Christmas to some people is probably not as merry as they would want it to be.

In our country alone, a lot of families have been displaced due to massive flooding which brought about a lot of loss of lives and destruction to personal properties and public infrastructure. Just recently two big communities have been razed down, a lot of Overseas Filipino Workers from the Middle East and other countries are coming home who won’t be able to go back to their jobs, and so many people living way below poverty line.

I am sure a lot of people are going to do serious job hunting like philly job search after the Christmas season.

But still, Christmas offer not just a respite from stresses in life  (in fact Christmas gives people another kind of stress). If only people know how to celebrate Christmas the right way without stressing themselves on where to get the financial responsibilities that go with it, then they can enjoy the season.

Christmas after all is not about gifts, fancy decorations and festivities. Christmas is about Salvation, hope, joy and love.

Merry Christmas.

Remember the real reason of the season is the birth of Jesus who came to give us Salvation.

Holidays (and that  include Christmas) mean travel time to some people who are will brave the crowds, the traffic and the hassles that go with it to be with their loved ones.

It is therefore important to know how to travel with less worries and here are a few tips on how to travel during the holidays:

• Ready some essentials in a handy container: tickets, loose change/bills for toll fees and other things you need to pay for, hand sanitizers/wipes, maps for road travelers, hanky and whatever you think you will need, just in case
• Bring liquids and other snacks to munch on, still, just in case
• Get travel insurance, whether cheap travel insurance,  or the most expensive one, just in case again
• If you have children, you know the drill, bring toys that will keep them occupied and not whining “are we there yet?” and while we are at it, get them an ID (just in case)
• Stock up on a lot of vit C and other essential supplements before the travel, bring some with you too
• Charge all gadgets before traveling
• if you are traveling by car, be sure to check everything that needs to be checked and double checked
• If possible, travel lightly

Why am I writing those just in case phrases? These JIC phrases will help you prepare for the worst-case scenario. You know, those flight-delayed-for eight-hours-due-to-unexpected-blizzards, your-child-wandered-off-among-the-crowd or your-car-ran-over-a-nail-on-the-road-and-has-a-flat-tire scenarios.

Above all else, bring patience, lots and lots of patience. After all, isn’t it the season to be hopeful, joyous and generous?

Have a Merry Christmas!

Fast cars in this other entry.

We cleaned out a cabinet a few months ago and took baby toys out to be given to my brother’s baby daughter. It was a bittersweet moment for me and instead of thinking how fast they have grown, I decided to take photos of the toys for them to see in the days to come.

Yes, they grow up too fast. Seems like one minute they are all chubby-cheeked cuties and starting to babble and the next minute they are screaming for space.

You ask yourself, “What happened?”

“Did they grow up too soon?”

“Where did the time go?”

Enjoy the moments while these last: the hugs, the kisses, the sweet moments together, the innocent wh- questions (and not questions about getting married or discount auto insurance) that we find not just funny but endearing as well.

Speaking about time and moments, I always tell my children to value their time for time that has been lost can’t be brought back.

By the way, it is my youngest daughter‘s birthday on Wednesday and I wasted no time to order her cake in advance 

Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? If not, I suggest you go check out an online gift service portal called Regalo Service which I stumbled upon while looking for online shopping sites.

Christmas is just a few days away and I am sure everyone is frantic with the festivities that go with the holiday. Traffic jams from early morning till the time everyone else wants to go home is evident. Lack of sleep, exhaustion and sickness due to weather changes seem to alleviate the stress level.

Online shopping seem to be the better alternative than being pushed and shoved here and there before you get to the person behind the cashier.

While browsing this site, I secretly (not anymore) made a wish list for my loved ones and for me as well.

1. 160GB HD/DVD Recorder for the hubby’s viewing pleasure
2. Cool Black Sophistication fashion jewelry for the eldest daughter
3. Justice League Personalized Story Book for the only son
4. God’s Special Gifts to Me (Personalized story book) for the youngest daughter.
5. Blender Ice Crusher for my Papa and mama for their fresh drinks
6. Pixel DVH 563 for my brother to take videos of his young daughter
7. Filipiniana Capiz Dinner Set in Lotus Leaf Basket Case for my mother-in-law
8. Baby’s Create a Book for my cute niece and two new cute godsons
9. Nicole Laptop Bag for me
10. Leather Journal to write down my thoughts just in case I get an “A-ha!” moment

Sarap mangarap!

Christmas being a season of giving does not automatically translate to giving material things.

Instead of giving your child a bike, take walks together. Instead of giving your child the latest in mobile phones, spend time with him/her for a face-to-face talk. Instead of dining out, cook your favorite food together for a family meal.

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!

Christmas is a season when giving hearts abound and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) is celebrating Christmas by allowing you to give back to the community through the launch of their holiday advocacy: Give in to Giving: 24 Cups with The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.

A portion of beverage sales has been set aside for 24 community advocacy groups for this program. Helping others in small ways can go a long way especially during these times when the country has gone through so many setbacks brought about by the recent calamities. CBTL hopes to encourage their patrons to support a cause during this program. Each purchase can help these causes which will benefit our fellow Filipino kababayans.

Information about Give in to Giving: 24 Cups with The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf can also be found online at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Facebook page detailing specific branches of CBTL where you can be a part of the program.

Everyone who gives in to giving will be given a Christmas treat as a way for the CBTL to thank you for your generosity and donation certificate are  also available for purchase.

Here are some of the advocacy groups:

1. Abot-Kamay Foundation for battling tuberculosis.
2. Autism Society of the Philippines for sponsoring books for their library.
3. A Home of Our Home, Bahay Tuluyan’s temporary shelter, for their basic needs, medical and legal assistance.
4. Cartwheel Foundation for their Music and Art education program for the indigenous youth.
5. The Learning Center for their special education services.
6. Knowledge Channel Foundation for their educational television.
7. Kythe Inc for helping them give birthday cakes to children with cancer.
8. Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) Animal Rehabilitation Center for giving abandoned pets a new chance in new homes.
9. Sa Aklat Sisikat Foundation for helping develop reading for Filipino Children.

Let us all support these causes as we go and get a cup of our favorite of drink at The Coffee Bean & Teal Leaf branches.