A New Year Thought

The new year is a few hours away.

Grocery stores are buzzing with last minute shoppers as carts are filled with all new year celebration necessities. The new year rush is here. In Hawaii, tradition is strong. Since this state is blessed with a diverse population, each ethnicity prepares their own new year treats. It becomes the perfect home for the foodie.

Most Filipino families prepare their own holiday treats while others just order catered food. Filipino stores gear up for the new year by preparing ready made plates or boxes of well-known traditional treats from kutsinta, bibingka, puto bumbong, pansit and more. While the Japanese  prepare their mochi and special gift boxes, the Hawaiians wrap their delicious lau laus and fire up their huli huli chicken. What I'm trying to explain here is that although Hawaii has so many ethnic groups, holidays such as the new year bring everyone together. Although each ethnicity prepares their own traditional food according to their own beliefs and traditions, come midnight, we'll all be, at least here in the island of O'ahu, lighting up the firecrackers to ward off bad luck and welcome the new year with a clean slate and celebrate as one.

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou! Happy New Year! Naimbag nga baru nga tawen tayo amin!

Wherever you are, with family or far from home, may the new year bring you all the things that make you smile.

My NBA Game History

Authored by Greg Fletcher

I started going to NBA games when I was a little child. My father would bundle me up on a cold morning and we would take the car into the city to see a game. He always made sure to set our Adt home security before we left. We would leave early in the morning so that we could walk around the city before the game and look in all the shop windows. We would stop at a street vendor and grab a hot dog and soda for lunch and then head off to the stadium to see the NBA game.

We never really had a favorite team, it was more the day out for us. We made it a big event each year when we would go. After the game was over, we would always stop and have a quick bite to eat and then head to the parking garage to get the car. We could never eat too much when we stopped because we had eaten a lot of the vending stuff in the stadium.

We always hit traffic on our way out of the city because it seemed that every other father and child were doing the same thing we were and were now headed home. It didn't matter to us, we spent time together and had a great day out each year.

Greetings!

Dear All,

Merry Christmas

and a

Wonderful New Year!

Love,

Kayni

Christmas Thimble Cookies

Guest post written by Joanna Allen

I feel bad going empty handed to any Christmas party, no matter if the host insists on just showing up with my family. So I like to have a few different recipes on hand that I can whip up pretty easily and take to these parties at the last minute. That way, when the hostess fusses at me for the trouble of fixing it, I can honestly say that it didn't take me much effort at all.

I was looking for a few new recipes to add to that stockpile this year and was online looking for some. When I was online doing that I came across a Clear wireless internet online offer and after I read up a little more on it, I decided to change over my internet access by ordering it.

One easy recipe that I found this year is this Christmas thimble cookie recipe. I'd tried those kind of cookies before a few years ago and had actually found a recipe for it, but had never actually baked them. Well, I think I'm going to this year for a few Christmas parties and see how they go.

Cuties Of Cavtat

Cats everywhere! Small cats, big cats, friendly cats, snobbish cats, and cute cats!

Strolling through the waterfront of Cavtat, you won't miss these cute, cuddly, friendly kitties; they seem to be roaming the area. I was busy taking photos when the first kitty approached me. Of course, I couldn't refuse taking photos and playing with these kitties.

Today, I present the cuties of Cavtat.

I badly wanted to take one of them home especially the one on the last photo.

"It's a Wonderful Life" is a Wonderful Family Tradition

Guest post of the week by Brittany Booker

Animated Christmas specials are undoubtedly one of the best parts of the whole holiday season. My kids would certainly agree! However, my favorite Christmas special is a classic that also happens to be a non-animated film. It takes a sad story, a real look at life, and a little hope, mixes it with a small ringing of bells and an angel getting his wings, and brings out a classic film that people have enjoyed for years and years. Naturally, my favorite Christmas film is "It's a Wonderful Life."

There are few movies of any genre that I've ever seen that inspire me in the same way that "It's a Wonderful Life" can. It's such a beautifully uplifting reminder that none of us are alone and that we all have our struggles. It teaches us that no matter what, each of us still has a definite purpose in the world and has an impact on the world. I think this is a beautiful message for anyone to receive and I delight in sharing it with my family every year.

Each year when "It's a Wonderful Life" comes on Direct TV, my whole family sits down to watch it together. I make a special dinner for all of us along with a batch of a Christmas dessert and we sit down for real family time all together.

Postcards: Boats Of Cavtat

Relaxed is the word.

As I gazed at the blue water, the distant floating yachts and the softly rocking, docked boats of all colors, shapes and sizes, I felt serenity and calm. Water has this effect on me and so did Cavtat.

Online Shopping

Brought to you by your friends at http://www.teacollection.com.

Are you still scrambling to finish your Christmas shopping? As we all know, the holiday rush is here and lines at shops and malls are growing longer and longer. But, stress no more because you can stay at home and still shop online especially if you're shopping for children's clothing. Whether you're shopping for girls, boys, baby, and women, teacollection.com got you covered.

This website is very organized and shopping is very easy. You can shop by Categories which includes from tees and tops, pajamas, leggings, daily tea playwear and more. Don't forget to check out this site's Features category because you don't want to miss on their new arrivals or love layers. Of course, if you have a thing for Collections, this site is introducing the new Viva La Artista collection.

Since I'm done with my shopping, what's left of my budget will be used to shop for myself. Right now, I am loving their Rhapsody Merino Cardigan at the women's sweater section. I really like that this site's products come with photos and in-depth description. This feature really makes shopping easier and fun.

PEBA 2010 Blog Awards

Thank you! Agyamanak! Salamat!

To all who took the time to read, comment and vote for my entry "Outside Looking In," for the 3rd PEBA Blog Awards, I am happy, honored and humbled to announce that WE made Top 3 and that WE also got the Outstanding Blog By Region: Central America and Canada. This win is for my sister, Shiela, who also represented and received the award on my behalf. Sis, this is for you. You lived the tale, I only wrote your story.

My sincerest thanks to the hardworking PEBA Family! More power to you! More power to all the OFWs and their families! Congratulations to all the nominees!

Just Talk

Last week, I found out that my 1024 MB photo storage with Blogger has ran out. I guess I posted too many photos. I've been thinking of either opening another blog or continue with this one and just buy the extra storage from Blogger. I'm still looking for other options. I'll have to postpone thinking on how to resolve this since I have so many things in my mind with work and the holidays coming.

Fortunately, I am done with Christmas shopping, and the gifts are all wrapped and ready. Glad to say I managed to stay within budget. This year, Santa will be wearing a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, a big grin and a shaka sign (pinky and thumb salute - the other way of saying aloha).  I'm excited about going home to Hawaii for the holidays, and I can't wait to see my brother who arrived in the US a couple of months ago. And if you need some weather related reasons, I need a break from this frigid weather. It's been so cold and windy here that my heater has been going on non-stop for two weeks now. I'm worried about my next electric bill...sigh.

Christmas E-cards For My Friends

Guest post written by Doug Lawrence

This is the first year that I haven't sent out paper Christmas cards and it feels a little weird, but I enjoyed not having to go on a special trip just to buy postage stamps to put on a huge stack of cards. Instead, I'm sending out Christmas e-cards with a picture of my family. Besides, no one really holds onto old-fashioned Christmas cards anymore like they used to.

I decided to just find an e-card to send to everyone. While I was looking through different e-cards that were options, I came across some information about Clear Wireless Internet Service and signed up for one of the service packages.

Then I figured out how to make a DIY Christmas e-card and decided to make one of them. But I have to say that the best thing about sending Christmas e-cards is that I don't even have to pay anything for them! Really good cards nowadays can cost way too much anything and I'm all for cutting corners without making sacrifices.

I Fell-In-Love With Cavtat, Croatia

If Dubrovnik is a chocolate box, then Cavtat is a paintbox. (The Independent)

After lunch, our bus took us to Cavtat. According to our guide, Cavtat is derived from the Latin Civitas Vetus or old city. Once I saw the clear, blue water, I didn't want to leave or rather I refused to leave. I found Cavtat so alluring and charming. Cavtat, formerly known as the Ancient Roman City of Epidaurus, is living up to its reputation as a seaside resort.

I think this quote from The Independent truly embodies what I feel and think of Cavtat (full article here):

Cavtat perches on the saddle of a wooded peninsula set between two bays, so you're never more than moments from the water. The sea is as still as a mirror, a deep and brilliant blue with pools of green reflected from the pine forests beyond. A wide promenade, fringed with palm trees, runs along the harbour front.

This is the cosmopolitan centre of the town, where fishing and tourist boats jostle with gleaming jet-set yachts the size of battleships. In the same way, simple bars where locals crowd to watch football matches stand alongside restaurants gleaming with silverware and white linen. Ordinary pharmacies and hardware shops are likewise interspersed with hastily improvised souvenir outlets selling cheap shot-glasses and ashtrays sporting the Croatian flag.

If Dubrovnik is a chocolate box, then Cavtat is a paintbox. Cobbled streets with traditional red-roofed brownstone houses climb back from the blue of the waterfront. The narrow stairways between the opposite sides of each street are smothered in clouds of white, mauve and pink blossoms. In the fruit and vegetable market, by the bus station, crates of green and red peppers, purple aubergines and green figs are piled high beside trestle-tables laden with a golden blaze of fruits: bananas, papayas, enormous melons and the gorgeous knobbly lemons that also drip from the surrounding trees like blobs of yellow candlewax.

But most of all, Cavtat is about light. In the daytime, the town shimmers. In the evening, clouds in the night sky are outlined in a glow of copper and silver, looking for all the world like strange new countries on a mysterious old map. It's no wonder that the place has attracted so many artists.

Reference:

Why Croatia's Cavtat is a pearl in its own right, The Independent, 28 April 2007, http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/why-croatias-cavtat-is-a-pearl-in-its-own-right-446461.html.

A Gift For The Lady That Reads Nonstop

Guest post written by Lizzie Harmond

Whenever I have to get a gift for my sister, it puts me in a pretty stressful state because I never have any clue what to get her. Plus, I care even more about what she thinks about the gifts because she is my sister and we're pretty close.

She's a really big reader and is always telling me about all kinds of novels that she knows I would love, but I really don't even know how she finds out about them. But I guess that because she's so dedicated to reading, she goes off the beaten bestsellers track for a lot of the books she reads. When I was thinking about that the other day and trying to figure out what I could get her, I came across the website clearwirelessinternet.com and after taking some time to look at it, chose to change my home internet access to it.

Then I got the idea to get her an e reader! I know that she's not against the idea of reading from one, but she just hadn't felt the pressure to buy one yet. I think that she'll love it!

Christmas At The National Harbor

Since the Gaylord Hotel is located at the National Harbor, we went on to explore the Christmas decorations at the marina. It was windy and freezing that night, but the banks of the Potomac glittered with Christmas warmth and cheer.

I said, "Wow!"

I love it when this one changes color

Lighting up the Harbor

A view underneath

The National Harbor Christmas tree

This is my favorite shot

Parol on top of the Christmas tree

Lighted trees

A See's Candies Post

Brought to you by your friends at http://www.sees.com/.

When I was living in Hawaii, the See's Candies shop at Pearlridge Shopping Center is among the places we frequented for our sweet cravings. My favorite still is the butterscotch lollipop. Also, when grandma comes home from work in the evenings, she'd have a box or a bag of See's Candies for us. Now that I live in an area where there are no See's Candies stores available, I now order my See's Candies online.

Sees.com is organized and it's a very user friendly site. You can order by occasion, category, or price. If you're not sure what to get, make sure to check their Best Seller category; it seems that the peanut brittle is among the top sellers. I love that each product comes with a photo and an in-depth description; this way, you know what you're purchasing. There's only a few days left before Christmas, so if you're looking for the perfect sweet gift or the absolute sweet stocking stuffers, look no further and shop online at sees.com for all the See's Candies you can handle.

Christmas At Gaylord National Hotel

After experiencing ICE, we visited the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center, and I was in awe seeing how they have decorated for Christmas. I mean, the place was glittering, snowing (artificial of course), and absolutely Christmassy.

They look like glitter curtains and they'd change color from time to time.

Inside the hotel, there are trees covered in lights.

Eye catching whenever they change colors.

A hanging Christmas tree.

Trees, gardens and shops inside the hotel.

A huge gift underneath the hanging Christmas tree.

The "Cat in the Hat"

Christmas decorations everywhere.

High Blood Pressure

Brought to you by your friends at http://www.healthline.com.

Unfortunately, hypertension runs in my family, and we all have to be wary if any of us shows any high blood pressure symptoms especially with my parents. Apart from having regular medical check-ups, we make sure to educate ourselves about articles regarding new findings, other helpful articles about keeping the high blood pressure at bay and practicing healthy living. I think this is why websites like healthline.com exists.

This is a great site to learn about high blood pressure symptoms especially if you or your family is concerned about hypertension symptoms. I found this website very informational on anything that pertains to hypertension from symptoms, causes, risk factors, drugs, prevention and more. If you are looking for something really good to read, don't forget to check their featured articles that covers "28 Simple Heart Healthy Tips" to "Managing Hypertension with the DASH Diet." I love to print these type of articles and keep them for reference in the future.

In addition to the informational topics on high blood pressure symptoms and other helpful health articles, this site offers a quick way to search for reputable doctors for your symptoms. I find this really helpful and time saving. And if you have other symptoms, you can also learn about them by going to this site's "Check Your Symptoms" section. So if you want to stay ahead and become educated about your symptoms, click healthline.com and start reading for a healthier life and lifestyle.

Konavle Valley: Croatia

Time doesn't exist in the Konavle Valley.

Visiting Konavle made me feel that I was worlds away from my usual life. The place is so peaceful, serene and natural. Here, I was mesmerized by the crystal clear Ljuta River; it is by far the cleanest river I've ever seen.

This is the view from our table.

Restaurant servers wearing traditional Konavle dresses.

Ancient water mill.

Another view of the Ljuta River.

 Restaurant Konavoski Dvori is situated just beside the beautiful Ljuta River. I really enjoyed their cheese and smoked meats. 

 This Roman waterway stood the test of time.

Being here really made me listen to my thoughts.

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On Window Gardening

With winter's arrival in my town, my plants and flowers have slowly wilted and bowed to the chilly temperatures. This year, I really enjoyed watching my flowers grow and bloom at my front garden. I'm still a novice at gardening, but I do intend to add more flowers and plants on my backyard next spring. I especially like the idea of adding a window box for flowers on my kitchen window. I think it's a wonderful sight to see blooming flowers while having breakfast or afternoon tea.

If you like the idea of window flower boxes, windowboxplanters.com is a great site to shop for your window box needs. This website offers all types of window boxes from vinyl, window, metal, fiberglass and other accessories you need for your window box gardening. This site is user friendly and very organized. I really like that each product comes with a detailed photo and an in-depth description, so you have a very good idea on what you're purchasing. Also, this site offers free shipping on all window boxes, low price protection before and after a purchase, and a 30 day no hassle return policy. Now that's what I call great customer service!

First Cruise Stop: Croatia

After a day at sea, it was exciting to see land especially that it is my first time to visit Croatia. Our stop in Croatia included a wine and dine tour at Konavle, a relaxing afternoon stroll at Cavtat and a historical tour of the "Pearl of the Adriatic," the Old City of Dubrovnik.

Below are my first few shots of Croatia:

I found this place charming and refreshing. Although I still associate Croatia to the 1991-95 war for independence from Yugoslavia, I didn't see any traces of war, rather I saw a country full of life and hope. Through the genuine smiles of its people and to the full appreciation of their culture, Croatia is absolutely and truly beautiful.

Call The World

Brought to you by your friends at http://www.namada.com.

Do you own a business and looking to expand globally? Do you have a family member living abroad that you'd like to keep-in-touch with frequently? I think Namada.com can help. This company can help you connect to your love ones or to your business partners all over the world. This company has been providing quality toll free forwarding, international call forwarding, cheap phone call plans, US and international conference calls since 1991.

If you'd like to learn how this works, check out their website. Their website is easy to understand and everything is upfront and to the point. At this website, you get a toll free number in virtually any country in the world and have the number forwarded to your landline or mobile phone in  another country. How easy is that! With services like international call forwarding, distances are no longer an obstacle business transactions or even in keeping-in-touch with the people we love. With Namada.com, the world is at your finger tips. What are you waiting for, call Namada.com for your tollfreeforwarding needs.

ICE! At The Potomac

On Saturday evening, PW and I got two tickets for a 7:00 PM entrance to see ICE! How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which is according to the Gaylord National website, an indoor wonderland where your family can explore 10 different holiday scenes created entirely of two-million pounds of ice, including thrilling ice slides that stand more than 2 stories tall. ICE! is hand-sculpted by 40 international artisans and kept at a chilling 9 degrees!

And yes, it was freezing inside the dome. Three rules apply when you're going to see ICE:  (1) no touching; (2) no sitting; and, (3) no licking of any of the ice sculptures.
 

All visitors are given a parka before entry.

That mischievous smile.

Impressive ICE!