Let's Get Physical (Best Effort So Far..)

Alright, folks, let’s talk about two things I never thought I’d say about myself: I ran 5 kilometers, and I walked 6 kilometers without whining (😛). That’s right, I’ve hit some pretty cool fitness milestones, and I’m here to humblebrag about them!

5K Run: Who Even Am I?
If you’ve been keeping up with my fitness journey, you know I once declared running a no-go thanks to my herniated disk and, well, laziness. But look at me now, 5.01 kilometers in 46 minutes and 24 seconds with a 9:15/km pace! Sure, Usain Bolt isn’t losing sleep over my stats, but hey, this is huge for me.

The best part? I didn’t die. My feet kept moving, my breathing didn’t betray me, and before I knew it, BAM, 5 kilometers. I asked my husband to record a video of me running so I can see how I actually look with my T-Rex arms and stout legs.  We’ll do it tomorrow! (UPDATE: We didn't do it. :))

6K Walk: The Longest Stroll of My Life
Walking has always been my thing. It’s like the non-committal cousin of running, no pressure, just vibes, especially when I cue up my favorite Jennifer Love Hewitt songs! Recently, I set out to beat my personal record and ended up walking 6.01 kilometers in a little over an hour. 

This wasn’t a power walk to the grocery store. Oh no. This was a full-on “admire the trees, soak up the sun, and occasionally curse the slight incline and pebbles” type of walk. I even took time to reflect on life because, you know, why not get philosophical while crushing your longest distance ever? 😁

(Update: 8.06k is my longest walk - Dec. 14, 2024)

I'm never taking my Strava photos like this! 

If I could go back in time and tell my 86-kilo, herniated-disked self that I’d be running and walking like this in my 40s, she’d laugh in my face (and then eat 3 slices of cake). But, here I am.

Remember my husband’s advice from my birthday? The whole “pretend you’re still in your 30s” mindset? Turns out, it’s working. I may not have the knees of a 20-something anymore, but my attitude? That’s staying young forever, mother effers!

What’s Next? I thought about joining a 10k run, but I know I am NOT ready for that yet. So for now, I’m just enjoying the feeling after every run and walk. It's that post-run/walk high that makes it all worth it!

To anyone out there thinking about starting their own fitness journey, let me tell you: IT'S WORTH IT! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to eating my reward, which is that!

Enjoy your weekend, guys! 'Til next blog! 💛

Review: Pamahaw Cafe, & My First Reel (s)

Is it reel or reels? Not sure, I just used "reel" since I made only one. 😁

On to my review for Pamahaw Cafe Cebu. My husband and I had one of those mornings where we woke up hungry, hopped on the motorcycle, and let it lead us to wherever looked good, which turned out to be here! 🤷

The Place: 8/10

The vibe was nice, but the chairs and tables are a bit small and not super comfortable.

The Service: 10/10

Service was fantastic. Our order came quickly, and the staff was friendly and attentive.

The Food: 6/10

We only tried two items, Longganisa and Tocino, both around Php 290. Honestly, I think they could find a better supplier for the Longganisa. I’ve had tastier versions in small carenderias for way less! Same with the fried rice, I’ve had better at other spots. And also, they didn't have sili! Other dishes I spotted looked pretty good, though.

Overall, I’d still recommend giving it a try, and maybe ordering something different. 

Anyway, I just wanted to share my very first reel! I made this when my husband, cousin, and I went out to celebrate my cousin's birthday. I was the designated driver, so I had a front-row seat to capture all the fun. IT WAS FUUUUNNNN!!! And yes, it took me a bit to put together, but honestly, it wasn’t as hard as I expected. Here it is:

Alright! That's it for this one. 'Til next blog! 💛

Dumaguete Trip with the Ghorls

So, last weekend, I finally went on a much-awaited trip to Dumaguete with my ghorls Irene, Lei, and James. You guys, this trip has been two years in the making, no joke. Being the only married one in the squad, I guess my availability was always the key issue. But the stars finally aligned when my hubby had his two-night team-building trip. That was my cue to pack up and head off for some much-needed friend time!

Dumaguete isn’t just any place for me. I spent 4-5 years of my life there for college at SU. I LOVE THAT CITY. It’s where I made some of the best memories, learned some life skills (like how to drink, smoke a cigar, and, well, there was that one time with weed). No regrets, it was fun! It’s also where I met some of my lifelong friends and learned to fend for myself. No parents around, just us figuring life out together.  Oh, and it’s also where I realized that mestizos are hot, but band boys? Definitely hotter. You get the vibe, right? 😁

Anyway, Dumaguete wouldn’t be complete without seeing my dear, dear friend April. She lives there now, and catching up with her was an absolute must. April and I go way back to my early days working at my first BPO job in the mid 2000s. She’s one of the very few people I still meet regularly to chat about life. So, needless to say, I was buzzing with excitement for this trip.

The only downside of this trip? No hubby. But hey, it’s a girl’s weekend, and sometimes you just need that break.

And now, without further ado, here’s a play-by-play of our Dumaguete adventures through photos! Warning: most are food pics! 😝

Bus Ride - I slept the whole time!

Our first stop after checking in was Sans Rival. I had their BLT sandwich, along with a Walnut and Dates cake and a cup of brewed coffee.

Buko Juice in Hayahay is only Php60. 

Boulevard: I threw out the idea of getting tattoos while we’re here, and everyone was on board! 

Dinner and drinks at La Mensa. I loooove this place! It's silent.

La Mensa - Tocino (Starving)

La Mensa - Mango Daiquiris

La Mensa - Irene, April, Me, and Lei! At this point (9pm-10pm), the Tettas are sleepy. Thanks, Lei, for the pic! Also, I loooove my husband's Nate Diaz (I'm a fan!) tee, it's practically mine!

2nd Day - Breakfast at Crispy King. This was super cheap and delish!

Descansa Resto and Cafe (Dauin) - We stayed here until around 2 PM, and it was so peaceful. The beach was amazing, but unfortunately, the food didn’t live up to expectations. The service was slow too. We think the place was just a little too chill, same goes for the staff! :) We didn't mind because we love the place so much!

Descansa Resto and Cafe (Dauin) - I totally forgot to snap a picture of the Pulled Pork Sandwich I had for lunch, probably because it was pretty forgettable. On the bright side, lansones (Thanks, James)!

Here are my new tats! The "groovy" design is totally me - CHAR (got it from Pinterest), and I’ve always wanted something for luck so I finally got a clover tattoo!

Their shop is called Black Rose Tattoo and is located at the Twin Arcade Bldg. The artist's FB page is called BINHI. What’s awesome is that you can share your concept or ideas with him, and he’ll create a custom design based on what you want. If you're interested, you can reach him at +639157924241. Thanks, Lei, for the video!

The Henry Hotel - It’s peaceful, quiet, and surrounded by lots of trees and greenery.

The Henry Hotel - Ha! Irene and I rarely take photos of ourselves, so big thanks to Lei for capturing this moment!

The Henry Hotel - Family dinner! April, Lei, Me, Irene, James, and James' friend, Ed. Sad that our vacay is almost over at this point! Thanks for the pic, Lei!

The Henry Hotel (Popolo Pizzeria- Panino Alla Pollo) - Man.. This thing is HUGE and I love it! I've already eaten the biggest portion when I remembered to take a snap. The hot sauce was the bomb!

After devouring this, I also had Cassava Cake and coffee.

During dinner, we talked about heading to the boulevard to do the famous tempura and balut Dumaguete experience, but we were all so sleepy that we decided to just head back to the hotel instead. It was only around 10 PM. 😄

Final stop before heading back to Cebu: Sans Rival. I was really excited for the Baby Back Ribs, but they were only serving breakfast, so I was a bit disappointed. Ended up ordering the Pancake Breakfast Meal and the Cheesy Lasagna. The pancakes were a little dry, but the lasagna was absolutely delish!

And just like that, our Dumaguete trip has come to an end. It was everything I hoped for, fun, nostalgic, peaceful, and filled with delicious food! The wild “walwal” plans may have been skipped (because, well, we're not as young as we used to be), but honestly, it didn’t matter. Some places and friendships are just timeless, and Dumaguete will always hold a special place in my heart. 💛

Thank you so much to my dear dear (because 1 dear is not enough!) friend April for being with us and for being our compass! I MISS YOU!!!

September Recap

September just came to a close, and I couldn't be happier about it. I've always followed my annual horoscope, and last year, I knew September was going to be shitty for me, but it turned out to be even worse than expected. I felt a bit burnt out at work, which was terrible timing since I had so much on my plate! Normally, I'm used to working nonstop from 8 to 5, but this was a whole different level of exhaustion. To make matters worse, I had to tackle all the tasks on my to-do list from the end of August because that's when everything started to go awry. You can definitely tell this Tetta (auntie) is feeling pretty worn out! As I said, I'm so relieved it's over. Now, I'm ready to embrace October with open arms. There's always a sense of relief when a new month begins, a fresh start. I've managed to catch up on things I was supposed to do last month, and I'm giving myself a pat on the back for that. Also, just to clarify, I work for a company and have a boss who truly respects work-life balance, so I haven't had any take-home work.

Obviously, I haven't had much time to blog lately. What I've been doing during my free time is spending quality moments with my husband. I also juggle running, walking, and Zumba sessions with my neighbors every Tuesday and Thursday. So, consider this a laid-back update where I'm just sharing some of the photos I've taken. By the way, my new phone is AMAZING, and I now weigh 70 kg (I've lost 4 kg)! So, despite everything, I still feel incredibly blessed. I've always been lucky and grateful. Speaking of blessings, MY HUSBAND IS THE BEST. Seriously, I don't know what I'd do without him! 

Okay, here are some pics and videos I captured last month.

RANDOM PICS:

I absolutely loved this, but I'm glad it's finally gone! It was the downfall of my diet!

The entrance to the neighborhood. Nice, right?

We don't eat carbs! 🤣

Time to put these back into their boxes! Do you guys also do that?

My Zumba ladies! Look, if I can be even half as vibrant as these women when I reach their age, I’ll be happy!

RIDE TO BALAMBAN (Zero Visibility):

Look at that happy face! He's thrilled he got the Zero Visibility stuff.

With our cousin, Tit. We had to snap this picture as proof that we took this route to Balamban.

Here we are! 12 years together with my bestest friend! Look at that fog..

TOPS:

We went there at around 3am so imagine looking at the city lights, with the cool breeze, no crowd, and with the Tweetweet! One of the best!

Not really the best photo but this shows my jawline. Enough said! 😁

Alright! That's all for today. 'Til next blog! 💛

Review: Seargao Seaview Cafe

Yesterday, my husband and I went to short drive to Argao for the christening of Amor and Ian’s adorable daughter, Pau-pau. Ian is one of my husband’s closest friends from college, and every time they reconnect, it’s like watching him light up with memories and joy. I always enjoy these moments when he gets to reminisce about his past, it’s like seeing a different side of him, full of youthful energy. Also, it doesn't hurt that Amor and Ian’s girls were beyond adorable. Aberdeen, their older daughter, was glued to her phone. I honestly couldn’t stop smiling at how seriously she was into it. Oh, and the food? DELISH. Filipino parties always know how to hit the spot.

Fast forward to the drive home, and we were both feeling the post-lunch sleepies so we needed a caffeine fix ASAP. Enter Seargao Seaview Café, a total accidental discovery that turned into a highlight of our day. We rolled in expecting a quick coffee, but wow, did we luck out!  Surrounded by lush trees and overlooking the sea, it was exactly what we needed for a quick break. We chose to sit outside, close to nature, where the soft breeze and the scent of the ocean and leaves made the experience even more peaceful. It was total zen vibes.

Here’s my review:

The Place: 10/10
Green, clean, and silent. What more could you want?

The Service: 10/10
The waiter deserves an award. I casually mentioned I was parched, and the dude brought me an entire pitcher of water. Like, yes please! Talk about above-and-beyond service.

The Drinks: 10/10
We had Mango Graham Shake, Iced Tea, and Caramel Macchiato that had a surprise touch of cinnamon (which I looovee on coffee). All were delish. I may or may not have been eyeing their food menu, and trust me, we are coming back for that!

Here are our pics (warning, there's a lot!)

So what started as a quick trip for a christening turned into a day full of adorable kiddos, amazing food, and a new favorite café by the sea. It’s days like this that remind me how much fun it is to just go with the flow and that coffee by the ocean with the hubs is the best kind of reset. 

'Til next blog! 💛

What's In My Office Bag (char!)

It took me forever to finally hit 'publish' because, honestly, the 41-year-old me cringed a little at the thought. But here I am, putting it out there anyway. So, here it goes:

2010 Bag (Nine West Tote):

• Yellow Wallet
• Efficascent oil
• Phone
• Keys
• Nescafe
• Eyeglasses
• Maybelline foundation
• Hair brush
• Avon Lipstick (golden wine ultra rich moisture 24k Gold lipstick)
• Bedazzled perfume from Beauty control
• VS Lotion (pear glace)
• Versace bright crystal perfume
• ID
• Red Clamp

2024 Bag/s (Herschel Backpack/Adidas Shoe Bag)

I never owned a huge backpack, just those cutesy ones that can't even hold an A5 notebook, until two years ago. I used to totally overlook how convenient they are, but now I’m obsessed! They’ve become my everyday go-to bag!

The Adidas bag is for my walking shoes and gym clothes, usually a pair of stretchy leggings and one of my husband's basketball jerseys. I hit the treadmill almost every day at the office.

My main bag contains the following:

• Laptop, Smiley mousepad, mouse
• Hair Brush
• Make-up (6 lipsticks on rotation and mascara)
• Planner and Notebook
• Pen Pouch (Pens and Highlighters)
• Big Pouch (contents and pic below)
• Pair of Eyeglasses
• My perfume at the moment (Elizabeth Arden - Sunflowers)
• Dry Shampoo from Bench

Big Pouch: 

• Purple Mirror
• Ear Pods from Miniso (cheap and good enough!)
• Alcohol/Sanitizer
• Face Powder (My foundation era didn't last long.)
• Ever Bilena Cheek Stain
• Yves Rocher Hair Something (I use it for just its smell because according to Gabriel Solis, you don't want your hair smelling like hair! hahaha) 
• Wallet
• Floss
• Vicks Inhaler (even when I don't have clogged nose)
• Lipstick, Lip Balm, and yet another lipstick (why??)
• Vaporine (super duper fave)
• Charger cords (phone, mouse, watch)
• Car Keys

And that’s the scoop on what’s stashed in my bag, from everyday must-haves to those quirky little extras. I hope you enjoyed this little peek into my everyday life. 

What about you? What’s in your bag that you can’t live without? Let’s chat in the comments. I’m always curious to see what everyone else is toting around!

Thanks for tagging along! 'Til next blog! 💛

My Birthday!

 This year, I decided to take a little break for my birthday, and boy, did it turn into a celebration to remember! 

The day before my vacation, I was thinking I'd have a quiet day (admin tasks and BCP stuff while I'm away), but my amazing team had other plans. They surprised me on the 9th with a mini party! I was so touched that they went out of their way to make me feel special. Seriously, how lucky am I to have such an awesome crew? 

On the actual day, I kicked things off with a little “me time”, an early morning 5km walk around the neighborhood. I stopped under the trees to take a deep breath, soak in the fresh air, and truly live in the moment. Recently, I've been hearing about people I know, my age, who have passed away, and it's been hard to process. It’s a stark reminder of how short life really is. I shared this with my husband, and his advice was to stop thinking about being in my 40s and instead embrace the mindset that I'm still in my 30s. You know what? That actually makes sense! 😀

And then…lunch time! My husband and I hit up our usual birthday buffet spot because birthday promos are the absolute best! Of course, they gave me this free birthday cake. 

Anddd.. this is everything I ate. Normally, I'm not the type to snap food pics, but hey, it's my birthday, so I made an exception!

After lunch, we hit the mall and bought a gift for myself. We capped off the day with a cozy cup of Nescafe stick with Bearbrand Swak at Shell Robinsons Galleria. Who needs fancy lattes when you’ve got good old instant coffee and your sweetheart? 🤣

The next day was all about family. I hopped on Messenger to chat with my mum and siblings, and we laughed so hard my non-existent abs almost made a comeback!

And, that was it! Now, I’m ready to tackle the year ahead, armed with solid plan to make cardio as exciting as birthday promos (NOT!). Wish me luck!

And of course, I’ve got to give a huge shoutout to my dear husband. He made my birthday extra special and, let’s be real, for just putting up with my shenanigans. Tweetweet, thank you for always making me feel like the luckiest person alive. You’re the best part of every day, whether there’s cake involved or not! LABYU KAAYO!!!

'Til next time! 💛