absolutely basic goals and intentions

It’s such a shame to forget things. It’s important to live and be present in the moment. But it would be equally wonderful to recall those moments.

I feel like when Ali and I talk about our childhood memories, he just has so much more to share and to be honest they’re more interesting. How boring was I???? In the present, I wanted to be more intentional about how I spend my free time and I just hate being sucked into doomscrolling and consuming trash media which happens quite a lot.

I listed absolutely basic goals and intentions for 2026, but I suck at achieving it. I would blame life and chores, but that’s just me not taking accountability for the things I set my mind on.

I guess it’s quiet tonight, and I am just remembering the things I thought about from another quiet evening.

Vietnam blog continuation…..

 

 

 

Hoi An Viet Nam 2026

I feel like we didn’t Hoi An correctly, only because we struggled to fit so many things in so little time. I knew Hoi An, just like any other “touristy” cities is more than just the beauty and charm of their main attraction - Unesco heritage site, Old Town. The surprise pockets of raw Hoi An found in the alleys away from the bustling main streets are just as charming. 

 

Arrive / Check in at Grand Signature

Late lunch at Ba Buoi Chicken Rice / Cơm Gà Bà Buội

Coffee at Barin Garden

Chill and swim at Grand Signature

Dinner by the paddy field at Roving Chillhouse 

Old Town at night - look at lanterns 

Quick gelato stop -  Boulevard Gelato

LQ along Lê Lợi

Buffet brekky + pool time

Cocol at Every Half

Quick stop at Starbucks Hoi An

Banh Mi Queen

Desserts at Chè Bà Thọ

Winmart 

Grand Signature Kid Zone

Ordered in room service / mojito night

Peek at the silk village

Every Half / Nklai + Mommy Coffeedate

Thrifting at Bee Secondhand Shop

Art Gallery at Grand Signature

Tailors of Hoi An

Parang gusto ko bigla mag shopping sa Silverworks

I would like to put in on record that we did not have coffee at Starbucks. Nagpasabuy lang si Jay ng mug

He loooovess their pool! Umahon na kami and iniwan(nagtago from him) ayaw talaga umahon

Dinner by the paddy field aka Pulilan experience lol

Separate post for Grand Signature Hotel by M Village because I looooove that place so much!!!

Thrifting in Hội An: Bee Vintage Accessories

On our very last day in Vietnam, I went to this cute secondhand shop called Bee Vintage Accessories located at 275 Cưa Đại, Hội An. It was 10-min Grab ride from our hotel and I went alone while Ali and Nklai took a nap.  

A lot of items were too y2k-ish for my liking

I’m still thinking about you!!!!! 

I was overwhelmed in an understatement

Took home all three plus 3 other rings

These cute earrings!

Pile of vintage bags that I had no time to rummage

These are the ones that I kept for myself after handing out my pasalubong to Arup friends

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I miss you Mommy 

Dami ko gusto ikwento while nakahiga tayo sa bed nyo on a Sunday morning pagkagising ko tapos gusto ko pa rin mag in-in.

something infiniteLy interesting

Muntik ko na i-post without a title, but I realized wala pa rin ako maisip for it, so yaan ko na lang na ganto

I’m surprised – no delighted that we’ve kept the house somewhat in order despite being out of helper for 2 weeks (3, after coming back to this draft a week later).

I’m proud of our partnership. While I miss having a house help, mas gusto ko sana to not need it anymore. Ang sarap ng walang pinapasweldo lol.

But we both work full time and we don’t have a village to rely on to.

Fortunately, mas madali na talaga alagaan si Nklai. Medyo sumusunod na.

But because we need to spend more time with chores, that means less time for hobbies. Nama-maintain ko naman Duolingo streak ko, but haven’t painted for a while now. Kahit targeted ako ng mga ads for weekend workshop and things.

But still, I somehow found time to see a movie (from online streaming and putol putol din na nood), and now about to finish a book (done na kasi na-pending nga 'tong post na 'to). Buti na lang Arjen lives nearby – na break yung “usuals” ko. He lent me his book, and he came over at nag movie night kami.

2026 still feels brand new, doesn’t it? But 2^nd quarter is fast approaching!! Scorching summer heat and electricity bill skyrocketing soon. Everything is expensive with what’s happening in the middle east. Kung maaari, wag nyo na kami idamay please.

Lapit na rin mag anniv sa work, but I still feel like I don’t belong, nor deserve the spot I got. Nasa to-do list ko ang mag update ng CV, but here I am, in front of the laptop, not doing that.

Photo dump!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's so good at building things; connecting toys, even the ones which are not from the same set

 

Arjen asked kung record-breaking bilis finish ko daw ba 'to. Maybe, as a chismosa, but honestly, the book is meh for me - kaya siguro mabilis ko din nabasa.

Quality time with apos - missing kuya Marcus and kuya Jaden; balot na balot pa kami pero 2 days after this was taken, napaka jinet na ulet sa Pinas

So tender! Brine is the key! Though I'm still craving for Yabu's unli cabbage, that's somehow better than the local ones

Decades-long friendship with our little ones - pero nag tantrums na si Nklai kaya ayaw sumama sa pic

 

Thank You Pilot

I have 268 other things going inside my head. I thought of writing to relax a little bit, but the sight of Microsoft 365 apps did just the opposite of that.
But here I am powering through on Word.

1. I want to find a nice pressed powder because mine just shattered. I thought I was already winning when I noticed that I had pan-ned it. I wonder if refill is available.

~~ proceeds to open Google to find out ---it’s not.

2.     And then I started obsessing over the flat warts spreading on the side of my face. I sighed. Nklai asked “wuht rongg?” I told him about it and that I need to see a doctor. He replied “maybe go to hot-tee-tal”. ♥ I’ll set up an appointment for another day.

3.     I want to plan our May trip and have saved some attractions here and there; but April will come sooner and I don’t really have anything yet. And hearing Arjen’s story about the bumper-to-bumper traffic they got stuck on when they last went home to Quezon on a Maundy Thursday, I’m seriously considering just staying in the city.

4.     I made a super-duper ugly beach scenery watercolor painting. Watercolor is so hard to control; so I went back to just one subject and followed a YouTube tutorial of a tree. I wish had the budget and time for proper lessons.

5. I finally did it. I switched pens -- and used the Sarasa that Mina got me for Christmas. I will probably use my green Pilot pen ‘til the end of its life. But moving forward, my planner has a vintage red brown ink from February onward. 

You will always have a place in my heart green Pilot pen

クラゲ

Random morning trigger kasi may napanood akong Reel of Internet strangers - 3 friends na naga-update sa friend nila who passed away 21 years ago.

Nung kabataan ko, for some reason may nabasa akong isang text/DM ni ate kay Mommy; I forgot what it was about but she shared her worry about something. 

Na-realize ko na I kept things from Mommy ‘coz I felt like I had to protect her from feeling worried or any other negative feeling dahil sa heart condition nya. But that moment I realized I wanted to have a more open relationship with her and just tell her everything. 

And now yun lang yine-yearn ko. Have adult conversation with Mommy. Hearing her wisdom and feeling the comfort of sharing everyday life update with Mommy.

2026

Approaching the final year of my 30s. 

clouds + roses

Interesting conversation.

Meaningful connection.  

Sabi ko yun muna mga mini goals ko.

Mag-improve yung painting ko ng clouds & roses kasi nakaka asar yung mga last kong gawa, pero it’s Feb pero tamad na tamad pa rin ako mag set up. Daydreaming of a quiet little studio para hindi na kailangan mag set up + ligpit.  

So far, sunflower and jellyfish pa lang finished work ko.

Yesterday nag “weekend watercolor” kami ni Nikolai coz hindi ako tumuloy dun sa gusto kong workshop. 

Interesting conversation x meaningful connection - na medyo mahirap dahil busy during work hours and parang ayaw ko na lol. 

Especially disappointing when people don’t show up. 

I’ll try harder if opportunity presents itself. 

Pero tipong kahit kami ni Ali, pag nagwwalking walking, wala akong ma-contribute sa usapan.

Anyway, also other mini goal - iwas complain / rant. 

I don’t have a plan on how to achieve. 

Kthxbye.