I would be in Mykonos today.
This is like a dream… The blue Aegean sea outside your window, white flowing sheets, and what do you call that kind of wood? (haha)
Seriously, for me, this is what a vacation is like. The flowing sheets and sea rests my mind.
Someday, I will fly to Greece… and see if I could stay there forever.
All photos from the exclusive luxury villas in Mykonosblu Resort.
Beautiful, beautiful.
Via 79ideas
I`m the kind of girl who wants to get out of the house right away after I`ve dressed up. And make-up time doesn`t take quite long because I finish quick—except when I`m in the mood or when I`m going out for an important event. I`m always in the mood these days, btw, so my sisters always tell me to hurry up on most days. haha
Here`s what`s on my kit. I think I have a lot more on my make-up bag but these are what I normally use everyday. I don`t have mascara now. I borrow from my sister Ava. haha
I`m not usually fond of cats. The one we got at home is a bit spoiled. She doesn`t give way to me, but wants me to give way to her all the time. But kittens are always cute, aren`t they? Even if they are really stubborn sometimes.
I saw this video from Choi Siwon on Twitter and it`s really so cute. I love cats now! They`re really like me and my Mom.
I remember the night before my first day in a pro video editing house last year. I was too anxious that I couldn`t sleep. I climbed onto Mom and Dad`s bed at midnight and Mama just hugged me tight. I tossed and turned in bed for the whole evening and anxious thoughts ran in my mind. My Mom hugged me like that little kitty having a nightmare.
I love Moms. And kitties, now, too!
And, and… I want to to share a funny video me and my friends did almost 3 years ago in Hongkong (Funny `cause it`s corny and a mini adaptation of a Korean Drama). I suddenly missed them tonight. They`re in my heart always.
You can view Episode 1 here. Sadly, I`m still not done with the 3rd part. I hope I can finish it before our HK trip`s 3rd anniv.
Goodnight now, friends! It has been a busy day. I made 3 posts today. Not to mention, I exercised long enough to lose too much weight this morning. haha (Did I really need to mention that?) Anyway, I`ll see you soon!
Blessings!
I am proud of my country. On the late night news tonight, they said the the Philippines is one of last two states in the world where divorce is not legalized. And it feels good that we are one of the last countries standing, adhering to the Word of God regarding the sanctity of marriage.
But my rejoicing didn`t last a long time. They said that divorce is now being talked about in Congress and they are considering passing a law that would legalize it.
If I could write a letter to Philippine Congressmen, I would tell them this:
To Every Filipino Congressman who`s Pro-Divorce:
I am a young lady in my early 20`s. In a few years, I may get married and may raise my own family. I used to be a little girl who dreamed of fairytales. I am still the same girl who dreamed of wearing her wedding dress.
I know marriage is not easy. I know that couples have differences. I know there would be fights and there would be times I would be more willing to get away that to work it out. But even then, I would secretly wish we could work it out. I may think of giving up, but deep in my heart I would quietly wish we could hold on much longer. I would need you push me and encourage me to believe that things can be turned around, to try my best one more time, and to be strong give it all I`ve got.
Please don`t make me lose hope that marriage can be lifelong and beautiful. Please help me believe that things can be fixed if only we are willing to do so. Please teach me not to get into marriage easily thinking I could erase any trace of mistake anytime I want to. Please don`t make me think that when marriage is not going well, then marriage is a mistake.
Please teach me to become responsible. Teach me to value family. Teach me to love. Teach me to obey God above all. Teach me not to be selfish, but to put others above myself. Teach me to value loyalty and fidelity. Teach me that I couldn`t just leave and find another man if things wouldn`t work out well between me and my husband.
I may sound selfish now. But I wouldn`t want to be selfish then. If I would give up on marriage before I even begin, I might give up on marriage when I`m already there… if you give me reasons to give up when I`m already there.
Right now, I am still hopeful. And I am still hoping that my generation would also learn to hope and believe that where the others have failed, we could stand up and begin…and we could also finish well.
I believe in marriage and I believe God can make it last forever. Please build up our faith, our belief on marriage as a lifelong gift from God.
We are counting on you. This generation is counting on you for encouragement, for faith.
Please don`t fail us.
While preparing dinner tonight, our lovely old radio offered another priceless dose of wisdom…as always. If you`ve been with me since I started the blog, you must`ve read numerous posts inspired by our cutie, little radio while I was busy working in the kitchen. Aaaah, that`s why I`m always looking forward to be surprised again… Our radio is like a cupcake on a gloomy day, surprising me sweetly when I least expect it.
So tonight was about this guy named King Me who built many little thrones in the kingdom of his heart. When God saw the little stuff, He inquires of them one by one.
God: What is this?
King Me: Ah, music… It`s my hobby… It relaxes me…
God: How about this one? Pleasure?
King Me: I work so hard… I need to get some time of… blah, blah, blah (I`m writing from memory, so these are not the exact words)
God: And is this a Queen? You should let me handle this for you!!!
King Me: But you don`t know my taste!
Hahaha That did it. I was laughing alone in the kitchen while taking dinner plates off the rack.
“But Lord, you don`t know my taste!”
It was funny hearing it from a fictional character on the radio… but how about us? How many times have we told Jesus the same words when He asks us to trust Him and destroy those little thrones we build inside our hearts? When He asks to be in control of writing our love stories, we do doubt His taste sometimes, right?
Aaah, what do we like in a person? Good-looking? Rich? Godly? We fear God might choose someone who`s an inch shorter than our preferred height? Got straighter hair instead of those handsome curls? And the guys might be thinking they`d get someone who`s like a Leah instead of a Rachel.
We doubt God`s taste. We doubt His goodness. We think He will pick just anyone, or worse, someone we don`t like.
But you know, God is royalty. He is the King of Kings. And being the King of everything you could see from where you are sitting right now, to thousands of light years far across the universe, He must have a decent taste—A VERY REGAL, ROYAL and SOPHISTICATED taste. Why, He is the King of everything!
And He is someone not easily impressed. While we, with our “peasant” tastes, get our eyes wide-open with anything that glimmers, the King knows that not everything that glimmers is gold. He looks for more than what the eyes can see and the hands can touch. Character melts His heart. Godliness makes Him smile. Humility pleases Him. And He will choose a godly man or woman who has impressed His heart. He wouldn`t really hand you over (you`re His precious little child) to just anybody, to someone who wouldn`t take good care of your heart, to someone you wouldn`t be happy with.
So let`s just trust Him. He knows your taste. He knows mine, too. And because He is God and He made all things beautiful, His taste is definitely better than us.
Give that little throne in your heart called “Queen” or “King” to the King of kings and trust that He knows everything, and He knows better than you even know yourself, more in touch to your taste than you are yourself.
I guess, we must learn His taste as well, and drop our earthly, peasant tastes which are only impressed by what we see with our eyes. We must learn to take notice of what really matters. We must look at the heart and look with our hearts. ;)
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
…It will not return to me empty,but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign,that will endure forever.”
“Beautiful, beautiful…” That`s the only thing I could think of when I saw this Truc Lulu`s submission on Amy Atlas` Site. It`s just gorgeous!
This was done for a baby party but it would actually be fitting even for ladies like me. Look at those pink tulips and sweet treats! Very, very elegant!
Whoa! I haven`t been posting on my blog so much these days. It has really been a cool week. I feel rested and I get to have much sleep most days.
I think it`s really in the time in between when you notice the beautiful things around you much easily, the little comforts you normally don`t take notice of but which if would be taken away would mean a lot to you.
Today was a normal day. Everyone was up for breakfast early and we fed on the left overs from Papa`s birthday celebration last night. Isn`t it great to have good food in the morning without doing all the intense cooking? We`ve got Chinese stir-fried noodles, spaghetti, black forest cake and a lot more. It was fun. Mom was laughing and singing over breakfast. We were teasing her that maybe the chocolate made her hyperactive. We had a warm, thoughtful breakfast even though it was raining quite hard.
And the rain…. The rain was good too! It was not the melancholic type of rain that makes you think of the past and what could have been. The sky was cloudy but it is bright and not gloomy. It was really a great morning afterall.
In church today, everyone had a good laugh. We laughed over snacks and talked about everything we could think of. The teasing of course, was there, and the boys looked funny when they get into the hotseat. We`ve got adorable young boys and girls who are funny and charming too.
On our way home, I wasn`t feeling melancholic but I can`t help but notice the cool wind as we rode that old, countryside-kind-of-bus. It took us some time to get a ride because of the rush hour but this old bus with ruffled curtains passed by. It feels very 90`s and I had a great time.
And dinner was fabulous. The roasted chicken tasted so good and I was savoring my part. I`ve never really enjoyed and savored food this way. I`m thankful I have a sense of taste. ;)
I wonder if all these realizations easily came to me because I`m in The Time In Between… Maybe.. just maybe…
God uses the time in between so you could notice how He smiles at you everyday… How He takes care of you… How He even feeds you.
I love having a God who opens my eyes to see the beautiful things of everyday. I love being loved by God everyday. ;)
PS. Have you my previous post called Beauty Queen? I really hope I didn`t offend anyone, my dearest girl friends. I came from a stressful, disheartening night where almost every girl I saw was “sensual and sexy and daring” and it was really emotional for me. My heart was so grieved. Still, I hope every single girls esp. Christian ladies would take a stand on this issue of modesty and become a godly example to all other ladies of our generation and the next.
Have a great weekend, friends!
I`m always a fan of buttons. Whether it`s a big pink button near the shoulder of a black coat, buttons on watch straps, buttons on pouches and purses… I love them all! Button bracelets, too, are very adorable!
Take a look at these bracelets from MiloMade. Each one is unique and doesn`t look like another. They still don`t have it in stores now, I think, but I couldn`t wait! So pretty!
Aaaah! Cute! Buttons make me feel I`m a kid and little things make me happy!
All photos from milomade.co.uk
We just got home from Ava`s talent night. And if there`s one word to describe it, it would be JAW-DROPPING. Ok, three words. Jaw-dropping. Hilarious. Crazy.
There were girls who were tossed in the air like stuntmen. Fairies who wore mosquito-net-thin dresses. A lot of sensual dancing. Murder scenes. Acrobatic stunts. Some even bordered on child abuse. Some blew fire. Others were morbid, complete with blood on her mouth for the finale. It was mind blowing!
But more than the jaw-dropping performances, what really struck me the most was how far girls would go just to win the crown. And it`s crazy how girls are ready to show even what should be well covered in clothes just to be the fairest of them all. It was heartbreaking. Honestly. I wonder if these girls knew that their beauty is not in how much skin they show but is in their hearts and in how they choose to live their lives.
The Essence of A Woman
In beauty pageants, they often ask what is the essence of a woman. Since I would probably not join one in my entire lifetime, let me answer the question now (I practiced this in front of the mirror sometime ago. Please don`t laugh at me. haha).
Host: So Cathy, this is your question…
Cathy smiles and takes a deep breath.
Host: What is the essence of a woman?
Cathy: That`s a beautiful question. Thank you. (haha)
Cathy: The essence of woman is in her PURPOSE.
Hmmm… On her purpose? Why?
A woman is valuable because her life is meant for a special purpose.
Stasi Eldredge explains it profoundly in her book Captivating.
When God creates Eve, he calls her an ezer kenegdo. 'It is not good for the man to be alone, I shall make him [an ezer kenegdo]' (Gen. 2:18 Alter). Hebrew scholar Robert Alter, who has spent years translating the book of Genesis, says that this phrase is 'notoriously difficult to translate.' The various attempts we have in English are "helper" or "companion" or the notorious "help meet." Why are these translations so incredibly wimpy, boring, flat...disappointing? What is a help meet, anyway? What little girl dances through the house singing "One day I shall be a help meet?" Companion? A dog can be a companion. Helper? Sounds like Hamburger Helper. Alter is getting close when he translates it "sustainer beside him".
The word ezer is used only twenty other places in the entire Old Testament. And in every other instance the person being described is God himself, when you need him to come through for you desperately."
You are a woman. An image bearer of God. The Crown of Creation. You were chosen before time and space, and you are wholly and deeply loved. You are sought after, pursued, and romanced, the passionate desire of your Fiance, Jesus. You are dangerous in your beauty and your life-giving power. And you are needed.
And that is crucial, dear heart. Whatever your particular calling, you are meant to grace the world with your dance, to follow the lead of Jesus wherever he leads you. He will lead you first to himself; and then, with him, he will lead you into the world that he loves and needs you to love.
Do Not Sell Your Beauty
My favorite story about beauty was a real-life testimony of an Armani model who was beautiful and popular—a top model. She went from one country to another modeling for top designers, living a wealthy and popular life until one day, Armani put his hands around her waist, noticed she put on a little weight and told her she couldn`t model anymore.
She was devastated. She resorted to drugs and alcohol and tried to commit suicide. Later on, she decided to just move on and stay in Milan to look for someone who would take her as a model.
She took her portfolio and on her way met an old man. She didn`t know what he said would change her life.
“Are you here to model, young lady? Don`t you know you cannot sell beauty. Go back home, my dear.”
You Cannot Sell Beauty.
The model said it was her first time to hear those words, that you cannot sell beauty. All her life, she was trained to model, to use her beauty to gain a living and achieve. How didn`t she know it long ago.
She went back home to America and later on knew the Lord. She`s now an inspirational speaker to girls and young ladies, teaching what real beauty is.
We may all be far away from the limelight Hollywood and the beauty industry but we may be “selling” our beauty in a different way.
We may be using our bodies, our faces, our God-given beauty to gain the confidence, the admiration, the praises that our heart secretly desires.
I feel so strongly, my dear young lady friends, that beauty should not be used for the purpose of getting the admiration and praises of men. Beauty should used to glorify the King and use it for the purpose why He created it—for Him and your husband and not just any other man or any other person.
Your beauty is not on how well you look outside, but on who you are inside. Not on your long, slender legs or your slim figure but real beauty is in the strength of your heart, the length of your patience, the greatness of your love.
Do not waste your beauty. Do not use your physical beauty for the purpose other than what it was created for. Instead, develop the beauty of your heart and know you`re worth in the King who created you and says you`re beautiful!
You are beautiful! You are!
As a woman who has been ransomed and redeemed, you can be strong and tender. You speak to the world of God’s mercy, mystery, beauty, and his desire for intimate relationship. You are inviting; You can risk being vulnerable, offering the weight of your life as well as your need for more because you are safe in God’s love. You labor with God to bring forth life–in creativity, in work, in others. Your aching, awakened heart leads you to the feet of Jesus, where you wait on him and wait for him. The eyes of his heart are ever upon you. The King is captivated by your beauty.
Let`s live our lives to please the King, beautiful ladies! ;)
We need you. We need you to awaken to God more fully and to awaken to the desires of the heart that he placed within you so that you will come alive to him and to the role that is yours to play. Perhaps you are meant to be a concert musician or a teacher. Perhaps you are meant to be a neurologist or horse trainer. Perhaps you are to be an activist for ecology or the poor or the aged or the ill. You are certainly called to be a woman, wherever else he leads you.
Last year, I posted about cute Japanese bento boxes and my favorite Hello Kitty sushi, and wished I would learn how to make them myself. Boy, they`re so intricate and seems so hard to do.
Today, I foundc ute instructions how to do the super cute bento box fillings.
Here are the samples. I`m excited to try!!!
I`m never really a fan of monkeys. Even if Paul Frank was a hit when I was first year in high school. Well, yeah… The Paul Frank monkey is sooo cute and I find it adorable, but somehow I associated monkeys with boys and I`m a girl so I would just pick a unicorn instead. :)
But today, I found a little lady who celebrated her 2nd birthday on Greeneyed with a monkey theme…and I might change my mind about monkeys. Squishy cute!
Look at those cute party favors and monkey hats.
All Photos from Green Eyed.com
News says the storm is hitting Philippine shores tonight. But I believe it will be rainy in the afternoon just like yesterday and the other day. It feels a bit scary when you look outside the window when it rains these days. Yesterday afternoon rain was pouring SO HARD, it was foggy and a thick blankets of clouds covered the sky, you really couldn’t see beyond it at all. It was the first time I saw that kind of cloudy-ness… and it feels like the days of Noah. :p
Although yesterday’s rain was a bit scary…I don’t know but I find rainy days comforting. I like looking outside the window and snuggling a soft pillow, esp. when you feel kinda sad. { Hey, I don’t want to teach you how to become emo… haha I’m just sharing. } Sometimes, it’s just that I feel the rain pours out the tears I have no courage to cry out. And I don’t feel alone. Ever feel funny like this sometimes?
So a sunny day pillow that brings back the sunshine memories are fit for rainy days and crying hearts. haha
These are all from Sukanart on Etsy. But sadly, these are quite expensive in Philippine peso. But if I were also the one to make those cute, colorful birds, I wouldn’t charge cheap. Their quite hard to make.
So must I do them myself? Maybe. Since rainy days are here and I’m indoors most of the time.
And back to my rainy day drama… I really think I feel comforted because I believe God uses rain sometimes so we could stop from our “rushing” { we stop only when it rains!} and finally listen to Him.
I love it when the world stops for a while.. even just for a little while.
If we would sum up how the week went for me, I must say that it’s really been a roller coaster ride for my faith. I would be lying and I would be a hypocrite if I would say that my faith is always soaring like an eagle…although I wish I’m always strong like that and I’m never doubtful because God deserves my faith all the time and because without faith, it is impossible to please Him.
But like that man on Mark 9 who asked God to heal his unbelief {quite weird but sometimes we’re like that, right? Sometimes we’re even in the middle of belief and unbelief, believing that God can do miracles but doubting partly that He will do it for us}…we must bring our unbelief to God ask Him to heal it.
Jesus heals doubts every time. All we need to do is ask.
'”…But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:21-24
There are so many things we don’t understand. Normally…because we are man and we are not God. But Jesus promises to give us the understanding we need if we would ask Him. And although the “understanding” doesn’t necessarily mean the answers to our questions, it could be a the most peaceful, heartwarming comfort we could get from Him, knowing that He loves us and wants nothing more than the best.
Let’s trust the Lord no matter the circumstance and believe that He’s always, always watching and standing right behind us caring for us.
And that our miracles are coming!
Goodnight!
Faith And Doubt by Dena Jackson
Right Now Matters and So Do You by Bonnie Gray
When Your Words Don’t Match Your Heart by Kristin Welch
Ava and I love the ham-apple-cheese wraps recipe we got from Martha Stewart. Too bad, I didn`t take a photo last time we made it. I love and crave for it so much that sometimes, when we`ve got no ham or cheese for the wrap, I just slice an apple and dip it in a cheesy dip and it`s enough to make my day.
I`ve always, always been a fan of kid-friendly recipes over the net because they`re simple and fun and so easy to do. Here are a few of my favorite recipes you must also try to enjoy yourselves.
Happy Tuesday! {Links to the recipe are in pink letters.}
1. Apricot and Cheddar Chicken Melt
In this cute, yummy recipe, apricot jam/ preserves is spread on a baguette, and then topped with chicken, cheese and ham and brought to the broiler to make the cheese melt.
Kids and grown-ups would love this for snacks! Yum!
Ripe here!
It`s hard to find thick burger patties in Philippine supermarkets. I also wonder why. 
I love this recipe. If there`s no turkey, you can substitute chicken instead and whoala! You`ve got thick mini chicken burger patties to enjoy!
Lighter
Beef Tacos
How `bout lean ground sirloin and low-fat tortillas for your tacos?
This one`s a little “fiery” {uses chili paste} but can always be excluded if you wish.
Recipe here.
