Tag: thoughts

The Sunday Currently || 039

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CURRENTLY…

Joseph woke me up when I thought he was telling me that he wants to eat. Sabi ko edi kumain ka na. “Hindi si baby gusto ng kumain.” Turns out nagising siya sa iyak ni Kulinggit. Ako naman ay hilo pa sa antok 😅.

Binati ko na ng Happy Father’s Day si Joseph kagabi because we are still awake past midnight. This is his first Father’s Day.

Continue reading ➞ The Sunday Currently || 039

The Sunday Currently || 026

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CURRENTLY…

Waiting for my husband to finish working out. Para makapag-lunch na kami 😅!

I’m also packing some of my stuff for donation. I’ve decluttered some of my things and I might be doing more of it in a few weeks. Other sellable stuff has been sold online and some are going to the Philippines. At times, I can’t believe the stuff that I have accumulated. I initially thought I needed it pero di naman pala. I’ve also started storing my “winter clothes” because it’s getting warmer na, yey!

Continue reading ➞ The Sunday Currently || 026

The Sunday Currently || 025

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CURRENTLY…

Just hanging out on a sunny Sunday afternoon! I cooked my husband’s favorite Pinoy spaghetti, had my afternoon nap and minded our own business. The best!

Continue reading ➞ The Sunday Currently || 025

Trader Joe\’s

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Speculoos Cookie Butter is one of the many food trend that happened in 2012-2013. At first, I didn\’t understand why. I\’ve known about Trader Joe\’s from my husband way before the hype. I was wondering how it became an food trend. According to a friend it was shared in Instagram by Pinoy celebs. Of course, with their legion of followers everybody\’s curiosity will spark. Why would they even bother to post if it\’s not really delicious?! But I didn\’t bother to jump in the hype because it\’s mahalia jackson. Imagine they resell it for 400 pesos per piece! (Ok fine, have to pay for shipping)
I was able to try it here in the US. At hindi pa agad-agad ha! Most of the time when we visit TJ\’s in Eastlake this is what I would see from the speculoos shelves…

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The cookie butter\’s taste is still very much like peanut butter with hint of ginger cookies. I find it different and unique because I never thought you can add cookies in peanut butter. Though I\’m also aware that the TJ brand is not original speculoos. I heard it hails somewhere from Europe.
Aside from the cookie butter they also have lots of organic goodies. From cookies, mini cakes, wine, chocolates, pasta, chips, fruits, veggies etc. There\’s lots to see inside aside from the cookie butter. It\’s nice to actually experience that the store has a variety to offer. 

We made the stores bigger (if you can imagine), decked the walls with cedar planks and donned our crew in cool Hawaiian shirts. Most importantly, we started putting innovative, hard-to-find, great-tasting foods in the \”Trader Joe\’s\” name. That cut our costs and saved you money. Still does. —SOURCE

The store\’s humble beginnings dates back from 1958. They have a rich history, go check out their timelime.

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My favorite chocolate among the rest. They also come in dark chocolate and 73% super dark chocolate with almonds.
I don\’t eat brussel sprouts but I love the calligraphy sign for it.
Is someone thinking of bringing Trader Joe\’s to Manila? I think it\’ll be better if there\’s a creation of an organic grocery store that would feature products from our local farmers and food entrepreneurs. 
XOXO

Where I Stayed In Vietnam

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There are lots of accommodations to choose from in Vietnam (may it be in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City). It depends on your preference. I prefer to be alone in my room with my own bathroom. It doesn\’t need to be grand or anything as long as it is clean and tidy. 
Ho Chi Minh City: 
I stayed at Tuan Phuong Hotel. It is located at District 1. Where it\’s conveniently located near the tourist spots. Almost all can be reached by walking especially the Ben Tanh Market.
                                           
                                     

Photo Courtsey of Trivago.com
The Downside: 

  1. The breakfast menu has no variety. It doesn\’t provide you a lot of choices. I\’m just glad the hotel is near the market so I could get some fruit shakes. 
  2. I forgot to bring my universal adapter set so I inquired with the hotel if they have any. They told me they\’re going to buy me one for just 1 dollar. I was like…what?! Don\’t you guys provide at least one inside per room. I was left with no choice because I need it. 
  3. I asked them for a map because I never found any in the airport and post office ( I don\’t know if its my eyes or I don\’t use it properly). They give me a crappy one and it wasn\’t even in English and they charged me 1 USD for it. No way! Good thing I met some nice tourists who gave me their copy. I returned it and told the staff point blank, not to charge me. Kainez Veneracion talaga! 
  4. I don\’t like that I need to leave my passport in the front desk. In my other travels, they just ask for a photocopy of the credit card and passport. I don\’t know if it applies with all the hotels in HCMC (I overheard one tour mate complaining that his credit card was declined and the hotel won\’t give his passport unless he pays them with another CC or by cash). Because in Hanoi they never collected my passport at all.
The staff are nice they are just the hi/bye type. For them customers are customers they come, stay, pay and go. Although the room and toilet are clean, I won\’t be booking with them when I come back.

Rating: 2.5/5

Hanoi: 

Hanoi Guesthouse was recommended by Clarence. And I\’m glad that I listened to him. I really felt I was in somebody else\’s house where everything is cozy and warm from the place itself  and with the staff. It exceeded my expectations, really!
I sent them an e-mailed about my booking. They were able to accommodate me even if they\’re fully booked on the said dates (I didn\’t even know how they managed to give me a room). They helped me with my bags the moment I stepped out of the taxi. The staff are always smiling. The hotel may be small but its clean. Breakfast has lots of variety. I love it! They gave me a map and showed me how to navigate the area. They also arrange tours of your choice. The female staff are very chatty and sweet. They even offered to accompany me to the Night Market.  
The Downside:
  1. The Wi-fi connection is weak inside my room. I need to go down the lobby where the signal is stronger.
  2. I don\’t know if it\’s me or there\’s something wrong with the heater. It will be either too hot or too cold. I just forgot to mention this to the front desk because I was able to manage anyway.
These downsides can be solved so it\’s not a big deal. I will definitely come back and stay here again. Hopefully together with my husband the next time around.
Rating: 4/5