Spreading McLove

Cocoa Steamer - Lovin' it! It was served with a heart-shaped froth in time for Valentine's day!

I’ve never been a big fan of hot chocolate. It used to be that even just the thought of it would make me cringe. But a couple of months ago, Genine couldn’t stop talking about McCafe’s supposed delectable take on this classic drink – the Cocoa Steamer. I thought, “Hmm, that sounds inviting”, so I agreed to come and try it with her. The opening of McCafe in Katipunan couldn’t have come in a more perfect timing.

I loved it.  It was rich in just the right way – satisfying my palate with every sip but still leaving me craving for more.

I like leaving everything as is – the froth on top sort of filters the rich and thick concoction so that when it reaches my mouth, everything is rightly balanced. Plus, I like looking down at the perfectly stenciled ‘M’ against that fluffly bed of white. Imagine my delight when last Friday, I ordered a cup and was served the one in the picture above! It’s usually just a perfect circle. Heehee.

At 80 Pesos a (regular) cup, I’m perfectly happy with this good find.

Raspberry Tea & a Toast

For over two days, I have been trying to find ways to bring myself back to life. I’ve been at a loss because of the overwhelming amount of work ahead of me. I was frustrated, terribly stressed, and out of focus. I couldn’t find my balance.

This afternoon, I was happy to have the house to myself. I made a cup of hot raspberry tea, prepared a piece of toast and spread a little strawberry jam on it. I sat down and munched happily on the toast while waiting for my tea to cool a bit. I didn’t turn the TV on and left my phone inside my room. I didn’t want any distractions. I didn’t even consider turning the fan on. I wanted silence. Though I didn’t get absolute silence (there were noises from the vehicles and the neighbors), the environment that I had created for myself did wonders.

After a few minutes, I got up to get my journal then went back to my tea. I wrote about my recent struggle and how I took steps to address it. I wrote for about half an hour, taking small sips of the aromatic tea in between thoughts.

While in my little zen world, I could feel myself relaxing a bit and the stress slightly easing up. It felt good.

I am not completely back on track, but I hope that today was a start. Let’s see what tomorrow brings and hope that it’s good.

02.03.09

IT WAS GOOD.