Stories beyond the beach cottage

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It’s been quiet on the blog. I feel like it’s a deserted vacation home! There’s a film of dust on the patio furniture and the bedrooms have to be aired out. But I’ve got my weekend bag with me, and I’m here to liven up this little beach cottage. Let me tell you what I’ve been up to the past weeks! Imagine us catching up over a spread of lightly toasted goat cheese on slices of toasted bread (a snack I’ve been craving for several days now). We’ve got free-flowing tea and orange juice to quench your toast. We’ll save the wine for later. 😉

Know what you want and pursue it wholeheartedly.

Know what you want and pursue it wholeheartedly.

Last year, I took a leap of faith. I got the opportunity to help lead Training for our company, and it was a big win for me. I believe in my heart it is a career path I want to pursue 100%, so getting to try it out by helping put trainings together has been wonderful. Training is work I love, and seeing colleagues learn and love their work more has been so rewarding.

With Lee Cruz (Human Resources Director), Sue Olivier (Regional Director for Talent Development, Asia Pacific), and me, Toni Tiu (Training Director/Senior Planner)

With Lee Cruz (Human Resources Director), Sue Olivier (Regional Director for Talent Development, Asia Pacific), and me, Toni Tiu (Training Director/Senior Planner) at our Talent Leadership workshop

Learning from others is also part of training myself, and getting to work with Lee and Sue has been nothing short of AMAZING. Being part of Training at Ogilvy is definitely one of my career highlights! I’m looking forward to more trainings with our awesome team.

Start your day right before plugging in!

Start your day right before plugging in!

So that’s how work is going. It’s great when you’ve got a fabulous team to work with. It’s also wonderful when you have little joys that help fuel the day ahead. This morning greeting from my Starbucks run was a lovely picker-upper a few mornings ago. Always see the little joys in every morning, especially before plugging in for the day!

Lunch Out with the Team

Lunch Out with the Team

Aside from my Training duties, I’m also a Planner and get to work with these awesome folks. The picture above is one of our rare lunch outs together. We work hard and play hard! That Boodle Fight was one of my favorite team moments.

Writer's Breakfast

Writer’s Breakfast

Writing has also been grounding me. I’ve been writing a number of articles for The Philippine Online Chronicles and Pesos and Sense. They’re welcome breaks from my day job. I love the thrill of getting a writing assignment and identifying an angle before I start writing. Writing is my first love, and I think I’ll forever find a way to keep writing, whether it’s on this blog or somewhere else!

A surprise read that helped me be quiet amidst all the activities.

A surprise read that helped me be quiet amidst all the activities.

Reading has been put on the back burner, but when I stumbled upon this book at home I realized I still hadn’t read it. I’ve known about it from way back but never got around to reading it. It was perfect timing though. “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” was key to helping me cherish the quiet amidst all the activities happening. It helped me realize how blessings come in their own time, in God’s time, and while you can pray for them to come into your life, it doesn’t mean you have to be miserable waiting. Choose to enjoy the journey. (Thank you, Judy Blume!)

Someone hogged all the pillows one night.

Someone hogged all the pillows one night.

Most importantly, my family has always been there. My son is a constant source of joy. Since I’ve been coming home from work late, I try to make the most of the evenings by playing with him. Here he is making his own house on the bed. He hogged the pillows that night, but that was okay. He had his little home on the bed, with Hulkbuster and Hulk as his houseguests. These are little moments I cherish so much.

He's growing up so fast!

He’s growing up so fast!

Kids grow up so fast. Too fast. My worries about him being a late talker are long-gone, as now I worry about him being too talkative at some moments. My son is incredible. I credit him for giving me more laughs than ever in the past six years. He’s certainly brought so much joy into our home, into our lives.

A dinosaur in the living room c/o our son.

A dinosaur in the living room c/o our son.

Children really keep you grounded. Here you are all worried about to-do lists and projects, and there they are pulling on your sleeve saying there’s a dinosaur in the living room. I love it. I love it when my son gives me perspective on the bigger things that should matter.

Practicing fine motor skills while having fun at the same time.

Practicing fine motor skills while having fun at the same time.

It’s crazy balancing work and family life. I don’t think it’s ever really balanced. What I’ve been learning is that you make the most out of the time you’re there, to be 100% present wherever you are. When I’m at work, it’s work mode When I’m at home, it’s Mommy mode. Mommyhood isn’t all dinosaur fun and play, as Timmy would want it. It’s also about being a teacher. Here we are practicing his grip using laundry clips. At least we’re having fun while sharpening his fine motor skills!

Food trips with family.

Food trips with family.

Family is really the center of it all. As my Mom keeps saying, “No success can compensate for failure at home.” So it’s a really great feeling when we’re all together, having fun, sharing snacks, especially if the yumyums are from one of our favorite restaurants (St. Marc’s in the pic above). Yummy!

Remember to reward yourself!

Remember to reward yourself!

“Don’t forget to nurture yourself!,” my friends would advise me. Yes! I find moments of nurturing during my quiet reading moments and in quiet moments of snacking. Haha! I love food. I love treating and nurturing myself with food, like this delicious gelato. Mmmmmmm.

So that’s what’s life been like beyond this little beach cove. Please please please do leave a comment and let me know what’s been going on with you too! :) There’s plenty of snacks to go around. So come on, let’s keep sitting on the steps of this beach house, bond over cheese sandwiches and yummy tea. I’ll bring out wine too! I can’t wait to hear YOUR stories.

2 Comments on Stories beyond the beach cottage

  1. ceemee
    June 30, 2015 at 5:49 pm (9 years ago)

    Hi Toni! In my latest post on my blog, I wrote about the change that is currently happening in my life. The pressure of driving our car so the kids could go to school is on, since my hubby would be at work most of the day. Last year, his time was in his hands, this year, no more. All my kids go to school now, so I have three to tutor.
    I’ll have that cheese sandwich and wine ow please. 😀
    ceemee´s last blog post ..Blissful in God, Cymplified!

    Reply
    • Toni
      August 19, 2015 at 11:24 pm (9 years ago)

      Thanks Ceemee!! *hugs hugs hugs* You can have as much wine as you want! Not if you’re driving though. Heehee. Thanks for the catch-up :)

      Reply

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