Currently 03: Wild Flour, Breakfast, and Sugarlace

Wild Flour, Rada, Makati

Wild Flour, Rada, Makati

I’ve always wondered when I would chance upon an empty table (or an empty seat!) at Wild Flour Cafe. The place is always packed, and I always end up deciding to just come back some other time, except the time never came.

Until a few weeks ago when a friend, who was visiting from Australia and staying in Makati for a few days, told me that her only available time to meet was over breakfast on a Wednesday morning. Like, 7:00AM early. Needless to say, I grabbed the opportunity and had an amazing discovery—early breakfast is the best time to meet anyone in the city! Pre-rush hour commute is bearable, you’ll be back home before lunch, and yes, there will be empty seats at Wild Flour, or wherever your meeting place is for that matter.

So the date was set, and it was perfect. Wild Flour Cafe, the one in Rada Street. Breakfast, coffee, and a decade worth of stories.  Continue reading “Currently 03: Wild Flour, Breakfast, and Sugarlace”

Peachy’s Craft Shop and Polymer Clay Art

polymer-donutes

I came across Peachy.ph sometime last year, a blog about arts and crafts and motherhood and everything in between. When you visit her blog, you’ll immediately think, “oh wow, everything is so peachy!” and conclude that that’s probably the reason why the blog is called such. And then you learn that her name is indeed, Peachy, and everything starts to make more sense!

Personally meeting Peachy through Pursuit Manila and getting to know her a bit more is one of my unexpected blessings this year. One late night over Viber messages, I have gotten a glimpse of Peachy’s heart and I knew that I have gained myself a new friend. (Ashushu!)

More than the pretty little things you see in her blog, the arts and crafts supplies you find in her online shop, and the adorable polymer clay art that she creates, Peachy also shares her passion and experience to help others figure out how to start their own craft businesses.  Continue reading “Peachy’s Craft Shop and Polymer Clay Art”

Cozy All Year Round

Parachute Home Navy Blue Pillow

Parachute Home Lavender Candle

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Parachute Home Pillows and Cashmere Throw

The leaves are about to turn in some parts of the world.

Autumn for me used to be something I just see in movies or read about in books, until I experienced it first hand—once in Sydney, twice in New York. I didn’t want the season to end. I wish I could freeze time and stay there forever, wrapped in layers, thick socks, knits.

It’s ironic how the thought of a cold weather makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Like you want to light a scented candle, grab a book, pull over a blanket, and listen to Landslide for hours while you sip on your cup of hot choco.

I mean, I don’t know.. Doesn’t fall have that effect on most of us?  Continue reading “Cozy All Year Round”

Cocoon Boutique Hotel for our 4th Year Anniversary

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This post might contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.

Our fourth wedding anniversary celebration was our first night away from the girls since they were born. Now that I think about it, I don’t know why we waited this long! It’s not like the girls wouldn’t let us go—my Mom, who spent the night with them, reported that they didn’t even notice we were gone.

I realized that it’s mostly us (fine, me), and not the girls, who couldn’t get over the idea of spending one single night away, worried about what might happen, like, what if they looked for their Mommy and Daddy while we were away right? (Apparently NOT!)

Just us two

It’s funny how much thought went into planning this one-night getaway, to think we never even left our neighborhood! I realized that this decision-making exercise was a good reminder to us that as husband and wife, no matter how important the children are, marriage still ranks higher than parenthood in our list of priorities. 

Spending extended quality time with each other is a necessary investment, not just for our relationship’s sake, but also for the kids—they are, after all, the recipients of our overflow of love for each other. 

So off to our 4th wedding anniversary getaway we go, and thankfully, there’s a place we’ve always wanted to check out that is very close to our home.

4th-anniversary

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Photographs from my phone’s camera, we didn’t bother bringing a big camera!

Cocoon Boutique Hotel

Hotel service and amenities

The Cocoon Boutique Hotel is as quaint as can be, something you’ll never expect to find in the chaos that is Quezon City. We’ve always eyed this place, having “toured” it the first time when we were helping a friend look for a hotel for their wedding. The interiors are thoughtfully decorated and carefully maintained, even the hallways smell good. :) The staff are very well trained and we felt treated like we were in a 5-star hotel!

Rooftop pool

We spent a few hours of the afternoon in the rooftop pool—my husband taking laps and me reading a book, later on joining him in the pool myself. D is a really good swimmer, and every time we look for a place to stay in, we always make sure to inquire about the pool. Cocoon’s swimming pool is not that big, only about 4 feet deep, with a small pool area for kids. It gets crowded easily, but we were delighted to have it all to ourselves while we were there. At night the pool lights up beautifully; in fact we planned to go back for a night swim, but with a nice little bath tub in our bedroom, we decided to just stay in.

Bath tub!

A deluxe room comes with a bath tub, something you won’t see in the usual hotels. Encased in a glass booth, you can either close down the blinds or pull it up so you can watch TV while in the tub. Such a treat!

Breakfast

The food is not bad at all, either. Once again, something you won’t really expect from a “small” hotel. We had our breakfast in the rooftop, al fresco style, with a generous buffet of salads, sandwiches, pastries, DIY omelette, and a selection of rice meals.

We definitely enjoyed our stay, and while we missed the kids, it was a much-needed time for both of us, to enjoy each other, a king-sized bed to ourselves, soft 600-threadcount sheets that didn’t smell like milk, and oh my goodness, a full 8 hours of sleep!

Every year is a milestone and therefore worth celebrating

Marriage is a lot of work. It takes a lot of work reconciling differences, attending to each other’s needs, planning your life around each other’s lives and your children’s lives, and making time for each other when 24 hours is barely enough for everything else that has to be done in a day. D and I have our share of misunderstandings and lack of time for each other, but being married to him is an undeserved favor and a great blessing in every way.

He makes me happy no doubt (and you know I don’t use the word “happy” lightly), he makes me want to become a better person, he inspires me to dream bigger dreams for our little family, he keeps me grounded and draws me ever closer to God.

Marriage may be a lot of work, but for every good thing that this marriage has added to my life, the effort to make this work is, unequivocally, worth it. In hindsight, working this out with D is, I must say, relatively easy. I couldn’t have asked for a more understanding and kind-hearted and good-smelling partner (that’s right, he smells really good, and trust me that makes a lot of difference, LOL!) and I couldn’t be more grateful to God that I get to do life with this guy.

Happy 4th anniversary, Dear David. Four years down, forever more to go. Let’s do this! :)


About the Cocoon Boutique Hotel

Cocoon Boutique Hotel takes pride in its its environment-friendly interiors and amenities. Complimentary water for guests, for example, are stored in sealed mason jars instead of plastic bottle containers. The interiors are constructed with reclaimed wood and recycled materials. The roof deck houses potted plants and organic herbs both for sale and for use in cooking the restaurant’s food. These, on top of the top-class service and unique amenities you won’t find anywhere else, Cocoon Boutique Hotel is definitely worth taking a trip to the north. :)

I suggest booking way ahead of time. Cocoon Hotel only has a handful of rooms, and reservations run out fast.

Location and contact details
61 Scout Tobias corner Scout Rallos Streets, Bgy Laging Handa, Quezon City 1103, Trunklines: 632- 9212706 to 08 / Fax Number: 632- 4137281 / www.thecocoonhotel.com

For best rates, book The Cocoon Hotel via Agoda.

Pottly N Tubby: On Creating a Business Inspired by Your Kids

Pottly n Tubby

Pottly n Tubby

Some of my fondest childhood memories include play houses I made out of blankets and a few strings. I remember taking my books and toys under the sheets and hiding there for hours! Remembering these experiences from my childhood, it was just natural that I would make forts for Dawn and Rain too, which, as early as 18 months old, the girls have surely loved.

There’s something about having their own “secret” place that fosters creative imagination among children. And as parents, we want to create an environment that will stimulate their young minds and give them memories they will remember forever.

Teepees, play tents and soft toys

Enter Pottly N Tubby and their unique items for the little ones and the young at heart. They create pillows, beanies and soft toys, and are best known for their custom-made teepees and play tents. These teepees are huge! I can imagine adults buying these for themselves.  Continue reading “Pottly N Tubby: On Creating a Business Inspired by Your Kids”

Pursuit Manila Arts & Crafts Fair

pursuitmanila5

Pursuit Manila Arts & Crafts Fair

One year ago, I couldn’t have imagined that I would be doing ministry with these talented and passionate women of faith, more so, that God would let us see His hand move in crazy amazing ways in our midst. One year ago, I couldn’t have known that Pursuit Community would happen in my life and open up opportunities beyond the little plans I had for myself.

A practicum of sorts

From the very beginning, the mission of Pursuit Manila has always been consistent—to unite female creatives who are courageously pursuing their God-given passions, and to empower those who are still struggling to find their way but willing to take the first step of faith. Back in the first gathering, the challenge was to make 2015 the year we make things happen, whether it’s in pursuing a career we feel we’re called to do, or establishing that creative business we’ve been dreaming about, or going after that thing that keeps us awake at night.

Amazingly enough, that’s exactly what we’ve been seeing happen within the Pursuit Manila circles this year. Passionate communities have branched out, art gatherings and events happening one after the other, Pursuit Manila moms bonded by something greater than motherhood; new businesses were introduced to the world, musicians and artists have become more brave in getting their art out there for the world to hear and see.

When Pursuit Manila Arts & Crafts Fair happened last August 1, it felt just like the culmination of everything we’ve been praying for and encouraging one another to do all these months. It was like a practicum of sorts, our big chance to practice what we preach, walk the talk, make things happen.

And true enough, God once again pulled things off beautifully, as He always does. Continue reading “Pursuit Manila Arts & Crafts Fair”