GottaLoveMom: December 2011

Embrace 2012 with LOVE ~~ Happy New Year!

Let's embrace 2012 NOT with resolutions or ways to reinvent ourselves. But instead -- let's embrace 2012 with LOVE! Nothing more, nothing less.

New Year – new goals. What is it about the New Year that prompts us to re-evaluate what we want to accomplish?

Be fit.

Be happy.

Be successful.

Be loved.

The list goes on but I don’t think you need to reinvent yourself – just choose to be YOU.

It’s as simple as enjoying life knowing that you lived by the Golden Rule: Love God. Love your neighbors as you love yourself.

LOVE – that’s the key!

Love God – that’s a given. Only with faith in God can we truly understand.

Love YOURSELF. When you learn how to love yourself, you’ll notice that everything just falls in place – everything will fit.

Love your neighbor. Why not? Why not learn how to share your love -- you’ll get more of it in return anyway! So it’s a win-win!

Yes, it’s that simple!

So let’s embrace 2012 with LOVE -- nothing more, nothing less.

Wishing you peace, love and joy. Happy New Year!

Ingat! (Tagalog word that means "take care")

1 Comments

, by GottaLoveMom

relationships

What does Christmas or Hanukkah mean to you?

I’m excited about Hanukkah (Chanukah) and Christmas. We celebrate both holidays – our kids are blessed in that way!

Our “Santa and her helpers” have been busy buying presents for the family. I’m excited because the families get to sit down together and enjoy a wonderful 3-day holiday – Hanukkah, Christmas Eve (Noche Buena) and Christmas Day.

We will be full house – my college guy will be home and thanks to my thoughtful crumbcatchers who put together allowances and savings to help one another with rent money so that every one will be home for the holidays.

I get teary-eyed during the holidays because I miss my family in the Philippines. But I know they’re having a fun time – no matter what.

I'm not sure if we'll have a White Christmas. Our snowstorm came early on Halloween!

I enjoy listening to Christmas carols. Luckily, my children love to play piano, guitar and violin!

I'm looking forward to the holidays because my family and I get to stay home,

watch movies together (What a Wonderful Life wasn't a hit though), and just relax.

Chanukah is the Festivalof Light.
Christmas is the day Christ was born.
A day that brings new Hope, Faith and Love.

Let’s read to our children, and let them know and feel the true meaning of Christmas.
Teach them little acts of random kindness ~~

From my family to yours, have a wonderful Chanukah, Christmas and holiday season.

2 Comments

, by GottaLoveMom

Events

Make a difference - become a Fairy Doll Mother @ Once Upon a Tree House

“We do not do great things, only small things with great love.” ~ Mother Theresa

I was recently introduced to a new charitable cause, “OnceUpon A Tree House’s Fairy Doll Mother Program”. The name alone caught my attention -- sounds simple, yet powerful in meaning!

Once Upon A Tree House is an online store, designed by two Moms, whose mission is to create handmade and eco-friendly doll houses, dolls and accessories that provide lasting memories for parents, grandchildren and grandparents.

At an time when most children own an electronic device, the traditional toys that “Once Upon A Tree House” offers help cultivate a child’s imagination, promote quality family time, enhance communication and provide opportunities for parents/grandparents in creating a strong bond with their children/grandchildren by playing together. Children grow up so fast that not to spend fun, playful time with them is a sin!

And this holiday season, when you purchase a doll at Once Upon A Tree House, you not only make your child smile but you are also responsible in making a less fortunate child happy!

Once Upon A Tree House, in partnership with Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.), is accomplishing this through their “Fairy DollMother Program” by donating one doll to a child in need for every doll sold during this holiday season. Therefore, when you buy a doll from Once Upon A Tree House, you and your child become “Fairy Doll Mothers”. What a way to teach your child the true spirit of the holiday season!

So as Once Upon A Tree House founders and sisters, Lori Schoeneman and Tara Schoeneman-Brown said, "not only will you feel good about giving your little ones great wholesome toys to play with, but you will also be able to teach your child about how important it is to help others."

Teaching children that they are blessed for what they have, and that every gesture – no matter how small, can make a difference, is a lasting gift any parent can give to their children. Instilling in their young minds that all they need to do is help one person at a time, just make one more child happy is a way to spread cheer during this holiday season!

So please check out “Once Upon A Tree House” and get a double treat!

Remember: Share LOVE, you’ll get more of it in return!

Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) is celebrating its 26th anniversary as a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to providing NEW toys, clothing, books and more to children in need. These donated products are distributed through a network of nearly 1,000 local social service agencies. Since 1985, K.I.D.S has provided more than 67 million underprivileged and disaster-struck children with over one billion dollars of merchandise, giving these children, and often their entire families, hope and self-esteem through a gift of something brand new.

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, by GottaLoveMom

relationships

My fairy godmother with bright ideas - what Christmas is all about!

"A pleasant surprise is in store for you soon." - that was the message that I got from last Saturday's fortune cookie.

And earlier today when I checked my email, Felicia Kramer of Another Bright Idea and More Bright Ideas informed me that I won $40 credit towards her More Bright Idea's Etsy shop.

I have been a fan of Felicia's work for years now. Her artwork always spoke from the heart -- and her keen eyes capture the beauty of nature and life itself, thus, creating such intricate art pieces.

Felicia Kramer had helped me put together a cover design for my book, "Out of Status", which will be released on January 2012. She's someone who truly enjoys GIVING. She's an artist at heart -- so her gifts are made uniquely for you and me!

Isn't that what Christmas or Hanukkah is all about? GIVING? And it's not just about the material presents, it's the tradition of being with families and friends. As a small business owner, I'm not stopping you to buy a present or two, but remember that you can also add something memorable!

The Advent season is also the time to at least dedicate 6 minutes a day to God -- spend some quiet time with the Lord. If you belong to the Catholic Church, you probably got the Little Blue Book of Advent and Christmas Seasons. This little book provides the framework on how to experience one of the oldest traditions of prayer called lectio divina - sacred reading. Just by reading a short passage from the Holy Bible, (quicker than reading friends' FB status updates) allows us to let God speak to us.

Today's reading reminds me that life is like a desert -- sometimes beautiful and sometimes severe. It is sometimes gentle, quiet and peaceful...and sometimes difficult YET beautiful, especially if we surround ourselves with the love of our families and friends!

What say you?