The White Dress

♪♫Today's my day, I'm going to meet the Lord, So join together and sing and pray this is my first Communion Day! ♪♫ I was chanting these words 2 decades ago.  I grew up in a Catholic school where we have the privilege of taking the sacrament in our very own church.  All I know then was, we have to confess our sins to a priest and he is supposed to absolve them and start life anew.  I think taking the host was pretty cool but I am more excited about dressing up and the celebration. Take your time to grow up kid!  Now it's a different ball game.  I get to be the parent in this recent scene.  My chica, celebrated her First Holy Communion.  She was psyched by the preparation.  The Catechism is okay but the mass is a drag. We have to go to church as a family and she finds it too much. It's not a place of worship of dancing and singing with a live band and fancy hats. It's more solemn! But, I don't blame her at all.  Nonetheless, she continue to do what is asked of her. 



Miffy received a beautiful white dress from her grandparents all the way from the Philippines.  I made a veil for her and  I bought a pair of white shoes and a footless tights to compliment the communion fashion. She is a well dressed girl!  My parents are not coming to see her but they made sure that they were present and their blessing and grace were illuminated by the white dress that they hand picked from a local store.  Everyone praise how quaint she looked .  If only they can see her emotions. I was sooo happy but deep inside a little bit sad, what's new?  Anyway, I made sure that she got her portrait done to remember this day or to remind her how special she is.  It doesn't stop here, the church hall had a reception for them and their family.  We attended and invited our Vietnamese friends.  Back at home we have a reception prepared for her too.  I cooked some Asian faves and invited our closest friends.  She had tons of treats and presents from all of us.  She knows that I will always do something for her and sometimes I feel like it's too much and  when  will I ever learn from it?  All I know is I love to spoil my kids!

A Spanish prayer was said to bless this meal!

I guess in my hand book, I will always let her be what she wants to be in life.  While she's in my roof, I have the right to pass on the tradition that I have whether it's cultural, matriarchal or religious.  She was baptized and now she received the Holy Communion for the first time.  We are not fanatics and we are not an old school Catholics.  I love to be called spiritual. I welcome and respect all religion!  For me, it is an opinion based subject and everyone is entitled to their claim. All I know is that we have one faith and our intentions are universally righteous.  I am not talking about a cult but of a religion. 

Irish Princess turns a year older!

It is St. Patrick's Day!  Catholics in Ireland celebrate this event to commemorate the mark of Catholicism.  St. Patrick used the 3 leaf clover or commonly called shamrock to convey the symbol of Holy Trinity.  This feast is greatly celebrated in Europe and North America.  I never learn this growing up but maybe because we have to pay a lot of tribute to our local saints and this was left on the back of the burner.  Oh well, time to move on and be adaptive to my current habitat.  I celebrate this feast because I honour the day  and an Irish Princess was bestowed upon a mother.  I gave birth to a healthy baby girl on this day!  Way too cool!  The more reason we have to celebrate. Yay!

Bailey, one of the BFF's of  Miffy was her special day too and her mother came over to assist me. A helping hand that I am not used to because of my independency. I hate to bother people's time but this one, it was smooth. She pumped some balloons for decorations and even beat the icing for my cupcakes while I was trying to find the perfect shade. Hmmm...Perfectionista! A predicate that describes the subject best! lol.. I bake and decorated 13 cupcakes.  I want it to be fresh!  We baked sugar cookies and my daughter cut them into shapes and dazzled it with sprinkles. I have chips, sour keys and my lime punch from scratch.  I had burgers for my main! We had games and freeze dance. Everyone was competitive!  There were cheers and tears who can bring home the trophy.   What a fun filled day splattered with treats! I am amazed that these kids know what to do when they are in our house. They were  well mannered.  They were not trashing our toys or any property.   What a bunch of well brought up kids!  Now,  Instead of a treat bag, I have fruit cocktail cans that I wash and save up.  I bend and painted them and stuck some chocolates inside.  It was well thought of and the craft idea came from Darlene, a craft diva!  The 3 hour party has gone sooo fast!  Again, tears were flowing on the doorstep not wanting to leave. Ahhh...It's a visual sign of enjoyment! The kiddies know that they are always well treated when they come back.  It was my pleasure hosting the party for my daughter. 

Miffy turned another year older. She fills my world with unexpected graces. She is my cuddle bug, smarty pants and bestfriend. I am always growing and learning with her everyday. She brightens and broadens the horizon. My endless love, Lucky Mommy. 

Treasure trove

I was in my basement trying to recover my Valentine's decoration.  I don't know where did the hanging hearts went, but I can certainly tell you where my Girl's 3T apparel is.  Oh my, fashion finding! This took me a week to go through them individually.  It's abundantly enough to take me to places and phases even unseen faces.  It's retroactive! My lil girl  is growing up so fast.  Physically, I don't probably noticed her as much as other people does because I am always around her. But when you see something tangible, ouch!

I was talking about selling some clothes that don't fit Miffy anymore and I even have a potential buyer for it.  I said, I need some room and the money will go towards a new aquisition of wardrobe. Yeah right! I think you need more ca ching for that eh! Anyway, the thoughts of buying, selling and recycling is an easy pattern.  The recipient is no stranger to my family.  She is my God daughter but why am I in the loop?  What's keeping me?  Although they are newly wash and the box is waiting to be filled, why am I still torn?  I don't get this.  One minute I am willing to sell them the next minute I am  fidgety. Argghh...So I decided to line them neatly and put them in the rack beside my bed so I can view them freely.  Gazing them doesn't fade away my troubled mind. It redirects my conventions. It's better for these clothes to be stock in a new closet than sitting in my basement doing nothing or worst, waiting for a mold to grow. 

I'm sure I can create happy faces.   I can get emotional to my treasure trove and afraid to let go. This is just clothing but what happens if it is something intangible or  extreme circumstances that is part of growing up.  What did my Mother fell when her only daughter has to live in a different continent?  All this and more are crucial over a denim collection.  I think I can get over with it.  I am gonna live!  I've taken dozens of pictures with it to commemorate my passion for fashion with my only daughter.  There's no rarity with dresses.  You can always duplicate them regardless of time.  My treasure trove is beyond that and so is yours. Come take a look!

What's ticking?

Laura, one of the members of our Book Club proposed a Challenge last week about Organization/Minimization.  I'd like to write about it this week.  To my dismay, I've been disconnected to my writing routine.  Anyway, from what I gathered it is something physical or abstract.  It could be as simple as a filing cabinet or certain things like friendship. Let the unveiling begin!

For those who know me enough or know me too well, I am having a hard time keeping up with my Time Management Skill.  It is one of my Organizational flaws since High School. It was okay at that time but now it's a burden!  I am not the only one who's getting ready if we have to head out.  I have to make the kiddies ready as well and sometimes they are not up for it.  The more I'm tangled! The bus leaves at a certain time and we're not in other countries that the bus waits for you.   Sometimes, I am punctual especially if I have a prior engagement to up held.  I wake up at an extra hour to do my regimen and be available to those who need me including our cat. Funny but true! This is a roller coaster ride.  Maybe, if I will write about it, my subconscious would kick in and start reving and rewiring that part in my brain.  I don't want to capitalize on my liability.  It's unfair to those who are around me.  It is a form of stealing something valuable.  Gotta respect that part!  I don't wanna lose my tendencies. 

Gratitude Attitude

I was fidgeting with the remote control and found out that one of the prettiest celebrity that I admire, Demi is  drowning her sorrow or frustration with medication. Adorned with fame, wealth and success she still manage to be human and vulnerable behind the camera.  We complain once in a while that we are less happy in life.   We wanted to have a quick fix.  Happiness isn't an over the counter remedy. Even the once with a fatter bank account can't remain to be happy all the time.  Is this given or life is just an ascending scale?

To minimize this reality I take a step  to continue my Gratitude Attitude Journal. In our last Book Club, Simple Abundance,  we were encourage to write daily about the things we are thankful for. We even get a colourful notebook and pen to do the exercise.  Now, I'd like to share virtually what I am thankful for. 

1. I am thankful for being born.
2. ...for having a wonderful family.
3. ...for having a loving husband.
4. ...for having healthy kids.
5. ...for having a roof over my head.
6. ...for having an overall well-being.
7. ...for having a cuddly pet.
8. ...for having a working car.
9. ...for living in a safe neighbourhood.
10. ...for having a sustainable income.
11. ...for having food in my belly.
12. ...for having a warm blanket at night.
13. ...for having colleagues/friends.
14. ...for having enjoyable hobbies.
15. ..for living in a historic city.
16. ..that my kids get along in playing the Monopoly game.
17. ..that my husband take time to bake a Banana Cream Pudding for me to taste after my volunteer job.
18. ..for the vegetarian chili that my husband prepared for supper.
19. ..for not being lazy and write on my blog tonight.
20. ..for my sorority/book clubbers/ bloggers etc.  We are sharing our 31 Day Challenge on Monday and express inspiration and support for each other.

Stay still and strong

Good Morning King Square! Happy -2'c on the 26th day of January. We're always bombarded with chilly, icy and dry weather around this time of the year. Statistics have shown it in the past but who knows what is happening? Life is just the same.

I am consumed by Saint John for almost a decade now. We worked and bought our first house. We built a family.  I made and lost some friends. I flourished as an individual. Saint John has been a home to many especially to the British and Irish Immigrants.  They built and rebuilt the city after the Great Fire. They made livelihood and communities accessible to everyone and that is in growing trend. Saint John stayed in tip top shape til now.  We have to deliver the growing progress.  Uptown Saint John is the core of the city.  We have the government building, banks, market, chic boutique, fancy dining and the theatre to name a few.   It is highly generated by the crowd.  You can pretty much walk from one end to the other without getting lost. The people are primo friendly. The crime rate is less. Halelujah!

Amidst of our stable condition, We are facing a difficult time raising the Paramount Theatre to life. It is the oldest and part of our heritage theatre. There was a campaign last November about the retention of this. The Chinese Community were very helpful! It was viral and there were stakeholders interested but the amount was spiral.  I'm not sure what happens to the next phase of development.  We don't want this turning into a parking lot.  I know that it happened in other cities but the fate still remains unseen. There will be oodles of advantages if this stays.  It will be a hub for emerging artist, it can be used as an auditorium to hold plays or presentation etc. and not to menton the retail side of it.  As for viewing purposes, this will draw attention to family especially those with kids who live few blocks away. Most of the families live nearby are dependent on the public transit and this would generate enough interest aside from the avid movie goers.  I watched Sweet Home Alabama here on my  birthday! I still have memories of it.  Wouldn't it be sad to steal away this projection to a Dad spending some family time with his kid, or vice versa?  Memories are a lifetime! Saint John will be a more productive city if we preserve this. What a lovely amenity this would be!   

Appreciating a local treasure

I've been consistently committed with my work towards humanity.  There's no dragging off the couch, it's an easy breezy transition from the doorstep to the car. At the end of the day, I am fulfilled and I sense my purpose in this world knowing that I give back, share my blessings and I made a difference in my community. We can translate that in any form of simplest act of kindness to any stranger that we meet.  I am honored of this one because I feel like it's a gift that was given to me and I am trying to cultivate it.

With my save the carbon footprint mood, I take time to walk home and enjoy the breathtaking view of the Reversing Falls.  This is one of the many attractions that Saint John is proud of.  The phenomenon of Reversing Falls is the tremendous rise and fall of the tides in the Bay of Fundy.  I try to educate myself and google some maps.  The tidal action originated in South Indian Ocean and collided in Cape of Good Hope which is in South Africa then in the mouth of the North of Bay of Fundy. In this picture, I try to capture the rapids and the whirlpool.  I've seen a similar view in Deer Island.  But our geographical location works in our favour.  I take pleasure that this view is in our locale.  We can pay for boat tours to see a closer look and feel the movement of the tides.  

Why is it called Reversing Falls again? because it changes direction every 12.5 hours.  To best view this scene, you should try to come twice a day to see the difference. Needless to say, the tide is always affected by the distance of the moon from the earth. 

If you happen to be passing, pause on the parking lot and take a stress free gesture.  We don't wanna overlook this wonder.  After all, the cruise ship visitors have seen this landmark. Shouldn't  you?