B&B Kitchen Renovation
7:47 PMThere's more to designing a kitchen apart from choosing paint colors, cabinets and tiles. Most specifically when it is a running hospitality kitchen for a bed and breakfast. With the help of my sister and brother-in-law who are both food and beverage specialists, we studied their menu and planned the kitchen accordingly.
Quarantine Realizations
10:37 PMAllow me to honestly say that I envy those who have reached epiphany during this quarantine period and those who have work and a means of livelihood for these bring a sense of purpose in their everyday, a reason to wake up. I think the biggest thing that worried me when we were returning back to a general quarantine is that I am not ready to go back out there yet knowing that there was no major shift nor a big Aha moment that took place for me.
4 Things I Like About Pinas This Week
11:10 PMI haven't blogged about my favorite list since the enhanced community quarantine started. Needless to say it poses a challenge, but I am finally daring myself to do it anyway because limitations are only inside my head. Despite the covid-19 lockdown, here are 4 Things I like about the Philippines this Week. My theme would be the colorful trees of the Philippines
Ichiran Ramen
12:30 AM
There is something about ECQ that makes me crave for a comforting bowl of ramen. Perhaps triggered by all of the Asian series I have been watching as of late, but the thought of hot freshly cooked noodles in savory pork broth brings me back to a time when my sister took us to Ichiran Ramen in Tokyo, Japan.
Shibuya Crossing
4:17 PMFollow Your Bliss
3:11 PM
“Follow your bliss. If you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while waiting for you, and the life you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in the field of your bliss, and they open the doors to you. I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be. If you follow your bliss, doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else.” - Joseph Campbell
Quarantine Thoughts
10:39 PMStunning Pullman Tokyo
11:32 PM
After exploring the subway and a quiet city walk
, we were ready to have our first family lunch at Pullman Tokyo Tamachi. A covered walkway links the hotel to Tamachi Train Station on the JR Yamanote Line. It is close to Odaiba, Tamachi, Rainbow Bridge and Hamarikyu Garden.
It is the first Pullman Hotel in Japan. The hotel features various works of Art from murals to large canvas paintings from Japanese Contemporary Artists.
Quiet Streets of Tokyo on a Long Weekend
11:58 AM
Perhaps Tokyo must look similar to this now but with less people during the COVID-19 quarantine period. Guess what? This photo was taken last year before a long holiday weekend during a morning stroll and subway trip from Tokyo's suburbs to Tamachi area. It was quiet, a huge contrast to the weekday hustle and bustle.
Camping in Japan
6:08 PM
Camping in Japan is an amazing experience to take in the view of Mt. Fuji as it reveals its many facets throughout the day. Camping in Japan is also an original way to get to know the country and its people.
No other place in the world will you ever experience this kind of camping. You get settled at the base of Mt. Fuji. Para-gliders play and dance with the wind overhead as you sip your filtered brewed coffee in the afternoon. You watch Mt. Fuji by sunset with your cold Japanese beer until the starry sky takes over. You enjoy dinner together and sit by the fire surrounded by Japanese families that seriously took camping to a different level.
One Perfect Breakfast
2:50 PM50 Fun Things to Do During Quarantine
6:01 PM
How are you? What have you been up to? I am curious as to how you keep yourselves busy indoors?
Here's a list of things to do that I have gathered from everyone online.
1. Household chores are high up on the list from laundry, cleaning to cooking, and looking after our family. You must be thinking, "Boring" Oh well, let's get these tasks out of the way or better yet, why don't we enjoy each chore by playing music that we like and then being thoroughly present while we fold laundry and wash the dishes?
No Bake Naked Vegetarian Enchiladas
10:33 PMKitchen Cupboard Uplift
5:08 PM
Out of sight, out of mind.
I have been watching a lot of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix and I remember one of the passages in her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing , "By eliminating excess visual information that doesn't inspire joy, you can make your space much more peaceful and comfortable."
One way is to remove the bottle labels but in this case, the fastest way and more aesthetic solution to me would be to apply a frosted glass film sticker to the existing glass panels on the overhead kitchen cupboard.
One way is to remove the bottle labels but in this case, the fastest way and more aesthetic solution to me would be to apply a frosted glass film sticker to the existing glass panels on the overhead kitchen cupboard.
Beef Stroganoff
3:58 PM
I'm one of those who likes to put my recipes online so I could access them when I'm cooking anywhere in the world. As I searched on my site for this recipe, I've realized I haven't posted it yet. With my camera to keep me company, I'm writing a post about this today. This recipe is so easy to make. Enjoy!
Tuna and Eggplant Sisig
5:22 PMHow to Find the Right Sofa
2:42 PM
Isn't it daunting about which type of sofa you'll purchase and from where? Does it fit our budget? Which color? Suede or leather?
Functionality and style without breaking the bank was our goal. Having moved to a new place with no IKEA to run to (now I realized there's a happy place called Lazada), we were lost in the beginning.
Virtual Communication During This Pandemic Lockdown
9:32 AM
While we are all on isolation, each one of us has our own stories to share, both serious and funny on virtual communication during this period of social distancing. What I appreciate the most are private group chats and private messages. You see, I grew up under the generation of fax machines and analog telephones. I feel grateful that in this time and age, technology allows us to obtain information while keeping in touch with family and friends living far away.
If Only I Could Throw a Dinner Party This Weekend
12:03 PM5- Minute Low-Waste Lifestyle Adjustment
9:26 AMNobody's perfect. We do not live a zero-waste lifestyle yet. It takes time and a conscious effort to adjust. The most important thing to ask is why we want to do it.
Why do I want to reduce waste at home?
Since having moved to the countryside, we started improving ways our family manages household waste because our garbage truck passes only once a week, so we had to find ways to avoid a pile up of smelly garbage.
Creating a Gallery Wall
2:26 PM3 Things I Like About Pinas This Week
5:41 PMOutdoor Yoga at Archery Asia |
The only thing I could hold on to is faith and hope for whatever optimism we have left be preserved.
Life is volatile. To savor time honed into what we value most in life and being present is the best way to honor ourselves and those precious to us.
Ramen Yushoken
7:23 AM
Rainy days and Ramen. Rainy days and Ramen.
During one of our trips to Cebu City, somewhere in Oakridge Business Park along A.F. Fortuna Street, we decided to try Ramen Yushoken. A loud japanese greeting darted our way as soon as we pushed the glass door open. We chose a banquette seating and we spent time admiring the restaurant interior after we placed our order.
Ramen Yushoken Interior |
Keeping her busy while waiting |
Shio Ramen |
Tantanmen |
Chopsticks excite kids |
I took Tantanmen (Php 420), it has milky broth with ground meat and chili . My friend, Era ordered the Shio Ramen (Php 370) , also with a milky broth but a less spicy version with a slice of pork belly. To elevate our ramen experience we ordered extra eggs - Aji Tamago (Php80) to add to our ramen.
For kids, Chahan, Japanese Stir- Fried rice (Php280) is a great option. The Ramen was filling so we didn't need an extra dish.
For two adults and a kid, minimum budget would be around Php 1300 if you don't take alcohol beverages.
It's a chain throughout the Philippines so you will most likely find a branch situated in a city near you.
Bon app!
Love & light,
Arni
Sunset Yoga by the Sea
11:52 AM
Have you tried Candle-lit Yoga?
An hour of bliss. The sound of waves as you focus on your breath.
We had family visiting from overseas and for an introvert like myself, I needed some time to re-fill my cup so that I may continue hosting and entertaining with ease.
An hour of bliss. The sound of waves as you focus on your breath.
We had family visiting from overseas and for an introvert like myself, I needed some time to re-fill my cup so that I may continue hosting and entertaining with ease.
We went to Oceanfront Paradise along Panagsama Beach in Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines where our Yoga Teacher, Marina led an invigorating 1-hour Sunset Yoga. With calm background music, we went through the flow under coconut trees that swayed with the breeze.