Achieving the Dream: Take Me Back to Michael's

Since med school days, I've always wanted to be able to visit this store.  I came to know about it since grade school days, I've watched American craft shows and this store is always mentioned to where you can get your materials and supplies.

As a kid, I've always wished there's something like this one in the Philippines, actually there was one before, I think the name was Craft World, I would go to Robinson's Galleria and SM Megamall just to go to that store.  Sadly it closed down already.

Actually I did not dream of going to Michael's until med school days.  I mean, in gradeschool and high school days, I never fully posted or put into words that I wanted to visit Michael's store.  My desire to visit the place started 2012, med school days.  I posted in social media that I wanted to visit it someday and I wanted something like this in the Philippines.

So last May 2018, when I visited San Francisco, I made it a point to include this in my itinerary.  We checked in a hotel in Union Square, and the branch closest was in Emeryville.  So using Moovit app and uber, we were able to reach this place.

I was really happy and with a feeling of accomplishment when I reached the storefront.  And when I entered the store, OMG! I was in Craft Heaven!!!!  I never thought there were so much types of crafts in the world.  Everything is just there! It's "THE ONE"-stop shop for your craft needs.

There's just this overwhelming joy I can't fully explain.  I bought lots of paper crafts there.  I would have bought some needle-felting also if only I did not restrain myself.  If only I was not worried of having our luggages overweight, I would have bought some craft tools as well.

Below is a picture of my Michael's Haul:

I loved that there were soccer-related stuffs there, I just hoarded!!!  Right now, I haven't used all of it, little by little, tinitipid since it was a really long way there and my 1st time shopping there.

Bucket list checked.

Hope I can achieve more of my dreams.  Dreams are not just for the your younger self, not just in the Disney movies and cartoons.  Even if you're already in Med school you can still dream and even if it took me 6 years I was able to achieve it nevertheless.  And this feeling of achievement is just irreplaceable.

Never stop dreaming, never stop believing.

Gastronomic Experience in Seoul

I'm way behind on my blog posts.  Anyways, Korean food is my favorite cuisine.  Before the Samgyeupsal craze, I love eating in grilled korean barbecue restaurants, and my favorite even is Sariwon (#notsponsored).

So anyways, I thought I'd share with you my food experience in my recent trip to Seoul.

I would start with airplane food.  It was our first time to ride with Korean Air, and I think the food we had on our trip to Seoul was worth mentioning, for someone with 1st time experience like me.

Yes I was so much fascinated with what I had on the plane.  Bibimbap!!!! and it's even good.  So there's a separate pack for warm rice then with little kimchi, there's even bean soup, then beef bibimbap.  See the tube of white thing on top of the plate of meat and vegetables? That's the sauce for the bibimbap, amazing isn't it?  I really had fun eating this in the plane.

Upon our arrival in our airbnb, was around dinner time already, so we were hungry.  Our itinerary was supposed to eat streetfood, but we were really hungry already so we ate a little at a restaurant just beside our airbnb.

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Korea Trip Winter OOTD

This is some kind of a new type of content for the blog. I love posting ootd in my personal facebook account.  Posting it there was for no reason, just showing my love for dresses, clothes and dressing up.  So transferring some of it to a blog, I don't know how it will do but whatever, this blog is supposed to be something I want to post anyways.

To give you a brief overview, I'm a size L-XL usually or UK 10-12 depending the brand, US 38-40.  Anyways you get the picture, I don't have the body of the model 👅.  Also I went on a trip on the last week of November.  So the weather in Korea is already winter, with daily temperature of 1- 8 degrees celsius.

Let's begin:

On my way from the Philippines to Seoul (so from tropical climate to winter climate)

In this picture, I'm wearing:

• Mango long sleeves top - I got this from Ivan, (chosen by Tita Cecile of course) as an anniversary gift.  This is in M by the way, which I usually don't fit, but turned out it kind of fit anyways.
• Divisoria Checkered Pants - This are one of my old pants that I have, in size L, I love travelling with this because of the zipper pockets.
• Nike Rubber Shoes - I only have 2 rubber shoes, the other pair replica Nike of neon orange color, and this one, black Nike shoes.  I really prefer rubber shoes in travelling, because it's just comfortable and ok for walking long walks

Also in the hand-carry the thermal top, pants, gloves, scarf, jacket were stored, in case I was not able to tolerate the cold weather upon arrival in Korea.

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Myeongdong Street Food for a First-Timer in Korea

It was our 1st time in Korea, I put this in our itinerary as our 1st activity the moment we arrived in Seoul.  We arrived in Seoul around 7:00pm so just in time for dinner.  Well actually since we're already so hungry upon check-in at our Airbnb, we ate at a nearby restaurant a little first since we'll be taking the subway to Myeongdong from our Airbnb.

Just a brief background of our trip, we went November 27, 2018.  It was beginning winter season already and our conversion rate during this time was: 1Korean Won = Php 0.048.

So here were a few of the streetfood we ate at Myeongdong.

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Experiencing Filipino Culture in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

We had relatives coming from abroad to visit the Philippines, they're not much of beach persons so our extended family decided to bring them to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bataan.  We went last November 1, 2018.

I just joined up to the last minute since I was lucky I was not on duty that day.  It's been long since my family did a local road trip anyways.  From Manila to Bataan it was around 5 hour drive.  We actually got lost for a time since my dad put the wrong Las Casas in Waze.

Group Selfie Road Trip

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Fisherman's Wharf

It was my first time in USA, so this trip was something I should remember.  I was in a peak though of my negative thinking during this time.   As I am now looking back I thought I did not appreciate this experience as much as I did when I went to Japan.  But now, I'm thankful for this experience.

We went last May 2018.  I scheduled this on our itinerary as our 1 full day.  I was with my parents, so this is not the typical getting the most out of your short time in a foreign country.  I was with people who can't walk too long and we take frequent breaks in between.  This was the reason why I love DIY itinerary.  I can customize it according to health conditions of people you're with.

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Inspiration from Walt Disney

I'm a definite Disney fan, I practically grew up with Disney and up until now even as an adult I still watch Disney animated films and computer animated films.  And the films still never cease to amaze me and give me such joy.

I've been to Hong Kong Disneyland, and I loved it there! There's just pure joy, and just "magic".  But the place I went to this time really touched something inside me, The Walt Disney Family Museum.  Going here was not part of the itinerary, but on our free day, I decided, I've been feeling really down lately, to the point I felt I was not able to enjoy fully the AUA Experience.  I know, people will say I was lucky and everything.  But I can't help it, it's like the song, "Lucky" by Britney Spears.

Anyways I was glad I made the decision to go here, this one legendary guy can give you really just the inspiration you needed.

Let's begin with my favorite quote I got from this trip:

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Food in Nishiki Market

This was actually an unplanned part of our trip.  On our last full day, we just decided to make it less stressful.  Somewhere near our AirBNB so that we can always return whenever we get tired.

Japan leaves a mark in your memories because of the unique experiences it offers.  I think this is one of the strengths of travelling to Japan.

This is an overview of the path of the Nishiki Market.  I think it's one of the great places in Kyoto.

The first thing we tried upon entering the market are the seafood skewers. The names that I will state here were all invented by me, meaning I don't know the real name of the food. There were lots from Octopus egg (Quail Egg as head of octopus and the tentacles of octopus), Grilled/scallops on a stick, Octopus tentacles alone, Fish etc.  I collectively call them seafood barbecue 😜.  There's a "fishy" smell to the food, but I prefer the scallops personally since they were tasty and fresh.

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Inspiration from Airplane

I just discovered that the file where I typed my post for this in my phone was lost.  And this just sucks because I wrote it during the "moment".  Anyways let me try to remember what I had written....

I just love riding airplanes, and my favorite part is during take off.  I've always got this feeling that during take off, I'm flying closer to my dreams.  Weird right? I always had this feeling since I was a kid (after I've grown over the air sickness stage).  

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My Top 5 Grocery Gifts (Pasalubong) from Australia

Since the items in Australia are expensive, I just bought my pasalubong from their groceries.  I tried to look for some that are really unique from Australia.  This is just my personal opinion, of course there are others depending on their tastes and personalities.

1. 3-in-1 coffee

One of the things I love most about Australia is the Coffee!!!  To the point I wanted to bring them home.  I've tried the Cappuccino and I loved it! In fact I've just finished 1 box and will be opening this one below soon.  

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Vegemite Food Challenge / Review

When I went to Australia for the APCC Convention, according to my sister who also went with me, Vegemite is one of the popular Australian product.  But not all want the product and for some reason, Australians love this product.  So we bought one, but unfortunately we were not able to try it while we were in Australia, since I had a busy schedule attending and presenting in the convention.

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Travel Makeup Buddies

Travelling really enriches one's soul.  You get to be exposed to different cultures, new experiences and it just feels great to experience a new country or a new city.  It gets you out of your comfort zone and opens your eyes to a lot of beauties of the world.

Whenever I travel, here are the makeup products I usually prepare / use.

Let's start with skincare.

Melbourne Skincare Buddy - Laneige Moisture kit, Laneige sleeping mask

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Getting Lost in Xiamen

We went to Xiamen for 3 days and 2 nights.  But I decided not to include our 1st night since it consisted of our meeting.  So I'll just include in this post our 2 day itinerary.

To give you an idea of our trip:

• We went in the month of May.
• We stayed in the Pan Pacific Hotel

Day 1 - Meetings

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PUA Midyear 2017

One thing I love about PUA is that during midyear the PUA holds its midyear convention to different parts of the Philippines.  I think this is a great way to know the country, and also for the urologists of different provinces and cities to showcase their hometown and place of practice in a very amazing way.

Plus, this helps in tourism of that place 😆.  And from a resident's point of view, we get the chance to experience something outside of the life inside the hospital.

This year's Midyear Convention, I was very excited.  I get to go to CEBU!!!! This is my first time to go to Cebu!

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