niCe heart

C a t h e r i n e

n i C e h e a r t

Visit my weblog (on-line journal) at http://niceheart.wordpress.com for more recent and quick updates of our life in Canada. Journey to Honeyville includes some of my random thoughts as well.

Hello Dolly is a compilation of the letters I wrote my mother when she migrated to Canada in the 1980s.

This page includes articles that I have written, stuff that interests me and topics that are close to my heart. I will be adding new pages from time to time. So please make sure to drop by again. I will also welcome any stories or ideas that you might have.

Forgiveness Comes from the Most Unexpected Place A daughter's story of forgiveness

Reconnecting and Healing How I reconnected with my classmates and healed the wounds of the past

Forgiveness and Stress Forgiving is good not just for the soul, but also for the body.

Celebrating Christmas at the Christmas Capital of Canada How we celebrate Christmas in Winnipeg

One Morning at the Grocery Store Grocery shopping is one of the highlights of my week.

Retiring Gracefully She's retiring at 55 but she doesn't look it. She's as beautiful and looks as young as the day I first met her.

Living frugally With rising prices and expenses of a growing family, I have learned a few tricks to live within my means.

11 inexpensive things I did this summer These are the highlights of our summer and we didn't spend that much.

How I held a garage sale Just a few tips I learned from holding a sale.

On friends and letting go I moved to many places several times when I was younger and the hardest part of it was leaving behind the friends I met

Unconditional Love Loving someone no matter what

Memories of May May brings back memories of my childhood and Noveleta...

Of May flowers and mothers Why May is one of my favourite months

A Friend In Need Friends helping out a family in need

Please Be Careful With Your Heart A health scare

A Tribute to a Dear Friend She was loved by many Responses

Christmas Traditions and Childhood Memories

My nostalgic memories of Christmas in the Philippines Comments

Thanks for the Memories Why is it hard to let go?

The Summer That Never Was Summer 2004 in Winnipeg Comments

He wanted a peaceful reconciliation Remembering a fallen hero Comments

Confessions of a Work-At-Home Mom When the idea of a Work-at-Home Project started to surface at the Claims Centre of GWL, I was very excited.

Something Tells Me This Is It Everytime I see you I melt like ice cream that's left under the sun

Let's Look At The Bright Side Cold winter, huh? Can't complain ... Comments

My Visit to Folklorama My exciting experience of Philippine cultural entertainment

Dance with my Father A very beautiful and touching song

An Easter Surprise An Easter Anniversary Responses

Through The Years Talits and Toboy Gonzales have been married for over 25 years. Read their inspiring story.

Kristen's Story A child's account of the traumatic experience of being in an alcoholic and abusive environment.

Portrait of my Mother A tribute to my mother

CRUSHed A teen-age crush

What really matters? Pride, love, happiness...?

Grocery Tips How can we save money on our groceries and how can we save time shopping?

RAISING THE 3 Rs

A Case of the Flakes How a case of the flakes made me closer to my son again.

Working vs. Staying at Home Very interesting arguments between working moms and SAHMs

Family Shows, Family Time My family would gather around the TV and watch whatever show was on.

Oops, He Did It Again I always remind my three sons to flush the toilet after they use it....

A Special Surprise Something that happened to me that I didn't expect but I was glad that it did

A Communal Celebration of Reconciliation Ryland's First Reconciliation

He is an Explorer of Music and a Dedicated Friend There isn't a day that Reggie doesn't caress that thin ....

I Can See Clearly Now The first time I wore my glasses, I felt sort of in a whirl. Everything just became a lot clearer.

Sticking up for our Children What is one to do if a child talks back to a parent who won't admit that he/she is at fault?

Our Small Miracle Who would have thought that this energetic boy was once a helpless newborn?

A Letter To Ryan A mother's letter to a little boy about the challenges of raising him

Fair Chance Everybody should have a fair chance....

Try your best What's important is that you always try your best

Four boys and a mom Living with four boys, I sometimes feel like an underdog, sometimes a maid

Of sons and daughters How boys are different from girls

The Birth of Our Baby "We're having a baby," my seven-year-old son, Reggie announced to my ....

Ryland Turns 7 A SpongeBob-themed birthday party

It's hard to let go Sometimes we have to let go but it's not easy

Of sports and tim My precious moments with my son

Reggie Goes to Work Reggie participates in Take Our Kids To Work Day

First Milestones First Day of School

Oh My! I Overslept A very busy winter morning

Children and Chores I do believe in giving children chores, the earlier the better.

Conversations Commonly-heard conversations at home

Do they speak Tagalog? It has been my mission to teach my children my native language. It takes dedication and a lot of patience. Updates Responses

A Big Scare An account of a terrifying accident that happened to my son and the guilt trip that I went through afterwards. Responses

Some more interesting stuff

Myths About Health An apple a day keeps the doctors away. Can gargling with salt water help a sore throat? Find out the truth or non-truth about this health myths.

The Real Truth About Health Myths Some more health myths. If you swallow a chewing gum, it takes 7 years to digest. Spicy foods will give you nightmares. And more.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alcoholism

Is alcoholism a disease? Is alcoholism inherited? Is alcohol good for your heart? Find out the answers.

Cleaning Tips Want to clean a coffeepot in a flash? Unclog a sink with a simple homemade solution? Do away with microwave odors? The Queen of Clean has the answers.

More Favourite Links Visit some of my favourite sites.