I’ve been looking for alternative places to work (because second wave coffee shops are too mainstream and crowded) and I was lucky enough to stumble upon this quaint little cafe a few weeks ago near my place.
Mrs. Graham’s Cafe is a macaron cafe located at the Scout area near Tomas Morato. They serve not only macarons but coffee and tea beverages, as well as other sweets.
I needed my caffeine fix that day (because all of my priorities collided, I cry) so I had an iced latte and some macarons with mom (she had tea). They’re not too sweet and I love the variety of flavors! I’ve yet to try the Bibingka with Salted Egg.
Aside from the good food and A+ interiors, what I like about this place is how the sunlight creeps in beautifully through their window. It’s the perfect place to spend quiet afternoons alone or with friends.
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It is October 23 and I am in a process of radical clearing of my space to make way for a transformation in how I relate with the world. Sorting through papers I’ve come across a mastermind update from a year ago. At that time I was working at a relative new job (at the nursing home), deep diving into the Enneagram, and had just finished a course called Shine Your Light. I was booked in for the SXS* Sculpture in Public Space conference, focused on my vision of creating Cloudscape. I was working on a new blog post, and in the process of making a video.
One year later and things have shifted significantly. The biggest shift has been taking my business concept and putting it ‘out to market’ by actually running a market stall to promote and sell the rings. Most significant from this has been that I am actually selling the rings. This year has really been focused on bringing the Circles of Life rings ‘to life’. They are evolving. My first ring sold on Saturday was ‘evolve’ to a lovely boy from Joey’s soccer team.
So Cloudscape has been shifted into the background for now, and I am fully focused of making the Circles of Life rings a profitable venture that brings lots of joy, connection and clarity to lots of people. I’m still doing courses. This time I have just officially finished a course called Feminine Power, which has been quite a wonderful and transformative experience (which I am still in the middle of) and I have just started a course called The Copy Cure – to help me with my writing which is about right where I’m up to right now.
I have taken a big leap of faith by asking for nine weeks of leave from my regular job over the Christmas school holidays, to focus both on being with Joey and launching my business. WORDS|CIRCLES|LIFE is my means of finding focus and purpose and evolving myself.
completed small business course component for writing my business plan and creating financial tables
created a ring display unit and stock box that was intended for set-up in shops but has now been used at my market stall setup.
Words | Circles | Life is my business. It’s overarching vision encompasses writing, creation, spirit and human relations. Under the umbrella of WORDS|CIRCLES|LIFE I am creating Circles of Life rings and other creations, including Cloudscape. I am exploring through writing, and words, and circles, and life. Over 20 years of studying and practicing aikido has had me embody the circular nature of life. I am fascinated by sacred circles, and inspired by the purity, clarity and perfection of the circle, and the sense of wholeness that it implies, and how it can be used as a tool for understanding life.
Clear expression is a dream of mine, and one that I have struggled with, having lived in an almost permanent state of confusion and uncertainty that inspired me to explore and study, but robbed me of my acceptance with the simplicity of what is, in this moment. I love that the rings are such a simple and pure form of self expression.
Given that the rings are a perfect present to give to others for Christmas, and to yourself for the new year, I need to get moving on promoting the rings online. That is where I am currently up to.
Though the word I chose at the beginning of this year was ‘INSPIRED’, the word I have mostly enjoyed wearing has been ‘life’. In part this has been related to my focus on making the rings concept a reality, and a reminder that I am on a journey, which is changing and evolving.
I will post this now, along with the beautiful image of Joey, hiding behind spinning wheel of a rainbow umbrella.
This blog is part of my journey. It represents a shift for me toward expressing myself publicly and engaging with the world. I want others to know that they are not alone and to open up opportunities for connection.
I'm Charmaine Grace, writer, designer, creator. I'm exploring human existence in a search for meaning and purpose.