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

Hafa adai November!

Hafa adai islanders!

November is here... All Souls Day is done and now we get ready for #Thanksgiving; a day filled with love & laughter, homemade meals, and #blessings as we give thanks with a heart filled with #gratitude for our loved ones, family, friends, and every blessing in our lives.

I am thankful for each person who has continued to check in and post here on IslanderView.  Each of you is an awesome individual and I am #grateful for you. 

Please continue to share about family, friends, accomplishments, hardships, funny & inspiring quotes.

I'd also like to remind everyone, posts not suitable for family audience will be deleted.  Let's keep it loving and happy, please!  

#happyblessedbirthday to all of you November babies!

#happyblessedanniversary to all celebrating your wedding anniversaries, too!

Si Yu'os Ma'ase & Thank you. 

MUCH LOVE!

Si, Vera <3

22Feb18, IslanderView today

P.S. GUPOT CHAMORU activities begins

THIS SATURDAY, FEB 24!

Here is the calendar of events as of Feb 22, 2018:

Poster/Drawing Competition: 

March 3, 2018 - April 1, 2018 @ Agana Shopping Center

CHamoru Eucharistic Mass: 

February 24, 2018, 6pm @ Immaculate Heart of Mary church, Toto

Resolution Signing: 

March 2, 2018, 4pm @ Guam Congress Building, Hagatna

CHamoru Fashion Show: 

March 3, 2018, 11am @ Agana Shopping Center

CHamuru Music Festival: 

March 3, 2018, 3pm @ Agana Shopping Center

Hot & Spicy Chicken Competition: 

March 10, 2018, 11am @ Tamuning Cost-U-Less

Food Tasting: 

March 17, 2018, 11am @ Agana Shopping Center

Weaving Competition & Canoe Building: 

March 18, 2018, 11am @Agana Shopping Center

Dance of the People: 

March 24, 2018, 4pm @ Chamorro Village, Hagatna

P.P.S.  I want to also add activities for 

Guam History & Chamorro Heritage Day

which actually takes place over two weekend!

February 23, 24, and 25

March 2, 3, 4, and 5

Continuing from my Feb 11 introduction

About me...Vera Flores Dela Cruz & IslanderView and my goal for this blogsite

Hafa adai & hello from Guam!

God didn't just create U to survive but to Thrive.

I want share some information about me and the start of IslanderView...

My name is Vera Flores Dela Cruz,
wife to Henry Dean Tydingco Dela Cruz,
eldest child of +Benny Toves Flores & +Teofila (Tilly) Cruz Flores,
granddaughter to +Jesus Muna Flores & +Maria Quichcho Toves Flores and
+Mariano Leon Guerrero Cruz & + Pilar Perez Mendiola Cruz 
sister to 5 siblings - eldest to youngest:  Christine Flores-Dela Cruz, Laverne Flores, +Vincent Flores, Mary Flores & Tim Flores,
Nina (Godmother) to 12 amazing young people most of them adults now,
aunt to many; niece to many amazing aunts and uncles, and friend to even more; Chamorro/CHamoru from the beautiful island of Guam, born in village Sinajana, raised in the village of Ordot, and now reside in the village of Mangilao.  Guam is a tiny island but is the largest of the Mariana Islands.

Each person in my life has been an inspiration; some of my earlier blog post mention or feature them.  I believe I am blessed. 

In March 2010, I was living with my hubby in Sacramento, California. Having family and friends out in California & Washington, we met even more people living on the west coast.  All had left their homes in our part of the world, the Micronesia islands, Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Rota, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau ... to either attend college and/or make a living stateside.  Note it was my hubby who gave me the idea to include all of Micronesia!  I like to bounce ideas off of him and I believe that  inspires my creativity... a lot!

While I had a full-time job that I enjoyed, I saw an opportunity to do something to connect everyone.  Islanders have an awesome way of living!  Sharing & giving people, no matter which island you're from, we have very similar lifestyles.  I recognized this and started IslanderView in March that year.  

IslanderView dreams in 2010 included producing a digital magazine and social media posts on Facebook, a 30-minute TV show on PBS, moving towards a print publication and sales of island favorites like food items and souvenirs.  I was so excited to have found my draft plans in a notebook just recently!

Today I plan to fulfill and expand those notebook dreams!  And I'm hoping to do so with your help, our 5,000 Facebook friends, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Because I love to read and learn and read some more, I signed up for some newsletters from successful bloggers.  What got me was their sharing of their personal lives and how far they've come, learning and overcoming their humble beginnings, ultimately becoming top bloggers in the industry.

The one's I've stuck with started where I'm starting now.  In debt, wanting to pay off 100% of those debts, be happier, live better, lose some weight, be healthier and most of all... work from home.  All who know me know I am hearing impaired as of 2012.  A result of multiple strokes from hypertension in 2012 that left me hearing impaired and limping.  Thus, wanting to be healthier.  

You see, I don't want to stop working.  I just want to work with something I love to do and at my own schedule.  Working from home offers me the freedom to still earn a living but be my own boss and make my own schedule.

I've actually tried to do this before but with limited success.  That experience taught me a lot and I have not forgotten it.  Being successful this year is a great possibility because I've chosen not to do it alone.  I have signed up for Work at Home School by Caitlin Pyle and Crushing It with Ruth Soukup and even working on my first book ever!   With the help of Chandler Bolt and Self-Publishing School and with Caitlin & Ruth, I'm very confident I can do all of these and I plan to #crushit in 2018.  Remember, you are a huge part of IslanderView also!

I've always loved writing!  ugh! you say?  Most people don't and that's okay! But I do...writing assignments (school days) and essay type tests were my thing.  I've carried that into my adult life and now have rebooted this blogsite with plans to launch an official website for IslanderView.com and VeraDelaCruz.com.  Stay tuned!!

I also love to share what I know and have learned with anyone who wants to learn also.  One major thing I've learned is that my journey is not unique or that different from many others.  We are all trying to live a good life and deal with all the not so nice things we get hit with.

I would love to be a cheerleader for you, no flips and splits though!!
I can cheer you on and give all the (online) "love" and encouragement you need to keep pushing forward.  Life is hard, I know.  Some days I don't want to get up.  Other days I'm raring to go but don't  have the resources ($$) to do what I want for myself or loved ones.  You feel me?  I think you do.  

Any questions?  Ask away! 

Let's do 2018 together. 

Much love and blessings, 

V 

10Feb18, IslanderView Inspiration & Quote of the Day

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

Feeling a bit lazy 

on this Saturday morning.

Let's have a good one

nonetheless.

Sharing some of my fave pins.

Look out for IslanderView Magazine~

February issue coming soon!