: Arriving Vivere Azure Resort in Anilao, Batangas

After a couple of hours on the road, we finally arrived the paradise that we've been looking forward to for weeks now - Vivere Azure in Batanagas!

And look, these are all welcoming sights!




After checking in, we had a very sumptuous lunch. Yum, yum! Look!


This lechon kawali is something that I would never, ever forget! LOL!

Watch out for more stories and photos of our quick getaway soon! (*wink*)