Not feeling Christmasy.

It is one of my favorite time of the week - Sunday morning. Nothing great today. Blunt as ever.

Holidays are coming up so fast; so fast that I have not even noticed it coming.

Spirit of Christmas - where are you? Please come to me and embrace me with peace and happiness. Come to me fast for I am not feeling you at all.

I have been spending my time in the kitchen, needless to say my favorite place in the world, but I am tired and weary. I need a break.

And again, Spirit of Christmas, come to me.... Fast.

My Eat Pray Love Inspired Bicycle.

I've never been completely and meaningfully moved by a book in such a long time, perhaps too many sunsets ago I was moved by a novel or two, one by Susan Richards and the other one by James Patterson.

I packed a novel by Elizabeth Gilbert on my carry on for a trip that turned about to be the most memorable trip I've ever had in my entire existence to date. I first played with its crisp pages in the airplane and resume reading when I arrived Rome. Funny because as I was reading the first chapter "Eat", everything that the author noted was her life changing trip to Rome. Oh, how she loved the city and the friends she made. She wandered into the streets where I went as well. We both ate Gelato and tons of Pasta. But I have to admit that the best Pizza on Earth as she has described was in Naples and I never set foot there, someday I will.

So, there goes the novel... There goes me...

I strongly admire Elizabeth Gilbert for her courage to go through Italy, India and Indonesia to find balance in her life.

So, I went to google her just because I was practically amazed by her story. Only to find out some lovely pictures of her and her friends who were made mention by her in the book. It feels so nice having seen them even if its just a mere photograph. The fact that I found it makes me so glad, I could jump for joy seeing the real Richard from Texas, the real Wayan and Tutti and not to forget Ketut Liyer the Medicine Man. How fulfilling....

And so because I was deeply inspired and there was one single thing that made me really happy and I thought to myself, I could probably use one of those - Vintage Bicycle.

In the movie, Julia Roberts would wander into the streets and even rice paddies of Bali using her bicycle. Oh how I envy her. My boyfriend Julio decided to get me one and it was really Vintage. He just did a little fixing here and there and I was ready to pedal.

I have no pictures to show you just yet on me pedaling around. Soon I will post it here.

Here is the book. I have the exact copy as seen here.

Miss Gilbert's Ashram friends from India. The man with glasses behind her was said to be Richard from Texas as mentioned in her book.

The famous Medicine Man - Ketut Liyer who would always tell Liz, "smile with face, smile with mind and even smile in your liver"


The healer Wayan and her daughter Tutti.


Deeply inspired and cannot wait to have one...

And so, here is mine in it's all pink glory.

For the love of Vintage and Teapots.

I never had a serious addiction towards collecting something not until my teen years. I was totally obsessed with collecting stickers. I probably have a thousand already. I kept them securely in a huge sticker album that has been my greatest treasure to date. Fast forward, I am now in my mid-20's, collecting stickers would probably put me into a funny sanity state.

So, I went to this cozy coffee shop in Tacloban which is a 2-hour drive from Ormoc and had coffee with my friend Sherry. And there on a simple glass cabinet laid numerous teapots of different forms and sizes. I was mesmerized by its beauty that in the back of my mind I told myself - it can be done.

When I went back to Guam, I saw a teapot that reminded me of that thought "it can be done." and I immediately bought it without second thoughts, doubts, whatsoever. It was a white teapot with an antique finish and floral decoration. It reminded me of Tea Parties in a Victorian Home. I loved it. From then on, I saw one more piece and bought it right away.

When I came home (for good this time), I saw another one in Olive Green and has a very nice shape. So, I have a total of 3 Teapots now. My collection starts.

But because I was so inspired by my favorite blogger Simone of Beach Vintage, I began to appreciate 'vintage finds', and so I saw this bowl decorated with floral and of course purchased it right away for the price of P120.00 and indeed it was a fabulous find.

My love for Vintage and Teapot continues...

And I forgot to made mention about my sea shell collection... Through various Island Getaways, I managed to hand-pick myself shells which I find pretty; I have a lot. They are well displayed in my room now.

I'm a little teapot, short and stout...

This is a Vintage Carousel that I bought from my recent trip to Paris. Perhaps the only pricey thing that I ever bought there aside from Laduree macaroons. Lovely, isn't it?

And the Bowl that I got as a fabulous find. It can house just about anything from potpourri, sea shells, paper clips or even candies of different sort.

My collection now continues...

Crazy Monday.

I was horrified by some news I received last night as I return home from the whole day-garage sale that I was tending to. It is harder than it is. Living in a cozy home filled with lots of negative energy is extremely hard. I can just rant all I want even into the wee hours of the morning but still - everything remains the same, not changing, not even for a little bit. It is crazy and somehow I have learned to live with this. Me and my little sister Marki has so much positive energy with us in our bedroom as we chat and get caught up in laughter and fun but it ends the moment we step out in our colorful rooms and then anguish embraces us, well to me maybe.

I am ranting. I know.

So I prayed to God this morning as I am hopeless. Let there be peace in our home. And I read a few lines in the Bible and then I felt a bit fine. At least.

And so I am sharing with whoever reads my blog - my resting place (the only) and hoping you will like the photographs of my Monday.

How meek and gentle this little flower is? I wish our home was as gentle as this.

The dragonfly whom I never saw fly.

The beauty of the sunset always makes my heart smile. It never fails to do so...

I wish I can tell you that my day ends like the sunset - smooth and longing. But it didn't.
Oh well, I don't want to rant anymore.

What I've been up to lately...

What I've been up to lately? Calories galore.

I am so proud of this cupcake that turned out so fine.

My Lacy Oatmeal Cookies.

My Creme Caramel.

And there is more to come...

My Boracay Adventure.

Me and my boyfriend Julio together with my cousin Melissa went to the lovely island of Boracay to attend the wedding of Julio's college buddy. Oh how nostalgic it feels being there once again. I could live on an island forever...

My favorite subjects...

The newly wedded couple Euan and Nats.

Julio and I.

My gorgeous cousin Melissa.

Can't get enough of sunsets as always...

Oh how peaceful it is...

Takes me to the movie Somewhere in Time...

Ride.

Our Tour guide.

Hues of blue.

And so many kite boarders...

Rome.

My Roman holiday was exceptionally splendid. I in all probability had gained a few extra pounds because of the gelato that I gobble every day.

So much to explore, so much to see and so many great dishes to savour... I wasn’t able to experience all of them in this trip but I will definitely go back and do everything.

Here are some of my favorite photographs.

The Colosseo.

My Roman attire for the day. A simple summer dress and my favorite gladiators.

The loveliest fountain in the world. Fontana de Trevi.

Enjoying my Nocciola Gelato at the Fontana de Trevi.

Saint Peter's Square.


I love Saint Peter's Basilica.

Michaelangelo's The Pieta.

Tapestries by the famous Raphael.

We became an audience to the Pope.

Saint Paul's Basilica sad to say was empty. We were the only ones wandering around. Another sad truth.

The Holy Door. Opens only every 25 years.

Piazza Rovere.



Can't get enough of them.

Oh how I love this.

And this too... Which I happened to finish all by myself.

The famous Limoncelo. Someone once told me to must try it when in Italy. I definitely did. But funny is that I had a different Limoncelo in mind, I thought of Lemonade and all those summer coolers. Instead, I thought very wrong for it was so strong.

A picturesque chapel.


Sunset at Saint Peter's Basilica. Our last night in Rome. Oh how I love Sunsets. Everywhere in the world, it's just lovely.