Happy Monday

I had a busy Monday. I found myself at Power Plant Mall yesterday for lunch, so I brought my starving self to Shawa Wama. 

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I ordered the red beet falafel rice meal with a side order of fried cauli. It was delicious!

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I later proceeded to Trinoma in Quezon City for a meeting. Later for dinner, I treated myself to this beautiful chicken and pasta plate from World Chicken. This outlet in the mall never fails to please me with their flavorful chicken and generous sides. 

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And before calling it a day, I spent time with my favorite dog Ella and her friends at Barkin’ Blends Dog Cafe. It is always a lovely time with these fur babies who love being with humans.  

Having a good Monday is a state of mind. Even if I’m busy, I find myself eating the food that I want, knitting, and swinging by my usual dog cafe. Life is too short, so let’s make our Mondays count! 

Manila Fame 2019

Yesterday, I woke up to a postcard sent by my good friend Nurai. She’s based in Germany, but she posted this from Spain while she was on holiday. 

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It was the ideal preview to my artistic day ahead. I rode the LRT 1 and hailed a tuktuk to take me directly to the World Trade Center. 

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I went to the Manila Fame to immerse myself in Filipino artistry. My short visit last Friday was too brief, and I really wanted to spend more time at the fair. 

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I started my visit with some refreshing liquer de calamansi. 

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Then, I had some good coffee.  

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I dropped by the Handcrafted by Harl’s booth because I love their advocacy in supporting differently-abled artisans. I bought a handbag from them last year, and it’s still serving me well. 

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I joined a leather-crafting workshop for only Php50. I made a leather coin purse with the help of their talented deaf-mute artisans. 

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I ended up being the empowered one because I learned a new skill and got to learn from a differently-asked person.  

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It was lovely to see fashion influencer Lolaandrogynous at the fair! I totally dig her style. 

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I also bought small trinkets from another social enterprise, Kilus.  

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I got to appreciate the finer details during this visit.  

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I finally got to try 1st Colonial’s sili ice cream and it was delicious!

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I had a wonderful evening at Manila Fame and I’m very proud to be Filipino.  

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I ended my day with cheese sticks, so I’m also doing the same here. 

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Here’s to more opportunities to be proudly Pinoy! 

Infinite Fan

Yesterday, I finished crocheting this möbius shawl using chunky yarns from my favorite yarn store, The Attic Yarn and Craftery. I am excited to use this in my future job, and also during possible travels! It’s warm and cozy. 

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All that crocheting made me hungry, so I ordered the Chicken Chizu Curry from Tori Chizu. 

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It was a delicious baked rice meal which combined cheese and curry! I’ll definitely order from this place again. 

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Then, it was time for me to book a ride to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. 

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The church is notorious for road closures during fiesta, so I opted to book a ride for a worry-free journey. 

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Before the fiesta procession, I fueled up first with some food. 

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I bought myself a Jolly hotdog and a choco float from Jollibee. Still so good!

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I also prayed for my intentions, such as my dream to land a job very soon, and healing for my dad. 

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Before I knew it, it was time for the procession!

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It was a spectacular procession, just like the one last year. I am a Lourdes devotee because of the miracles I have received from Our Lady. I continue to pray for good health for myself so that I can still be a blessing to others. I also prayed hard for a job that will enable me to support myself and my family. 

Life is still a beautiful journey, and my faith keeps me going. For now, I will continue crafting, eating yummy food, and praying for more blessings! 

Crochet and Coffee

I’ve been crocheting, eating, and sipping coffee for the past few days. It has been a relaxing routine to balance my workouts.  

This was Breakfast Bin’s adobo with egg and talangka rice. 

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For dessert, I had Papa Diddis’ cheese and coffee ice cream. 

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And yesterday’s lunch was at UCC. I had their famous rice casserole with curry hamburg. 

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I capped off my meal with my usual kori kohi. 

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Living simply does not mean that I have to have a boring life. I still enjoy the food that I crave for and I manage to carry on with my handmade lifestyle. I believe that the secret to my resilience is that I know what my priorities are. For as long as I have good food and yarn to work with, I know that I will have joy in my life. I hope that you will also find yours! 

Paint, Sip, Laugh

Yesterday, I had fun painting at Sip and Gogh. I paid for my own session, and it came with a glass of red wine and a platter of salami and cheese. 

I enjoyed it so much! I chose to paint the Eiffel Tower because Paris is always a good idea. 

I also brought my knitting work-in-progress with me. It was awesome to see my knitting work along with the cafe’s colorful painting selections. 

I will let the photos speak for themselves, as my joy can really be seen in them. I also knitted the beanie which I wore during the session, just because the yarn matches the color of red wine.  

I was so inspired that I also sketched my breakfast and bar chow on my traveler’s notebook.

Indeed, when I spark my creativity, it cascades on to my other crafts like knitting and food illustration. I can see how crafting has made me happier and more resourceful. I look forward to more handmade lifestyle moments, and I hope to witness the positive effects across the other aspects of my life. 

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Mac and Matcha

I have always wanted to eat at Le Petit Soufflé, but I never had the chance to do so.  

Until now. 

I finally had the opportunity to eat at their newly-opened branch at Mega Fashion Hall. I was fresh from the Book Binge Bazaar, and I was hungry! 

Once I saw their dreamy window, I knew I had to enter their lovely restaurant. 

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I was welcomed by an interesting menu. 

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I settled for Just Mac and Cheese and a hot matcha latte. While waiting for my order, I snapped some photos. 

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I was delighted to sort of match my drink!

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My mac and cheese was served after a few minutes, and I asked the staff to take photos of me with their dreamy interiors. It is so pretty. 

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Their mac and cheese is one of the best I’ve ever had. The cheese was perfect and not cloying. It was a grown-up version of a childhood favorite. 

Plus, it goes well with their delicious matcha.  

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It’s as yummy as it looks!

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Everything appeals to me. 

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My solo lunch at Le Petit Soufflé was a memorable one. I do recommend this place for your next lunch out! And while you’re there, take pictures, savor the food, and appreciate your surroundings. It is the ideal oasis in the middle of a busy shopping mall.