where elle is exploring

I Care for My Own

2026-09-23T19:21:29.885-07:00

I received a text today. 

It was totally unexpected. 

My daughter has a regular schedule for staying with family.
With no family of our own on this side of the world, I leaned on the ones I had.
This time though they are saying no.
I understand.

I get it. 

But I got hurt anyway.

There were paragraphs of explanations.

But the only thing that stood out was "no."

The paragraphs got blurred. It felt like a jumble of words I couldn't understand.

I had to re-read it several times.
So I agreed to their no.

I felt like they said no to something bigger.

No to years.

No to the past. 

Irrational, I know.

I'm not supposed to feel that. 

But I felt it anyway.

I tried to understand.

I really did.

I even agreed with them. 

I understand the situation and the circumstances. 

But somehow everything sounded like a rejection.

And then it reminded me. 

I shouldn't expect. 

What I give is not always returned.

Different people, different return. 

I thought I'd earned a place in that word — family.

Maybe I was wrong.

Or maybe I was just treated like I was. 

If I look, it doesn't mean they return my gaze.

And somehow, that simple text changed me. 

It changed how I view others. 

It changed how I view the world, and my season around it.

My family is my responsibility. I care for my own.

Before the sun sets

2026-08-26T20:52:11.307-07:00

Canadian Forces Snowbirds

The sun was still up when we went downtown. David Foster was holding a free concert in Victoria, and we wanted to be there to experience it. It was for his foundation's 40th anniversary.

We went, along with tens of thousands, to hear him and his guests.

The grounds were packed. It hit me — we'd normally have to pay big money to experience even a fraction of this. In fact, we usually only see him on TV.

But there we were. Sitting on the grass, on the iconic Fairmont Empress grounds. Not just that — the whole family was there, enjoying his classics together. More than the concert itself, we were there before the sun had set.

I remember a time when I didn't even get to see the sun, cooped up in the office, working. Feeling guilty if I had to leave early, which was rare, and usually only for an emergency. How many times did I have breakfast, lunch, and dinner there — sometimes even midnight snacks or a drink?

On the few occasions I left a little earlier, I'd feel like a client was about to call and I'd have to go back, or my boss would call to remind me of something, or something entirely urgent would need my attention. On the way home, a message ding would send me reaching for my phone, bracing myself for a possible office return.

So I am here now. I get to listen to world-famous talents, in the city where I live, with the family I love. The concert, the planes doing their flyover during the show, the ice cream we ate while watching, sitting on the iconic Fairmont Empress grounds — it's all etched in memory. The grass, the sky, the bright sun, melting ice cream on my hands, handing a tissue to my daughter as she licks hers.

The laptop that never left the bag

2026-07-12T14:48:00.000-07:00

My 9-year-old daughter often gets invited to playdates. The usual: a mom messages me. We agree on a place and time. The kids meet, run around, spend their hours. I chat with the parent until one of us needs to go. Usually it is me.

There's an unspoken rule of two hours. At the two-hour mark, someone says they need to go. Or we say goodbye at the same time. It works for me. My daughter gets off the screen. Gets to run, use her imagination. And going out, for me, already takes something. Being an immigrant means that. Every new place, every new person, costs a bit before you even arrive. There are times I have to prepare myself mentally especially if I have to meet new people.

That Saturday was the usual playdate. Willows Beach park. First time with this classmate.

This Saturday was different. I brought my laptop. Just in case. Something to do if the talk ran dry.

The laptop never left the bag.

We talked. Kids first, comparing notes. Then, somehow, our own lives came up. How hard it is to meet people our age now. The kind of friends you used to make by accident — at work, at school — don't happen anymore. How much of the day gets eaten by juggling everything, and how little is left for anyone new. I lost track of time. Almost three hours. Nonstop.

Some of it surprised me. I found myself sharing things I wouldn't normally share on a first meeting. Not just stories about my daughter. Stories about me. When my husband showed up, I didn't use him as my exit, the way I usually do. We just kept talking.

I'm wary of new people these days. So this one hits differently. Not because we're from the same place. Not because we're raising kids the same age. It was the stories. Not where I came from.

The 3 hours of non-stop sharing? There never was a picture. Nothing to prove that it happened.

But it did

Playdates used to be something I did for her, and something I sometimes dread.

This one, I did for me too. And I was glad we did it.

What Am I to Lose

2026-04-27T23:27:20.970-07:00

I was today years old when I learned to skate. Not really. Let’s just say I tried.

My daughter wanted to. My older daughter persuaded me. And I thought to myself, why not?

When will I ever do this without the fear of being laughed at?

So I went ahead and rented skate shoes, went to the ice, uttered a quick prayer to prevent broken bones and hips, and off I went. It was now or never. There was an inner battle happening as I stood at the rink, right before I stepped onto the ice. If I don’t do it now, I might regret not even trying. What am I to lose, except the experience?

When I heard my daughter encouraging me to join her on the ice, I thought — this is it. This is something I can share with her, something we can talk about in years to come. And that made me step onto the ice and wobble toward her.

I wish I could say that I was born to be a skater. I was not. I used a skate aid the whole time, and I was scared.

My legs were wobbly and my shoulders stiff. But when I got the hang of it, I “soared” — sort of.

I was skating fast with my skate aid, wishing I could skate with just my legs. But feeling the ice below, how fast I glided, just zooming — it was so much fun.

It made me think that there is no real age to learn or try something new. It is really just yourself, and the boundaries you have put on yourself, that have held you back for so long.

The feeling of being steady on your feet versus the wobbliness of standing on a completely different kind of surface — it’s a decision in itself. Being sure-footed is always the safe choice, knowing that the ground beneath you is solid and familiar. The ice was unfamiliar, slippery — one wrong move and it could send me landing flat on my face.

Kind of like what we have chosen. Leaving the solid ground we were standing on and exchanging it for something unfamiliar and slippery. We came here not knowing how to glide, holding on to whatever guide we could find. And it was excitement personified, even though we were scared of everything unfamiliar. Because of our daughter. We stepped onto a slippery surface just to try to give her something we believed was better.

Do I regret it?

Skating around on an unfamiliar surface, in shoes that were tight and hard to navigate, was not easy. I could not let go of the skate aid. But zooming around, laughing with my daughter, wobbling alongside her — it hits different. It was exhilarating. Something I still cannot quite put into words. I was learning with her as I stumbled along the way.

Would I try it again? Most likely.

Would I be a good skater? I can’t say.

But that first time trying something new is worth remembering. And the decision to step onto the ice — that’s a story worth retelling.

Looking forward from here

2026-04-24T20:26:52.533-07:00

One day, we just went.

No real plan. Just the memory of something I once read — that in Victoria, you can go from mountain to city to sea in just a few minutes. So that's what we did.

We headed to Mount Tolmie first. It was almost five when we left. We brought the car, parked, walked just a few steps — and just like that, the city was below us.

We've been here before. But I was seeing it like I hadn't. Maybe I was just paying more attention. My daughter had her small binoculars and kept peeking through them, pointing at everything. She got so excited thinking she spotted our house. It didn't matter if she actually did. That's the thing about her — she finds joy in the seeing, not just in being right.

We stood around the compass marker too, trying to figure out which directions we'd already been. Tracing the lines with our eyes like we could actually see that far. Like we could see Seattle. Like we could see where we'd come from.

And then I took the photo. My husband and my daughter, backs to me, both looking out.

It hit me quietly. All of us looking forward. And still not knowing which way to go.

The compass is right there. Carved in stone, even. And yet.

We live here. We are trying, genuinely, to plant ourselves here. But there's something no one fully prepares you for — how it feels to follow every direction and still find yourself turned around. How the path shifts. How you adjust your footing not because you lost your way, but because the ground keeps moving.

We live here. And also, not quite yet.

I don't think anyone who hasn't done this will ever fully understand it. You do everything right. You follow the markers. And then directions change. And you're left standing on a rock somewhere, looking out at a city that is yours and also still becoming yours, holding on, hoping the path you're on leads to where you're trying to go.

We don't always know. But we keep looking forward.

And for now, that's enough.

I baked this morning

2026-04-04T12:00:00.001-07:00

I baked this morning.

Not because I’m a great baker — I’m not. And not because I made something extraordinary. It was a simple banana muffin recipe I found on the internet, nothing more.

It wasn’t planned. We woke up less than two hours before my husband had to leave for work, and somewhere between the morning silence and the smell of coffee, between the small conversations and big dreams, I just decided to do it. No grand preparation.

This is not a baking post. There will be no recipe.

My husband said the muffins were good. And I felt good.

But here’s the thing — it wasn’t really about the muffins.

I mixed the batter while the coffee was brewing. I slid the tray into the oven while he was getting dressed. And by the time he was putting on his shoes, the kitchen smelled something really warm and alive, and he was eating breakfast fresh from the oven before walking out the door.

And standing there, removing that muffin from the oven using a folded dish towel, I realized.

I have time.

I have time to do this. To be present in the quiet, ordinary moments of caring for my family — without rushing, without sacrificing myself to do it.

We gave up a lot to be here. We left careers, routines, and a version of ourselves that knew exactly what we were doing. We came to a new country and started from nothing — new systems to learn, a new life to navigate, a new sense of who we are when everything familiar is stripped away.

In my old corporate life, back home, I was always running. A client message at any hour meant dropping everything. Household life — cooking, rest, just being — was squeezed into whatever was left over, which was really just a few hours here and there. The work and deadlines consumed us, and we let it, because that was the culture, that was the expectation, that was simply the life we knew.

But we chose differently. We left all of that behind. All that “comfort” and familiarity.

And this morning, in this kitchen, in this country we are still learning to call home — I baked a muffin.

I smiled.

Because I have time. And for someone who once had none, that is everything.

Blossoms again

2026-04-03T21:55:00.003-07:00

Spring came again. And so did I.

I didn't plan to be away this long. I never do. But it seemed to have happened a lot recently.

Life has a way of filling every quiet space you thought you were saving for writing. The days got full — with work, with family, with the stresses and busyness of building a life in a place that is familiar but still largely unknown. And writing, as always, moved to the back of the line.

But spring came. It always does. After the long dark winter, you wake up, and it's spring. The sun stays longer, the blossoms appear, less chill. I think I have been preparing for spring since the year began. I cannot wait for it to happen. And now it's here.

There's something about this season that makes it hard to stay quiet. The blossoms show up almost overnight — like they were always coming, like they never doubted it. And standing underneath them, I thought about this space. About how long it had been, about whether I still had something worth saying.

I know I do. There are too many thoughts just waiting to be written down. The reflections and the introspectives, the realizations, they all deserve a space. It's what keeps me sane after all.

So here I am. Blossoms and all.

Elleswhere is changing a little — becoming more of what it always was at its best. Less recapping, more reflecting. Less documenting what happened, more sitting with what it meant. The immigrant life, the mom moments, the quiet Saturdays, the long phone calls with people who know you from before.

The stories worth telling, the memory capsule. That's what this is now.

If you're new here — welcome. The About page will tell you more.

If you've been here before, thank you for still being around. Let's begin again.

— Elle

Keeping connections

2025-12-30T12:06:00.017-08:00

It started as an agreement to have a quick check-in, but somehow three hours flew by — his afternoon and my early hours of the morning.

There was no agenda. Just exchanges — life updates, thoughts, reminiscing, views, insights. Familiar laughter from shared memories, reflections on the past, and conversations about who we still want to be. This is what more than two decades of friendship looks like.

When life brings you onto a different path, it’s easy to let go of the old while trying to move forward and adapt. Distance, different rhythms, different lives — they quietly reshape you. There are times you feel that you have changed, as if that version belongs somewhere else now.

But not completely.

The past — and the connections that come with it — shape who you are more than you realize. I thought I had become someone different. But a three-hour conversation reminded me of what I love doing, the things that once lit me up, and the parts of me that never really left.

I used to think I had left that enthusiasm behind — that I didn’t want it anymore. Instead, I was reminded of the things I still love. Building a new life or walking a different path doesn’t erase what has been ingrained in you for years. It is something you always carry inside.

Distance changes many things. But some connections anchor you. They ground you. They remind you that parts of you are still intact — still understood, still the same.

Living far from where you once called home often comes with an unspoken pressure to move on. To adapt fully. To belong here without looking back. But staying connected makes you feel whole - combining past and present, acknowledging the before and the now. It allows past and present to exist together, without needing to choose between them.

That call, I hope, is just the beginning of many.
No agenda. No pressure.
Just connections with someone who still knows you and stays.

-- Elle

4th year in the North!

2025-12-11T19:54:00.007-08:00

It's our 4th year here!

December 11, 2021, when we came, wide-eyed and full of hope. We uprooted our whole life and squeezed it all into 4 boxes and a few luggage.

How the years flew. We experienced the struggles, disappointments, wins, and several ups and downs. While we never stopped moving, we felt that we were being left behind.

And I get to wonder, have we done something wrong? Have we not planned enough? Have we not moved enough? Here in "our" new country, but still temporary.

And just when I started thinking, even before my thoughts finished forming in my mind, the Lord asked me to pick up the book and spoke to me. He already answered before I even formulated the question.

I am sorry, Lord if I sometimes get overwhelmed. Or if I feel that I am tired of waiting.

Thank you always for never failing me.

Thank you for reminding me to keep hoping and believing. That only YOU have the correct plan. Not me. Always YOU.

Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics - A Candlelight concert in Victoria

2025-10-25T22:30:00.002-07:00

We watched Victoria's candlelight concert as part of our company's Halloween Activity. Entitled "Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics", it made me appreciate spooky theme songs, as performed by the Listeso String Quartet.

According to their website, the Candlelight concerts have performed in 100+ cities around the world. And I am glad I get to experience one here in Victoria.

We watched at the Christ Church Cathedral near downtown. Their website says you have to arrive on time. Once the performance starts, they close the doors and nobody can come in.

The venue is an actual Anglican Church

As the name suggested, the venue was full of candles, with their flickering lights the only illumination of the place. This gave a reverential vibe. The venue itself also contributed to the feeling. I went in with the feeling that I had to talk in hushed tones and I guess everyone has that feeling too, as people were talking in whispers.

There are no reserved seats, but depending on what ticket you have, you get to sit in a specific zone. We got Zone A, and we get to seat at the side of the candlelit "stage".

The musicians are all based in Victoria. According to their profiles, they perform beyond Vancouver Island and Canada.

When we watched, these were the musicians:

Mark Ferris | Violin
Kathryn Wiebe | Violin
Jessica Pickersgill | Viola
Erin Tinney | Cello

They performed for an hour with spooky Halloween music like themes from Psycho, Thriller, Danse Macabre, and even Ghostbusters! Their music was not scary at all! 😁

The Candlelight Concert has several performances with various themes. You can check Feverup for tickets and schedules.

Super thumbs up for this activity! 👍👍👍 I would think great too for a date night activity 😊

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A post shared by Elle EA (@theelleswhere)

Prelude To Spring

2025-03-16T22:13:00.005-07:00

We love going to Butchart Gardens. Beautiful can't even begin to describe the gardens. Whenever we go there, we find ourselves talking about our lives and realizing how blessed we are as we watch our daughter look around excitedly.

The Butchart Gardens is a more than a hundred-year-old garden in Victoria BC and designated as a National Historic Site in Canada, according to its website.

I think it is open all year round, with just a few days closed in winter. We have been there spring, summer, winter, and fall; each season providing us a different and memorable experience.

We went there again a week ago and visited their indoor garden. Dubbed as Prelude to Spring, it was still amazing.

The indoor garden was exquisite. The sweet smell of flowers in the air made me want to breathe deeply every time. The sound of the water rushing from the mini waterfall made everything so tranquil as if one should be quiet. We were speaking in whispers, afraid to disturb anything. Watching the koi in the mini pond completed the tranquil scene.

I am unfamiliar with flower names. I didn't even attempt to identify even five of the flowers. All I can say is that the whole indoor garden was an experience in itself.

We also went around the whole garden. Around this time though, most of the area showed signs of newly planted flowers and plants. There were few people at this time. As the website says, this is the time the outdoor garden sleeps. Still, walking around the garden and seeing how it is being prepared created the anticipation of another year of bloom and fragrance.

I cant't wait to go back. 🌻🌹

See rates here : https://www.butchartgardens.com/hours-rates/

Spring is here

2025-03-15T17:15:00.004-07:00

I can't believe it is spring again! More so, I cannot believe it has been over a year since I wrote here. Yes, time flew by.

I told myself I would always write. But with all the things happening in our lives, all my stresses, and even the changes, writing, as always, took a backseat.

I know it should not be the case. I told myself before that I am first and foremost a writer. I keep forgetting it keeps me sane. So here's another attempt to keep me sane. 😜

The past months have been crazy and stressful. I would not write it here but it there were days that I wake up and can't help but question some of the things that I do, or cannot do, and why.

Still, I hope and believe.

Like in the past, one day I will wake up, and all these things are past. I would look back and reflect and understand why I went through all those things. I believe the Lord will bring us to where we need to be.

And just like how fall and winter ends, a new season begins. Instead of the dreary and cold winter, the flowers will bloom. Spring will come again.

I can almost smell the flowers in the air.

A snap from Victoria's Butchart Garden during spring

Cathedral Grove, Walking amongst Giants - A Photo Blog

2024-11-09T18:21:00.002-08:00

Walking amongst giant 800-year-old trees gave us a different kind of awe, of how great nature is. It also gave a feeling of how small we are, compared to a lot of things, and yet, we live side-by-side, enjoying the sun, rain, and nature.

Knowing that I was surrounded by these ancients made me realize I was bearing witness to something much bigger than all of us. And how great the Creator is.

We were quiet along the way, talking in whispers, feeling only awe. I felt I was trespassing, and these giant trees were watching my every move, that I can only see them because they allowed it.

Cathedral Grove is part of MacMillan Provincial Park, Highway 4 in Port Alberni, Vancouver Island

Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo

2024-11-03T11:38:00.058-08:00

We recently went to Nanaimo just to unwind for a bit. There were no plans, but at that time, we did know is that we ride where the road takes us, and we would stay over night at the area, similar to what we used to do.

We chose Travelodge by Wyndham in Nanaimo, affordable and looked decent, at least according to the website.

The hotel looked older and a little tired from the outside. But inside was better, and quite comfortable. The room we got had 2 queen-sized beds. We even had a balcony facing the highway. And since it was facing the highway, we had a great view of the sunrise and sunset from the balcony.

The breakfast was simple, with some muffin and cookie choices. There was coffee and orange juice. We were looking for more choices, but I guess it was enough to start your day.

Overall, I think Travelodge might be a good stop over place when in the area. We might drop by again when go on a road trip again.

The Old Country Market - Goats on the Roof and Billy G's Donuts

2024-11-02T16:23:00.017-07:00

A friend mentioned this as a must-visit place on Vancouver Island. So during our spur-of-the-moment trip, I told Jie that we should stop by.

The market has a grass-topped roof where goats often graze. They say that the goats are not always on the roof, so one must check the schedules. According to their website, the goats are usually on the roof from May to late October. It was the perfect time, I initially thought.

However, the goats were all at the back when we went. While they were not on the roof, we still got to take pictures.

Goats graze on this roof from May to October

So many interesting and tempting items in the market!

Another must-visit is Billy G's Famous Doughnuts. Also in the Old Country Market, the doughnut shop was at the back.

When we went inside, we saw almost everyone carrying boxes of doughnuts. Just out of curiosity, we went inside and got confused by the many options they have on display. They have doughnuts, crullers, twists, with a lot of the flavors nicely decorated.

Since we were full at the time, and we were not yet aware, we only bought one and brought it to the car to eat. it was sooooo good that we regretted buying only one! It has the right sweetness on the softest doughnut that even JE could not resist.

Definitely, we will come back and buy more 😉😛

Pause

2024-02-29T18:00:00.000-08:00

A comma

ellipses?

A break.

A bench on a long road

Sit down

look around

breathe

march on.

240229- elleswhere

Benjamin's Cafe, a Filipino dining place in Victoria BC

2023-10-29T20:16:00.004-07:00

Our friend posted eating Lomi, and just like that, we were curious. We asked them where they had their lomi and they mentioned Benjamin's Cafe.

A quick search on the address and off we went.

Benjamin's Cafe is located in the Esquimalt area at 614b Grenville Avenue in Victoria. According to the staff, it is just approaching its third month this November.

I was not able to take a lot of pictures of the interior. It was lunchtimea when we arrived and there was pretty good amount of customers.

There were ample tables. We think it was the owner himself who showed us where to sit. We got the one at the corner and ordered in front.

Aside from lomi, they have silogs, sisig, cakes, puto, Goldilocks items, Selecta ice cream, empanada, among others. The lomi was super hot. In this cold weather, it was what we needed. It had eggs, liver, squid balls and ground pork.

Sisig had the taste of spicy garlic mayo. An order may be shared by two, but you will need to order extra rice.

After that meal, busog!

Nakakakamiss at nakakatuwa. Automatically we shifted to Tagalog and it's nice to hear Filipino conversation all around.

We know we will come back here again.

Check Benjamin's Cafe here

dark chocolate cake

Big bowl of hot lomi

Puto with cheese, 8 pcs

Sisig with rice

CANADA ATBP - a chance to give back to the community

2023-09-10T12:52:00.006-07:00

We have been in Canada for almost 2 years now. I am currently an international student in my 4th term. Junjie is on an open work permit.

Yesterday, we were given the chance to talk and share our experience with incoming University of Victoria students.

The event was called CANADA ATBP. (Canada at iba pa or Canada and others), an event aimed to provide tips, networks, and opportunities for newcomers. The organizers are good friends and we are so glad that we were able to contribute and give back to the community.

The topics consisted of the following:

1. Lifestyle guide and tips for an overview of grocery shopping, driving, rentals and healthcare here in Canada

2. Job hunting and resume-building tips

3. PR pathway options

4. Business opportunities

Talking to the attendees afterward, I am glad that we were able to provide useful tips. Hopefully, with what we shared, it will make it easier for them to start their new life here in Victoria. I don't think there were any similar events when we first went here. Or perhaps we were just not able to attend one. So we know the struggles. It is still fresh. And sometimes, when we look back, it still feels like yesterday, and yet also a long time ago.

The event opened with a an icebreaker and dance led by Reymark

Edlaine - Uvic Philippine Community Vice Chairperson hosted the event

Junjie - Lifestyle tips speaker

Elle - Lifestyle tips speaker

Rob on job hunting tips and resumes

Nathan on PR pathways

Eunice on starting a business in Canada

Cobb, Bayanihan Community Center representative, talking about anti-racism survey

Speakers and attendees' group photo

Snack and networking time

Organizers having a huddle after the successful event

We are so thankful to the event organizers, headed by the couple Joevi and Nathan. Theirs is an inspiring story. They were able to get permanent residency while Nathan was still in his last term at Uvic. With their preparation, they secured their PR in less than 2 years. Currently, they are also starting their own business here in Victoria, BC.

This event is the first of many and as early as now, the organizers are planning similar sessions for future terms.

If you are an incoming Uvic student, or an international student from any Canadian school, you may contact CANADA ATBP at canadaatbpinquiries@gmail.com.

If you are an incoming UVIC student, you may also get in touch with the following speakers:

Elle and Junjie Alanis -

theelleswhere@gmail.com

junjie.gw@gmail.com.

Robert Solitario

robert.legaspi.solitario@gmail.com

Nathan and Joevi Dapon

nathandapon@gmail.com

joevilyngonzaga@gmail.com

A special shoutout to the Bayanihan Community Center who provided the venue, and long time Victoria Filipino couple Amelia and Aron dela Fuente who co-sponsored the event with Joevi and Nathan.

Walking to Walmart/Uptown mall in 30 minutes!

2022-06-04T11:29:00.002-07:00

When we feel like taking a walk in Victoria, we usually take the Galloping Goose trail. There is an access road near our place.

Galloping Goose Trail is a 55 km trail stretch from Victoria to Sooke. You can walk, bike, and run on this trail. Since there are access points every few meters, we sometimes use this to walk to Walmart, Uptown mall, or Mayfair Mall. Very quiet and picturesque. There are waterways, rose bushes, and other interesting sights. There are parking lots along with the access points and anyone can start or end their walk. Source:https://www.crd.bc.ca/parks-recreatio...

Experiencing West Coast Amusement Carnival

2022-05-05T11:02:00.004-07:00

We attended our first carnival here in Victoria BC!

It was actually spur-of-the-moment. We left the house at 8 pm and figured 2 hours will be enough to enjoy everything. Since it was almost summer, the sun was just about to set at 8pm!

We arrived at around 8:30 and a kind soul gave us a booklet of tickets for the rides, amounting to $45! Bless their kind hearts. Still, we weren't able to go to any of the rides with the long lines. We gave the tickets to friends the following day when we accompanied them.

Two ladies also gave us a toy while we were lining up for some popcorn!

Now, about the fair itself? Perya 😁 Pinoys know this and it reminded us of a lot of things back home. Kulang na lang ang sirena at kuneho 😁

Overall an enjoyable experience!

Jabbed!

2021-07-28T07:33:00.001-07:00

Jabbed and we are so glad!

We are just so happy that we have completed our doses.

After all this time, learning who has gone and with our family being personally affected by this disease, it is a privilege and a blessing to receive our vaccines. A lot are still waiting and enduring the lines, hoping for their protection.

The brands do not matter this time. The important thing is to have the hope to continue to be strong and to fight what we are facing.

And, continue to pray.

The Lord still has something great in store for all of us.

Rainbow cake by Mitch Naza

2021-02-26T14:09:00.001-08:00

Troll surprise and a rainbow of happiness for JE's 4th birthday!

Ordered the cake specifically because it is layers of chocolate cake and carrot cake. 😍

Cake by Sweet Cakes by Mitch Naza

Cake toppers and other troll decors by Shopee

Mission accomplished for JE 💝💞😘

Blueberry Cheesecake by Susan

2020-11-20T07:44:00.000-08:00

I received this as a surprise birthday gift from a family friend.

Totally unexpected but really made my day 😀

I will let the pictures speak for itself.

Just the right amount of sweetness. Made from real Philadelphia cheese!

Di nakakasuya.

Each tub costs Php 700.

You may order here: Blueberry Cheesecake by Susan

Thanks @eezbp for introducing this to us. 👌👍😋

Disneyland Christmas Parade

2020-04-24T20:18:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. This is super late. 😅

I have so many more videos and I am just trying to find the time to upload. This quarantine has given me a little time to (learn to) edit and upload as well.
Pasensya na 😉
This parade was the first time for Elora and my mother. We hope to go back real soon.
So, here's sharing the beauty and wonder that is Disney 😊
Hopefully, the park opens soon so it can continue to share the magic and wonder.

Our adventures

2020-04-19T20:57:00.000-07:00

It's been how many days since the ECQ? A month, I think.
My weekday has been busy cooping up in a room as me and hubby try to work from home. It sure was busy.
Fortunately, we still have the weekends to play with Elora, and for me to try to learn how to do other stuff. This time its creating videos.
Below is my first project as I try to create a summary of our first few adventures. (Please be gentle with my attempt 😅 ).
Hopefully, I will get the time to sustain this as we wait the ECQ out.