New York vs. Miami: Do I Love the Hustle or Just Need a Nap?
When I say New York or Nowhere, I really do mean it. New York has had a hold on me ever since I can remember. I loved the sounds of the city, the theme of never sleeping, and the endless possibilities. I marveled at the fact that if you made it here, you could make it anywhere. It always enticed me knowing anything here was possible if I just worked hard for it.
Yet, on the same hand, during my…
Dreaming of Café with space intended for reading, journaling, studying. Also, crafting activities and anything else inviting people to gather. I see myself hosting such activities (and inviting artists to demonstrate their crafts in a classroom setting).
Board games too! Last time, may nawitness akong group playing D&D in action and it was so fun to watch them. So expect na magkakaroon din ng board & card games.
Syempre may shelves din for books that I think others would love to read or take home in exchange of donating one. But of course I will not just let them dispose of any book sa café. Dapat may letter what the next reader should expect and why they think they would love it. Parang mini book review and dapat for them may added value na makukuha yung next na makakabasa.
Although, I think okay lang din to receive books for disposal and repurpose it into something else. And omg kakaisip ko lang, I’ll organize activities recycling old books into scrap paper, tapos yun yung gagamitin ng mga donors na sulatan about the books they’re giving. Then yung mga scraps from crafting classes too, I’ll also think of other ways to use them.
For the meals, masyado pang narrow yung ideas ko sa options but while I’m still learning to expand my cooking knowledge and skills, I’ll just take note kung ano yung mga easy meal preps na natry ko na and will take things from there. Sakto rin na I’m hoping to learn baking pag mas maluwag na yung kitchen.
For coffee naman, may option to either simply order the cafe’s blends or you can make your own. May area where machine and ingredients can be easily accessed tapos total bill depends kung anong gagamitin mo.
For the theme, I’m thinking of a mix of industrial and cottagecore. And Lance would take charge on creating systems to make these ideas doable and manageable. Hayyy. Excited na ako to claim it. We have loads of learning, research, and gathering resources to do.
While we are still honing ourselves to be someone who can make this dream come true, I’ll start with our humble home for now. Hosting lunches and activities with family and friends.
It started with a simple idea. I was so excited about the possibilities that my mind started racing.
We talked about creating a space where we could save our family memories—photos, videos, and letters for our future children. It could also be a place to share life lessons, document traditions, and encourage learning and growth. I even thought of features for our future child/ren, like a tracker for their first milestones and a ‘Message-in-a-Bottle’ where we could leave notes or videos for special moments in the future.
As the ideas kept growing, it felt like we were designing something that could reflect our family’s values and love.
Quality Time: Project Kickoff Meeting
At the same time, we’ve been working hard to finish our December goals. To stay on top of everything, Lance suggested we use Atlassian. Now we’re organizing our tasks together. It’s been fun seeing how everything we’re working on connects.
This season feels like such a meaningful time for us. We’re dreaming of the future while making the most of today (*˘︶˘*).｡*♡
I’ve always wanted to try baking, and this was the perfect chance, especially since I’m still figuring out if it’s something I can stick with. From the moment we started making our first ever creme brulee, I couldn’t hide my excitement. Preheating the oven, gathering ingredients, pouring the mix into foil cups, waiting for the dessert to bake, and adding the final touches. So many firsts I didn’t expect to experience before the year ended!
What made it even better was doing it with a friend. We shared so many laughs and stories while imagining how our taste testers at home would react to the dessert we worked so hard on.
The whole experience was unforgettable, thanks to the staff and chefs who were super helpful but also gave us space to discover the joy of baking on our own. It was such a fun day 💕
Today, after my check-up, we spent some quality time together (more like a project kickoff meeting haha). I asked Lance a question that’s been lingering in my mind:
How does it feel to know what you’ve always wanted, live that dream, and make money out of it?
As he shared his thoughts, I found myself unable to fully keep up with the technicalities of his work, yet it didn’t matter. What struck me most was witnessing him thrive, doing what he’s always been good at and finally reaping the rewards of his efforts. It’s one of the many things I love about him.
Reflecting on this, I realized that in 30 years, I never envisioned ambitious plans for myself. My dreams were grounded in practicality—living independently, earning enough for daily expenses, owning a home, learning to drive, and enjoying time with family and friends. They were meaningful goals, but seeing Lance’s fulfillment has inspired me to dream beyond mere necessity.
As I began revisiting my old bucket list, something shifted. One idea led to another: I enrolled in Nihongo classes, signed up for a Project Management learning session, started dreaming about a future business, and even began incorporating professional systems into managing our home. It’s like watching the pieces of a long-dormant puzzle come together.
I also noticed that I’m now surrounded by people who radiate inspiration. These are individuals navigating their own real-life challenges while pursuing their goals. Their energy feels contagious, pushing me to act on the dreams I once shelved.
Still, part of me feels distant from this newfound ambition, almost as if I’m living someone else’s story. There’s a lingering fear of failure, of slipping back into old, easy habits. But more than anything, I feel intoxicated by the drive to finally take control. For the first time, I’m not just imagining a better future—I’m building it.
This chapter feels surreal yet exhilarating. It’s as if I’m standing at the edge of a life I’ve always wanted but never dared to dream. With each small step forward, I’m discovering that ambition isn’t just about achieving goals; it’s about becoming the best version of myself. And now, I’m holding the reins of a life filled with purpose, inspired by love, community, and the belief that it’s never too late to dream big.
I already have my first project in mind. Yesterday, as I looked at the remaining items in our storage room, I realized just how much we’ve cleared out—but the bulk of what’s left is still clothes. I simply have too manyyy!
Admittedly, this is the task I struggle with the most. When I started working, clothes became my top priority for spending. After years of relying on hand-me-downs, I finally had the freedom to explore and define my own style. Plus, getting bullied about it (yassss trauma dump pa rin haha) definitely played a role.
Every time I try to sort through these pieces, it turns into a trip down memory lane, which makes the process take so much longer. Having gone from size S to XL over the years doesn’t help either. It’s hard. But I’m learning to love my body and feel more comfortable in my own skin day by day. There are moments when I miss my old self, but that’s okay. Those chapters are still part of me. I’m choosing to hold onto a small pocket of those memories while embracing who I am now. The me today has gained so much more control over how I live my life—not just today, but for the days to come.
Anyway, will share the progress soon. Rough draft muna tapos lipat sa Canva. Hahaha. Dami na agad floating ideas. Katuwa.
