It's Getting Cold Again!

Winter is  back!  Did someone ordered a lot of snow again? I never order one  because I don't need snow anymore.  Just kidding  folks. We  are having a winter wonderland again!   This is Europe and winter season  is normal here. There are countries in Europe that are having subtropical weathers and I believed they really don't have a bad winter like in Germany.

Winter in Lupburg, Germany, where my friend lives.

 To keep yourself warm, be sure to wear warm winter clothes and accessories especially when you go out of the house. I don#t complain of the cold outside because I already have enough winter clothing.

Holiday Infographics

This infographic shows the main holiday expenses: food, alcohol, trips, gifts, duty free, travel & transport, holiday decorations, clothes, sports, and accessories. New Year is a great opportunity to spend a vacation in: Nevada, New York, Colorado, and Florida. 37% of Americans even don’t think about their spending, especially when they are on vacation. Astoundingly, 63% of Americans take out payday loans to get quick cash, along with high fees. During the holiday season, it is necessary not only to control your expenses, but also to use payday loans right way, for emergencies.

Source: FastLoanTree.com

Finally Done with Clean-up!

Another week for  this year is here.. another challenge! There are still a lot of things to learn in this blogging world and I am learning day by day.  I might be the expert but I know the basic and  there are  more that I wish I knew..

How was your day? I hope all went well. It was quite a long day. I am happy that I finally accomplished some things today. Most of all, I am done in putting away our Christmas decors. Everything was packed  and  I already put it all in the attic. I will surely need it again this year. I started  the clean-up  yesterday.   I am contented for what I have done today.

There are still a lot of things to do in our home.  I need to arrange some things especially in my computer room and in our guest room. Before the end of the week, I hope to finish everything.

I can't stay too long for now. It is time for bed and I am quite tired already. Goodnight  Europe!

Time To Clean-Up

Happy New Year again!  Holiday season is over! I hope everyone had a great one. Yes, I did and  I am thankful about it.

Now is the time to slowly clean-up for  our Christmas decors.  I have a lot to  clean-up and I hope to finish it  all this coming week. I need to put everything  in their old containers and boxes. I cannot use rope and stanchion in binding the boxes since it has another purpose.

There are also another things that I need to clean-up in the house. Our guest room need  one. I have all the stuffs lying there especially the ones  that will be placed in my balikbayan box.  This is also another thing that I need to finish this week.

Cleaning up is always part of our daily lives but sometimes we are just too busy not to finish everything especially when there are more important chores or tasks to do.

Are you done with clean-up?  Not me! Have a wonderful week ahead!

Goodbye 2012! Hello 2013!

I don't  have the power to stop the coming of the year 2013!  I have to let go and it is better for me to say goodbye to 2012. Three more hours and  new year is about  to  begin.

There are  a lot of things to be thankful for in 2012. I  am just giving you a quick overview of the many great things that happened this year. Here they are;

I  am thankful for the chances and opportunities to visit  many beautiful cities and countries this year. I was in USA for the second time and visited many states including California, Nevada, Oregon and Arizona.. The dream to visit Canada came into reality.  I also landed in the Baltic region and visited Lithuania and Latvia. I have been to the many towns and cities in Germany.  My adventure in Spain and its many historical places were truly amazing. I visited back Switzerland and France.

I am thankful to all the wonderful friends I have and had met along my journeys.

I am thankful for the many accomplishments I  had back home.  Home improvements are getting better and I hope that it will be continued next year.  Our home here in Europe is getting more improved. I am happy to live in a small but mortgage free home.

I am thankful for the many blessings that was given to me and my family.

I am thankful for my  cameras, computer and internet  which help me in sharing my personal experiences especially in my travels.

There are just a lot of things that I am thankful of..Most of all, I am thankful to God for the miracle of waking me up everyday and for the beauty of nature that I witness in my surroundings. Thank you Lord for the gift of life!

LASTLY,  I WOULD   LIKE TO EXTEND MY GREETINGS TO EVERYONE..

A BOUNTIFUL AND MORE PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL OF US!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I would  like  to greet everyone 

A  MERRY CHRISTMAS 

AND A BLISSFUL   NEW YEAR 2013!

MAY THE HOLIDAY SEASON FILL OUR HEARTS 

WITH PEACE, LOVE, CONTENTMENT AND TRUE HAPPINESS!

GOD BLESS US ALL!

 I also would like to share these  inspiring thoughts  sent by kyregma.com in my  inbox. Thanks for sharing this!

"Christmas is a time when families come together to celebrate. However, we easily forget the underlying reason for the holidays, which is the birth of Christ. It is important that we all take time to reflect on the birth of Christ because it is a moment in human history that changed the world. No other religion has a figure who is both fully human and fully divine. We should never forget that this is why we celebrate Christmas — redemption is born into the world. 

Micah 5:1-4 1 Thus says the Lord: But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. 2 Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, and the rest of his kindred shall return to the children of Israel. 3 He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord, his God; and they shall remain, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth; 4 he shall be peace."

Visiting Leeds, England

It's  always nice to reminisce  one of the interesting cities I visited in England.  I  am  grateful and will always  thank my good friend and  "kababayan" (a  Filipino word that can be translated as compatriots) named Ros or Arot for touring me in this city. It was in  autumn or fall 2008 when I  had the chance to visit England for 3 weeks. One of the cities  I visited was Leeds.

I  did not made it to witness the Christmas market in Leeds but I was in the area where it is held every year.  It was still did not opened when I was there.  Like any other Christmas markets in the UK, it is also a traditional German Christmas Market.  It is  saying, "A little piece of Germany in the heart of  Leeds City Center". At least,  I did experienced  the illuminated  lights on the streets  and the colourful Christmas  trees inside the famous Victoria Quarter and other shops in this city. The  festive atmosphere  of the coming holiday season can already  be  felt  at the month  of November.

The Millennium Square in Leeds, where the Christmas market is held each year.

The Christmas market market consists of over 40 wooden chalet stalls from authentic German traders providing a wide range of seasonal gift ideas for everyone including; handcrafted toys, jewellery, Christmas cards and festive decorations, speciality foods and traditional German delicacies such as gluhwein, bratwurst sausages and many more.

The illuminated  and  fully decorated  streets in Leeds when I visited it  last November 2008. Despite of the rainy weather, you can still see a lot of people on the street.