Loving without Limits

Someone once told me, when you love, you love. There is no degree to loving.

Leo Tolstoy defined love with this:

“Love is life. All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love. Everything is, everything exists, only because I love. Everything is united by it alone. Love is God, and to die means that I, a particle of love, shall return to the general and eternal source.”

But what is love really? We often use it carelessly - a word so full and deep lost of its true meaning.

Defining love cannot be separated with how you love.  It is a conscious and a total effort of giving in one self to the beloved. Last Sunday, we were shown how to love the real way in How's Your Love Life? and Loving God Passionately in CCF service.

Everything begins with love and what we love takes hold of our life. If we love God then, then we know He holds our life. He directs our being in our daily living.

But how do we say we love Him? Is it just a mere acknowledgment that we do? A mere escape from the lips and an empty public declaration?

Loving God and even just simply loving includes a total involvement of the heart, soul, mind and strength. It is giving our best because we are enjoying the gift from the Lord.

In Luke 10:27 it is said,

He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; ...

How does it mean to love God with all our heart?

Loving God with all our heart means surrendering even our emotions to God. We love Him in our own self, our own personalities, our reasoning. But our focus is on Him, not on us. We just simply love him the way we love. The way we make time for our beloved, our family members, our friends. It is a commitment of the heart. Putting Him first above everything. Dropping everything to be with Him the moment He calls you. Fearing to break His heart and disobeying His will.

As Bob Pierce of World Vision said, "Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God." It's the ultimate love that binds, that is courageous to stand up for your beloved, and hurt with things that hurt him.

Loving God with all our  soul...

Means valuing God above everything even in sin. It is dying to your sin and the temptation to sin every day of your life. It is denying the lust of the eyes, flesh and the pride of life. To what extent are you willing to suffer for your beloved?

More importantly it is also this...

At this point, who or what is your LIFE?

 Are you willing to give it up for God?

Loving God will all your soul is the union of loving God with our personality and everything that "gives us life and breath" in this world.

The people who inspire you, the thing that motivates you, you give to God. He or She is God's. Your work, your family is God's. Everything is God's. Giving all these up for Him is a sign of total commitment to God - of how much you love Him with your soul. Placing Him above your family, your wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, children, work, and passions.

Loving God with all your MIND...

When you love God with your mind, you love Him in truth. Sometimes people use the term "God's will" as an expression to justify situations and even their actions, however they do not consult His will.

How do we know of His will? God has provided us with His word to know what is true and what is right.

Loving God with your mind is aligning of what we know is TRUE to what TRUTH really is. There is a constant truth, one that doesn't change through time and goes across cultures and different upbringings. This is the truth of Scriptures.

It is also consulting God and viewing things from His perspective as we make decisions. The way to know His perspective is to constantly fill ourselves with His word. The more we are exposed to Him, the more like-minded we become with Him.

It is understanding His love for us by loving our neighbors. Imagine loving someone who wronged you.  That is how fully encompassing God's love is for us. That's what we are called to do - to love without limits, without choosing who to love.

Loving God with all your STRENGTH...

Is devoting to glorify Him with every breath of our lives.  God gave his 100% for us to love Him 100%. We are capable and complete to love and be loved back.

It also means giving back to God entirely. Not half-baked, not half-full. It is wanting to make ourselves useful for God. The greatest kings in the Bible did not desire significance, they were after working for God. Why?

It simply is because we are so grateful of his blessings, we enjoy it so much and we want to give Him the best. Like when someone gives you a gift when you don't expect it, you feel like  you cannot thank that person enough and you are willing to return the blessing you received. Or when someone has forgiven you when you did not deserve it.

That's what God's grace does to you. It is an undeserved gift, an unmerited favor and thus we cannot help but give Him our all.

It is a mistake to think that we are not enough or that we are weak to give this 100% of ourselves.

God is telling us, "Don't think about your weakness, but think about my strength."

"In your weakness... I am strong" 2cor 12:11

God will again help us pull through to love him 100%.

----------------------

Loving God passionately is to depend on Jesus totally. It is obeying him even if it is not easy for us but because we know it is right.

The moment we love God begins the moment we can love everything the right way :)

The fire of love on a sunny Sunday afternoon

Let me share with you two poems that are really close to my heart. I've been posting P.Arrupe's poem in my previous blogs and this time I'm reposting yet again. :)

On falling in love with God

nothing is more practical
than finding God,
that is, falling in love
in a quite absolute, final way.

what you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination,
will affect everything.

it will decide what will
get you out of bed in the morning,
what you will do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read,
what you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with
joy and gratitude.

fall in love,
stay in love,
and it will decide everything

- P. Pedro Arrupe, SJ

Nothing is indeed more practical than finding God and falling in love with Him. He changes you from the inside out and transforms you to the person who you are made to be. Recently I have been reading this book that acknowledges how people like reading self-help books to improve themselves. It is good we do not settle. We want to be more. People try to change their attitude and the way they deal with people but sooner or later will resort to their old selves. Motives might be wrong and therefore the outward show will be temporary.

It isn't a matter of how much you change outwardly for people to see you and perceive you the right way, it is a matter of the heart. It is a matter of what's inside your heart. What is inside your heart will soon overflow, it cannot be kept hidden. "For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks".(Matthew 12:34)

What is inside your heart?

If God is inside your heart and your purpose is for Him, victory is on its way. As it was said in

Acts 5:38-39 For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

------------------------------------

I have met some people in my life who would look at Christians in the wrong way. Others would think that Christians are self-righteous and then see them stumble later on. Then they would say, ".. And to think he/she is a Christian".

But what does being a Christian mean? Here is the simplest way for people to get a glimpse of and understand what it means to be a transformed Christian.

When I say I am a Christian

When I say I am a Christian
I am not shouting I’m clean living
I’m whispering I was lost
Now I’m found and forgiven

When I say I am a Christian
I don’t speak of this with pride
I’m confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide

When I say I am a Christian
I am not trying to be strong
I’m professing that I’m weak
and need His strength to carry on

When I say I am a Christian
I’m not bragging of success
I’m admitting I have failed
and need God to clean my mess

When I say I am a Christian
I am not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it

When I say I am a Christian
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my shares of heartaches
So I call upon His name

When I say I am a Christian
I ‘m not holier than thou
I’m just a simple sinner
Who received God’s good grace, somehow.

We Christians are also responsible for our actions. Be a living witness of the love of Christ. This poem is not an excuse for us to fall into sin, this only means that we need God more in our lives because we are aware of the call of the world for us to do wrong. We are aware that we are in need of Him to constantly transform our hearts that we may be become more and more like Christ each day. May we not cause others to stumble but may we be true witnesses of Christ and His unconditional love for the world.

--------------

A blessed Sunday to everyone :)

Transforming Power of Prayer

Last week, I was able to join Dawn Watch though online. I was really moved by Pastor Bong's message on praying meaningfully.

All of us have prayers and usually our prayers are what we want in life. We ask God for requests may it be small decisions to major ones.  As simple as a prayer like, God if it is your will, may I be able to travel this year, may I be short listed for my dream career, may my business succeed, or that my love life will blossom. We also tend to give God deadlines or even ask for signs, I myself am guilty of that.

When the deadline is up, we see no signs and we find that our prayers are not answered the way we want it, we become frustrated and then rebel against God. We choose to do things our own way because we feel we can't trust God on certain aspects in our lives. We try to control everything and force things to happen in fulfillment of our desires.

We fail to understand God's higher purpose and focus on ourselves rather than on Him.

As Pastor Bong said, Prayer is not about answers but rather an encounter with God. It is not changing the will of God but changing our will to conform to God's will.

The power of prayer is that as we pray unceasingly, we may not know it but we are slowly purified and transformed into the likeness of Christ. We see how big God is and how little our problems are. We see our total dependence on Him and we are humbled by knowing that we alone cannot make things happen without Him.

The best answered prayers are the prayers that we wait upon and pray earnestly for. And the reward of that answered prayer pales in comparison for the relationship that has been established between you and God.

Never stop praying. Pastor Bong reminds us with this:

If the request is wrong, God says no.

If the timing is wrong, God says slow.

If you are wrong, God says grow.

BUT...

If your request is right,

timing is right,

you are right, God says YES. God says GO.

---

God knows what is best for us. He knows our deepest desires even before we speak about them. We may think that earthly riches would make us happy, but God gives so much more to make us happy when we seek Him first. He gives us all things for us to enjoy.

"Pray sincerely, never stop knocking.

Pray until His kingdom is established in our hearts.

Pray until we conform our hearts to God's plan.

Pray until God becomes bigger.

Pray until HE becomes your everything."

Surfing 101: Finding your inner peace

I finally got to tick one off my bucket list!  And I'm just glad to come out of it in one piece with just a few bruises on my knee. =)

Life is too short to be overcome by fears and worries. So I guess it's about time to live life the way it should be. Last Saturday I've finally rose above my fear of sea swimming without a life vest (yes I'm proud of that :p). I'm such a wuss really and huge waves scare the heck out of me. But in Surfing 101, you've got to learn to embrace the huge waves and soon you'll be able to ride it smoothly.

In Sebay, La Union my friends and I dared to take on the challenge.

We each had our surfing instructors and for 1 hour at P400 only (which they guaranteed to return if we failed to stand up), my guide holds my life.

1st we were taught about surfing terms like long board and its parts - nose and tail, among other things.

[caption id="attachment_615" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Getting ready to surf"][/caption]

Safety instructions were:

1. When we have to jump off the board, we should jump at the back of the board or on its side. Never in front.

2. If we get toppled over, we had to cover our heads to guard it from the possible blow of the board.

3. Once we part with our board at sea and we're all settled, we should pull on the cord that links our ankles to the board so it won't be tossed and turned all around us.

With all those warnings said, I just had to go and see for myself what they meant - I experienced (unintentionally) the don't s of 1 & 2.

How?

I jumped in front to have the board hit my hips. (Good job to me :P)

On the next, I fell over and the board crashed on top of my head. Experienced some wardrobe malfunction so I just hid under the board while fixing my stuff. Since there were waves the board kept hitting my head so I got dizzy again and again. Hello stars under water.

Now you see that surfing is really a feat. Once you get hold of these 3s's you're sure to claim this achievement as well :)

3S of Surfing 101

1. Swing- Once our guide gives the signal to get ready, from lying on our chest position, we had to swing our right leg up with our right foot against our inner left thigh.

[caption id="attachment_616" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Steps 2, 1 and 3 =)"][/caption]

2. Stand - Draw your hand up to your chest and push with all your might. At this point, your right foot should be lying flat on the board, and your left leg should be positioned in front of your right.

The instructors were really good. They went over the steps with us thoroughly until we could coordinate it all in one swift movement. So don't worry they'll show you what I mean.

[caption id="attachment_621" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Step 2 - To Stand"][/caption]

Now that you've stood up comes another challenging task - balance.

Lucky you if you get it on the first try like Jason. But to us normal people, it takes a number of falling, picking yourself up, and heaving yourself up on top of the board to ride the rhythm of the waves.

It is a lot similar with how we should approach life. The more you try, fail, and yet continue to get on your feet, the closer you are to finding your balance.

3. Surf - Now that you've swung and stood up comes the best part - surfing and riding the waves. The instructor will give you a little push to get momentum from the waves and then you're on your way.

I remember what Julz said, "surfing is a matter of freeing and emptying your mind." Truly it is. I noticed that the more I thought about my fear or that I am pressured to stand up, the more I couldn't find my balance. But once I focused on that moment alone and freed myself from my fears and doubts, I was able to become one with the sea and glide through waves smoothly.

 

[caption id="attachment_622" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Riding the waves"][/caption]

It's a matter of reaching your zen zone - that inner peace (credits to Kung Fu Panda). You've got to let loose, and let your mind run free. And soon enough riding the waves would really be a breeze.

[caption id="attachment_624" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Now this is what you call inner peace"][/caption]

At first I didn't think I could stand up. I even had a hard time getting on my board. As I peered left and right, I saw my surf mates on their board, poised to ride. But there I was, struggling to carry my weight and my instructor probably growing impatient and wanting to give me the lift I badly needed.  It took a while for me to get on top of my board.

But after that first fall, it didn't take much coaxing for me to get back on it. I was determined to stand up. Wardrobe malfunction or not, ab cramps and all, I just had to do it.

The moment I was able to do it truly it was the sweetest surf ride I've had in my life.

 Amidst the noise of the sea and the crashing of waves, I found the balance I needed and experienced the most peaceful connection with myself.

[caption id="attachment_625" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Surfing 101 graduates!"][/caption]

So here's to my surf mates who have embraced the waves and encountered inner peace. Congratulations guys we did it! :D

If you still don't know what I'm talking about, you've got to try surfing - also to cross one off your bucket list :)

--------------------------

Sebay Surf Resort

San Juan, La Union

 

Sing away: The Sound of Music extended until February 12, 2012!

Last Sunday, I fell in love all over again with the songs of my childhood.

  Resorts World Manila brings to life a well-loved 1965 classic, The Sound of Music and I must say they did a swell job of it. The best part is they're extending the musical to February 12, so be sure to catch it!

[caption id="attachment_582" align="aligncenter" width="100" caption="The Sound of Music extended!"][/caption]

If you're a fan of the movie, I bet you'll love this but if you haven't seen it yet, maybe you wouldn't enjoy just as much but it's definitely amusing to watch. The set was incredible and the cast was lovely.

I can't help but sing along with every song and even shed a tear or two with the all too familiar sentimental moments of Maria leaving the Von Trapp's abode, her reunion with Captain Von Trapp, the children's reintroduction of music in their home by singing The Sound of Music and their performance of Edelweiss in a festival.

My favorite acts were  Maria teaching Do-Re-Mi and the yodelings in her bedroom (originally in the movie, the song in Maria's bedroom was Favorite Things, and the yodelings were done in a puppet show). Err..that's how much of a Sound of Music geek I am.

I felt transported back in time! Their choreography was very similar to that of the original.

Every feeling of my childhood was stirred and replicated once more and I found it bittersweet again to bade them farewell. It still is difficult to say goodbye to wonderful classics such as these. What is more beautiful is that though the feeling may be the same, the insights are different. This is what classics do to me whether in books or movies, in every decade it brings out a new realization. In the concept of love, family, loyalty and nationalism for this particular play.

Just recently I found out that Edelweiss is a kind of flower. I just loved it as a song then but singing out the lyrics last Sunday, I kind of wondered what it meant. First heard it when the children's supposedly new stepmother mentioned it as she met them, and then during the Von Trapp's final performance. Thought that it was a flower since it bloomed and grew as I sang with the lyrics. True enough it was. A flower that only grew in the Alps. It was actually a song that expressed their opposition to the Germans.

Nonetheless, the play was still magical to me. Hats off to the powerhouse cast starred by Joanna Ampil and Audie Gemora. Their fantastic voices will forever echo in my memory.

[caption id="attachment_583" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Yessiree I enjoyed it!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_584" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Captain Jason Von Trapp"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_585" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Wanted to be behind the walls of an abbey before :)"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_586" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Odd one out =p"][/caption]

P.S. Please bring back Mary Poppins too. :p

------------------------------

The Sound of Music

Resorts World Manila

Newport Performing Arts Theatre Level 3

Ticketworld: 891-9999

Shows are every Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Tickets ranging from Php 1,000 - 2,000 :)

Reality of life, victory through Christ

Once you become a Christian, does this mean everything will become bright and sunny instantly? Does this mean all bad things in your life will suddenly disappear? Is it like seeing the world through rose-colored glasses? Skipping and hopping your way into heaven?

Last Wednesday in GLC I was able to realize that though all of these may seem somehow true, it also entails a lot of things. I agree with what the speaker said that being a Christian involves struggles. Because now you are turning your back on the life that you used to have. And yet there would be the itch of wanting to go back to what is normal to you.

Now you want to realign yourself with His original design for you. As you realize the gravity of His love for us - His passion and His sacrifice, you become acquainted with wanting to bringing glory to God every time.

Your conviction now is stronger than before. You become watchful of yourself and you think twice before doing. You are struggling to overcome your natural sinful self. It means standing up for what is right, swallowing the bitter pill of your pride, humbling yourself, being the servant of many, and all at the same time realizing your true desire.

As His disciple you are pushing yourself to be MORE for Him. It is the urgency to stretch your character and triumph over the temptation and the tendency to sin.

Although there may be an inner battle, you lift these up and trust in the grace of Christ because the reality is we can never be victorious on our own will. We are weak, sinful people. But in our weakness, all the more you will see how He is moving in your life.

It may be difficult to remain true  to your commitment. It is normal. Every trial is part of any commitment. But as Pastor Peter said yesterday, nobody committed to follow Christ and regretted it. It may even be the best thing that you have ever done for yourself and in your lifetime.

The reality of sin and the reality of life may hit you hard but suddenly everything becomes sunny and bright. It is because you know that enduring these struggles, you are molded and perfected, lacking in nothing (James 1:4). Ultimately, you know that through Christ we are saved, and we are able to receive eternal life.

The Toastmasters Club Project

Feed me to the lions than let me stand on stage.

Well that's what I would often say.

Ever since I realized how critical people may become and how jittery, clammy and faint I felt since I took that challenge in high school, (more details I'll reveal in private) I've treated that moment as my BIGGEST.

most frightening.

life-threatening.

ENEMY.

But thanks to Theo, Philo, Thesis oral defense and my endless blabbering on the likes of it during college, I managed to overcome it little by little. Now suddenly I'm a chatterbox (especially when I'm into the subject). I could endlessly chatter, prattle, ramble, mumble, mutter, (and also lose my bladder) in front and lose you (and my train of thought) every now and then.. But being coherent, informative and holding your audience's interest are skills that would definitely go a long way.

So when Achi Susana and John invited us to sit in Toastmasters Club in Greenhills, I was thrilled =D It was high time to bring in the confidence and ramble with sense.

So there I found myself in the presence of remarkable speakers.

The club welcomed us warmly and also there to welcome us in our seats is the agenda for that night's meeting.

[caption id="attachment_453" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Greenhills Prime Toastmasters"][/caption]

Every other week there was already a theme and this time we got The Magic of Believing. Even the theme itself sparked my interest. Inspires you to think of a lot of things.

[caption id="attachment_462" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Renelyn Tan (VP Education, Greenhills Prime Toastmasters) hosting tonight's meeting"][/caption]

Then my first test began. For their Table Topics, one question / topic is given and you were supposed to talk for 2 minutes about it. This night it was:  If you were to be at any age (for one week) what age would it be? [Now I wasn't sure if I got it right because I was too busy taking deep breaths and calming my nerves.] Please feel free to correct me.

[caption id="attachment_455" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Eduardo Catayoc III (ACB, ALB President of Camanava Branch Toastmasters, Guest Evaluator), Zaldy Co (ACS, ALB Area 3 Governor, Guest Timekeeper)"][/caption]

3 of us dared to give it a shot and each of us were evaluated during the latter part of the night. We were given guides on how to answer the question like SMG which stands for Story - Message - Gain. This is just one of the many others. It really depends on us on how we would like to deliver our speech.

I really learned a lot of things like (I should learn how to listen, so I can answer the question correctly) when I give my answer I should expound on it to reach the time limit of 2 minutes (I got 44 seconds), and also I have to learn how to make that smooth landing. Thanks to Third for the very helpful evaluation.

Then followed 3 prepared speeches from the members. Each speech had an objective whether it should be able to move your audience or it should project sincerity / conviction.

[caption id="attachment_463" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Vince Tintoc on Believing in the Right Things"][/caption]

I was really impressed with how the three speakers conquered the objectives. For me all three were solid speeches but then the evaluators were still able to point out what needs to be improved on.

[caption id="attachment_465" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Rey G. Pineda delivering his speech on The Self Belief"][/caption]

Each evaluator was also evaluated by the General Evaluator for that night who really left me literally speechless with the range of his vocabulary. But despite all these evaluation going on, the atmosphere was kept warm, friendly, and ultimately constructive to each speaker to help them become better communicators.

[caption id="attachment_467" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Frialyn Chuacokiong (VP Public Relations, Greenhills Prime Toastmasters) evaluating Rey Pineda"][/caption]

What surprised me was that hidden in the group are 3 "secret agents". One who took count of the "umm's and the ah's" of every speaker, the Grammarian who would spill the "gems" (notable words used for tonight) and the "germs" (wrong usage of vocabulary), and the timekeeper who reported everyone's observance of the time limit.

You can go as creative as making a poem to report the time (as what Rey G. Pineda did the last Toastmasters), or even do a stand up comedy, monologue, stage play if you dare to. After all you have to communicate these usual technical reports as interesting and as effectively as you could.

[caption id="attachment_468" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Greenhills Prime Toastmasters"][/caption]

It was really an experience that was very helpful to articulate your thoughts and express them intelligently. So come sit in the nearest Toastmasters in your area! And for that extensive training, go for that membership and soon become that better communicator and better leader.

----------------------------------

Toastmasters Greenhills Prime

Contact Edison Kwong (VP Membership) - 0917-5391809

Meeting held every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at Club Filipino Greenhills

Camanava Brunch Toastmasters Club

Third Catayoc (President) - 0922-8606756 / 0905-3912486

Meeting held every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month in Kalye Timog

 

 

About Tastebudthrills updated :)

"Never to walk in the dark... Only to find life in the light"

Check it out :)

About Me Updated :)

About Tastebudthrills Updated :)

Don't mind me.

But if you do, click on the link below will you? :)

Who am I again?

On a Vegan roll @ Greens : Who said going green is pricey?

At the start of this year, I vowed to the undisputed, tried and tested KAMOTE DIET. On very few occasions though, I still have my rice and my sweets so I won't go berserk in my lack of sugar and other nutrients. But sometimes, after a long week of the once-interesting and now dull-tasting root crop, i tend to CHEAT making me feel incredibly GUILTY. Thanks to GREENS, the occasional guilt-trips are now miles away.

Discovering the place in Scout Castor street in Quezon City was really just an accident. Straying away from the Tomas Morato strip, we entered one of those side streets and well hello there Greens, you were such a pleasant surprise. <3

The facade is garden-like with a stone path leading to its threshold. Inside, a homey atmosphere awaits - quite small and very intimate. You can enjoy a night of good conversation over good and healthy eats.

I'm simply addicted to shawarma, so anything in pita bread is my choice pick. In Greens, I had one serving of VEGGIE WRAP take note, for only Php80!!  It was tomatoes, cucumber, eggplant, a bit of cheese and other greens in a delightful roll! I had the garlic sauce container all to myself so it is but natural to me to have the roll oozing with the creamy shawarma blend. I was on a vegan high! Plus it was really filling too. I'm gonna pass on dessert. Thank You.

Veggie Wrap (Php 80)

Not to mention my fondness for pasta and lasagna, I also had a bite of their Parmigiana (Php140). Instead of using the regular lasagna pasta, they used eggplant as substitute with the usual melted cheese on top. Served with 3 pieces of bread sticks and mixed veggies on the side. Cheesy, most definitely! But remember those greens on the side when you've had too much of the cheese bite. Oh guess what? It didn't taste like eggplant at all! It's your baked lasagna heaven minus the carbo loaded pasta. Great isn't?

Eggplant Parmigiana (Php140)

Not only is it a cozy place but their food is affordable too. So whoever said going green is pricey better take a bite of those vegan yummies!

Craving of the day: Cafe du Monde's Beignet in New Orleans

Anything sweet I saw today, I took bites of it. Rieze's mochi balls and egg-like chocolates all from Taiwan. There are just those days you'd really want to stuff yourself with sugar and cream and everything in between.

As I browsed my old website, I remember having New Orleans' famous beignet (bĕn-yā') some years back at around 4AM, after an insanely long yet FUN road trip from Florida to Texas! Beignets are fried and raised yeast dough commonly called "fritters".

This treat is like the Philippines' local doughnut you would normally see in any bakery except that it's coated and sprinkled with my favorite - powdered sugar! The thick sugar coating fell off every time I took a bite, but no worries! I just rolled the rich dough back into the plate to sugar coat it back again. Pair this with freshly brewed coffee and voila!! - the perfect cure to lull moments, sour days and sweet cravings. I'm definitely coming back when I visit the US again :)

Back with a vengeance! ü

Last September 2009 was the first time I ever wrote on multiply about my food trips with Jason. (See Gia's yummy adventures )

We just love eating! It's actually one thing we enjoy doing aside from debating about movies and threshing out its "deeper meaning", or just simply hanging out and talking about little nothings.

Other than that, I just like to say, I'm back! With fresher experiences and hopefully more insights on food, love, faith and life. Expect daily musings, cravings, and BS updates. I'm so excited!

It's going to be a wonderful journey! Life's definitely a feast! And here's to living it fully! :)