Handmade Christmas gift tags

One thing that I always look forward to during Christmas is making the gift tags. I know, it sounds duh! But, for years, making Christmas gift tags has been both an outlet for creativity and a family effort. Last year, the kids did most of the work — they did the designing and the designs ... (more)

Because Alex wants to bring baked mac to the class party

It’s that time of the year again. Today until the weekend, schools and offices will be holding their Christmas parties. At the kids’ school, individual class parties will be held tomorrow and the Christmas program will be staged on Friday. Surprisingly, Sam did not ask me to cook anything for their party. Only Alex wants ... (more)

Christmas came early for Sam and Alex

When Sam took this self-portrait, the Canon EOS 350D was still mine. As of 7.00 p.m. last night, she became the owner of the camera that had been an integral part of my blogging life for the past two and a half years. Because Alex prefers a smaller camera, she got a Canon S3 IS. ... (more)

Personalized Christmas gift tags

Sounds unbelievable but we’re not through yet with Christmas gift wrapping. We’ve been doing it in batches. A day before each reunion or party, we wrap whatever would be distributed the following day, and so on, and so forth. We wrapped the second to the last batch of gifts this afternoon and we hope to ... (more)

A book and a blog

I never denied the fact that I’m a lousy baker. I mean, I can do simple cakes and cookies but the really complex ones, especially cakes that require decorating, have simply been beyond my skills. But everyone in my family knows I want to learn. My daughter Alex went shopping with some friends last Monday ... (more)

(Almost) Christmas reunion

Jay and Jet David are two of my oldest friends in the Filipino blogging community. Not old-old — they’re not that old hehehe. What I mean is that they are among the first Filipino bloggers I met in person after meeting them online as bloggers. The first time we met, over inihaw na liempo and ... (more)

Pasta, a birthday, a Christmas party and a book

It’s going to be a busy weekend. But I feel energized. Actually, I feel great. For the first time in so many months, I’m writing the way I always wanted to. I finally acknowledged what had been staring at me in the face for a long time. Not following the political news — not paying ... (more)

Christmas lights

There is a street in Mandaluyong (Policarpio, I think) which is closed to vehicular traffic at night during the Christmas season. The reason: for the past several years, the residents have been decorating the facades of their houses with Christmas lights that are, well… shall we say, far brighter and far more colorful than average ... (more)

Giant Christmas balls

It’s not an exaggeration to say that the Philippines has the longest Christmas season in the world. The beginning of the first month that ends with ber–September–is the sign that Christmas is “near”. Of course, the onset of the Christmas spirit is “helped along” by commercial establishments which don’t seem to find anything strange about ... (more)