365 Creative Ways to say I LOVE YOU

Love is in the air...it's almost Valentines Day! It's the time when we express our love to our spouse. I'm sure it's not just on this day we express our love but 365 days x 3 right? Or maybe even more than that. Anyways, here are some creative ways to express your love to your HUbbies ( or wives if you're a male :) . I won't be giving 365 ideas but I'll just start off to get you thinking. Some of these ideas, I got from books and applied it, some ideas I got from my friends, some was done to me by my Hubby while others I did for my HUbby ( you get to be 100% creative esp. when you can't buy presents for your Hubby..hehehehe!). If you have your own creative ideas. PLease feel free to share them too.

Warning: Some of the ideas maybe too "corny" for you . But even how "corny" it may be, but if you mean it with all your heart, it'll give long lasting rewards in your marriage.

1) Leave love notes, poems in your spouse's wallet.

2) Post some heart shaped post-its everywhere in the bedroom (mirror, inside the closet, pc, toothbrust and etc) . Write on these notes.."I love you because...(all the reasons in the world why you love your spouse).

3) Send him an e-card on normal days.

4) Call him just to say you Miss him.

5) Make a Love Trail. Post a big "I Love You" poster on your front door , spread flowers. confetties from the front door to the room, inbetween are heartshaped posters on the floor with your love commitment written out.

6) Serve breakfast in bed with heart-shaped bread, morning note and all other paraphernalias :) .

7) Leave a love letter on the fridge or any place where your mate usually goes first thing in the morning.

8) Create a Love Letter Treasure Hunt. Write more than 5 love letters and hide them everywhere. Then ask your spouse to look for it with clues attached.

9) Give Love Coupons as gifts. For example, in about 10-15 blank call cards, write down all the 'gifts', 'rewards' your spouse can redeem at a certain time. i.e. " You're entitled for a dinner date with me on Feb 14, 2008", "Entitled to claim unlimited kisses. Hurry, offer claimable while supply lasts! " hahahah! You got the idea? something like that.

10) Give him a Body Spa, facial or massage. ( This is Janet's expretise, ask her of some easy do-it-yourself body spa recipe )

11) Make a voice tape/ message for your spouse telling him of your love, dreams and etc. This is best esp. when you or your spouse is away for a long time.

12) Set a romantic candlelight dinner. Nothing expensive, you just need some candles, food, a little music and a lot of LOVe.

13) Pray for your spouse ( with your spouse) thanking God for his/her life and all the other needs.

The list can go on and on...this is just for us to get started and be reminded to think of creative ways to make our days with our spouse more and more memorable.

May all of you have more blessed and romantic days ahead!

Note: I would appreciate if you could add more in the list...I need some more ideas here too!

Ms. Lonely

My heart just breaks for my Li'l girl.

I think aside from the fact that my Li'l girl is sociable ( like her Appa) she must also be in the stage now where she wants to play with kids her age. For many afternoons now, we've been going outside the house for her to 'play' with other kids. Everyday she will be looking out in the window and wait for her 'friends'. Our neighbor's kids are mostly grown up (age 7-12 years old) and they're all usually outside during the weekends.

So yesterday afternoon, a few kids were biking outside the house and my Li'l girl asked me if she could go out and ride the bike with them. Baby Lyle was sleeping so, I told her she could'nt go out because I couldn't watch her outside coz Lye's asleep. It's dangerous for her to be on the street with her bike because cars and motorbikes come and go. "But I'll just go to the side when there are cars and motorbikes, Amma", she reasoned out. Yes, my Li'l girl is very good in reasoning out, it's like I'm already raising a teenager when she's barely 4 years old! "No, Trish, it's still dangerous", I repeated and gave my reasons. "I'll be careful Amma.", she reassured me. But I remained firm and told her "NO". Then she started to cry. With tears in her eyes she said, "How can I have friends Amma if I don't go out?"..then it hit me, she badly wants to have friends.

I remembered a few nights before when we were outside. Our neighbors had children visiting them and Tricia went to the group to play with them. When she started to talk to them, they all ran away and tried to avoid her. Actually, this happened a lot of times with other kids too. Anyways, their Mom told me that they're shy to speak English. She was encouraging the kids to still let her join their play even if they could'nt understand or speak to her, but still the kids did't want to include her.

Then there was also a time when one of our neighbor's kid tried to mimic Tricia in a jest. Of course, it was okay for Tricia but as a parent I didn't like it that she was making fun of her just because she doesn't understand her. It's good that they are some kids who still try to 'talk' to her and include her in the group.

I don't know if it's just age gap ( as I said the kids in our neighborhood are much older than Tricia) or mostly language barrier.... But anyways, from yesterday afternoon I realized that I have to do something for my Li'l girl. We've already set up actvities for her so she won't get bored but most of these activities are with us or with her Teacher Jun ( read: all adults) BUT I think what she needs most is FRIENDS her age whom she could play with and have fun.

I'm still going to let her play outside with our neighbors kids (coz maybe then she could pick up the language).We've thought of letting her have Thai lessons. Our neighbor is willing to teach her but I'm not sure how long she'll last. But then we'll still have to give that a try and see. For her to truly assimilate in this place and make Thai friends , she must learn the language. But for now, I think I'll have to seriously set a weekly playgroup with other foreigner kids for her to fully play, be herself and enjoy.

What Rose Represents Your Love?

I've been tagged by my new blogger friend, Chelle. Thanks Chelle, I appreciate it! :)

Your Love Is Represented By a Pink Rose

You see love as something that should be light, fun, and whimsical. People fall in love with you easily. And you tend to fall out of love easily! You express your love through attention and shared experiences. You love people more than they realize.

What Rose Represents Your Love?

Now I'm tagging

Te Litlit

Noemi

Pinoy Mommy

Janet (if you haven't done this before..my veteran blogger friend..:)

Missing Z....

" Amma, when I close my eyes, I see Z's face. Do you see Granny your Mother when you close your eyes too?" Tricia once said and asked a few nigths ago. Z is Tricia's cousin, who was here just about 3 weeks ago. And I think she's missing him without her realizing it. From time to time she would mention his name and remember him whenever she eats the jelly they used to eat together. There were good times for them as well as bad times as it's normal for kids to fight. They'll fight but them be giggling again the next minute and are like bestfriends! This is the beauty of children, they never hold grudges like adults..hehehe!

Now back to Tricia and Z. I could still remember their reaction the first time they saw each other at the airport. They ran to each other, were so happy and immediatly held each others hands. They looked so cute! Then, they continued to hold hands from the airport's arrival area, crossed the street, ...all the way to the parking lot until they have no choice but to let go since they have to get inside the car. Then, on the way, Z was trying to talk to Tricia but in our dialect (Bisaya) . So, his mom told him, " Speak English Z kay dili man makasabot si Tricia" Speak English because Tricia won't be able to understand you". But as 'show -off' as she is she showed off her very limted bisaya and asked Z.."Unsa imong ngalan?" What is your name?" hahahah!

During the first few days together, we really didn't have any problems with them. There fights only started on the 3rd or 4th day. I think they were too bored also, as we adults didn't really give them any activities to do as we were also busy chatting and doing our own thing.

Anyway, here are more pictures of Z and Tricia. It's not just Tricia missing Z but all of us here too (even his Teacher jun2). I miss his cute, chubby hands tightly holding mine whenever we are in the mall. I miss his " whatever to you!' line whenever he rans out of English words or couldn't understand what Tricia is saying. I miss his curly black hair and pouting lips whenever his angry. But to Z, we'll see you at the end of 2008 or maybe 2009.

My Mother and Mom in Law

" Is it okay that you're Mother and Mother in Law are together in your house?", my American friend asked. I was wondering about this question because my Husband also had the same question from 2 of his friends. I think mother and mother in laws together in one roof used to be a recipe for disaster..hehehe!! As what my friend said, they couldnt put her Mom and Mom in Law in the same house!..hahaha!But, I'm thankful that my Mom and mother in law are such peaceful and loving people that they or we didn't have any problem at all. They were both in our house for 2 weeks and even shared rooms.

Even if they are both from different backgrounds (yes, entirely different backgrounds) and different cultures ( my mom's a 100% true blooded Pinoy and my mom in law is a Malaysian Indian) but they are like buddies and choose to adjust and understand each other. I overhear them talk about their husbands, their family and etc. It was a good time of fellowship together as they only seldom see each other. They even gave each other gifts..the same gift..hahaha!they had one mind..My mom gave my Mom in law shoes as pasalubong and my mom in law also gave my Nanay shoes as pasalubong!hahaha!joker! and the shoes are either one size smaller or bigger for them..hehee!

I'm just truly grateful to God for our loving Nanay and Amma, they are such a blessing in our lives and learning so much from them. We love you both soooooo much and we'll miss you!but see you soon!