Happy New Year 2553!

Yeah, you read it right. That's according to Thai calendar. We're now in year 2552 and tomorrow is year 2553- a very happy new year. Did you know about this?

We, the Saratorio-Sajolan family hope that this NEW YEAR will bring you:

Don't be so concerned about this coz they also knew that we're celebrating a new 2010 year...he..he..

Happy New year everybody!

New Year's Eve Buffet at Novotel Centara , Hat Yai

Nope, it's not us who will celebrate New Year's Eve at Novotel Centara Hotel but I hope so next year. But for some folks who would like to celebrate New Year's at midnight, with a nearly all-night party with a Chef and his team preparing a lavish buffet of Western and Asian cuisines that include food stalls with a variety of seafood including Alaska king crab and French oysters, and prime rib of beef, foie gras, venison, dim sum, Peking Duck, and sushi and sashimi plus entertainment that will be provided by guitar duo then why not try it here, right? Let's not forget the sparkling wine too.

Actually I only know about this when I had my hair and make-up done near Lee Gardens Hotel and it sparks my interest to try it next year. They even prepare Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet . I just don't know if a Santa Claus made a personal appearance during this time with a gift for every child. I also wonder if there are carol singers. I love to it if they have one. Christmas Eve special price for children between ages 6 and 12 is only Baht 699++ with complimentary glass of soft drink. No charge for those under 6 years (so far, this is what I know).

Novotel Centara is at 3 Sanehanusorn Road, Hat Yai , Songkhla 90110,Hat Yai, Songkhla in case you're interested. Tonight you could visit there and celebrate New Year's Eve with your family and friends. If you're alone, I'm sure you could find friends out there. If I read the streamer right,adult will pay 650 Baht while children at 400 Baht.

For us, we'll celebrate it our way..he..he.. at my brother's place. I'll post later my experience last night during our new year's party. I tell you, we had so much fun!

Gotta go now- grocery shopping, laundry and other lil preparations then off we go to Kuan Hin!

Happy New year!

Celebrating Christmas here in Hatyai, Thailand

This year, I celebrated my 4th Christmas in Thailand. It's doesn't involve big dinners and expensive gifts (as always) but I tried to celebrate it in our own simple way. As we all know that Thailand is not a Christian country, they don't celebrate Christmas as much as we do. We're glad that we celebrated Christmas in church and we're able to spread the cheer even to unbelievers. Even we don't have Christmas vacation, we're glad that the administration allow us to take a day-off on the 25th to celebrate this day with our family.

It can't be denied that all the times I wish to remember my Christmas with Christmas tree with huge pile of presents underneath, table filled with mouth-watering lechon and lots of foods or a wonderful choir singing Christmas carols, but my parents words linger to my hearts. They used to tell us that Christmas celebration and thankfulness is all that is required to properly celebrate. Anything more is a bonus.

At home (in Philippines), we used to attend a Christmas Eve service. My parents don't need to wrap gifts for us (imagine 14 children!) coz our church mates were generous enough to give each one of us Christmas presents/goodies. When I already worked, I tried to wrap gifts for each one of my younger siblings. About food, we don't need to worry about it or cook anything coz our church mates shared to us what's on their table. Now, that's the spirit of Christmas! and that's the blessing of having a father who's a Minister of God.

I also missed our church's ministry during Christmas. We used to do caroling on streets and chose the less fortunate's houses at dawn. We gave them goodies, clothing or grocery . At first they thought that we're the traditional carolers that ask money after singing so they lend to us 1-5 pesos but they're amazed that we won't accept them instead we're the one giving them something. Some cried, some accept with big smiles and some can't help hugging us for the good things we bring to them.

How do we celebrate Christmas here? In our family we reflect on the reason for Christmas by reading the Christmas story in the Gospel according to Luke, Chapters 1 and 2, as well as the Gospel according to Matthew Chapters 1 and 2. We read these chapters aloud as part of our family's holiday. We don't introduce Santa Claus to our lil boy but to the One who's birthday we're celebrating.

On Christmas eve, we just have a movie night and serve the Pizza Hut's celebration set. We watched Fred Claus, All I want for Christmas , Miracle on 34th Street and Jingle All the Way.

Though we've got our Christmas gifts on the first week of December, I see to it that Hyzyd will have something to open on Christmas eve and something for my hubby too.

We don't usually wrap our gifts for each other. Instead, we shopped for our gifts to each other. This time I wanted to have a new pants, I choose one and I need to fit it in the fitting room to make sure that it's OK for me and if my hubby likes it. Once he approved, he buys it for me. Hubby chose his gift and off I buy it for him. It's just like that- we wanted to have what we really want for Christmas. Wrapped presents is also appreciated but we seldom practice it:)



I'm grateful too that I finally got my PRADA. I asked my hubby to contribute for the 50% of the price of this bag...LOL!

I also try to avoid spending money I don't have on Christmas season. I don't go into debt for the sake of one holiday. Some may think that we have much money or savings because we're both working in a foreign land. I tell you that it's not. There are time that we too experienced being financially strapped too that's why we're trying to celebrate special events in a simple but meaningful way for my family. Like this time, we've spent so much for our visa, passports and moving of residence. I love to give but I give within my means and I hope my friends will understand.

Most importantly, we spend time quietly being thankful for the gift of Jesus to the world that we celebrate on Christmas. This is the day we have set aside to celebrate the beginning of the greatest gift mankind has ever received. Coming into the Christmas season with a grateful heart is essential if you really want to make the extension from Jesus's giving of His amazing gift to your giving and receiving.

By the way, I'm looking forward to celebrate New year's Eve with my brother's family and some friends. Hope we'll have a blessed time together.

One more thing, tonight is our school's New Year's Party at Daiichi Hotel and we're going to have a dance number with my co-teachers. Hope it will be a meaningful night to us all and hope to combat stage fright..waaaahhhhh:)

PS We just moved again (!) and our computer just revived from virus attack. These are the reasons why I'm offline. See you around and hope we'll enjoy this happy season:)

Merry greetings to all!

We wish you a Merry Christmas & we pray this Christmas bring plentiful of joy & contentment in your life!

Our warmest greetings to all of you!

We wish you a Merry Christmas & we pray this Christmas bring plentiful of joy & contentment in your life!

Bedazzled by Bidazzled!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Bidazzled. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you tried bidding online? I haven't experienced it yet even on the real-life bidding.I'm curious to experience online bidding one of these days. I'm sure it would be exciting and competitive.

A friend of mine who's a computer engineer told me that if you know the skill of how and when to bid, online bidding can be extremely profitable for you. Really?

How?

Don't you know that through online bidding you can get a HD plasma TV worth $1000 for only a few dollars? a Nikon Coolpix L20 10MP Digital Camera for only $1 or a Samsung 13GB 10.1-Inch Blue Netbook for only $61.65? Online bidding gives you an opportunity to win first-hand expensive products at extremely low prices, even for pennies! I'm totally bedazzled when I found Bidazzled.com-a Penny auction site ( bids are purchased in advance and then used to bid on merchandise) where you can bid on any items from simple products to high end electronics and stand the chance of winning it at a fraction of its market price.

As I checked on Bidazzled.com, I understood that this bidding site function by the clock. And just like any other game there are winners and losers which makes bidding and online auction an extremely interesting and competitive practice. The last standing bidder wins the product at whatever price they have determined. For example, an Apple iPod shuffle 2GB(4th Gen) NEWEST (Pink) may have a range between 1 penny and $10. If someone bids it for $2 just before the bidding time finishes and there's no bid higher than that, they become the winner of that Apple iPod. This interest factor makes me more interested to participate in the online bidding process and win cool stuff plus saving over 80% off retail.

What I love also about this site is that over 70% of its profit goes to fund a lung cancer charity - The Ruch Foundation . It's like you're enjoying yourself in the bidding process while helping lung cancer patients out there. It's amazing!

Another thing, no one is considered a loser at Bidazzled Entertainment Auctions. If you don't win, you receive up to 50 Bonus Bids as a "thank you" for participating, and you can purchase the auction item less the investment you had in the auction. Isn't it cool?

Winners has an option to either let the Bidazzled buy the item back through cash (paypal or check), cash and bids or simply bids.

When you register now, you get 5 free bids.In their first month, there have been 2 winners of Nintendo Wii's who have won with just their 5 free bids! Wow! Bids cost $1 at Bidazzled and are available for purchase in bid packs as low as $25. You also receive bonus bids when you purchase a bid pack. The highest cost of a bid when you dilute the cost with the bonus bids you receive is only $.67 per bid and often much lower.

Here's for my readers: 15 Additional Bids to you if you use this code until January 15th (all you have to do is enter it on the registration page, there is no obligation or cost of any kind):

* Blog: BBP1202A
* Twitter: BTP1202A

If you will refer a friend, you'll receive 5 Bonus Bids. If your friend refer a friend, he'll get 4 Bonus Bids and another Bonus bids will be given to that friend if he'll refer another friend.

So what are you waiting for? Buy bids, choose your auction , place bids and win expensive products at CHEAP price at Bidazzled!

With Love Wednesday: Friends are friends forever

I once read in a magazine that in recent years, researchers have been busy proving scientifically what we’ve all known – that friends are good for us. A Maryland study quoted in the August 2007 issue of the popular magazine Better Homes and Gardens found that people with ten or more friends suffered half the disabilities or health problems experienced by those with only two friends. Clearly, the more the merrier!Another study referred to in the same article addressed frequency of interactions with friends. Women who saw their friends at least five times monthly had longer life expectancies over this follow up study period of nine years than those women who saw their friends less often. Other studies in recent years have added to the certainty that vibrant, healthy friendships are associated with personal health- physical, mental, and emotional.

These are few of my friends on my college days. We're 3rd year college at this time and we're preparing for our short "Talk Show"- a group project we had for our Journalism subject.

I thank God for my friends HERE and THERE! We laugh together, cry together and love each other dearly. Because of healthy friendships i have with them, I could say it contributed to my well-being- physically healthy, mentally healthy and emotionally healthy.I wanna thank God too for my friends here in blogosphere, I met friends like Marce Pehpot, Marce Kaye, Marce Seiko, Marce Niko, Marce Fedhz , Marce Liz and many more who bring new ideas, and interests for me to try, and even cheer me on as I share my challenges in life as if they're waiting for me at the finish line with a cool drink and a pat on the back.I really treasured my friends and I'm glad that somebody did treasure my friendship, too.

God gave me trusted friends here in Thailand. It's a real blessing to have loyal, supportive, loving and kind friends whom I'll also give that loyalty support, love and kindness back in return. They're one of the many blessings in my life that make my happiness in life.

Visit With Love Wednesday for more "Friends" stories.

Thanks God, it's Friday!

Thank God, it's Friday! For me, Friday is the end of my work week and the beginning of flex time. Not that weekends are do-nothing days; but the doing is different, and somehow that makes it better.

On Fridays (usually at night) I could:
1. eat dinner outside
2. have a marathon movie with my family while snuggling together
3. I could sleep late ( blogging?)
4. join my favorite memes
5. read Free Press Release


How about you? What do you love about Fridays?

I leave you with a song that just put a smile on my face every time I heard it:)

Thankful Thursday!

I am so thankful to God for the following:

1. I won for a cause! Do you remember my post about my friend Elmie who met an accident? I joined a Photo Contest of Artscow and prayed to win the first prize which is $150 in order to donate for her surgery. The contest ended last December 16 and here's the email from Artscow:

Congratulations! We are pleased to inform following our official vote count, one or more of your photos submitted have won a cash prize. The details of your winning photo(s) and prize(s) are as follows:

Photo Facebook URL: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4719005&id=203944696146
Number of Votes Received: 42
Prize: $10

I wanna take this opportunity to thank all my friends here in blogosphere and in facebook who voted for me. You make it possible for me to be one of the 7 winners of the consolation prize of $10. There were 197 entries, by the way. Special thanks also goes to Marce Kaye and Normalyn Espejo for helping me in spreading the word. I'm truly indebted to all of you. I pray that you'll have all the best this yuletide season in the name of Jesus Christ.

2. Good health. I thank God that I'm totally healed after my two-week battle over sore throat and flu. My baby is also doing fine after a week of fever.

3. 1st Blogversary. I just noticed that my blogversary happened last December 15! I totally forgot about it...Anyway, I thank God that I already had a year experience in the blogging world. I learned a lot from here. I meet great people specially the Marce club-Pehpot, Niko, Yami, Seiko, and Liz. I also learn to earn a little while blogging.

4. Free ride. It's already a month now that the mother of my student before offered me a free ride every morning in going to school. She happens to be our neighbor now and in sending her son to school, she'll pass our house, so she'll just pick me up for a free ride:) It means a saving for me- about 150 baht per week.

How I wish I could give something for her this Christmas season. Do you think one of the pontiac accessories will do?

Missing our old home

I couldn't say that I'm already at home with the new apartment where we just moved more than a month ago. I'm still longing for the old apartment where we used to live...:( But for some reasons, we need to find another place that's why we lived in this apartment. But thanks be to God that we find another apartment close to us where I fell in love for the first sight. It reminds me of our old apartment. We're just waiting for the water system to be installed then we'll move out (again!)

As they say "Home is where the heart is." My heart is still in our old apartment. It's where we started our family and it holds special events of my life- birthdays, anniversaries and a baby shower!

I hope that by the end of this month or early next month, we could transfer to the new apartment and we can call it us our "home". As I learned from my elementary teacher before, she said that a "home" is where you live your life. A "house" is where you pose waiting for the photographers to show up..he..he...For me, a home is the people who live in the house and make it a safe and pleasant place to be.

Though we don't yet have a house where we can call it as our own coz we're just renting here, (foreigners aren't allowed to possess lands and properties here in Thailand) we can have the control to make any place a good home as long as we live with it with love, peace, joy and harmony with my family.

Visit more "HOME" entries at With Love Wednesday.

Christmas tag for you

Willa, the Smart Mommy shared to me this Christmas tag. Thanks for this. I wanna share this to all my friends in my blog roll.


A
A Glimpse of a Widow's Heart by Laurencita
All About Elizabeth by Beth
All About My Life by Rosemarie
Amazing Grace by Grace
Anything Under the Sun by Dj Tammy
Ask Ms. Recipe
A Teacher's Portfolio by Rache
A Voice Within Me by Nona
A Walk to Remember by Grace

B
Blog Fusion by Shydub
Bogie in Wonderland by Bogie

C
Cathara


D
Dashing Smiles by Carlota
Delineating Des by Hazel


E
Embrace Life by Nuts
Embracing Motherhood by Nona
Etcetera Etcetera by Rose
Everything and Everywhereby Ate Litlit


F
Femikey Designs by Fe
Forgetful Princess by Tammy


G
Gigie's Planet by Gigie
Genuine Cuisine by Litlit
Gossip Mom by Pehpot

G
His Unfailing Love by Sarah
Home Buddies by Fedhz
Honie's Confession by Gelene/Honie

I

Isaac Story by Bernadeth
Istarblog.com by Rosa


J
Jeng Speaks
Juliana's Lair
Just About Anything by Kikamz

K
Kalei DINES Scope by Ate Dines
Kizuna by Clarissa


L
Laine's Abode by Laine
Lalaine's World by Lalaine
Love's Haven by Phebie Ann
Little Miss Hannah



M
Make or Break by Pehpot
Me, Myself and Jes by Jes
Memoirs by emc
Mi Mundo del Amor by Sweet_Shelo
Mom from Manila
Momgen's Design
Mommy Diaries by Che-Che
Mom's Special Diary by Jacris
Mom's Ups and Downs by Rossel
Mom Writes for a Cause by Yami
Mumsters Degree by Yaying
My Blogbook Rj's Mama
My Kawaii Princess by Mommy Bambie
My Life in Holland by Faye
My Life's Perception & Inspiration by Dhemz
My Life, My Thoughts by Neren
My Little Angel by Jes
My Simple Randomness by Dana
My Web-blog Designs by Carlota


N
Niko's Blog
NOOB by Pehpot


O
...of being a Medical Student by Gagay
One at a Time- A Busy Mom's Life by Babette
Our Adventures Together by Mommy Jennie
Our Belle Flower by Dines
Our Family Story by Janet

P
Pensive Thoughts by Tetcha
Pieces of Me by Laiza
Pinay Mommy Online
Pink Precious by Rosa
Places, People, Events, Good Food and My Life by Meryl
Princess Ishi's Diary by Jes

Q

R
Random WAHM Thoughts by Kaye
Rose's Obstacles and Glories

S
Seiko's Diary
Shortybear's Place by Denise
Simply Happy Life by Shydub
Smart Mommy by Willa
Stay at Home Mom Online by Rosa
Straight from the Heart by Mommy Elvz
Sweet Nothings by Enchie


T
Tales from a Pinay Survivor Mom by Mariel
Tales of a Teacher's Life by Teacher Jenny
Tasty Exploration by Genebei Faith
The Fashion Explorer by Genefaith
The Mommy Journey by Chris
There is a Time for Everything by Mimi
Trust, Loyalty, Bliss by Beth
Twinkie Calls by


U


V
Venturing the Land of Smiles and Beyond by Jennie

W
Walking Newspaper by Gagay
Wonderful Things in Life by Gengen

X

Y
Yam's Files


Z

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!

Blog's New Look

I don't have a plan to change my pink template I won from Ms. Carlota of Web-blog Designs . I was forced to do so when I couldn't view my blog. Try to click HERE and you'll see what I mean. You see? Why is it so?

I found a nice template from Template-Mama ( I wonder why Template-Mama's shop was closed for few days now) and tried to use it here. Through her tutorial site, I was able to customize the header and place my own photos using the GIMP (I'm not yet as good as Marce Pehpot who made her own header and footer) There's seems to be no problem. I could view my site now without redirecting. So, I'll have this layout for the meantime. I'll be saving some money to hire a professional web designer like Mare Kaye of Random WAHM Thoughts in the future...he..he...Take a look of some of her designs (both in wordpress and blogger platforms) in her portfolio. I'm drooling for them:) By the way, she's the one who designed my Fashion Explorer's template. It's extremely attractive, right?

Shining moments at the Lantern Festival

The lantern festival is held from November-February every year at Hatyai City Municipality Park, Hatyai City, Songkhla, South Thailand. This year is the fourth year celebration. They have 9 Amazing Lantern Zones and we’ve just visited half of them.These are the following zones that we've visited last Friday night.

• World of Kids’ Lantern- this zone is filled with imagination and joy
  

• International Lantern-
  

Under this zone, there are various types of flowers that represent different countries in Asia .

1. Philippines’ Sampaguita – represents purity and mildness.

Philippine Lanterns called Parol or Star Lantern-

2. Thailand’s Golden Shower Tree- It is a propitious tree with former name of “koon” which means “multiplicity” in Thailand. This tree is believed to be the tree of “Honor and Dignity”.

3. China Mei Blossom or Apricot tree is regarded as the first flower of the year in China- meaning it starts to flower in the first month which is winter. It’s the only flower that blossom during this season therefore this tree symbolizes cheerfulness, blessedness, longevity and youthfulness.

Chinese read and gold lanterns (auspicious symbol and color of the Chinese)

4. Korea “Moo-Koong-Khwa” or Rose of Sharon is the flower that can withstand harsh weather and weeds. “Moo-Koong” means immortality and it is used to symbolize the immortality of Korean’s history, determination and patience.

5. India’s Indian Lotus is known as the queen of water plant that combines both beauty and usefulness. This plant is significantly important for Buddhism because it represents “worship”.

Indian lanterns or “Diwali” are used during Light festival in India (for Hindus) . During the festival, people will light their oil lamps for their fortune godmother or Lakshmi goddess to come and bless them.

6. Japan's Sakura (cherry blossoms) in Japanese comes from the word “Sa-ku-ya” which means “blossom” after the name of Princess Konohana Sakuyahimae. Her name meansPrincess Blossom and she was given this name because it was told that she fell from heaven to Sakura tree. Therefore, Sakura is the national flower of Japan. It has special characteristics, that is, all the flowers will fall at the same time and is regarded as the symbol of Japanese soldier and samurais.

7. Malaysia's Shoe Flower is referred as the Queen of tropical flowers. Shoe flower is considered as a perfect flower because it contains both the male and female pollen therefore it represents completeness and attractiveness.

• Wonderful Creative Lantern of 14 Provinces of South Thailand-

We haven't yet visited the other 10 Lanterns from the provinces of South Thailand.

• Festive Lantern-represents Christmas season
  

I can't wait to visit this place before it ends on February 2010. More amazing zones are yet to be discovered.