Better Way to Celebrate Third Birthday

Whatever age that may be we all have the excitement when our birthday's is fast approaching. We tend to plan and wish to have a birthday bash of our own version. We are excited because we celebrate our date of birth, what makes it even exciting is we tend to gather all friends for one day and celebrate it with laughter over food, wine or liquor and beer or we tend to spend it somewhere as a gift for a year of success stories.

Gearing up to Jollibee for Ayesha's 3rd Birthday

But what about if it is our child's birthday party that comes up.

I am sure we have a lot of ideas popping in our mind when we think of our child's 3rd birthday party. However, I would like to share a story from my inaanak's (godchild) third birthday party and why it was successful.

A 3 year old child definitely can already express their ideas and maybe have some idea on how a party would look like. They already have these excitement towards their birthday party.

Over Christmas celebration her Lolo Bernardo asked her where she wanted to have a party. Ayesha (my inaanak) answered smartly "JOLLIBEE" (a food chain) and so her wish is definitely granted. In her action alone, I know she already have an idea as to what fun is. She already have an idea as to what she wanted.

Here's the learning's I got from what happened:

• Engage your children in the planning of their party. In this way, you are also teaching them to make decision. As a parent, we are just there to guide our children. Let your children do the planning you will just guide them if they are going out of control. It is what they want at that certain point in time that they enjoy the most.
• You should also be explaining the budget to them and that they shouldn't be going over the budget. In this way, you are teaching your children at an early age the value of money.
• Allow your children to explore their creative side while having fun. At this early stage I strongly agree with the expert that these children at this stage wanted to play. Let them play around and ask for their suggestions like what kind of food they wanted to serve on their birthday or giveaways or even her dress.
• To guide them, ask them for choices and maybe a few reason why they choose what they chose over the other. In this way, you are developing good reasoning skills.

Spell EXCITEMENT! this children are pretty much excited with what is about to happen.

This shall are different happy faces showing it off with the camera.

Am sure seeing this cake makes the Lolo really proud.

I also noticed how a grandfather so excited to witness the happenings of his only grand daughter. We turned on our Skype for him to see at least the first part of the party at Jollibee. I think that is more than enough for him to be inspired while working abroad for his children and now grand children.

10 Things I am Thankful for 2013

Many of us may be listing down their New Years Resolution, for me, I will definitely not list My New Years Resolution but rather it is my personal tradition to list down reason why I am thankful about the past year. I feel good to take time and reflect back to what the year has brought me or what I have done for the past year. I know I can never undo the past year but I also know that it will always be part of my history worth looking back to learn from and to be feel good at.

Here's what I am thankful for:

First of I am very thankful because I have survived another year. I am thankful to the Lord Almighty for giving me life and extending it for another year. It is difficult to be very limited on things you could do because you are growing up and getting old with congenital heart problem. However, despite that, God has given me another year to at least be of help to my siblings and to my friends or to even strangers. Another year of working and another year of good laugh with good friends.

I am grateful as well to have another year of working life. Despite the roller coaster ride of 2013 when it comes to my professional career I am still thankful because I have this opportunity I was able to surpass all and still survive for another year. It has given me opportunity to help bring my sister to a good school and take the course she likes and not to be forced to take up something she doesn't want just because we don't have the capacity to give it to her.

The successful launch of Project Mountain Alphabet. It is one of biggest achievement for 2013 because I was able to help Colalo Elementary School collect good books for their library. The Project Mountain Alphabet is merely a personal project of me and my fellow volunteers/friends to reach out to those who doesnt have a library. We collect books, cash and school materials from donors and bring it to the school who needs the most. The said project is a lifetime commitment so if you wish to help please contact me at my email address at wsacharlton1@gmail.com so we could arrange on how we could pick up your donations.

2013 has also brought me a roller coaster life be it personal and professional life. I am thankful to everyone who has helped me go through it. They have inspired me to cling on to life and showed me that problems are simply a cream of the crops to be a better person. I hope that the learning's from 2013 will definitely transpire to the new challenges of 2014.

I have sailed on 2013 successfully because of those people who surrounds me. They have boost my ego, my personality and supports and pushes me to be a better person. This definitely is a living example for me that no matter what happen there'd be always God sends who will be supporting you and for you to be able to the task God has given you. Thank you everyone as things may be worse without all of you.

I am thankful for all the weekends of 2013 as it is an instrument God has given me to rejuvenate and to get ready for another week not before long I just realized that another has year has passed. Without each weekend, I may have crushed down and will not be able to make it through sanely (lol). The weekend is a weekly gift for me from our creator for me to go rest, watch movie, chat with friends, explore new food and places.

Adjective is also a big part of my 2013. It was used both negatively and positively. I was describe extravagantly way below the belt and extravagantly heart warming alike. Both of this description has given me another color in my rainbow to change my own perspective and notion about people I encounter in a day to day basis and somehow still learning strategies to deal with these people.

My dear readers who keeps coming back to read what I wrote in my blog. I am greatly thankful to all of you. I keep inspired because of you all because of you my writing capability grows from about to be forgotten and dies to slowly growing better. These all happens because of you all who reads what I wrote. May I continue to improve until I gain back what I thought is my expertise.

Another one that I am thankful for is the idea to open my own online store and that hopefully by the years to come I will come up with my own physical store with my own brand. I am thankful as well for the people who believes in me and lend me their resources so I could start it up right. I am equally thankful for all my friends who choose to support me despite consequence they may have. To my colleagues who fully supports my endeavor and cheers me up in the tidal waves of starting up a business. For all the buyers I am thankful to each and everyone of you. You have inspired me to do better in sales and marketing.

Above all, I am very thankful with God by making all these things possible and by giving me people that helps me become who I am each year.

My New Year Food Recipe - Macaroni Salad

Christmas and New Year celebration actually is my favorite ever time of the year since childhood days and every time this part of the year kicks in I am always wishing for a macaroni salad the Filipino way of cooking of course. I love it because it is cheesy and definitely sweet. I actually think way back my childhood days that Macaroni Salad is a very special desert that is only prepared during New Year Celebration. I also see it on my cousins birthday celebration. Basically, I only see them during special occasions and gatherings.

Now that I am working I would love to cook it the way I wanted it and when I say I will do it my way I usually break the norms that I have grown up with. So here's my own version of my Filipino Macaroni Salad:

Ingredients:

1 pc of 500 gram Baronia Farfalle (Ribbon Type)

1 pc of 500 gram Baronia Fusilli Tricolore (3 Color Spiral)
2 pcs of 300 ml Condensed Milk
3 pcs  of 250 ml All Purpose Cream
1 bottle of Nata De Coco
200 gram Marshmallow (small type)
1 can (big size) Fruit Cocktail
Raisin
Cheese diced

Procedures

Cook the pasta/noodles according to package instruction. Normally though in a pot of salted boiling water add the pasta and cook for about 8 to 9 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold running tap water and allow to cool completely then set aside.

Drain the red and green Kaong or nata de coco and Fruit Cocktail then set aside.

Combine thouroughly all ingredients.

Put them on a container seal it thoroughly then refrigerate overnight.

Planning for Retirement will be My New Years Resolution

I am not financial expert nor a financial literate. However, over the past few days I have been thinking what happens to me when I retire. Then suddenly I came to realize that this would be my greatest failure. I should have been saving for my retirement the moment I started working.

There'd be so many ways and tips written about how to plan for your retirement. Financial experts will always have to say something about for to plan for a retirement. The thoughts actually that has been bugging me is AM I READY TO RETIRE when it is about time to RETIRE?

Planning for a retirement for sure is always the best way to go about it. Planning is definitely tedious and mind bugging. In my own idea, in order for you to plan for a retirement is you'd have to come up with a process on how you could achieve a successful and easy retirement. Part of which is definitely forecasting your future needs. Forecasting is the first step to a successful Retirement Plan.

Forecasting could be as simple as listing down all your possible expenses in a given point of your life. Of course FORECASTING is too technical to most of us including me. But, I am referring to the easier one which is the Qualitative Forecasting where it is really subjective and it is purely based on your own judgement. Though it is based on your judgement and subjective in nature you would have to put in mind that you would have to be most factual. In my case, I would forecast that the moment I will retire, I will be spending at least Php 3500 to Php 6500 per month on medicine and maintenance, Php 1500 on electricity and Php 500 on water bill. Since I am alone, I would be spending at least Php 1800 on food and beverage per week Php 4000 per month for phone, cable tv, and internet services and the list goes on. After making the list of the most possible expenses I would have to multiply it for 20 years granting that is if I will retire on the age of 55. Oh by the way if you plan of travelling after you retire, then you would have to add that on your forecast.

After forecasting, then we have to think of all our expenses. Of course, we don't just forecast our future expenses, we have also have to plan on how we could reach our goal.

So here's what I will be doing for me to achieve my Retirement Plan.

1. Its been said many times in many articles about retirement that the best way to fund your retirement is by cutting down your expenses to ramp up savings. I find it logically correct. Well though it is true that one of the many reason why we strive to look for a better job offering a higher compensation is because we wanted to live the life we dreamed to have. I am not saying that I wont be buying new clothes for the next 10 years or not going to a movie house for the rest of year. What I am trying to say here is I will be cutting my expenses on a so called extravaganza expenses.
2. Saving Saving Saving and more Saving. I am guilty on this part. At age 30, I still don't have financial savings. For me I am already at the verge of what I call financial suicide. I have a 30 year mortgage which means, I can only rest from paying off my mortgage at the age of 60. With the expenses I listed above I should now start saving a portion of my earnings. However, with the economic situation of the Philippines and the fluctuation of prices of common goods then it would mean that I would need to triple my effort in saving. Bottom line here is for me to save as much money as I can while I am working and while there are companies who would like to hire me.One goal is by the end of 2014 I should be able to secure a different Bank Account number as my retirement savings. It is always best that this should not be withdrawn by any chance. It is always a good idea as well to add more every time I have an achievement whether my personal, business, and or professional life.
3. Invest. I personally think that investing would be the perfect avenue for me to save more for my retirement. However, I think the best way to invest my money is through mutual funds. However, dont just invest on any mutual funds but rather it should be to a reputable and stable companies offering such investment terms. Here's a good read about mutual funds: Grow Your Money In Mutual Funds
4. NEVER RELY ON SOCIAL SECURITY SERVICES. I had been talking to most people in their 40's to 50's from taxi driver, construction worker, office workers and to some managers. One thing I found in common is most (but not all) are dependent on their SSS contribution as part of their retirement plan. For me, it is retirement suicide if we depend on SSS to cover for all our needs when we retire. Though we should be expecting that from the government, I think it will only cover a very minimal part of our expenses when we retire. I knew some people who receives Php 2500 every month from SSS as a retirement benefits and I think that will only cover either electric bill.
5. STAY AWAY FROM DEBTS. I think this would be the hardest on my par but I will try my best not to incur more debts. As they always say, I should learn more to stay within my means and not over spending.
6. Company Retirement Saving Plan. One of the many reason why I am staying with my current employer is because of the fact that they offer a company retirement saving plan. So I will urge everyone to ask your Human Relation Officer about a possible retirement saving plan sponsored by the company. Know their terms and condition and always make sure to get the highest percentage cut from your salary normally that's approximately 3% to 7% cut.

Eat Explore Experience

Not so long time ago there is this little kid who loves being alone. He plays with his imaginary playmate sometimes with his brothers and cousins. He was regarded as weak by most people in his place. Even his relatives sometimes would mock him and told him he cant go that far in life and that he would just simply be a pain in his parents life.

Most of the time, this little boy keeps thinking: "maybe they are right, maybe I am just a little boy growing to be a pain in the heart, a weakling". We will just call this little boy Rey.

Rey did grow up. Went to college, finished a degree in 4 years. During his college life he kept on fighting criticism and jackass descriptive. When this boy was asked by a relative, they would often describe him as a happy go lucky who comes home late at night. Rey simply ignored all of that and continued improving himself by joining multiple school clubs like school newspaper and dramatic club. 

Those experience was Rey's ticket to landing job one after the other.

Sometimes in our life we experience rejection and condemnation not only by our neighbors, our church or even to our own relatives. However this shouldn't be the end of everything. Fight back simply by self improvement. The experience are lessons in life that we would need to go through to become who we are in the future.

Expect obstacles, traffic jam, flat tire, empty pocket or stomach, storms, bullies, missing crayons, poop and pee on your pants, sleepless night because in the end, you'll definitely graduate and start new level of your life.

Rey's success for sure is not all by himself drama. God has given him people either lend him some money for him to eat a piece of bread in the evening before going to bed, friends to comfort him on his troubled times and listens to his rants a very understanding and considerate boss.

As we go along our journey in life, we'll definitely shed tears, break a bone or two or even your skull, experience headache and heartaches, ink on your skin, bruises, marks, and scars which is better than medals, trophies, smileys and stars that fade sooner than you want them.

These expereinces would leave a scar behind, a mark that would keep us humble. So wear your scars with pride. Add muscle to your heart. Share what you've learned. Help those that are struggling with their tasks. Forgive those that did you harm cause in the end, bullies always go to the Principal's office after class.