Rediscovering Beth: From Legal to Baker’s, and Traveler’s Notes

  My 38th Blog The Soju Session: Where Pitch Didn’t Matter  😂   I honestly can’t remember the last time I got wasted. Is that still what the cool kids say? Wasted ? Soju-swerved? Under the influence of liquor? Whatever the term, by glass number three, my brain hit the snooze button and left my body to improvise karaoke like no one was listening.   This wasn’t your usual spur-of-the-moment hangout—it was a beautifully orchestrated night of glorious debauchery. The baking and pastry gang gathered at our place to celebrate our freshly nineteen-year-old buddy—armed with music, snacks, and enough soju.   At first, I served up macaroni salad, bread, tuna, crinkles, and cake, and without skipping a beat, we went straight to the veranda. The karaoke machine—conveniently left at our place a week prior—was waiting like a prophetic omen. I decided then: it wasn’t forgotten. It was fate. 😂   Aiden launched into “I Will Survive” with diva-level devot...

  I’m writing this blog to honor my eldest brother, who just celebrated his 72nd birthday two days ago. (Unless he’s been quietly shaving off a year—if so, consider this my gift to you, Kuya Rene, aside from the crinkles that I just baked today.   😄 )   Earlier on Facebook, I declared him my favorite brother— after my elder brother Raul, who passed away over 35 years ago. That officially puts him in second place on my very exclusive favorite brother list.   Honestly, I was never particularly close to any of my male siblings—no brooding heart-to-hearts or dramatic bonding moments. So what I’m sharing here is a little mix of memory, observation, and gentle guesswork.   In his younger days, my brother was rarely home—always out and about with his friends, and constantly on the receiving end of my parents’ scoldings for coming home late. It’s no surprise he married young. Let’s just say his life was never lacking in color or adventure, though I’ll gracio...

  About My Blog Logo My logo is more than just a design — it reflects who I am and the voice behind my blog. The name Carlyn , in elegant old rose, speaks of warmth, experience, and grace — the qualities I bring to my writing on spirituality, baking, travel, law, and life’s many chapters. Old rose symbolizes both gentleness and strength, a perfect match for the path I’ve walked. The dark gray fountain pen represents clarity, dedication, and my enduring love for words. Softer than black, it reflects a quiet authority — true to my nature as a woman of faith, reflection, and resilience. The circular pen stroke tells my story of continuity, wholeness, and growth . It mirrors how I see life: not as a straight line, but as a journey with twists, turns, and new beginnings — always shaped by God’s unending presence, the unity of my experiences, and the hope to begin again. Together, these elements create a logo that mirrors my path — still single at this stage of life, shaped by jo...

  My 35th blog: Fresh Perspectives: A Taste of Solaire Ventris North’s Buffet They say, ‘Birds of a feather flock together,’ and I couldn’t agree more. I knew exactly who to invite for a buffet feast at a hotel somewhere in Pasig—my friend, Beng who I consider as an epicure. But instead of the original hotel I had in mind, she suggested Fresh Buffet at Solaire Ventris North. Without hesitation, I said yes, already imagining sinking my teeth into the luscious lobsters and crabs Solaire is known for. True enough, the experience did not disappoint. It was, without a doubt, one of the best seafood buffet meals we’ve ever had.   I usually start a buffet meal with a salad, but this time, I went straight for the kill—the lobsters and crabs, just waiting to be devoured. Beng was on the same wavelength, and together, we indulged in the succulent seafood, expertly prepared—whether bathed in butter, delicately steamed, or infused with special sauces and spices.   Naturally, ...

My 34th Blog:   The Girl Who Felt in Colors A simple story of feeling deeply   There was once a girl named Beth who felt things more than most people. She didn’t just see the world—she felt it in colors.   When the wind passed by, it felt fragile and wistful.   She didn’t just see the sadness of people—she absorbed it, feeling the weight of it settle inside her. When joy found her, it wrapped around her, warm and gentle, like sunlight filtering through the trees.   But people didn’t always understand her. They said she was “too sensitive.” They told her she was “overthinking.” They asked, "Why do little things unsettle you so easily?"   Beth often asked herself the same questions. Sometimes, the world was too loud, too fast, too much. She would curl up in her bed, her chest tight, her thoughts racing.   “Why am I like this?” “Why can’t I just be calm?” “Maybe I really am too much…”   One stormy night, while B...

My 33rd blog: (just one of my battles in life) The Lump That Changed Everything: My Path Through Uncertainty   Each of us faces trials uniquely designed to test our strength and resilience. For much of my life, I’ve seen myself as fragile, struggling to withstand the pain and hardships that came my way. Yet, through every storm, one truth has remained unwavering—I have stood firm in my Catholic faith. Though I may falter time and again, I do not let the beliefs of others shake my own. And if there is one certainty I hold onto, it is that God does not burden us beyond what we can endure. That, I know for sure.   In 2016, I was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ—stage 0 to 1 breast cancer. Not the most daunting prognosis, some might say. But for me, it felt unbearable. At the time, my ex-husband and I had separated, leaving me to navigate the weight of the diagnosis alone. I was working nights at an online English school, teaching Japanese professionals who demanded...