Blog - Truly Rich and Blessed

The Best Christmas Gifts… for Jesus

December 19, 2016 by Tina Leave a Comment

I saw this image on Facebook earlier, on a dear friend‘s page, and was inspired to write this post. The days are getting busier and busier so it is my prayer and hope that God will use these words to encourage and bless you somehow.

Most of us are probably still busy trying to find the best Christmas gifts for our loved ones while trying to avoid the stress that is usually associated with the holiday season.

But have we stopped and thought about the best Christmas gifts we could give the Birthday Celebrant this December 25? The Reason for the season, as they say?

Of course, if you really think about it, what can we offer the One who will be celebrating His birthday very, very soon?

After all, everything comes from Him, right?

He is the Source of everything. He created everything! So He actually does not need anything from us.

Well, that’s true.

Sort of.

But because of free will, there are some things He does not have unless we give them to Him freely:

Our hearts.

Our time.

Our attention.

Our love.

Our lives.

So as Christ’s birthday draws near, I want all of us — myself included — to think about this question very carefully, and answer it wholeheartedly:

What gifts shall we give Him this Christmas and beyond?

Want to share your answer with me? Go ahead and leave a comment! And if you feel like this is a message that should be shared, feel free to click any of the buttons below. 🙂 God bless you!

How to Retire as a Multimillionaire: Learn from COL Financial’s Edward Lee

December 17, 2016 by Tina Leave a Comment

‘Tis the season for giving and sharing so I thought I’d pop in for a really quick post to invite you all to learn with me as COL Financial‘s very own Edward Lee — one of Kuya/Bro. Bo Sanchez’s mentors when it comes to being “truly rich” in the financial aspect — spills his secrets to investing in the stock market.

As you may (or may not! 😉 ) already know by now, my husband and I have been stock market investors for a while now, but we are still a looooong way off from being “truly rich” like Kuya Bo and Sir Edward are! That’s why we are committed to learning and investing as much as we can, not for our own personal gain but so we can bless our loved ones and those in need, too!

That’s why I’m extending Kuya Bo’s personal invitation to YOU, to join the webinar by Sir Edward Lee.

Below is the letter Kuya Bo sent out to us Truly Rich Club members:

Dear Tina,

For many years, I’ve been investing in the stock market.

And because of this, I know that I will retire a multimillionaire. As a
member of the TrulyRichClub, I know that you will also be the same.

Let’s bless other people more.

This coming December 18, 2016 at exactly 2:00 P.M. Manila time, I will hold
another webinar. But this time, I have a special treat for everyone. My
mentor, who has been investing in the stock market for 42 years, will spill
all his secrets, so you too can retire a multimillionaire.

The last webinar had thousands of viewers, and many of them are now
applying what they learned. I have no doubt that in a few years, they too,
will enjoy the fruits of what they’re planting now.

Let’s empower people to do the same to take charge of their finances, and
then become a blessing to others.

Invite people to joing us for another webinar happening this December 18,
2016 at 2:00 PM.

Blessings,

Bo Sanchez

Remember, this webinar is ABSOLUTELY FREE OF CHARGE! You can sign up for it NOW here. I hope and pray it will bless you somehow!

By the way, if you’re looking for ways to have a more meaningful Christmas, please do follow my #TRBFaith and #LiturgicalLiving posts on and . I’m actually thinking of doing a Facebook Live session about it — would you guys be interested in something like that, if ever? Let me know in the comments, please! Thanks in advance. 🙂

Oh, and if you know someone who might be interested in attending the FREE Webinar by Sir Edward Lee, please feel free to share this post by clicking any of the buttons at the bottom of this post. Thank you and God bless!

P.S.

Remember, you can learn how to retire as a multimillionaire from one of the best financial “experts” around, just by attending the webinar. Click here to register.

3 Ways to Save on Christmas Gift Shopping

December 13, 2016 by Tina Leave a Comment

I know, I know — this post might be coming to you a little bit late, because some of you may have already finished shopping for Christmas gifts by now! (If you have, congrats! How to be you po? 😛 Ha, ha, ha!)

If — like yours truly — you have not shopped for a single gift yet, keep reading. I hope you will find this post helpful. 😉

Now, before anything else, please allow me to give a disclaimer: I am a self-professed thrifty/frugal person or, as some people may say, a “cheapskate.” So if there is any way to cut down on anything expenses-related, like Christmas gift shopping, I will try to do so.

Having said that, I also believe in the value of giving during the Christmas season. Not necessarily gift-giving, but giving in general. What better time to share God’s blessings, right?

Anyway, going back to the topic at hand, allow me to share with you three things you can do to save on Christmas gift shopping:

1. Make a list; check it twice.

You probably already know this but it’s always good to be reminded: List down the names of the people for whom you will be buying Christmas gifts. Having a list will help you avoid buying unnecessary items.

Of course, it makes sense to double-check your list to make sure you have not left anyone out! 😉 You can also check your list to see if you can buy “group gifts” for certain people (like members of one family) instead of buying individual gifts, which might cost you more money.

2. Check your Christmas gift shopping budget.

When it comes to buying Christmas gifts — or any other “extra expenses” for that matter — it’s always wise to make and stick to a budget.

Is your Christmas gift shopping budget this year not as big as you’d hoped it would be? Don’t fret! Remember that it’s the thought that counts, so you don’t have to feel bad about not being able to splurge on expensive gifts for others.

Truth be told, there have been Christmases where we weren’t able to give out any gifts at all because of budget constraints and the need to prioritize other expenses. But did that affect our relationships with the people around us? No!

Again, what matters most is letting others know how much you care about them. 🙂

3. Shop online and save on deals — and even earn some money via “Cashback.”

Online shopping can be a great way for you to save on Christmas gift shopping. For starters, you don’t have to leave home and brave the malls or other stores to buy gifts — which means you save money on gas/transportation expenses, parking fees (if you bring your own car), food (because we all know that when we go shopping outside our homes, we usually end up eating out — this is true especially if you have kids with you!), etc.

You can also save money on Christmas gifts when you shop online and avail of exclusive deals and discounts from various online stores and shopping sites.

Aside from this, you can even earn money just by shopping online! I discovered this when I was recently invited by Shopback.ph to try out their site — you basically shop online through them and earn “Cashback” i.e. money while doing so.

Marketplaces are great for looking for gifts because of the large variety of items you can find there. You can even . Other marketplaces like and are great too!

Here is a short video for you to see how ShopBack (and “Cashback”) works:

As a busy mom of four, a site like Shopback.ph is definitely a blessing because it helps make shopping (not just during Christmas!) a whole lot easier — and gives me a chance to save money, too!

I hope the aforementioned tips, though “short” are somewhat still “sweet” and useful for you, especially during this crazy month of December! Of course, I need to end this post with a reminder (for myself, too, har har!) that we should not forget the true Reason for the season, i.e. the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 🙂 Praying for a beautiful and blessed Christmas ahead for us all!

Did you find this post useful? Please feel free to share it by clicking any of the buttons below! Or maybe you have your own tips to share? Please feel free to leave a comment — I’d love to hear from you!

5 Ways to a Less Stressful Holiday Season

December 13, 2016 by Tina Leave a Comment

The holidays are almost upon us and we all know what that means, right? Traffic! Shopping for presents and other holiday-related whatnot! More traffic! Christmas parties and family reunions! Even more traffic! Food galore and Christmas carols! (And did we mention the traffic?!)

Kidding aside, everyone knows that the holiday season is a time for joy and celebration – but many times, it also becomes a source of stress and tension, especially among family members.

Does it have to be so though?

The answer is no. We can actually avoid stress during the holidays and truly enjoy every bit of it! Here are five suggestions that we hope can make this possible for you, based on the acronym R.E.L.A.X.:

Remember what the holidays are all about.

Don’t forget “the Reason for the season”, i.e. Christmas. If you’re a Christian (and yes, all Catholics are Christians, too!), you’d know that Jesus is the main reason for the holiday season. It is His birthday we are celebrating, after all. Don’t let the busyness of the “holiday rush” make you lose focus.

Instead, spend some time every day leading to Christmas Day in silence – even just a few minutes will do. Think about the true meaning of Christmas, and teach your family members to do the same, too. If it helps, post different images of the Nativity or the Baby Jesus around your home to help you remember the essence of the holidays.

Exemplify giving and sharing.

Christmas is a special time to model giving and sharing to others, especially to the people in our own family. Focusing on others instead of ourselves gives us more opportunities to remember the “essentials” in life, and how we can bless others.

When we are preoccupied with sharing of ourselves and what we have, there is a tendency to be less stressed. We learn to be more grateful for what we already have, and not be focused on what we can get or receive from others.

Look around you.

Sometimes we find ourselves so overwhelmed by all the glitzy and shiny holiday decorations around us that we lose sight of what is truly important.

Take time this holiday season to really look and observe the things around you. The beautiful Christmas lights that remind us of the star that shone over the manger where Jesus was born. The gifts that remind us of the best gift we could ever receive – Jesus. The family and friends who are our greatest blessings in life.

See Christmas through the eyes of a child, and allow yourself to be wrapped in the wonder of Christmas. Be grateful for everything you have.

Avoid the holiday crowds and traffic.

On a more practical note, if you find yourself getting stressed out at the thought of Christmas shopping and being stuck in holiday traffic, find out how you can simplify your purchasing process.

Maybe you can consider online shopping or buying presents from stores in your neighborhood. Make a list of all the holiday parties and gatherings you have been invited to and maybe choose only those you really need or want to attend. (It’s OK to say “no” to people, you know!)

Inhale. EXhale.

This may be a silly suggestion to some, but you’d be surprised at how many of us actually find ourselves super stressed out and breathless during the holidays. When you start feeling so, stop and take deep breaths.

According to the American Institute of Stress, focused breathing actually helps evoke our body’s “relaxation response.” (Check out this link online for more details, plus helpful breathing techniques.)

So, there you have it: just some ways to help avoid stress during the holidays – or at least decrease it somehow. May we always remember that as long as we are able to make meaningful memories with our loved ones, the holidays will be a memorable time for all!

*This article was originally written for the monthly e-newsletter of Family Reborn, a special membership club that helps families build stronger relationships. It has been edited for the purposes of this site and is used with permission.

If you found this article helpful in any way, please feel free to share it on Facebook, Twitter or Google Plus — just click on any of the buttons below! Thank you and God bless us all! 😉

How to Celebrate the Immaculate Conception with Your Family

December 7, 2016 by Tina Leave a Comment

It’s the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 (tomorrow!) so I thought I would share some ideas on how you can celebrate it with your loved ones.

1. Go to Mass.

December 8 is a holy day of obligation so we Catholics are required to go to Holy Mass. More than fulfilling an obligation or requirement though, let’s attend Mass in joyful thanksgiving for the gift Mama Mary is to us. Without her and her role in Jesus’ life, we Catholics would not be where we are today. There would not even be a Catholic Church if Mary had not been in the picture.

2. Pray the Rosary together.

The Rosary is a powerful, beautiful prayer which can bless our families in so many ways. It has been known to even help armies conquer their enemies in battle! And remember, the family that prays together, stays together! 😉

3. Sing a Marian hymn.

We learned a Marian hymn recently as part of the kids’ homeschool lessons and plan to learn some more. “Immaculate Mother” would be an appropriate song to sing on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, don’t you think? Here’s a video with lyrics that you can use:

4. Make an Immaculate Conception craft.

This need not be a complicated thing nor a big production. (I am not a “crafty” mom myself, so don’t be pressured in any way to do this!) You can actually just have kids . If you’re up to doing something “more,” you can also try this craft from . Or you might even want to try making a Mary candle.

5. Watch a video.

You can try searching the Internet for videos that explain the Immaculate Conception, depending on the ages of the kids in your family. Here is one where a priest explains it:

And another one by Ascension Press that gives us a peek into the home of Mary:

Since our kids are still young, we will also be watching “Bernadette: Princess of Lourdes” by CCC of America. I was able to buy a DVD copy of it at St. Paul’s a few years ago. Below is a scene from the video:

6. Read about the Immaculate Conception.

Although the Immaculate Conception is not mentioned explicitly in the Bible, we Catholics firmly believe in this dogma. Use this article from Catholic Answers as a reference or reading material for the whole family, to learn more about the Immaculate Conception.

Besides doing all (hopefully!) of the activities mentioned above, our family will also be participating in our homeschool group’s Advent outreach activity tomorrow for the elderly priests at the Jesuit Health and Wellness Center. We hope that this will be a memorable way to celebrate our Blessed Mother’s feast day!

We hope that you find this post useful even if you’re not a parent yet — #LiturgicalLiving is something you can do even if you’re still single, or are married but don’t have kids yet. 😉

From our family to yours, we wish you a most blessed Feast of the Immaculate Conception in advance! 🙂

If you found this post useful, please feel free to share it with others. Thank you and God bless!

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