I Don't Need To Take Much Of Your Time

September 03, 2020

We don't need to be always together

We don't need to talk all the time

Although that would be nice

We don't need to message each other all the time

We don't need to be happy all the time

Although that sounds nice

Cause you and I

We can't afford the romance that they are selling to us

That kind that we see in movies, in fairy tales, in poems...

Cause you and I

Are real people, who don't have all the time, who feel tired

From the struggles of wanting to survive

We can't afford the sparkly, shiny romance

That promises to taste sweet all the time

What we can afford, however

Is friendship that understands--

That I am here,

And you are there.

And on precious moments, we can afford

We can meet and talk

I don't need to take much of your time

But I am happy to be a part of your rest stops when you pause.

If I fall, I fall

August 30, 2020

If I fall, I fall

If I drift away, I drift away

No ifs, no buts

No thinking of 'whats'

If I travel the distance between the ocean of me and the rest of everything

If I travel the distance away from the land where I am not

Away...

I do not want to fight the current anymore...

Everyday As Told By Photos: 1 Litre of Shampoo and Conditioner

July 11, 2020

I've known long ago that investing in your hair is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Invest more on your health, skin, hair and body rather than on expensive bags, shoes or clothes. 

Today, I want to share with you big bottled shampoo and conditioner products. 

I have been using Love, Beauty and Planet products for a year now. I mainly like them because they use clear, big plastic bottles. If you haven't heard, only clear plastic bottles get the chance to be recycled and most colored shampoo bottles we get from the store almost never get recycled.

I also love them for their great aroma! Your head and hair have a big influence on how you smell. If you want to smell good without perfume, consider looking for mild but great smelling shampoo, conditioner and soap. 

It was only last month that I stumbled upon Human Nature's big bottled shampoo and conditioner. They are significantly bigger than Love, Beauty and Planet's products. They also do not add SLS on their shampoo and conditioner. SLS or sodium lauryl sulfate is the substance that makes your shampoo bubble. Bubble cleans but bubble also strips your hair of its natural oil sometimes. If you suffer from brittle and dry hair, you might want to check sls-free hair products. Another thing that I like from Human Nature's products is that they have essential oils. However, one fear that I have is they might trigger acne or dandruff. 

The big bottles cost around 600 to 700 pesos each and I believe it will last me for six months since I only wash my hair every other day.

I also want to share a concoction I made from various dried herbs and oils. I mixed three droppers full of castor oil and tea tree oil plus a few pinches of thyme, rosemary and lavender. I mixed them with water so it won't be oily on my hair. I have been using this for a month now and they make my hair and scalp feel nourished.

Haircare need not be expensive. If you are someone who is not on the position to spend some more for your hair, I recommend regular detangling, cold showers (hot water makes your hair dry) and not doing cheap treatments. It is better to maintain your normal hair that do something that might damage it in the long run.

COMMENTARY: Don't Make Me Feel Like My Body Is My Enemy

June 26, 2020

My body is not my enemy. It isn't my fault that I am born into a body that you find admirable -- whether it's my pale or dark skin, big or small chest. 

I appreciate your admiration but understand that there is a proper situation in expressing that. I am going to my school to study. I am going to work to earn money. I am going to jog to keep my body healthy. I did not wear my uniform or my sports bra for you to express what you want to do to me.

If I go out wearing my long dress, my denim shorts, or my simple blouse, understand that I did not do it to be harassed. I did it because I trust that the society I live in wouldn't see it as an invitation to make me feel unsafe.

Or was it always been an invitation but from an unknowing host?

I understand you like me. You feel an urge to get my attention but you are making me uncomfortable. And more importantly, don't blame me for your actions.

Don't blame my denim skirt, don't blame my shirt. Don't blame my jeans, don't blame my bikini, don't blame my dress. If you feel like I am dressed inappropriately in a particular place, approach me and express your opinion and let's put the subject under the test of debate. My point is, your opinion that I dress inappropriately is not your ticket to harassing me.

You can rant about my inappropriateness. You can criticize me all you want but do not think that it is your excuse to make me feel unsafe in my own skin.

Don't blame my body. Blame your inability to think as a decent person. And more than anything, do something to change your mindset. Don't you know it is a criminal act?

Admire as much as you want, fantasize as much as you want. Heck, you can play with yourself thinking about me as much as you want but do not act on it resulting to harassment on my part.

Please do not make me feel like my body is my enemy.

COMMENTARY: Harassment and Violence Come From Any Gender

June 26, 2020

It also comes from any age and everyone is equally vulnerable.

Recently, I've been seeing a lot of content related to catcalling and sexual harassment on social media. It is admirable that people speak out since there is a big reason behind it -- years and years of shushing from a highly misogynistic society.

However, we should also take the chance to give voice and attention to the least likely victims -- children and men.

One post in particular made my blood boil. It is a photo of a boy bombarded be sexualized comments from who seem to be young women.

It isn't wrong to admire how a person looks but always put it into proper context and situation. The boy in the photo was even wearing his uniform. He was there to study not to be asked with questions if he can 'breed' women. It seems shocking but it does happen. Not only to the young boy but even to older males.

Consent is the magic word. Is it wrong to talk dirty to a person? To ogle at him or her? To send him or her explicit photos? It isn't as long as there is consent between the two of you. 

Harassment comes in many forms, the perpetrators sometimes women as well. It could also come from lesbians or gay people. We all should be wary among ourselves and not think that perpetrators only come from one gender.

It is true that some barbaric traits are still hardwired into our brains but as a society that has advanced a long way, we should know better.

THOUGHTS: I Have Become A Better Person Because Of You

June 24, 2020

So many people around the world means so many lost connections. And I am glad that we didn't fall on that list. 

We did not look for each other. It was all an accident -- a concoction of events, circumstances and situations that led us to meeting each other.

And I am grateful. We did not end each other's sentences. In fact, we clashed, we fought and debated each other. But we also laughed, and felt sad and hopeful and down.

You gave me a whirlwind of emotions. Romance is not our goal, we just enjoy each other's existence. And your words, your presence, you just being there have taught me so many things about the world, you and myself.

It wasn't your goal to teach me, but you did anyway. I am happy we crossed paths and I don't want it any other way. For all the pain, happiness and contentment our unlikely friendship has brought us, I am a better person because of you.

THOUGHTS: I am not another battle you have to fight

June 22, 2020

I am not your enemy. Always remember that. I don't want to add stress on your already warworn day. There is no need to point our fingers to each other.

You forgot to reply to my messages? You didn't call me on time? You forgot a detail from my story?

I will try and understand. As you would with my imperfections. Let's leave our worries by the door and just breathe for a moment. And then we would talk about how the day went and slowly pick up on where we dropped. 

I am not here to inflict another damage. I am not another battlefield you have to win.

COMMENTARY: Choose to have a CHOICE and ACTUALLY STAND FOR IT

If ever someone needed to hear this today -- I know you are hurting now...

-something I've read from Reddit

THOUGHTS: We always woe the pain others cause to us, but we sometimes forget the pain we inflict to others

June 15, 2020

You are not always the victim.

Sometimes, you are the abuser. Sometimes, you are the one who does the mistreatment.

It is easy to see ourselves as the hero or the protagonist of everything. We are at least, in our own eyes. But here's the truth, you are sometimes the villain.

This is not to invalidate your feelings. This is to make you more aware of the situation you put yourself into. We are so predisposed into making ourselves look perfect that we forget we are not and that we are also vulnerable to causing pain to others. 

It won't make you less of a person to change. If wouldn't make you less of a person to identify your flaws. If anything, seeing what you lack and your wrongs can help you fill the gaps with the right things.

Check your reasoning. Check your actions. Check yourself.

Everyday As Told By Photos -- Reusable Menstrual Pads and Menstrual Cups

June 14, 2020

"refuse what you do not need; reduce what you do need; reuse what you consume; recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce, or reuse; and rot (compost) the rest."

We all want to live greener but I think we could all agree that the situation we live in makes it difficult to do so. Convenience is comfort, and convenience entails a lot of waste most of the time. If you think about it, we throw a lot of stuff. This had been bogging me for a while so I have started to change my lifestyle little by little. 

I am not a green warrior, I admit I still use a lot of stuff and throw a lot of trash. However, I found that I can actually change some of the products I have been using in order to lessen my waste.

One of that is the use of sanitary napkins.

Women use a lot of tampon or sanitary napkin on their menstrual cycle. It irritates me to see how much I put on the waste bin.

I invested in a menstrual cup. You would find a lot of detailed articles about it on the internet but to put it simply, a menstrual cup is something you would put inside your lady parts. It would catch most blood that drips from the cervix. On most women, a menstrual cup could catch most of the blood for 12 hours. 

I enjoyed the convenience of menstrual cups but to tell you the truth, it was quite troublesome to use it. Since my period only lasts for two days, I decided to shift to menstrual pads. Menstrual pads are simply reusable sanitary pads. They might take more time in using them but they were still convenient since I stay home most of the time.

I have been using menstrual pads for a year now and I am not looking back. It feels good not needing to throw away a bunch of sanitary pads. Some people might feel grossed out with the thought of touching your own blood but I personally find it not disturbing at all. Anyways, menstrual blood is the only kind of blood shed not because of violence or accidents. 

If you are interested, I recommend menstrual cups by Anytime Menstrual Cups and menstrual pads by Kanami Pasador.

COMMENTARY: The Greatest Confidence Lies on Feeling Beautiful With Your Own Choice

June 10, 2020

Shaved, waxed, hairy, my armpits and legs have experienced all these. Curly, wavy, straight, my hair were all these. And all were made by my own choices.

I've seen many advertisements selling waxing, shaving and laser hair removal. I am also glad to see 'au naturale' movements that embrace what is naturally there.

It is so easy to get caught up between ideologies and some boys and girls might feel the need to subscribe to one set of beliefs. 

Beauty standards change through time, depending on the kind of aesthetics and beliefs of a certain generation? (Remember when it was cool to shave your brows with a thin line?) It is so refreshing to see that the current youth adhere to the more realistic expectations.

It is important to see why it is so -- the past have seen the ridicule of brown or dark skin  wide waistline, fluffy hair, stretch marks and acne scars. People were trapped and made fun of when they don't fit it with these standards. Luckily, we have become more accepting of our flaws and imperfect selves.

Again, it is so easy to get caught up in a belief, no matter how good or bad it is.

My point is, being beautiful truly lies on your freedom to choose, not being afraid of what people will say with your choices, and accepting how others want to make themselves look. Of course, there should a sense of responsibility with these choices. 

You want to show off your hairy armpits?

You want to wax your armpits?

You want to dye your armpit hair, braid it?

You want hairy legs?

You want to wax it?

You want your dark skin?

You want to whiten it?

All of these are fine because of the first word. YOU. 

Beauty standards are only evil when you criticize and make fun of people for what they are or what they want to be. I don't see anything wrong with using whitening soaps the same way I don't see anything wrong with loving your natural dark skin as long it is YOUR CHOICE.

There is power in respecting your own choice and respecting other's choices. There is beauty in making yourself pretty because you love yourself and not because you want others to love you.

YOU DO YOU. YOU LOVE YOU.

Improve yourself base on how you see fit and not according to what other force you to do.

THOUGHTS: Accept that you are disposable and replaceable to others

June 09, 2020

There is strength in the affirmation that you will be okay no matter what happens. 

In life, people come and go. Sometimes,or most times, we cling to them and find it hard to accept that we must part ways one point in time -- probably for other people or for other passions. We are heartbroken. We just cannot accept it, right? We have to fight for them no matter what and they should fight for us, too, right? Isn't that what the songs and movies have prepared us for?

I am sure you already know that this is not always the case. Sometimes, you have to let people go and people have to let us go, too.

The pain from all this comes from not being able to accept that we are disposable and replaceable. 

Subconsciously, we show our best selves to those people in the hopes that they will like us, love us, and stay with us. The truth is far from that. It seems to be a glitch in the system that we cannot accept. People enjoy people, but when the time comes, they must leave especially if there is a reason. Sometimes, there aren't any even.

Strength lies in the acceptance that YOU ARE DISPOSABLE AND REPLACEABLE and there is even more strength in the knowledge that even though you may have been disposed and replaced, you are still you. They never took your personality, your happy attitude, your education, the things you have learned, your hobbies, your friends. They, in fact, did not replace you -- they just replaced themselves.

There is heartbreak, loads of it 'cause they did take someone you love, and your possible future with them. You will miss them and the course of moving on will be a hell of a ride. But take happiness from knowing that you still have a place to restart, and that is YOU.

THOUGHTS: He Was Too Small For A World Too Busy To Even Look At Him

And so he just looked at the world instead.

He arrived one Sunday evening. Like that summer starry night, he was quiet. But like the night, he was gentle. He came out of his hiding place brushing his nose on their feet, like a greeting. He was too small, they said. Too early, too early, they gave him out to die. He needs his mother, someone to warm him, breasts to suckle on. 

But he was here already and he was too polite, embarrassed of his own existence that he hid himself as if not to disturb them from their normal lives. His was a gentle soul. He had a big heart for something too small.

He liked to look at the afternoon scenery. He enjoyed the warmth of the morning sun. He would spend long hours warming his small body. He had found a home at last. A home that would make him ride the tricycle every morning. A home that fed him milk and his favorite rice. He had a bright future for a while. He would belong to the family. He would become a part of the pack. He wagged his tail and awed everyone. Isn't this the puppy that mothered itself? He cleaned his paws, cleaned his own body cause mother was just a memory. He was pitiful but a lovely creature. They all hoped for him to be a big, strong dog. Someone they would call 'Wawa.' He was pitiful but an admirable dog. 

But one afternoon, he went into a series of shaking. He did not touch his milk, his rice. He slept in the dark corner and it brought all forms of sadness.

Alas, he is indeed still too small. His heart is probably just the size of a pea and his body isn't strong. He slept all day and didn't show off the happy prancing of his four little feet...

Life is short, and if yours will be, remember you are loved. Remember how you made everyone happy just because you were strong. If there are some who deserved heaven, they are the ones with the purest souls, and yours, our little darling, is one of the brightest.

June 07, 2020

To Wawa and to other billions of uncared cats and dogs who were 'just another drop in the ocean'

THOUGHTS: I Wish To Be The Kind Of Beauty That Sparks Inspiration, Not Envy

June 04, 2020

I wish to be that kind of beautiful that doesn't spark envy among other women. I wish to be the kind of beautiful that inspires others to feel beautiful as well.

I wish to be that kind of beautiful that plants seeds and grows beautiful things. I wish to be that kind of beauty that gives off warmth and welcome.

I want to be that kind of beautiful that keeps on learning and teaching others.

I want to be that kind of beautiful that sits in the afternoon sun and reflects on her day about the things that she is grateful for.

I want to be that kind of beautiful that allows herself to be weak and accepts that life isn't always kind.

I want to be that kind of beautiful that takes in the weak and helps them find their voice and strength.

I want to be that kind of beautiful that patiently waits.

I want to be that kind of beautiful that listens true.

I want to be that kind of beautiful that takes up arms for the right cause and is not afraid to fight for what is right.

I want to be that kind of beautiful that speak out against injustice.

I want to be that kind of beautiful that isn't afraid to cry.

I want to be that kind of beautiful that loves herself.

And despite all my insecurities, anxieties, my imperfections and my flaws, I will work on myself everyday to be that kind of beautiful.

Everyday As Told By Photos - My Facial Skincare Routine

June 1, 2020

I wasn't into skincare until 2018. My old trusted brand was Pond's which I had been using since high school. However, I have decided to level up my skincare arsenal. 

I have this philosophy that it is better to spend more money to things that go to your body like food and skincare. Because of this, I do not have a habit of buying expensive clothing, bags or shoes. I spend most of my money to food, skincare and bodycare and hobbies.

My beauty products are not a secret. I often post them on social media for other people to try them if they want. 

So, as a reference for the people who ask me, here is the (almost) complete set of my facial skincare. I apply them to my face and neck as the neck is often overlooked.

THOUGHTS: Next time you don't like how you look, criticize your clothes, not your body

May 29, 2020

It's a challenge to keep up with the society's standards of what is a beautiful body. Let me tell you something, you don't have to keep up with it. I always feel that as long as you are not morbidly obese or thin and is doing genuine actions to keep your body healthy, then you are already doing well.

Beauty is a highly priced characteristic in our society. Envy is a natural reaction but I think it's time that people love and accept themselves. You may not look as beautiful as others cause you did not win the genetics lottery but it is something you cannot do anything about. Picking on yourself will just make you feel worse and will make your heart uglier.

Self-care and self-maintenance are both important as well as good health. Looking good starts with feeling good. Improve yourself -- it is a good practice but refrain from deprecating yourself. You only have one body. Appreciate it and love it.

THOUGHTS: You cannot control other people's actions and emotions

May 28, 2020

You cannot control other people emotions and actions but one thing you can do is to manage how you will react to them.

It is a characteristic of an intelligent mind to be able to think out a situation calmly. Humans react quickly but it doesn't mean you always have to. You can always sit and take your time processing what information was given and what to do with it. 

This is very useful in our everyday lives. Sometimes, we feel frustrated with people's actions. We should remember that we cannot control people's emotions and the ways they act on it. We might feel hurt and it could lead to a domino of actions on our part that might actually be unnecessary and harmful. On times you feel yourself hurt, sit down. Think. Would you internalize their actions? Would you let it run your life out of your hands?

We can never control other people, but mercifully, we can always control our actions.

Everyday A Told By Photos - Lemon Seedlings Update; They Are Doing Well

May 27, 2020

It has been more than a month since I started growing lemon seedlings. I am happy to say that they are doing really well!

The recent rains have been a challenge when it comes to growing plants. Too much water can stunt the growth of seeds and can affect the whole seedling. I had to stop watering them since we often have rains in the afternoon and it was enough for them.

If you sprout lemon seeds today, you will have seedlings next month. After a year or more, you might just have a pretty lemon tree. 

Everyday As Told By Photos - Wakame, the expanding seaweed

May 26, 2020

I love fiber-rich food. They nourish you and they are really great for people who don't eat that much. 

A few months ago, my Japanese students recommended 'wakame' seaweeds to me. Aside from being fiber-rich, it also contains minerals that could help me deal with my anemia. 

I was able to go out last Saturday to finally buy the seaweed from the Asian aisle at the supermarket.

Here is the seaweed package. 

My students advised me to soak the seaweed in water before eating. It is dehydrated so it makes sense to rehydrate it.

Look at how thin it looked like!

And this is what happens after thirty minutes of soaking.

You can then cut them into strips and mix them with salad dressing or anything you like for the taste. As for me, I personally suggest a bit of fish sauce and lime. 

This is very good for those who want to lose weight or just looking for new healthy dishes to try. Wakame is also used as a soup base in Japanese cuisine.

THOUGHTS: Thank You For The Songs

May 21, 2020

Thank you for the songs for they make me realize of things I never knew existed. 

Thank you for the songs for they sing to me of better days.

Thank you for the songs for they keep me company.

Thank you for the songs for they make the dawn more beautiful.

Thank you for the songs for they make the days more tolerable.

Thank you for the songs for they remind me of you.

Today As Told By Photos - Flame Tree

May 21, 2020

You may have read my entry about Balayong Trees or Palawan Cherry Blossoms before. Well, that is still an ongoing project and I still haven't successfully germinated any seed! Haha! 

Aside from balayong, I was also attempting to grow Flame Tree. Balayong has pink and white flowers while the flame tree has red flowers. 

The original instructions told me to soak the seeds in water. However, I have done that three times and the seeds end up moldy. I decided to skip the soaking and directly plant it. Luckily, it did grow into a very healthy seedling.

Choosing where to plant your flame tree could be difficult. To tell you the truth, the root came out of the seed after just two days. It roots out quickly and it could destroy concrete so never plant it near your house or the road. 

Today As Told By Photos - Grow Your Own Avocado Tree

May 20, 2020

I grew up surrounded by trees but I wasn't really able to appreciate them. Now that I am an adult, I have come to realize how important they are. Trees are long term investments. They may not give you money but they can be a healthy source of food and they provide shade. In addition, they also give you fresh air and are definitely the best thing you can ever have in your backyard. 

I have been growing tree seedlings recently and I have two avocado seeds currently germinating.

It is easy to germinate your avocado seed. Remove the brownish skin that covers the seed. Prepare a cup with a plastic cover. A rubber band could be used to seal it. Wrap the seed with wet tissue paper and then put it inside the cup. It might take weeks before the roots show.

Last year, I have successfully germinated some seeds and they are now the resident avocado seedlings in the backyard. They give me happiness and hopefully, theyw would grow into big strong strees laden with heavy fruit. 

Happy planting!

THOUGHTS - It's Okay If You Do Not Know What To Do With Your Life Yet

May 18, 2020

You were wrong. Not all adults know what they are doing. Very few adults know what they want to do with their lives and even less know what they want to do when they are sixteen, seventeen or eighteen.

You will be rebellious but follow most of what your parents will say. Find good role models but you don't always have to be like them. Admire people, appreaciate the good and learn to distinguish the bad. You will save your life by knowing who has good intentions and who has not.

Make friends but enjoy your time alone. Learn to put down your phone. Explore beyond your boundaries. Shy? Try talking more with the right people. Afraid of public speaking? Join public speaking competitions. You will never know your capabilities if you are always in your safe zone. Trust me, you will love the feeling of growing.

Study. Being young includes being rebellious. The school is the first institution that will kindle this feeling in you but study well at school. Know that you may be right sometimes and know that you may be not sometimes.

Be kind to people. You'll never know what a kind word would save. It could be a life.

Learn to give and learn to know what you deserve. Learn what you are actually giving and learn what people actually need.

You may not see it but there are many countless possibilities that lie ahead of you. Enjoy your youth and look forward to the future.

Today As Told By Photos - The Oil That Will (Might) Save You From Your Skin Problems

May 15, 2020

Yesterday, I wrote about my new skincare product for summer. Today, I want to tell you about another product that could help you ij your skin woes.

Tea tree oil came from the, you guessed it, tea tree. It has a strong aromatic smell and aside from that, it is an all around oil that can be used for many purposes. 

As for me, the main function of the tea tree oil is as armpit deodorant. I haven't used drugstore deodorants or antiperspirant for many years now since I have learned that antiperspirants just block the sweat glands in our armpits. I do not quite like the sound of that so I decided to read more about it. J read that sweat doesn't really make us smell bad, it's the bacteria that eats them that do. So, what better solution than kill the bacteria? I used sanitizing alcohol ever since then. 

When I ventured into the world of oils, I have realized that I can add tea tree oil to my armpit routine. Tea tree oil is an antibacterial oil that thas other benefits to the skin. One problem I encounter with my armpits is the rough feeling I get after waxing. Tea tree oil helps by declogging the skin to have a smoother feel. I mix 3/4 water and 1/4 tea tree oil and spray it to my armpit after I use alcohol. 

That is just one thing the tea tree oil can do. Another thing it can do is banishing acne. However, I do not recommend directly applying it to skin as it can irritate. Just buy products that contain tea tree oil for your face. Tea tree oil is a good antibacterial and it has drying properties that hastens the life of acne.

One thing people don't realize is that acne and "bacne" or back acne can be caused by dandruff. Dandruff is a scalp problem. Scalp is still skin. The bacteria that feeds on dandruff sometimes reach the face through sweat and wreak havoc by causing acne. Tea tree oil is a common shampoo ingredient that targets dandruff. You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo or you can spray diluted tea tree oil to your scalp a few hours before taking a bath. 

Tea tree oil also helps a lot with insect bites and other skin problem. Just make sure you mix it with carrier oils to avoid irritation.

Today As Told By Photos - Summer Skincare

May 14, 2020

I love skincare. I especially love the Korean brand COSRX. Their name is a combination of COS (cosmetic) and RX (medicine). Their products target specific problems like acne, redness and uneven skintone. I had a very bad acne problem last 2018 and their products saved me.

I have a comprehensive skincare routine but I usually tweak them depending on the season. For the colder months, I use heavier products and for the hotter months, I use lighter ones. 

My regular cream is COSRX's snail mucin moisturizer. However, it has gotten too heavy for my skin because of the hot weather. That is why I decided to use their new product. The Green Tea Aqua Soothing Gel Cream. 

It is very watery since it is a gel type moisturizer. I always look for products with niacinamide because my skin loves it. This product also has calming ingredients like allantoin.

I do not have current skin problems but I will update if I feel this product has caused any.

I also bought this from BeautyMNL which sells authentic products. 

THOUGHTS: Your Ex-Lover Is Dead

May 13, 2020

I may have lost a lover, but I pray I keep a friend.

I have no regrets. Years of being together brought us to where we are now. I wouldn't trade this place with any other place even if it meant going back to what we were. I love you more for what you have become. I love that you have found yourself, even though we have lost each other.

Maybe we didn't see it coming, maybe we didn't care. But we have have grown too well together that we didn't take it against each other. Instead, we used it to separate without breaking apart. For that, I thank you.

"I am not sorry I met you, I am not sorry it's over, I am not sorry there's nothing to say."

When we remember each other someday, may we smile. We may not remember the years we spent together but let us remember the last day -- when we said goodbye without bitter hearts, and remained friends...from a distance. 

Everyday As Told By Photos - Growing Pineapples

May 13, 2020

As you may have noticed, I love almost all kinds of fruits. I feel sluggish whenever I cannot eat any fruit in a day. Last year, 2019, I received a very healthy looking pineapple. It was very heavy as well. Unfortunately, I believe I botched it up as I cooked it into pineapple rice that turned out as a failure.

However, I did not let it let me feel down. I kept the leafy part and germinated it by soaking the white stem in water. I wasn't able to take a photo last year but it looks like this.

It might take a week or two for roots to finally show up. When the roots look strong, you can already replant the pineapple in soil. It will take two years before it bears another fruit and you can repeat the steps. 

Pineapples are perfect for jams and they also look good as decors.