Solo

I spent Sat-Sun without my husband. His team is having a team building activity in Bohol, and if you know me, I never join those. I want my husband to really enjoy without thinking about me, especially after my stroke. I MISS HIM!!!!!

Right now, I'm in Kaayoo Cafe and it's so silent. I'm alone and not used to not having him to talk to about everything, or eavesdrop or just gossip!

This is what I'm having here.

I think this is the most post-stroke friendly food item they have. I was gonna go to Birdseed Breakfast Club but they open late and I’m hungry, so here I am. It's clean. It's silent. It's 8AM so that could be why. The embutido is not dry. I didn't eat the rice and just ate half the embutido and eggs.

Anyway, yesterday after driving my husband and his teammate to Pier 3, my team and I went to IT Park for karaoke. I was afraid I couldn’t handle the noise, especially the bass from the speakers. I was so hesitant to go in and was thinking of walking out the whole time, but I kept thinking about the quote that says not to avoid something just because you’re afraid. So I observed for a little while and actually began enjoying the noise.

My team is hilarious and I was trying so hard not to exert so much energy because I don’t want to go home with just 5% body battery left. I’m a changed person now. Before, I used to still do my long runs with just that much. Yeah, I did abuse my body, but definitely not anymore.

After that we went to Taoist Temple. I’ve been there probably almost 20 years ago. I forgot it had looooong stairs! We made it to the top but not without a few minutes' rest and my knees shaking. My gosh! I need to do an incline walk!

Thanks, Irish, for the photo!

After that I went to an empty and silent home. It's so different without my husband there. I watched some episodes of Desperate Housewives (which I’ve rewatched more than 10 times) and ate my leftover roasted chicken breast, kimchi, utan Bisaya, and lugaw. Had a looong sleep after that.

At around 3:30 AM this morning, I ate my pre-run oatmeal and a slice of wheat bread with peanut butter.

This is my run today!

There’s a running event in Ayala, so I had to park at the office. Sooo happy with my run. This is my longest, even pre-stroke, and I am not tired at all! I walked the first 10 minutes, jogged for 20, walked for 5, and jogged for 20 (repeated 2x).

After here, I’ll again go home to a silent home. Uli na, tweet! 😁

Update: Okay. So I didn't go home. I went grocery shopping for the prep meals. Happy Sunday! Now I'm home. Here's the pic I sent to my husband to show off!

'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! 💛

I Have No Title Idea (may be edited when I do)

--Shell Robinsons Mobility Station--

Man, they really need to update their Google directory information. They’re open 24 hours! Just Google "Shell Robinsons Mobility Station - Galleria Cebu City" and see for yourself.

One of the perks of my job now is understanding the importance of accurate information online. I’ve become quite tech-savvy (😜 -- NOT!). Speaking of work, it’s been a rough week, but before diving into that, I want to give a shoutout to this gas station because it's so clean! The restroom even smells like a spa. It's been my husband’s and my favorite spot since last year. Sometimes, when we wake up in the middle of the night due to our graveyard shift schedule, we head there for a very late-night or very early-morning "dinner." We just get two 3-in-1 coffees and a bag of chips, all for less than Php100. Talk about bang for your buck! Here are some of my other favorites:

Banana Custard - Php155, 3-n-1 Coffee - Php15. This used to look like the onset pic. Apologies for my photo editing skills! 

Pastry Sheet with Custard (not really its name) - Php145, Bearbrand Swak mixed with Nescafe stick - Php40.

Their prices have skyrocketed. Like their Chicken Turnover, it used to be less than Php150 and now it's almost Php200. It's delish though. 

So, ok. Balancing the company's needs with my team's has been like trying to juggle a dozen plates. It's challenging.  I've always understood this, but being in the thick of it is a whole different story. It's a constant dance between meeting deadlines, keeping spirits high, and ensuring everyone feels supported. They say not to take it personally, but when you care deeply about your team, it's tough not to. Right now, it just feels like my team is bearing the brunt of the negative aspects at work, which isn't fun for me as their leader. 

But here’s the thing: my team’s resilience is absolutely amazing! They always find reasons to laugh and celebrate, making work not just productive but downright fun! And there I am, in my corner, listening to them, waving my invisible pom-poms, and cheering them on like a proud leader, which I am.

Wow! I thought this was going to be a "rant" blog but somehow, I'm feeling inspired instead. I guess I don't really have a reason to rant after all. Tsk.

Anyway, here are some pics we took the past days during our meetings.

Email Training Project. Thanks to one of the trainers for this pic.

Weekly Sync. Thanks to one of the trainers for this pic. 

Okay, it's 7:46AM, it's a Saturday. I'm gonna go home now because the Bana's going to be home anytime soon. Always excited to spending quality time with him! 'Til next blog!

And Just Like That...

I AM NOW 40! Actually turning 41 this year but what's the difference, right? 😜 At this stage of life, I wear many hats. Each role brings its own joys and challenges, shaping who I am today.

As a Wife - I feel so lucky to have a husband who makes me laugh every day. Seriously! Can you imagine being with someone for over ten years and not sharing laughter? To this day, I think our wedding was the biggest challenge we faced as a couple. They say it can either make or break a relationship, and I'm proud to say ours made ours stronger!

with my husband and my fading blue lipstick

As a Daughter - My relationship with my parents has grown into a close friendship since I became an adult. Losing my father when I was 28 was the hardest moment of my life, and it took a long time to come to terms with it. Luckily, my mother is still with us, and she's the strongest person I know. My siblings and I all look up to her like a queen, and I've learned a lot about life from her.

taken 1m years ago

As an Auntie - Gosh, I looove my nieces and nephew. They're my children! 😍

As a Career Woman - Guiding my awesome team, watching them grow, and seeing the impact of all our efforts light me up. At 40, I've hit my stride professionally. Years of learning the ropes have made me resilient, adaptable, and hungry for more knowledge. I'm fortunate to be employed by a company that values maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal life.

celebrating Jim's birthday

So... Here I am, embracing the fabulous 40s with open arms and huge appetite! Life has its curveballs but with laughter, love, determination, and a whole lot of buffets, I've navigated through them all. I am thankful for the lessons learned, the bonds strengthened, and the adventures yet to come. BRING.IT.ON.