Trust Gratitude Inspiration Friday: The Power of Now & Vulnerability

 

I'm back! Since I returned this week, I've been quite busy catching up on the daily grind and necessities of life in Manila.  My trip to Samar was great---just the right amount of relaxation with adventure. Watch out for posts on my recent holiday soon! In the meantime, here's a TGIF post. Cheers!

I trust that the Universe is conspiring to give me everything that I have asked for (and actually need), that I need not worry about the future nor be stuck in the past as I trust in the Power of Now and as I trust in all the love that is around me. I am exactly where I'm supposed to be. 

From Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now {via}

Lessons from The Power of Now {via}

I am grateful for the chance to come home, to have indulged in my recent holiday, and to be able to look forward to an opportunity to travel again soon. I am grateful that I do what I do and still have time enough to do what I want to do (does that make sense? Well, it does to me). I am grateful also for the fact that everyone that I love are in perfect health, or even if they're not, they're getting the treatment that they need and are on their way to being well. I am also grateful for half a decade of togetherness (enough said).

{via}

And lastly, I am inspired by no less than Brene Brown herself, who is the creator of Trust Gratitude Inspiration Friday. Today, she inspired me with her talk on The Power of Vulnerability, the video of which you can watch here (and the transcript available here).  Once again, I am encouraged to live my life wholeheartedly, towards having no fear, no pain and most importantly, no regrets. 

{via}

{via}

 Happy Friday!

Sweet Weekend

Double chocolate chip cookie at the Marks and Spencer Bakery

Saturday was spent literally indulging in the sweets life has to offer and Sunday, getting back on track. Sometimes, we just have to give in and live life ---I just wish it didn't have to mean holding ourselves back on most days to make up for the indulgence.

Vintage Bicycle ♥

{via}

For the longest time, I've been wanting to get myself a vintage bicycle. And last month, I finally did it. Took the plunge and got myself one, notwithstanding the lack of open roads for biking in this side of Manila. And of course, the bike had to be red! Buy it and they will come. Or so the saying goes :) Here's me attracting the life I want to live, with freedom and time enough for leisure and the pleasures of riding and enjoying something so uncomplicated as a bicycle. In the meantime, I make do with the city streets. This weekend it was in Global City where everyone is pursuing his or her own trip. One day I'm going to bring it home to Samar and enjoy the country roads---just me and my pretty little red bicycle with a wicker basket.

My 1960's three speed Yamaguchi bicycle

For more on vintage bikes, visit Bzkleta Vintage Bicycles

150 Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City (near J. Ruiz MRT station)

Mobile number: 0917-5769869

Open daily from 10 AM to 9 PM

Five Things Friday

{Longchamp Le Pliage Love}

Inspired by Cupcakes and Cashmere, today is my first Five Things Friday post---a post of things that are making my day, inspiring me, and making me happy this week.

This week is all about rediscovering the basics and at the same time, indulging in a bit of adventure. Like finally giving in to the basic chicness of Longchamp Le Pliage totes (and amassing my new collection in just a few short weeks). And then, rediscovering Cyma's Roka Salata---a salad that reinforces my goal to eat healthy. Also, reinforced the necessity of a natural eyeshadow palette (a girl cannot live without at least one). This week was also about obsessing over George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. Indulging in this fantasy series made me rediscover my first love---reading. And finally, what could be more exciting than booked airline tickets? :) Here's to a great weekend and week ahead, filled with happiness and love! Cheers! :)

{The to-die for Roka Salata via}


{3 girls, 3 brands, 1 basic natural palette}


{The series that will be another classic for this generation. I want to finish this before the series shows on HBO Asia!}


{Looking forward to another holiday coming up this week!}

Size Matters

One weekday afternoon, work in the office was called off for the day due to heavy rains. Then later on, the sun pleasantly surprised us with an appearance. So it was the perfect time to head over once again to the Scout/ Tomas Morato area in Quezon City. There was a new burger place in the well-known foodie area called Size Matters. And not just a plain old burger place but is specializing in sausage burgers.

Lugang Cafe

One Monday, when my mom was in Manila a few weeks back, I treated her and my aunts to lunch in Lugang Cafe in Connecticut Street, Northeast Greenhills. Lugang is the newest kid on the block when it comes to Chinese restaurants in the Greenhills/ San Juan area---a good alternative to the classic Gloria Maris in Greenhills Shopping Center (a verified institution there), as well as the newer Choi Garden along Annapolis.

Sunday Afternoons: Ahavia Lounge Spa

It was quite a happy weekend with my mother in town for a visit, and I even got leave off work on Monday so that I was able to spend more mother-daughter bonding time with her. So the "long" weekend included going to the doctor, lunching, a little bit of shopping... And after a mini-reunion with my aunts on Sunday afternoon, I gave my mom and myself a spa treat at Ahavia Lounge Spa.

I chose Ahavia because it was already getting late and the spa was very near our house. So going there was very convenient. Also, it's the neighborhood spa but I haven't even tried it. So that day, it was the perfect time to do so.

Located in a quiet area of San Juan, Ahavia is in a house that was converted into a spa, lending a more relaxing spa ambiance, as opposed to spas located inside malls.