In Memoriam

For family and friends gone too soon.

I've never forgotten the memories and lessons...

Christmas Selfie

Who says celebrating Christmas alone can be lonely?

Happy Christmas to you...

My 3 Holiday Lights Tradition during Christmas time

It's almost Christmas day.
Time flies...just few more days and it's 2015.

Another year...another story of my life.

But before I celebrate the New Year, here's 3 of my holiday lights tradition that I observe during Christmas time...

1. Festival of Lights at the Mission Inn. The display of holiday lights officially start right after Thanksgiving Day and runs until the first week of January.

If you're planning to check this place out, better plan ahead, be prepared for traffic and take lots of patience when finding a parking spot. But it's all worth it. If you're coming with your spouse or partner, make sure to kiss under the giant mistletoe.

Don't forget to kiss under the  mistletoe

Dining in the Patio...can be a romantic evening

The little ones will enjoy the lights, make sure to check the weather because it gets chilly in the evening but lots of places to eat...

You can use valet if you're staying in the hotel, just make sure you'd made reservations months before the holidays.












2. Thoroughbred Street. Another place I check out during the holidays because of the crazy holiday lights decorated by the residents of this street. From Skiing Santa to "A Nightmare Before Christmas" theme.

This is just a residential street where all the residents decorated their homes, so be prepared for traffic and don't expect a public parking.

Make sure to bundle up and wear appropriate walking shoes...

 I usually park two blocks away from Thoroughbred St and just walk...lots of walking activity here, photo sessions and selfies.

3. And lastly...my holiday lights...



My Christmas Angel...I think every Christmas lights should have an angel...

Who lights a peacock during the holiday?...I do...

My Eiffel Tower...one day, it will be the real thing...

Christmas in Paris.

Anyway it's free to travel in my dreams.

"Into the Woods" seflie

So this is my "Into the Woods" selfie,
because Red Riding hood got lost into the woods.
I'm taking over her place lol

Caturday

"The cat has nine lives ---
 three for playing,
 three for straying,
 and three for staying" - English Proverb

The greatest thing you'll ever learn...

Nature Boy, Eden Ahbez

There was a boy
A very strange, enchanted boy.

They say he wandered
very far, very far
over land and sea.

A little shy
and sad of eye
but very wise 
was he.

And then one day
a magic day,

he passed my way
and while we spoke of many things,
fools and kings.




This he said to me...

The greatest thing

you'll ever learn

is just to love

and be loved in return

(Credits to Hugo Marques)

(Credits to xxcocorix)

My 3 Inspirational Quotes to get me started in the Morning...or Noon

Sunrise.

Morning sun...

I'm not a morning person but today I was up early and went for a walk among the fields.

Not sure how to describe the beginning of the day, mine starts by noon.

Anyway, here's 3 inspirational quotes
that got me started this morning...

"Old friends pass away, new friends appear.

It is just like the days.

An old day passes, a new day arrives.

The important thing is to make it meaningful:

a meaningful friend, or a meaningful day" - Dalai Lama

 

 

"I get up in the morning

and it's going to be a great day...

You never know when it's going to be over

so I refuse to have a bad day" 

Paul Henderson

"There's a time in your life
when you're not quite sure where you are.
You think everything's perfect,
but it's not perfect...

Then one day you wake up
and you can't quite picture yourself
in the situation you're in...



But the secret is, if you can picture yourself
doing anything in life, you can do it" 
 Tom DeLonge


Got any inspirational quotes?

Caturday

"Human beings are drawn to cats
 because they are all we are not --
 self-contained, elegant in everything they do,
 relaxed, assured, glad of company,
 yet still possessing secret lives" - Pam Brown

My 3 Favorite Things for Christmas

Ready for Christmas?

Can you believe it's almost end of the year? Ready for 2015?

But before we celebrate the New Year, let's enjoy first Christmas Day.

Here's 3 of my favorite things that you might want to incorporate in your holiday season...



1. My Christmas Village...

Among my favorite...the Lighthouse

I've been collecting them for a couple of Christmases now. They can be expensive sometimes but I usually purchase them after the holidays when all decorations go on sale.

Some have lights, some don't. Among my collection is a Toy Shop, a Ballet Academy, Fire Station, Flower Shop, a Gas Station, Chocolate Factory, City Hall, Post Office, Mountain View Lodge, a Bed and Breakfast, a School, Gas and Auto service, and my favorite...the Lighthouse...


2. My Christmas Tree.

I usually set up after Thanksgiving Day. Drive to the nearest Home Depot store, get the 7-8 feet  fresh, live tree then transport it on top of the car.

 I usually get the Noble Fir because of the sweet pine scent, nice needles and sturdy branches to hang decorations.

my noble fir tree with gold and copper decorations...

3. My Christmas candles...

I've started collecting gold and silver candles.

 They're purely decorative so I don't light them, except for one...

Candles, either made of wax or the ones that are battery operated, can create a cool ambience...

Got any favorite things for the holidays?

Bird of Paradise

"I've always found the rain very calming" - Venus Williams

 

 

 

 

 

The Bird of Paradise is a native of South Africa, resembling a colored bird in flight. The bloom is a combination of blue petals and orange sepals beak-like appearance. A symbol of joyfulness, paradise and "exciting, wonderful anticipation" of things to come. Sometimes given to couples on their ninth anniversary. It is a wonderful addition as accent in our garden landscape.

 

We could all use a bird of paradise and a little rain in our lives...