Finally, I spotted wooden stand in Papelmelroti SM Southmall. I also learned from the attendant their product called deco tile. It has a typography printed on a smooth tile and looks really nice. Too bad there was no bible verse available.

So this weekend, I thought I could get my crafts on! I printed out some of my IG Pictures and it fit perfectly with the stand for display!

In previous post, I mentioned about the verse under the clock which is called wall decal. A removable vinyl sticker that will not damage your wall (assuming the paint job is good).

So I followed several suppliers in FB but KT&T posted an update on their timeline so I decided to send them a message to inquire. After few exchanges -- design, payment and delivery, I got my order in practically couple of days. I wasn't sure how it will go so I just ordered more or less A4 size but I think if you own the house go big!

I unbox it and was pretty satisfied with its quality. But here comes the harder-than-I-thought part...installation! Well, the how-to videos on Youtube make it look easy (they also have one on their website). It was a bit tricky to make the design stick to the transfer paper so patience is a virtue but it was not impossible. But  once I had the design on the other side it was a breeze sticking it to the wall.

It looks like it was painted on the wall and kinda reminds me of my brother's black and white mural he did in the 90s for my dad's tailoring shop and up to this day it is still there.

KT&T DIY Creative Printers

Facebook Page

Website Page

Our contract already ended in the apartment building and decided not to renew it anymore for the 30 sqm, one bedroom space we are renting. So we prayed for new one within the same vicinity and most especially with a secured garage within our budget.

God is truly faithful! Hubby took a turn in a different street within the village rather than our usual route going out and spotted a 'House-For-Rent' sign. Returning from our errand, we came back to the place to inquire. The last thing we did before going out of the car is to pray "God, hanggang Php x,000 lang po yung budget namin. May your will be done. Amen."

It was a newly renovated up and down house with garage. A floor area of 65 sqm at the ground floor and the same upstairs with veranda. The price is a little over the budget but we negotiated and the landlord agreed to the amount we prayed for. Hallelujah!!!

Two-weeks later we already moved and our used to be all-cramp-up furniture can now breath. So much so that there are still a lot of space but I am holding off to any plans on buying new ones. Thank you, Lord for the smooth transition.

So my hubby did his SOP for security and functionality which I truly appreciate, talagang man of the house yan! Sobra kong bless to have partnership with him, for me na walang alam sa maintenance ng bahay. Kabit ng double locks, sabitan at curtain rods.

But after he was done, it was my turn to prettify our space making it cozy and homey for that wifey touch. So started researching for ideas and dami kong natutuhan sa contemporary home decor. 

Php 100.00 Throwpillow from Robinsons Department Store

Owl Figurines from Robinsons Department Store
Scented Candle from SM Home

St. Louise Curtain from Puregold Supermarket

I still have a lot of DIY projects in mind but for now, eto muna! I don't want to go overboard but it is making me excited but I am keeping in mind to be a wise spender.

Carpet Rug from SM Home
Chevron Throwpillow Cases from Robinsons Department Store

If you notice, there is a verse under the clock. It is a wall decal but I will blog about it the next time for details. 

We can now invite others for smallgroup (Bible study group) in our home. But more than the place, it is truly a vision for me. In our first night, we prayed our thanksgiving and was surprised that hubby mentioned that the place is suitable to grow a family.

I was overjoyed to hear it. You see, in my personal quiet time, I am seeking God for His will for us to have a child. Especially for me to have a healthy body to carry a baby and to be at rest in His promises. Talaga naman when I saw the second floor, it is suitable for us couple with a crib next to it.

Isaiah 54:2-3 

Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense! For you will soon be bursting at the seams. Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities.

I must admit, I am the NOT the best person to go to when it comes to finances. 

My background: my parents are hard workers so by the time I was in high school, their efforts have paid off and our several small businesses were at its peak. So basically, I get whatever a normal teenage girl would like to have during those days. However, by the time that I was graduating in college everything went down the drain due to mismanagement. Our house, the cars, the stores and real estate assets ended up being sold to pay out business and personal debts. It was hard to swallow and with the whole family's ego bruised we had to start from ground up. My mom passed away right after the whole ordeal and now my dad who is almost in his 60s do not have any pension to fall back on.

As I moved up in the corporate ladder in the IT industry during my early 20s, I somehow relived the life that I once had when it comes to spending. So even if I was starting to earn more, I still lived from pay check to pay check and at times a week short to the next pay check scavenging a few hundred bucks which I might left off somewhere in the pockets of my bags.

But in 2011, when I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. I then realized that He is Lord of all or nothing at all. He reigns over every aspect of my life including my finances. I had no vices whatsoever like smoking, drinking or drugs but when it comes to money it was a struggle for me to control and be discipline. It did not happen overnight but I continue to pray and pray for God to give me the wisdom to handle and be a good steward of His financial provisions. Being a wife who shares the responsibility of budgeting for the family, my heart aims that at the end of it all, the Lord will say "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master" just like in the Parable of the Talents.

Money in itself is not evil but the LOVE of money is the ROOT of all evil. I am blessed that our church, Victory or VCF, also encourages us to first and foremost give back to the Lord and teaches us not only Biblical but also practical principles on handling finances. Just to mention, recently we finished our Sunday series: It's Not About the Money and you may listen to these podcast for those preaching.

I know God is steering me in direction where I could take hold of this struggle. It is a slow process but through reading the Bible then other financial literature (books, blogs, videos and even seminars), I am starting to gain more knowledge about it. It is actually been going on for a while but I haven't blog about  it because I still feel inadequate to share my experience with you my beloved readers.

However, before 2013 ended, by God's grace I hit my 3rd financial target so I decided that this is a good year-end post to encourage people like me, especially the younger ones, that you do not need to have hundred thousands to start investing and that time is your ally. Around this season as well is when companies are giving out the employee's bonuses so please do pause before buying that latest smartphone or what-have-yous (I am also techie so I understand what you are going through) and think how you could allocate this additional blessings.

My Top 3 Investment Targets to Financial Freedom

1. Build up the Emergency Fund through a bank savings account

2. Start buying stocks through a trusted trader

3. Get a life insurance

So here I am with Bong Landerito, my Financial Adviser from Manulife whom I met through an officemate. Like most of the Filipino families, he has his own fair share of story to tell when it comes to financial struggle. This became his advocacy because of the the things he learned from his own life experience. Very relaxed and easy to talk, just reached out to him through the contacts below. 

Cheers to my new life with Manulife!

Just a reminder, to do your own research. Have time to reflect on your needs and goals. Explore your means and vehicles to build up your asset. Be cautious on get rich quick scheme and do not rush into things even if someone else is pressuring or persuading you to do so. This is your hard-earned money so take as much time as you need to fully understand even the terms in the fine print. 

A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children, 

but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.

[NIV] Proverbs 13:22

Sir Chief, Richard Yap

Sources: Some images came from their Facebook Page

I will be lying if I tell you that I do not like the rain, raining while at home that is... honestly, it is my favorite weather. I can recall that I actually wrote a poem for our English class in high school as the rain being my subject. I could hear the line from 90s grunge band Garbage in my head -- 'I'm only happy when it rains'. 

The sounds -- the dripping of each rain drop, the quietness around, it brings me comfort and solace.

Well, the flood and traffic during the heavy rains... that is totally a different matter. I pray for everyone's safety those who are directly affected by this typhoon.

Isaiah 55:10

New International Version (NIV)

10 As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

I have decided that starting this Sunday, I would set apart a weekly post in some of my intimate thoughts in my life. A break from all the product, places and service features. It is thinking aloud to the concerns of a woman my age. So here goes...

At this lifestage, the most question I oftenly get these days is -- Kailan kayo mag-aanak (When are you planning to have kids)? A few years back it used to be kailan kayo magpapakasal (When are you getting married)? And being in a Christian community, we oftenly get encouraging words like "Just pray for it and God will hear your prayers".

Image From IllustrationsOf.com

Errr, that is the thing... At this point we never really asked it in prayers just yet. Although, Hubby and I have been together for a dozen years, it is only when we got married that we get to enjoy the TOTAL freedom of being in a relationship with each other so up to now that we are nearing our 4th Wedding Anniversary we are savoring being together: just the two of us. 

Financially, we are not ready to have a kid but I know the Lord will provide for our needs. Once in awhile, my ovaries would ache to have my own baby and at times I get a little bit sad when I have my period. But funny thing, I would report to hubby that indi ka pa daddy =( and he would respond "Yey!" for real. See, we are just a couple of rascals at home so can you imagine us having kids?

But seriously, I grew up in a business-oriented family so needless to say I am not domisticated at all which in effect I am career-driven.  My basic cleaning and cooking skills are beareable to adults only. So taking care for a tiny human being would be a great challenge. Don't let me forget to mention that I am also totally out of shape and having a thyroid issue has not been easy for me to get back into normal weight. But I do not doubt for my capacity to love my own child but realistically speaking the daily grind of motherhood is really out of my comfort zone. I've always been ready to be a wife but to be a mom, I am afraid to say, not so much.

At this moment, I am just asking the Lord for guidance and if it is His will for us to bear for the next Ramos-Yap generation, for Him to give me the promptings to pray for it and the strength to endure the challenge of parenthood.

Being with Jase for 12 years before finally getting married, I can totally relate to Showbiz Couple Iya and Drew for their almost decade of relationship. It maybe for a shampoo ad but their feelings for each other transcends on the screen.

So I have featured quite a number of local shops already mostly online however this time, let me introduce to you to a quaint neighborhood shop much closer to home... my Tatay's tailoring in Kawit!

My dad manages a tailoring shop for more or less two decades now. On early years it is known in town for denims but the business shifted gears to sports apparel catering to basketball leagues in school, companies and barangays. From my last visit, the latest trend are sports or varsity jackets. 

So we ordered for our nephews and nieces. Pretty cute right?

Lakers Jackets for the Yap side

Monsters University Jackets for Ramos Side

Unfortunately, I no longer allow my dad to accept rush orders due to health reasons. But if you are willing to place an order within a reasonable timeline why not drop by his tiny "Cotton Jeans Tailoring Shop" in Binakayan Kawit Cavite near the public market. You may also send me email so I could give you his number, you can text him then viber message him your design. Here is a really old blog I put up waaaay back when I was still helping him out. 

Price ranges from Php 600-1,000

Work load has been kinda crazzzeeehhh!!! It has been taking a toll on me that I got sick for 2 weeks. Although I got to stay at home for most of those days, my body was in recuperating mode but my mind was still left on the tasks I have in my queue so that still didn't count as rest.

So for our 187th monthsary (12 years b/gf + 3 years and 8 months married) this weekend, I booked us an overnight stay at the nearby Acacia Hotel Manila . Literally, it was just 10-minutes away from our place here in Alabang Gilid. Hahahaha! I believe we gave justice to the word -- STAYCATION since we really enjoyed the hotel's amenities. We stayed cozy and warm in the king-sized bed inside our Deluxe Room. I'll be blogging more about Acacia Hotel Manila - Alabang  in the following days but for now take a peek on our couples time there. 

After getting a long phone call from MIL (Mother-in-Law) regarding home stuff, I quickly changed to my hotel pambahay and snuck in between the sheets. Soon after I already doze off to dreamland. Zzzzz....

We ran some errands in the morning before checking in at the hotel so we had time to grab some baon of our choice from the grocery. I was looking for a bubble bath but I couldn't find one so I just bought this Camay Shower Gel in Romantique Rose Scent. I'll spare you from seeing me in the tub because I am pretty sure you do not want to see that but here's my Orly Gel FXed toe nails. Hihihi.

Late in the afternoon we headed to the swimming pool located at the 3rd floor but right before you get there is the garden. So we stopped by for a moment to get some few snapshot since it is overlooking hubby's engineering office.

There were a lot of families enjoying the pool but when the evening came we had the pool all to ourselves that we ended up bonding with the life guard on duty, Joupert. He prepared ice tea for us, complimentary drink in the pool. We also tried out the Jacuzzi which was a few steps away.

The lights in the pool were changing so here is hubby doing his Hulk impression with the green light under water. Bwahahaha!!!

After having dinner outside, we called it a night. On our last day, we headed at the Coffee Shop to have our buffet breakfast. I surprisingly enjoyed the pool so much I decided to take another dip after our breaky. Last few hours were spent sleeping in the room while hubby watches live telecast of UFC where Mark Munoz won.

All of that unwinding, thanks to the the voucher we got from their private sale offering at DealGrocer.com 

Inside the De Luxe King Room

Yeap there is no better way to say it but with a song -- 'I like to move it, move it...MOVE IT!

I basically became a nomad after the house I grew up got sold to pay off our family debt due to some bad business venture. Since then I have been moving every couple of years or so and I think it already rubbed off to my husband since this is our 4th lipat after we got married, hahahaha!

Now we headed to the south... Alabang!
From The Fort gilid to Alabang gilid bwahahaha!!!

Last few minutes at the previous apartment

cleaning up in between goofing off

The lipat bahay truck we contacted via sulit.com.ph

And my hubby, so beat up from the whole day lipatan

Let the sunshine

Me, resting for awhile from all the chores

Priceless Welcome Dance from the Head of the Household

It was another answered prayer for me... I just thank the Lord for giving us a safe and cozy place to stay near our workplace. Our new apartment is just 15 minutes and 2 blocks (walk) away from our south office. So instead of worrying about the traffic jam, I can now divert that focus and energy on other things.

I know this is part of His plan and I can sense He has an assignment for us in the 'south area'. May you use this home Father to be a place for relationship to be build with fellow believers.

I was ecstatic to hear the news that I will be part of the two teams who will go on for an onshore assignment. I quickly thank the Lord for answering yet another of my faith goals this year. It was awesome!

But when the travel dates were confirmed, it dawn on me that I won't be here for my hubby's birthday... a first for both of us after 15 years. Though he was sad when he heard this part of the news, he was still very supportive. So I had to make major bawi with some pre and post birthday celebration.

My last Friday Night before leaving, dinner at YakiMIX Alabang Town Center

Early morning flight NAIA Terminal 2

'Happy Birthday' via Skype

Birthday Giftssssss - Camera Bag, Starbucks Hong Kong Tumbler, Casio Edifice watch and jacket

Tamrac Camera Bag

Lunch at Mann Hann Market Market Taguig

Whew!!! Yung per diem ko napunta na lahat para makabawi lang for missing out on his actual birthday. Joke hahaha! 

Me: "Ayan ha, bawi na ko sau. Kse kung andito lang ako on your actual birthday - isa lang ang gift mo at isa lang yung kain natin sa labas"

Hubby: "Alis ka ulet next year sa mismong birthday ko ha!!!"

But for being such a loving and kind husband, you are definitely worth it... Praise God for your life and may He continue to use you for His glory.

Thank you for being part of our 2012. 

Praying for good health and blessing from God to you and your family. 

Enjoy celebrating with your love ones!!!