thoughts / opinions | mumblings of a introvert

Have you ever felt so confused on what the next step to life was?

I suppose I was under the assumption that life would just lead me to where ever I was suppose to go.. like a current that you thought would lead you to your destination. Well, what do you do when that current just stops and you’re in the middle of the freakin’ ocean?

Interestingly enough, in my current situation, my emotions have gone through a roller coaster for the past year and it’ll probably still be like that for a while. Fortunately I’m at the point where I (think? I) may actually be enjoying the wild and weird turns. At first, it was uncomfortable.. as in the “I’m scared, sad, boo-hoo, crying myself to sleep” kind of uncomfortable. Now it’s gotten less scarier and less tears happen.

So here I am, taking these baby steps into this journey of my very own. Not 100% sure of what it is I’m suppose to do but hopefully I will and I would like to document my journey along the way. I also would like to share very personal tidbits about myself and stuff I’ve learned or experienced. I feel that because it’s a personal journey, not everyone will have the same experiences but it also shows that we could possibly share an experience and it’s what connects us. Now why on earth am I starting something like this?

So, small detail about me. I began therapy almost about a year ago, back in 2018. It was post break up 7 months before starting therapy, and I was still grieving over that broken relationship. Plus, I became aware of how depressed I was feeling at the fact that majority of my friends were either not local anymore, not single, or I felt generally disconnected with them because I had not either seen, or heard from them. Which resulted to phone calls/texts feeling less genuine and automated and it didn’t feel like I was connecting to a person anymore. I wasn’t myself anymore.

That’s how long it took me to accept the fact that I needed help.. emotionally and mentally. Along with the therapy, I would listen to podcasts, videos, or read all sorts of “self-help” books or articles and it felt that it still wasn’t enough for me to “move on.”

I do want to share that if you are having trouble with the whole “moving on,” process, just know that it’s okay to feel like that. If it starts to feel overwhelming and you need an unbiased opinion, start with looking for help. I pretty much Googled “therapist near me” and looked for one that specialized in what I needed, what I could afford. Called the number, made an appointment and went from there. I’ll probably write it more in a later post but just know that the whole moving on idea isn’t always as easy as it sounds and I would like to share my experience with that.

Alas, here I am! Broken, but still good. Less jaded and learning to become more open-minded than I was before. I have a lot to catch up on, especially with the food shares, and happenings in life.. I just need a place to share myself. I’m learning to put myself out there and see what comes back in return.

Thanks again for reading.

K10

taste test videos | japanese kit-kit flavors

thoughts / opinions | passed the ARRT CT registry

It is finished!

You guys don’t know how amazing it feels to get that out of the way, finally. It’s been more than 1.5 years to get that done for me. It should have been accomplished sooner but this past year have been a lot of growing pains for myself.

As I look back, I remember telling my parents that I didn’t want to go any further with Radiology. I told them that I would do the whole Radiology-xray shtick and then do my own thing. Now look at where I am!

I will say this.. I am proud of myself. I don’t think I’ve ever told myself that but writing this now.. fudge. I don’t say it ever. I’ve always been hard on myself so starting now, I’m going to be kinder to myself. I can’t believe with everything that’s happened in my life, God has been good to me. I’m slowly building that courage and confidence needed to go after the things that mean something to me.

Throughout all the challenges life throws at me; such as juggling responsibilities, friends, family, and work to not giving in to the negativity, laziness, toxicity, and shortcuts, it was hard. No. It was difficult. I don’t know how many times I’ve cried because I just wanted to give up. In all honesty, there were so many days where I just did not care at all. I didn’t care about anyone else.. I couldn’t even be selfish with myself. That’s how much I wanted to give up.

But with this small win, I’m slowly learning what it means to persevere. It took a lot of reading quotes, to therapy, and surrounding yourself with good people. And I really hope it could be a stepping stone to something bigger. I already know, it’s going to be even demanding than the last. The willpower still needs some work.

Well.. who knows? I’m still learning what it is that I really want to do and I feel like this is the first scratch to what that is.

Oof, I will admit.. this post was a bit more vulnerable than I expected. I guess I just want to share that it’s okay if you’re going through a tough time. Whatever it may be, you can get through it. Just try. Even if it is just a little bit. Give whatever you have for that day, hour, or minute.

Anyways, we still have more challenges and projects to tackle, but for now!

We enjoy the moment.

happenings in life | ELM’s graduation

Lemme make this real quick before I get back into the study guides..

I traveled to the Midwest to attend my cousin’s graduation. Long story short, it’s a big thing since it’s decided that the next step is going to Pharmacy school afterwards so ..

Pretty much what this was. So I’m super proud of ELM and all the accomplishments achieved and I know there are bigger and better things out there to be had.

I will say Lincoln, Nebraska is a lovely place. Not too shabby of a place to attend college so I think it was a nice balance as far as being able to balance out a college experience yet not get too caught up in it and focus on school.

Well-known structure of the school.
If you know where or what this is, then I don’t need to tell you which school this is. 😛

During the busy weekend, ELM asked me to decorate the cap. They must have started decorating caps after I graduated! I was like “Man! Why didn’t I think of this!?” It felt like scrapbooking so it was fun for me.

Yes, those are Vitamin D pills on the plants. It came out more 3-D than what ELM expected so that was funny. I didn’t expect it to come out like that either but either way, if there are no expectations, then you can’t be disappointed! I also like that fact that there is a subtle Filipino pride on it without being gaudy. *uwu*

Anyways, amongst the craziness of schedules of work and weddings and other responsibilities, I’m more than thankful for being able to be a part of a memorable moment. It’s true when they say that you’ll remember the moments where you did do something versus not doing it. I could have opted out to not go but I’m glad I didn’t.

I don’t know if you need to hear this but if you can somehow plan for moments in life where it doesn’t mess up your work life too much and can bear the lack of sleep for a moment, I encourage you to do it. Haha. Hope you appreciate those moments.

happenings in life | ll & jc’s wedding (part 1)

Ah, weddings. Defined as “A ceremony where two people are united in marriage. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes.”

I think it’s so cool when you know you played somewhat of a role. Maybe it’s me but I suppose it feels surreal to see a person you have known for a long time get married to someone that you happened to introduce to each other. I guess that’s what makes this matrimony a little bit special for me.

Since it was a court-house wedding, some stuff had to be put together. LL and I went to a bodega and I was helped by the owner to put together her bouquet. I thought it came out pretty well!

With the inspiration of Pinterest, we were able to come up with a simple yet elegant bouquet! I was overall happy with it. It doesn’t look difficult but it does take talent to tie flowers together. Heh.

On the wedding day, the weather was a little rough, to be quite honest. It was pretty cold and wet but according to Brides.com…

What does it mean when it rains on your wedding day? You might have thought it was a sign of a bad luck, but it’s actually quite the opposite! “In some cultures, rain on your wedding day is considered good luck, symbolizing fertility and cleansing. So whether you are superstitious or just prefer to look on the bright side, think of it this way: Who couldn’t use a little good luck on their big day?” says Samuels.

So there you have it! If it rains, it’s a good thing! LL donned her fur vest with her wedding outfit. I’ve never been to a wedding where it rained so it was a bit memorable, at least for me!

After the ceremony, we ate a few blocks down and made sure that the groom was nice and fed before they took photos. Afterwards, a few of us headed to Central Park for some photos. It was assumed that the weather was going to be a challenge due to the rain but in fact, it ended up looking pretty magical. ❤

It’s so interesting to direct couples during a photoshoot because it’s no different than what I do in real life for my job so I was in the background yelling “just look at each other!” or “put your hand on his chest, and you hold the umbrella!” The real magic is happening when the photographer takes the photo. It’s kind of cool seeing the end results.

Anyways, I only had a few days in NYC but it was great to spend time and be part of a special event, at least in LL and JC’s life. It made me see how intimate and special small weddings are and how beautiful it is to be part of something like this. *sighs longingly* I really wished I could have stayed longer..

Anyways, this is just the first part of the wedding happenings. The grand finale will be happening in July so I suppose both you and I are going to have to wait what will happen then! In the mean time…I gotta catch up with other stuff!!

Thanks again for stopping by. I’ll try to update as much as I can in between my studies. I still have quite a few food places I need to write reviews about so be on the look out on those!!

If you want to jump to [PART 2] where we celebrated in Cebu, Philippines!

happenings in life | MEGACON ORLANDO 2019

WARNING:: This will be severely a LONG post. Prepared to get more than what you can handle. Otherwise, carry on!

Yikes! It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything and if you happen to have stuck around, thank you.. sincerely from the bottom of my hearth. I know I said I would work on being consistent and it still has been a struggle as far as keeping to a schedule. Time really does get away and I do feel like I am trying to scrape as much memories and trying to be “present” in where I am or what I’m doing. Also, if you would like to hear more of any of the things that I’m doing, feel free to reach out to me! IG | Email | Twitter

Otherwise, I want to share all the things that has been happening in my life but I will have to cut it down in short snippets! If you haven’t checked out the my schedule, I’ve kind of written out the major events happening in life. It helps give me an overview as far as how life is based on some of these major events and in-between those time frames, you have responsibilities, work, and other minor details you have to add and fill in. May has definitely been one of the most busiest month for me and I’m trying to grind out my hardest because of what’s coming up in June!! Anyways, on to the better news!

MEGACON ORLANDO – Orange County Convention Center, North/South Concourse

I’ve been excited to go to MegaCon this year because I finally convinced myself to get the 4-day pass. If you happen to be in Florida around the convention time, enjoy the hustle and bustle of cosplayers, artists or just want to catch a glimpse of celebrities, you should check out MEGACON. In the past, I would go with friends/significant others but would only go for 1 day and the experience has always been different just about every time. This time, I wanted the full ride. Honestly, I encourage you to grab the 4-day pass because this pass is worth the money. Even if you don’t go during the weekday, it’s still a discount for the weekend ($10 cheaper!)

This year, a couple of friends and I built up the courage to cosplay together on the weekend. I had an extra cosplay I wanted to do so I was able to do that during the weekday. I don’t know too much about the cosplaying world but depending how much work you put into it, it will translate to other cosplayers on your dedication. You can see it in the photos below! Be ready for a plethora of photos!! (covers eyes)

THURSDAY

Day 1 – “Took a good poop today” Pink Haired Girl

Thursday was short lived! People finished up their booths and it was nice to see all the cosplayers, even if it wasn’t saturated! Honestly, it was easier to approach them when they aren’t surround by photographers!

I adore family cosplayers! Curious George!

Hela! This is an amazing cosplay!
*(this also happen to be a common pose for me >.<)*

Posion Ivy & Harley Quinn
*(Look at those heels! Ah! Wow!)*

Couple Cosplayers! ❤ (Scooby, Shaggy, & Velma)

I’m a sucker for Miyazaki art. I did not, however get this one.. T_T

Made her ENTIRE costume. Phew! The dedication!

FRIDAY

I attended MegaCon by myself on Friday. The experience is quite unique by itself. I’ve never cosplayed, and I’ve never went alone so it was a little bit nerve-racking. My hairclip fell off but they had a cosplay “hospital” and it was very neat how they had set it up. Pretty much had anything ready, whether it needed glueing, sewing up, patching up.. they even had sheets of how long certain glues dried on certain metals, or fabric..!! Just so much! They were quite helpful, although I did arrive after the “rush hour” so I didn’t wait at all. I was able to walk around and admire the booths, got to buy most of the artwork or items I wanted on my own time. Took lots of photos of other cosplayers. It was maybe annoying that if no one offered to take the photos of said cosplayer, I had to resort to a selfie mode, but I got over that. I attended some of the workshops, and panels that had that day. I also was able to go through the day without data on my phone. Haha, I suppose it was a challenge but I didn’t mind it as much.

I did stay tried and true to the character and kept the wig on ALL DAY. I had a couple people take photos with me and kind of identify who I was. Haha, the hardship of cosplaying an obscure character from an anime not as popular.

Day 2 – Megumi Tadokoro from Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma

I really enjoyed this anime and her character is one that I may be inspired by. She’s an adorable character that really tries her best in what she does, wants to help out her family and is inspired by her friends she’s surrounded with.

Raphtalia from Rising of the Shield Hero

*sighs* Not exactly what Satoshi Isshiki would have done but he did have the naked apron getup.

Gender bend Rapunzel, Belle in Westworld, Shazam

*confused* Just people with fun costumes!

Oof! As you can see, it was a lot easier for me to just take a photo of them instead of inserting myself with them. And check out those poses! The commitment and everything! I have no idea why it can seem so inspiring to me but I suppose it also shows that you do have to take a step out of that comfort zone to portray certain characters. Also, you can see that cosplaying has no age limit! It doesn’t limit you either. Even if you are in a wheelchair, it’s amazing what cosplaying can make you feel.

Heh.. shh! I didn’t realize what area I was in until I looked up and there was Ben Savage and Danielle Fishelle. I quickly tried to sneak a pic of both but I was only able to grab one.

..aaaaand! Since I was already in the area, I figured I could be like everyone else and grab a far shot of Zachary Levi. *shrugs* It was cute seeing him interact with fans. It really shows how dedicated actors/actresses are with their fans. It’s tiring work but I’m sure it’s worth it in the end.

Took the time to kind of chat a little with some of the artists. I’ve gathered that it takes a lot of dedication and believing in yourself to be in this field. It isn’t for the weak but if you are motivated AND passionate about your work, I suppose it pays off in the end. This is Edreen. He’s Filipino and it took him about 3+ years together to have all his pieces together. I was in awe. I ended up buying a couple of his pieces.

FRIDAY

Day 3 – Ochako Uraraka from My Hero Academia

Heh, I’m still shy when it comes to posing so here’s the best one out of all the trials. I’m not particularly ashamed when it comes to my weight but I suppose when cosplaying is a factor, I immediately started noticing all my flaws instead of just enjoying the process. So here’s to learning to be uncomfortable and growth!

A very popular anime that’s been on the radar, My Hero Academia. Lots of people gravitate to this anime due to its popularity of different characters and people being able to relate to certain characters. I apologize in advance because I want to show all the amazing shots taken!

The gang! Ochako, Nana Shimura, and All Might

Gran Torino, Tomura Shigaraki, Nana Shimura, and All Might

Phew! That’s pretty much it for that anime. Otherwise, Saturday is a day where AMAZING cosplayers go all out to show off their amazing talent. Here they are!

Dark Magician Girl from Yu-gi-oh | IG: uniquelydolly

Ashitaka & Breakfast Princess | IG: Yazzelberry & Penumbraprops

Davy Freaking Jones from Pirates of the Carribean

Naofumi Iwatani from The Rising of the Shield Hero

As you can see, Saturday was a lot more involved!

SUNDAY

The shortest day but presenting one of the most adorable cosplay we did together. It’s called Cells at Work. It’s a hybrid of Magic School Bus and anime. It’s educational with a hint of slight violence.

The feeling of finding fans who enjoyed the series and who approached us to want to take a photo is just breathless. You can feel the energy behind the excitement and the happiness that’s there.

Group Photo! (Killer T-cell, Red Blood Cell, Platelet)

Connie the Hormone Monstress from Big Mouth

Wanda and Cosmos, from The Fairly OddParents

Oh my! So what do you all think?! It’s been quite a wave of photos! I can’t believe that all happened in 4 days.

Everything pretty much turned out well and I’m glad we all got to do this together. I think I’ve spent more than I should have so I’ll have to go back reserving my spending and try to hold back on the spending. It does, however, make me happy so it’s not all done in vain!

Anyways, thank you for stopping by and reading all of this. Again, feel free to reach out to me, even if it is to say hello! IG | Email | Twitter

K10

kitchen production | arroz caldo (rice & chicken porridge)

I know when I start to get homesick and eating “healthy” just isn’t making me feel any better, I turn to what I’m used to eating. Unfortunately, having food prepared by mom hasn’t been readily available in over 10 years. So I have tried to recreate certain dishes to sate that craving. It’s a simple dish and since most people are getting sick and it’s just a very homey dish that “feeds the soul.” That dish is called Arroz Caldo (aka: rice & chicken porridge.)

Side note: Still working on the documenting the process of cooking. Sometimes I get so caught up in the prep and I start cooking that I forget to document from the start. Anyways, it’s pretty simple, like I said. This is pretty much halfway done.

I didn’t quite follow the recipe to the tee, to be honest. I pretty much just adjusted it to what I wanted it to be and used my taste memory of what my parent’s cooked it like. Also it didn’t come out “soupy” because the rice ended up absorbing the liquid so I would just have a side of the “broth” (or sabaw, what we say in Tagalog) and pour it on when I was ready to eat.

I also improvised and improved the dish to my liking. It’s important as one cooks, to make a dish that YOU would like to eat.. not necessarily for others. So for me, I like texture and flavor so I’ll do my best to add what I think will meld flavors together. I fried up some turkey bacon because I like the crunchy texture, especially when it comes to something soft. I prefer turkey bacon versus actual bacon because it’s less greasy and slightly healthier. I also added a boiled egg because it’s freaking good. Heh, I’M KIDDING! Nah, it’s what I grew up eating when my parents make this. We would eat this mostly for breakfast and so it coincidently pairs well with the turkey bacon! Also, the secret ingredient… citrus. Back home, we have our version of citrus called “calamansi” or I believe they call it “calamondin” here in the States. Unfortunately, these guys aren’t easily readily available for my beckon so I used lemons. Mmm, I tell ya.. when you eat this, it’s kind of hard to stop.

ARROZ CALDO: 👍🏼👍🏼

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👍🏼👍🏼 – Damn tasty; definitely will make again
👍🏼 – Good; will make again, eventually
👎🏼- Eh; may not make again.. might need adjustment
👎🏼👎🏼 – Ew; don’t like and will not make again

food share | [ORL] tako cheena

Majority of food places end around 9 and thank goodness Tako Cheena isn’t one of those places. It was getting late and most places were closing.. and fast. Another great perk about this place is that it adhere to vegetarians, which is not the easiest things to find, especially with late night food. The cost of the place is excellent because if you’re not especially hungry, you don’t have to pay much to just grab something decent to eat, ($3.75 per taco) or you can indulge yourself in a “size of a baby’s arm” burrito ($10.75).

932 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803 – Tako Cheena

Compared to their previous location, the new place is a lot more roomier AND they have outside seating, which is great because night creatures are always hungry. I liked the layout a lot and as you can see in the pano photo below, it’s got a bigger space. They have this night and day atmosphere, where you can sit in the brighter lit area or sit in the darker yet comfy area.

I love me a one page menu. Simple and straight to the point. I wasn’t particularly hungry so I just ordered the Indian Curry Dusted Tofu. I have, however tried the K-town Cheese Fries in the past and it is phenomenal. (WARNING: it has Kimchi, so it only works if you somewhat like Kimchi.)

I’m laughing at the photos taken because the tacos literally look the same but I assure you they did not taste the same. The Asian Braised Beef is a familiar taste. Having grown up eating the marinated meat with Hoisin sauce, it’s a safe flavor to eat for all. I am going to say the same with the Thai Peanut Chicken. I always feel the fresh cabbage mix always has this bitter taste somewhere throughout the experience of eating it but that’s just me. And the Indian Curry Dusted Tofu was probably the lightest to eat out of the 3 of them. The tofu was a nice crispy texture with the cream sauce in it among the other decorative items. I think I liked this one best of the 3.

TR was delighted to indulge in a burrito, but opted out the Chicken for Tofu. We all chuckled at the description about how big it is and it does say “the size of a baby’s arm with 1/2 lb of protein.” I suppose depending on the baby, because it’s a pretty big baby arm! You can see the diameter of the burrito! Seriously would be one fat arm! Anyways, it was nice that they are accommodating!

Again, this place rocks due to the extend hours they have, great food and overall great experience for visitors. I guess the real challenge for me is to try something new each time I come here and write it out for y’all!

Asian Braised Beef – ♥♥
Thai Peanut Chicken – ♥♥
Indian Curry Dusted Tofu – ♥♥♥
Indian Tofu Butter – ♥♥

food share | [ORL] ice & bites

This place was a cute place to check out! Although pleased that we had the whole place to ourselves, it was sad to see it empty. Wish there was more people who enjoyed this place more. Unfortunately this location is a little further away from me so coming here is much like a planned journey.

3402 Technological Ave #220, Orlando, FL 32817 – Ice & Bites Café

Carefully located in a plaza, it serves as a tiny café for the college student to get a “quick” dessert. Typically known for their specialty taiyaki, they also serve other tasty treats such as bubble tea, affogato, and savory foods (wings, dumplings, and other finger foods).

They have quite the menu selections! Unfortunately ELM and I had already eaten prior so we did not partake in the menu. It looks delicious! Wish I had the time to try it all. Maybe for the next visit. 😉

Unfortunately, cafés here in the States are not utilized to their potential. I feel in most Asian countries, cafés are a good place to hang out besides home. I guess I was imagining (any) students here, studying or chatting with their friends but I was wrong! It’s just for the ‘gram.

Haha, working on those IG photos. Here’s the final product! We got the lavender and taro ice cream with honey drizzle, pocky stick and fruit skewers. The lavender flavor was very nice! You don’t get that flavor very often so it paired well with the honey!

Another time, I would like to try another item from their menu. Soon, I hope!

Taiyaki – ♥♥♥♥

food share | [ORL] orlando meats

Oof! Quite honestly when this place came on my radar, I absolutely had NO clue that they had a sit down and eating area. I purely believed that they were just a butcher shop and I found it odd it being in between the establishments at the time. Like what’s a butcher shop doing in the middle of a dining establishment and a bar? Anyways, I believe it was probably last year when it was revealed to me that they have the best sandwiches. So I’ve made it a priority to make a visit to this wonderful establishment.

Orlando Meats – 728 Virginia Dr, Orlando, FL 32803

Sometimes I don’t know what made me hesitate into going in here in the first place. I mean the store front is inviting! I suppose the idea of going to a “butchers” shop, I was thinking of this person splattered in blood asking what part of an animal you want comes to mind. Haha, silly! I know! Anyways, this place is not like that at all. It is warm and inviting. Definitely a place for locals. Super Instagram friendly and inspired. The contrast of the two wood colors are so inviting.

It’s nice to see how some establishments take the time to show off where they gather from their local suppliers. I was especially impressed because of the variety locations are small towns in Florida that some Floridans are not familiar with. So with that note, I top my hat to you, Orlando Meats! Kudos!

As you can see, it’s very clean and put well together. The ambiance is a great place to talk, catch up, and even grab a quick 15 min lunch.

Poultrygeist – friend chicken, kewpie, lettuce, tomato, pickled daikon, french roll

I tell you, IF you want a tasty fried chicken without the grease.. this is your pick. It is THEE tasty chicken sandwich you could have fresh! The kewpie is the secret mayo that eases the flavor of the pickled daikon. Yumyumyum! And again, the chicken is not greasy at all which makes it all the better.

Green Mario (?) – hot dog with mango salsa on a toast

I will be candid with you, my readers. I forgot the name of this lovely creation. Because of the rotation of sandwiches, they may re-create a dish to see if it sells better? Haha, lesson learned. If I don’t take a photo of the menu, this wouldn’t happen, right? Anyhoo, they are up-to-date as far as keeping their current menu updated. I did look up the name but I guess they cycled it out. I do remember it having the name Green and Mario because it was an Italian sausage so I’m assuming it was name green Mario but I am not certain. As for the taste.. it was good AND tasty but not as a memorable as Poultrygeist.

Served with slaw & chip
A simple AND tasty creation

Altogether, this was a great experience. This certain beer that was ordered at the time wasn’t cold (they still gave it to us but informed us ahead of time that it wasn’t cold) so they told us to let them know if we wanted another kind, they would give us some on the house, which I thought was a very nice gesture. Anyways, I look forward to trying out more new items and I do promise to do better in keeping updated with the names and other information.

Poultrygeist – ♥♥♥♥♥
Green Mario – ♥♥

mmk10q || "mmkay, thank you"

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