Living in another house is making me appreciate the family and just having them around. Although I live nearby, not being able to see the dogs or hear familiar voices when I wake up in the morning takes some getting used to. Days like these I'm thankful that I got to take some shots of the dogs when I last visited home. I'm missing the furry toddler the most and his annoying persistence at wanting to play ball whenever he sees me.
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What I'm most grateful for, what stops me in my tracks especially when I let my mind go blank, is the fact that for several months in a year, I get to stay in a country where the leaves turn into wonderful shades of red, orange, yellow, brown and purple. Just as much as I am often left awestruck by the glorious blues of the sea from a bench on the Rizal Boulevard on a sunny day, I am equally amazed at how the pigments in these leaves transform and rearrange themselves as they prepare to fall. During our fall walks last year we were able to walk through streets turned yellow by fallen ginkgo leaves and parks with tree-lined pathways. Their canopies were green, then light red, and then fiery orange.
Creation is a wonderful thing, isn't it?
Kuya Bammy died on January 6, 2015. Hi death broke my heart and I, along with the rest of the family, miss him everyday. Losing a pet is just like losing a friend or a family member. The first few days I half-expected to see him in his usual spots around the house, under the table, by the door, his favorite spot in front of the TV. There was a point when I looked up from all the crying and felt a little bit stupid, to be crying about a dog for days on end.
But I'm sure dog lovers can relate.
Dogs, humans, they love the same, dogs probably even greater. And so I think it is perfectly reasonable to feel that great of a loss when a dog passes. If it weren't for Nemo, the new pup, the palpable absence would have been felt more severely. There was, and still is, a gaping hole where Kuya Bammy used to be, but I am thankful that Nemo was there, with his puppy energy, to serve as a timely companion for Pepito and to shower old and slow Kuya Choi with his sloppy kisses, something that the old dog has slowly gotten used to. A few shots of the two pups after they got their baths earlier today.
We discovered Bakery 5 last year, and were pleasantly surprised to know that they've expanded to open a couple more branches all over the city. Last week, we dropped by their Nanbin branch because we were starving after getting stuck in the middle of the Chongqing International Marathon bus rerouting, and it was the only chain that we had tried before. I try to avoid eating at new restaurants if am starving. If the food isn't that good I usually end up hungrier than when I came in.
Baker 5 has a great view of Nanbinlu, the river and the cityscape acrosss the river. This part of town is also not too crowded, unlike Jifangbei or Guanyinqiao, and there are lots of art studios and galleries inside the mall. Hop a bus and two stops later, you arrive at Madame Tussauds, too! No wonder a lot of families like to spend the weekend here.
Bakery 5 serves great comfort food, like salads, pasta and breads and sausages all set in a single plate. They also have a great selection of fruit teas. Pair all these with a great view and you get a pretty enjoyable weekend by the river.
Baker 5 has a great view of Nanbinlu, the river and the cityscape acrosss the river. This part of town is also not too crowded, unlike Jifangbei or Guanyinqiao, and there are lots of art studios and galleries inside the mall. Hop a bus and two stops later, you arrive at Madame Tussauds, too! No wonder a lot of families like to spend the weekend here.
Bakery 5 serves great comfort food, like salads, pasta and breads and sausages all set in a single plate. They also have a great selection of fruit teas. Pair all these with a great view and you get a pretty enjoyable weekend by the river.
Dogs are our link to paradise.
They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent.
To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon
is to be back in Eden,
where doing nothing was not boring
—it was peace.
—Milan Kundera
“Hands could be such expressive things.”
― Michael J. Sullivan,
Age of Myth
There's so much that I wanted to go right with the ceremony that we had last August. And although we were so happy with how everything turned out, I'd be lying if I said that I wouldn't change a thing. Because I would have changed SOOOOO many things, including having my Lolo there. But that's DIY weddings for you. The beauty sometimes lies in the imperfections, knowing that it's the people gathered who matter and being thankful for everything else that fit so perfectly according to the script that's in your head.
What I wouldn't change for anything in the world is our decision to make the giveaways ourselves. We wanted something natural and small enough for people to nibble on as they make their way home.
So we picked nuts!
Baking them was a milestone, too, since it was the first time that we used the home oven. Getting the thing to work required more than a few glances at the manual, but pretty soon our tiny house was awash in the comforting smells of baking almonds, walnuts, and peanuts. That's one memory of the days leading to August 18 that will remain with me, because it was just the two of us doing the scooping and filling and it was exactly how I'd imagined us doing it. The decision also made me discover how nuts make the perfect substitute for Pringles for those nights when I get bored and hungry.
This may not be that groundbreaking, couples' decision to be hands-on with certain aspects of their wedding. And I'm sure other couples have done far better jobs than we did with ours. But I'm glad we did, because the memories of choosing and making and stressing over things made the 18th so much more memorable.
This may not be that groundbreaking, couples' decision to be hands-on with certain aspects of their wedding. And I'm sure other couples have done far better jobs than we did with ours. But I'm glad we did, because the memories of choosing and making and stressing over things made the 18th so much more memorable.
“Make a pact with yourself today to not be defined by your past.
Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn't what you get for it,
but what you become for it.
Shake things up today!
Be You...
Be Free...
Share.”
― Steve Maraboli
Life, the Truth, and Being Free
I have been thinking about how amazing the Internet is, because it fosters creativity and sharing, friendships bridged by fiber optic cables and cultivated through instant messages, hour-long conversations over chatboxes, and encouragement in the form of blog comments and social network "Likes". No matter what they say about how impersonal communication is becoming in the day and age of the Internet, there is also a lot to be said about how the Internet is fostering a new kind of friendship and meaningful communication between people who have not even met in person.
I consider a lot of bloggers and writers online as personal mentors, whether I communicate with them personally or not, and without the Internet, I would not have these influences (will definitely be doing a post on my top inspirations and am pretty excited about it!) Nor would these things be possible had these people been too selfish to answer questions or write about things that inspire them, which also inspires me. The world is bursting at the seams with creativity, it's just a matter of knowing what draws you in, what makes your heart skip a beat, and immersing yourself totally in it.
Creativity is free online and there are so many sources of inspiration out there, but without people willing to share the results of their creativity and without those who readily give encouragement to others who need it, none of these will be available for inspiration-starved people like myself. So a big Thank you to the people who invented the Internet, the people who share in it, and the people who spread positivity and inspiration with each of their posts.
Happy Labor Day!
“She's an old soul with young eyes, a vintage heart, and a beautiful mind.”
― Nicole Lyons
Chestnuts Café is tucked inside a run-down alley behind the glossy high-rises of GYQ, another new café in what used to be an old apartment unit.The next-door units also look like they've been transformed into craft shops and cafes, but were closed so we couldn't know for sure. The upper floors remain occupied by tenants, so looking up you'd likely see laundry hanging from the balconies, planters sitting by windowsills mixed with old toys and broken electric fans.
A few steps from the café you can see small noodle stalls selling for 5RMB, the backs of kitchens, people peddling fruits and vegetables on carts. This isn't really a place one would expect to find a retro-inspired café. But it's here, they're here now, sprouting like mushrooms after a rainy day and it's fun discovering them to see what they offer, side from the eclectic curated décor and the fur cushions on wood-and-wicker lounges.
The owners recommend their Thai tea, but too late, I had already ordered the matcha in ice. My glass was still good though, creamy and earthy with that characteristic leafy aftertaste. The husband stuck to his American coffee but this time with ice, since it was really hot. I made a mental note to go back to try the Thai tea, hopefully served warm and perfect for fall.
The shop is small and is also a boutique. Going in I think we interrupted a trunk sale. The space outside was a charming extension of the shop though, and that afternoon we had the front yard to ourselves as we people-watched and stretched our legs after a long walk.
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ABOUT ME
Fur mama, bargain hunter, and horror-movie buff. I write for businesses and real people. I also love taking photos of lived, honest and authentic moments. Especially when dogs are involved.