Le Fleur Coffee Holder

I recently purchased my second cup holder from local small business Le Fleur. Their vegan cup holders have made my coffee or juice experience more delightful and aesthetically pleasing. It also warms my heart that their cup holders are all locally made by hand. I am all for small businesses that champion local craftsmanship and style.

Buy your own Le Fleur cup holder here! Enjoy your coffee!

Traviel Bags

In 2020, I received a DOST Coursera scholarship which allowed me to explore my creative skills through writing and personality development classes. As I was posting my certificates online, I met Pao Manalang of Traviel, who was also taking Coursera courses under the same scholarship. We shared the same values, and this is evident in her brand’s vision of enriching and uplifting local craftsmanship. Meanwhile, I wanted to enrich and uplift blogging as a craft which can be written about in a book. So that’s what I did. When I launched my book (Buy it in the link above this post! 📕), I finally purchased my first Traviel bag. It is made of plant-based leather and textile. I am very happy to support a local brand whose values align with mine ❤️

Wilmur

I recently ordered these Wilmur specs in Smoky Tort from local optical powerhouse Sunnies Studios. I bought this pair from their online store due to the pandemic. I still have the same eye prescription (only 25 on my left eye as a result of astigmatism. My eyesight remains 20/20!), so ordering online was the best option. It was also a breeze as their website is well-designed and easy to use.

I may be a customer of various local optical shops, but Sunnies Studios remains to be my favorite. Their frames are the most stylish in my opinion, and they give great value for money. Their stores are also chic places to be in. Plus, their employees and directors have been very good to me through the years.

I highly recommend Sunnies Studios as their loyal customer, and not as a paid influencer. This is not a sponsored post! I simply love the brand, and I am delighted to own the Wilmur specs. I hope that you will find the perfect pair for you from their amazing selection!

Merced Bakehouse

I ordered a cake from Merced Bakehouse for my mom’s recent birthday. It was their Sunflower Cake, with a mocha base. It was delicious, light, and satisfyingly vintage. Highly recommended, especially if you are fond of nostalgic cakes from your childhood.

Merced Bakehouse has been churning out cakes since 1972. Do give them some love by ordering cakes and other goodies here. Enjoy!

Wake Up, Dreamers

I recently started watching Demi Abilon a.k.a. AnakniRizal’s writing vlogs on YouTube. I have been enjoying her informative videos on creative writing. Writing has been a hobby and source of income for me, and yet I believe it is essential to continue learning how to improve my craft. Demi’s YouTube channel apply entitled Tales of Demi has been inspiring me to write lately. I highly recommend it!

I also started reading Demi’s latest published novel Wake Up, Dreamers. It is about a group of college students from different backgrounds who unintentionally work together for a school project. They discover themselves and the meaning of life through the project’s various assignments that put them in situations that force them out of their comfort zones. You may purchase the book here.

I hope that Demi’s vlogs and latest novel will also inspire you to write and express yourself during the lockdown!

Flying House Ocho Pizza

Flying House is a small restaurant and bar that I frequent along Malingap Street, Quezon City. I love their homey vibe and delicious bar chow. Their Ocho Pizza has become an instant favorite for me and my partner. Its thin crust and generous supreme toppings brought back happy childhood memories. We highly recommend this!

Auric and Ice

I am happy with my latest jewelry purchase. I got Auric and Ice’s crescent flatback for my conch and I am really impressed with the quality, craftsmanship, and sparkle! They used G+ colored diamonds for this piece, and it is internally-threaded. It is the perfect piece for downsizing my conch piercing.

For genuine gold and diamond local piercing jewelry, follow Auric and Ice on Instagram! This is not a sponsored post. I am simply a satisfied customer.

Quielle Knot Ring

My partner recently gave me a Quielle Knot Ring when he visited our home for the first time. He met my mom and gave her some pastries. It was a good day and I will forever cherish this ring to remind me of our relationship.

Guys, if you want to give a present to your special someone, observe what she usually buys and where she buys them from. I am a longtime Quielle customer so this gift makes me feel special. I highly recommend this item as it is locally-made using high quality stainless steel.

Have a good week ahead, everyone!

Quielle

I recently purchased these safety pin earrings from local accessories shop Quielle. I love these handmade stunners because the quality is top notch. The tips of the pins are not sharp, and the stainless steel material is polished to perfection. They are also lightweight enough for all-day wear.

Most of my accessories are from this shop. They do not tarnish, and their sparkle remains the same for a long time. I have been a Quielle customer since 2019! This is not an ad, and I simply want to promote this brand.

For your local accessories fix, be sure to check out Quielle!

What I Love About R2R

Rags 2 Riches has recently emailed its subscribers a set of questions to probe what they love about their brand. I have been a longtime fan of this brand, so this is an interesting exercise for me. Here’s what I have to say about R2R.

My first R2R piece was purchased from Firma in 2008. It was a clutch designed by local fashion icon Rajo Laurel. I used it during my first job at a bank, and it held my makeup and toiletries. It was neon pink, and it was woven by a mom at Payatas. It was one of the first local brands that included a hand-signed card by the artisan who made the item. It touched my heart, and as a fresh college graduate, it helped pave the way for my career choices and eventual foray as an online distributor for another social enterprise, a position that I hold to this day. It also gave me a tangible link to the impact of my buying power to a community, however small that purchase may be.

My favorite R2R purchase is the Noah Fanny Pack because it was the bag that I wore to conferences at ADB and while my terminally-ill father was confined at the hospital. I brought it with me from meetings to fora, and from my father’s chemotherapy sessions to my trips to buy his necessities at the pharmacy. It was also special because I purchased this bag at the R2R HQ, which I documented in this post.

R2R launched a clothing line, and I bought a couple of pairs of shorts from them last year. I enjoyed these pairs because they went well with my cropped tops, and even my favorite t-shirts.

I think their clothing line deserves to be praised for their efforts to use upcycled fabrics and include indigenous weaves in their designs. However, as someone who does not like ruffles and ribbons, perhaps a more edgy collection would attract a new set of customers to try their clothes.

My favorite R2R memory would be that time when I bought a pair of flats made of the signature R2R basahan (rags) weave and indigenous textile. I felt so stylish during that day! Those shoes are still wearable to this day after five solid years of wear.

My dream is for R2R to continue growing despite the challenges of the global pandemic. I may have stopped purchasing from them due to some budget constraints of late, but my R2R face masks and filters remind me everyday that this brand may have started from rags, but I watched them grow to riches. I have grown up since their humble beginnings, and I hope that God will bless me with work and opportunities so that I can continue buying from brands such as R2R and support communities in the process.

God bless you, R2R!

Quielle x Sailormoon

I recently purchased this Quielle x Sailormoon necklace from their Shopee store. I love this item because it reminds me of my childhood.

I reminisce about those times when problems seemed to be solved by powers that were manifested from the moon or planetary forces. Now, we are faced with a global pandemic. This necklace offers a sparkle of hope amidst these uncertain times. Also, it’s a cute way to support local.

You may buy this necklace via this link. You may also check out their Shopee store for more locally-made stainless steel jewelry.

Stay safe, everyone!

Mangkakahoy Table

We have been on quarantine for more than a year now, so I invested in a sturdy standing desk from Mangkakahoy. I got the medium because I crochet while working on my laptop. I have been previously typing on top of a pile of books and boxes so this is definitely an upgrade. The desk is well-made, and it feels sturdy. I can’t wait to use it everyday during the pandemic and beyond!

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Stay safe and healthy, everyone!