Bag of Beans: Itsy Bitsy Cinna(mon)bites

I was raving about the mini cinnamon rolls from my Bag of Beans post three months ago but I didn't have pictures as proof then. :)) So apparently, they are called Cinnabites and NOT Mini Cinnamon Rolls. Hee. I love the dip that comes with it- melts in your mouth yumminess. I feel one pound heavier after every bite though. Haha. I tried partnering these munchies with hot chocolate. It's loooove! I haven't tried the main courses from Bag of Beans yet so when I visit Tagaytay again, will definitely try them. <3

A bit pricey for me (the kuripot inside) but it's delish. :)

I HATE raisins. Threw them away before eating. :))

THE DIP. I think it's cream cheese. It tastes like their cheesecake.

Bag of Beans

115 Aguinaldo Highway

Mendez, Tagaytay City

An Excerpt from an Old Facebook Note: Of Pain and Realizations

I am posting this because I would like to be reminded of my realizations from three years ago. Not the pain, only the realizations. There's no reason to remember the pain anyway because I have moved on already and I am very happy now. 

What I learned/realized...

Experiencing pain has a purpose.

"I think besides change, another thing that is inevitable in this world is pain. It comes in different shapes and sizes. It may be abstract or concrete, sometimes in disguise. It has its own levels of importance.. and inconsistencies too. Like an oxymoron. It's like saying pain is sweet.. But only if you see the meaning behind the pain.. the purpose of experiencing it."

Crying has always been my outlet and it's okay to cry.

"Whenever I feel in pain, I cry. And cry. And cry. And cry once more. I take in all the pain, swallow it but instead of vomiting, I cry. It's my outlet. It's my way of coping."

It's okay to share your painful story/ies. 

"I read a quote once, 'shared happiness is double the joy.. shared grief is half the pain'. It really helps especially when you're experiencing the latter. Go to your best of the best of friends or to your family, tell him/her/them everything what you're feeling. He/she/them may not be of help when it comes to advices but in the end, a simple and sincere hug would help ease the pain."

I honestly think that my view on pain before was one sided. I was experienceing a personal hurdle in life. Teenage drama and what have you. Fast forward to today, I think what everyone of us can share from my realizations is that at the end of the day, the world would not stop and adjust for us because of what we're experiencing. Heck, you can cry your heart out and no one will even bother. It's okay to feel sad when you're really sad. We should in fact, acknowledge our feelings. If we're sad, say or show it. Likewise if we are happy. 

I am guilty of being fixated to a certain situation  that I tend to forget that I still have a life to live out of the box I created. Maybe one reason why we are  put in a painful situation is to realize one thing. That there's a bigger world out there that we need to appreciate. <3

33rd MIBF: A Booklover's Haven

Sea of booooooooooooks

Our loot! :)

What's for breakfast?

Forever Purefoods Corned beef girl! 

33rd Manila International Book Fair

It's been a long time since I attended the MIBF. I want to go here!!!! Book haven!

Source: http://www.manilabookfair.com/

A Prelude to Christmas: Love, Forgiveness, Time

I heard my first Christmas song yesterday, just in time for the start of the ber months. But the weather didn't coincide with the festive feel of the song. Yesterday was very humid and Mr. Sun I guess, was on steroids. Even then, everytime the ber months officially start, I get excited for the upcoming holiday season. It gives us all a reason to celebrate. We all have more reasons to see our friends, family and relatives, to take a halt from dieting and to burn those credit/debit cards. As for me, I can only relate to the first one I mentioned. Haha. Christmas' meaning for me is Celebration. They are partners. They go well together just like Kare Kare and Bagoong. Champorado and Tuyo. Heee.

What I hate about the ber months are the traffic jams it creates in the streets and the sea of people everywhere. Come October, people start panic buying. I don't have anything against it because I, for one is guilty. It's just that I feel that most of us are always rushing. Most of us get blinded by the material things that we forget the real reason why we are on a festive mood. 

CHRISTmas is a time for giving. Growing up, this has been instilled to us. From our parents to our teachers to the priests doing homily during simbang gabi. For me, CHRISTmas is a time for giving LOVE. What's good about love is that it's priceless. We don't have to spend anything.  I don't have anything against spending because I love buying things I want. What I'm trying to say is that we should look beyond the material things. Yes, we can show our love by the gifts we give but at the end of the day, it's the immaterial love that matters. We just have to make people close to our hearts, feel it. After all, a dose of hug won't burn holes in our wallets. 

We can also show our love by forgiving and asking for forgiveness. CHRISTmas is a time FOR GIVING, right? It's high time to say goodbye to all the resentments in our hearts. Let's not wait for that moment we would utter the word 'sayang'. It's easier said than done, I know because I'm a person who rarely say sorry when it comes to personal matters. That I would have to change. It's the pride that I would have to let go. 

CHRISTmas is for giving TIME. The holidays should not be the sole reason for seeing our friends and family. Days wherein I spend time together with them, eating and catching up with everyone's life is precious to me. It makes me teary-eyed when I see my family and friends complete in one table. I understand that it's hard nowadays to do that. Like for me, my mom is not here with us because she's working abroad. I got used to it already but we're very luck because she can go home every year or even anytime she wants. But when she's here, we make sure we make up for lost time. Giving time for someone or something is for me, giving importance. When someone or something is important to you, you make an effort to give time. It's just that most of us are busy with our own lives that we tend to forget. Let's not wait again for the moment we would utter the word, 'sayang'.

I always tell God that despite everything, I am always blessed by Him because I have my family whom I know, will always be there no matter what, friends whom I don't see much often but makes an effort to make you feel, 'hey, I'm always here for you' and Jap who sees me beyond my shortcomings. They are the reason why I'm writing this. I am blessed beyond words and material things. Christmas is a celebration of love and everything that follows from it.

I hope everyone of us would find the real meaning of CHRISTmas. I know you know it. Just open your eyes and heart and I'm sure you will. :)

Words to Live By Today

Challenge yourself. Never settle for anything less than what you deserve. Hard work pays off. Learn new things. Improve yourself. Pray hard.