My Little Mermaid Scarf

I finally finished crocheting this scarf in shell stitch. The blue, green, and red yarns were specifically chosen as they match the color palette of The Little Mermaid. 

I used the shell stitch to make this scarf. It was a technique I learned from YouTube, and I was fascinated with how relaxing and quick the process was. 

I bought my yarns for this project from The Attic Yarn and Craftery . It is important to me that I support local suppliers to sustain my handmade lifestyle. In the case of the The Attic, they were able to extend personalized customer service when I was selecting my yarns and Furls crochet hook. And since I bought from their online store instead of their stockist at the mall, I was able to save money.

I am proud of this scarf because I crocheted it during my commute to and from work, during my breaks, and on weekends. I will definitely make more scarves, and I am happy that I am able to integrate fiber arts into my daily grind. Here’s to more stitches in between adulting, and fairy tale inspiration to take me further!

Fiesta, Footwear, and a Festival

I celebrated St. Clare’s feast yesterday by dropping by her monastery. I braved the rain and offered eggs in her honor. 

Her feast day is just a couple of days before my birthday, which is why I have a special devotion to her. She has been a powerful intercessor through the years.  

It was also inspiring to be with other devotees on this special day.  

I got home to my new Renegade Folk shoes in Timeless. This is my third pair from the Marikina-made shoe brand. They create shoes which are perfect for my style. Also, I can walk in them comfortably, and I love supporting local!

I later visited the annual Philippine Readers and Writers Festival at Raffles Makati. 

This year’s festival featured author talks and signings, as always.  

But I was delighted that this year’s festival pass contains free entrance to next month’s Manila International Book Fair! 

I enjoyed browsing through books... 

...saying hello to history bae Jose Rizal... 

...and playing with the photo booth! 

In the end, I purchased four local books, and I can’t wait to read them all.  

As a Youngblood baby, I always find myself attending their workshop at the festival. Pam Pastor’s wit never gets old. 

After the workshop, I proceeded to National Bookstore’s booth, where I won an advance reader’s copy for Ghosted by Rosie Walsh.  

I had a lovely afternoon at the festival, and I am excited to be back next year! 

As a bookworm, blogger, devotee, and lover of all things local, I can say that my Saturday was quite eventful! Here’s to braving the rain and participating in more activities that will remind me of how blessed I am, and how I can write about them all on my blog.  

Simple Work Moments

I have simple ways to unwind in between work tasks. For instance, I love Rodic’s tuna sisig, so I drove to Maginhawa to eat it for dinner one night. 

I also love chocolate sundae, and I was happy to stumble upon this Davao chocolate swirl-all-you-can at Lawson. 

I also love Lawson’s cappuccino and the snacks being sold by the vendor at my office building. Here are two of my favorites from his merch- pancake and puto flan. 

Lastly, I make myself comfortable while working. I enjoy lounging on bean bags or on the couch while getting things done. 

My time in this current work project is coming to an end, and I am now looking for another work opportunity. This time, I am hoping that I will get a job that is ideal for my credentials and qualifications. I am positive that I will find a suitable role soon, and that my simple joys will help me balance my life one I start working again!

Friends for Life

I am not the type who has heaps of friends. I have a few genuine friends though, and they have been with me through the years. I am lucky to have them, because I know that they appreciate the real me.

They have never used me for their own personal interests. Best of all, they are always there to listen. 

Earlier this week, I had coffee with my college friend Miya...

...and dinner with my high school BFF Luti.

More than the food, the conversations, and the company, it's the time that I appreciate most from friends like Miya and Luti. I know that they will never get that time back. I look forward to more meaningful moments with my friends, and with them, I am unafraid of tomorrow.

Posing Patiently

It has become my tradition to pose for selfies first thing on Monday mornings. It sets the tone for my busy week ahead. It helps motivate me not just to slay, but to also stay poised throughout every challenge that I encounter on a day-to-day basis.

I am not afraid to be judged for my self-timer pictures. I don't mind the stares whenever I take these photos. I simply focus on posing and hope that the shots will turn out fine.

I am quirky that way. and it is in posing patiently through each take that I get photos that can set the tone for the rest of my week. I am still a newbie at work, but I am learning fast. By posing patiently on the job, I am slowly enjoying the fruits of my labor. I am building rapport among my colleagues. And I find myself looking forward to another day at work.

Here's to more patience, more selfies, and more slaying- both at work and play!

Doggo Hugs

I think that the love that I get from dogs is incomparable. I visit Barkin Blends whenever I need some doggo hugs, as both of my parents are allergic to dogs. Nevertheless, I am glad that I have a cafe wherein I am allowed to play with several dogs and relax after a busy day or week.

They have recently released their numnums, which are homemade treats for dogs. Guests may purchase them to-go for their pet dogs at home.

I got to bond with my favorite dog Ella, a chiweenie!

It was also my first time to try Barkin Blends' rock salt and cheese milk tea. It was delicious!

Psyche the beagle slept on my lap, and it caused me to feel sleepy too.

It was picture-taking time with all of their big dogs.

But at the end of the day, I still chose to cuddle Ella again.

I will definitely be back for more doggo hugs and cuddles. 'Til next time, Barkin Blends!

Preparing for Fiesta

One of my favorite saints, St. Clare, celebrates her feast day on August 11. Since my birthday is on August 13, I find myself preparing for her feast day in the same manner that I reflect on all my blessings in anticipation of turning a year older. I am thankful that I was able to build a devotion to an intercessor whose feast is close to my birthday. 

I visited the Monastery last Sunday to pray, give thanks, and take note of the upcoming fiesta masses.  

I am excited to celebrate with other devotees on the eleventh! 

There are always blessings to be thankful for, and petitions to pray for. I look forward to lifting them all up to God on Saturday! 

Core Advocate

Now that I am working full-time, I ensure that my weekends are spent well. I always begin my days with a workout, whether it’s a weekday or the weekend. 

Last Saturday, I was reminded to count my blessings and be myself as I dropped by my usual waxing salon.  

Then, I went to Human Nature to shop for my needs this August. I stocked up on moringa chocolate chip cookies...

 ...had some brewed coffee in the store...

...tried the new bath jelly (which was fun to use!)... 

 ...and treated myself to a bar of Theo and Filo 70% dark chocolate!

I am also a fan of Human Nature’s new initiative to encourage shoppers to bring their own eco bags.  

After shopping, I went to Breakfast Bin for even more coffee and pancakes. 

And then, it was back to Human Nature for me as we celebrated our get-together with my fellow core advocates. 

It was a fun night of potluck eats, karaoke, and friendship!

My Saturday was a relaxing one, because I got to eat, shop, and party for a good cause. I am glad that by supporting Human Nature, I also help Gawad Kalinga communities and provide jobs. I look forward to the rest of my workweek knowing that my weekends are spent with my advocacy. It makes all the hard work worth it.

Synchronicity

I love my handmade lifestyle! I enjoy crafts like knitting, crocheting, and creative journaling. These are crucial in my mindfulness journey, especially now that I am working full-time again. 

As I explore the possibilities within my current role, I am also guiding myself in balancing my life.  I am adjusting well to work, so I just need to enhance my days with some journaling.

To inspire myself to keep on creating and writing, I reached out to Anne of 11*11 Handmade. I commissioned her to make me a traveler’s notebook in salmon pink Argentinian vegetable-tanned leather. 

Anne is a one-woman mompreneur who makes all her journals by hand. She takes pride in using vegetable-tanned leather, and guarantees that each journal will age beautifully. 

Her journals have been used by fountain pen enthusiasts and calligraphy hobbyists. Since I sketch my food and label my entries with brush lettering, I felt that I deserved a new handmade journal to last me through the years.  

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that she resides near my office, so we met up when my journal was already completed.  

The eco-friendly packaging won my heart during my “unboxing” process. 

Say hello to my new synchronicity journal! Anne refers to her creations as synchronicity journals because they serve as vessels for our dreams which will be manifested through action. 

I requested for my blog’s name to be embossed on the leather, and yes, it was hand-embossed! 

I was pleased with my purchase, and I crocheted on the P2P bus ride home. 

I look forward to using my new journal, and living up to my handmade lifestyle everyday! There is always something worth creating, whether it’s a blog entry (yes, I believe this blog is also a craft!), a scarf, or a sketch of my lunch.

The possibilities are limitless!

Friday Resilience

I walked through really strong rains last Friday morning. Good thing I was wearing boots and a blazer along with some tough clothes. I felt a bit shaken though because it was my first time to walk in strong rains in a long time. But I was happy that I got to work on time.

I was sad to hear yesterday that a friend of mine lost her house to a fire. It was devastating as she lost everything, and nothing was saved. At least she and her family survived the ordeal, and plenty of people have raised funds to help her.

When I experienced chills earlier after the rain. I realized that I am still fortunate. I have warm clothes, a job, and coffee. I am still very luck. And there is always something to be thankful for.

Powering Through

As a new employee, I am challenged to face existing processes and enforce new ones in my workplace. I am still learning and adjusting. I recently faced a challenge, which was thankfully resolved because I was working with a competent team. It also helps that my superiors are a call or email away to guide me through.

I feel valued, and that is why I am also compelled to be a valuable member of my team. I cannot attain progress alone, so I reach out to people more. It is a win-win solution because I get to improve my interpersonal skills while getting things done!

And as always, the right outfit helps me slay.

I am powering through each day with faith, grit, and a lot of coffee. I am determined to make things work as I grow as an individual. And while I have a great team, I also rely on a generous God. It is the combination of hard work and unwavering faith that gets me through each new day!

Slowly Improving

I remember having this portrait of me sketched four years ago.  

A lot has changed since then.  

• I have since donated my hair to make wigs for cancer patients
• I have kept my hair short since October 2014
• I have switched careers and I am now the Office Manager for an American BPO
• I have kept my face makeup-free
• I now have this blog to document my life

These changes did not occur overnight. In fact, I have initiated these changes slowly, but the results have appeared fast. I believe that achieving positive impact happens when I set the stage for all circumstances to work in my favor.  

I blogged, I attended seminars, I applied for good jobs, and continued supporting my advocacies. In no time, I was able to see changes in my life, and I have also improved my outlook as a whole. 

I hope that my life will continue to get better, and that I will keep on aspiring for greatness. For now, I am focusing on getting things done, and blogging about the things that make me speakoutsam! 

Shifting Perspectives

I am currently shifting perspectives in terms of work. From getting used to working in my own cubicle, I am now in an open plan office. From consulting, I am now recommending. And from simply getting things done, I am implementing processes to streamline tasks.

I am really happy with the direction of my career so far. While the learning curve is steep, I am able to manage because I am not alone. I work with a competent team. And I really appreciate the collaborative nature of my job especially during crunch time.

Things do not have to be difficult now that I have systems in place. I hope that by shifting my perspectives, I can also increase my productivity. So far, that has been the case and I am really pleased.

I will definitely continue updating this blog as I speakworksam!

Niche at Work

I have been holding up well at work these past few days. It is my first time to work with a lean team, so I had to adjust fast. Also, we have an open plan office so I am getting used to working on a family-style table rather than on an assigned cubicle. 

I am enjoying it so far in the office, and the collaborative environment encourages me to interact with my colleagues. I am getting by with food, coffee, and a lot of self-determination. Yes, my model for thriving at work is similar to how I carry on with my workouts.

I see colors in the middle of monotonous palettes, and the same goes with the daily grind. I find joy in processes. I listen to music whenever the silence becomes deafening. In no time, the music motivates me, and I already have my own jam at work.

Rather than rely on life hacks in the long run, I prefer to set up systems for my job crafting journey. I am on it at the moment, and I am also becoming more flexible with organizing my tasks and assignments.

I am also helping myself get in the mood for work by dressing the part. As I have discovered in almost nine years of working, the right outfit can serve as an armor. It is my battle gear. And it really helps me focus on my tasks when I know that my getup is put-together and professional.

For sleeveless tops and dresses, I usually pair them with jackets or blazers as office air conditioning can get too cold. For short skirts, I wear tights or stockings if needed. I just like making sure that I look professional and not sloppy.

And whenever I have free time, I knit, crochet, read, or blog. I like keeping my mind active and alert.

I really think that my niche at work is something that I have already discovered. I just have to keep the faith that my work will continue to serve my own values too. I take 100% ownership of my work. I hope that I will continue writing my story as I speakworksam!

Stepping Up

Last Sunday, I browsed through the Yabang Pinoy bazaar at Alabang Town Center, after my trip to Common Room.  

I loved the fiesta vibe! All the vendors were local exhibitors, and most of the merchandise were handmade. 

I was truly captivated with these handmade polymer clay accessories. They were detailed and exquisitely designed. The vendor, The Nifty Pandas, accepts commissions for both individual and bulk orders  

If you want to have piece made, don’t hesitate to reach out to them on Instagram!

It was difficult choosing between Ariel and Sailor Moon.  

In the end, I got Ariel! 

I also purchased a pair of brogues from Marikina shoe brand Rob and Mara. 

I ended my bazaar visit with some curry lobster balls.  

I had an amazing experience. Seeing all those merchants inspired me to continue supporting local and handmade. I can’t wait to step up to daily challenges in my growing collection of Marikina-made shoes, including my new brogues. And of course, I will keep on hustling, so that just like Ariel, I will be part of their world at work!

Thriving Locally

I had a fantastic weekend!

I started my Saturday and Sunday mornings with Zumba. I must say that I am glad to see progress on my abs. 

I also took brisk walks around my local park and took breaks on interesting nooks such as this grotto. 

I enjoyed freshly-baked bread from my neighborhood bakery. 

And yesterday, I rode a P2P to visit Common Room Alabang. 

I donated some old paper bags on-site to support their ‘no new paper bags’ campaign, which I think is really cool. 

But the main reason why I went there was to buy a handmade Tubbs the Cat doll from Pop Junk Love. They had selected dolls at 50% off for the benefit of Cribs Foundation. It was a win-win because I have always wanted to purchase a doll from them, and I love supporting charities!

I also browsed through the store and found old handmade favorites such as Knitting Expedition.

In the end, I refused to have Tubbs packed in a paper bag. He went home with me inside my spacious Knitting Expedition Tiyargo bag.  

Every visit to Common Room motivates me to continue supporting local and handmade! My heart is full now that I have a new stuffed toy, and it’s all for a good cause. Fitness and my handmade lifestyle are not just weekend norms, as I do practice them everyday. They only seem to get magnified on weekends because I have more time to explore places that define them. 

I look forward to more weekend adventures and handmade stories! 

Uni Memories

I had a productive first week of work. It was overwhelming, like most adjustment periods. However, I was never short of colleagues to help me. It also helped that our office is still located near my uni, where there is a chapel, convenient food options, and space to process my thoughts during my lunch break.

I have been having Food Channel shawarma rice with cheese for lunch, and it is still delicious! I feel like a student again whenever I savor it.

I have to visit our office’s new site and project manage its progress. I have to be organized and on top of things!

Another food from uni which I enjoyed this week was the sticky cinnamon bun. It was comforting after a busy day.

And I was also fortunate to have my college friend Ceetee with me for coffee that day! She also just recently started at her new office in Ortigas.

Here’s to more opportunities at work, more happy college memories, friendship moments, and comfort food!

Dressing the Part

I am easing my way into the daily grind at work. One of the things that motivates me to hustle everyday is fashion. I am not addicted to dressing up per se, but I just find clothes to be the right catalyst in setting the tone for my day. For instance, I find myself pumped up for a workout when my Zumba gear is on point. For work, dressing up according to my mood, the weather, and my plans helps me get into girlboss mode. 

I saw this sign that at the restaurant while I was eating breakfast. It really resonates with me because I have an unceasing appetite for life. The same goes for my outfits. I am determined to excel at work so I am also driven to dress the part. I am crediting this to my hunger for a better life. 

I am currently enjoying my morning coffee breaks. It keeps me awake as I learn office processes and begin new assignments. 

Here’s to productive work days and more opportunities to dress up as I speakoutsam!

Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry

I started working as the Office Manager in my new employer on July 23, 2018. It was the 23rd of the month, which is known as a day dedicated to Padre Pio. 

I was moved to thank him for his intercession, as I did pray to him to lift up my wishes to have a good job to the Lord. I think he really did an awesome job because not only am I employed, but my office is also located close to some churches and chapels. I am sure that my soul will find refuge in these places of worship whenever I need spiritual sustenance in the middle of my busy schedule.  

I am thankful for all the blessings which are pouring into my life right now. Thank You God, and thank you Padre Pio!

Determined to Succeed

I started work the other day, and I was warmly welcomed by the team. I am ecstatic to work with a motivated workforce, and I can’t wait to grow along with the company. 

I started my day with prayer and thanksgiving at UA&P’s chapel. 

I had breakfast, got coffee, and crocheted while waiting for my workday to begin.

It was inspiring to see this on our office wall.

And it was also bittersweet to see my uni and former office outside our window.

I am very excited to begin hustling with everyone, and I am happy to belong to a young, dynamic, and helpful group. I will surely be integrated here in no time, and of course, I will keep you posted here as I speakoutsam in the office!