Gratitude # 14

First, we just survived a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. This happened over an hour ago and it was so shocking because before the actual quake happened, there was this strong pull that literally almost unseat me from where I was seated.

It was unnerving, to say the least. Seeing your walls and floor move is something that just triggers major anxiety in you. Still, I am grateful that no one was hurt. 

I'm also grateful for moments that happened last week. I had coffee at a cafe with the husband and brother. Baby K was also able to "go out" via drive thru. 

We had coffee at Wild Heart Flower Shop and they had pretty decent cafe au lait. What really drew me to the place though were the hundreds of dried flowers. 

There was also a Bibingkinitan beside them so that was a welcome treat. 

I also had my first haircut in two years. 

And I think that I finally had my attic the way I wanted it. It's not the Pinterest worthy attic that I wanted but it has everything that we wanted to keep. If I could find a way to get rid of all the megaboxes, then I think I'd be a happy person. 

Lastly, I also finished the Belle diamond painting that I started 5 weeks ago. 

Overall, it has been a great week. I even made a cheesy nori ramen for the husband as well as some nori cheesy eggs for breakfast. 

How was your week?

Gratitude # 13

 

The past week has been amazing. 

I've recently been dabbling in the kitchen and learning a few things here and there. I looked up online how to do some egg recipes because my husband and firstborn both love eggs. Sadly, the youngest hates it but we forgive him because he's cute and is just 19 months old. 

This is a Korean steamed egg and I was so happy to see that there was a recipe where I didn't need to use the Korean earthenware bowl.

I ended up with fluffy Korean steamed eggs which my husband and son really loved. They actually asked for seconds. 

I also tried making an Egg Pan Toast and though I wasn't able to really achieve how they did it in this video, I was able to make a version that had decent eggs and melted milk which my son devoured.

I have also perfected how to make tamagoyaki which I'm really proud of.  

Next on my list is the Omurice which I know is a little harder but I'm excited. Hopefully, I'll be able to try something more than eggs. 

I finally got back some of my confidence enough to post a whole-body photo again. For the last 2 years, I know that I have ballooned, and looking at my photos, I felt insecure and ugly. Thankfully, my husband loves me the way I am, flaws and all but we've decided that we both need to be healthier and slimmer for our kids. 

I also got to revamp our dining chairs with a pop of color. 

I'm also going back to reviewing makeup and I'm actually excited about it. I don't know but I feel like it's time for me to really own up to my promise of looking better now that I have a husband. 

I also finally got to organize my desk the way I want it to look which is a combination of my makeup and work combined. Kind of like boss babe vibes. Haha.

I'm just grateful that we're all healthy, alive, safe, and still able to earn a living. These days, this is all we could hope for honestly. 

How was your week?

Jaytee Balmores of Jeepney Jaytee restores Faith in Humanity

You can't put a good man down. 

This quote couldn't be more true when applied to Jaytee Balmores, the man behind Jeepney Jaytee, Edmonton's most famous food truck. 

Jaytee Balmores is the man behind this successful food truck that sells Filipino food based in Edmonton, Canada. He is also the endorser for a lot of other businesses such as Great Smile Family Dental and Lexus of Edmonton West. 

He is also known to be a kind and caring person. However, it seems that there is more to Jaytee than meets the eye. This moment was captured by one of his workers and shared on social media without him knowing.

It is stories like this that need to be told to the world. This random act of kindness from someone who is already considered a celebrity is something that people should emulate. 

Jeepney Jaytee is Edmonton's most famous food truck and even won Best Food Truck of the Year twice in a row. This is a testament to how great their food is. The photo below was taken pre-COVID. 

He may be famous but he is definitely grounded. When you truly care about people, you work hard, hustle even harder while making sure you have your feet on the ground, success will always come to you. 

Hats off to you Jaytee! We hope you continue being a great example to mankind. 

on The Power of Prayers

I was invited to attend a press conference for an app that's meant to encourage people to PRAY.  It lead me to watch this video and I ended up crying. 

I cried for so many things and I want to pray for these people and these things. 

So I will. 

Dear Lord, 

I am beyond grateful for the fact that you have kept my family and I safe from the virus. Thank you for protecting us from harm, be it biological, physical, or medical. Thank you. 

Thank you for the food that we eat, the home that we are living in which shelters us, and for the opportunities for us to earn a living. 

Thank you for my Dad. He was never the ideal Dad who would make time to sit down and bond but he made sure that we were able to go to the best schools so that we would have ammunition in this world. He was almost never there but at least I have a few fond memories. Very few but at least it exists. 

The song "Do You Want to Know a Secret" by the Beatles will always have a special place in my heart because it will always remind me of the jamming that we had. It was one time but at least it happened. 

Thank you for my Mom. She did the best that she could and she instilled a lot of good values that I have used in life. She wasn't perfect but she did her best to make sure that I get straightened out, that my feet remain on the ground, and that I can survive anything that life has to throw at me.

I miss you Mommy. You have no idea how much I miss you but I am so proud of myself because I've been able to stand on my own two feet. You made sure that I can do this and I am doing it. I just wish you could see me right now. I'm not helpless anymore. 

I'm able to manage my own household, finances, and my family. I've become what you wanted me to be. Resilient, strong, and a fighter. 

I worry about you. I worry if you're sleeping enough, resting enough, eating enough, or staying healthy. I wish I could be there but I know that I need to lead my own life and I know that you need to be there for K. 

I just miss you so much at times. 

I'm learning to cook. My house is halfway decent and clean most of the time though I know it won't pass your standards still but I'm at 60% of what you would like. I think I'm doing pretty well. 

I hope you're okay. I hope you're happy. Lord, please make sure my Mom is okay ha.

Hi Shobe, 

I pray to God that you are okay. I pray that you will be okay. I pray that you have found your way back to Him and that in time, you will be okay, that you will be our Shobe again. 

I miss you. I miss the girl in this photo. I miss my little sister. 

I hate what happened but I know that God has a reason why things happened. I just wish that at the end of all of this pain and heartache, you will be okay and that you'll pick yourself up again and remember that we are your family and that we will always want only what is best for you. 

I love you. You may not love me or even like me right now and I may not like the things that you have done or been doing but know that I love you and I pray for you every single night. 

Lord, 

These three people, they're not in my life right now but I know you know that I love them so much. I hope that you will keep them safe, healthy, and strong. I hope that you watch over them as much as you do us. 

This I pray in Jesus' name. 

Amen. 

Gratitude # 12

It's now the BER months. Just like that, it's Christmas season in the Philippines and this is our 2nd pandemic Christmas. 

No complaints on my end though. We have been so blessed this entire time. We have jobs, we are all healthy, and those of us who can get vaccinate have been vaccinated. 

I am beyond grateful.

August went by in a blur. We've been living in our new home for almost 2 months now and I feel safe in my home once more. I no longer feel crazy nervous when it rains hard unlike in the old house we were renting. 

M and I had our first big fight in this house but thankfully, we were able to resolve it within the day.  I also don't feel crazy anxious because I know that no matter how badly we fight, we will work things out. 

I've also been able to pay off a debt to a friend which I am just so thankful for. I hate being in debt but recent events left me no choice. Thankfully, we're slowly picking ourselves up again. I hope that it continues. 

Blog wise, things are doing really great. I'm actually surprised because I normally get around 30,000 views on average but last month, we hit 56,000+. I also maintained my Top 6 spot in the food niche. 

YouTube has also been doing pretty well for me. 

I also had over 30 brand collaborations and some paid gigs. It's been really wonderful in terms of my side gigs and thankfully, my full-time work is also doing pretty well. 

As for my family and I, our baby is now 18 months old, our firstborn is back in school and duly complaining of on a daily basis, and my husband and I have been together for almost 4 years now. 

My brother who lives in Singapore also got married last August and though we were not there physically, we were able to witness it via Zoom which was good enough because at least, we got to see it happen even virtually. 

Life has been good and though there are small hiccups along the way, I can't help but be thankful to God for the life he has given me. 

40% Off on your favorite Huggies products this September!

Yes, what a way to start the BER months! This is definitely great news for all Moms out there who have babies that are still wearing diapers! 

Huggies will be hosting a sale on their official store on Shopee and you can get up to 40% off on your favorite Huggies products! Ack! 

This actually started last August 24 so I made sure to hoard especially the Huggies Superheroes Edition because it's just too cute! 

Our favorite Superheroes -  Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman are here to save the day! The Huggies Dry Pants Limited Edition Justice League design keeps your baby completely comfortable with its X-channel technology. I'm super excited to try this out. 

Doesn't it look cute? They also have a sale ongoing for the Huggies Dry Diapers for newborn and Huggies Dry Pants Medium Size.  

Huggies Dry Newborn has a Poo Absorb Liner that reduces wetness and prevents skin irritation by pulling runny poo away from your newborn’s delicate skin. It also has a 100% breathable outer cover that allows for better airflow, helping keep the baby’s skin dry and healthy.

This helps prevent diaper rash and has 100% breathable cover.

They also have Huggies Gentle Care Baby Wipes that are thick, soft, and absorbent- designed to clean your baby in just one or two wipes. It is made from natural fibers and has been clinically tested to be safe for a baby’s delicate skin, providing a safe but effective clean.

Make sure you download the Shopee App so you can take advantage of up to 40% off on your favorite Huggies products this September via Shopee!