Day in the life of a Filipina Nurse Practitioner

January Reflections on Nourishing the Body, Heart, and Future

Another Beautiful Day to Be Gorgeous

Hi everyone, good morning.
Today is January 27th, 2026, and it’s another beautiful day to be gorgeous.

Today’s content wasn’t planned, perfected, or polished — and honestly, those are usually my favorite kinds. We’re making homemade pizza, experimenting in the kitchen, laughing through the chaos, and letting life unfold as it is. Cooking, for me, has become a form of therapy. A way to stay present. A way to breathe.

We picked up a hand-stretched stone-baked sourdough pizza starter kit from Costco, and just like that, pizza night turned into a moment of grounding.

Two Pizzas, One Kitchen, A Lot of Love

We decided to make two types of pizza today:

• Veggie pizza with mushrooms and artichokes
• Hawaiian pizza with pineapple (because pineapple is life 🍍)

There was chopping, debating how much cheese is enough cheese (answer: always more), and laughing about artichokes, expiration dates, and whether olive oil magically preserves everything forever.

Cooking doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to feel good.

Cooking as Therapy

Lately, I’ve been experimenting more in the kitchen. Last week, I made a Japanese cheesecake and accidentally mixed the eggs too early. It still turned out good — maybe even better than expected. My partner (who is French, and therefore very hard to impress with food 😅) ended up eating most of it.

That moment reminded me of something important:
Mistakes don’t cancel the magic.

Sometimes they make it sweeter.

Food, Culture, and Identity

French food celebrates simplicity and the natural flavor of ingredients. Asian food — the food I grew up with — celebrates boldness, spice, layers, and comfort.

Neither is better. Both tell a story.

And food, for me, has always been tied to memory, culture, and love. I remember growing up in Binalonan, Pangasinan, where pizza was such a big deal — even when it wasn’t the best pizza. It was still special.

Sometimes I wonder… if I do move back to the Philippines one day, maybe I’ll make pizza there too. Life has funny ways of planting seeds.

Quiet Truths I’m Learning to Sit With

While the pizza baked in the oven, I had a quiet moment alone — and those moments have been bringing up a lot lately.

I’ve noticed that I sometimes overthink how other people are acting around me. I read into energy shifts. I wonder if something is wrong. And I’ve realized that this habit creates more anxiety than clarity.

So right now, I’m practicing something new:
Not pushing buttons.
Not forcing conversations.
Not searching for meaning where there may be none.

Just staying present.

Why This Trip to the Philippines Matters

I’m really looking forward to my upcoming trip to the Philippines. Not as a vacation with expectations, but as a healing journey.

Yes, I could go to Boracay.
Yes, I could go to Palawan.

But right now, what I want most is peace and quiet.

Time with my mom.
Time to garden.
Time to plant seeds — literally and figuratively.
Time to focus on becoming a better version of myself.

Healing doesn’t always look exciting. Sometimes it looks slow, quiet, and deeply necessary.

Choosing Peace, One Small Moment at a Time

Today reminded me that joy doesn’t have to be grand.

Sometimes it’s:

• Homemade pizza
• A warm oven
• Laughter in the kitchen
• Letting thoughts pass without grabbing onto them

And choosing — again and again — to focus on what’s right in front of me.

Until Next Time

Two pizzas came out of the oven today:

• One veggie
• One Hawaiian

Both imperfect.
Both delicious.
Both made with intention.

Just like life.

Thank you for being here, for witnessing the ordinary moments, and for allowing me to share this journey with you.

Until next time —
Stay grounded.
Stay gentle.
And remember, it’s always a beautiful day to be gorgeous. 🌱✨