Our 2022 is about to end. I’ve been reviewing my previous blog posts here and my life has really been “more of the same” kind of thing. Just like last 2019, when I wasn’t even able to blog about our Halloween celebration because of my jam-packed schedule at work, with motherhood, and family! And it’s happening again this time of the year!
Don’t get me wrong though — I DO LOVE OUR LIFE AND THE LIFESTYLE WE’VE BEEN LIVING — it’s been the best year so far — so many celebrations, so many happenings, so many blessings despite the sleepless nights from my VA work, being a homemaker, and homeschooling our now 7-year old kid! So, I’m gonna give myself a little pat on the back here…
Jen 1: “You’re such a superwoman, Mommy Jennie!”
Jen 2: “I know… I know…” 😉
Anyway, I am not going to let 2022 pass by without documenting here my most favorite holiday. For those who have just started to follow me here, Halloween is my most favorite and Christmas comes second. Though I like Christmas, Halloween is just more fun for me with all the trick or treating, candies, and costumes. Don’t you think? So though it’s already December and we’ve started decorating our little home resort for Christmas (you can check my FB page for updates), sharing my favorite holiday here with you this late is better than never, isn’t it?
But before that, let me just give you a rundown of our Halloween activities since Tuz was born. Re-reading my blog entries here… Oh what a roller coaster ride it has been! So many trials, joys, financial troubles, and tribulations. From being in a long distance relationship with Mahal, to finally living together in my first dream home, to giving that up in exchange for living the hard kind of life at the farm, then back to city life and experiencing tiny home living and finally, living the beach kind of life which has always been my dream. It makes me all the more grateful for the life we have now because we are living our best life so far and we can’t wait for things to keep getting better and better…
(2014, 2015, 2016) Nuvali Night Sky Cinema
(2016) Thoughts This Halloween
(2016) Nuvali Night Sky Cinema 2016 Family Event
(2017) Halloween 2017: How to Let Go of Attachments
(2018) Halloween 2018 – Transformative Lessons and Realizations
(2020) How to Celebrate Major Holidays During a Pandemic: Halloween Feature + a Guide
(2021) The Root of Happiness (And How I Found It Around Halloween)
Speaking of things getting better and better, remember when last year, Mahal’s niece left us because she didn’t like me? Read my 2021 Halloween entry for the whole story. Well, this year, when Mahal and I got engaged last April, the last people we considered family here in Oslob started showing their true colors and selfish intentions that they ended up leaving too. Looking back, it has been a blessing in disguise because, we finally got rid of toxic people in our lives and we’ve started attracting people and situations that are better for us.
Energy is really everything. You attract what you think. And more than that, you attract what you feel. I’ve considered them family since the first day I’ve known them, given them things, given them money, love, time and support and unbeknownst to us at that time, they’ve been repaying us with bad intentions and disrespect. I honestly don’t know what we did wrong! We’re they simply envious of us this whole time??? Were they just feeling so entitled??? But now that they are out of our lives (it happened last May), more blessings came our way. And from what we’ve heard, they’ve been having a hard time. So you really get the kind of energy you emit yourself. You really get to have the life you deserve. Karma is real.
My life is really a chock-full of drama that I will probably blog about in detail one of these days (for all the Marites out there, lol!). But for now, enough chit-chat. Here’s how we’ve celebrated our 2022 Halloween. Enjoy!
Oct. 8, 2022 – It’s beginning to look like #Halloween!
So happy my fave holiday is just around the corner!!!!
Spent the first half of my afternoon putting up preliminary Halloween decors around the lodge. Still waiting for the new decors I ordered to arrive.
Oct. 16, 2022 – I don’t know why #Halloween makes me so happy while Christmas makes me so sad… for now, I shall enjoy my fave season… thank you to Mahal for letting me be me and to our kind staff for setting up the witches!
Oct. 17, 2022 – Say hello to our bartender… “What can I serve you tonight?”
Oct. 18, 2022 – Something to cheer me up one gloomy rainy day in October…
Oct. 20, 2022 – Our Pre-Halloween party one night + outdoor scary movie watching.
Oct. 21, 2022 – Pre-Halloween Party Part 2! Cheers!
Another October night, I dressed up as a cat vampire…
On October 28, it was a stormy night, and we were celebrating so many things! Belated Happy Birthday to Vegilyn Allanic and Kuya Rafael! Thank you, God, for all our good medical test results, thank you for my new clients, thank you for all our guests, and thank you the wind has stopped! Advance Happy Halloween!
Oct. 29, 2022 – The Dementor, Baby Dracula and Purple Riding Hood…
When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween…
We’ve now cooked tonight’s victims. Bon appetit!
Oct. 30, 2022 – Weather was really nice on this day… so we put up some more Halloween decors… Upcoming storm, go away pls!!! This kid wants to play!
Oct. 30, 2022… The dragon has landed at Oslob New Village Lodge… the young Princess Rhaenyra is looking for her Uncle Daemon…
The young Princess Rhaenyra met a young pirate… and a staff at Oslob New Village Lodge. Her Uncle Daemon is still missing…
The three witches of Oslob New Village Lodge welcome the Squid Game soldier, baby pirate, and Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. A very unusual #Halloween2022 feast!!!
Our favorite Targaryens… where we based our ultimate Halloween 2022 costumes…
OCT. 31, 2022 – Princess Rhaenyra finally found her Daemon! Little did they know that they’ll eventually end up together (spoiler alert!)…
But the dragon flew and got replaced by Huggy Wuggy…
Halloween is finally here! Have a happy one!
Dinner is always better when we eat together…
Thank you for celebrating with us!
Happy Halloween!!!
Cocktails are now served at Oslob New Village Lodge. We’re having cosmo, pinacolada, mango tango, margarita. Halloween Cheers!
8 Lessons to Learn by Age 40
(I meditated on these things this Halloween)
1. Embrace the Journey
Most of your life will be spent in the journey, not the destination. Life is precious and each day isn’t guaranteed. If you put all your happiness in the destination, you’ll be very disappointed when you get there. This goes for physique changes, financial health, and relationships; once you reach the goal you have set it surprisingly isn’t as sweet as you imagined it. Find solace and peace with the journey to getting there; this is where the real magic happens.
https://www.claritychi.com/lessons-by-age-40/amp/
Acknowledge the stage you’re in and be grateful for the experience. The hard times won’t last and instead of feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and negative, are knowing that on the other side you’ll be wiser and more resilient.
2. Take the Leap
Spend too much time thinking about “what ifs” and you’re just going to delay the action. None of us can predict what the future holds and no matter the outcome, have confidence in yourself that you can handle it. Often the hardest part is letting go of expectations of what things “should” be or succumbing the trap of perfectionism, when what we really need to do is let down our walls, invite possibility of failure and ACT.
https://www.claritychi.com/lessons-by-age-40/amp/
3. Be Intentional and Live Powerfully
With your time, your money, your actions. With your training program, your nutrition plan, which people you choose to be in your life. Seek to find the “Why” behind everything. Be present, refine your skills, choose to respond vs. react, and expand your thoughts and comfort zones. Increase focus on creating the experience rather than letting things happen to you.
https://www.claritychi.com/lessons-by-age-40/amp/
4. Discipline Equals Freedom
Be afraid of failure. The only person you can control is you. So focus on making yourself who you want to be: Faster. Stronger. Smarter. More humble. Less ego. Act in according to your values and your goals; Discipline means taking the hard road—the uphill road. To do what is right, for you and for others so you can achieve the greatness you have envisioned for yourself. It will put you on the path to strength, health, intelligence and happiness. And most important, discipline will put you on the path to freedom.
https://www.claritychi.com/lessons-by-age-40/amp/
5. You Are Your Thoughts
Ghandi said:
https://www.claritychi.com/lessons-by-age-40/amp/
“Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.”
Excuses only sound good to the person making them. The only way to truly become the person you want to be is by acting in the way that she acts; starting right now.
Your thoughts control your body and your body reciprocally controls your thoughts. If you’re feeling sad, try putting a smile on your face, even if it is the last thing that you want to do. Fake a smile, and feel how your body starts to feel lighter. Sometimes a change in our physical state is all that it takes to create a change in our mental state. Smile more, laugh more, and don’t take life so seriously.
6. Failure Only Comes If You Quit
Otherwise it just gives you lessons and perspective for new opportunities. Life is too short to not take those chances, to not take that leap. Every experience is an opportunity to learn from and be better the next time around. We only truly fail when we decide to give up instead of finding another way. Time cures all and you’ll live with much less regret by trying and failing, rather than not trying at all. Don’t take no for an answer, especially when it comes to your goals and dreams.
https://www.claritychi.com/lessons-by-age-40/amp/
7. Trust Your Intuition
When something feels off, it is. Be in or be out. Let your yes be yes or your no be no. Be 100% in the relationship, in the job, in your travels, in your decisions. We all have that little voice inside us telling us what we should do; don’t be afraid to listen to it.
https://www.claritychi.com/lessons-by-age-40/amp/
8. Never Compromise on Yourself
Your integrity is the thread of your existence. Live according to YOUR values, no one else’s and do what you know in your heart is right. Don’t let the judgement of others stop you from speaking out or doing what you need to do. In the end, your word, your follow through, and your perseverance when things are tough are what will matter most.
https://www.claritychi.com/lessons-by-age-40/amp/
RANDOM THOUGHTS THIS HALLOWEEN…
I feel like this will be the last time I’m celebrating this way my fave holiday. It’s been 20 years of blissful spooky celebrations, from Malate street and Boracay beach parties in my early 20’s, to Oktoberfest celebrations in my late 20’s, to house and costume parties in my early 30’s, to trick or treating with Tuz and Mahal in my late 30’s to early 40’s. My wish every year was to have more of the same and I was lucky enough to have been given that. Thank you, God! You’ve been good to me all these years, making me happy to have the chance and budget to party. I’m now passing on the torch to Tuz. I told him about my plan to retire and pass on to him organizing such parties but he said he’s not yet ready! Lol!
Anyway, who knows what my mood will be next Halloween? Life is too short and I still have so many things to do on my bucket list. Here’s to hoping I get to do them all before the clock stops ticking. Til my next post!
MomTraNeur - The Self-Help Mommy 
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