The very first thing I want to implement now in my life is taking one day each week for Sabbath - resting and recharging one’s physical and emotional body. I have read articles on how important it is. But still, it is really a big challenge for a busy working mother like me. I wonder how much of a challenge it is for others out there who are busier than me. I’m still on the moderate side, and I wonder how others who are in the rear end of business are doing. Well, I hope they are still sane.

As for me, I really really really really need to start implementing this before its too late and before I get trapped in all the business of the world around me. Life could be pretty demanding. From Monday to Friday, I am at work from 6 am up to 3 pm. Reports and assessments here and there, fill up most of my time. Along with blogging and blog reading on the side. I just love to read. I bet if I would make up a sabbath each week, a time for reading should be included. Sabbath could include not onling doing nothing but specifically doing nothing you ought to do. You have to do something because you love doing it and because it destresses your mind. You have to be spontaneous in what you do instead of cramming to find something to do to fill your need for accomplishment. When I come home, my baby is waiting to be with me. I play with her and attend to her needs until early evening. Once, she’s asleep, I still have to do some other tasks at home. I sleep a bit late and at 12 am I usually have to wake up cause that’s the time my hubby comes home from work. His schedule is much crazier than mine, of course. I’ve been telling him multiple times to slow down and give time to his family, but sometimes, his work could be so demanding than ever.

I will start my Sabbath tomorrow, which is a Saturday. I’m still thinking where to spend it because for sure, I won’t be able to do it when I’m at home. I will have the urged to do something and my baby is also there. There are plenty of people to take care of her, so I shouldn’t be worrying too much. I just really need to start this or else my life will take over me. I need to create calm into my world instead of just letting life pass me by. I’ll keep you posted how I spent my Sabbath.

One of the very first few shots I took while testing my new Canon Powershot. My baby is always my favorite subject because I think she’s cute and carefree and I just love taking photos of her. Now, I am so happy because I can document all her important milestones. Last year, on her birthday, I wasn’t able to take photos because we had the children’s party inside our house which is quiet dim and as I’ve said already, my old digital camera doesn’t take good photos inside when there’s no sun. It seems like it was just yesterday, when I was still carrying her in my arms as a baby, and now she is already 2 years old. whewww! if I could only freeze time. That’s why I really make it a point to spend some time with her. I don’t want to miss these moments. I wanted to work abroad before, but it seems like I couldn’t leave her alone. I love her so much and I knew how mcuh she needed me. Children grows and we really have to enjoy each moment specially in their childhood because one day, they wouldn’t need us any more as they used to when they were a child. They may take up so much of our time but it’s all worth it. I know she will grow up soon. She will and I cannot prevent that time from happening. Time would come when she would be asking me adult related questions such as what’s best fat burning exercise. By then, I hope to be able to provide her good advices about anything in life. I want to be there for her when she needs me, if God allows.

This is what we are praying for as of now. We hope to have our very own house soon. I can already avail of pag ibig’s monthly payment for rent to own house, however, I tried inquiring on some developers and their downpayment is just too big. It would also overlap with the monthly payment, plus we are still paying for the house we are renting as of now. We would only get into lots of monthly payments and I don’t want that. I want to save the money we are earning as we haven’t saved much yet. We need to save for a business. So, even if I already wanted so much to have a brand new house, I have to delay this dream for now and wait for God’s time. My plan is once we already have a business, we will just wait and save money for the downpayment so we can pay it in full and just pay the monthly payment instead. I don’t want to our house to be foreclosed or something because we were not able to pay for it. I don’t want to get into dealing with Mesothelioma lawyers for some legalities as I hate a complicated life.

Imperial Palace Resort Cebu located in Mactan is such a wonderful place. We went there for site visit because we were looking for a place where we can have our summer outing. The place was really really nice however their rate is not affordable, it is too high. That’s why most of the people there are foreigners. For day use, one person cost 1700 and 1500 if there’s a promo. Their rooms usually rates 14000 per night. That’s too expensive right? but, for sure, it will be all worth it. The place is like a palace, I tell you. The front view is just captivating. A very tall line of rooms and at the back are the big pools. It has 5 pools which are somewhat interconnected if you view the area from the sky. It’s really an awesome place specially for kids as they have lots of slides and designs in their pools. If we wouldn’t be able to afford this, perhaps an Outer Banks vacation would do for now. Haha. Kidding aside.

This is my bag. I bought this just this year and this is worth 550 from SM Cebu. Until now, it still looks so new because of its shiny look. It’s still very good as new, no damage or whatsoever. I bought this early this year. I only have one bag and my coworker advised that I should have other bags so I could alternate them to avoid early damaged on this bag. I think that’s a good idea and I’m still waiting for promotional tote bags so I don’t have to spend to much on the alternative bags.

What keeps me busy? I have a full time work from Monday to Friday and I have a family to attend when I’m home. This little one keeps me most specially busy, as my hubby is always at work. She always wants to play with me and she’s so happy every time she sees me around the house. I just wish I could stay in the house and take care of her. I wish we can have that opportunity. But as for now, I really need to work. Anyway, its for her, for us. My tiring schedule is most likely enough for me to stay slim that I won’t need any diet pills anymore.

After years of waiting (haha) I finally got myself my very own Canon Powershot camera. I settled for a cheap camera a year ago which did not satisfy me, specially that I have works when it comes to my blogging sideline. I missed so many many important events and memories in the past, just because I hated to use my old camera which takes frail photos indoor where light is scarce. It took very bad photos at night and it was too inconvenient as I had to charge the battery every now and then. It doesn’t last a day when often used. Probably, a couple of hours is already lucky for me.

I was hesitant to buy this Canon digital camera, as the practical side of me kicked in again and I tried to convince myself that I do not really need this or if I do, there are so many other important things I need to take care of first and foremost. But, since I am earning from my blogging and in fact, I have earned so much from it for the almost 2 years of my venture. So, I really need to promote my blog and gain more readership by personalizing my posts with my very own unique photo shots which have good quality.

Now, I am more than satisfied. I haven’t got the time yet to transfer some photos I initially took for testing purposes. But, soon enough I will. I can’t wait. However, I have pending tasks at work that I need to deal with first. I promise to take care of this thing. I am not very good in taking care of my things. Some things haven’t been used, some have been taken for granted cause I feel I have too much possessions even if I don’t compared with others. But still, I easily get overwhelmed. I am so excited and promise to take lots of photos of my baby bless so we can document every milestone in our life with her. Now that I have the best digicam for myself, I need to get busy searching for best under eye cream that will help me with the holes under my eyes due to overworking. haha! Kidding aside.

Source of product information below: Connection Pros (Lifestyle Gadget Blog)
With its streamlined silhouette and smoothly curved edges, the Canon PowerShot A480 has the compact sophistication and relaxed simplicity that make it a natural for beginners and everyone else who craves style and convenience. The 10.0-megapixel resolution and 3.3x optical zoom make it easy to capture the action in dazzling color and brilliant detail. The DIGIC III Image Processor keeps it all looking sharp. While a bright, bold 2.5-inch LCD makes shooting and playback a genuine pleasure.
Lens and Image Quality

Megapixels: 10 Megapixels
Optical Zoom: 3.3 X
Digital Zoom : 4 X
Auto Focus: TTL contrast detection
Image Sensor: CCD
Max Aperture: f/3.0
Min Aperture: f/5.8
Max Focal Length: 21.6 mm
Min Focal Length: 6.6 mm
Maximum Shutter Speed: 1/2000 sec
Minimum Shutter Speed: 15 sec
Image Format: JPEG
Focus Modes: Automatic
Exposure Settings: Program, Automatic
ISO Equivalencies: 100, 800, 400, 200, 80, auto, 1600
Metering Characteristics: Evaluative, Center-weighted, Spot
Macro Focusing Range: 1-50 cm
Minimum Focusing Range: 19.7 in
CCD Size: 1/2.3″
Number Of CCD Pixels: 10.3 Million
Features

LCD Screen Size: 2.5 in
Shooting Modes: Frame movie mode
Self Timer: Yes
Self Timer Delay: 10 sec, 2 sec
White Balance: Custom, Automatic, Presets
Continuous Shooting Speed: 0.8 fps
Memory

Flash Memory Type: 128 MB flash – SD Memory Card
Recording Method: SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCardplus, MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital (SD) Card
Connectors

Connectors: 1 x USB, 1 x composite video/audio output
Included Cable Types: A/V , USB
Miscellaneous

Included Components: Wrist strap
Included Software: Drivers & Utilities, Canon PhotoStitch, Canon ZoomBrowser EX, Canon ImageBrowser
External Color: Silver
Product Line: PowerShot
Max Operating Temperature: 104 °F
Min Operating Temperature: 32 °F
Camera Type: Compact
General Product Info

Weight: 4.9 oz.
Also known as: , Canon 3474B001, Canon A480, Canon PowerShot, Canon PowerShot A480
Manufacturer Part No.: 3474B001
Dimension: 2.4 in. x 3.6 in. x 1.2 in.(HxWxD)

For the past months and year I haven’t been that financial wise in handling our money. The salaries from me and my husband should have been enough for us to save a decent amount. But, until now, we’re still starting up on saving. There had been a lot of things in the past year that took up the money we’re supposed to be saving up. Most of all, I haven’t been that strict and disciplined in spending and saving our money. Now, I need to do something about it. As I don’t want to work all my life only to find out we still don’t have enough savings that will allow us to live decently and pursue our family goals. Now, what does it take?

I need to make a budget and follow it as much as I can. I need to learn how to stick to it. I need to control my impulses and I need to track where my money is going. Yesterday, I spent about 30 minutes, listing all our expenses and the target amount of money I want us to save monthly. We decide to spend my salary for our needs and keep my husband’s salary in our savings. We tried that for a month and so far, it allowed us to really save cause I’ll only be thinking that the money we have is the money I have on my own ATM and wallet, which makes me more aware of my spending.

Now, I also need to jot down every little thing I buy. Any expenses should be listed here, no matter how small it is. I chose a cute stationary which was a gift from a coworker last Christmas. I haven’t found any use for it as I don’t write letters to anyone anymore, so I figured it will be useful lto make me motivated to write down our expenses. After all these little organizing,a felt a sense of peace and success and I know deep within that this time, I would be able to follow through. I don’t need a document scanning software to be able to do all of these. I only need my pen and small stationary notebook and a strong determination to follow through no matter what.

I feel tired early this week. I don’t remember the last time I took a day off. I do have 2 days off a week, but I can’t remember the time that I allowed myself to enjoy a day by myself in order to meditate, relax and rejuvenate. I know, how tempting it could be to just go about the busyness of our days. But sure, there should be a way to relax. It is very important for a woman to relax. We know how a woman could be more into the achieving state rather than on the relaxed state. We could easily charged ourselves more than what we can do in a day. I’m talking most specially in behalf of married women specially those with kids. I feel like I don’t have the energy and it’s just the start of the week. That’s because my days off last Saturday and Sunday did not allow me to rest. On saturday I was busy scouting for hotel resorts. I had a meeting with my co committee and we went to 2 beach resorts to select where we would have our Summer Outing this May. Then on Sunday, we had lunch with my hubby’s cowokers and I and my baby went to SM which truly made me very very very exhausted as my baby was kept running in the mall. So, I will allot this week for resting. I will write here the things I did to relax in the 7 days of this week. Sure, there are many things that need to be done. And I’ll only focus on the must do chores and leave the rest behind. For now, let me meditate and relax. I also need to clean up my bedroom to give my mind clarity.  Cleaning may be a chore, yes. But, it allows time to think and meditate. I’ll be updating you guys, on the things I will be doing to give rest to my exhausted mind, body and spirit.

I received the email that I will be on the committee for our Company Summer Outing last last week. I became interested on the idea, but after more than a week, no one from the requested committee members has replied yet. So, even if I didn’t want to take lead, as I have lots of things to think about outside of work; I have a family to take care of and my online endeavors plus my sari-sari store at home, I was forced to send an email telling every one that we need to have a meeting so we could make plans. So, the hr supervisor was more than surprised and happy that I took the lead, since it later developed into more responses from my co committee members. I was appointed as one of the core committee. The core commitee was taken from the committee list but it involves lesser people. These people will be the ones who will really be responsible in taking the lead for making the summer outing happen. We have to take care of all the details of the activities.

I knew it would be a big responsibility on my part. But nevertheless, I have to think big and I don’t have to wait for anyone to tell me what to do. I trust myself (I’m trying to), I’m trying to stretch myself into what I kind do. I just have to believe in myself that I can do this. I am one of the active committee members, and I coordinated with other core committee members and our HR manager. I also phoned a beach resort I researched on the internet. I had to speak to the resort’s CEO, and it was like WOW! I was able to do all of these. They send me an email of the copy of their resorts and they’re giving us lots of discounts. Tomorrow, we will be having our meeting as a commitee and we will be visiting the site and having food tasting as well. Well, this would take my time a little from my family but I’ll try to still be a good wife and mother to my hubby and daughter, as I take on more responsibilities from work.

I am not just an ordinary employee. I can contribute and I have the ability to make a difference. I know I can do this. Sometimes, things like this, scare me. I am scared to be more than myself and to do things I am not very comfortable doing. But, whenever I feel like a situation stretches me to be better and to learn more, I feel scared but I don’t limit myself cause I know, it will help me grow.