Living Life to the Fullest!

#November blessings!
Favorite people include #MaryDavis, author of #EveryDaySpirit.  I love her thoughtful quotes that seem to touch me in a special way and guides me to reflect on my personal goings on each time I read one of her posts.  Some days, it's as if she is speaking to me directly and it's just what I needed in that moment!  I also tribute these to my sweetest Jesus, for every blessing, and who knows what I need each moment of my life.

I have many, many #favoritepeople who I am so grateful for and love to the moon and back.  My hubby, Henry Dean Tydingco Dela Cruz, my siblings, Christine Margaret Flores-Dela Cruz/TINA, Laverne Roslyn Flores/VERNE, +Vincent Mark Flores/BOBOY, Mary Elizabeth Flores/MARE, and Timothy Bryan Flores/TIM... their partners and children are also very special to me in one way or another, and of course, my extended family members!  So many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and our beautiful #Godchildren!

Victoria Santos McDonald, RIA/TORI, 

Lauren Flores Martinez/NANI, 

Garrett John Badajos, 

Paulina Catherine Richards, 

Dominique Pilar Flores/BABY/NIKKI

Jonathan Jude Flores/JON, 

Jesusenta Cruz Rojas/SENTA, 

Tiffany Ann Leilani Flores Mesa/TIPPERLY, and 

Chasitie Reyes/CHAS.

#IAMBLESSED!

November is a favorite month. Simply because it falls during the autumn season.  While I am an island girl, I do love this special season!  Cooler temps, beautiful flaming colors, and pumpkin patches!  Things slow down and it's a time for reflection and thoughtful consideration of the year coming to a close, a new one coming upon us, and #Thanksgiving & #Christmas arrives and we focus on family and friends and all of our blessings. #partytime! 

When you are not sure what to do:  

KEEP CALM AND BE CRAZY, 

#LAUGH, #LOVE AND #LIVE IT UP 

BECAUSE THIS IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE BEEN 

AND THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVERY BE AGAIN.

As we enjoy November and thanksgiving meals with loved ones, I wish you joy in your heart, good food in your tummy, and love that only your special ones can give you.

Abiding in love,

Photos belong to their original owners; found on Pinterest.com or shared with me by family & friends.  

Make your favorite time of the week all about you

Hafa adai islanders!

#Self-care.  We hear a lot about this nowadays.  Our mothers and grandmothers took care of everyone else and lived well.  But... with all the things vying for our attention in today's high tech world, we stretch ourselves too thin. Give yourself permission to make time for self-care.

#LittleThingsMatter.  Schedule some ME time at least once a week. Even better, how about 30 minutes each day?  30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening?  Everything you accomplish, big and small, matters and makes a world of difference in our little worlds.  Your partner and kids, those precious grandkids, and the world around you will benefit in a huge way when you take care of yourself in the best way you can.  Add these into your planner and organizer, and your phone calendar, too!  Set an alarm that reminds you it's me time!  Smile and put away what you're doing to do what you had planned.  Take a walk.  Enjoy the breeze and sun on your face or the moonlight and evening air.  Make time to play, too!  Play is learning... I learned this "crazy" concept from awesome ladies at Guam Community College, Education Department!  Thanks Dr. Claire & Dr. Marsha!  My dad would have had a conniption with this concept, but I am so glad to have learned adults need play time as well.

#AllAboutYou.  It's okay.  Sometimes and hopefully, more often as you move forward, you will make time for yourself.  Just you and your needs; your wants, too.  You deserve it!  You've worked hard.  You've taken care of your husband or wife or partner and the kids and breakfast, lunch and dinner and the bills and the babysitter and the pets.  Make time for yourself.  It really is okay to do this.

#ChooseYourFavoriteDay.  Prefer to choose just one day?  Shoot!  Which day is your favorite to practice self-care?  Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday?  Make it your own.  Just as you schedule everything else in your life, schedule the activities of your preferred day of the week and schedule self-care from morning to evening.  I promise once you get the hang of this, you will love yourself and everyone around you even more and have so much more to offer than you already do!  Give it a try!

Delicious food and more

The holidays are a time when so much cooking is happening in our families.  Growing up, my mom was one of the main cooks and she loved hosting parties and choosing the menu, and doing 90% of the cooking!  She was amazing.  My 3 sisters and I were the kitchen help.  Taking out, thawing, cutting, sorting, etc.  We grew up with homemade meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

A true description of Chamorro fiestas (c) Gerard Aflague Collection

FINA'DENE, A spicy sauce available at every fiesta table on Guam!

Today, many parents fill multiple roles and families don't get homemade meals as often  If you would like to try making your own meals, check out the sites below.  Everyone can make at least one or 2 dishes themselves!

One of the Chamorro cooking/recipe sites I have enjoyed is Annie's Chamorro Kitchen.

She keeps her site filled with the most common & enjoyed dishes found on any Chamorro family table!  Especially fiestas!

Other sites I use include: (notice I love spicy and flavorful foods)

Food Network

Bobby Flay

Grilling Recipes

Chinese Recipes

Japanese Recipes

Korean Recipes

You can also download apps to your phone for quick references.  Technology has opened so many avenues for information.  Your computer, laptop, smartphone, and tablet.  With a good Internet connection, you can find information on just about anything!

NOTE:  Many people are changing their lifestyles and eating habits going Vegetarian, Vegan, and Whole Food, Plant Based (WFPB).  There are many recipes available for every taste and need.

Vegan Recipes

Whole Food, Plant Based Recipes
If you're not sure what this is, it's basically removing all meat, meat byproducts, oil, and dairy products from your meals... AND it's actually not as bad as it may sound for all you meat eaters. LOL

What's YOUR IslanderView?

Tell me what you want to see on IslanderView!

FEATURED PEOPLE
Who do you want to see featured and why?  The individual or group can reside (live) anywhere in the world, but must be a descendant of one of the island nations in Micronesia.

PALAU

GUAM

CNMI (SAIPAN, TINIAN, ROTA)

CAROLINE ISLANDS

MARSHALL ISLANDS

FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA (YAP, CHUUK, POHNPEI, KOSRAE)

HAWAII

SAMOA

PHILIPPINES

Why I've only very recently rebooted IslanderView, I want to ensure the content I share is a lot of what YOU want to read about and even more, content you want to share with everyone you know!  IslanderView is about all of Micronesia!  Who we are and how we impact the world around us!

OUR PEOPLE
     OUR CULTURE
          OUR TRADITIONS
OUR PAST
     OUR PRESENT
          OUR FUTURE

Are we missing anything?

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

This Christmas, Peace, Love, Joy!

As we begin another Christmas season, my hubby and I send peace, love and best wishes for a very blessed Christmas with all of the graces you and your family may need at this time.

~Minagof Nochebuena ~ Felis Pasgua (Chamorro)
~Maligayan Pasko (Tagalog)
~Peren en Krismas (Pohnpeian)
~Monono ilo raaneoan Nejin (Marshallese)
~Falang e Baynag (Yapese)
~Tok Tapeng (Kosraean)
~Ungil Kurismas (Palauan)
~Pwapwan Kirisimas (Chuukese)
~Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian)
~Ameseighil ubwutiiwel Layi Luugh me raagh fee (Carolinian)

Christmas Novena ENGLISH

Christmas Nobena ENGLISH & CHAMORRO

28Nov17, Inspiration/ Quote of the Day

IslanderView INSPIRATION / QUOTE OF THE DAY

All photos/pictures are from Pinterest.com or my own.

IslanderView photos

2016 San Juan Bautista Church, CCD students Christmas Pageant

Ordot, Guam

IslanderView team - Dean and Vera, vacation August 2015, California

Custom made bracelet rosaries by Vicki Flores Ritter

I had these custom made for a wedding favor in 2016

Contact: 777-2529 for information

Favorite sites AND groups! Updated Dec 1

Hafa adai,

As an advocate of higher education, life long learning, and cultural diversity, I'm sharing these sites in a separate post today so you can find it easily in the future, as needed.

University of Guam GO TRITONS!
I am very happy to have been accepted to the Graduate program to complete my Masters in Education, TESOL!

Capella University
Completing undergraduate degree in business administration with Capella was awesome!  I highly recommend this university mainly because of the faculty and staff.

Guam Department of Education
GDOE is my second family since 2011; awesome team found in my division (C&I).  The support is always there and everyone does great work for schools, teachers and the students!

PIBBAGuam  Pacific Islands Bilingual Bicultural Association, Guam


I've been a member of PIBBA Guam since 2013; amazing people in this group who work hard and dedicate so much time to preserving and promoting language and culture.  BIBA PIBBA GUAM!

PIBBA International  Pacific Islands Bilingual Bicultural Association, International



PIBBA INTERNATIONAL 2018 Conference will be in Saipan next year.  See you there!!

JOIN PIBBA; Request for membership application here

Apartment Therapy FOR SMALL LIVING SPACES
I receive weekly newsletters from this site that helps me make a home of my rented space.  Love it!

Dr. Matilda N. Rivera, Professional educator, blogger, active officer, member and webmaster of PIBBA International and PIBBA Guam, Guam Poets Club, Micronesia Poets Club, PEC Guam, NABE, UOG SOE Alumni, etc. etc. and a wonderful role model & mentor!

     Just reminded that it was Fred Wootten who introduced me to Dr. Rivera.  Hope to meet him in person one day.  Saina Ma'ase Fred!!

Bloglovin'
A collection of favorite blogs with all kinds of information and resources.  You're sure to find something you love here!

ISLAND GIRL POWER GUAM
Ayuda Foundation and IGP project director, Juanita Blaz have done an amazing job with IGP and the girls they take in.  "Island Girl Power is…A local Prevention Program focusing on offering positive activities & role models for young girls and their families.

Island Girl Power was originally founded in the Spring of 2002 by Ayuda Foundation (a 501C-3 Non-Profit Organization) including Carlotta Leon Guerrero, Shannon Murphy, Mike Cruz, Cindy Hansen, and Ayuda Board Members. The Guam Program was partially modeled after a U.S. National Initiative that began in 1998 and ended in 2003. IGP continued on with the local program to work on addressing our increasingly high rates of Teen Pregnancy, Suicide, Substance and Sexual abuse rates. IGP is not a Government program and is funded by Cooperative Mini Grants from Public Health (Rape Prevention), Corporate Sponsors (DFS, Community First Credit Union, Etc.), Foundation Grants (Pacificare), Donations and Fundraising Projects (rummage sales and car washes)."

VARO GUAM
This important group helps women by advocating not only for all victims of violent crime and trauma, but also to elevate the stature of women and children on our island, those most often victimized by physical and sexual abuse.  VARO provides annual Victim Advocate Intervention Training for victim advocate volunteers and other prevention/education and awareness presentations/training for the community. It is our hope that education and awareness will lessen the need for crisis intervention in future generations.