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FRIDAY'S 10 HAPPY THINGS 18

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Welcome to another round of Friday's 10 Happy Things where I jot down ten things that made me happy this week. Keeping this list gets easier every week. Click the image below this blog post if you wanna join us spread happy cheers all around. 


“Happiness is the art of never holding in your mind the memory of any unpleasant thing that has passed.”







Here's my happy things this week: 

1.   Opening a tin can of Danish butter cookies and finding real butter cookies inside. There's nothing more disappointing than opening a can and finding crochet materials or a sewing kit inside. 

2.   Hubby's ship finally sailed off to Guam from Singapore. I would be happier if he gets a chance to go out of the ship when they reach Guam and check out the shopping scene for me. Haha! But seriously, all I really ever want is for them to reach Guam safely. 

3.   Summer slept through the night this week and that's like winning the lottery for any mommy. Feeding her before bedtime helped as well as developing a routine of "dinner-warm bath-playtime".  

4.   Joined a contest for a chance to travel back to Copenhagen this Christmas. How awesome is that? VisitDenmark and Bo Concept teamed up with Danish pop diva Stine Bramsen for this contest. If you want to join, click here

5.   Tea time. Oh how I love my quiet moments while sipping hot tea. I especially love the teas from Royal Copenhagen and the Secret Tea Story of the World  by Osulloc. I got the Royal Copenhagen RC blend tea when I was in Denmark and the Osulloc tea was a gift from my college buddies who travelled to South Korea early this year. 



6.   Sometimes the littlest things can make me happy - like finally getting myself a power bank and changing the template of my blog. 

7.   Gourmet tuyo! I made a batch of gourmet tuyo (bottled dried fish with herbs and spices) and added pickled jalapeño and sundried cherry tomatoes to the original recipe. It was the bomb! I might write about it in my blog one of these days. 

8.   Orders are still pouring in two weeks after the organic line of bath and beauty essentials that I am selling was featured in a morning lifestyle show (KrisTV). Makes me think how powerful Kris Aquino's words are especially to her fans. I'm not complaining. Haha!  

9.   Baskin and Robbins Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream is one of my guilty pleasures. 

10.  I'm finally back to updating my Dayre

That sums up my happy list this week. Do you list down things that made you happy too? Do share, I would love to know. 



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TOP 5 SOURCES OF STOCK PHOTOS

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As you may have observed, I have changed the template of my blog and the photos I have used lately  now looks better and prettier (at least in my opinion). Because of this, I am more pumped to get the momentum going and update the blog as often as I can. There are times when I make the stock photo as the inspiration of the blog post itself.



If you're new to blogging or looking to make your blog look more polished and presentable, I am writing this post to share to you my sources of stock photos (styled, mock-up scenes or just plain lovely crisp photos).

I still use my own photos sometimes or I make collages using Photoshop but when I feel like I needed to use something pretty, something creative and something that would wow just about anyone, I turn to my resources. Let me share some of the best photography resources that I utilize.

CREATIVE MARKET

Creative Market is my ultimate wasteland. This is where I buy premium fonts, design bundles, graphics, stock photos, templates and so many other things. This is truly a graphic designer's heaven. Anyone can benefit from the overflowing creative materials in this website. It's a bonus that every month they release a design bundle that will set you back only a few dollars (you can save more than a thousand dollars each time). They also release 6 free items every Monday so you better watch out for that.

HAUTE CHOCOLATE

Haute Chocolate offers a monthly or annual subscription plan that grants you access to beautiful styled stock photos. The library contains styled photos created specifically for women entrepreneurs. Once you become a member, you can download the photos in the library as many times as you want. If you want to see photos of members using the images, browse through #HCStyledStock in Instagram. Click this link to get a free sample now.

UNSPLASH

Unsplash is a free repository of high resolution stock images. You can do whatever you want with the photos that you download. Ten photos are released every 10 days. This site is beautifully curated and ready for the taking anytime. Just make sure you have enough storage in your computer as I will bet that you will be downloading most of the images if not all. I have a folder specifically dedicated for my Unsplash photos. Genius!

STOCKSNAP

Stocksnap is another online source for beautiful photos. What's good is that all photos are free from copyright restrictions and no attribution is required. I have used a few images from Stocksnap in my blog and I absolutely love it. Long term vision - to create an amazing community of photographers that want to share their work with the world. Aside from using the photos in your blog or other social media networks, I suggest for you to print in large format, frame and display in your home office or living room.

KATE MAXWELL

Kate Maxwell has so much to offer in her Creative Market shop. Her styled stock images cater to growing businesses that could benefit from branding materials. She also occasionally gives out freebies in her Instagram account and her blog. I won the trick or treat inspired photo she released last Halloween. Her stock images have photo frame set-ups that would be prefect for showcasing your art or any print design. Her shop contains simple images as well as photos styled in an elaborate manner.

Are you also a fan of stock photos as well as styled stock photography? If you have any other resources that I have not mentioned, please feel free to share. 

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MARKS AND SPENCER SHOP YOUR WAY TO THE UK RAFFLE DRAW

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I was invited by Nuffnang Philippines to attend the raffle draw of Marks & Spencer Shop Your Way To The UK promo. All Marks & Spencer loyalty card holders who shopped at least Php2,500 worth of products between August 14 to November 1, 2015 were given the chance to win a trip to London aboard Philippine Airlines. I wish I was here during the promo duration but I guess I have to wait for the next year's promotion.



The event was graced by Marks & Spencer loyalty card holders, the press, bloggers and shoppers. There was overflowing wine, champagne, and hor d'oeuvres for all the guests present. It was a simple yet very festive gathering.



We were also treated to the beautiful Christmas carols rendition of the Mandaluyong Children's Choir. I couldn't help but to sing along to some of the songs. Haha! I really love Christmas carols.

AND THE LUCKY WINNERS ARE...


The first winner hails from General Santos City and he will fly to London aboard Philippine Airlines Business Class while the second winner who will fly Economy Class hails from Pasay City.



If you are not a loyalty card holder yet, I suggest you sign-up for one so you get first dibs on sales plus exclusive discounts. Who knows you'll win next time.

What's your favorite Marks & Spencer product? I would love to know...

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. 

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KT COOKS: GOURMET TUYO

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I made a batch of gourmet tuyo (bottled dried fish) last week and posted a picture in Instagram and I received a lot of request to share my recipe. So I decided to share my own version here in my blog.

I have always loved tuyo - especially paired with steamed rice. Tuyo or dried fish is a common breakfast food for Filipino families. Some don't like it because of the very strong smell when you cook. My husband retreats to our bedroom when I cook this even if the exhaust is already turned on. I didn't like tuyo only when I was pregnant.

Bottling the tuyo is a good way to elevate the dish to a whole new level. Oh and yes if you bottle it, you only need to cook it once a week instead of at least 3 times every week. Haha! Anyway, for this recipe, I prefer to use "tunsoy". It is also commonly known as tamban or Philippine herring



INGREDIENTS

200 grams tunsoy (or any kind of dried fish available in your local supermarket)
1/2 cup corn oil or extra virgin olive oil (I prefer EVOO)
1 garlic head, peeled and roughly chopped
1 white or red onion, diced
1 teaspoon arrabiata spice mix (or you can use chill flakes)
1 teaspoon smoked paprika (for color and flavor)
1 teaspoon dried herbs (marjoram, thyme or oregano - you choose)
1 bottle - choose the one used for bottling (sterilise before using)

For this recipe, I also used pickled jalapeño pepper and sundried tomato to add a little more complexity in the flavors. The sweet tomato and the spicy pepper mixed with the rest of the ingredients really blend together to give you that gourmet feel.



HOW TO COOK?

01 Heat a little bit of oil in the pan and sauté garlic, and onion then add the rest of the ingredients except the first. Be careful so you don't burn any of the ingredients. Set aside once done.

02 In the same pan, fry the tuyo until the scales start to come off a little bit. Be generous in putting oil in the pan. You can use the same oil when you bottle anyway so nothing gets wasted.

03 Once the tuyo is cooked, remove the scales, head, bones and tail. Personally, I prefer to just remove the head. I like it this way as it resembles Spanish sardines.

04 Add the herbs and spices back in the pan so the flavors will start to blend. Make sure to cook in low heat at this point.

05 Set aside to cool before bottling.

06 Fill the sterilized bottle  with extra vigil olive oil or corn oil and then add the mixture.

07 Let the dish set in the bottle for at least one week for the flavors to marry. You can leave it in your kitchen counter. This is probably the hardest step in this process. Hahaha!

NOTE: You may also opt to add vinegar (same measurement as the oil).  


Serve with rice and enjoy to your heart's content. It may not look like the real gourmet food in topnotch restaurants but I tell you, it is really yummy. I always eat more than 1 cup of rice when this is what I have either for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I just love it!

TOTAL COST - more or less 80 pesos 
YIELD - 2 bottles
SERVINGS - 6 to 8


If you try to make this recipe, please share photos or the link in the comments below. I would love to know how it turns out. If you have a different recipe, please share so I can try to make it as well.

Happy weekend! 

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THE SUNDAY CURRENTLY - SOAKING IT ALL IN

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Good morning!

It's Sunday once again and I am back to let you inside my Sunday currently...






I am currently...

reading random LinkedIn profiles. I don't know if I should still keep my profile online or should I just put happily retired in my occupation.

writing topics to blog about this month. I bought another notebook where I can write  interesting things that come to mind. I can't deal with Notes or Evernote.

listening to Pretty Thoughts by Alina Baraz & Galimatias. It's been on repeat as well as When I Say I Love You by Shy Girls (Majestic Casual Chapter 2 Saux Remix). Since I couldn't sleep, I signed up for an Apple Music subscription. I got three months free trial for signing up and then I'll be charged $2.99/month on the 4th month and beyond.

You looked at me with certainty
I couldn't look away
Took your jacket off like
Like you were here to stay
Chasin’ your pretty thoughts
And your plastic love
There goes my mind
Let it go
You’re that lace trimmed danger
One day you’ll be the face of a stranger
 
 
thinking about just staying home today since I haven't slept a wink and it's now almost 8AM. We're supposed to go train for a volleyball game at half past 10. I don't think I can manage but let's see.

smelling my neighbor's breakfast. LOL!

wishing for some good news this coming week and for Creative Market to come out with their November bundle already.

hoping to get my hands on a a box of Osulloc tea again. Anyone from South Korea here?

wearing my pyjamas and a tank top, hair in a messy bun.

loving Apple Music so far. Yes, I easily fall in love and it doesn't take so much to impress me. Oh and yes I love how simple and clean my blog template looks now. I just need to tweak the sidebar when I have time so it would look more organized.

wanting to slap someone so hard after I discovered something. Good thing that person is more than 10,000 miles away from where I am typing this blog post now. Arrrgh! I don't have a violent streak but if anyone purposely try to make a fool out of me then that's another story.

needing to clean my room. It's a mess now. But first, I need to sleep.

feeling drowsy because of zero sleep. I blame the coffee ice cream I ate after dinner.

clicking through my browser reading list. I meant to edit videos from our Europe trip but I'm too drowsy and out of myself to do something creative and nice. Heck, I don't know if this post even makes sense.

So yeah, that's my Sunday, currently! How about yours? How's your day going? Any big plans for today? Take care y'all!

Here's my old archive of The Sunday Currently. If you want to join us, click here or here

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5 FONTS TO LOVE AND ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION

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Can you fall in-love with fonts? I asked this question because I think I have. Hahaha! Kidding aside, I'm going to

01| PLEASURES 

Here's another super pretty font created by one of my favorite artists, Nicky Laatz. Pleasures Script is the newest font from her arsenal and if you buy the pack you get so many bonus goodies (watercolor splotches and Photoshop Styles). If you use the extra swashes and alternate letters, a glyphs panel is required (Illustrator, Photoshop CC, Inkscape).
Download here





02| HELLO BEAUTIFUL

Yes, this font is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! Need I say more? Haha! Here's another pretty font from Nicky Laatz. Nicky, can we be friends please? I adore her work really!
Download here


03| BOUTIQUE

If the Boutique Script is your friend, she will be that friend who is prim and proper but so much fun. Get it?  This chic new script was created by MakeMediaCo.
Download here


04| STEELHEART

This typeface is modern with very sweet, dramatic movements. I love the curves and the swashes. It would be perfect for DIY cards and invitations.
Download here




05| WHITE SNOWFALL

Winter wonderland ready font! It's currently on introductory price of $12 so grab it while it's hot or cold. Add a little festive touch to your holiday projects by using this font.
Download here




Did you like any of my font favorites this month? If you know of any other font that you think I would like too, please let me know the name so I can check it out.

FREEBIE ALERT: Since today is Monday, here are your 6 free design goodies

PHOTO CREDIT: Creative Market

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2015

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The holiday season is fast approaching just as traffic gets heavier and heavier each day especially in the metro. I've shared another gift guide here, but I feel like I needed to come up with another gift guide for good measure and for the undecided until now. I hope this list will inspire you when it's time to buy gifts for the special people in your life.



FOR YOUR NEWLYWED FRIEND
Buy her a Royal Copenhagen Star Fluted Christmas Jar (with lid). This elegant jar may be a little pricey but I am sure she will love it. This is a part of the Christmas dinner service of Royal Copenhagen and the festive design will for sure be a perfect gift. If money is an issue and you think this is too much, why don't you join the giveaway? Who knows you might win this for her.

FOR YOUR SISTER
Moleskine notebooks! Yes! I want these too. Hmmmm yes, you can ahead and buy straight from a bookstore if you don't want to wait until you drink all the coffee to get all the stickers. I guess you know what I mean. However, if coffee is already a part of your day then by all means, claim the stickers and get a Moleskin notebook from the coffee shop you always frequent.

FOR YOUR BEST FRIEND
Jo Malone parfum! Can I be your friend? Haha! Kidding aside, this is a luxurious gift to give but something that your best friend will never ever forget for sure.

FOR YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW
An overnight bag from Cath Kidston. You got to get this bag for your mom-in-law so she has something to use when she visits her "apos" over the weekend.

FOR YOUR GIRL FRIENDS
Lipsticks - you can't have too many lipsticks neither will your girl friends. Happy Skin has so many wonderful colors. If you are feeling generous, check out the MAC counters (I'd recommend buying Sin, Ruby Woo, Impassioned, Please Me and Rebel). Hint! Hint!

FOR YOUR DAUGHTER
I plan to buy my little girl a Pandora bracelet and start a tradition of giving her charms every Christmas. Ain't that sweet?

FOR YOUR TRAVELER FRIEND
World adapter is a necessity for any globetrotter. I remember one Christmas when my hubby got me this and I got the same for him. It's serious LOL moment. We loved it though. Our adapters have been to Europe, Middle East, and Asia. It's still working until now and we're looking forward to more travels with it in tow.

FOR YOUR SELF
Ah yes, I included my wish for myself and I am quite sure that I am not the only who wants this golden baby. My Macbook Pro is still working perfectly but I feel like it's too big for me now especially that I also need to bring Summer's baby bag when we go out. The Macbook Air is super light and thin enough to fit in my backpack.

FOR YOUR SISTER-IN-LAW
I'm sure it will be a wonderful surprise to receive sunglasses for Christmas. One less item in the summer essentials list eh?

FOR YOUR MOM
Some dry oil to combat dry skin. You can get Nuxe from Beauty Bar stores.

When it's time to give the gifts, please don't forget to say thank you for their importance in your life - give them a hug too - that will be the perfect bonus, the icing on the cake. Make them feel your love! Happy holidays everyone!

What do you have in your wish list? Care to share?


DISCLOSURE: This post is not a paid advertorial. I was not influenced by any of the brands mentioned above to suggest their products to you. All thoughts, opinions and suggestions are entirely my own. 

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6 NEWBIE MOMMY HACKS

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I love watching videos of hacks that are doable and practical. I've applied a few hacks in our household and I would catch myself sometimes thinking why I didn't think about a certain hack before someone else did. Seriously though, who doesn't love a good hack?


Life hacks are meant to make life easier and simpler. Try these hacks in my list at your own risk. But really, these aren't difficult or even a bit dangerous - just simple, doable life hacks.

01 | Best Way to Reheat Pizza

When you have leftover pizza - don't microwave it. It's going to be soggy and limp. The best thing to do is to heat a pan and put your slice of pizza crust side down and then cover the pan so the heat will not escape. The cheese will melt and your crust will be crunchy. No more soggy leftover pizza.

02 | Fridge Deodorizer 

When your fridge smells funky, mix equal parts baking soda and vinegar with a few drops of lemon juice and it will resurrect your fridge and make it smell divine again. I've tried this several times. This also works for cupboards. You can use charcoal too by the way.

03 | Know When To Ditch An Egg

Not sure if you can still cook eggs? Put an egg in a basin of water and if it floats, it's time to toss it away.

04 | Entertainment For Your Furry Friend

Want a toy and food at the same time for your pet dog? Freeze dog food and toys in a mold (go big like a bucket mood) and let your dogs go to town with the frozen treat. Your dog will be entertained for a long time.

05 | Lettuce In Jars

Instead of keeping your lettuce in your vegetable storage, cut it up and make single serving of salads and store in mason jars. By doing so you prolong the shelf-life of your greens instead of wilting in bags. Ready-to-eat healthy snack ready when you open your fridge.

06 | Homemade Dry Shampoo 

I don't like to shampoo everyday because it leaves my hair dry and limp. So I use cornstarch with a few drops of essential oil to make my homemade dry shampoo. Just pour on your palm and massage onto hair for an instant volume and oil-free mane.

BONUS HACK: When your Nutella jar is almost finished, scoop ice cream and mix and eat to your hearts content. Yum! Is this the best hack in the world or what?

Got any hacks you want to share with me? 

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FRIDAY'S 10 HAPPY THINGS 19

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Welcome to another round of Friday's 10 Happy Things where I jot down ten things that made me happy this week. Keeping this list gets easier every week. Click the image below this blog post if you wanna join us spread happy cheers all around. 


“Whatever you decide to do, make sure it makes you happy.”





Here's my happy things this week: 

1.  My Spotify playlist. The songs are a little bit slower than the ones I usually like but this bunch allows me to focus and get some work done. My picks of the week - Pretty Thoughts and Make You Feel by Alina Baraz. 

2.   Finally downloaded and installed Away and Aqualita - two of the fonts I have been crushing on. I also shared 5 script fonts that I have fallen in-love with and have been consistently using in my projects. Download this month's bundle from Creative Market HERE. You get $1,130 worth of modern script fonts, retro Photoshop presets, textured backgrounds, watercolor splotches and a lot more for only $39 buckaroos! That's more than 96% savings! You just have to make sure that you have extra storage space because these bundles aren't tiny in size. 

3.   Summer loves persimmons! Persimmon is one of my favorite fruits and I guess I transferred that liking to her eh? 

4.  Uploaded Summer's video on EllenTube and it was set to private at first because of the music but it was approved after a couple of hours. Sweet! So sorry that my phone was vertical thus the black parts of the screen. I should have known better. And yeah, pardon our extremely messy house. That white paper on the wall is not a decoration but the price list of the products I am selling. LOL! 





5.   I've accepted a couple of design projects again - birthday invitation and a product label for a cake maker. Yay! Keep 'em coming. 

6.   Flatlays and product styling. I've watched a few how-to videos in Youtube and I am learning the ropes. 

7.   Lydia's lechon. I remember eating lechon almost everyday weeks before my due date. I kind of feel the same amount of craving for it again now but I am not pregnant. I need to curb this appetite. I should. I need to. But yes, it makes me happy. End of story. 

8.   Honey and citrus sugar scrub. I've concocted my own mixture and my skin is liking it. I'll perfect the formula and probably give it to friends so they can test it as well. Manuka honey is love! 

9.   Gugo bark shampoo from The Happy Organics. My falling hair has lessened after using it. 

10.  Vitamin C. I'm never the one who would religiously take vitamins and other meds but I sure am not skipping on Vitamin C because I've had 2 or 3 instances of sniffles in the past two months. So yeah, happiness is when you aren't sick. 

That sums up my happy list this week. Do you list down things that made you happy too? Do share, I would love to know. 

PHOTO CREDIT: The ever awesome PicJumbo. You can get high quality high resolution stock photos from the site for free. I, however, purchased the premium pack so I now have access to more pictures. 



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THE SUNDAY CURRENTLY

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Happy Sunday!

It's Sunday once again and I am back to let you inside my Sunday currently...




I am currently...

reading new about the Paris Attacks and all the other attacks all over the world. Shaking my head - unimaginable.

writing invoices to send for the orders placed over the weekend for my little online business.

listening to Summer's nursery rhymes.
thinking about what to feed Summer this coming week. I think I am going to let her try bitter gourd for the first time.

smelling the pork belly roasting in the oven right now. I am going to share the recipe in a blog post this week.

wishing for world peace but then again it might be too tall an order for now. Still...

hoping to take good pictures of the roasted pork belly so I can include in my blog post.

wearing shorts and a tank top and as always a messy bun.

loving playtime with my little girl.

wanting to sleep early tonight and wake up refreshed tomorrow.

needing to do some grocery shopping before the APEC 2015 wreaks havoc to Manila traffic. Our house is about 2 kilometres away from the APEC conference venue.

feeling nervous of the security situation in Metro Manila in light of the APEC 2015 gathering where 21 heads of states and their entourage will be here to discuss economic issues and other political concerns in the Asia Pacific region and the other stakeholders. I wish I can see the new Prime Minister of Canada and President Obama but I guess that's just next to impossible.

clicking through more recipes to try in the Epicurean app while writing this blog post.

So yeah, that's my Sunday, currently! It was amazing to meet my wonderful friend, Eddene, again after not seeing each for almost 4 years. We met her in a hotel before her flight and we had lunch.

Here's my old archive of The Sunday Currently. If you want to join us, click here or here

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MY #WONDERFUL WORLD OF WONDER WITH VIKTORIA SUMMER

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My life is peppered with #wonderful moments - moments that shape me, moments that make me or break me.

I have watched Love Actually again and again and I always feel inspired after the movie credits start rolling. Love is all that matters isn't it? I have fond memories of my wedding day as well - one of the happiest days of my life no doubt. However, the one thing that tops the list and the reason for making my life #wonderful to a whole new level is when I had my daughter, Viktoria Summer.


My pregnancy was the hardest but everything turned 180 degrees when I finally laid my eyes on my beautiful baby daughter, Viktoria Summer. She is my fulfillment - my ultimate reason for living. She has brought me so much joy, so much hope, so much promise of more #wonderful things to happen in the future. I can still remember when we prayed for her and I was overwhelmed with emotion when I held her for the first time. She was so innocent, so precious, so lovely.

I did not have an easy pregnancy but I know all along that all will be worth it. I was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum (morning sickness that is worse than the normal morning sickness). I had to be admitted to the hospital twice so that I can be properly hydrated and nourished and so that you will also be adequately hydrated and nourished. Apart from the hyperemesis gravidarum, I was also diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease and some form of thyroid disorder as well as gestational diabetes mellitus. I started to track my blood sugar by pricking my fingertips before each meal and inject insulin on my third trimester. I told my endocrinologist that I would rather prick my fingertips a thousand times more than the nurses pricking your heel for at least a week in the neonatal intensive care unit if you suffer from hypoglycaemia. -excerpt from A Letter To My Future Daughter


I know that this happiness that I feel can never be topped by any other life event that will ever happen in my life. My life is nothing but #wonderful since I first saw my little baby daughter. The feeling of raring my Viktoria Summer gives me a sense of fulfillment that nothing would ever top.
If you are curious to know what makes my world all sorts of #wonderful since I had my baby, here are my reasons why:

01 | Being a mommy is the most rewarding feeling in the world - I am sure all moms will vouch and agree with me regarding this. I feel the purest form of joy as a mother.

02 | I gave up my career to be able to take care of my little one but I have no ounce of regret in me and because I chose to be a full-time mom I was able to witness ALL my baby's milestones. The joy that I feel when she first said "mama" can never be matched with a price tag.

03 | I get to be an enabler as my daughter makes her own world of wonder. I love seeing her eyes light up with every discovery - be it holding and feeling the texture of a new cracker, touching a cold glass, playing with my hair, playing with her toys, figuring out where mommy is hiding when we play peek-a-boo, among other things. She is always in awe and I love being there for her in her moments of wonder.

04 | One smile from my baby and all my stress melts away. Playing with her is very therapeutic, very heartwarming.

05 | Being a mother altered my life - in a very positive way. I take calculated risks now. I feel empowered knowing that someone needs me. My baby gives my life purpose every day of my life. I feel like I am a better person now.

06 | I live to see another smile, another giggle, another hug. My life was great before I had my daughter but it reached a different level of #wonderful when I had her.

07 | I get a cookie every day. Part of Summer's snack time is a cookie or two and everything that she drops, I eat. How awesome is that?

08 | My life is so full of positivity - positive thoughts, positive outlook, positive dreams, positive goals.

09 | I have no memory of my first year as a baby so reliving each moment with my daughter brings me back to my past - milk, diaper changes, messy play area among others. It kind of going full circle.

10 | My life as a mother is #wonderful - because I know that I will have a friend forever - my daughter.

Philippine Airlines flies to Auckland, New Zealand starting December 2015.


What makes your world #wonderful? Share your world of wonder and get a chance to win an all-expense-paid trip to New Zealand!

Disclosure:This is my entry to the Nuffnang and Globe Telecom #Wonderful Blog and Instagram Competition (in partnership with Philippine Airlines and Agoda). All thoughts and opinions mentioned in this post are entirely my own and were not influenced by any of the brands mentioned.

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KT COOKS: OVEN-BAKED PORK BELLY

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I always pass by several food stalls in one of my favorite malls and I almost always salivate every time I pass by a stall that sells lechon. C'mon! Who doesn't salivate over the gloriously crispy skin and super juicy meat of lechon? There is really something about the scent of lemongrass delicately perfuming this dish and the complex but pleasant taste of the herbs and spices used to flavor the dish that makes you want to shout "extra rice please?".

As much as I would want to buy a kilo or two every time I crave for this dish, it doesn't come cheap at all (not to mention the cholesterol). One kilo costs around Php750-850 on ordinary days here in Metro Manila. I bet it will be more expensive as the holiday season draws near.

So, what better way to satiate one's craving and save a huge chunk of extra cash than to DIY. Yes, I researched for recipes online and I hit the jackpot when I first tried to follow a recipe I found and just tweaked it a little bit for my taste. I did not roast this in an open-pit with charcoal for starters.

Here goes:


INGREDIENTS

1.5 to 2 kilos of quality pork belly (be sure to check the slice before buying it)
1 cup apple cider vinegar (distilled vinegar is fine too)
1 cup water
1/2 cup salt plus a little extra to be used before cooking
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon black ground pepper
a few stalks of fresh lemongrass
1 red onion
1 head of garlic
an assortment of your favorite herbs (I used rosemary and thyme)
extra virgin olive oil


BRINING PROCESS

01  Dissolve salt in water.
02  Mix all dry ingredients left.
03  Pour water with salt and vinegar all over the meat.
04  Massage the herbs and spices to the pork belly.
05  Pour the vinegar and marinate for at least 6 hours inside the refrigerator.

PREPARATION BEFORE BAKING

01  Wash the meat so the salty taste will be lessened.
02  Pat dry and put a little bit of salt and pepper all over the meat.
03  Roll the meat with lemongrass in the middle (or bay leaf if you wish) and tie using a baker's twine. Be careful not to overlap the skin so the meat will be thoroughly cooked.
04  Brush extra virgin olive oil on the skin of the meat.

NOTE: Preheat your over while doing the preps.  Oh and yes, brining apparently ensures crispy skin all the time. Thank you! 


BAKING

Bake the meat for 1.5 to 2 hours at 210-220 degrees celsius. Make sure to turn the meat around for even cooking. After 2 hours, let the meat rest before slicing.


Serve with rice and enjoy! I used soy sauce and calamansi juice for the sauce. I don't like to make gravy (no matter how easy it is). But of course you can always buy the well-loved lechon sauce at the supermarket to complete the experience.

TOTAL COST - Php800 for 2 kilos (because Monterey meat is pricier than regular market meat)
SERVINGS - 8 to 10 

Do you like lechon as well? If you ever try to make this, let me know how it turns out. 

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FRIDAY'S 10 HAPPY THINGS 20

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Welcome to another round of Friday's 10 Happy Things where I jot down ten things that made me happy this week. Keeping this list gets easier every week. Click the image below this blog post if you wanna join us spread happy cheers all around. 


“There is no royal road to anything. One thing at a time, all things in succession. That which grows fast, withers as rapidly. That which grows slowly, endures.” 
-Josiah Gilbert Holland 





Here's my happy things this week: 

1.  Justin Bieber's new album, Purpose. This is the first time that I am raving about his songs. I love the melody, the lyrics, the beat, everything. I like his tattoos too by the way. 

2.   Watching vlogs of Benjie and Judy's (itsjudystime) family vacation in Japan. I wanna go!

3.   Business was good except for a little hassle (courier was not able to cross closed roads and such because of APEC). Oh and yes, we have an ongoing promotion this month that you might want to check out. 

Check us out on Instagram - http://instagram.com/excellentorganics


4.  Meeting my friend, Eddene, after almost 4 years of not seeing each other. The last time we saw each other was when Christian and I travelled to Singapore. 


5.   Tea time. I love quiet moments while sipping my tea before bedtime. 

6.   My oven-baked pork belly was a hit when I prepared it twice this week. If you want to try the recipe, please check my previous post and please please please don't skip the brining process. 

7.   Bubble wraps. Hahaha! I don't know why but popping the trapped air bubbles make me so happy.

8.   Snapchat. I started using the app this week and let's see if I stick to it. 

9.   I was finally able to edit a few pictures from our Denmark vacation. I will be sharing my picks in a blog post next week. 

10.  I bought a tape dispenser and my life became so much easier. I pack the items I ship individually so really a tape dispenser is a necessity.

That sums up my happy list this week. Do you list down things that made you happy too? Do share, I would love to know.



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THE SUNDAY CURRENTLY: LIFE IS SWEET

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Happy Sunday!

It's Sunday once again and I am back to let you inside my Sunday currently...

PHOTO CREDIT: STOCKSNAP.IO

I am currently...

reading articles about the refugee situation in Europe. I'm scared for Europe's future to be honest especially after reading about the human traffickers profiting from this exodus. Some aren't actually legit refugees from war-torn countries but people who are looking to take advantage of the welfare being doled out in the EU.

writing this blog post before my afternoon nap. Oh the sweetness of doing nothing...

listening to Justin Bieber's album Purpose on Spotify.

thinking about investing in a mutual fund. Adulting!

smelling nothing. I have stuffy nose yet again. Arrrrgh! It's time to load up on Vitamin C.

wishing for a slice of blueberry cheesecake to magically appear on my desk as I type this.

hoping to finally decide on the theme for Summer's first birthday. I have less then 3 months left to plan.

wearing PJ's and a messy bun.

loving the baked salmon that we had for lunch.

wanting to go out and walk but I'd rather sleep. I'm tired!

needing to clean up my blog some more. I still have a few articles from the previous years that needs to be taken down especially the obsolete press releases.

feeling concerned about the possibility of 3rd world war or has it started already?

clicking through different websites while trying to be educated about the situation in Syria and why so many countries wants to see the country in flames and rubbles.

So yeah, that's my Sunday, currently! It was amazing to meet my wonderful friend, Eddene, again after not seeing each for almost 4 years. We met her in a hotel before her flight and we had lunch.

Here's my old archive of The Sunday Currently. If you want to join us, click here or here

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5 TIPS TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY DURING THE HOLIDAYS

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Oh I can definitely feel the Christmas spirit all over the metro. Everywhere I look I see Christmas ornaments - lights, decors, trees all adorn up halls, streets, balconies, houses and even malls. In the Philippines you know it's the Christmas season when malls are packed, lines are long, everyone's extra cheery and seems to be in high spirits and in good cheer not to mention that traffic becomes so crazy especially in business districts.

Based on studies, the holiday season is when people are the happiest but also the most stressed because of all the activities, the shopping, the preparations, the parties - it's just a very busy season. Sometimes it's too much to take for the whole month let alone one week or two. I bet the easiest thing to do this holiday season is to accept gifts. Right? I could be wrong though. At any rate, poor choices of food, sleepless nights due to parties among other bad holiday habits can take a toll on our immune system as much as the holidays also coincide with the cold and flu season.

#FernCSubokNa     #StressFreeChristmas    #HealthyHoliday
So how do you boost your immunity during the holidays? I guess that's the million dollar question but I have a few tips that I wanted to share in the hopes that this article would be able to help you boost your immunity. You have to do the best you can so that you don't spoil your merry holidays.

Here are my 5 tips especially for you my dear readers:

O O D 

Eat a diet comprised mostly of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Remember to not binge on food that is very high in saturated fat (hello lechon?!?). It could not be denied that holiday food can be incredibly high in calories and may pose a negative impact to our health. What you can do is to make sure to consume five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day. When you go shopping, carry a bag of carrots to munch on so you don't binge and mindlessly eat whatever is within reach . Do not go to the grocery or supermarket hungry. Always have a healthy snack within reach - this could do wonders for you. If you can't buy yourself a material gift, at least feed your body with the right food. Oh and yes, avoid eating food with very high salt content so you don't unnecessarily retain water and be bloated in all your holiday pictures. That would be very stressful for sure!
According to Prevention here's a list of the 9 power foods that are very good in boosting one's immunity. Try to incorporate these good stuff in your daily meals and snacks. You can't have too much of a good thing yeah?

The key for this tip is to ensure that you are consuming food that you need in order to sustain your daily needs. You can eat whatever you like but make sure that you are doing so in moderation. Don't binge on any food so you get the nourishment that your body needs to stay healthy.


X E R C I S E

Stay active, get moving, and don't let your exercise routine go on a holiday. You don't need to work out so hard or run hundreds of kilometres - you just need to be moderately active. When you go shopping, park at the farthest corner/spot of the parking area, that way you get to walk towards your destination. When you boost your exercise routine you also boost your immune system. Don't wait for the new year to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle. Always remember that at least 30-minutes of physical activity every day is better than nothing at all.

You also do not need a gym membership to able to do some exercise routines. You can use household items as a matter of fact. For example, you can fill an empty bottle with water and use it as weights for strength training. You can also use a chair or your wall when you do lunges. You can go up and down the stairs to get your heart pumping. Easy peasy!
E L A X

Listen to music, get a massage, stick to a good sleeping habit or enrol in a yoga class. You need to be able to block the world around you and indulge yourself in some me-time to combat the overwhelming holiday stress. Find things to do that would allow you to just focus on the present - this way you will feel less hurried and more calm. It would also help to know that your body has its breaking point so it's important to wind down and get charged up once again by resting and relaxing to keep your immune system strong.

Of course, relaxing also involves sleeping. Make sure to get ample amount of sleep so your body can gets to rest and recharge. Adequate sleep is essential for a healthier and stronger immune system and of course overall health. It will for sure make you feel better and boost your mood as well. After all, you need all the rest you can get so you have all the energy that you need to face all the holiday to-do's.
U R T U R E

This holiday season is the perfect time to nurture yourself. Give yourself the gift of self-love because it is the only way to give love. If you love your self, you will radiate love to your family and friends. When you are truly happy from within, your glow will be very visible, you will attract good vibes. As you nurture yourself, learn to listen to what your body wants and needs. Balancing your inner self as well as your outside appearance will allow you to make healthy decisions.

Part of nurturing yourself is to drink enough water - it is very basic but also very good for you and your health.

V I T A M I N  C- "your daily dose of added immunity"

Staying healthy and maintaining tip top immunity during the holiday season is very important. To complete the loop of boosting your immunity, you have to load up on your Vitamin C intake as well and that's where Fern-C can help me, you and all our loved ones. Choosing the right brand with the best benefits is essential so that you get the most protection for every peso you spend. Incorporate this in your daily routine to ensure optimum benefits despite the holiday stress that you face.

Did you notice my 5 tips with letters representing Fern-C?
FOOD
EXERCISE
RELAX
NUTURE
VITAMIN C

So why do I choose Fern-C out of all the available Vitamin C's in the market today?
Click the image above to visit the Fern-C website where you can read more about the product.

A healthy immune system is the best defense we have against bacteria, microbes and different kinds of viruses that attack our body and bring about different forms of diseases (most common would be respiratory illnesses). The immune system wards off these unwelcome visitors in wreaking havoc to our health. You may not know it but on a daily basis, our body uses antioxidants to boost the immune system through the fruits and vegetables that we consume and supplementing it with sodium ascorbate is an excellent practice on your road to healthy living. 

Sodium ascorbate consists of a combination of sodium and Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid. In this mixture, the sodium acts as the buffer thus creating a less acidic supplement than those made with pure ascorbic acid. Hello Fern-C!!! Fern-C is dissolved easily by the body and is a non-acidic form of Vitamin C. Taking this supplement ensures that we all meet our daily Vitamin C requirement. We also need it to produce collagen which hastens the healing of wounds and keeps the immune system healthy. It is also good to note that sodium ascorbate is more reactive compared to ascorbic acid in building connective tissues and anti-body structures which makes it more effective in eliminating bacteria, microbes and viruses. 

To boost your immunity during the holidays and help ensure a stress-free celebration, aim to meet your daily Vitamin C requirement. Don't forget to include Fern-C in your shopping list. While you're at it, why not give the gift of immunity boost and include capsules of sodium ascorbate goodness to your family and friends? 

To read more about Fern-C and to participate in promotions, 
please visit Fern-C's social media accounts by clicking the links below: 



Stay healthy and happy this Christmas season!

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BLOG HEADERS AND GIVEAWAY

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Hello everyone!

This will be a quick post. I am just going to share these simple blog headers that I created for my sister, my uncle and my new mommy blog. I hope you find time to visit the blogs I will link below.

ABOUT LITTLE WOOT

My sister already has her blog way back in 2012 but she forgot her password and she can't regain access so she started a new blog after she gave birth in 2014.

NANAY NI SUMMER

This is my new blog and it's written in Tagalog and English. This will be my mommy diary. Finally, I have a blog that caters to a specific niche.

COFFEE TIME WITH DON

Uncle Don started blogging in 2013 but he stopped because he can't find time. Over the weekend, he informed me that he wants to give it another try and he wants to give his blog a new life. The new layout and header is my welcome back to blogging gift for him.


If you want me to create a blog header for you, please let me know. Yes, it's a freebie! Yay! I will be making the headers for free for the first 10 to request. You may email me (kessathea26@gmail.com) or comment below. The output will be either a .jpg or .png file. 

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FRIDAY'S 10 HAPPY THINGS 21

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Welcome to another round of Friday's 10 Happy Things where I jot down ten things that made me happy this week. Keeping this list gets easier every week. Click the image below this blog post if you wanna join us spread happy cheers all around. 


“Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.” 
-Groucho Marx



Here's my happy things this week: 

1.  Summer can stand on her own for at least 10 seconds now. She can also clap or wiggle a bit while standing and listening to her favorite songs (Watch Me Whip/NaeNae and Dessert). Oh and did I mention she can shriek when she gets too excited? She never fails to amuse me each day. 

2.   Hubby finally had internet when they reached the port in Guam and we were able to talk for a good hour and a half. They had very spotty internet when they traversed the Pacific Ocean from Hong Kong to Guam so we could not have a decent conversation. 

3.  I finished the commissioned project based on my client's request. She really loved the output. Here's the mockup presentation of one of the designs: 




4.  Marks & Spencer milk chocolate digestives. I just love this sweet treat and of course a warm cup of tea. 


5.   I finally decided to create a "mommy blog". If you are keen to check out its early stage, visit Nanay Ni Summer. It's a Taglish blog. I plan to focus on my journey as a new mom to my little darling Summer and document it in the blog. 

6.   I love free things and I get 6 free design goods every Monday. Get this gold design elements for free until Sunday. Download here. This pack will be perfect for all your Christmas projects (gift tags, cards, posters, etc).

What you get with this freebie: 
  • 28 Seamless Gold Layer Styles (ASL files)
  • 8 Extra Inscriptions (AI files)
  • 8 Pattern (PNG files)
  • 38 Gold Textures (JPEG files)
  • 9 Ink Splatters (EPS files)
7.   Two of the photos I entered to the #myweekofwords challenge in Instagram were chosen to be featured by the admins. Thank you so much Its My Week!

8.   A cold bottle of Cocio. So chocolatey and very comforting!

9.   Laughing so hard with my baby. I love how she interacts with me now. I have a little best friend. 

10.  Bistek Tagalog. I will share the recipe in my blog when I feature another dish in my KT Cooks series. 

That sums up my happy list this week. Do you list down things that made you happy too? Do share, I would love to know.



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THE SUNDAY CURRENTLY: PIANO BALLADS ON A SUNDAY

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How did your week go? I have a rather uneventful week and I just spent most of my week at home playing and napping with my baby daughter and finishing up blog posts, researching for future blog posts and procrastinating on cleaning up our bedroom. I look forward to a better week ahead and better means productive.

It's Sunday once again and I am back to let you inside my Sunday currently...




I am currently...

reading a Dr. Seuss book and imagining how to share the story to my daughter to keep her entertained and listen from start to finish. In all honesty, I hope she drifts off to sleep in the middle of the story though.

writing nothing at the moment but I just finished writing waybills for the parcels that I will be sending to my clients after the long weekend. I have a few backlogs to square off but this batch will complete the pending orders. I have also sent out my orders to my supplier for my little business. I've already decided on the December promotion and I will post it in my Instagram as early as tomorrow. Yay!

listening to some piano ballads on Spotify. It's a chill kind of day today really.

thinking of finishing this blog post fast so I can go to the supermarket and shop early for our Christmas eve and New Year's eve "feast" before stocks fly out of the shelves.

smelling the scent of the body scrub I used (Moroccan argan and dead sea salt scrub). Smells so good!

wishing that my hubby will have a better internet connection while onboard the ship so he can view the videos of Summer that I sent him.

hoping to kickstart my running regimen again soon.

wearing a floral dress and a high messy bun. It's my go-to choice of clothes when I am just lounging inside the house.

loving the party planning checklist that I made. You can download it here.

wanting to bake a banana cake or a red velvet cake or maybe just start cleaning our bedroom to get it over and done with.

needing to finish shopping to complete my gift list. I still have a few items that I need to buy but the Metro Manila traffic scares me so much and the throng of shoppers ain't nothing to be excited about.

feeling good! Life is good, life is sweet.

clicking through a few "mommy blogs" and getting some inspiration on what kind of blog posts should be in a mommy blog. I started a blog in that niche this week and I am hoping that I would be able to sustain this new venture. http://nanaynisummer.blogspot.com

Here's my old archive of The Sunday Currently. If you want to join us, click here or here

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FRIDAY'S 10 HAPPY THINGS 22

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Welcome to another round of Friday's 10 Happy Things where I jot down ten things that made me happy this week. Keeping this list gets easier every week. Click the image below this blog post if you wanna join us spread happy cheers all around. 


“I am in charge of how I feel and today I am choosing happiness!” 



Here's my happy things this week: 

1.   It's Design Deals Week - all featured designs can be yours with 30% discount. View all design deals here

2.   I won 3rd place in the recently concluded #MerrySMChristmas and Nuffnang PH Blogger Contest.  It would have been better if I snagged the first placer deserved her win. You could really tell that she put a lot of effort and time to come up with her entry. She also visited several SM malls to take pictures. Besides, the Php10,000 shopping spree prize I got ain't really that bad right?

3.  I finally figured out how to create .gif images using Adobe Photoshop's Timeline. I have been looking for Animation under the windows tab but I couldn't find it anymore so I gave in to Google which eventually solved by problem.




4.  Orly Soulmate. I love this nail polish shade. I haven't used red for quite some time so it is a welcome treat to paint my nails red again. 


5.   Lengthy talks with my hubby while they are anchored in South Korea. I am not sure if they will go back to Guam again or maybe head to Australia. 

6.   I watch mainstream TV shows and some of them I am quite shy to admit. Hahaha! But yes, I watch 90-Day Fiance aired on TLC. The show features six couples hoping to get married before the K-1 visa if the foreign partner expires. Oh and yes, for this season the Filipina is way too young, just 19 years old, and her fiancé is 58 years old. I gave her the benefit of the doubt when the season started but the show painted the guy to be nothing to be desired of and so now I am thinking that she's only in it for the green card. Next week will be the season finale and the Tell All. 
    7.   Churros from Army Navy. Yum-oh! And of course, their Fearless Fried Chicken. 

    8.   Playtime with Summer. I love every moment spent with her.

    9.   Baked bacon. OMG! You all should stop frying your bacon. Bake it! 

    10. This commercial for a supermarket. Sad and happy at the same time.Sad because I will be spending my Christmas away from my family and hubby but happy because I know that we will all be together again in a few months to celebrate Summer's birthday. 

    That sums up my happy list this week. Do you list down things that made you happy too? Do share, I would love to know.



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    THE SUNDAY CURRENTLY: WARM ME UP, BUTTERCUP

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    I woke up so early today just in time for the Q&A portion of Miss Earth 2015 in Austria. And just when Miss Philippines was supposed to answer the question, my wifi connection dropped. My connection returned when she was already crowned. Ahhhh Globe!

    Take a peek at my Sunday currently...




    I am currently...

    reading nothing. I am way too sleepy to comprehend anything that I will read. I only hope I will make sense in this blog post. If only Summer is not awake, I may as well be napping right now.

    writing this blog post.

    listening to the whirring sound of the electric fan in the corner of the living room. Other than that, our house is super quiet as I write this.

    thinking of going to the supermarket to buy churros. I need some food as much as I need sleep right now.

    smelling my baby's smell. Baby's really do smell soooo good.

    wishing that my stiff neck will feel better soon.

    hoping to get a schedule to meet Summer's pedia before she goes on her holiday break.

    wearing a cotton dress. So comfy!

    loving this free design goodie.

    wanting to organize a garage sale. I need to sell some preloved things at home so I can free up space. Or maybe I can try Shopee or OLX. Let's see if I can do this.

    needing to finish tho slog post before I feel sleep again.

    feeling extremely sleepy. I also feel a little feverish and cold. I  think I'm going to go down with the flu again. I certainly hope not.

    clicking through Creative Market to look for new fonts to buy.

    Here's my old archive of The Sunday Currently. If you want to join us, click here or here

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