Return Flight: Back to Blogging



 Aaaaand she's back! 

After an almost three-year hiatus, I'm thrilled to write here again. I actually forgot about this. For the longest time, I believed I had writer's block and completely lost the motivation to write. I became exhausted from writing for a living during my time at a publishing company. No hate towards that profession—it's just not for me anymore. I truly admire those who are genuinely passionate about it and do it full-time. It's hard work, but it becomes easier when it's your passion. I found myself creatively drained so I transitioned to a tech company and am now working as a linguist. Going back, the past years were filled with so much joy that I simply didn't find the time to write. I've realized that happiness doesn't really drive me to publicly put pen to paper. It might sound dramatic, but I find that writing here offers me a sense of healing. So, I'm giving this a chance.

The Right Way To Hate Monday


I used to hate Mondays. Trust me, I hated it so much that I think it dislikes me too. Well, I'm not saying this because social media said so but because that's just how I felt when I have to wake up so early in the morning after a good weekend. Actually, I sometimes start dreading it on Sunday nights 'cause that's like "Monday eve" y'know. I know you can relate to this. 

What Makes a Good Life?


“If you were going to invest now in your future best self, where would you put your time and your energy?” 


It will be a total lie if you say you’ve never worried about the future. I mean, who hasn't? Fear is part of life’s blueprint. It’s either you walk the path and work it out, or downright quit and exit. These choices truly affect the quality of life that we make.


About two weeks ago, I watched a talk about making a “good life”. Yep, Ted talks are my versions of self-help books. Anyway, it makes me wonder how other people perceive a good, happy, and healthy life. Growing up, we probably have heard enough of the importance of working hard and earning hard to be able to get a good life.

Weekend Attempts: Making Easy UBE Halaya (Purple Yam Jam) With Just Five Ingredients

 I finally got some UBE FIX after months of waiting. I always look for Ube or Purple Yam whenever my mom and I go to the market but I usually don't see anyone selling it. Yesterday, I saw someone post about it on Facebook so I ordered instantly. It was so funny because after ordering it, my mom and I went to the market and found people selling Ube for a lower price. Ugh hahaha! But yeah, I'm so glad I got to make my favorite Ube jam/halaya last Saturday.

2020 Struggles + New Year's Resolution


Happy New Year, Everyone! 2020 has been a crazy ride. Despite the challenges we are facing because of the pandemic, I also had some personal ones I needed to work and focus on in the past few months. 


I just want to be honest here on my blog. I struggled with the other side of weight management. People always talk about the struggles of losing weight, but the problems of gaining weight or being underweight aren't always discussed in the media. Some may even say "sana all" but that's not always the case. What I experienced helped me get to know myself more and made me realize that you really have to put in the effort if you want to reach your goals. 

5 Important Lessons That I Learned Last Month

We are already halfway through November but today, I'd just like to share some things that I realized last month. I was supposed to do a blogtober but my work got the best of me and I missed it. As a writer and as part of a creative team, last month was way too much of a creative juice. I felt almost mentally drained that writing on my own space would feel a little dragging. It's weird and ironic because right now, as I write this, I feel like I wanna share so much of my life lately. Have you ever felt that way?




Going Natural: Here's Cream Silk's New Rich Organic Powerfusion Ultra Conditioner (Review)



Cream Silk has always been a part of every Filipino home. Whether you have dry, frizzy, or damaged hair, Cream Silk has you covered. Growing up, I always just switch between the blue and pink ones which are for hair fall and damage control. I can say that this brand is truly the #1 when it comes to hair conditioning. 

What Going Vegan for a Month Did to My Hair (A Review)



First things first: I'm not on a vegan diet. 


I don't intend to try it anytime soon but I went vegan in terms of the shampoo and conditioner that I use. I was sent these products just about a month ago and I thought, why not give it a shot? For the first half of quarantine season, I've been using a keratin shampoo and it's also worked wonders on my hair. However, my hair could be a little oily and the product didn't really solve the problem for me.

Love Beauty and Planet just released its Clean Oceans Range line of products. They claim their products to be certified vegan and cruelty-free, with zero silicones, dyes, parabens, or colorants. The brand also infuses fast-rinse technology into their conditioners, which means that it will break down and wash off faster, leading you to use less water in the shower. Is this true? READ ON!

10 Random Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Me



When this year has started, I told myself I would try to be more active on my blog. Well, I tell that to myself all the time. Little did I know, 2020 is not gonna turn out the way I thought it would. I got busy (of work) and I ended up writing for others more than writing on my own personal space. (Well yeah coz that's my job oops)

I always write my blog posts based on personal experiences. So, if you'll try and read from my 2012 posts, you probably have an idea of who I am. I started this blog not to be popular but to have a personal space on the web that can also serve as my digital journal — something I can read in the future or share with my future cute little kiddos.

What's On My Mind






Hi, everyone! It's me again, and I've really missed writing on my blog. I haven't had the chance to really post about any of my experiences for the past months, but believe it or not, a lot of things happened. I actually drafted a whole blog post about a life update but it now feels very irrelevant since I wrote that 2 months ago pa.


Situations here and there have escalated so quickly. We started the year here in the Philippines with an erupting volcano and now we have this spreading disease. This pandemic really brought a heavy toll on us. I know it goes for every country but I guess I can only speak about the things we're experiencing here in my own.

Life After The Mission

Woah, I miss my blog. It’s been three months since I got home from my mission and it’s amazing to think how a lot of things have already happened. Well, missing the mission life is inevitable but I can see how it changed the way I am and how I view things. Actually, no drastic changes. Everything just got better. It all goes down to how I react or respond to situations and challenges.

From TH 🇹🇭 to PH 🇵🇭



Hi, everyone! 

Guess what? It's me, Sister Gagarin Jasmine! 555 I've been home for about two weeks now and it's been fun. There hasn't been a day in the past two weeks that I have not missed Thailand or the mission. Before, it was hard to think of myself not being in Thailand - not wearing my badge and not being with another sister as my companion 24/7. My last Sunday in the mission was awesome and I felt like everything was right. I was excited to go home and be with my family! I know that I gave my best effort and I was so grateful for all the help the Lord has given me in this work.

Thailand Bangkok Mission

Who would've thought that 18 months would be that fast? This week was a lot of work! ต้องทำให้มากตลอด I'll say it's so ดีมากๆ it's such a good week and a great way to end a transfer and to end a full time mission! I am so happy and excited and also, kind of sad to leave Thailand tomorrow. 

The past 2 weeks have been sooo wonderful. I am just genuinely so happy about the work and for all the people we are teaching. They are amazing and it would be hard to leave them but I know that the Lord's work will continue and His trusted servants would help the people of Thailand ต่อไป. I'm blessed for this opportunity โอกาส to serve them too! 

18 months and Beyond!!!


HI EVERYONE!!! SUCH A GREAT WEEK HUH?


Yesss! It felt really fast. Our week was so packed and I just want to say I missed my companion a lot! 555 After Tuesday, we were with other sisters because of Switchoffs! We only planned to switch off/exchange companions for Thursday and Saturday but was asked to kind of "surprise switch off" with some sisters. 

My companion just did her Visa work in the morning and switched off that day too and is so down to travel at night. 

18 MONTH MARK this week!!!!



สวัสดีจร้าาา Hi!!!

It's been raining a lot here in Bangkok and I like it! เย็นๆดี 

We worked and had service this morning that's why I'm emailing just now!!! This afternoon, we watched Jensen play the piano for free 555 because he plays in concerts, apparently. Like recitals... We just met him yesterday and he's really nice!!! We went with the international sisters

This morning we helped sister Bee pack her stuff and carry it to the post office. I'm going to miss her so much!!!!  she's moving to Chiang Rai so I won't be seeing her for the next few weeks BUT we'll videocall!!!! 

MRT MIRACLESSS



Hello everyone!

Wasn't able to email last week but hey, I'm still here!

It was a really great week! BYU Vocal Point was in Thailand and had a benefit concert and devotional which we were all able to attend to. (brought our Rcs and Investigators with us) The concert last Friday was so fun. It was kind of weird to be there after a year and a half of being a missionary Haha their devotional yesterday plus their testimonies were spirit-filled and so inspiring!  I just love their voices

Last Transfer



Hi everyone!

Long week!!!

Okrey... So Monday was about Dialogue in the dark! It was such an eye opener to me! We went to an hour long exhibition to experience how to live blindly. We were put into a dark room and passed through different settings with a blind guy guiding us. He was so good. It was way hard but the guide was experienced. Learned a lot from him and the experience.

We switched off in Thonburi last Wednesday and I just looooove their area so much. It's like a perfect mix of rural and Urban. Glad to have helped and learned from their area. It was our last companion exchange this transfer. Switch offs with sisters are always fun! We get to learn from these amazing sisters and they help us in our area too.

ลินดา​ Linda and Miracle เมย์​ May

Awesome week! The past week was nothing sort of awesooooome, it was way faaaaast. I only notice that it's way fast at the end of the week though 555 

Switch off last Wednesday was really fun! I was with Sister Lobos(from Quezon province). It was great working, finding, and teaching with her. We taught this Filipina fruit vendor 🍉🍏🍍🍎 I was so excited for that day because we can teach her together! Taught her about eternal families. I'll say it was one of my favorite days in my mission - teaching and testifying in Tagalog!!! 💚 She's not really progressing though we're really trying to help her. That day. We found some interested people. Sister Lobos is a great missionary and I'm so excited for her!

Wednesday was a great day for Sister Harris and I. So, we're trying to invite atleast 20 ppl a day. But last Wednesday, we hit our goal of inviting 60 people!!! Yay! We've been seeing more miracles as we talk with more people. Sometimes, it's hard to talk with everyone but honestly, we'll never know who is prepared for the gospel unless we talk with everyone. It's such a great commitment from our district/zone and also, from President Ballard.

Which reminds me... He's coming here next week! Wayyyy exciting!

Last Saturday, Linda got interviewed for her baptism. ❤️ And she passed!!! I'm so happy for her! Even before she learned with us, she was already sharing the gospel. She's been a Christian all her life and when she started coming to church, she started studying on her own and knew that this is the true church! =) I love how she talks about Joseph Smith and how great he is. Linda is so prepared. I remember she's quite cold to me when we first met her! Hahaha pero parang nakulitan! 555 I love her! When we gave her the baptismal invitation 3 weeks ago, she started really progressing and I saw how she changed and how happier she is too!!! 💚

Thursday was so fun! At the end of the day, we set up a booth/stand to promote our English Class. We had all things set up from pamphlets to our Line QR codes flyers 😂 we set it up at an Mrt station then Sister Harris and I moved to Din Daeng and invited there too! Honestly, that was way effective, you just got to pick the right spot. We got a ton of English students from that. Saw them last Saturday! I'll attach here some photos from that. ❤
Had to wake up really early for Thursday too since we went and renewed my Visa. It was such a fun day to see my MTC batch! Aaah I missed everyone and I'm so proud of them too! Had to wake up at 3:30am for that 😂🙏🏻

Sooooo how are you all doing?

This week, in my studies, I was reading in the New Testament and I loved a verse from Matthew 13 and it sayssss

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

There were many instances of God's healing power in the New Testament including healing the blind and also the lady with issue of blood. Their faith were enough to receive this healing. I will always be amazed by how much love the Lord has for us. If we will just humble ourselves enough before Him, we will receive a greater sense of healing - not just physically but spiritually too. We live in a world where sometimes, it's hard to see and know what's right and hear the still small voice of the spirit. But there's a promise that if we will keep the commandments and follow Jesus Christ, we'll have the miracle of eyes that see what is worth seeing and ears that hear what is worth hearing. 👂👀💖

Right? So, in line with that, we are going to visit a science museum today called Dialogue in the Dark where you'll learn how blind people live. I think it'll be an incredible experience to understand them more and minister to them more. I'll say it's going to be an eye opening experience where we'll walk by faith and not by sight. Hehe 😍❤


LOVE you all! Cant believe that this week is the last full week of the transfer!

ซิสเตอร์กาการิน


Switch offs with Sister Lobos

Butter Toast is my lyf

Laotian girls ❤

Awesome Linda






switchoffs in Asoke

สวัสดี​จ้า​าาา

How's everyone doing? 👋🏻 I'm feeling so much better now! Goodbye sakit! 😊

This week was great. We found some cool people and we are so excited to teach them ต่อไป​❤️ The people that we are teaching right now are progressing more which is so exciting!!! Loooveeee them!

Last Monday, we met some Filipinos at the MRT. They were in Thailand for a few days for Family Search and after Monday, I saw them at the Asoke Church every day 555 (because we taught at the โบสถ์​ everyday this week! 💜)

Also, I was with Sister Fukofuka last Wednesday for switch offs. She is the funniest! She made switchoffs more fun and I love how she talks with everyone ❤️ one funny thing is that she knows the song "Dahil Mahal Kita" because she used to watch Pinoy Series 😅 Friday, I switched off with Sister Chipman. She's a transfer ahead of me but we were together in The MTC! Can't believe she's going home after this transfer. She's such a great missionary and I love how she always teaches from the heart. The switch offs started a lil late since we needed to send Sister Saengchai to Suvarnabhumi airport. She's going to the Provo MTC. Picked her up at the airport the night before and thus, we were kind of sleep deprived. Surprisingly, I didn't feel too tired at all. 😅❤

This week was way fast. More meaningful activities every passing day! Last Saturday, we met someone who had a loooot of questions about life. Like, Why are we here? And where are we going??? We shared our extra special message with her and she accepted the invitation to be baptized. She's awesome.

Such simple questions help us solidify our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Do we really know where we are going? Or Do we really know we are are? I know that Heavenly Father has given us a perfect plan to follow. I'm so grateful for that. Sometimes we forget about eternity. Yes, may forever! 😅 And we're lucky enough not to spend it alone but we can be with our families. I know that through our Savior Jesus Christ we can grow, improve, and walk the path back to our true home!

LOVE you all! And to all the mothers out there, Happy Mother's day. You are all legends! ❤


ซิสเตอร์กาการิน


Video: sending Cherry!
Plus practicing departure at Suvarnabhumi Airport Lol just kidding

Send off party for PLOY. I'll miss herrrrrrrr

Investiesssss

Filipinos at the Mrt! They are so niceeeee