A Retro and Vintage Christmas with Book Trees

Frugality = Resourcefulness + Creativity = Less Expense :D Winner!

Christmas 2012's theme was A December to Remember.  I thought of having a retro and vintage motif.

Vintage because people are attached to their memories and identify themselves with their past.  And the most interesting pop-art then was in the Retro era. So here we go....

 

We made these christmas trees and ninja stars from old Avon brochures (thanks Mommy Rache!) and recycled Nescafe Alegria and Starbucks coffee cups.



We didn't expect to win the bay deco contest, but i guess the spirit of creativity and resourcefulness prevailed over aesthetics.  The major plus was probably from the i ♥ mother earth idea. Well, thank you judges. Whoever you are :)

Ms. Naughty and Ms. Nice

How was 2012?

Red Wine for Wednesday!

Who's bringing home a bottle of wine this wed?

This was the original text:

When I lost my marriage last year, I thought it would be the end of the world and I wasted so much energy on mourning.

This year, I was in search of happiness in the form of a person who'd be dedicated to me, someone who'd be romantic and would make me feel special and beautiful. I wanted to be put upon a pedestal and be worshipped as the goddess I pretend to be. I wanted to know what it was like to be cherished, and experience things I've never had in my life.

Then I found a person who cared about me. And I knew him for more than a decade! When I am with this person, I'm at the top of the ferris wheel-- high above the chaos of life! We hide out in a secret solitude which insulates us, momentarily, from the real world and all its troubles. For the first time in my life, I found someone who wouldn't judge me for my weaknesses, someone who listens as I work out details, asks me questions to help flesh out plans, and helps me understand life, and love.  I was given the room where I can be just me. I felt something strong and deep, and my life was filled with joy, beyond anything I can write.

It dawned upon me... Isn't that the dynamics of what marriage was supposed to be? Why have I found this just now, in a place and situation where we both can't move forward?

Giddy giggles and twittering butterflies made me feel alive. I knew I was happy, but I feel the need to poison the situation, because I am aware that it isn't right. I was happy, but I am hurting somebody. If I am gaining this bliss to the expense of others, then it's wrong.

I knew I became a better person for opening my heart and life to another. For a very short time, I have probably escaped from the reality of my lost marriage. But I had to leave now. And I did. I have a relationship to fix now. I'll be even better if I choose to decide to be happy regardless of whatever life has for me, with or without a person that could fulfill my idea of such happiness. I shouldn't be pinning this to someone else and I shouldn't be compromising somebody else's happiness for mine.

I am making the right decision this time. So this Christmas, all I wish for is a Happy Heart-- for me and for the people around me. Now I've decided to be happy, and I will be.

Can you still spare me this wish, Santa? I was probably naughty, but I am striving to be nice.

Well, congrats dearie!

Xoxo,

My Chevron Racer Pen

I got a little treat from Anj today...

image credits: chevronstore.com

A Chevron Racer Pen!

It's a balck ballpoint, click action pen, in the figure of a racer car which really moves. I'm sure my dearest Allson will love this.

Thanks Anj, thanks Chevron! LOL

Xoxo,

Lalai

A Child Care Facility, How About That??

I would love to be an at home mom to my 3 wonderful kids 24/7 without any complaints. But of course, being a single mom is tough. I had to work for us to live, which will make this ideal, very impossible. I'm just a little lucky that I can at least leave the kids with my 67-year old mom at night while I'm at work. I know how difficult it is for her to take care of these kiddoes while I'm away. But things would probably still work better if i had somebody to look after them while I'm at work, when mom's not around, or when the nanny stows away again. 

Like me, most of my friends and colleague moms do not have yayas to look after our children. Nannies have become increasingly difficult to find and sometimes when we do have one, we find it hard to trust them with our kids. There would also be instances when our nannies would have their own emergencies and we’re left with no choice but to call in and miss our shifts. I’m thinking… Parent employees like us need a back-up facility when there's nobody to attend to our kids. I wish my employer would have such facility in the office to accommodate this need.

The idea of having an amenity in GEMSPI like a next-door/ in-house child care center where working parents can deposit their children before their shifts, drop by them during breaks can boost productivity since we do not need to call in sick to attend to our kids and become more settled with the thought that our kids are just next door.





ABC & Me Childcare image credits: The New York Times


Since we do graveyard, odd shifts and non-standard hours, the need would probably be a night care center. Instead of the traditional day care center, the concept would be a child care center like that of ABC & Me Childcare.
GE can benefit from this as the idea projects reduced turnover, increased productivity and fewer unscheduled days off. Aside from GEMSPI's [already] promising benefits, this can be another edge for the company in hiring the best talents and can also encourage female employees to return to work after having children. It is a great benefit for us, female employees and (aside from SIP), will make it difficult for us to leave the company.:)

I hope the people behind GE Women's Network resonate with this. :)

My Birthday Wishlist =)

Let me share with you my very simple birthday wishlist:

Nenuco. Gap So Pink. To relive my olfactory mem'ries.
A pair of canvess sneakers.
And a happy puso.

Happy 25th birthday to me! =)

I'm Back!

It's been a while since my last entry. A lot has happened. A lot has change. And I'm back now.:)

For good.:)


xoxo

Wishlists

Today's my Birthday Tarp. Lol

My birthday would have been another so so day without the friends who care. I would like to thank Ginny (for the mala-tarp na greeting which was sent to everybody in Chevron) and Adabelles for the cute cat greeting:

And thanks to my boss, too (for the sumptuous dinner treat at Northpark ATC) :))

I love you guys! ♥♥♥

B-L-E-S-S-I-N-G-S!

Monday. My first working day of the week. I was busy with a chat when my seatmate caught my attention with an email saying:

I had to crop it for compliance issues. I just want to share with you how lucky I am!

That email was followed by this one:

And another one:

And who's so lucky today? There's another one:

I just can't believe how lucky I am. Thank you, Papa God!