affectionate Miumiu

affectionate Miumiu, originally uploaded by colormehappy21.

my boy cat :))) This is my 200th post for this blog. Cheers.

Keep Calm - Davao Version

I've been to many places and cities in my country. Yet I can proudly say that Davao has been a favorite. The province itself is vast in land area, plus it has teeming flora and fauna. Discover this place, and yes, I am inviting you to check out the richness of its culture, nature and modern life.

See ya in Davao!

Tara

My "I am" statements

You can be anything in life. For me, I choose to live by these statements. They most speak about the things I stand for.

#I am a Weekender. Life truly happens for me during weekends.

#I am a player. I create momentum & build relationships. Pretenders are otherwise.

#I am for reciprocity. I only respect fair, symmetrical exchange.

#I am thankful. Thankful people are truly happy people.

#I am open to change.

Here's a good quote to back me up ~

“By your own soul learn to live.

And if men thwart you, take no heed.

If men hate you, have no care:

Sing your song,

dream your dream,

hope your hope

and pray your prayer."

Parkenham Beatty

How about you? What are the things you are passionate about? Do tell.

Cheers,

Tara

just a note

remember to smile.

Swedish Massage Therapy At Balai Masaje

Body Pains!

The erratic weather has sent me on another spell of sickishness. Yeah, it happens to the best of us. So I decided to try the new massage spa at my community.

It's Swedish this time. Massage helps the body improve circulation & expel toxins that are in the muscle and nerve tissues.

Being a new spot, you cannot find info about it online at this moment. So I am taking the chance to be of help to those who want to find out about this place. Sharing to you my first hand experience then. Take a look:

This is the frontage of the massage spa.

Balai Masaje is a Cebuano term that means, House of Massage.

Welcome. To me.

I called, no one was at the counter for some five minutes.

That's why I had time to tinker with my camera.

A farther view of the waiting area.

It's not so dim, and the lighting is quite exotic.

As homey as it can get. The massage area, upstairs.

Light, instrumentals from guitar, piano and flute dominate the experience.

And you're looking at my after-massage treat.

Hot sweet, fruity tea & biscuits.

I was more interested in the tea. (and left the biscuits...)

I went home feeling a little better. And take note, no cold drinks yet. I am willing to do that. Thanks to Inday, my wellness therapist.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Address:

Balai Masaje- Massage the "homey" way

Door #3, Uraya Commercial Building

Elenita Heights, Catalunan Grande

Davao City

Contact: 0947 384 2256, 0917 9421608

Landline: (082) 295 0338

Rate: 259.00 Php (regular)

Happy hour: 199.00 Php (2pm-5pm) Mondays through Fridays only. Call them for inquiries.

Life is good. Gotta love it, and make the most of it.

Tara

Why people love coffeeshops

That was a question.

Now, you can answer the "why" there. I believe, all people have all sorts of reasons why they want to stay in coffeeshops. It's a place bustling with people, layer upon layer of stories, drama, fun & you name what.

Let me give you a list of some prominent places where you can buy a good cup of coffee in this city. Yes, I take, you are falling in love with Davao City now. Go and chill, hangout with your peers anytime of the week.

Kangaroo Coffee Company

Tionko Ave cor V Mapa St. Davao City

Tel: (082) 222 2766

Starbucks

Abreeza Mall, Davao City

JP Laurel Avenue, Davao City

Coffeecat

U8 F. Torres Street, Davao City

Tel: (082) 282 1260

Green Coffee

Prime Square, F. Torres Street, Davao City

Yellow Hauz

V. Mapa Street Davao City, 8000

Tel: (082) 303-2722

Blugre Coffee

Landco, MTS, SM

Tel: (082) 303-5554

Figaro

Chimes, SM, The Peak (Gmall)

Tel: (082) 225-0167

Cafe Demitasse

727 F. Torres Street, Davao City

Tel: (082) 282 2828

Here's to coffee lovers!

Tara

I love the sea.

"When anxious, uneasy and bad thoughts come, I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them out with its great wide sounds, cleanses me with its noise, and imposes a rhythm upon everything in me that is bewildered and confused."

- Rainer Maria Rilke

Hello, again...

Let me tell you a light story.

There's this feeling of so much gratitude and thrill ~ I just can't define what it is. A certain joyousness, high spirits & that ability to see through life with color. Ahmmm, let me call it, my pure exhilaration at life. Because I have learned to define what I want, and what I won't stand up to. Okey, that's not much of a story, anyways. Thanks for staying there. :))

The beach heals me: a magical blend of saltwater, sun, sand, corals, fishes, & clean air. The sea is a very positive place. Look here. I would like to share shots I took from my recent trip to the beach. Enjoy!

Real serenity.

Was I excited? Guess.

I was able to shallow dive

& see a different world of seagrasses, corals and fishes.

Take a dip! The water's so refreshing.

View from under the huge Talisay tree.

Splendid. Silent. Priceless.

My snapshot of the Boy. Uhm, that's my hubby, actually.

Okey. Here's me, all browned & happy.

Finally, here's also a great reminder for us, why we love the sea:

"It is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears.

We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea--whether it is to sail or to watch it--we are going back from whence we came." ~ John F. Kennedy

Have an exciting summer, sweethearts!

Tara

Love for keeps.

Today. The 27th of April...

We celebrate ten years of patience, ten years of kindness, of taking care of each other. May we continue to learn to lay everything at the feet of Jesus. Happy Anniversary, Baby.

Here's to a whole lifetime of real love.

T.

Speak with affection

People of all ages are fragile. Please handle your words with care. As this poem goes:

Speak gently! 'tis a little thing

Dropped in the heart's deep well:

The good, the joy, that it may bring

Eternity shall tell.

- David Bates, Speak Gently

Choose your words carefully, Lovees.

Tara

Hey, April.

Hellooo... Slacking on this side and I was a bit behind with my blogging. Where was I all those days? I had been working, recuperating, biking, trekking, gardening.

Anyway, here am I and this one's a starter this April- pics from anywhere I had been these past days.

I am ever grateful To The Lord who has given me strength and the opportunity to see the beauty of life.

In simplifying life, it is important to arrange priorities, deciding on what is essential, discovering what makes us feel better about ourselves and our life.

Here's to a great summertime, this side of the world. ~smile

Tara

Rider me

Let me introduce to you this part of the village where I live. It's about 10 minutes walk from my house- but this is special because it's a road we residents do not traverse on frequently. The pics show the road less traveled, a scenic road for me, and on top of that, this is where hubby and I catch the freshest breeze.

Here are shots I made today.

Oh, and this last one pic, I did not take. Eddie's snapshot of me (on the wheel).

This is the spot I was talking about in the previous post. We met Dreanna here, but today we did not see her since we went to this place a little early. The balmy weather allowed me to bike with smile.

Biking is fun!

Hola.... let me show you my new toy. It's a mountain bike!

Here's the 6-speed blazer:

Summer Afternoon

We have a little outing daily- a stroll at the other end of my community where no houses are built yet. I brought the new jump rope with me. I saw kids look with excitement at what I was doing: jog-skip rope on the way to that spot. I heard them say, "Look at her!". But I had to keep with my schedule since I still got tasks waiting to be completed. So no chit chat and play with the neighborhood kids yet.

Then at that place where the breeze is sweet, and the grasses are blooming and swaying with the wind: There was a young girl, about 4-5 years old, Dreanna was her name she told me, who was walking her white fluffy doggie. I asked her doggie's name. It was "Shamcey". And it was a boy doggie. I laughed hard at that.

Dreanna was quite overwhelmed with the jump rope I was holding and she was so busy with an adult's jump rope for a long while. It was too mis-matched for her size. But nevertheless she was so happy and crazy with it. As I was with it as well. And Shamcey quiet at the nanny's side, was without attention for a while.

With no choice because our newfound friend was so intent to have a great moment, Hubby and I were jumping rope with Dreanna. Her delighted screams were too apparent that she was having a good time.

It was getting dark, we saw stars peeping over the horizon. I had to tell her we need to get moving since it's already eventide. It was also hard to part with the little girl since she wanted her nanny to keep the rope and take it home with them while mumbling which to me was a mixed English/Japanese/Tagalog.

It was a great early evening. In every detail. Strolled, played, laughed. Yes it was indeed.

Life around the house

I share some shots I took today. Here they are.

Yellow tagetes against the bright sky.

Rose and palm leaves

(I love how a bokeh was created in this shot!!)

Meet Mikhayil!

I discovered the pet kitten inside an empty pot today ~ lol.

The Oleander plant that leans on our gate is so tall now.

Pomegranate flower.

I've seen several on my shrub but they have not successfully developed into fruits.

Leaves from the Thailand bamboo (Bambusa dolichomerithalla).

It was a souvenir from last year's countryside trips.

Happy Sunday, Lovees.

Tara

Let Us

Let us skate well on the surface of life.
Let us belong to each other.
Let us clear out resentment and bitterness and be emotionally clean.
Let us rebuild our life.
Let us not give up on our aspirations.
Let us have time for stress relief and relaxation.
Let us grab the privilege of loving truly.
Let us continue in learning to be patient.
Let us be friends with ourselves.
Let us always carry a great sense of humor.

May we allow ourselves to heed them.

Tara

A Change of Lifestyle

I was in bad shape since Sunday night. That feeling that you won't be able to see tomorrow. I am like that when I get really sick.

So, this sedentary lifestyle is taking a toll on me. I am going to look for a place to workout and pursue my badminton again. Or else this blogger will be waiting early in the pre-departure area.

Wish me well. I need your prayers.

Take care of your lives, Lovees.

Tara

8 Lessons

“I have grown to believe:

That the one thing worth aiming at is simplicity of heart and life;

That one’s relations with others should be direct, not diplomatic;

That power leaves a bitter taste in the mouth;

That meanness and hardness and coldness are the unforgivable sins;

That conventionality is the mother of dreariness;

That pleasure exists not in the virtue of material conditions, but in the joyful heart;

That the world is a very interesting and beautiful place;

That congenial labor is the secret of happiness.”

~ Arthur Christopher Benson

What about you? Is there anything you have realized today?

Remember This

• Do not contradict people, even if you are sure you are right.


• Do not be inquisitive about the affairs of even your most intimate friend.


• Do not underrate anything because you do not possess it.


• Do not believe all the evil you hear.


• Do not repeat gossip, even if it does interest a crowd.


• Do not jeer at anybody’s religious belief.


• Learn to hide your aches and pains under a pleasant smile; few care whether you have earache, headache, or rheumatism.


• Learn to attend to your own business–a very important point.


• Do not try to be anything else but a gentleman or lady; and that means one who has consideration for the whole world, and all races.

-unknown

New Discovery: Making Mini Pizzas

Hola. I made mini vegetable pizza today, Sunday. It was really good and I got real amused at how I am getting better in my culinary skills.

Ingredients:

• onion rings
• broccoli
• black olives slices
• cheddar cheese
• tomato slices
• bell pepper cubes
• cayenne pepper rings
• butter
• pizza sauce
• italian spice

Let me share the pics of my mini pizza:

:))

mountain moments

Weekend went fine. We went to catch cool mountain air and not only that, we got drizzled on. Showers are frequent when you are in high altitude~ our spot was at 4,000 ft above sea level. It was a fine trip, riding the bus, seeing the place again and buying fresh veggies on our way back.

Here are some pics of our trip to Kitaotao, Bukidnon.