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.