A Neighborhood Cafe + A Favorite Book
"I'll have the regular please." I've longed for those moments of having a place that knows my 'regular'. Living abroad can often take what you would call normal and dump it on it's head. A strong indicator for positive place attachment is developing regular hangouts and relationships with those spaces or individuals around you. It can be a farmers market, dog park or even a neighborhood cafe. Recently, I have been dropping my youngest two off at preschool, saying sayonara and hitting the road to clock out some alone time at a neighborhood cafe with a new favorite book.
stay a while
Manila is so diverse and often tucks away some of it's greatest secrets. Apero is a sophisticated cafe with a twist of bohemia. You already know I have a love for rattan and when my eyes met the peacock nook I was forever won over. (Remember that one time I collaborated with Pottly and Tubby and helped design a rattan kids line?)
A Neighborhood Cafe
As much as I am a sucker for interiors, when push comes to shove if the menu can't live up to the aesthetics I'm out. Lucky for me, the menu at Apero is delightful! And I can confidently say I have worked my way through a large percentage of the breakfast menu.
The duckfat pandesal is something you must never deny yourself of!
Tomato, Basig, Garlic and Grana Padano Organic Eggs
Asparagus and Grana Padana Organic Eggs
Egg-In-The-Hole-Toast With Bacon
A Book That Takes Its Time
On a recent stroll through another regular hangout, Powerbooks Podium, I gravitated towards A Book That Takes Its Time. I recognized the creators instantly! A Filipino pen pal, whom I met through Instagram, sent me kitschy cute stationary all the way from Germany December 2016. In return, I exchanged with her paper goods from beloved Filipino brand, Papemelroti. The small collection of paper from Germany had all come from the same home, Flow Magazine, a delightful Deutsche publication. A Book That Takes Its Time has now become my creative bible. The books message is simple, An Unhurried Adventure in Creative Mindfulness. Before I dig into my to-do's I let my mind wander through the pages and creatively unwind.
As the title indicates, I have taken my time section by section, chipping away at each morsel of sweetness. I like to let it hang in my mind and revisit the previous section before I start a new one. Flow Magazine is all about creativity and mindfulness so I have found it so helpful and therapuetic, not just for creative efforts but for emotional support as well.
You must arm yourself with a cuppa of course! I am a tea girl at heart so even if Apero is big on coffee they are still sweet on teas.
Hey! It's Me.
Whether you find yourself at a cafe, market or a book store I hope you find your place to be a 'regular."
Kita Kits,
Amber
Pssssst: A Secret Post Script. Here is an experience that I should be way too embarrassed to post but I am apparently not. This experience happened at my 'regular' cafe, I don't even want to know if they have a nickname for me. Poop Girl? Foreigner Who Clogs Toilets? If you have read this far enough I salute you!
From Instagram:
