Lyn-Lyn's: Living the Life

6 Weeks of No Active Income

2019-02-26T18:32:00.000+08:00

Mid-January, I quit my job.

And then, I did these:
- Cleared up our wardrobe, thanks to MarieKondo Tidying Up series.
- Bought a wardrobe (been delaying this for over a year).
- On rainy days, watched Netflix series.
- On sunny days, went for a walk by the beach side.
- Read 2-3 books.
- Signed up for a volunteer work to read for an hour with kids in school to enhance their literacy.
- Prune the garden.
- Caught up with ex-colleagues and friends for lunch.
- My husband and I are "low-maintenance" and it surprised me that we still got stuffs we haven't used for years. So I packed my corporate dresses I haven't used for awhile and gave them away. My husband gave away his 26-inch smart TV we haven't used since we moved to our home.
- Looked after my friend's kids.
- Baby-making (*blushed)
- Visited my family-in-laws. I called them up on Saturday morning and told them I got a week off before I start a new job, then plan to spend it with them. I booked my flights right after our call (after agreeing with my husband) and flew the following day. Talk about living for the moment. Be spontaneous.

I applied for jobs:
> for an internal non-client-facing role for a small office (I did not make it for the shortlist). The recruitment agent said that it's difficult to make the move from an operational to internal function. (Part of me did not believe her and wished I applied directly. I guess there's a reason why this application did not push through.)
> for a listed corporation. I made it for the shortlist, but it did not push through because their budget for this role was way lower than my asking salary. I thought to negotiate, but I sent a "thank-you" email instead. (This made me realised that I could not sell myself short and know my compensated value based on my years of experiences.)
- for a global corporation on a contractual basis. This was a project-based role and I expect this to be fulfilling. I am starting on this role by Monday.
- for another global corporation wherein the role was similar to my experiences. Within 5 days since I applied for this role, I was called for 2 interviews and offered the role, but I informed them I already accepted another offer. This made me realise that I have a market out there. Always.

The impact financially? I "borrowed" from "my" savings account for the big amounts like our monthly mortgage. I am thankful we are financial savvy and have allotted funds for "rainy" days. We are still on track with our plan to pay off a chunk of the principal amount of our mortgage this year.

This downtime for 6 weeks gave me so much time and I realised... I could never be a "full-time" housewife (though I keep on joking this to my husband!) 😂 I get bored. I love socialising, networking and talking to people. My husband joked me the other day by giving me a mathematical equation to solve - he said to test if my brain is still working. 😄

Other than actively seeking for a new job, my very core went back to my entrepreneurial spirit. The past 5 years became my comfortable "privacy" zone and I was content, with living life, privately. My downtime ignited the spark. I can see better days ahead.

Keep learning and keep on moving forward!

Always,

Grow Where You are Planted

2014-10-05T05:36:00.001+08:00

Filipino Community Abroad:
My flatmate and I moved to a new apartment when we got back from our holiday from the Philippines last month. (The move was due to housing regulations here in Jersey). We got friends who visited and invited themselves at our new place during lunch since ours is convenient to most of our work places. Earlier today, we also volunteer to host our choir practice for this Sunday's mass. We also took this time for the "house warming". I am glad that our new place became a venue to provide shelter and bless our friends.

In the middle of singing and catching up with my "new family" here since I started working abroad, I am grateful that the Filipino choir members became instruments for me to stay rooted in service for the Great Guy above.

Reflection: Show what gifts the Great Guy above has showered upon you and used these gifts to bless others, anywhere you maybe in the world. Grow where you are planted.

Work/Career:
I am given a new project at work involving non-audit related stuffs. I have done this for 3 years in a row now during my slack/non-audit season months, just like during this time. I remembered that I used to complain about this kind of projects because I feel being deprived of technical learnings which I could have learned if the company has given me other projects. But I realised that this became blessing in disguise - because I was able to enhance my network, build client rapports and able to "diversify" my learnings on other field of expertise.

Earlier today, I manage to submit the reports using the client's new system, eventhough I was only on this project for a week. The superior was happy with the work - and I am glad too that I have no overload work to think of for the weekend. Fresh start on Monday!

Reflection: Instead of complaining about working so hard, why not be thankful for the blessing of having a work and earning an income? Work is an oppprtunity for us to show our expertise/God-given talents to our colleagues and subordinates. Grow where you are planted.

Relationships:
I had a two-year old relationship when I went abroad and the long-distance relationship tore me apart because it was difficult to manage given the time difference, change in priorities and different environments that surround us. The LDR continued for another 2 years and eventually, we both decided to put an end to it.

I was heart-broken. All my dreams and hopes for our almost 4-year old relationship came crashing down. At that time, all I ever wanted was to go back home to the Philippines to start anew and find for the "right Filipino guy" for me. During that time, I never ever ever eveeeer consider having a relationship with a different race/culture other than a Filipino. I was firm on this decision, and ready to pack my bags and go home for good... until "the honey" came. And he showed me that love accepts different culture/race - it is the decision of a couple to make the relationship work out despite the differences.

And since Day 1 until as of this writing, he continues to pursue and court me. Every single day, I feel so special. He has never missed a day of showing his love (may it be through a call, text, flowers, or sending me a cartoon image). I love cartoons!:) Nad he cooks! (Yahoooo!) He knew that my love language is quality time and affirmation - and he makes sure he achieves them no matter how busy he is at work (on a side note: we are thankful for the answered prayer for his promotion!). For the more than 365 days we have been together, I have learned that he is happy and feels more loved whenever we spend time talking and laughing together (I never thought that speaking English can be this spontaneous.) We are blessed to celebrate our anniversary just last month.

Reflection: Finding the Mr. Right takes awhile - you have to work on to being the Miss Right first.

Grow wherever you are planted.

Love Lots,
Lyn-Lyn \(",)/
03 Oct 2014

PS: The photo was taken during our house warming.

White is Relaxing!

2014-10-03T07:12:00.001+08:00

I recently read an article about "why hotels are the best places to offer relaxation and comfortable sleep". The answer? All their garments are colored white!

It's true indeed - all luxurious hotels have white bed sheets.

So, I made a test - I did some maneuver and changed my duvet cover and pillowcases to white. I also bought a white bath mat which I got @ 50% discount (I sound so proud with this purchase). :P

(This blog is now given the privilege to have the first public peak of my bed sheets and bath.)

I love it!!! Everytime I arrive home, all I wanted is to jump under the covers. And whenever I wake up, all I wanted to do is to stay under the covers. Hahaha!

I am loving the minimalistic style of white. Simple, yet elegant.

Love lots,
Lyn _(",)/
02 Oct '14

Simple Thoughtful Loving Words

2014-10-03T06:55:00.001+08:00

It's the month of October - my birth month! I am bias to say that this is my favorite month of year. And this morning, I thought about an idea to jot down entries of gratitude for each single day of this joyful exciting month. (I am just more energetic and ecstatic during these days).

We had a company team building the other day - and I joined the go-karting where we had to race, just like F1 (Formula 1), but only a much simpler and easy race track. We then played mini-golf (where I learned more rules and strategies on playing golf) and then proceeded to a hotel in front of a beach for our lunch, drinks and merry session.

Due to the race I participated, I went home really tired and with sore muscles. I had a few exchanges of messages with the "honey" and promised to wait for his call after he finished dinner. However, just 5 minutes after I sent him that message, I dozed off to sleep! Zzzzzz....! So in the morning of the 1st of October, I woke up with a missed call and with his Viber message saying:

- - - - - - - - - - -
"You missed a call from your boyfriend at 9.45pm. To redial press 1, to call back press call and to kiss press x. End of messages."
- - - - - - - - - - -

Hahaha! His message made my day!

It was also my first day of lunch training sessions for digital business seminar which is ongoing for the next 3 weeks! It involved information technology through the use of web designing and html codes. The subject excites me and triggers my yearning for web code knowledge, which I had been interested in since I was in high school. I am looking forward to share this here at the end of our course. We are also required to submit an idea of a webpage using all the tools we learned from the course. (I still have not finalised my concept for the website that I plan to do.) Still, I am excited for this learning!

I am also given a new project at work (secondment), where I learn about real estate fund industry and met new people.

I am excited for the coming days ahead.

Love lots,
Lyn _(",)/
01 Oct '14

Weddings and Teenage Dream

2014-09-24T21:55:00.001+08:00

It was still clear in my memory when I was 14, during my sophomore year in high school, when I dreamily declared that the early years of my 20s will be devoted to do what I am passionate about, to enjoy my single life, to give back the credits to my parents (monetarily speaking) and at the age of 28, to walk down the aisle and say hello to married life.
Adding on some maturity as compared to my 14-year old self, I have come to realise that those plans that involve other party in our lives, those that are outside of our own self-control do not just happen the way it should be. An approval/agreement from another person needs to happen.
I am savouring my remaining days of being 28. Next month, I will have to say hello to being 29 – my last year of being 20s! Yay! It sounds so old if I focus on the “age number” – but I still feel I am just 21 (ooohkaay, maybe this is self-denial).
I also visited My Bucket List page, and I have noted that marriage and family come first. I look forward to the day I will have to tick it off. I am ready and prepared for the next stage! =)

A Theme Song for Financial Budgeting

2014-09-23T23:38:00.002+08:00

And now we're starting over again, it's not the easiest thing to do
I'm feeling inside again, 'cause every time I look at you
I know we're starting over again, this time we'll leave all the pain away
Welcome home my lover and friend, we are starting over, over again

For the first half of the year, I have exhausted my stock portfolio to half and almost nil out my emergency funds coz of my eagerness to pay off in full my home mortgage (wohooo! Just a few weeks ago, I have claimed my property title back from the Registry of Deeds!). I am now living a life of being debt-free! And then whaaapaaak! Suddenly, I drifted away from my financial goals and my discipline of monthly savings and investing were torn apart. Waaah! *Cry

So, the theme song above suddenly existed.

I brought out my excel sheets again. I created new names as to where the savings that I will take off from my monthly salary will go: 1. Equity fund (I am planning to open one here in the UK. I am still researching on which one will be able to meet my financial objectives); 2. Peso equity retirement fund in Philippines (I have set this up automatically when I went home weeks ago, and this is now a monthly automatic cut from my peso savings account); and 3. Education for my future kids.
New changes are bound to happen. I am starting a new job on November.

And being just back from holiday from Philippines, I am again browsing flights to go home this Christmas and New Year! (Aaaah...parang gnagawa ko lng Divisoria ang UK and Pinas). I spent the entire weekend trying to weigh the decision of going home this Christmas season – given that the plane tickets are twice as much as the normal fares. And then pooof! I gave in to my emotions. My new employer has allowed me to spend Christmas and New Year back home – but they *warned that I may not be able to get the same holiday the following year. So, I better grab this opportunity NOW. Plus, “the honey” has voluntarily offered to pay half of my plane fare (whoooa!). He insisted, saying that it is already his Christmas present for me. *smiles *smiles Who am I to decline?=)

There you go. Dear budgeting and monthly saving and investing, we are starting over again. I have accepted the fact that I made some off-the-budget mistakes during the first half of the year, but I come to terms that I shall accept these mistakes and learn from them.
Dear investing funds, I will be more loyal and faithful to you until you have reached the purpose of your creation.
Dear emergency funds, I will build you up again.
Dear soon-to-be wedding fund, you shall soon happen. Have faith.

Dear education fund for my future kids, you have more than 20+ years to go. We will create the little fund fetus to make you grow healthy and bouncy for the coming years.

Love Lots,Lyn \(“,)/

The Anchor of My Life

2014-09-23T05:25:00.000+08:00

Whenever I am too lazy to write a blog post (which I always am) or just take privately the things that are happening to my life (and write them on my notebook journal of gratefulness, instead), I spend some quiet time re-reading on some of my previous posts, and reflect on how situations have changed…for the better. It’s amazing at how at most times that we plan every single bit of detail for our lives, even up to the single centavo that we would allocate or budget to certain wants or needs, but then there will be situations that will happen that will either break or make us – and everything just changes.

I saw a Facebook post of one of my friends earlier that said, “If material things are what you refer to when you say I AM BLESSED, then you have no idea what a blessing is!”

Since I have started to become a financial advocate and enhance my knowledge on financial literacy, I have been reading posts on basic finances and how to properly prepare for future needs. Somehow along those anxiety, fear, excitement and joy of either disrupting the finances or achieving financial goals, we have mislooked the present situation and should have been grateful instead of what we currently have that simply never really take much money to bring us joy and much gratitude for life.

A week ago, I just came back from my holiday/vacation in Japan and Philippines. It was the first time that “the honey” and I travelled and be together for more than 3 weeks. We went to Palawan, Japan and in my hometown in Bacolod. We also did a side trip to swim with the whale sharks and stand in awe at the majestic Tumalog Falls in Oslob, Cebu. We made memories and able to spend quality time together with my family. It was his first time to travel to Asia, and he was overwhelmed by the attention he was getting for being a “foreigner” and how prices are affordable as compared to a first world country. Those things that I have taken for granted for, such as the convenience of being able to drop our grocery bags at SM bag counter in order to continue shopping around or just stroll around the mall with not bringing tons of grocery bags (and so we can continue with our HHWW, holding hands while walking. hahaha!) , were appreciated by a “foreigner” like him. Such simple joy of convenience!

During those times I am spending both my time with family and friends and with “the honey”, I could not help but just smile out of the blue, and be really deeply happy, at how the world that I grew up with (Philippines) is now meeting the world that I am in right now when “the honey” went with me for this vacation to meet my family and friends. Slowly, I have embraced the decision to stay in the world that I am in right now (when back then, I used to stand firm and fight for the decision to going back home for good). At first, I thought it was a betrayal to my own beloved country – that I am depriving my own race of its own talents. And then I realised, no matter where Filipinos are in the world, we can still deliver and make our own country proud – by bringing our values, our character, our love for family, our hospitality and being a blessing to other races. “Grow wherever you are planted”, as they always say.

(While writing this entry, this song on my Jango Radio is playing in the background….)

Lord I’m amazed by You…
How You love me.

What a timing!!!

The Great Guy above has always been the anchor of my life. It was amazing that from the only daughter in the family who was once afraid to take risks to get out of my provincial town to venture to the city of Manila has made it to take an even greater risk of living far away from home. And through all those journeys, I always find myself running to church and meeting people who can help me grow in my spiritual journey. At present, I am currently part of our parish choir who continue to serve Him during every Sunday’s mass. I also actively counsel fellow youngsters in their faith and journey towards making life’s decisions – and guide them on seeking for prayers, first.

Whenever family relatives and friends tell me at how blessed I have been (they usually refer to all the achievements, loving relationship with “the honey” and the opportunity of being able to work abroad) – I always let them know that even since I was little, I always feel blessed: the love that surrounded me since I was growing up are blessings and precious treasures that weigh more than any other wealth in this world. One even compared her life to me, and I told her that comparisons are unnecessary. Each of us has been uniquely blessed and surrounded by blessings – we just have to identify them and be thankful for them. Blessings come at the simplest joy of being able to share morning pandesal and coffee with family.

Photo of Tumalog Falls
Oslob, Cebu
Philippines

I pray for more blessings unto your life!

Love Lots,
Lyn \(“,)/

The 10-20-70 Rule

2014-07-11T18:10:00.000+08:00

Prior to setting my foot in going abroad and with the knowledge of how much I will earn, I prepared a detailed excel spreadsheet of how much of my monthly salary will be allocated to paying my house mortgage, monthly allowance/allocation for my parents, food, rent and other possible expenses that I may incur. I never had put aside something for savings/investments on my spreadsheet, because I have lack of knowledge about the investment instruments that I can possibly get into. The topmost priority during that time was instead of paying my house for 21 years, I will strive to achieve to pay it within my 3-year contract abroad.

Armed with this, I had myself ready for my financial and career journey.

But eeeeek!

My happy feet was always tickled by all of the places in Europe that I can travel and discover. It was not part of the "financial" plan. My older brother has to "spunk" me whenever we chat online and remind me of the VIRTUE of delayed gratification. I did practice DG. I waited for 1.5 years before I embark on my travel journeysssss. =D

Well, 3.5 years after I made my excel spreadsheet (which I continually update every year), I am grateful to be debt-free (yes, the house has now been fully paid) and am now knowledgeable and engaged into various investments (paper assets, online entrepreneurship and rental property). I have also given seminars on encouraging fellow Filipinos abroad to start to manage their personal finances and get into various investment vehicles in the country. I have come to realise that there is just a basic formula to start on (the first monitoring spreadsheet I did was so tedious that I list down my every expense with the corresponding receipts. So much for my auditor blood!)

The formula is: The 10-20-70 RULE

10% - Giving Fund

20% - Investment Funds

70% - Living the Life Funds

All the percentage is based on gross salary (I had to workback the social security and tax percentages netted off my salary and concluded that I can still manage my finances.)

The 10% Giving Fund - I am still in the process of "walking the talk" for this. I am positive that I can do the tithing! My family in the Philippines serve in the Sacred Heart Seminary Church, and I plan to coordinate to sponsor a seminarian into priesthood. I am also blessed by the Sunday TV Mass conducted by Fr. Mario Sobrejuanite in Megamall. They include the bank accounts for donation and I plan to set aside a portion to give to them. The Kerygma Family community has been my online support for years now (where I also meet wonderful and amazing people online who love to serve the Lord). Though I am far away, prayers and monetary help can help sustain their activities to continually be a blessing to others. Here abroad, I am part of the choir who sing in our local parish, so setting aside a portion of my money to host choir practice at our apartment will also be part of the Giving Fund.

"You must set aside a tithe of your crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year." - Deuteronomy 14:22

The 20% Investment Fund - I plan to save up enough cash for a downpayment to get an apartment house or a townhouse here abroad (time horizon to get a house is 7-8 years from now). The rent here in this "holiday country" is significantly high and eats up most of my Living the Life Fund. So, a house later on to serve as a capital asset is a good idea for investment/retirement fund (for rental/sale later on, while my family and I are back to the tropical country and I can work as an advocate or consultant). =D I am also interested in global investing (so anyone who got knowledge about this, feel free to comment below!). Portion of this fund is also allotted for my future kid's college education fund. Once I start investing a small portion now, it will be ready for use at least 18 years from now (in case I get pregnant by tomorrow. Hahahaha!). A short-term goal for a portion of this fund is for my Wedding Fund. Like every woman here, I am misty-eyed and giggly happy by the thought of walking down the aisle in the not so distant future. :)

The 70% Living the Life Fund - It speaks for itself. My 6% social security, 19% tax, xx% rent, food, recreation activities, and everything else fall on this fund.

I look forward to the next journey ahead.

A blessed weekend to all!

Love Lots,

Lyn

Leap of Faith!

2014-06-30T07:23:00.001+08:00

Just bought another real estate for investing! It is in prime location in the capital city, with 2 bedrooms and 2 balconies! Such a blessing. This entails me to work smarter in managing finances. May this also be a form of blessing to others. Looking forward to helping more Filipinos to also be financially educated and take charge of investing!:)

When Actions Speak Louder than Words

2014-06-25T07:03:00.001+08:00

For the last couple of months, I kept on chasing dreams that are so elusive. For one, I would like to jumpstart my career in other field, but there are always circumstances (i.e. my need for a work visa) that hinder me to get job offers. There was one wherein I had already my pen ready to sign the employment agreement, but when I checked again to confirm if the new employer will give me a visa, they declined. (That was close for me to render my resignation on my current job, which may end up for me being kicked out of UK coz my "new employer" will not provide me a visa!) I was still blessed that I did not reach that point. I was also offered an opportunity to work in a project which I believe would provide me the necessary career exposures I need, but jurisdictions and immigration rules have again set the boundaries - and I feel that these dreams/goals are slowly taken away from my grasps. There were moments I felt frustrated, almost can't plan out due to anticipation, got hopeful, confident, then excited, insecured and back to hoping again. Beyond all these, I would like to choose to keep my faith. Someday, soon, that which is meant for me will come and I will welcome it with arms wide open.

James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy when you fall into various trials, cause your faith and perseverance are being tested."

I would like to specially mention "the honey" who has always been there for me and witness the moments I laughed, I cried, I sat quietly looking at nowhere, felt frustrated (I guess I have shown all bits of my characters in front of him!). The "honey" who patiently listens to my indecisiveness and my scattered thoughts coz I could not come up with final decisions. He often says "I am here and I will look after you", but it feels more better when those words became actions whenever he wraps me inside his arms to assure me that things will be alright and when he makes efforts to see me back smiling and laughing and back to my happy self again.

Everyday I am filled with his "I love yous" - he has never missed out a single day yet! :)
During moments like this I feel that those I had been dreaming/aiming for are so far away, it helps so much to choose to take away my thoughts on them and instead, focus more on what I do have now and be grateful for them. The greatest blessing I have (next to family) is "the honey" - and with that, I feel so abundant and prosperous in my life with his overflowing love. (Thank you, Jesus!)

During one of those times I felt melo-dramatic (blame the hormones caused by the monthly red visitor), I poured out my emotional baggage to him, and felt just so blessed with his response. (I just have to blurry his name.)

Such priceless gift. :)

Love lots,
L

What is My Purpose of Being Abroad?

2014-06-04T04:05:00.001+08:00

During one of my catch-up meetings with my client recently, we had gotten “out of focus” from work and ended chatting more about our personal lives – especially relating to life’s choices, retirement decisions and plans for the future. He was married to a co-Asian and recently had their first child, a bouncing baby boy, last month. It was a great opportunity for me to listen to thoughts of someone who grew up in a first world country and to learn from his elderly thoughts of setting out plans for the future.

He told me that our resident place is surrounded by materialism – I agree! Our place is called “tax-haven” and all professions here are mostly related to finance, managing wealth of the wealthy! Most people have forgotten about family values – parents usually send their children to nursery day care centers, while they keep themselves busy with work to earn. On another hand, this man had made a choice to be the sole provider for his family, with his wife tending to their son, and had a mortgage for a house near the beach. His thoughts were as simple as ABC – nurture his family with one parent looking after their kid/s (he plans to have another baby soon!), he balances out his work so he can be home early to play and see his son goes to sleep, stays at his house over the weekend to spend time with his wife and son, buy a house to serve as a capital asset which he plans to sell 15-20 years from now, and use the money to retire in Asia! Wow….! He told me that Asia has been growing and with its low cost of living, he can have a comfortable, simple retirement life there with his family.

I admired his thoughts and plans. For awhile, I sat there silently in front of him – and digested everything he said. I was inspired and it made me re-think and re-focus of what my purpose of why I travelled more than 7,000 miles away from home.

As what every Filipino had thought of every OFW making a sacrifice to be away from home, it is true. It is the sad reality. But being an overseas Filipino worker for more than 3 years now, I have realized that it is the change in perspectives that we can appreciate the reason and purpose of why we are abroad. There are days when I have to ask my God of His purpose of why He sent me abroad. I keep on asking what His future plans for me are. Until I let go and surrender, and tried to look back on the first day I set my foot abroad up to the present day. What has changed about me? What are the lessons I realized for the past 3 years? Who have been the person that I become during those trials and struggles I went through for being away from home, being away from my comfort zone?

I matured even with my child-like nature.
I appreciated my parents, brothers and hometown. (It’s true that you can only appreciate something when you have gotten away.)
I grew stronger in my faith and I was able to choose the people to be with who nurture me in my spiritual journey.
Being abroad has given me an opportunity to earn more than I used to earn when I was in the Philippines. I became thankful that I was able to invest and still continue to learn on how to manage finances effectively.
I had learned not to be lazy to boil water when I needed a hot drink, especially during winter times. I could only be the one to look after myself. I learned to be more independent.
I had learned that distance was never a hindrance – if you really appreciate someone, you “work it out” and even with distance, I can still make my presence felt. Thanks to technology – and for promo fares to travel cheaper. Being away teaches one to be independent and to know what/who matters most.

I still find myself thinking about what tomorrow could bring. But I have learned that instead of worrying about it, tomorrow is something to look forward to for a new day that it brings. For the renewed spirit. For another blessings to receive and an opportunity to bless others, too.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know well the plans I have made for you, says the Lord, plans for your future and not for woe, plans to give you joy and a future.”

Love Lots,
L

One word: ACT! (My 2014 Goals)

2014-01-22T08:09:00.001+08:00

What was it again that, generally, us, women always wish for our men to do?

To fulfill their promises. Because:

"ACTIONS speak louder than words."

I strongly agree. Why the infamous "promises-are-just-meant to be broken" statement? Because many of us lack action.

It's time for a change. And taking action and fulfilling our promises apply to everybody!

Hence, to start my action plans, I wrote down here my goals and passions for 2014 (& onwards):

- Be fit and healthy. To develop my endurance (needed when I take short cuts to climb hilly roads), achieve a waistline of not more than 30 inches and weigh 60-70 kilos. I commit to eat healthy food, do 30-minute walk each day and an hour of jogging/zumba dance/swimming on weekends.

- Minimum of 10 blog posts per month. To develop my writing skills (goal of publishing an inspirational book), enhance my communication with blogosphere, network with people online and best of all, to share and learn ideas with everyone. Result: at least 120 blog posts for a year!

- Develop a hobby for cooking. FYI: I am a "parasite" for people who loves to cook ('coz I love to eat!). I am well-surrounded by friends and a boyfriend who enjoy cooking, and I enjoy tasting their food. Somehow, I want a change and be the one to make special meal for them. I will master two special recipes (or bake one cake, or make a dessert) per month. This recipe must be other than ordinary daily food.

- I want to get married and have twins. (This goal will require a decision of another party though.)

- Last Monday, I plotted my 2014 financial plans and I commit myself to it. I made some changes and renamed "emergency fund" to "peace of mind fund"; "weekend dates and travels" to "happy fund"; and all the rest remain, as is.

- Attend a seminar/enroll to a class (like IT information, online marketing, gardening, etc) and get a certification/qualification to enhance my self-education. Life is always a continuous learning.

Putting our goals and dreams on paper provide us a clearer view of what we want to fulfill. I wrote down mine above and it's time for some action! =D

Cheers to a fulfilling 2014!

The 2013 Milestones: A Look Back

2014-01-16T07:03:00.000+08:00

I am sooooo back! And I would begin my first entry of 2014 by completing on the months that I made this blog blank on the remainder of the year 2013. (Ooooops!)

And as for every year that comes and goes, it is always nice to reflect and look on what had been the blessings that I am thankful for, as well as the trials that molded my strength. The year 2013 was a year that tested my capacity on major decision-making skills, taking big steps toward personal finances and investments, and best of all, the bloom of a LOVE LIFE! =D

So, here are the milestones of the 12 months in my Year 2013:

January 2013 – As most of my readers here know, I always take December as my holidays to spend Christmas and New Year with family in the Philippines. And returning to the cold winter January in the UK after a month of vacation at my warm tropical Philippines always gives me a heavy heart. The beginning of this year was also “supposed” to be the last year of my 3-year working permit visa in the UK. I am just SO EXCITED to finally be back in the Philippines FOR GOOD come December 2013!!! (And as you may now know as of this writing, this did not happen. You will know the major reason in the coming months to follow). And this reason was also briefly introduced to me during this month of January. I was assigned for 4 months (from January to April) to our affiliate office to work on a client. This was the longest I was ever away from my 2nd home! And my adventurous self did not like being away for such a long time – but I tried and managed to enjoy whatever life has thrown on me at the onset of the year 2013. Picture was the sunrise at 8am in Guernsey Island from the penthouse apartment provided by our office.

February 2013 – Since I started receiving my very first salary, I made a budget (which most often is not being followed.) My spendings are over the variance and I admit that I do not have the proper money management skills, plus a really low personal finance and investment knowledge. I took budgeting a little bit seriously when I started working abroad in 2011, equipped myself through learnings via the internet and get myself involved into investments. Two years passed and I became thirsty of finding a community who share the same enthusiasm that I have towards financial literacy. I found them via The Global Filipino Investors (TGFI). Join our Facebook group of now more than 22,500 members! I also became one of the group’s administrators during this month. Read my full interview at MoneyGurado’s blog here.

March 2013 – Too late for winter, ei? Who would not get excited to tick off one of the looooongest pending adventures on my bucket list – an experience which I had been dreaming of since I was in high school? Finally, I experienced being under the rain of snow and felt them melt under my bare hands. Freezing cold!!! Definitely worth it. And FYI, I never want to experience snow again, though. The road was wet and slippery, plus it was sooooo cold!!! Brrrrr….. One of my weekly work flights was also cancelled for 2 days due to snow – and I was able to take much from my travel insurance for the delayed flight. Yey!

April 2013 – Flowers bloom and the spring season has finally come – and the end of my 4-month secondment, too. I was so grateful and felt more blessed to be surrounded by gurlfriendz who were always there for me. Two took a ferry trip and one booked a flight to go to Guernsey Island to “fetch me” and helped me carry my luggage(s) back to our second home. I was sooooo touched. They went over on a Friday night, tour around the island over the weekend, and back on Sunday. These gurlz are my source of hope, inspiration, and laughters. Life is indeed great with true friends around you. =))

May 2013 – I flew to the Philippines for a 2-week holiday to attend the wedding of one of my dear friends who are also working here abroad. It was such a lovely sunset wedding in Boracay. I wanna get married, too!!! =)) It was memorable coz it was the first time that my family (except for my elder brother who was residing in Manila) able to spend an out of town holiday (and to the famous Boracay Island, for that matter). I spent Mother’s Day with mom, too! This month of May was so significant for me coz it gave me loads of “wake-up’'” calls on my personal and career lives. I was half way through December 2013, finally the end of my UK work visa, but I was faced with many roads in front of me: to going home for good, to grab job opportunities abroad, to setting up businesses, etcetera… I spent countless of sleepless nights thinking of all what-ifs scenario, writing my objectives, goals and plans of actions, while I was being haunted by worries and fears of the unknown future. I ended up tossing and turning, and never came up with a single decision. This went on for months, until I wake up one morning, and made a full surrender to the Great Guy above. I found peace.

June 2013 – …..still countless of sleepless nights for major decisions that I need to make. BUT, I just have to see the Man of Steel casts when they visited our place! I saw Henry Cavill + Russell Crowe + Amy Adams in flesh! I made this as my Facebook profile picture, and currently the one with the most likes among all of my photos. **smilez**

July 2013 – With the wonderful summer sunshine, it is but just properly right to enjoy it, grab the bikini and go to the beach! Yabadoooooo!!!! =)

August 2013 – Summer was still extended! And the gurlz and me enjoyed the summer festivals in the island.

September 2013 – Remember my January post? This uber makulit, sweet, caring and loving Irish man has finally captured my heart and made me say my “YES!” Below is our first photo together during a town event where the Filipino Choir sang. He came straight from his one week holiday at his home country, and arrived at my doorsteps with flower on hand. =))

October 2013 – The best ever celebrated birthday I had! We also spent our first monthsary as a couple in London and Scotland. GH treated me to watch the opera show, The Phantom of the Opera, in London City, where I also met his cousin, and went on to celebrate our monthsary and my birthday in Edinburgh, Scotland. We visited Alnwick Castle (Hogwarts School in Harry Potter), Dan Brown’s Roselane Chapel, the Edinburgh Castle, and the South Borders of Scotland. It was an amazing trip!

November 2013 – Who would have known that a month before Christmas time, a great typhoon would struck my beloved homeland? Our Filipino community decided to forego our Christmas Party and spent two Sundays to do a charity event for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. Our plans were published in the newspaper, shown on television and heard over BBC Radio. During the two consecutive Sundays of November, we were able to accumulate GBP15,000 (approximately Php1.1 million) to aide our fellow Filipinos. Even if we were more than 7,000 miles away from home, nothing beats the spirit of bayanihan and the will to help our fellow brothers and sisters.

December 2013 – “I am home for Christmas…” and I am as always been thankful about it. And also, all the worries, what-ifs scenarios I made during the mid of this year all went down to drain. More than just the monetary value, I have now a major reason to always look forward returning to the UK (see September 2013 above). Philippines will always be my home (in my heart) – but I also have realized that I had grown up, and there maybe now a new place that I can call “home”. During the past 12 months, nothing among my plans had happened, but I got everything that I would have ever wanted: an extended visa, a boyfriend who loves me the most, a loving understanding family, a blooming career, true friends and community who are always there for one another, and a quality happy imperfect God-driven life. I have more than what I have asked for… and continuous blessings keep pouring in!=)))

Cheers to a blessed and fruitful 2014 ahead of us! =))

Love Lots,
Ly-Lyn \(“,)/

Welcome Back, Stranger!

2013-04-25T05:03:00.001+08:00

"Hello, stranger!"

I was teased at the office on a Monday morning after I was back from the looong 4-months of weekly flights. It was tough, crucial, and tiring months for me. It was mentally stressful, not considering the emotional effects brought by the "winter depression". The months of January to April are among the coldest in a year, and travelling during such months (and work related for that matter) seems to be not a good idea to go places.

Yet, these months of trying times were also a test of my character and perspective in life. Along these four months, I befriended the cab drivers who fetch me every Monday morning and Friday night to/fro the airport. I flunked on my client assignment during the first weeks I dealt with it, and it felt like everything is sooo wrong. But in the process, it developed my skills to learn more, to deal with people of different levels, to understand the client industry I'm working on, time management and best, to determine which matters most: that is, our relationships with people. :)

Keep learning and keep on moving forward! _(",)/

Cheers,
Lyn-Lyn _(",)/

Be Vision-oriented

2013-03-27T08:39:00.001+08:00

Be VISION-oriented, rather than problem-oriented. _(",)/

In Numbers 13: There were 12 spies sent to the Promised Land (Canaan). The ten spies focused on the difficulty of the task, but only two, Joshua & Caleb, hang on that God fulfills His promise. :)

For every problem, there's a promise attached to it. It's a matter of perspectives if which of the two you want to spend more time with. :)

Keep learning and and keep on moving forward!

Cheers,
Lyn-Lyn _(",)/

Be in Control

2013-03-18T06:56:00.001+08:00

"You are in control, ei?" Those are the words from my director/boss when he was checking about the status of my work (and every member of our audit team) for finalisation of reports for him to sign-off.

The past eight weeks were always a "weekly rush" for me. I scattered. I failed. I cried. Demotivated. Got frustrated. I stood up. I learned from my mistakes. I succedeed - getting better compared to previous weeks. ;)

"Be in control". These words may refer to stepping into someone else's rights, but what I meant here is about being able to handle of circumstances that we know we can still do something about.

Let us be in control of the choices we make. When we dealt with external forces which we are not in control of, we may either complain and end up rocking ourselves or going in circles without doing any step forward, or we may choose to find solutions and take necessary steps to put them into actions.

We can not control the situations that come our way, but we can control how we deal with them. ;-)

Keep learning and keep on moving forward!

Cheers,
Lyn-Lyn \(",)/

TGFI Bulls Session: Market Outlook 2013 Seminar on March 9, 2013

2013-02-13T06:11:00.000+08:00

To ALL my Friends in Pilipinas, na gustong matuto kung pano mag-invest sa ating beloved PSEi - ATTEND this seminar to be conducted by our group on March 9, 2013 (Saturday) @ National Press Club, Manila.

100 Seats ONLY!
Sir Aya Laraya, the man behind the show Pesos & Sense, and is famous with his quote, "ARAL MUNA BAGO MAG-INVEST" will be there, too.

Soonest, sabay sabay na tau mag-cheer for PSEi!_(",)/
I'm excited! :)) Share and spread the good news. :)

Seminar cost: Php600.
We're giving it at Php500 for the first 50 participants. :)

To make your reservations, please see below:

Payment details:
Bank: BDO
Account Name: Lady Dialyn R. Tadeo
Account #: 1290398028

Contact Doc

Khristian Santos for confirmation of payment
Mobile #: 09228226067
Email: khristiansantosmd@yahoo.com / theglobalfilipinoinvestors@gmail.com

100 Seats ONLY! Reserve yours NOW.
Join our Facebook Group – and let’s all together help each other towards our financial abundance. :)

Have fun investing!

Keep learning and keep on moving forward!
Lyn-Lyn \(“,)/

Emotions in the Stock Market

2013-01-29T06:43:00.000+08:00

"If there are ABCs in investing, there are also FGHIs... Fear, Greed, Hope and Ignorance. Get rid of these emotions if you are trading and investing in the stock market." - Jesse Livermore.

Watching this episode again from ANC OnTheMoney. As our stock market breaks another record high, let us all take in charge of our emotions - because these affect the way we look at money and our investments. Happy investing, as always! \(",)/

ANC OnTheMoney: Understanding Money Behavior

Keep learning and keep on moving forward!

Cheers,
Lyn-Lyn \(“,)/

The Men Now Talk About the Stock Market

2013-01-29T05:46:00.000+08:00

Last week, I attended my first party here back abroad – it was a celebration of the 30th birthday of my friend and the 1st birthday of her son (they have the same birthdate).

When the men arrived (a.k.a.: The fathers of the newly born babies here at our place and some are soon to be father), they talk nothing but about what stocks have they invested for the last few weeks and what those that they are still looking into to buy in the coming weeks!

(I smiled from the corner – while I was busy playing with other three kids!) ^__^

Photo credit

I heard someone said: “Iba na talaga pag mga shareholders na ang friends mo.” This came from the person whom I have been encouraging to invest, but always has excuses not to – while all the rest of his friends have already started investing and enjoying profits from their portfolio.

At least now, their basketball practices already involve talking about stock investing – no longer about just beers and the latest talk in town (men are also chismoso!).

I’m glad to see those spark of hope in them that in the coming years, they have made already small steps now to take care of their financial future. :)

Keep learning and keep on moving forward!

Cheers,

Lyn-Lyn \(“,)/

SALE: 20% Discount for Our Avent Baby Products. Hurry!

2013-01-24T04:41:00.000+08:00

Great news! Multiply offers 20% discount on all our available items. =)))

Just use the discount code PH-TWENTYOFF upon checkout.

Valid for delivery transactions only. Not applicable for meet-ups.

Promo runs until February 28,2013.

Visit our website at www.littlemarcheline.multiply.com today! \(",)/

Happy shopping, mommies! :)

Cheers,
Lyn-Lyn \(“,)/

When Someone Does You a Big Favor, just… Pay It Forward.

2013-01-20T10:25:00.000+08:00

Pay it Forward…. it was a movie I watched for five times (already!) since it was introduced to us in our Values Education class during my sophomore year in high school. I took the movie at heart (I watched it again and again few years after) and took the assignment from the movie seriously, which was: Think of something to change the world and put it into action.

During my reunion with my high school classmates last December, one of my high school friends (“J”) told me that another classmate of ours (“C”) had helped her with the transportation and hotel reservation when the former went to Manila. For people who had heard about the bad stuffs for victims who are usually new in the capital city of our country and never grew up there, we are very cautious and feel safer if someone we know would fetch us from the airport or would help us tour around the big city.

“C” who came from a night shift duty went all the way to fetch “J” at the airport and help the latter with the transportation and hotel reservation. And “J” told me how much she appreciated such hospitability from “C”. When “J” said her thanks to “C”, “C” told her: “Nah…just pay it forward. It was something I experienced and learned from Lyn-Lyn.” *I got misty-eyed!* Twing!

Photo Credit

I could not help but feel a little bit misty-eyed when I heard those words. I remembered I had helped “C” a few years back when I had an apartment at Makati and opened the doors for “C” to stay there for easier transport for a week training she had in her workplace. The training was at Makati, while she was living at Quezon City (where the main office was). Just imagine the travel time she would incur, including the hassle-bustle of the traffic. It was, for me, a small favor I can do for a friend who needs temporary shelter – and when she offered monetary payment for her stay at my apartment, I told her that she just have to pay it forward. And she really did!! Wow! (A few years earlier, I also had experienced generosity from others, and in my own way, also paid it forward. And the pay-it-forward cycle continues…)

“J” also told me that she needs to find that someone so she can “pay forward”, too, what “C” had provided to her. Amazing!! =)

If most people would help each other and be a blessing to one another, then this sure is a place that our future generation would be grateful to have. And sometimes, I realize that what we thought are small favors we give for others may mean big favors for them. :) Yey! In our own little way, we can already bless people. :)

(Just a side note: when you owe someone money, you sure have to pay it back to that someone! Ok? Hehe..)

I recommend for you to watch this movie. Check out for its trailer. Happy watching!

Pay It Forward movie trailer

Keep learning and keep on moving forward!

Cheers,
Lyn-Lyn _(“,)/

ANC On The Money: Pag-ibig Fund. My Name Got Featured! =)

2013-01-09T07:49:00.000+08:00

My name got featured on this episode! Yey! \(“,)/

I had been a fan of this show since it started on August 2012 – and I am proud that our Philippine media has taken this big leap towards financial education towards us, Filipinos. The show has been an eye-opener that even the most basic of managing our personal finances would be a tool towards our dream of financial freedom (not the quick-rich scheme). =D

I raised the suggestion for the Pag-ibig Fund episode in their Facebook Page last October 2012. Ms. Melissa, one of the TV hosts, informed me that they were able to have Atty. Darlene Berberabe, the CEO of Pag-ibig, to guest for the show during the 3rd week of November. Since I do not have access here abroad, I watched the episode when it was uploaded in YouTube during my December holiday. =)

I received facebook messages from those who also watch the show and thank me for the suggestion. I appreciated it – and am more glad that it was a tool for us to learn more about Pag-ibig Funds and the benefits we can get from it.

ANC On The Money: Pag-ibig Fund

I have a housing loan payable for 21 years, but I want to pay it ahead of time. I am glad that there are no penalty charges yet for prepayment of outstanding balance!

With regard to number of loans, Pag-ibig only provides a loan when the previous loan has been paid out. Hence, when I finished our housing loan, I look forward to get another one for real estate investing. I have not yet compared bank rates to Pag-ibig rates, but I’m thinking that the latter is cheaper (not yet sure).

Oh! Happy New Year, everyone! =)

Cheers to another blessed year,
Lyn-Lyn \(“,)/

You Miss Me? I Miss You More!

2012-12-06T08:31:00.001+08:00

I definitely miss writing.

So, where have I been for the past month that this blog has become idle? I don’t know what had happened that I just “stopped”. It was surely not writer’s block, because each day (or every other day), a new idea comes into my mind that would indulge me to type letters on my keyboard, but I did not continue writing. I guess, it was also due to winter season coming in during this month of November, and that sudden change to the dark cold weather also left me gloomy and empty.

Anyway, stop on my ranting for the reasons. =P

So, what is new with me for this month?

For Personal Matters:
- I finally moved in to a 3-floored townhouse just this 1st December! It was really a blessing because my new place is “cosy”. I am sharing it to two other Filipinos. Just this Wednesday night, we volunteered our place to be the venue for our Wednesday homegroup – and everyone loved our place. Saying it’s sooo “homey”. :-) We’re glad that our place provided a welcoming aura – and our homegroup friends decided that our place will be the “permanent” venue for homegroup! hahaha… =D

- I am busy packing my things and luggage for my long journey flight to Pinas this coming Sunday! Wohooo… I’m excited to be home and arrive in Manila on Monday. =) So, please please please… pray for a good weather for me. (There was hail last night here, and a little bit of snow, which resulted to a foggy sky. And when it’s foggy, flights are cancelled. waaah!) Everyday, I always checked my phone for the weather update, and so far, Sunday gives a warm sunshine and cloudy sky. *smiles* I also checked Manila’s weather by Monday, and it is a cloudy sky. Yey!

- For my lovelife. Uhm, I prefer to keep it private. =)

For Businesses:

- My college friend and I had set up and established being a trusted seller in Multiply. We have gotten loyal customers and also set up a bazar in one of the condominiums in Manila and the bazaar has been a profitable day. If you want to purchase our Avent baby products, kindly visit our site at AventMommy. FREE shipping still continues this month. :)

- I also set up my own online store for Ipanema and Grendha sandals. If you would like to view the products and make a purchase, kindly visit Team Retail Shop.

- The other money machines that my family and I have set up in my hometown also generates income to the family. With all these outpour of blessings, I am more than grateful to the Great Guy above for these wonderful opportunities. =)

For Investments:

- Personally, being part of the Bo Sanchez’ Truly Rich Club has provided me opportunities to manage and take charge of my personal finance. Further, the wealth strategies, stock recommendations and daily GodWhispers provided by the club have put me into proper perspectives on money, spirituality, business, and risks. =)

- I am also happy to be an instrument that fellow OFWs on my side of the planet are now into investing. Actually, I will bring signed forms to hand over to the stock broker when I’m back in Pinas next week! Yey! \(“,)/

**I feel like a kiddo with all of the smileys and expressions I’ve used on my write-up above.**

For now, let me greet you all a MERRY MERRY Christmas and a Prosperous New Year! Thank You for visiting my blog even when I was away! I surely miss you All! =)

Keep learning and keep on moving forward!

Cheers,

Lyn-Lyn \(“,)/

Amazing Grace!

2012-11-03T06:50:00.001+08:00

We sang this song during our choir service for last Sunday's 6pm mass here. I feel like singing it again as I look back and reflect to how my little faith has continued to grow...fail...grow..stumbled..stand up...broken..bounced back...and grow again. It is such a continuous process of building a relationship with our God. I humbly write this blog entry to give the glory back to Him and thank Him for every blessing, even the smallest ones, that He showered upon my life everyday. As my prayer since then, I continue to pray that He may make me an instrument to show His love for each of us. Let the lyrics of this song speak of what I want to say unto You, Lord. Love always. L. \(",)/

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come
'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

And when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease
I shall possess within the veil
A life of joy and peace

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright, shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun

_(,"c",)/

Living My Life's Calling

2012-10-27T08:50:00.001+08:00

We are all called with a purpose by our Divine Creator. Often, we are lost and wonder what really is this "will" for our lives. If we have to look within and take a moment to reflect at and determine the things where we are good at, where we do our best, where we can impact lives and bless others, and make this a way to share His good news - then we are on that path to our "life's calling". :)

I remember Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror as I write this blog entry. As human beings, we tend to look at others and follow their ways. Why not be the opposite? We live our lives to the best we can offer, and be the living example to influence and bless others by our way of living. Dbah? :)

Earlier today, we had another "Board Meeting" (and watched Skyfall afterwards. It was a long queue!). Board meeting is what we call for our Friday dinner we had with group of working Filipinos here abroad. One of the topics was about investment (my favorite!). And only then I've realised that there are many fellow OFWs who want to invest in our own Philippine stock market, but don't know how. And since my Facebook wall has been a "mirror" of Philippine economy and investment growth (other than party photos. Haha), I have gotten at least another 7 (James Bond 007 lng) eager stock market "students" tonight. They want me to held another stock investing lesson. :D whooppiee! Way to go Pinas. I'll be an instrument to give you more Filipino investors!! :)

I will discuss the same topic I did last May during my first stock market investing discussion. Link to follow since I am only using my phone now. :D

I am imperfect and have shortcomings, too. But I strive to do better, and do my own share to fulfill what I have been called to do.

Keep learning and keep on moving forward!

Cheers,
Lyn-Lyn \(",)/