Healthier and Happier

I had salad again yesterday! I wanted to eat healthful food again, so I had the Sicilian pasta from Juju Eats for lunch. 

It was refreshingly flavorful! 

Then, I proceeded to Barkin’ Blends for some cuddle time with my furry friends. 

It was a quick but therapeutic coffee break from my responsibilities.  

After running some errands, I had dinner at Go! Salads, where I had the Sgt. Steak again. Their chimichurri dressing is addicting.  

I can’t wait to see how this healthy eating spree goes. So far, I feel fresher and more vibrant now that I’m eating salads often. With some furry therapy and a some coffee, I know that I got this.  

Waking Up to Hope

Yesterday, I dropped by St. Clare to pray for my dad. I also prayed that I will have a job soon, and that I will also find someone with a good heart to date. 

I also got a Sgt. Steak salad from Go! Salads for lunch. 

I liked their chimichurri dressing and it went well with the seared steak and mushrooms!

I had Mang Cha-a iced coffee to offset the strong taste of the chimichurri. 

And for dinner, I had the meatball marinara pasta salad from Juju Eats. 

I wake up for myself, so that I can help my family during this difficult time. I need to take care of myself first by eating right and praying hard. And tomorrow, I’ll have to repeat these steps until hopefully, my dad is healed.

Here’s hoping that I’ll find more reasons to hope this 2019! 

Living Coral

Yesterday, I welcomed the new year with a living color top, my new specs, and a fresh outlook on life.  

This year, I vow to be straightforward in everything I do. If there’s anything that I want, I will go for it! Life is too short. Let’s keep it simple. 

My first lunch of the year was the Darling Breakfast Salad from Go! Salads. It was delicious thanks to the ground longganisa bits and tomato honey vinaigrette. 

After lunch and some malling, I heard mass at the Pink Sisters Quezon City convent.  

I prayed for good health, healing for my family, a job, a good boss, and most of all, a boyfriend! 

I ended my day with some baked salmon for dinner, which was a gift from a family friend.  

I am optimistic that 2019 will be a remarkable year, and I am determined to work smarter, not harder, to achieve the dreams that I have for myself and my family.

God bless us all!

A Fresh Start

Back when I was still working at Ortigas, I would have lunch at Juju Eats Podium. Their pesto pasta salad was my favorite as it was filling and refreshing! 

For my last lunch of the year, I had it again. I love their sticker: GOOD JUJU!  

I missed this salad so much!

It brought me back to the good old days. As I welcome 2019, I remain optimistic that the days will be good, bearable, and blessed. 

I knitted while having coffee.  

Then I had a chair massage after running some errands! 

I am welcoming the new year with a new bag and wallet. I chose local brand Heartstrings because all of their bags are designed and made in the Philippines! Also, this colorful rainbow design is cheery and bright. I am straight, but rainbows just resonate with me. 

I know that it’s up to me to make 2019 better than the last! So with a growth mindset and optimism, I know that I got this!

Rizal Day 2018

I’m a Rizal fan, so December 30 is always a special day for me. I celebrated Rizal Day by visiting Luneta and the National Museum! Here’s a photo dump of my adventure.  

‘Til the next Rizal Day! 

Snacking and Knitting

I had to be in the hospital with my dad yesterday, so to cheer myself up, I got myself some Potato Corner sour cheese fries. 

I also got Mang Cha-a Iced Coffee. 

It did lift up my spirits!

I carried on with my knitting and focused on the positive. 

One of those positive things was that my dad was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon. We will be back next week.  

Snacks and knitting keep me going these days! It may seem too mundane, but in these challenging times, it’s the simplest things that truly keep us alive. 

Snail Mail Faith

I received a Christmas card from my godmother in the US. It’s charming to receive greeting cards by snail mail because it is no longer customary in the age of social media and text messaging. 

I also got this letter from the Pink Sisters Convent. I am touched that they keep me in their prayers, and that my family is also remembered in their masses. 

I keep the faith through analog traditions such as snail mail which restores my faith in humanity in an automated age.

Here’s to more reasons to be grateful, and to believe more in prayer and family. 

Hospital Life

My dad is in the hospital again, and I was on-call to help with errands and tasks for my family. 

I crocheted in the hospital room. 

I ate my packed lunch, which was chicken pot pie (a Christmas gift from a family friend). 

I bought some washable cotton face masks as I’ll need to wear them whenever I’m with my dad moving forward.  

I finished crocheting the cowl! 

Then, I visited Cinema Centenario to watch Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus. The film’s lead actress, Iana Bernardez, was amazing!

Whenever I am sad, I always go to Maginhawa for a film or some comfort food. I’m glad I finished my cowl, watched a film, and got home feeling better.

Here’s to staying strong amidst struggles!

Christmas Treat

I treated our helper to some fried chicken and ice cream the other night. It was our Christmas celebration, and my simple “thank you” for all her years of service to me and my family.  

I also brought her to Barkin’ Blends Dog Cafe to meet my furry friends. 

Helpers are indeed part of the family, and we should all take time to show them how we appreciate them. Don’t forget to thank them and get to know them better! They’re an invaluable part of our lives. 

Boxing Day 2018

Yesterday, I got to enjoy Boxing Day all by my lonesome. I donned the Samantha dress which was a Christmas gift from my cousin Choi’s online store, Snatched. 

I ran some errands for my family, then had the grilled cheese caprese sandwich from The Sandwich Guy.  

And for some cheap thrills: I finally got a USB speaker for my handy radio/MP3 player. I got mine from CD-R King, along with the USB wall adaptor. I can finally listen to the radio without needing to put on some earbuds!

I make life work by staying positive, and treating myself within my budget. Here’s to enjoying the rest of the holidays, and getting into the spirit of giving to myself!

Christmas 2018

I was blessed to have lunch with my parents yesterday at La Creperie. For my Christmas lunch, I ordered their Angelina’s hot chocolate.  

I also had the penne amatriciana with a side of crochet.  

I got to wear my new Sunnies and shirt from Ate Tina.  

Then, I got some cream cheese and banana frozen yogurt from Elait.  

I also received gifts from Barkin’ Blends’ owner, Bernadette! 

I roamed around the mall first while waiting for my turn at the dog cafe.  

I had Sandwich Guy’s English eggs for dinner.  

And some pretty dogs for dessert! 

My Christmas Day celebration was well-spent, and I hope that yours was also meaningful. Merry Christmas! 

Christmas Eve 2018

Yesterday, I got to eat lunch with my Lucas relatives. I wore my new Sunnies Specs glasses from Sunnies Santa and applied Sunnies Face Glowboss on my cheekbones for some extra sparkle. 

We chose Katherine’s Cafe at Vertis North as they had a wide range of food for our varied tastes. Since I was craving for pasta, I ordered this Vigan longganisa and salted egg number. It was delicious!

My goddaughter Kate was ready to eat pizza and bring some Christmas cheer that only kids could give. 

I gave her kid’s toiletries from my Human Nature online store. You may still purchase last minute presents and have them delivered straight to your doorstep! Shop now!

I also got her a special toy from Toys R Us. 

I received some lovely presents and I am grateful to be part of my relatives’ shopping lists!

There are still plenty of blessings to be grateful for. Amidst all the challenges that my family is facing, I am still thankful that we get to celebrate Christmas together this year.

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!

Sunday Hugs

Yesterday was a fun one. I started the day with Sunday mass with my family. 

I crocheted while having lunch afterwards. 

I saw We Bare Bears mascots. 

And I got to cuddle my fave dogs again at Barkin’ Blends Dog Cafe. 

I also saw my friend Ate Tina, who is one of the kind people behind the dog cafe.  

I ended my day with some frozen yogurt from Elait. 

As we prepare for Christmas, let us never lose sight of what matters most, such as family, friends, and fiber arts!

Reading Again

I have recently begun reading again, and it has been wonderful. I started with the book that I was asked to review a few days ago, and now I can’t stop.

I have since moved on to Nicholas Sparks’ latest novel, and yesterday, I took it with me to lunch at The Sandwich Guy. 

Ever since my dad was diagnosed with a terminal illness, I have dropped some hobbies such as reading to give way to running errands and doing some work for him. Now that I have established a routine of sorts, I can already read novels again and enjoy a good plot.

I am thankful for new beginnings, and I can’t wait to see how these stories will influence me for the better.  

Pink Christmas

I recently ordered a millennial pink unicorn from social enterprise Mayown. I recently took an advance crochet workshop with its founder, Leen, so it was perfect to gift myself with their product this Christmas. 

This little buddy will keep me company this Christmas, and beyond. I’ve decided to name him Stitch!

Leen was so sweet and she even included an octopus bag charm. 

Stitch surely looks good with Ella the knitted dog and Chubbs the cat!

Yesterday was special as I claimed my new pair is Sunnies Specs from @dearsunniessanta. 

I selected the Dakota in Pale Nude. My new specs are lightweight and stylish. 

I ended my day by cuddling with Ella from Barkin’ Blends Dog Cafe and placing my glasses on various sleeping dogs. 

Times may be challenging for me and my family, but with the will to wish and the drive to celebrate small (and big) wins, I know that I will have a memorable holiday season!

#dearsunniessanta

I recently won the @dearsunniessanta giveaway hosted by eyewear brand Sunnies Studios. I was one of 100 winners. 

Photo from @dearsunniessanta 

I wished for a brand new pair of Sunnies Specs as my old Harlow pair already had moldy temples (I’m hyperacidic). 

 Photo from @sunniesspecs

 Photo from @dearsunniessanta

So yesterday, I claimed my Sunnies Santa goodie bag from Sunnies Specs SM North Edsa, and it was magical! 

I received festive merch aside from my specs.  

And choosing my new pair turned out to be challenging because Sunnies Specs has so many options! 

I finally chose a nude acetate pair, which I will claim after 24 hours.  

To give thanks and continue praying for my personal intentions, I proceeded to St. Clare Monastery.  

I went to Mendiola to continue praying and pose by CEU’s famous pink wall.  

No trip to Mendiola is complete without a stopver to St. Jude.  

Then, I went to St. Joseph at Anonas.  

My last stop for the day was Cinema ‘76 to buy my Goyo DVD. Special thanks to relatives who generously gave me Christmas money to buy presents for myself.  

I am really thankful for all the blessings that I continue to receive. Christmas is best enjoyed when there is hope for the future. Winning the Dear Sunnies Santa competition has inspired me to dream and to keep my eyes on the prize- that is, a brighter tomorrow. Here’s to us who dream, and to us who never stop believing!

Flipping the Script Book Review

I love supporting local authors, especially those who are just starting out. One of the ways that I do so is by reviewing advanced reader’s copies (ARCs) of new novels and novellas in the #romanceclass community. The said community is a growing family of Filipino authors, both seasoned and newbies, who mostly write romance novels. They also write beyond that genre, so it’s inspiring to see the group diversify and grow through the years. Founded by bestselling Filipino author Mina V. Esguerra, the community fosters partnership and engagement between its members, and reviewing new works is a fun family tradition.

I was thrilled to be one of the first to read the ARC for Flipping the Script, a novella by newcomer Danice Mae P. Sison. It follows the story of Miri Dela Merced, a seventeen-year-old high school student who interns at a film studio that is owned by her family’s rival, Santelmo Pictures. Her Lolo Ikong used to be the studio’s prolific director, until its matriarch, Barang Santelmo, had a huge falling-out with him. Decades later, Santelmo’s heir Pabs Paglinauan meets Miri in the said internship program. Sparks fly between the two, and in between the mundane tasks of film production (sticking masking tape! coffee runs! all-night film editing!), the two get to know each other beyond their families’ rivalry. 

I truly enjoyed this novella because it was more than just a predictable teenage love story. There was a strong cast of support characters, and I liked Tetet most because she complemented Miri’s tomboy style and sensibilities. I also appreciated the pop culture references to 90’s Pinoy movies that I grew up with.

The story was believable in the sense that the author did not try hard to draw us into the story. With her witty writing style that includes chat groups, recommended 80’s flicks, film studio descriptions, and light banter, I felt seventeen again and totally transported into the world of campus life and filmmaking.

I wish that the novel was a bit longer, but I felt that the story was already a complete one. I just couldn’t get enough of Miri and Pabs, and it would be nice if this could have a sequel. All in all, I would give it five stars. I strongly recommend this novella! 

Flipping the Script will be out on February 2019. According to romanceclass, it will be released “worldwide, in digital and print formats, via Amazon, The Ripped Bodice, The Book Depository, and other retailers.”

For more Filipino novels, novellas, and awesome resources for authors and readers, visit  http://romanceclassbooks.com/. You may also follow Mina V. Esguerra and Danice Mae P. Sison online. 

Postal Service

I regularly send out postcards via snail mail to similar-minded friends and family. Most of them live abroad, so a handwritten card goes a long way in reminding them of memories we have shared and things that are worth celebrating. Since it’s the holiday season, I sent some Christmas postcards from Papemelroti. I spruced them up with some washi tape which I conveniently bring inside my planner. 

I am so excited for them to receive my mail! I will definitely continue my postcard tradition in 2019. 

Playtime with Dogs

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon playing with the dogs of Barkin’ Blends Dog Cafe. Yes, again. I’m there at least twice a week. Sorry not sorry!

I got to play with their new dog, Buchi. She’s a beagle-corgi mix, and she is assigned at their SM North Towers branch.  

She’s really playful, and she seems to like my pixie! 

Of course, no visit to the dog cafe will be complete without some cuddle time with my favorite, Ella.

Before going home, I also got to meet another new dog, Bonita the poodle.  

I’m really attached to Barkin’ Blends’ dogs and the humans behind this cafe. I will definitely be back very soon!

Sunday Breakthrough

Yesterday, I got to catch the first night of Simbang Gabi for Sunday mass.  

Then, I joined my family for my second mass of the day. 

We had lunch at Amici, and I had this delightful combo of Aglio Olio pasta and ube gelato. 

It was a good day because my dad was able to go out and have mass for the first time in months. Here’s to more breakthroughs and positive moments!