Ibyang
Ibyang

Charmed Life of a Mrs

August on Ibyangram

Ibyang + Instagram = Ibyangram

While my instagram photos are shared on my twitter page and sometimes on my tumblr and fb page, I would like to have a monthly dump of ibyangrams on AWCL too. It is thru instagram that I share everyday moments and random finds. I use instagram as my real time mini-blog. Every end of the month, I’ll be choosing a couple of photos from my instagram and share it here because I have something more to say about a certain ibyangram.

We had a great start to August as the Husband and I came out of our semi-hibernation. The weather temperature had gradually gone up and we had been blessed with nothing but good weather almost everyday. I have resumed my weekly de-cluttering sessions in different areas of our home. We’re working our way towards having the guest room as neat as possible in time for my Mother’s vacation in October. Although work has become more busy for both of us, I have squeezed in time and spent a day with girlfriends. Below are a few more things that made up my August.

Sunset at Petersham. Taken while I was inside the train on the way home. My train had a stop here and as I looked out the window, the light was just beautiful. Sydney’s golden hour is always lovely. 
Doing photography at home with the help of a step ladder. I sometimes wish I have a bit more height especially when I do photography. I’ve stepped on everything I could find whenever I do photography but at home this step ladder is so helpful to me.
Coconut Cupcake made and given by one of my workmates. I love her cupcake! It was so delicious. I’m not much of a baker but her cupcake was so good I asked for the recipe. Good luck na lang sa akin kung kelan ko yun magagawa haha. 
Fur Friday. I’ve owned this (faux)fur jacket (thanks to my aunt!) since I’ve lived here in Sydney. I love how it’s so warm and fuzzy. 
Self-serve Area of Nespress Boutique in Sydney. Shopping’s become easy for Nespresso Cardholders at the Nespresso Boutique! Just grab a bag and your choice of Nespresso grand crus and pay at the self-serve counters. 
The IKEA Food Hall. There’s the dining area, lounge area and they also have a kiddie area. They offer yummy and affordable food.
Our IKEA Brekkie. We got the regular breakfast but the Husband asked for some beans to be added to his. Then we each got dessert! His was some kind of pastry with peach and I had the Almond Butterscotch Pie. We like getting up early and start our day at IKEA because of the cheap brekkie and it’s easier to find a parking spot in the morning. 
The Little Moon Over A Lovely Sunset. Sydney’s gorgeous sunsets are endless. What a blessing to come home to this. I’m so grateful!
Bejeweled Dessert Spoon From Korea. One of my many pretty finds from Seoul. Makes my coffee a little more dainty. 
Another Lovely Dessert Spoon. Here’s the second design I got. They’re common in Seoul so it’s really easy to find them. 
MUJI Nail Files. I love them! While using them one night, I realized my nail thingy storage all matched! They’re Pink!
I saw this when I was WAITING for my train. I like it whenever I see the ads of the Philippines’ Tourism Department. 
French Toast Brekkie on a Thursday Morning. I’ve got a day-off that day but I was getting ready to go out. To start a little calm on my day-off, I prepared a proper breakfast so I can sit down and savour my quiet time.
A Haircut After Four Months! Finally found the time to visit my Korean hairstylist. She brought back my bangs and layers. It felt so good to be taken cared of (yes that’s how my hairstylist makes me feel). Made me feel human again.
Cherry Blossoms! Ahhhhh love is seeing cherry blossom flowers. I’m in love with them. I squeal in delight whenever I see them. More cherry blossom photos on my next blog entry.
My New Reading Partner. Thanks to the Husband for being my “fairy gadget father” for gifting me with my first e-book reader. I thought long and hard about having one and this year I’ve decided to go back to my love for reading books. Sure I have a table that I use for reading e-books but it’s not as user-friendly as I hoped it to be. 
Sushi Plate To Share with Husband. On days when we don’t feel like cooking or don’t have time to cook, we resolve to buying Sushi and eat at home. Rule of thumb though is to still sit on the table no matter what meal we eat. No eating on the sofa even if we’re eating take away food.
On the last week of August, my boss gave me a bunch of Pink Tulips. It was a gift for the work I’ve done for the past few weeks. My work has tripled since the start of August due to the high demand for the training program I manage. I’ve weathered challenging days and I look forward to a busier September and October. The thought that my work is appreciated makes it all worth it.

Just-because Gifts From the Husband. No special occasions this month but the generous Husband spoilt me with a two needs and a want: kindle, pink macbook sleeve and a tote bag.

Coffee “Me” Time. Last Friday of the month and I couldn’t be happier ending my afternoon with some downtime. A cuppa, two macarons and an e-book kept me company for more than an hour. It was the perfect quiet celebration I needed. 
That was a few snapshots of the month that passed. Hope you had a lovely month of August too!

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Thursday Spent With Girlfriends

Spent another Thursday off work with girlfriends. This time we celebrated the birthday of Jasper, one of my friends’ beloved dog.
Jasper turned five years old this month and we’re so happy he’s still one happy, healthy dog. We hope he stays that way for a long time.
Food was abundant as per usual. We all brought something to share with everyone. We started off with Bruschetta for appetizer.

 We had Asian Noodles and Pesto Pasta–for long life! 🙂

I cooked Pork Binagoongan while one of our friends brought Charcoal-grilled Chicken (no photo). 

Dessert was special as well. We had Custard Cake and Cupcakes topped with Meringue which were perfect with coffee and tea.

Before we went home, we all had a cup of Taho (sweet tofu with caramel and tapioca pearls), a great finale to a day of fun times, great conversations and good food.

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Koreatown Fridate: Dinner at Wooden Bowl

So how was your weekend?

Mine was lovely. The Husband seemed to have caught the same vibrant vibe I had when August started that our mojo for de-cluttering and cleaning house are back. On Saturday morning, I was able to de-clutter our shoe storage. On Sunday, we cleaned house and de-cluttered our paper files. It was a weekend of rest, play and chores. On top of it all, we got to have our Fridate at Koreatown. 

Oh I’ve missed Koreatown (Strathfield, NSW). It’s been weeks since I’ve visited and seeing it on Friday made me very happy. It’s our first date after my semi-hibernation and where do we go? Koreatown, of course. 

As per usual, I had my “Me” time at “My Sweet Memory Cafe” before dinner. I brought “Sakura” (the name of my macbook air) with me so I can write while enjoying a cup of Iced Coffee and Vanilla Cupcake. 

Their Iced Coffee is something I always enjoy because they add a lot of ice cream in it. This coffee ain’t strong so it was a perfect afternoon treat for someone who would like to sleep at a decent time in the evening. Unfortunately, the vanilla cupcake wasn’t as yummy as it looked. It was actually dry. They’ve had better cupcakes so maybe I just got a bad one that day.

When Hubby arrived, we dropped by the Korean Dollar Store and Hanaro Mart where we looked at kitchen stuff and bought a few grocery items.

We were supposed to have dinner at our favourite Korean restaurant but there was already a queue for a table. We decided to try Wooden Bowl. The photos outside their resto boasted of delicious Korean Fried Chicken (KFC) so why not? We haven’t eaten KFC in a long time.

Wooden Bowl was busy as well but thankfully, a couple vacated a table as we entered. A quick look at the menu and we realized that Wooden Bowl also offered popular Chinese dishes.

We got ourselves a half order of the Korean Fried Chicken in Soy and big bowl of Black Bean Noodle. 

The Korean Fried Chicken had a juicy taste of soy and mild chili (You can request for a spicier flavour). The skin had a thick but flavourful breading and it wasn’t as crispy. We’re used to thin and crispy skinned KFCs but even if we’re expectating for something similar, the delicious flavour of their KFC made up for it. 

The Black Bean Noodle had a huge serving. So huge that you can easily share it with two or three persons. We didn’t order rice as this was enough for me and the Husband. I enjoyed their version of the Black Bean Noodle. It was perfectly seasoned and the balance of sweet and salty was just right.

Savoured our favourite Korean dishes while we enjoyed talking about our favourite things. It was the perfect Fridate to end our busy work week. 

Wooden Bowl
29 The Boulevarde, Strathfield
Phone: 02 9746 9077

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Discovered Inspirations: Happiness Is A Way Of Life

Happy 1st day of August!

August. That means one more month of Winter. I’m not really at my best during cold season. July is always my waterloo as I feel it is the coldest month. I usually go hibernating in July. Well it may not be obvious, I somehow semi-hibernated last month. 

Semi-hibernation meant I still go to work, do what I need to do at work and then go home. Our weekends were spent at home because other than having a weekend project with the Husband, I don’t really want to go out. Going out with loved ones were limited, only when needed. At home, I’ve eased up on de-cluttering tasks and even took a break from working out. My free time was spent napping and doing nothing. I’ve got days when I’m just functioning for the sake of functioning.

I welcome these moments when the season dictates the mood for your body. The good thing with Winter is that it’s the season where it encourages us to sleep some more, snuggle some more, be close to our loved ones more. It’s like a signal to slow down a bit. So I take heed and give in to what Winter brings. 
But now, August is here. While it is the last month of Winter, my body seems to come alive a little bit more as it anticipates the coming of Spring. 

And to start the month, I share with you a very nice quote on Happiness and 15 Things Happy People Don’t Do (article from the Elite Daily), because I’m feeling happier that August is here! 
15 Things Happy People Don’t Do 
(from the Elite Daily)
1. Gossip
The only people who gossip are people whose personal lives are not fulfilling enough. If you are happy and content with your life, why do you even care what is going on in someone else’s? There is no reason to engage in this petty behavior — all it does is make you look pathetic and jealous.

2. Concern Themselves With Other People’s Problems
People who are unable to mind their own business are most likely internally miserable. They seek to find faults within others just to make themselves feel better. They tend to lead boring lives and have no excitement in their own, so they act in this manner to create something out of nothing. They seek to fill the gap in their lives by discussing the lives of others and judging them harshly, so that they can feel better about their own miserable existences.

3. Think Negatively
There are the miserable people, who are always complaining about anything and everything, while on the other side, we have the optimistic people who always look at the glass as half full and are constantly looking for more out of life. Thinking positively will directly affect your happiness since you are focusing on the good as opposed to the bad.

4. Act Jealous
There is no reason for a happy person to act jealous towards others. They recognize the good fortune they possess and relish in it. They do not compare themselves to others since they are more than likely content with themselves. Instead of acting jealous towards others, they take pleasure in their success and celebrate their accomplishments with them.

5. Seek Validation From Others
Happy people do not look to others to confirm their self-worth. They recognize their value on their own and don’t live up to anyone’s expectations. They do things for themselves that they believe will advance them in life. By not concerning themselves with the opinions of others, they can focus on personal growth.

6. Seek Revenge
There is no reason to actively seek revenge against another person. Leave that up to karma and just continue living your life accordingly. Instead of focusing on revenge, happy people try to make peace with the issue. The only way to stop revenge is to give up and to accept it. Replace the evil feelings with opposite thinking. This is the only way; rise above it and let it be.

7. Hold Onto Resentment
By holding onto resentment, all you are doing is continuing and intensifying your own sadness. Learn to let things go, especially those which are unchangeable and that are in the past. This feeling will eat at you from the inside and cause stress. There is a unique sense of freedom once you let your anger go.

8. Argue For The Sake Of Being Right
It’d be easy to voice my thoughts rationally, but quite as easy to do it condescendingly as well. Many people will have a belief and will hold onto it even when contrary facts are presented to them. If it is a topic that you know they won’t listen to with open ears, don’t open your mouth just so you can appear wiser in the eyes of those around you. You’re only boosting your ego. Do not force your opinions on others or think you know best, as everyone is coming from somewhere. State your point calmly and listen to others. At the very least, you can always agree to disagree.

9. Have Expectations
One of the biggest challenges we face in life is learning to accept people for who they truly are. Once you realize that your expectations cannot change people, the better off you will be. The problem will arise when the expectations do not materialize. Unrealistic expectations will, can, and most often do lead to disappointment. Do not expect things out of situations; just go into them with an open mind. This will allow you to fully immerse yourself without the pressure of living up to preconceived notions.

10. Avoid Personal Problems
When a problem arises, it is the unhappy people who tend to ignore it. This is an awful way to handle situations as the longer you let a problem linger, the greater it will become. You need to tackle issues head on and as soon as possible in hopes of rectifying the circumstances. The stress and anxiety of ignoring such things can and will make you miserable and consumed with worry.

11. Look For Happiness Externally
Your happiness is contingent upon your outlook and not the actual situation. You have the power to view things in certain ways, so it is crucial to try and remain positive. Look within yourself to create your own happiness. Do not look at others to fulfill you, you are more than capable on your own. No relationship or material possession can bring you true happiness until you are happy on your own, first and foremost. This is a fatal error far too many people make in their lives.

12. Over Think Things
Over thinking is what creates problems from nothing and is probably the leading cause for arguments between two people. Many people falsely believe that by over thinking certain things, they can garner a better result. There are actually little to no benefits to overanalyzing any given situation. All this will do is cause a person stress and anxiety. The more time a person analyzes a decision, the more time this person makes themselves susceptible to negative thinking. Rational decisions can become clouded when a person lingers on them for too long. The motivation and drive behind the initial idea can and will start to obscure.

13. Live In The Past
The past is the past for a reason — it has already happened. There is no reason to linger there since it cannot be changed. Happy people tend to make peace with their past and focus on the future. They actively seek out different opportunities in order to make the most out of their lives.

14. Follow The Crowd
Confidence is a crucial aspect of any happy person, just like this is a critical characteristic for a leader. Happy people tend to be secure in their values and beliefs and, as a result, have a propensity to be leaders as opposed to followers.

15. Take Things Personally
When you hear a comment that you think is directed at you, take a moment and think. Do not over analyze the situation at hand, just let the other person speak freely. Listen completely to what this person is saying – selective hearing is the cause of these misinterpretations. People tend to get caught up in petty drama, which typically occurs when one person takes something the wrong way. When it comes down to it, you’re in control of how you interpret things. Think of how much more you could achieve with a new perspective, one seen only through your eyes.

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Christmas In July Celebration

This may sound corny or ridiculous to some but since Winter falls from June to August in the southern hemisphere, there is such a thing called “Christmas in July. In countries such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, some people get together for a “Christmas in July” celebration to have that Christmas feel during winter. 

I learned about “Christmas in July” when I moved in Sydney . The concept was introduced to me by girlfriends who thought that we should come together for a Christmas-inspired meal. No giving of gifts, no fancy trimmings, just pure love for food and togetherness. We have made it a tradition and look forward to it every Winter. While my friends and I always catch up often during lunch/dinner/coffee/parties/special occasions, our Christmas in July celebrations are a bit special because we make sure there’s Baked Ham on the table.

The truth was we almost skipped our “Christmas in July” celebration this year. I was semi-hibernating and busy at work. Our weekends are compromised as the Husband and I are working on web design projects. Our other friends also had things going for them. The only solution was to take a day-off during the week and fortunately, a few of us were able to get a day-off on a Thursday.

We were blessed with lovely sunny weather and a table laden with delicious food. We had Baked Ham, Beef Bulgogi, Fried Chicken and Salads. Dessert was this beautiful Mocha Roll (that tasted exactly like Goldilocks) created by our friend and ice cream on chocolate cups. 

Instead of dinner, we opted to get together for lunch so we can spend the day out in sun and play with the kids. 

I love that there is such as thing as “Christmas in July” and I’m glad that it’s a valid occasion here in Australia. It’s the kind of Christmas that I like where all you have to do is share a plate of food and just be there for the people you love. It’s also a wonderful excuse to get together in the middle of Winter and feel the warmth that genuine friendship brings. 

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