Blessed Presents

I was surprised last Friday when I got home to a big package from my friends at The Attic Yarn and Craftery. The ladies behind my favorite yarn store have recently been on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Egypt.

For Christmas, they sent me this care package filled with goodies from Jesus’ part of the world:

• A magnet from Egypt, which is perfect since I collect magnets!

• A papyrus scroll of the Ten Commandments

• A box of dates

• An olive wood rosary

• A sterling silver cross necklace

• A Mother of Perpetual Help keychain

• Small crucifix with bottles of earthen elements from the Holy Land

The author poses with her gifts from the Holy Land

Religious items and sweets from the Holy Land

This present makes me feel so giddy. The religious articles have already been blessed, and they are ready to be used in prayer.

I can’t wait to have a more rewarding year ahead, knowing that I have friends who kept me in their hearts whilst they were in the Holy Land.

May we all be filled with blessings this year, and beyond!

Mint Organizer

I have been collecting Starbucks planners since 2006. It has become a part of my Christmas traditions, and accomplishing something involving coffee is totally worth it. It has helped me get through the grief I felt when my close friend Diane died in a car accident in 2008. Recently, this tradition has been a comfort as I am still processing my father’s passing last May.

I was determined to make the most out of the holidays despite the personal pain I still carried in my heart. Coffee and a planner definitely sounded like a good idea.

Midway through collecting stickers for the planner, I fell in love with the mint travel organizer. I decided to pursue it instead for a change, and I needed a notebook cover to begin with.

The travel organizer did not disappoint! It was worth all the cups of coffee I sipped while running holiday errands and finishing year-end work.

I have also finished crocheting my last scarf for this decade in Starbucks branches.

Some people may laugh at the idea of collecting stickers for a travel organizer, but for me it is a personal ritual to get over grief. The organizer is just a simple reminder that a new year is just around the corner. A new beginning is possible, and it helps to plan, sort through my priorities, and power my way through my goals.

For everything in between, there will always be coffee and notebooks to help me through the new decade.

Knitted and Crocheted Scarf

My friend Mitzie gave me some acrylic-wool yarn from New York when we saw each other last week, and I was excited to knit a cowl out of them! And so, on the feast of St. Blaise (patron saint of wool combers), I set out this yummy yarn together with my 10mm needles.  

I listened to some podcasts and just knitted away!

Usung chunky yarn and 10mm needles are a joy as my project was quick to accomplish.

For the blue part, I opted to use a 9mm hook to crochet instead of knitting. 

The end result is a variation of textures and yummy wooly goodness!

It was wonderful to knit and crochet this cowl while listening to a couple of podcasts. I’m also thankful to receive these yarns from a friend. I hope to continue making, knitting, and crocheting!

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!

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!

Lucas Specs

After winning a pair of Sunnies Specs from dearsunniessanta, I was able to free up my budget (consisting of monetary holiday gifts from relatives abroad) in order to buy presents for myself. This year is different because my dad has recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness. I chose to buy gifts for my parents aside from just spending for myself, in order to cheer them up this holiday season. 

Thanks to the recent 12.12 Lazada sale, I was able to buy four pairs of Sunnies Studios sunglasses. This isn’t a sponsored post, and I bought these with my own money. 

It was satisfying to open my delivery yesterday. 

The sunnies pairs were neatly packed, and they all looked amazing! 

The top two pairs are for my parents, while the bottom two are for myself. I got them at a steal, and admittedly, that sale was fun! 

I will never forget that moment when I won those specs, and will forever be grateful. I will support the Sunnies group when I get a job soon. For now, I will rock these sunglasses with flair, and I will enjoy the holidays with my family. 

Bright Gray

I love the color gray, and I own a lot of clothes in that color palette. I finished knitting a gray scarf, and it was a process that took me from coffee to dessert. 

I finished this scarf in less than a week as I used chunky yarn purchased from my favorite yarn store, The Attic Yarn and Craftery.  

The result was this beautiful graphic scarf that wraps warmly around the neck.  

Before going home, I managed to snag a pair of white sneakers from local brand So Fab! at 50% off during the 12.12 sale. I am thankful for the cash gift from a relative which I have used to buy these shoes.  

I stictched the scarf together by the time I got home. 

And I made it into an infinity scarf for easier wearing!

Before going to bed, I started a new scarf using yarn from the same store. 

Gray may be a drab color to some, but for me, its simple elegance makes it a versatile hue to work with. I am inspired to keep on knitting, as I enjoy life with coffee and things that matter. 

Surprise!

Yesterday, I received my first-ever present from Amazon. It was a book from my US-based aunt, and she got me Manifesting Your Greatest Self by Nick Ortner. 

I was practically beaming once I flipped the envelope over.  

The gift bag made me feel giddy and excited to see what’s inside!

I could not contain my happiness once I saw the book. It is exactly what I need right now, and I have been asking for new books from the Universe. Indeed, if you ask for stuff to happen to your life, you have to make it clear enough to be heard. 

You just might be surprised with its fulfillment, just like what happened to me! 

Post-Holiday Shopping

Yesterday, I finally spent the gift card from my Ninong Oscar to buy a basic black handbag from the department store. In keeping with my “buy local” advocacy, I bought a genuine leather number from Zoe Bags. It is sleek, reasonably priced, and stylish. I cannot wait to use it as I bag better opportunities this 2018!

I also had the chance to have my photo taken with the Sanrio holiday display. It made me feel like a kid again and it cheered me up! It pays to always be game to smile and seize every chance to have a memorable photo to capture moments of joy. 

I am all for simple pleasures in life. While I do own branded stuff, I still enjoy buying affordable pieces from department stores, bazaars, and online shops. I go for quality though, and I make sure that my money is spent well. As long as the item can serve me well, is made of materials which will enable it to last, and is within my budget, then I will definitely purchase it. Through the years, the most treasured items I own are those which are simple in design, yet thoughtfully made. I will be on the lookout for more blessings to come, and hopefully, these will spark joy into my life this 2018 and beyond.