Please be good to Us 2016 :)

Happy New Year :) Today is the first day of 2016..For all the blessing that we've received last year..Thank you so much :) I have so much to be grateful for...A simple life with my kids and my partner, a budding business that I reopened,new collaborations,advocacies to support , reunited with my siblings and generally a healthy life :) This year promises new hope...new ventures and hopefully more peace of mind. Thank you for being good to me 2015...I hope that 2016 will just be as generous with the goodvibes this year :) Happy New Year !!! Bring it on :)

Life is What We Make it...

Doha Qatar , circa 2012

It's been 3 years since I got back from (almost a decade) stint in the Middle East , the transition from being an expat returning to our homeland wasn't a breeze...for a while there I got fixated with the idea of going back again, just to tie some loose ends , to answer so many what ifs ? or just to simply settle  some unfinished business. But for some reason there were factors holding me back, until such time that I finally found my way and felt home again.

my family.

With a grateful heart I am so blessed with good people around me...Members of the family willing to back me up supporting every move I make. Friends from way back cheering me up and making sure that I am okay and moved on. New found business partners in my industry that promises exciting and meaningful collaborations to help more people ...most of all having been blessed with 2 great kids (River and Hailey) that always put a smile in my lips...

time with the kids :)

and a life partner that never gets tired of lifting me back up and making me feel that I AM LOVED...Shukran Habibi (thank you  my love) you came at the right time in my life Edz :)

my sidekick,bodyguard,macgyver, my funny & loving life partner #katuwang

So I guess if I need to  compare my life back..I can honestly say that Life is what we make it... We either look into a glass half filled with water  and say "uh-oh it's Half empty "... but for me I'd rather see it as "yey!!!it's Half Full " because with all the life's setbacks and handful of lil' victories I've faced this year...I am not complaining ..I would rather be grateful ...and looking back now..almost 3 years ago..I was an just an  OFW mom dreaming of coming back to my own country, wishing to spend christmas with my kids and hoping to make up for the lost time with my family and friends..but I Can Not :(

Breakfast with my Family  :)

That's why my heart is full of good vibes ...Cheers for a life of second chances ...for giving me a choice to change things that broke me....for making me experience all the joys after going through so much trials...

Thank you God...I will not waste this chance and will definitely pay it forward.
I will make sure that in my own humble way I can help another mom or dad...to find their way back home and finally STAY #LIFEwithaPURPOSE :)

A quick road trip to the north with my family :)

Grateful Heart

Life is way too short for bad vibes..2015 is almost a month shy away from being over and as promised ..it was definitely a good year for us Tigers... I had my share of challenges but still grateful for all the new ventures..friends...collabs...and goals met :) Life is not perfect but I just want to say thank you God for watching over me and my family... For taking good care of my kids... For giving me the strenght to start again :) #goodvibesonly#brownrootsph

New year...2015

Wishing everyone a more bountiful year ahead...thank you for being good 2014...truly a transition year for me...here's hoping to a better 2015 ...laban ulit :)

Thankful...

choose to be happy - http://pinterest.com/pin/356980707938289679/?s=3&m=blogaway

9 years and I still feel this hole in my heart...

I miss you dad...no one will ever know how much I miss you...everything went differently from the life I had planned...but I know...with every step I take...I have your guidance...your love ... Love you dad...  sana andito ka pa... #yourpanganay

Silver gray hair neatly combed and placed....

Saw all this silver gray hairs while fixin' myself up...can't help but think about how time really flies... just a decade ago I started this blog ...10years....wow !!! So many things happened....so many life changing decisions....so many lessons learned...yeah...these gray hairs should be a reminder that TIME is one of  the greatest gift that anyone can give us....#OlderandHopefullyWiser

New beginnings...

My take on the much talked about Midlife Crisis Issues....

Depression at 38 vs. Inner Peace at 40

An open letter confession, from a well-loved actress...the death of an iconic hollywood star... tv series, forums and movies talking about this topic made me remember my own take on MIDLIFE CRISIS...years back I had a chance to experience my ex-husbands' midlife crisis moments and I was patient enough to understand the transition ... the sudden change of his personality created a certain bump in our relationship...his need for a career shift, the idea of reconnecting with highschool exes, the hunger for attention and all those midlife crisis symptoms from bands to big bikes became an issue...For awhile there... I was the supportive wife ...(reading books and blogs to understand his situation)..let me just say that those were the most stressful and depressing years of my life..the hope to survive the trial kept me going... but far from what is expected...things changed for the worse, he left our kids to my mom while I was still out of the country, continued his affairs with his old flings, one lie led to another and basically told me he wants to be a SINGLE MAN again (to find himself) So I had to accept the fact that this CRISIS took over our life...
Now fast forward a little....the familiar feeling is COMING BACK.... Not really sure if I'm having the same old Midlife Crisis moments but there are definitely some transitions taking place...at 40's... priorities have changed...now the need to be more personal came in..taking care of my health and  the people around me suddenly became much more important...the idea of  Quality vs. Quantity on friendship became very obvious...feeling good about myself  and knowing that I deserve better is my daily mantra...the question of my Life's purpose kicked in...suddenly I was focusing on my bucket lists, simple life, togetherness,captured memories.. lots and lots of family pictures....If this is midlife crisis, my only hope is that it will be more of a positive thing for me. I am proud of how I've handled my first 40 years (learned a lot )  and I'm just hoping that the next 40 will be a blast. Changes is bound to happen in ones' life but at the end of the day I think everything will still depend on the choices that we make.I believe in the Law of attraction...I somehow believe that the universe will only echo back what I shout out.. and for now I choose to be HAPPY...after what I've been thru..I can be depressed... (but I'm fighting it with all my might)..I'm  trying to practice a bit more of gratitude in everything, because it's when we're grateful even at the smallest blessings or the littlest victories..I feel we become more happy..
MIDLIFE CRISIS once ruined my life... I am not going to let it happen again... Because now.. 
I am-in-charge :) Carpe Diem !!!! 

If you want to be happy...then Be :)

Do.

Most of the time we feel trapped with  what society dictates us,,,, at 40 I have come to terms with the fact that my life proved to be different from the plans and dreams I had made when I was in my 20's . But still.... I'm thankful for the second chances.. windows that were opened when certain doors were closed...friends and families who stood by me in the best and worst of time...Life is one hell of a rollercoaster ride but now I'm determined to do the things I love to do.. to dream the dreams I once forgotten..to prepare and be inspired for new beginnings...to love and appreciate more... and never ever forget that this is my life :)  My happiness is my own responsibility... CARPE DIEM !!!

My lil' hailey

This is my little girl hailey summer :)

Back to Basics

Pusoy Dos

Live Piano Music from Kuya
and Storytelling with Hailey in the dark :)

Storm Glenda made us realize that we can still live sans the gadgets and all those electronic stuffs...Back to basics...enjoyed some quiet time with the kids during the power black out ....read books(Fault in our Stars )..played acoustic instruments(finally played mom's piano )...played cards (Pusoy dos) read stories (Childrens books) Somehow we got to enjoy some  great activities with the  family..#simplejoys :)

My thoughts before I turn 40 :)

In a few days... I will turn 40... for others they just ignore it...it's just a number anyway... but for me it's a milestone moment...You see..when I was a kid I remembered  my mom turned 40...she was pretty... better than what she looks-like in her younger years...I said to myself when I reach that age... I want to be like my mom..to age gracefully...to look good and feel good as well... I'm embracing this part of my life...Because in some weird way Life teaches us stuffs that makes us more stronger.. more beautiful... more empowered... as we grow a lil' older... We experience the lowest point of our lives thinking it will be very difficult  to bounce back..but along the road you find your own way... a new path.. a promise of a new beginning...It somehow assures you that life will still go on...you just have to stand up again..and move on.... Now as I turn 40... I want to feel good... nope...FABULOUS!!! I want to tell the world that things that doesn't kill you just really makes you so damn STRONGER!!! I want to be surrounded with people who gives good vibes :) I love God for giving me this  life...I love my kids ...they always make me happy & proud.. I love my family & my dear friends... they continuously guide and support me along the way....and most of all I love YOU:) You made me live again...Just when everything is falling into pieces... you pick me up... you gave me unconditional love and made me your own...thank you..and here's hoping for a longer and happier life with you...You make me feel BRAND NEW :)

Every single day we make a choice...I choose to be HAPPY :)

 

Every single day we make a choice...we attract what we feel ... we attract what we think about... ( Law of Attraction ) I myself have been filling my head and heart with good vibes...I'm a firm believer that as long as you stay positive... things will be easier to handle....more bearable..more fun...:)  I love how it was illustrated here...you can either choose to see the side with the view and sunlight ... or choose the gloomier part of the bus..either which way.... you still reach your destination... but the journey proves to be more enjoyable on that right side of the bus :)

A visit from a dear friend :)

Had a great time catching up with a dear friend from Qatar.... t'was really great to talk about our lives as an OFW in the Middle East over a cup of coffee...Kanya kanyang bidahan...Our reasons for staying... our reasons for leaving... what we learned from our experiences... how we handled every challenges...how we maintained our sanity hahahhahah :) I miss Qatar... I miss the simple life...Soon I will come back :)

falling slowly (a song cover from my son River )

I love this cover ... 

https://soundcloud.com/riverstrawslol2/glen-hansard-mark-ta-irglov 

Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová (Once) -
"Falling Slowly" (Cover)

I don't know you

But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can't react

And games that never amount
To more than they're meant
Will play themselves out

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice
You have a choice
You've make it now

Falling slowly
Eyes that know me
And I can't go back
And wounds that take me
And erase me
And I'm painted black

Well you have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice
You have a choice
You've make it now

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice
You had the choice
You've made it now

Falling slowly
Sing your melody
I'll sing it loud
Loud

lovin' this song ..my kind of video ad "thank you for the gift of today" #hoorayfortoday

Stay a little longer in bed
Keep the covers over my head...
But a new day is calling
Morning is coming...

Thank you
For the break of day,
My favorite song,
For lighting my way,
The world I belong...

But most of all
Thank you for the gift of today.
I've got a brand new day.
And to that I say, hooray for today.

It's my story...it's my LIFE :)

Saw this illustration from a  cool blog fabafterforty...and immediately... I was drawn to her articles and illustrations....I myself am turning 40 next month ... and it's such an amazing ride....One can only say... "yeah you've been there.,, you've done that.".. :) I'm happy with my life decisions...I know that some will always be asking why the hell did she do  that...what made her decide to end things..  etc.etc.....well maybe for the simple reason that after years and years of hoping... praying... and understanding the situation..it gets tiring...not only your mind...not only your body... but your heart was drained :(  For now I can only say that Everything Happens for a Reason... and I'm so blessed that God gave me a second chance to be alive again... to feel loved...and be in love....the plot of my life story suddenly changed (it felt more lighter...the mood became happier)...and I'm hopeful that this change will be the start of a more positive life ahead of us...2013 has been good to me... please 2014 continue the good vibes...livinlifehappy :)

thank you for the gift of new beginnings...

I just wanna start my 2014 by sharing my short stories... my little victories ..my new beginnings...:)
God is good...All the time :)

my son's new school ;)

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

4th of June 2012...Woke up early Qatar time just to check my son's first day in college...being a graduate of  UST...  I've always dreamt that my son will also have the chance to go to this university...and believe me dreams really do come true.... I hope that he will have the courage & strenght to face all the challenges that college life has to offer...I hope that he will be wise enough to choose the right friends... I hope that he enjoys his life while being a responsible student..... :)  I love you kuya...you always make me happy :)