You are Loved

You are loved. You are loved. I repeat You are loved. If you think no one cares for you, no one loves you or that you are unworthy, say this over and over again: You are loved. This really hits close to home for me. Oftentimes, I deal with a lot of insecurities. Isn't it common nowadays? Feeling of unworthiness creeps in. It's poisonous. It tears your soul apart. It cripples you. You lose your confidence. You question yourself. 

This statement could never be far from the Truth. This is a good daily reminder to not be too hard on yourself. It's okay to love yourself. I think, you must love yourself (not in that I'm-better than-anyone-else kind of way, you know what I mean). Your confidence should not come from the outside, from other people or what the world says but it should come from within. 

"I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3 There is that Ultimate Someone who loves you more than you'll ever know. You just have to know that kind of Love. Love like no other. Because it's fierce, it penetrates you, it makes you whole.  The kind of Love that money or materials things can't give. The kind of Love that can never taken from you. The ONLY Love who satisfies. 

You were created. You are loved.

Model: Allyson Sandoval

Location: Ampersand 

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We're Better Together, Forever, Always

Hello, friends!

Okay, so if you follow me on Instagram, you should know that I love coffee. My day is better when I at least have a cup of Joe. I prefer drinking mine in black with half a scoop of sugar at home and I always get a latte at any local coffee shop (gotta get that coffee art, ya know?). And don't you just love it when your mug greets you with a quirky or inspiring or motivational phrase? I feel like your coffee drinking is so much better.

The Created Co is a drink ware company that creates to inspire, connect and empower people because many of life's most beautiful moment occur alongside a drink. And I completely agree with that. They also believe that everyone is created with a purpose and are passionate about being a community that of people that yearns to live out what they're created to do. 

So a month ago, they reached out to me to do their seasonal campaign that they just released a week ago. You can see some of my product shots here.  This limited collection is a wonderful gift to someone or your partner, or your bestie especially this coming Valentine's day. 

Models: Bethany and Luke Knepper

Travel with Riva: Lake Tahoe

Hey, it's Sunday night and it's raining. I think it's the perfect time to reminisce our trip from Lake Tahoe (just saying that as an excuse cuz it took me two weeks to tackle them pictures. Baha) Two weeks ago, we made our drive up north to spend time with my family. My relatives from the Philippines were visiting so I invited ourselves to join. 

I dabbled on video recording. I am no expert, just playing and learning. You can see how beautiful Tahoe was that day. Just gorgeous.

Despite the doctor's order to rest up, I still went. And I have no regrets at all. I was on antibiotics anyway, and sinusitis is non viral! We stayed at a two-story house in Incline Village. It was actually our first time going there. We usually stay in South Lake Tahoe, so a change of scenery was definitely nice. We didn't really do anything crazy, just chilled, and relaxed. Card games and meds were our best buds. Oh I had a lot of first times here too! First time: sledding, building a snowman, drinking hot cocoa in the snow, and first time playing the Scrabble card game. 

iPhone 6s photos:

OH and driving back home for 6.5 hours. Yes, it was snowing so heavily on our last day. It was the most dangerous yet beautiful ride I've never been on. If you know what driving with chains means, then you know it's no fun. 30 mph on the freeway, people. Better safe than sorry. If you follow me on Instagram, you can see some photos from this trip, just check #travelwithriva. So bummed, I wanted to post some of clips from Snapchat but I have to upload them on Youtube first. :/ 

I seriously want to go back this summer. I've never actually been in Tahoe during summer. I bet it's still gorgeous. So hoping to make another trip this June. 

Talk soon!

Riva