Make every day count this Christmas

Christmas is a time of joy!  Make every day count. 

Christmas it's also a time of stress for a lot of people. Start every day with the best breakfast you can whip up to give yourself that much needed energy to do everything on your list. A quick egg omelet with tons of spinach and other veggies does the trick. See this recipe and more on FB's Syl's Cocina Criolla.

Christmas decorating can get familiar from year to year. This Christmas let your creative juices flow and make it your own by adding some DIY projects. You'll be surprised at how much pizzaz you can infuse into your decor with a little imagination, a couple of dollars spent at the hardware store, and a little extra time.

Christmas may be a great time to take that trip you weren't able to take this summer. Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a happy place then make it happen. Some airlines offer great last-minute deals around this time. Think of sunny Florida or Puerto Rico and then just do it. 

Christmas is a time to get together with friends and family you didn't get around to seeing on Thanksgiving. Bring out your favorite family recipes but don't be afraid to experiment with new dishes. It's all about having a jolly good time with your favorite peeps. 

Christmas is a time to get out of your comfort zone to get out--do some caroling with local parishioners.  Or take time off to bring a little cheer to a shut-in, light a child's face with a toy at the children's ward.  Maybe donate a couple of hours at a soup kitchen.  You can ooh and aah at the many tree lightings all over the state or just in your own town. Our family loves the holidays in the Hamptons because all the business establishments go all out with decorations. They can probably give Fifth Avenue a run for their money!  In Southampton, as a prelude to the tree-lighting they have a Xmas parade with all the bells and whistles and the kiddies get free candy. 

 

This is the time to spend a little more, maybe even splurge on a special item for a loved one or for yourself. Century stores have unique clothing and gifts at reasonable prices. Hit the outlets at Bergen Mall.  We guarantee you will find something special for everyone on your list. 

Remember, make every day count. 

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a great cheer!  Also bear in mind that Jesus is the reason for the season. 

It's time to start taking care of the earth.

We have always recycled everything from clothes and shoes to bottles and paper but more recently in the last couple of years I started making regular compost with kitchen refuse such as egg shells, vegetable peels, and coffee grains. I'm so excited and cannot wait for spring to see the difference in our yard. When I was a little girl growing up in Puerto Rico I remember the barrio refuse collector going from house to house collecting kitchen leftovers to feed to his pigs. Housewives would leave the refuse out back in a big metal can and he'd swing around and pour the contents out into a big container he carried in a wheelbarrow.  So recycling kitchen refuse is not new to me.

Recently also we have traded vinegar and baking soda for commercial products that are not so good for the environment.  I find that this enviro-friendly way of cleaning is much cheaper, and easier on your hands and lungs. Speaking about your hands we use coffee grains for all-over body exfoliating, as well as oatmeal for soaking and bathing in, just mix a little body wash into the mix for a one-step treatment. Your body will thank you in kind--you will immediately notice the smoothness and suppleness in your complexion when you look in the mirror and see a more vibrant and youthful you smiling back at you.

Recently I started oral rinsing with peroxide. This works well for whitening teeth and healthier gums. Add a tiny bit of baking soda for good all-around oral care. And on the subject of good health a 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda mix in to a glass of fresh lemon water does wonders for your colon. This is not to say that you should skip your annual doctor visits. 

There are endless ways in which we can contribute to protecting our Mother Earth and our pockets as well and also look beautiful and stay healthy in the process. Don't forget to check out Syl's Cocina Criolla on FB for delicious boricua inspired recipes and more health conscious ways to eat and stay healthy. If you like this article, write and let me know. God bless everyone. 

For more tips visit: www.neefusa.com

What will be your last thought before .....

What will be your last thought before you take that last breath?  Will it be, "Will I be worthy to see God's face?"  "Did I live enough of a Christ-like life?"  Who will I see up there (or, down there?!)?"  

Not everyone believes there's a heaven and a hell; but if you believe in God and consider yourself a Christian, what question will come to your mind? And if so, will you be able to answer without hesitation and with peace in your soul?

Last week at the 8:00 o'clock Mass, our pastor started the homily by asking himself how will he react when he's on his death bed seconds before leaving this earthly home--will he be out-of-this-world elated? will he feel worthy? will he have doubts (or guilt feelings)?

He asked we each consider what we will ask ourselves on that last second. 

These are deep questions that we should be asking ourselves now, so as to make our journey into the light easier--so that when our time comes, we can go acceptingly and in peace. 

What will be our last thought?  Seriously think about this. Our time may be closer than we think. Through Christ our Lord, God wants all his children to enjoy his heavenly home.  Amen!

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: My Adventure on El Tren Urbano de San Juan

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: My Adventure on El Tren Urbano de San Juan: I can visit the island of Puerto Rico a thousand times and always find something new and different to do.  On my last 'busication' (...

My Adventure on El Tren Urbano de San Juan

I can visit the island of Puerto Rico a thousand times and always find something new and different to do.  On my last 'busication' (business/vacation) I was fortunate to hop on the Tren Urbano.  Thank to my sister Kimi and her hubby Machy for making it possible!  As I've oftentimes expressed on this blog, I am a trainophile—in order words, I love trains and anything that has to do with them.

Martinez Nadal Stop

Partial view of the Milla de Oro, Hato Rey

El Tren Urbano of San Juan was a most pleasurable experience.  I was pleasantly surprised at the rare opportunity given me to ride the rails of the tiny island's metropolitan area.  I never tire of saying that "God works in mysterious ways."  Out of what could have been a sad time, God turned it around to make every day of my two-week stay practically blissful.  That day, it happened to be the San Juan Urban Train ride.  I paid for roundtrip tickets for the three of us, riding from Rio Piedras to Bayamon and back on just the departing tickets.  We never descended the train because we just wanted to experience the pure pleasure of riding the rail.  I left the tickets with my dear Kimi and Machy, for whenever the bug bites to ride the train again.

If you happen to be visiting, by all means hop a ride on El Tren Urbano—you won't be disappointed.

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: Who loves train travel?

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: Who loves train travel?: I love to travel by train. When we were gallivanting through Europe years ago, we went from country-to-country and fr...

What makes you happy? Go find what it is and do it.

We are all here on borrowed time, some more than others but we all agree, no one is getting out alive. So why not make the most of our time here. 

When my best friend, partner and father of my children went home to the Lord, it was an awakening for me.  You know how you never think you're going to die and much less a beloved family member. Well it did happen with the one person I never thought would go because of his positive outlook on life, his bubbly personality, and his ability to befriend everyone, among so may other great qualities. So when Victor passed, after the initial shock of losing him I decided to relish life, to 'grab the bull by the horns'.

I started traveling more than ever, I wrote two books and a third one is about to be published so I can start working on the next one. I bought a third property out on Long Island.  I lost all fear and started enjoying life once again. 

Find out what makes you happy and make a commitment to follow it through. It doesn't matter if you're 16 or 86, there is no better time to do it than now. So go ahead.  Do you enjoy traveling, but afraid of going solo?.. Entertaining, but don't qualify as Martha Stewart? Want to get the degree you've been wanting but haven't because of lack of money. Well there are always going to be obstacles but God has given you the resources to do whatever it is you want to do. 

Don't waste another second, none of us is getting any younger and don't forget to pray to God to guide you. Everything turns out better when God is in your life.