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Thursday, March 20, 2014

Rolling Stones Gather No Moss



Travel, no matter the reason, has always been a life changer for me. It has affected me even way before I was born. My father was a soldier from Cebu assigned to the south most region of the country. My mother hailed from Dapitan who was given a scholarship for a state university in a land she has never heard of. They had to travel, leave their hometowns and see what Tawi-tawi has to offer to their young lives. It was because they traveled that they met, fell in love, got married and had me and my brother.
                I grew up knowing that travelling is a necessity in our life. We travelled because of work, deaths and family. My parents’ jobs required for us to live in Zamboanga. There, I was exposed to a mixture of culture, ethnicities and religion. Because I was raised in such melting pot, I never developed a prejudice in color, tribe ang faith. Deaths in the family called for us to pay our respects in Dapitan and Dumaguete. Family was always a good excuse to travel. May it be a wedding, reunions or fiestas, the clan requires our presence thus we travel. I don’t know which one feels better, to see your distant relatives or to have a short getaway from the usual life back in the hometown.
During my senior year in college, our class had a week-long tour to Luzon. We went to Subic where I was hugged by an aeta, I got to see the Taal Volcano, saw Rizal’s place in Cavite, passed by Batangas, Laguna and Pampanga. I got to explore the noisy Manila and its huge malls. It was when my romance with coffee started. Aside from the sight-seeing bit, we were also shown into some really massive Information Technology companies. Before the tour was over, I already told myself that I will be working for one of those companies and since we didn’t have those back in my hometown, I knew I had to leave after graduation.
Graduation came. I, an eager fresh graduate wanting to take on the corporate world was lured into the beauty of the English-speaking and coffee-drinking life in a call center. I was sent to Davao for training and had to live on my own for few months. It was really tough for me. I had to do things on my own for the first time. Starting from waking myself up for work, preparing my meal, doing the dishes to doing my laundry, I had to do everything! It was hard and I went back home. I failed at being independent, or so I thought.
Just few weeks after I got home, I was already making plans and eyeing Cebu as my next destination. Lucky for me, I was invited by my cousin for Sinulog. I took the chance and somehow made it here in Cebu. This place for me, has a little of everything. It gives me the laid back feeling of a tropical Island and at the same time, it presents itself as a metropolitan. Capable of nursing different industries, infrastructures and all the modernization bit. The beaches are gorgeous and pristine. The people, warm and friendly yet they can be headstrong and frank. Cebu became my second home and although I still visit my folks a few times a year, I now refer to Cebu when I say “Uuwi na ako” (I’m going home) after each travel.
                I fell in love with Cebu and I fell in love in it. I have been as far north as Baguio and as far south as Tawi-tawi, only to find my heart here in Cebu. Now, I am married to a person who shares my lust for travelling. We keep a bucket list of places we would want to go to here and abroad. Although we have our favorite places, few times each year, we would go to places we haven’t been to.
As of writing, we both won a round trip ticket from Cebu Pacific Air for Hong Kong. We took it as a sign that the universe is conspiring for us to go and really see the world! This will be the first trip abroad for us. We are both looking to that new experience and eager to see the new us after the travel.
                I was once reprimanded by an elderly for not making up my mind on which place to settle.  She reminded me that “Rolling stones gather no moss”, but I dare said “If I was a stone, I wouldn’t worry about any moss. I’d roll and be a well rounded stone.” I believe that whenever you travel, a piece of your old self stays with that place and a piece of that place becomes a part of you. Travelling will shape you, change you and make you a new person whether you will it or not.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

2014

So much have happened since my last post. There's a very strong earthquake, the strongest typhoon, polar vortex and a near cancellation of my wedding. Through it all, I am thankful that I am still here and the people I love and love me.

Now, 2014, and few days away from my wedding day, though anxious that things can go wrong, I am excited. I know I won't have the wedding as pictured on my wedding mood board but I consider myself lucky for having a wedding considering. 

My relationship with my fiance has gone stronger and our baby is growing to be a smart and playful girl that she is. I'm training her to walk the aisle and even made her dress.

I still have to constantly remind myself that the minor details, are not as important as what I thought. I should not let myself be stressed by this minute detail.

With this, I might as well share the current book I am reading which greatly helped me pull down my stress level to it's tolerable range.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson is a nice book that reminds us that life should be enjoyed and not be stressed over. Like if a phone call is missed, a to-do list not cleared or a note which was forgotten, is not the end of the world.

I got the Omnibus collection that deals with life, money and work... the biggest stressor for me! So if you all was able to get a copy throw me a few lines of what you think about this book or what not and maybe we can exchange thoughts on this. 


Enjoying this book with hot chocolate porridge.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Eat Your Heart Out


With so much time on my hand since quitting from my last job, 
I have been looking for ways to make the most of my day. There's grooming and playing with my dog, wedding stuff, blogging and surfing the web, doing the laundry and tidying up the house.
Still, I feel I have plenty of time left for the day and most of the time I just spend it sleeping and it makes me so tired and feeling bummed.

Getting a full-time job as of the moment is not an option and while I am looking for a part-time gig, I turned to pastry. Lately I have been playing with the baking oven my mother gave me for Christmas.
My fiancee is my not-so-critical judge as he praises all of my creations.


I have done a couple by following basic recipes online and adding my personal twist to it.
They're pretty easy to make and when I am confident enough, I will be sharing my personal recipes on here.
For the meantime, please have a look at the pictures and let me know if they look yum or not.


My Caramelized Bread Pudding with Hershey's and Cadbury Raisins and Nuts Chocolate



My fiancĂ©e's Favourite French Toast with Marmalade and  Strawberry Jam



Heart Shaped Brownie Cake Topped with Crunchy Cadbury Chocolate




Tuesday, July 9, 2013

I Heart Pinterest

Not until recently, I have always been a Facebook fan. I like that I can share quotes, my thoughts and realizations to my network. I like that when people comment and let me know that they either appreciate what I posted, found it amusing or is sympathizing.

Lately though I have discovered Pinterest and got really hooked in this. Boy, I pinterest like crazy that I even do it just to put me to sleep. I am so amused at everything that is pinned on there. From crafts, food, decor, quotes, fashion to places! It inspired me a lot that even though I have no followers on it, I don't mind because in it, I have my own world. I feel like I am window shopping which is one of my favourite activities.

On the crafts category, I keep my own pin board for it which I gingerly named "Creative Corner". I re-pinned stuff that I want to do in the future and true enough just yesterday I was able to recreate one!

I saw this super easy to do DIY Weekly Menu Board. What do you think of my very own Menu Board?







You only need a whiteboard marker and eraser to write on it. I figured it is perfect! No messy chalk, it is more waterproof than the old chalkboard and the templates are cute! Now I am thinking of using a frame for my To do's Board!

If you would like to check out how it works and how it is done, you may refer to this helpful website. Have fun! http://www.infarrantlycreative.net/2013/04/weekly-menu-planner-templates.html


Thursday, July 4, 2013

Getting Married

The details of planning and budgeting for a wedding is stressing me big time!
So before I lose my cool and turn into a bridezilla, I decided to write about my experience.
Hence, a new blog was created.

I intend for this blog to be my tracker so I can look back at all this and know what I did and how I pulled it off. Not that I plan on getting married again, I think this will be a nice reference for other new brides, event coordinators or fellow readers who are going through the exact same thing right now.

The blogs name is Weddings and Blogs. First on the agenda is create a mood board.
Below is a picture of it. Tell me what do you think of the new blog and the mood board. :)


My Beach Wedding Mood Board