Recent Chapters & Reunion Roads: A Life Update and Central California Road Trip

It’s been a couple of months since my big Italian adventure, and life hasn’t slowed down one bit. Between baking classes, pop-up events, new hobbies, and a family road trip, I’ve kept myself busy in the best ways possible.

Hearst Castle, Casa Grande

🍞 Bread Baking Confidence Unlocked

Right after Italy, I wrapped up my bread baking class—and wow, what a ride. I learned so much that I’m no longer intimidated by bread at all. In fact, I love practicing it at home now. There’s something deeply satisfying about shaping dough, watching it rise, and pulling a fresh loaf from the oven. I’m proud of how far I’ve come with this skill, and it’s become a regular part of my kitchen rhythm.

🧁 Pop-Up Bake Shop Adventures Across the Bay

Summer was all about getting my bake shop out into the world. I participated on several pop-up events throughout the Bay Area, connecting with new communities and introducing more people to my baked goods. It was exciting, exhausting, and totally worth it. These events helped build visibility for my brand and reminded me why I love sharing food with others.

🌞 Summer Blues, But This Year Felt Different

Historically, summer gives me a mild case of the blues. I don’t usually travel internationally during this season—it’s pricier and more crowded—so I often feel like I’m not doing “enough.” But this year was different. Between my full-time job, baking experiments, and pop-up events, I stayed mentally and physically engaged. It felt good to be busy with things that mattered to me.

🧸 New Hobby Alert: POP MART Obsession

Okay, let’s talk about POP MART. Two of my best friends and my sister were already deep into the collection, but once I caught the bug… I was all in. Labubu became my main obsession—tracking them down, avoiding overpriced resellers, and falling in love with other IPs along the way. It’s wild how much time and energy this hobby has taken, but it’s also brought a lot of joy and excitement into my routine.

🍂 Fall Vibes and Cake Decorating Dreams

Fall is my favorite season, hands down. Between the holidays, cooler weather, and cheaper travel, it’s when I feel most alive. This semester, I’m diving into cake decorating at pastry school—and I’m loving it. It’s the class I’ve been waiting for. My only gripe? The pace is slower than I’d like, and I worry we won’t cover all the techniques I’m eager to learn.

🛑 Pressing Pause for Family and Travel

With my full-time job and pastry school in full swing, I’ve decided to pause pop-up events and custom orders for October and most of November. Why? Because we’ve got travel plans—and they’re special.

🚗 Family Road Trip to Central California

My brother flew in from the Philippines, and we wanted to show him around. Our original plan was a cruise (which I’ve never done), then it shifted to Hawaii (always a favorite). But after a family loss—my younger brother's partner’s mother passed—we pivoted to something simpler: a road trip to Central California.

Planning a trip for 15 people in a short time wasn’t easy, so we kept it local. We drove to the Central Coast, starting with Pismo Beach—a place I’d never visited despite living in California. It’s tucked awkwardly in the middle of the state, but the real highlight wasn’t the destination—it was being together. Central California gave us great weather: clear days, cool evenings, and sunshine that lingered longer than it should have-- like autumn haven't started.

🏡 Cozy Chaos and Family Bonding

The trip was short and sweet, just two nights. I joked with my siblings that our road trips are always too short to do much, so we’ve agreed: next time, three nights minimum. Still, being under one roof with everyone (minus the fur babies—our Airbnb had a no-pets policy 😔) was heartwarming. We laughed, we bonded, and genuinely enjoy each other’s company-- that we look forward to every family gathering. I don’t know how we got so lucky, but I’m grateful for it every day.