Keeping the Spirit of Optimism Alive (Part 1)

I have to thank my offline friend for the inspiration of this post. She sent me this message very early, one November morning in 2009 (I know it’s 2010 and yes, this is one of those long overdue posts I never seem to have time to finish till now. So please, don’t give me THAT look). Anyways:

Read this slowly: LIFEISNOWHERE

What did you read? Life is NOW HERE or Life is NOWHERE?

I read it as the former. Whew! Thank God, I made it this far. This only confirms that I am still a true blue optimist.

Life, indeed, depends on the perspective we choose to perceive it.

People ask me all the time how I manage to stay positive despite all the hardships and injustices of the world. Where do I get all the extra pluses that revitalize me like a character in a PSP game whenever I need an energy boost?

I say, (delivered in my best Miss Universe form and poise) that it all boils down to CHOICE. I believe it’s useless to worry and grieve over something I have totally NO control of. Why get stressed, wrinkled, hyper acidic and let it ruin my already magnificent life when I can bask in the sunshine, smell the flowers and choose to be happy?

Okay, so I’m not in a Miss Universe Pageant (doesn’t look like a contestant and never will be in one— not being negative but just being realistic here. I’m over 30, duh.) and I sound a bit exaggerated about my ‘already magnificent life’, but heck, that’s how I am projecting and embracing it to be– exponentially raised to the highest possible extremely positive power. After all, didn’t William Arthur Ward once say that “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it”?

I know it is always easier said than done, and it takes some time or even a lifetime to both master and muster enough positivity to achieve that mindset. Real life is nowhere near a fairytale and the worst of things DO happen to the best of us, which make optimism a lot harder— even impossible to do. And although we create our own destiny, still, we are not able to choose the situation we end up in most of the time. Some things are just destined to happen. It is just the way it is, according to our Master’s grand design called life.

BUT, we can always choose to make the BEST out of it. Can’t we?

Not many people realize that difficulties have a way of resolving itself in its own time without them, worrying over it. How many times did you agonize about a situation that you created purely on imagination? Unfounded, yet creatively weaved circumstances that you end up fearing at the end of the day? How many ‘what ifs’ steal your peace of mind and turn you into a nervous wreck? And when it comes, you get disappointed to discover that it wasn’t as bad as you imagined it to be.

How many opportunities did you lose because you were too afraid to try?

Some people unconsciously have the habit of bothering themselves nonsensically. What they do with their own time is actually, none of our business, but if we can only channel all the time wasted over worrying into a more positive activity, then maybe we can all help make this world a better place for everybody.

“Now, what? Since you seem to know a lot about this positive stuff?”

I can imagine you throwing that very question back at me. I would just like to make it clear that I’m no expert in this field— no doctorate degree or heavy credentials to back up my words. I’m just like you, who want to live life to the fullest. That’s why over the years I searched for ways to motivate myself to maintain an optimistic frame of mind. It is not easy, but just like everything else, it can also be done.

How?

I will share more about this in my next post: Keeping the Spirit of Optimism Alive (Part 2). In the meantime, smile, create happy thoughts and think positive! =)


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McDonald’s Summer Kiddie Crew Workshop 2010

Summer Kiddie Crew Workshop 2010

I notice a lot of visitors come to this site every summer through Google, in search for information on the McDonalds Kiddie Crew Program. I have written about my Little Lady joining the said program for 2 consecutive years, maybe that’s why my blog shows up often in the search results.

Anyways, my daughter wasn’t able to join last year, because the branch where I previously enrolled her stopped holding the program and moved it to a farther, yet larger McDonald’s store. This year, I would like to post registration details for the benefit of those who wish to enroll their kids in a truly enjoyable summer program!

Recruitment Dates: Ongoing until April 19, 2010
Orientation Schedule: March 25 – 31, 2010
Kiddie Crew participants and parents will be briefed on Kiddie Crew Workshop schedule and other details.

Requirements:

- For kids 6 to 12 years old
- Download Application Form here or get you copy in participating stores. Fill out application form and submit to your chosen McDonald's store.
- Registration Fee and Inclusions - P650.00/kid, inclusive of: Kiddie Crew T-Shirt, Cap, I.D. with Lace, Workshop Materials, Graduation Certificate, Graduation Bag, & Meals

Workshop Proper (5 days): Includes art workshops, lectures on value formation and "on-floor" store experience for the kids

For more details, you can approach the Manager-In-Charge in any participating McDonald's Store near you.

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I Miss You!

I really do. ~L~

You guys have been probably wondering where in the world I am hiding, being wordless and out of touch for a couple of months. Sorry, if I have seemingly orphaned this blog and stayed away for quite a long time. It's like visiting a house and no one's there to welcome you.

Yes, I know you missed me too.

As I always say, when normal day-to-day happenings, responsibilities and obligations take over and dominate my time, as much as I want to be Superwoman and juggle everything beautifully, I fail miserably at that.

Okay, I also Facebook a lot, as well. So now you really know why. *sooo guilty* (Level 302 in Mafia Wars, 32 in Farmville and mixed levels on a bunch of other Facebook apps, I know you understand and can so relate ;-)

What matters is I'm back --trying to be back consistently for good, hoping to fill your reading list again as you visit my humble home. And what better time to schedule a homecoming, than to do it on the 2nd year anniversary of Barefooted Me.

Yes, we turned 2 this month! And as my way of celebrating our 2nd year, I'd like to share with you some of the sketches I made during my non-blogging moments to make my absence seem worthwhile.





So tell me what you think. I hope you like them. Now, where's my big huggg? :))


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Earth Hour 2010

TIME TO JOIN THE REVOLUTION

Join Earth Hour !

Switch off your lights for 60 minutes and stop global warming before it's too late.

8:30 - 9:30 pm Saturday March 27, 2010
The Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City

See your world in a whole new light.

BE COUNTED!

Fill-out Commitment Form:

Barangay/Household Form
Private Sector Form

www.earthhour.org

I Enjoyed My Century Bangus Fillet at my Most Favorite Place in the World, where my Heart is...

This story could have happened somewhere fancy, exciting, in a faraway place, depicting an adventure of a lifetime, with the most thrilling circumstances. I would have wanted that. But real life situations present limited opportunities, in my case at least.

It's difficult to keep up with the current pressure of Christmas gift-giving season and still squeeze in a little luxury of going out once in a while with my beautiful and smart 8-year old, more so an out-of-town getaway during hard times like this. Lately, I have limited our bonding moments outside the home, much to the pain of my maternal heart whenever I see the sad look of disappointment in her eyes.

So what else does a mother do in times like this? I have always believed in making the most of what I have at the moment, to create the best possible situation. So one Saturday, after my usual litany of why we could not go to her favorite pizza restaurant for the nth time this month, I quickly said there is no need to fret, because we are going to have some fun! And just like a happy trooper, her eyes glowed with anticipation about the ‘plan’.

Since we both love to read and make stories on just about anything, I knew she would surely enjoy what I had in mind. During the typhoon season, I created a fictional story ‘The Adventures of Sourbie’, to make brownout nights at home more interesting and bearable for her, in the absence of television. She enjoyed it so much that she now looks forward to the next power outage, with the hope of hearing another Sourbie adventure. :)

I told her this time, it is going to be more fun because she is going to star in a children’s story, not only in words, but also in pictures! It has been my lifelong dream to publish my own books – novels and children’s books, but never really got to it just yet (along with the rest of my other goals yet to be fulfilled). Half-written manuscripts still continue to gather dust and cobwebs in my drawer, but this might just be the boost I need to inspire me to continue writing again.

With overflowing enthusiasm and glee, she declared: “Okay Mom, let’s do it!!!”

This is how our memorable collaboration went. Just click on the photos to read the story clearly. :-)

THE GOOD FISH

The mini photo shoot was a blast. We laughed our hearts out at each and every photo I took, as she tried to project the needed expression. I never thought it would turn out to be this MUCH fun; even more fun than our trips to the mall and playing at Timezone.

Chestene’s current favorite is Century Tuna in oil. I just recently introduced her to Century Bangus Fillet Spanish style that she also loved in a heartbeat. Most kids her age normally dislike food with a hint of spice, but just like I took after my Dad, who loves spicy food, now she appears to have taken it after me, as well.

She always hears my Dad, who is a Cancer survivor with Congestive Heart Failure say how important it is to eat fish because of its Omega 3 goodness and how it protects one from various diseases. I will not be surprised if she starts to raid my Mom's stock of Century Bangus Fillet in the pantry from now on.

Surprisingly, it did not cost much to create one of the best memorable moments with my little girl and I did not need to go elsewhere to savor the goodness of my Century Bangus Fillet. I enjoyed it with the love of my life, at my most favorite place in the world, exactly where my heart is – our home.

Truly, Century Bangus Fillet can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere!

MSI-ECS' Great I.T. Sale

Good news to all techies!

Enjoy up to 65% off on quality products from Acer, Apple, Adobe, Buffalo, HP, IBM, Imation, iOmega, Lenovo, Microsoft, Oracle, Ozaki, Samsung, Sony, and other participating brands (notebooks, desktops, peripherals, monitors, printers, storage, speakers, cameras, iPod accessories and a lot more) in this year's MSI-ECS’ Great I.T. Sale on December 8-10, 2009, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the MSI-ECS Office, Topy II Building, 3 Economia Street, Libis, Quezon City.

HP Notebooks Pricelist
Warehouse Sale Pricelist

For more details, please call 688-3180 to 83 or visit www.eye4it.multiply.com.

Save Now with Zenni Optical

My little girl started wearing prescription glasses when she was 5 years old. Ever since she wore her first pair, I knew I had to start allotting a part of our yearly budget for 3 pairs the most, every year. Why? Because she needs: one for school, one in the bedroom for reading and a multicoated one for using the computer or watching TV. Sounds a lot, but there should always be extra pairs in case one gets misplaced.

We all know the gift of sight does not come cheap nowadays, so when I first heard of $ 8 Rx eyeglasses, I felt excited yet doubtful at the same time. But there’s Zenni Optical on TV!!! And I have also read the High Five to Zenni Optical that got me convinced they were indeed selling quality glasses to get these very good reviews.

Shopping for glasses at Zenni lets me save even more than half of what I would normally spend for my daughter’s glasses, and even fashionably, at that. They have stylish choices that would fit her well especially this back to school season. I know she would love this one in her favorite color!

Chestene's Monalisa

'Chestene's Monalisa'

Meet my Little Picasso's first painting on canvas! I know, it's not very much like the famous Mona Lisa, but I'm really happy she came up with this masterpiece. She painted this lady (sorry I forgot the title she gave this!) sometime in January of this year. And knowing me, who is perennially busy with all sort of things (important or otherwise), I forgot to post it earlier as usual.

Since I don't want to influence her painting style, I just let her choose the subject, colors and off she painted away. This is her concept of a beautiful lady at her age-- still untainted and unprejudiced.

It's amazing how children remind us some of the the best lessons in life we tend to forget-- be what you are and think outside the box and society standards.

Once again, I'm thankful I have my Little Lady to teach me that.


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“You’re the 1, Goldilocks”

They say that when you’re all grown and busy with adult life and all its entanglements, it’s easy to get jaded. True. And whenever that happens, I try to pull myself from the present and do a little reminiscing of happy memories from way back, when things were simpler.

The journey usually brings me back to my childhood and one of the most exciting days I looked forward to every year – my birthday. And in that almost blurry memory of home-cooked food, balloons, gifts, giggles and games, one thing always stood out – Dad, carrying my birthday cake in pink and white icing, embellished with colorful sugar flowers in one corner, where the beautiful princess donning a pretty pink gown gracefully rests.

So much has changed through the years that even Dad, the strongest man in the universe for me then, is now in his golden years surviving Congenital Heart Disease. Still, it’s amazing how the memory of a birthday cake makes me glow with so much love until now. I have my parents to thank for that.

I promised myself that when I become a mother, I will give my little one the same, if not, the best childhood memories I can create. But as fate would have it, unlike fairytale endings, the princess did not end up with a prince and lived happily ever after (well at least, not yet). I became a single parent with a beautiful, smart and talented daughter who is the love of my life. I thought it would be hard to build the same happy memories with my little girl without her Dad, carrying a birthday cake in pink and white icing, embellished with colorful sugar flowers in one corner, where the beautiful princess donning a pretty pink gown gracefully rests.

I'm glad, I was wrong.

Thank God for my wonderful supportive family, relatives and great friends, I am able to muster all the strength needed to brave the challenges of single parenthood. Good thing there is also Goldilocks, to make parenting life sweeter and my little girl’s birthdays even more magical than mine:

Background graphics and logo used courtesy of Goldilocks

From a true blue Goldilocks baby, you might want to try Chestene's Goldilocks Buttered Puto in Parmesan Cheese. She made this simple recipe last March, and it's been a family favorite eversince. Just roll the Puto in a generous bed of Parmesan Cheese and it's good to go!


I hope that someday when Chestene is all grown, and she looks back to recall happy memories of her childhood, she will remember me preparing her lunchbox favorites Fluffy Mamon, Egg Pie and Puto in Parmesan Cheese for her baon, our frequent trip to the neighborhood Goldilocks bakeshop after attending Sunday Mass to buy her favorite Hopia Monggo, the Cathedral Windows and Leche Flan “surprise” in small covered containers when I come home from the office, the Brazo de Mercedes she never gets enough of, as a prize for getting good grades in school, or Mommy holding the prettiest birthday cake with the brightest candles for her to blow.

But above all these, I hope she feels enveloped with the same glow of love that tells her how special and treasured she will always be, and how Mommy tried so hard to give her only the very best.

You’re the 1, Goldilocks because just like a true friend, you help me weave the sweetest memories of love and the real essence of being a family. Thank you for the gift of special memories that my daughter and I will cherish for a lifetime.

The Flu Fairytale

"Once there was a beautiful young princess who lived in a big castle. She had everything she wanted; her parents gave her the most precious toys in the land.

But a room full of toys still failed to make her happy. She was never allowed to go out. The king and queen were worried about the terrible disease brought by a wicked witch that made a lot of people sick in town. So they waited for the good fairies to come and help them.

Until one day, the fairies came with a magic potion that will protect everyone from the dreadful disease that cursed the town. The king and queen were overjoyed when the helpful fairies gave them and the princess, a dose of the magic potion.

The young princess was very happy because she’s free to explore, once again! Since then, the town and its people became peaceful for a very long time.

And they all lived healthily ever after."

Okay, so I had to make up a flu fairytale when I was running out of ideas to convince my little girl to get vaccinated. She loves to read stories, and I thought this was a subtle way to convince her not to fear being injected. I even let her draw the princess and the ‘magic potion’ to complete the story. But we all know that life is no fairytale, and we have to face the harsh realities that we encounter on a daily basis, while searching for the happily (or healthily) ever after.

Currently, one of the harsh realities we have to deal with is the Influenza A(H1N1) virus that is continuously raising panic among countries due to the increasing number of cases and death reportedly caused by it. In times like this, we rely on both science and divine intervention to help us get through.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), efforts are underway to develop a vaccine covering the new flu virus strain. The best that we could do at the moment is to observe utmost vigilance, do preventive health practices, strengthen our immune system and get the currently available seasonal vaccine, for protection over other severe illnesses that kill 250,000 to 500,000 people each year.

I am relieved that my daughter and I were already Bakunado with the Vaxigrip Flu vaccine through Sanofi Pasteur Philippines’ Flu Awareness and Prevention Seminar, held at Max’s Tiendesitas last March 7, 2009. I am also glad to say that to date, we haven’t experienced any side effect - no fever or flu, unlike the common misconception that most people contract them, after undergoing vaccination.

I admit it gave me a certain degree of confidence knowing that both of us are shielded from several Influenza virus strains that can attack anyone anytime, especially those who are most vulnerable.

Who should be vaccinated?

* Any person who desires to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with influenza
* Children 6-59 months
* Adults and children with risk factors:
- Chronic cardiovascular disease (e.g. congestive heart failure, hypertensive
cardiovascular disease, valvular heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, stroke)
- Chronic lung disease (e.g. COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis, malignancies, chronic PTB)
- Chronic metabolic disease (diabetes)
- Chronic renal dysfunction
- Hemoglobinopathies
* Children and adolescents who are receiving long term aspirin therapy
* Immunosuppressed or those with weakened immune system
* Residents of nursing homes and chronic care facilities
* Pregnant women on their 2nd and 3rd trimester who have not received their flu
vaccine within the last 12 months
* Persons who can transmit influenza to those at risk: health care workers and other
personnel of out patient care settings, hospitals, nursing homes, and chronic care
facilities; Household contacts and caregivers of person at risk
* Persons who provide essential and emergency community services, students and
other persons in institutional settings

Source: http://www.bakuna.ph

An ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure. And like any responsible individual, we need to act now than regret when it’s already too late.

What preventive measures have you taken to ensure your health safety and that of your family? Are you ready to respond to the challenge of being immunized from flu? Then arm yourself with more flu facts by visiting http://www.bakuna.ph to learn why this is one of the important life-saving shots you should get today.

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