Fading Memories

There are certain memories we want to keep. But no matter how much we want to hold on to them or try our best to remember every detail, there are times we couldn't help it that some of them are gradually slipping away.

After a while, they just became vague blob of colors. The distinct lines are slowly fading. All is left are blurry mix of colors that you don't even know if they are the right ones.

We rely on the faded photographs, old songs, a familiar smell or a simple souvenir to take us back in time when the memory was still fresh. Then, we found ourselves in that place once again without the same feelings anymore. Somehow it became more significant than ever before.

This is the very first store I see on my route going to Promenade des Anglais everyday in Old Nice. I love this store, so I bought a table cloth from them.

This is how I remember it now. Ive taken this sight for granted. Now, I'd give anything to see it again.

My faded memories inspired me to play with this Gimp online tutorial and turn my photos to look like a painting. I've been playing with it a lot and I couldn't stop!

This entry was inspired by my favorite blog party "Time Travel Thursday" who is an angel to feature my "Herbes de Provence" art. I am truly grateful!

Writer Without Words

 Writer Without Words

Myric Andreasen 

One day i asked God. Why me? I am not a writer material. Did he made a mistake instilling

 this passion in my heart? I was always in denial that I am not the right person for the job. 

There are no writers in our family that i might have inherited the skill.

 I hate instructions because I am bad at listening. Reading bores me which is the essential 

character a writer must have. I am not a deep thinker. I still even had embarrassing

 grammatical lapses! Shameful.

 I do not have big, smart words. I was only a lazy student pursuing the simplest life i could get. 

I don't like complicated things

Or maybe I am actually a genius in disguise. So I tried writing on my own selfish pursuit. 

But nothing great ever came up.  Whenever i write just for the benefit of self satisfaction, 

I felt empty and unreal like i was trying to be someone I can't. How dare I am to call 

myself a writer. I haven't even written my own book or even start trying.

My husband as witness, saw I had given up several times. Maybe i am not really a

 writer but a poor delusional soul. This was the point in my life I was away from the Lord, 

emotionally drained and uninspired to write anything! There were times i asked the Lord

 to take this passion away from me. It only causes pain. The pain of not able to do what i

 ought to do. Like the passion is another living thing inside me that I cannot control,

 but strong enough to control me, and my weak body isn't strong enough to keep-up.

 I am positive this is not coming from me. I thought,  for the first time time understood a

 little bit how Jesus felt when he prayed at Mt olives to take his cup of suffering. 

The passion of Christ to fulfill the Father's will, but his physical body caused him to struggle. 

He could have give-up the fight and flee for his life. But the passion is beyond his

 ability rid off that He had to ask for a heavenly help.

I didn't know what else to do. I was ready to give up writing. 

But there is a thought deep down inside me that was not coming from me, 

saying “read the bible” over and over again. But I constantly ignored it. I was just

 too lazy and too depressed to do it.

The bible sparked my desire to write at the first place. The truth in it excites me

 to think a lot that i cannot contain myself to express it in writing.

 I started a year bible plan again. In ways that I cannot explain, words

 began to come out and I started writing again.  I realized my ability to write is 

coming from the Lord. I am ought to write for His glory as a reporter or a journalist

 of praises of what he has done in my life. I felt the 

distinct feeling of satisfaction of fulfilling a purpose once again. 

There's the answer to my question. Anybody can be anything if He allows it. 

He used weaknesses to show his strength. The bible is my mouth and the 

Word is what makes me or defines me. His word gives me strength. Without

 his truth, i am just a Writer Without Words.

Happy Closet Sad Heart

Around this time, women in town of Nice are frantically shopping, taking advantage of the year end sale upto %70 off!. I miss that so badly right now. This entry is from one of my neglected, forgotten blog that I don't use anymore. So in memory of my favorite activity year ago (which I probably should be doing at this day), Id like to share a tiny piece of me to my new blogging friends.

Happy Closet, Sad Heart

Intense excitement, heart-pounding, blood raising, eye-opening. Can’t believe it is happening. After a few free press of a button, it is done! Everything becomes mellow. Your heart beats back in slower pace. Then you come to your senses and realize, you don’t need it.  You try to sanitize your hasty deed with an excuse  “Maybe I need this one skirt” or with a twisted lie ”I am happier if I have this”.

Galeries Lafayette. Historic Mall in the town

You just can’t resist that enticing big texts in red that says UNTIL 70% OFF! You had a dream of that black lacy dress that used to be 34 euros now down to 10. An amount which could go as far as 5 articles in your favorite hip boutique. There are mornings when you just can’t wait for tomorrow, anticipating to get that fashionable 15-euro (now 4) Khaki bag before it is gone!

And the crowd goes wild!! Nice is not usually like this unless it's the year-end sale

 There are always HUGE sales in the whole town of Nice at the beggining and end of the year. It triggers the compulsive buyers to get as much as they could. The end of it is uncertain. It makes me sick. It prolongs sleepless nights. Somehow I wish it would end. But at the same time I wish it won’t. Not until I get that red top for 3 euros. (And may I ask my fellow Filipinos not to convert it in pesos. Definitely different when you are earning and spending euros). When you see that dress in its lowest price, you tell yourself, “Could it be any lower?” or “I can never get this in this price.”

I convinced myself I am not a shopaholic but probably I like bargain-hunting very much. Half-off is still unappealingly high for me but there is always a reason and space for that red-tagged item with a big SEVEN OH (70)% OFF!!!” (Three exclamation marks emphasized). The sight of scatched original price in the tag  lowered to a single-digit price is incredibly irresistable.

Shopaholic. Am I becoming one?

In an article “The Basics; You might be a shopaholic” , compulsive shopping isn’t a true compulsion at all, but instead an impulse control disorder. A compulsion is a behavior that is produced to counteract an upsetting thought. Impulsive shopping could also be the result of loneliness, others shop for the rush of it, and others may have an inner need unfilled. Some seek greater self-esteem, others to fight depression. Some shop to return to a happy childhood, others to escape a bad one.

I could write about this forever, but I will not bore you my dear reader (who cared to spare a few of your precious minutes).

Weather you are a shopaholic or starting to be one, it is better to be aware of the potential causes and meditate more on what is important.

It might be the big year-end sale or maybe just trying to cover-up the ugly feeling that I miss my family and close friends back home. Truth is that no amount of discounts could mask that I need more than just a bag of temporary pleasure. The best part was, this thought gave me something to write about and use my time contemplating rather being at the mall right now.

I Am a Bath-Person

Source: svpply.com via Myric on Pinterest

This picture captured exactly what I would want to do during bath time. My thoughts run smoothly when I'm soaked and relaxed  in warm water, blanketed with foam of my favorite bath scents from Baths and Body Works.

I love this scent. It is not too sweet smelling nor too musky. Sometimes I let my husband pick a scent for me. He is the one who smells me anyway.

This is not a bubble bath gel. This is not my scent but I am using it now. This holds a significant memory to me. This scent will always remind me of the first time I saw my mother-in-law at the airport and hugged me tightly! Who says you can't smell love?

Hot bath is beneficial activity for couples too. One primary requirement of choice of hotel we had on our first year anniversary was it must have a jet tub big enough for two. It was a very relaxing time for both of us giving us to have a more intimate talk of how our first year together went. We were too relaxed to care for any negativity :D

I asked my husband in his own words why hot bath is relaxing. Being a physicist and all of that, he explained it with more scientific precision. 

The heat causes atoms and molecules to move freely or faster. So the warm waters loosens-up stiffed/tight  cells, causing relaxation of muscles. I cannot verbatim-ly repeat it like I wish. But you get the picture

My circulation runs freely and my brain cells allows me to think clearly. Perfect time to write on journals but too bad there is no waterproof notebook to write on and using smart phone in the tub isn't very smart.

a health reminder! 

If you have high, or low, blood pressure, a bath that is too hot may cause problems. Always cool down slowly after a hot bath. Allow the water to cool or add cold water slowly to return your body temperature and circulation to normal before getting out of the tub. If you have any questions about the safety of a hot bath based on your medical conditions, talk to your doctor.

However, it would be awesome to have a big computer mounted on bathroom wall and a water proof keyboard to write with.

What's the formula for your ideal relaxation?

La Vie en Rose

I have a LOT of time to kill.

While waiting for responses from job applications, I thought I'd spend my spare time playing on GIMP.

For those of you who don't know GIMP (I apologize for not explaining before), it is a free software editor for retouching images of different formats digitally. And the great part about it is, it is for free!

Digital Scrapbooking is a big thing today. I don't have a fancy scrapbooking software (as much I would love to have one) because I can't afford yet. Bah!

 If you are into scrapbooking, my very good friend Cindy of Whimsical Musings is offering a $10 off for the program. Just visit her blog to see how and see her work samples.

But for now, I will be using my trusty free editting toy.

It is time consuming but so much fun as long as you gotten used to it! So today, I played with it and made this mixed digi-art.





Somehow, the movie La Vie en Rose was stuck on my head. This image is inspired by the song.


 I put the song lyrics, a photo of rose I took and a little help from my favorite vintage image sources Dezinaworld and Graphics Fairy. Check their website if you love things vintage perfect for craft arts and deco :)

what's the latest art you made?

à demain!



Crock-pot Lava cake

Vulcan de Chocolat has been our favorite dessert to order when we were staying in Nice. Ordering it can be a little tricky. One time, it took me a a couple of minutes to order this. After a few charades and different pronunciations trying to explain what I want, the waiter sighed in relief "Ah! Vulcan!".

So make sure to be very mindful with your french accent or the waiter will end-up serving you 'vodka' for dessert. Oh me and my sloppy accent.

A chocolate cake with hot fudge oozing from the inside. Sounds hard to someone like me who doesn't know anything about baking a cake!


Until I saw this very easy lava cake recipe from a wonderful food blog of easy yet delicious recipes!

Source: life-as-a-lofthouse.blogspot.com via Myric on Pinterest

I had to try it immediately as soon as I've seen it.

I am a crock-pot newbie. I was amazed that I could make my favorite dessert with it.

Just follow the directions carefully.

Et Voila!

A wonderful taste to end a long day.


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French Friday #3

Welcome to my 3rd French Friday!

Thank goodness for the GIMP. This is perfect for people like me who doesn't know how to paint. As for a frustrated painter like me :P, digital painting allows me the enjoyment of expressing myself through painting. The best part of it is, a single click of undo erases mistakes without ruining a canvas or wasting oil-paints.

You have probably seen my Herbes de Provence Lavande in my previous post. I made some changes today and thought I use a nicer image I got from a great vintage images source. The Graphic's Fairy!

I was also able to finish two more today Herbes de Provence. Sarriette and Thyme. I just needed one more herb to complete my set!

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