I’m feeling nostalgic these days. Must be the weather. The rainy season has definitely come upon us and I always have mixed feelings about it—a part of me loves it as it’s all about cocooning but I also get nervous during heavy rain falls (according to PAGASA, a storm is approaching) because of flooding. Is our government ready for it? Are we?
It’s all about being in the moment yet preparing for the worst (I’ll be sharing with you the preparations my family and I have been making in case of flooding, brownout and how to help out. Tune in!)
For now, I’m happily embracing the joys of the great indoors with some of my favorite things:
1. Waitrose Organic Italian Tomato Purée
The rainy season is all about cooking comfort food. Pastas are a staple in our menu. Whenever cooking tomato sauce, a bit of tomato paste/purée spells the difference. However, how many times has it happened whenever you open a can of tomato paste and use only 1/8th of the can then pop it back in the fridge and stay in there till God knows when? It’s a waste.
Tomato paste in a tube? Revolutionary. Easy to use, easy storage & no mold attack!
Available at Rustan’s grocery
2. The Kinfolk Table: Recipes for Small Gatherings
I am not the “Kinfolk” market but I do appreciate simple living, unfussy entertaining and cooking basic meals.
We are starting a garden at the new house and the idea of seed to table food makes me happy. This book has inspired me to edit everything in my life. I also love leafing through the pages of unsaturated photos with lovely people and happy homes. The absence of glamour is calming. So calming that I sometimes fall asleep while reading it. LOL
Available at National Book Store
Picnic chic
Parang ang sarap walisan ng patio haha
3. Quirky socks
My daughter and husband are major “sock people.” They love wearing printed socks at home or for going out. So cool.
I bought my own.
Ankle socks from Forever 21 and men’s socks from Topman
4. Peotraco Confectioner’ Powdered Sugar
‘Tis the season for tea time and baking goodies.
I love Peotraco Confectioner’ Powdered Sugar’s retro packaging. So chic. Just dust the confectioner’s sugar (using a sieve) on top of any dessert to make it look gourmet.
Available at leading groceries
5. Front yard roses
Growing up, my parents did a lot of gardening in our house. My dad planted fruits and vegetables in the backyard while my mom planted flowers and assorted foliage in the front yard.
I remember one time, when my mom was planting roses, one of our neighbors told her that she was wasting her time growing roses because of our tropical climate. My mom just smiled at her and continued planting. After a few months, the roses started blooming. And for many years, the same neighbor would always ask my mom for fresh cut blooms. You rock, mom!
Our new house has rose bushes planted in the front yard. They were dying when we first got there but with a little bit of water, natural fertelizer (from our compost) and pruning, they started blooming.
Does anyone know what variety of rose this is?
I always believed that with a little bit of effort and care, despite the odds or what people say, beauty will always find its way to inspire us.
Happy cocooning everyone!