7 reasons couples should go on vacation

Instead of buying each others gifts..

Note: This article is from yahoo and I am just sharing it here, it is originally posted in babble.com by Carolyn Castiglia.

If your boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse has a birthday coming up, your anniversary is near or you want to plan the perfect holiday surprise, you should consider using your money to fund a vacation instead of buying a gift item. Gifts come and go, little trinkets get lost, or the updated iPhone comes out and makes your present obsolete. Shared experiences, however, where you take in incredible sights, have romantic dinners, or make a fool of yourself in the funniest, most memorable way, will last a lifetime and strengthen the bond between you.


1. People who collect experiences are happier than people who collect things.

"That's in part because the initial joy of acquiring a new object, such as a new car, fades over time as people become accustomed to seeing it every day, experts said. Experiences, on the other hand, continue to provide happiness through memories long after the event occurred," according to CNN. The New York Times says, "Our own recent research shows that in addition to buying more experiences, you're better served in many cases by simply buying less - and buying for others."

Singapore 2011

2. You can take time away from the kids. 

Sometimes you just need a chance to relax and unwind without the kids around. A few days at a seaside  will make you better parents!

3. You can see the world. 

It's easy to get stuck in a rut and never leave your hometown, but there's no way to experience the world like travel. It's like TV come to life!

4. It puts you in touch with nature. 

Vacations don't have to be to far off places and they don't have to be expensive or long, either. A weekend in the nearest natural setting will work wonders for your mental health and your feeling of connection to the earth and to each other.

5. It can be cheaper. 

For the price of two iPads you can go abroad! Why not?

6. Travel is educational. 

You can read about the history of the world all you like, but to truly understand it, you have to travel to the places history has touched. Which is to say as many places as possible! Once you develop a curiosity for the world, you'll only want to travel more, learn more and understand more. It'll make you and your relationship more interesting.

7. You can visit family or friends.

Why not go meet your 81-year-old Aunt Gracie in Ireland? You only live once -- and she won't be here much longer! Hop to it! It will likely be a life-changing experience for everyone involved.


For 8 more reasons couples should go on vacation instead of buying each other gifts, visit Babble!

Meatballs with Misua and Patola

Don't you love hot soup during rainy days? I do. And because I have time and energy last week due to work cancellation, I finally tried this yummy soup meal.

If you want to try this, here are the ingredients:
Ground pork
Misua (very thin chinese noodles)
Patola (sponge gourd in English)
celery
garlic
onion
pepper
salt
egg

And here's how I made it (courtesy of our cook in the office-nagpaturo ako sa kanya)

for the meatballs : 

I added pepper, minced garlic and onion and celery, salt (or to be honest, I used maggi magic sarap :) and then one egg (to hold the meat in shape daw)

Saute garlic and onion in oil, add water, then wait to boil, add the vegetable ( I think you can add more vegies if you want) then add the meatballs.

And there you go!  Enjoy!

My husband loved it :)

 

On Finances

Because last month, we made some major decisions (not one but two) in our life, that also means major adjustment in our finances. I've been reading  lately a lot about money (savings, investment etc.) actually, that was one reason why I pursued our investment savings now because  if we don't do it now,  it might be too late to think of our retirement plans. I don't want to end up working till my super old age naman)

One major thing I learned (with all the readings I made) is this

Income - 10 % tithes - savings = Expenses

Before, we were like, income -tithes then expenses.

So zero savings at all.

I tried to save money in the bank but life always seems to have thousand reasons for me to withdraw it (family illness, emergencies, trips, etc.)

So I am thankful that now I save money where I can not touch it (at least for some number of years). The setback though is a major change in our monthly budget.

No more eating out (yes even in fastfood houses) maybe once in a blue moon na lang.
No more movies (which we seldom do naman talaga)
No big purchases for now
And most probably no travels unless we do earn extra for it.

It is quite hard but it is doable. At least my motivation is my dream house and our retirement days :)

Us in Native Igorot Attire

My husband and I had fun trying this native Igorot attire in Baguio. In Mines View Park you can try them for only 10.00. Put it on and start camera clicking 'till you get tired of it. :) It's not only in Mines View park but almost everywhere (at least where most of the tourists go) in Baguio.

Missing my Tatay

It's been days now that I'm seeing his face in my memory, his smile, his hands, his eyes...and I've been crying again.

Maybe because this month, we celebrated my nephew's 13th birthday. I realized how hard it is for us to celebrate such occasion without him. If he's here, he would have been excited about it and for sure even how simple the celebration is, he'llmake sure we are all there.

It's been 3 months...

Yes, life goes on but it's hard.

I can still feel the pain...

I miss him so much that it hurts so bad...

Life is too short

God is faithful

My facebook status last night as we made the first payment to the lot I've been praying for.

"Stepping forward to the fulfillment of one of our many big dreams! God is faithful."

So many major decisions were made in our lives this month (as husband and wife) and I admit sometimes I'm scared and I get nervous but I know our faith in the Lord (that He holds our future) will take away all the doubts.

We should have started earlier but God's timing is always perfect. 

I'm one happy wife today :) 

 

Breakfast at Tam-Awan Village,Baguio City

We were in Baguio last weekend for a short vacation. The last time we went there was 9 years ago, we weren't even in a relationship then :) I am so glad we had this trip. It was a relief and we really had fun. It was also our first time to visit Tam-Awan village where we had this breakfast at the pond :) so lovely!

Breakfast at Tam-Awan Village :) 

I love that Benguet brewed coffee and it's refillable for only 30.00

 only it comes with an instant creamer :(

Tam-Awan salad 

and raisin cookies which cost 12.00 each! not to die for but for the price it's OK na

 Lady finger (15.00) soft and yummy..perfect for brewed coffee!

Thank you Lord for this short vacation!

Mourning and Dancing

Last Saturday, I took my hands off my laptop because I found this book sitting in the boxes somewhere in the house and didn't stop reading until the last page. I remember buying this book probably 9 years ago, I didn't know then that i would be needing and reading it now. God's timing is always perfect no?

I found this very helpful because some of  the words she used are exactly how I was feeling. And it somehow validated my belief that each one grieves differently. I know my sisters are grieving differently or deals with grief differently even we both lost the same Dad.

I cried through the book and at the end I remained hopeful that someday soon, we will all be dancing again :)

Wordless wednesday

I dream of....

image source : newmediatravel.com

so I can visit my good friend and her family in Orange county, Florida :)

J.BOY (Japanese fastfood shop)

As I mentioned in my last post, we went here for lunch last Sunday. I thought it was expensive for us but I guess because it's fast food shop it is reasonably price and am happy kasi we can afford it. hehe!

This was my husband's plate, Beef Teriyaki combo, the fried rice is sooo good!! sulit na talaga for 155.00

this was my order, power combo and it's also 155.00 pesos. All their combo menu are serve with Miso soup.

 

Inside J.Boy with red and white chairs

the counter

self service :) 

here is a copy of their menu, they even have tenpura bowl for only 99.00

click the image for a larger view

And they do deliver too, so if you don't have much time to go there, you can just dial thier NINJA DELIVERY Phone number 403-87744. I saw the delivery boy with matching Ninja costume talaga :)

Their restaurant is located at:

1203 Vito Crz Ext. Pasong Tamo

Brgy.Sta Cruz, Savana Complex 

Makati City (near Shopwise)

Disclaimer: This is not a paid post

Great Sunday :) Great God!

yes, it was a great Sunday yesterday-for the first time since my Dad passed away. I'm slowly coping up. Thank God for my husband's help and for the unconditional love he is giving me.

taken at the church yesterday

I didn't have any plans of going to church that morning but I was glad I did :) I was blessed. After church, we had lunch at a Japanese fastfood style restaurant (which I will blog later). It' our first time here and it was nice, we went home full and satisfied.

At home, we watched again "Red tails" a movie about negro pilots -very inspiring movie, we watched with our brand new TV. Yey!!! so thankful talaga for the new blessing! My husband sensed my longing for a new TV since our old tv was broken, I didn't expect a nice tv like this but I am thankful he decided to get this one :) It's big and it is LED. It's installment though but it' s okay because we got it on easy payment scheme.

I came also to watch husband play basketball together with the husbands of the church, someone treated us for a yummy dinner also.Pizza, chicken, salad and banana split for desserts :)

Thank you Lord for everything!! You are indeed a great God!