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...