Christmas Feels

Hey, hey November! It’s 50 more days till Christmas, who’s excited as I am? My sister and I started decorating for the holidays as early as September, because why not? This whole pandemic is not reason enough to dampen our spirits because for those of us who are still here, we should be grateful that we made it this far. My prayers goes to all those who did not survive the battle with Covid-19. This year has been pretty rough but there is always a reason to be grateful somehow. One thing for sure, 2020 has taught me a lot of life lessons. 

Decorating for the holidays bring so much joy and excitement to me. Our holiday theme is different each year, this year is going to be a “Scandi Christmas” which consists of colors like champagne gold and blush pink. Our holiday motiff began three years ago when my siblings and I thought about changing our theme every year for a change. I enjoy brainstorming and stuff because it made me look forward to the holidays even more. 

I already started shopping for Christmas and New Year presents for my family so I’m not pressed for time. We celebrate the holidays with traditional holiday dinner and gift giving. It feels good to have something to celebrate towards the end of the year, plus, it only happens once a year. 

I couldn't wait for the holidays to come. Let's make this season a reason to always celebrate. Have a happy holidays y'all.

It’s Still Out There

Hello July! we’re halfway through 2020 and the virus is still out there. I’ve lost count of how many days our country is in quarantine but all I know is that we are still in community quarantine, may it be ECQ, GCQ or MGCQ. Nobody knows for sure when all of this will be over so it’s better to be safe than sorry. I don’t think things will normalize soon because if we look at the history of every pandemic, it could last a year or two, or worse, for many years. While the rest of the world is slowly getting back on their feet, our country is far from flattening the curve, despite all the efforts of the government. 

Fear is still in the air, that is why I cannot even imagine how some people don’t see how serious the situation is. Why can they afford to attend social gatherings or not wear a mask properly? While there are citizens who strictly follow government directives, there are some who still choose to take the risks. The Philippines have the longest quarantine to date, but is it all worth it? Our Covid cases are still going up and we don’t know for sure how high it is going to be? I guess let’s just wait and see.

So how do I keep up during quarantine? I know most people are still struggling with a lot of stress, both financially and psychologically. I’m just thankful that I survived the most critical period of quarantine that was back in March, when Covid-19 is just getting started in the country. My online business was paralized for two months because of ECQ, thank God online commerce resumed in May. Patience is a virtue, because in times like these, giving up is not an option. We cannot rely on the government alone. It’s survival of the fittest, so to speak. 

I don’t think things are going back to the way it was. A lot of things have changed and it’s possible that we might live with the virus for a long time. I’m okay with change as long as it’s for the better, no matter how inconvenient it is for some. Washing hands is not new to me anyway or disinfecting things since I’m a little bit of a germophobe already. Being an introvert, I also don’t mind social distancing even wearing a mask especially if I don’t feel like putting on makeup. Nobody wanted the virus, but it’s here now and there’s no other way but to deal with it.


There are things that we cannot control so it’s better to keep an open mind and stay informed. Let’s just hope that the situation will not worsen, but in case it does, we must arm ourselves against the unseen enemy. 

The Lockdown Continues

It’s been almost 7 weeks since the Luzon lockdown and it still feels like it was just yesterday. Time flies quickly when you’re busy but what is left to do now that ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) is extended again?

I think being an introvert is a great advantage because I enjoy the company of my cat and dogs better than humans. I also enjoy working from home and managing my online business even if I’m not earning at the moment, at least I am safe at home with my family. I live simply and adjust quickly to change. I fully understand that if this lockdown continues for God knows how long, I have to deal with it just like everyone else. I don’t get bored with my daily routine even before the quarantine because I never run out of things to keep me busy. I enjoy learning new things like making Dalgona coffee or DIY-ing a scratchpad for my cat. I think boredom is just a state of mind especially if you are so fed up of the outside world. But it’s totally the opposite for extroverts, my dad for instance, is a perfect example. Since the quarantine started, he’s life turned upside down and feels like he is suffocating, like he’s being held a prisoner. People who are so used to socializing might need help coping with their mental state. My dad is a 70 something, he’s a senior so we have to do everything we can to keep him at home to protect him from the virus. No matter how hard we try, he still thinks that he’s going crazy if the situation will not improve. I’m pretty sure other extroverts share the same plight that is why a strong support system is key. We all need to stay sane these days, we have to look after our friends or loved ones in times like this whether they are beside us or in hospitals battling the unseen enemy. A dash of love and compassion goes a long way. There shouldn’t be any room for hate because it is much worse than the virus.

When all of this is over, things will be different for sure. Coronavirus might be here to stay though, whether we like it or not, and it is going to change how we all live. We can all go back but the normal life we’ve come to know is a world that is more cautious and even paranoid because we already know how it feels that something invisible can cause harm, even life. Let’s be grateful for the gift of life and cherish every bit of it.


Stay home, stay safe so those in the front line can get some rest and go home to their families. I know that our battle with Coronavirus is far from over in fact we’re just getting started but if people will come together and avoid being stubborn, we’ll get through this the soonest time possible.

So there.

Hold on Hope

Hello April, my birthday month! March has been pretty rough so far with all that’s happening in the world, but looking at the bright side of life, nothing lasts forever...this too shall pass. This whole coronavirus pandemic will come to an end as long as everyone is doing his/her part by being cooperative. I know we all have our sentiments towards the government but I think that so far they are doing their very best to at least slow down the spread of the virus. Some people say that our numbers are still going up despite all the efforts but this is no surprise because as more testing kits become available it will only make sense. 

According to some scientists that the pandemic is far from over in Asia and that there is a possibility that the month-long quarantine might be extended. I really do not have any problems with extended ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) if it’s geared towards everyone’s safety. I just hope that those who are in dire need of help will benefit more so that they will not feel that this whole situation is a burden. I’m glad that more private citizens are starting to reach out to the needy in their own ways, kudos to you guys! I would also like to commend all the frontliners out there who are tirelessly serving our countrymen even risking their own lives, you guys are our heroes. Let us also not forget our fallen healthcare workers, soldiers and everyone who lost their lives to fight the unseen enemy. This battle is far from over, but we will not let the enemy defeat us.

Stay safe, stay home. Let’s continue to pray because God exists, those who survived and were cleared from the virus is proof that there is hope. Nobody knows when this will end but one thing is for sure, this will change how we look at the world and how we value life, a precious gift from God.  So let’s make every second count. 

No Filter

It’s the second week of Luzon lockdown and I must say that I am getting the hang of it. To be honest, I don’t really miss the outside world. I guess it’s just one of the perks of being an introvert, I’ve always been a homebody, that’s why I decided to quit my regular job years ago and decided to manage an online business instead. I would like to be my own boss. I have no problem at all with this lockdown thingy because I understand that it’s for safety reasons, the challenge is when calamity struck a country, all kinds of business are paralized. Nobody knows for sure how long this pandemic will last, I can only pray to God that this will all be over soon. 

I know that the government is doing the best they can to prevent the spread of virus although the numbers are still going up each day but without isolation, it could’ve been worse. The thought of having a curfew does not bother me at all or the need to secure a travel permit or quarantine pass just to get out of our house is not that difficult but what’s scary is that we are all aware of the unseen danger yet we have to brave it just to survive. Anyone may contract the virus, it knows no gender, age nor status in life, even lifesavers aren’t spared. I guess at this point we can only trust the process and do our part which is to cooperate. I cannot wait for things to go back to the way it was before Coronavirus came in the picture. I would like to breathe the air like I used to, without filter. I hope that we can go on with our normal lives again soon. 

The Unseen Enemy

When I was a kid, my parents use to tell me horror stories of how they survived the war. I could not imagine how it’s like to run away from a place and never come back, not have food and water and worse of all, the thought that tomorrow may never come. I guess what I’m trying to say is, that I have all the reasons to be grateful that I did not get to see the real face of war. 

What the world is facing right now is a different kind of war, and the enemy is unseen. When Covid-19 hit progressive countries really hard, it got me worried for myself, my family and my country. Never in my life have I experienced this kind of  fear because the moment I stepped out of our home, I am subjecting myself to the unseen danger. I have never felt a country enveloped in fear this much. It’s a ghost town out here, health workers have to wear safety suits to protect themselves from this infectious disease which I thought only happens in movies but all of it now is so real and surreal at the same time. 

As of this writing, the Philippines is already under a state of calamity because the number of confirmed cases and deaths are still rising although there are persons under investigation who have also recovered. You see, it’s not always bad news, there is hope no matter how difficult the situation is. Let’s just look at the bright side of life, maybe God would like us to take a break, to pause from our daily lives and take time to reflect on what is happening around us. It’s HIS way of telling us that if this whole virus thing will not happen, we will not stop from completely destroying our planet. It’s a WAKE UP CALL…maybe it’s time for mother earth to heal, she was abused, beaten and badly wounded, she needs to recover. We have nowhere else to go, there is no planet B, or any other planet that’s habitable. 


Let’s continue praying that this will all be over soon. Let’s stay informed and keep an open mind. Let’s continue looking out for each other and be optimistic about the situation. If other countries are able to recover from this virus, so can we. I believe in the Filipino spirit, WE WILL RISE AGAIN.

Spread love and compassion, not the virus. Keep safe everyone. We can do this! 

Love Month

Already? 

It was just like yesterday when I welcomed 2020, now it’s February…a new chapter. I know, crazy isn’t it? But everything just happened so fast, like a blink of an eye. My mind still haven’t processed what happened the previous month to be honest and still hoping for some good news. There’s the bush fire in Australia, eruption of Taal volcano, Iran vs US attack and just recently, Kobe Bryant’s demise and then the first confirmed case of Novel Corona Virus or NCoV in the Philippines. January is like the bearer of bad news, not a good start for the year of the rat I must say. 

I’m not being pessimistic or anything but what’s happening in the world right now is making me re-think about dooms day. Why is there so much chaos? People are living in fear, that today or tomorrow might be their last breath. I guess everything happens for a reason. On the brighter side, no matter how divided nations are, in times of crisis people are coming together. I guess bad things brings out the good in people. Maybe it’s God’s plan to let us all know that there is kindness in all of us no matter how bad we think we are. I will be such a hypocrite if I will say that I never questioned God’s will because I did, many times. I wonder why he let something so evil happen to those who do not deserve them? Why he take away the ones we love? Too many why’s and questions left unanswered until one day we will realize that he have reasons that maybe we refuse to accept because it’s not what we want. We ask God to lead yet we have doubts and fears at the back of our minds. I guess the hardest thing to do is to fully surrender. We worry too much and not trust the process. 

Here’s to a new month full of hope, the world will rise again and all the unpleasant things that is happening around us will only make us braver. Let’s spread love and not the virus. 

Breathe In

Kung Hei Fat Choi! Today is Chinese New Year and officially the year of the metal rat. 

A lot has happened this month already, not just in the Philippines but around the world. The devastating aftermath of bush fires in Australia where billions of animals were killed still has not fully sinked in, then came the eruption of Taal volcano last January 12. Just recently, a new virus called Novel Corona Virus or nCoV is spreading like wildfire in Wuhan, China and killing people from all walks of life. It’s rather scary and a lot to take in to be honest, 

I am not from Australia and I’ve never been there but seeing how badly the country was affected by this calamity is so heartbreaking. I can’t imagine leaving a place you’ve come to love and lived all your life just because you have no choice. I feel the pain of poor animals who are oblivious and confused of what was happening around them. Seeing everything turned to dust is just unimaginable, the place they used to call home is gone. 

Two weeks ago, Taal volcano erupted, that left thousands of homes and properties buried in ash. Even animals were not spared, thousands of horses used for tourism were left in Volcano island including all other animals. The lucky ones survived but I guess they were still not so lucky after all because they is no way that any living being will survive without food or water since everything was covered in ash. Our kababayans were brought to evacuation sites whilst the animals were left behind not because their owners don’t care about them, but for obvious reasons that it is not easy to transport animals that’s why the local government implemented window hours just so animal welfare groups and the locals will be given a chance to rescue these poor animals. 

Filipinos have a big heart and care about each other in times of need. No natural calamity can dampen our spirits. We still manage to smile even if we are uncertain of what the future holds. They say that the worse has yet to come. Nobody knows when Taal will release its anger in full blast. As of this writing, it appears a little calm based on the smoke coming out of it but who knows if it’s just really a “calm before the storm.” 

Climate change at its finest, geez…the world is getting hot! And I mean it, literally. One of the reasons why I became vegan is the environment, the earth. I know I cannot save the world overnight by going vegan, but, imagine reducing carbon footprint by not eating animal meat each day. Viruses coming from carcass of animals are being passed on to humans...I think it's animals way of saying "pay back time!" The earth is getting old, calamities here and there but it's making me think, we contributed to all of it, didn't we? This is all a wake up call... there is no second earth or any other habitual planet we can go. I hope and pray that it’s never too late for change.

BlogMas

It's 20 days left until Christmas...who's excited? The weather is starting to get chilly especially early in the morning. Everybody wants a white Christmas but for a tropical country like the Philippines, I think we're all set when the weather feels like it's going to snow as long as there's no rain.

I'm still not done with my Christmas shopping but I'm hoping that I will be asap before the holiday rush because I hate last minute stuff and I'm crossing my fingers that it won't happen, lol, but we'll see. 

I've been quite busy these past few months because I'm running my own online business plus two of our beloved pets were rushed to the hospital just few weeks apart. My sister and I brought our ginger cat to the vet because he had a "cat fight" and had his left hand and right foot severely damaged it was all stiched up and was on meds thank God he's fully recovered. Just when we thought that we have nothing more to worry about, our German Shepherd dog caught some sort of bacterial infection he was starting to get dehydrated so we rushed him to the vet clinic and was confined overnight. Our GSD is still on medication we're hoping that his follow-up check-up next week will turn out okay, it will depend on the result of his CBC (complete blood count). Having pets are like having extra family members and getting sick is not easy because it's costly but hey they are family and they also need a lot of TLC  (tender, loving, care). We've lost two dogs early this year and we cannot afford to lose another that is why we make sure to take them to the vet as early as possible when we feel like they need proper care. 

I guess that's it for now. Happy holidays wherever you are!

Happy holidays!

It's 68 days more to go till Christmas. My sister and I are done decorating for the holidays as early as September would you believe it? Nope, we're not that excited, lol. Our holiday theme this year consists of black, white and gold accents, we'd like a rustic Christmas for a change. We recycle our Christmas decors every year because buying new ones is not the most practical thing to do so I just buy a large can of spray paint and change the color of our Christmas balls and wreath as well. DIY-ing stuff is always a fun activity for me, it also gets my creative juices flowing. I thought about selling our old decors and just buy new ones but then again, why buy when you can simply DIY? 

Our rustic holiday table setting

Spray-painted our Christmas balls from last year
from silver and blue to black

These are all empty boxes for now.
For decorative purposes only

I put together this centerpiece for our living room
table

Our Halloween/Christmas wreath, lol.

While unpacking bale of clothes for my online shop, I also found real cute Christmas socks I thought what a coincidence because we really need them. My sibs and I really enjoy coming up with different Christmas motif each year, because why not? Christmas is not just the usual red, white and green but all the wonderful colors that brings about the holiday cheers right? 

Frosty the Snowman

Holly Jolly Christmas socks

My Rainy Day Survival Tips

Rainy days are here again and it's here to stay. With class suspensions here and there due to inclement weather plus a lot of experimenting going on to alleviate traffic, we must be ready to brave anything or everything, pretty much. If you're a commuter, imagine the hassle of having to go to school despite the bad weather just to learn that after a few hours classes will be suspended. It would be totally chaotic also for those who go to work because they have to go through the same hell over again just to get home. So what's the solution for all these? "Patience" and I mean lots of it. I use to be a commuter myself (I work from home now) so I know how it feels to get stuck in the middle of traffic, get stranded and all. Well, you just really have to find a way to calm yourself amidst it all or stress yourself which does not solve anything, to be honest. 

Let me share three (3) rainy day survival tips especially when you get stuck in traffic. As we all know when it pours, expect heavy traffic anywhere in the Philippines.

1. Rain gear 

What better way to protect yourself but to wear rain gear? A raincoat will not just prevent you from getting soaked, it will also protect your bag and everything inside it. Make sure to wear rain boots as well for health reasons. You wouldn't want your feet soaked in dirty waters you might catch athlete's foot or even worse leptospirosis and other communicable diseases. 

All geared up for the rainy days

Waterproof backpack

Rainy days call for extra space in your bag but I assure you it would be worth it. A waterproof bag is ideal but if you don't have one, then that's no problem at all because you can always wear a raincoat to cover it or you can use any plastic. If you're not comfortable wearing rain gears then you can always bring an umbrella. In my experience, a single fold umbrella is more reliable since it's more resistant to strong winds because it does not flip easily compared to the three-fold ones. But if you tend to be forgetful like me, I suggest carrying an umbrella that you can easily tuck inside your bag just make sure to cover it with plastic so everything inside your bag will not get wet. I do this all the time because I do not want to leave my umbrella in the umbrella rack at my workplace as I get paranoid it might get lost. I would rather have my umbrella inside my bag in the locker so I can have peace of mind. Let's just say that my stuff has sentimental value to me.

The classic big umbrella

Three folds umbrella

2. First Aid Kit 

First aid kit is not limited to medicines, water, and light snacks alone but extra clothing (including undergarments), towels and hygiene kit as well. Make sure to waterproof them properly because there is no point in bringing all the extra stuff if it will be soaked too. You can put all your important belongings including your gadgets and power bank in ziplock bags or any other waterproof case if you're trying to reduce plastic usage to help save mother earth. Make sure to charge your phone, power bank, and other gadgets for emergency purposes. Your first aid kit is not just a lifesaver during rainy days but also in case of other natural calamities.

First Aid Kit

Hygiene kit

Bring extra clothes in case you get wet

3.  Chill

Do not leave home without saving tons of your favorite music, TV shows or movies on your phone or tablet. This not only relieves stress but helps kill time as well. Time flies when you're pre-occupied as long as you have a power bank to back you up when you run low on is battery, then you're good to go. When you're stuck in traffic you can still try to be as productive as you can. You can listen to relaxing music or stream movies from your phone/tablet, eat, hydrate yourself or even get a nap because when traffic hits you hard you can't really fight sleepiness. I'm not really comfortable sleeping inside public vehicles but there are times that I really cannot control myself especially when I'm very tired. Our body needs time to recover from a long day but make sure to wake up when somebody needs to alight to avoid annoying other passengers.

Stream

A power bank should always come handy

Eat

Get a nap

Just remember to always expect the unexpected and it's better to be safe than sorry. Make sure to keep R.F.C. in mind: Rain Gear, First Aid Kit and to Chill, be optimistic because everything will pass, just like the rain.