Sometimes, it's the little things.

This week i am thankful for...

1. this inabel throw

because it's from my Mommy, with love, all the way from my hometown. And because this is hand woven the old Ilocano way. 

2. this iced tea ...

because it was perfect for the hot summer we've been having.

3. these blueberry muffins 

because I am not good at baking but this one came out delicious.  And it was a good bonding moment with my little girl.

4. this cherry pitter.

I thought it was a useless tool until I found out my little girl loves cherries and I had to remove pits one by one with a knife. This pitter makes it so much easier.

5. this container

because not a piece of it is made of plastic. Enough said.

i hope you had a beautiful week. what are you thankful for?
have a nice weekend!

sometimes, it's the little things

this week i'm thankful for....


1. this cybidium yellow orchid

because it has been flowering for months, and it's butter yellow color is beautiful.


2. this church at the top of the hill (viewed from the porch at my grandma's house)

because it sparks holiness within me every time i see it.  i've always been curious what church it is and found out it is st. andrew ukrainian orthodox church. 


3. this pup (my grandnephew)

he's a boxer and his name is tyson. i think that's funny.  my daughter enjoyed playing with him even though he is a little mischievous.


4. ferns

because i see them everywhere these days and those tiny dots on them are such nice details. 


5. green garlic, or young garlic (whatever you want to call it)

because they are a delicacy in my province and it's difficult to find them anywhere here.  i found them growing in the backyard of a mansion in beverly hills of all places! they gave me a generous amount and i shared most of it to my grandma. she loves these!  i stopped by her place and stored it in her fridge this morning while she was still asleep. sneaky! {recipe for this to follow}


i hope you had a beautiful week. what are you thankful for?
have a nice weekend!

sometimes, it's the little things

this week i'm thankful for....

1. this decorated paper cup,

because in it is a seed of a sunflower.  the idea of growing a plant from seed got my daughter excited (and me too!)  she and i decorated it and sophia has been watering it diligently everyday. she is waiting patiently for the seed to sprout.

2. this carafe,

because the size is perfect for my lemon water. having a lemon water readily available means i am less likely to grab a bottled water.

3. this sweet pea sprouts,

because even if the sunflower seed above is not showing any signs of life, this was enough to make my daughter happy and proud.

4. this minor home improvement project,

because at last there is something adorning our bathroom wall.  i have been meaning to do something nice on that wall for two years.

5. this coconut chocolate ice cream from Trader Joe's,

because it was the perfect treat on a hot summer afternoon.  it is dairy free (and vegan), yet so deliciously creamy and smooth.  yumm!

i hope you had a beautiful week. what are you thankful for?
have a nice weekend!

sometimes, it's the little things

this week i am thankful for...

1. this basil,

it's the first plant i bought to start my patio garden. bought on a whim because i needed basil for my spaghetti sauce.

2. this robot,

my 3 year old and I made it out of egg cartons, and shoe boxes.  it's a constant reminder for me to sit down and do some fun creative stuff with my daughter.

3. this dress,

because i wore it on tuesday and i got so many complements.  it made me feel good.  to think it only costs $9.99!

4. these pretty handwoven peshtemal towels,

all the way from turkey, via etsy. they're so pretty, absorbent and soft. a nice treat after a shower. they dry  quicker than towels and takes much less space.  i get to wash my towels more often now that they don't take so much space in the washer.

5. audio books on my smartphone,

because it keeps me entertained on my long commute from work.  finally there is a way i can catch up on my  "reading".   i'm hooked on game of thrones, the very reason why i got started on audio books.  i can't wait for the next season, a year is too long of a wait.

i hope you had a beautiful week. what are you thankful for?
have a nice weekend!

sometimes, it's the little things

this week I am thankful for....

1. this glass of cold water with mint,

because it quenched my thirst in this warm weather and it's a much healthier alternative to soda.

2. this wooden sculpture of a monk,

because somehow i feel like he has been praying for us. even though to be honest i was scared of it at first.

3. this bistro table,

because it is the perfect table for our itsy teeny balcony.  dinners outdoors, baby!

4. these jacaranda trees, (i think that's what they're called)

because they are in bloom and vivid lilac-blue trumpet shaped flowers are so much prettier to look at than the building next door.

5. this little girl and her smile,

because she's kind of a big deal here.  "Sometimes," said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart." 

i hope you had a beautiful week. what are you thankful for?

have a nice weekend!

sometimes, it's the little things

sometimes, it's the little things – it’s a new project I have on this unknown blog of mine. Every week I will post some things (in tangible representations) that made me smile. The main goal is for me to learn to better appreciate the beauty in the little things around me. I admit, sometimes life gets too busy that I forget to stop and smell the roses. My hope in the end is to have a more profound appreciation for my blessings, to gain a deeper connection with nature and the added bonus of improving my photography skills in the process.

As someone wise once said,

"When you learn to appreciate the little things in life then you can truly live."~Anonymous

So here it is! For this week, five little things that made me smile.

1. this lens

because it has been awhile since i got a new toy and it complements my other micro four third gadgets.

2. this poached egg

because there is nothing like having a good breakfast in the morning before work, and I finally learned how to make it right. 

3. This curtain panel

because it is perfect for our need - a dress for the window that allows light and privacy.  And most importantly, it hides those hideous blinds that keep falling off.

4.  This plant

because somehow I feel it helps relieve my stress and reminds me to live greener.

5. these little flowers (star jasmines)

for even though they get in my way, their fragrance makes me forget that I live in this run down apartment building.