Christmas and New Year... away from home...

Christmas and New Year has always been an important occasion for Filipinos... This is the time where get together happens and every family comes home to celebrate the festive season with their love ones.

But... for some... it isn't always that way...

Not every one gets a chance to be with their families...

Imagine how desolate it may be...

In my case, I can't even remember how many Christmases and New Year have passed that I celebrated away from my family. I may not be totally alone... I could be in someone else's home... with friends... relatives... at work...

It's fun... but the longing is there... celebrating Christmas with your family and love ones is different. It's a totally different kind of happiness.

This year marks the 2nd year I am celebrating it abroad, but with the love of my life... I can't say I'm perfectly happy as we're still a thousand miles away from our little dear boy...

To make this season extra fun... we went out to celebrate with friends... we go out... roam from places to places... did a few house hopping... gate crash a stranger's home for new year -- a friend's apartment actually, were we met random people and made friends!

 Here's some random photos taken from our Christmas to New Year ♥

The Christmas Party

Zabeel Park

The Christmas Decor Competition

(photos from a friend)

Dear's Christmas Party

Fiesta Pinoy Restaurant

(photo from a friend)

Christmas Eve with Friends

(photos from a friend)

New Year Celebration

We may be far from our families... but surely, we carry them in our hearts!

It's the love that keeps us going ♥

To the random strangers we met along the way...

Thank you!

For some... became our friends...

a Friend we called...

FAMILY ♥

Here's a link to our YouTube channel where we share our Christmas and New Year celebration to y'all!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU2DHPJIDZD1y9OA1tgbgcg/videos?view_as=subscriber 

Hi dearS,
If you like this post, kindly comment below and do share your response.
Thanks a lot for reading ♥

Chocolate Banana by Redondo

Remember this?

This is one of the flavors from Redondo wafer sticks. 

Redondo

Luxury Cream Wafers

Chocolate Banana

Flavoured Cream Wafers

125g

This is the second flavor I tasted from this brand. 

The wafer sticks comes in red packet inside its (reusable) tin can.

The wafer is comparable to the famous Filipino Stick-O snack. However, Redondo has a more sift texture and it varies as well when it comes to size.

Redondo is smaller than what I used to eat back in my hometown.

The flavor?

Chocolate mixed with Banana.

The banana flavor in it is very discernible. For me, it taste like the usual banana most bakers used for cakes and muffins.

I grew up in family of bakers and as I remember it, my aunt would use a long green ripe banana for making cakes and cupcakes.

I just can't remember what it's called.

But from the moment I taste this goodie? uhhhh it bring back memories of that cupcake I used to eat as a snack from my childhood!

Delicious indeed ♥

I can't wait to try more flavors!

I'll let you know when next, okay?

Hi dearS,

If you like this post, kindly comment below and do share your response.

Thanks a lot for reading ♥

Remember, REDONDO?

Hi dearS...

Hope you're all doing well today. Me? I've been busy the past weeks and rarely get a chance to write something new for y'all. My apologies to that.

Remember my post last July 14th? about a wafer sticks given by a friend?

My husband brought 3 more flavors last night; which he bought after his V-game.

I will make a separate blog about each one it and will share with you my favorite among the 3 flavors he got.

So for now... here's a glimpse of it...

 Wait for my blog about it ♥

P.S.

If in case you want to read about the blog I made for the Vanilla one, here's the link for you...

http://tatadear.blogspot.ae/2017/07/redondo-luxury-cream-wafers-vanilla.html

 

Hi dearS,

If you like this post, kindly comment below and do share your response.

Thanks a lot for reading ♥

Redondo Luxury Cream Wafers (Vanilla)

A friend brought a snack for us; which is a vanilla wafer from the brand Redondo. I never actually heard of it until last night, when my husband handed me a tin can with a label that says...

Redondo

LUXURY CREAM WAFERS

I tasted it the next day and honestly, this isn't just your regular wafer out there. It has a fine texture, that melts in to your mouth with each bite. It taste extremely good too.

We have this in vanilla flavor and look how generous they are with the filling...

I asked my husband where did our friend got this one. He told me, it's from one of the stores in Dubai and they're selling this in different flavors. I told him that we need to try all the flavors sold and we could get a few as well as a pasalubong (present) for our family too.

Let's see what's in this product:

Redondo

LUXURY CREAM WAFERS

Vanilla

Net Wt: 125 g

Elegant, light, textured wafers folded with smooth, delicately-flavored cream.

Delicious! Try different flavors Vanilla, Strawberry, Cookies and Cream, Chocolate, Cappuccino.

The label says this product is produced in Indonesia and is distributed by Australia.

I can't wait to taste the other flavors, especially the chocolate and cappuccino. And the soonest we'll get it, we'll share it to you all.

Hi dearS,

If you like this post, kindly comment below and do share your response.

Thanks a lot for reading ♥

A Mother’s Sacrifice…

Unless you become one, only then you will understand… 

You may have heard this a thousand times already or might have gotten tired of being told as such. 

This phrase is actually, TRUE. I don’t give a damn of it growing up but it did made sense when I became… a MOTHER. 

I barely remember anything from my childhood. But I do know I had wonderful memories growing up.

I sometimes wonder how I am as a child… a baby… How my life was from the inside. How I was cared for from the very first beat of life gifted of me.

Or let’s just say it the other way around. 

How she's like as a mom? How her life was when she carried me for 9 months... and how I made her feel the very first time she knew I exist.  The very first time she laid her eyes on me.

How cliché of me to asked such thing… right?

I love reminiscing the old days, whether good or bad; and sometimes find myself smiling, laughing or even crying. I never imagined that every experience will bring forth total happiness.

I am not perfect as a daughter and until now, I regretted a few decisions I did wrong from all these years. 

I’m just like the rest. 

Not everyone gets a chance to have someone they can call, MOM. I can’t imagine the pain… the sorrow… How they managed to live their life every single day. It isn’t easy and it takes a lot of courage. 

It never crossed my mind that life will be that hard on me too; in a different way. With what I’ve experienced, I remember what was told of me then… Especially when I made her feel miserable or when I’m lousy and careless… 

“You’ll understand it… once you're in my shoes.” 

Those words... I care less... It meant nothing for me before...

RIGHT... she is right... everyone is right...

IT ISN’T EASY. IT TAKES A LOT OF BRAVERY, DETERMINATION, PERSEVERANCE… you name it all… It takes a LOT OF EVERYTHING TO BECOME A MOM. I learned it the hard way. All the sacrifices you'll have to endure. The responsibilities you have to face. It will change you in any way possible. 

Motherhood will help you become a better version of you...

💗💗💗

I considered myself lucky to have such a wonderful family. To have been blessed with such an amazing mama; and cared for as well by the people I considered as my second mom. 

To all the mothers out there…  Embrace the gift you have and be thankful for being blessed with such a role. It might be that hard sometimes and I know you’re almost in a verge of giving up. Keep the faith and love. Remember...

not everyone gets the opportunity to become one. 

 ♥

I think the reason why GOD doesn't give us the chance to remember even a single thing when we're still a baby; it's maybe because HE wanted us to experience parenthood in a unique (unprepared) way. 

HE wanted us to expect the unexpected.

And learn valuable lessons along the way! 
 
♥ 
 
To all my friends... family... relatives... 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY ♥ 

Fair & Just

When was your best considered…? 

BEST!

 

First and foremost, people work to earn money. In the world we live in, everyday survival is crucial. These days, money works in anyways. You can’t just find free food and drinks, clothes, shelter and at times, love is not even free at all. Every bits of everything is worth a penny. How did we end up like this? 

 

Success now a day is hard to get. You either have to work hard for it or do the other way around!?! 

 

Often times, we get blinded by what money and material things offers.

There's always a reason behind one's action. Reasons that reflects one's true color. We are all responsible for whatever actions we take. At times, we tend to hurt someone along the way just to attain the real purpose of what we are trying to achieve. Pushing ourselves into the rotting institutions we want to reinvent. Ram and plunge until you get what you desire for.
 

Often times, it’s not what you know but who you know (that got you to the top)!

  Sad but true  

 

I’ve seen and known a few who works hard the decent way and not even thinking of getting something in return out of it. They are those who work the hardest, at times paid less than what is expected. They chose not to complaint and does what they thought is right and just. These are the kind of people we should look up to. 
 

But believe it or not, we had gone through that at some point in our lives too, where we make mistakes and either we do our best to not make the same mistake again or live fully by it without care. Lucky are those who show fairness, honesty and even-handed in everything. They don’t have to feel the guilt each time they’ll look into the eyes of those they cared for. 

 

In the end, it’s what you do well in life that counts and is important when you face HIM someday. HE will let you embrace what you have attained in an unjust way at this very moment, but surely, time will come, HE’ll take it all back from you. When that time comes, make sure you’re ready for it.
 

Remember…
 

Success gained through fair competition brings forth sweeter victory in the end.
 

Your BEST may not be seen and heard yet but time will come, abundance will pour upon you!