Fish Spa Video @ Manila Ocean Park

Fish Spa at Manila Ocean Park can be availed for Php120 per person, lasting for 15 minutes each.

Joel Disini says i.ph is shutting down soon

Peter and I were enjoying our time together one afternoon. While window shopping for kayaks and hobie cats somewhere here in Alabang, we saw Mr. Joel Disini, the man behind i.ph, shopping for a two-seater kayak.

This was the second time I met him in person. The first time was last year in Enchanted Kingdom. 

Peter and Mr. Joel Disini

Proactive Strategies for a Better Life

Have you been wanting to live a healthier and better life? I started it a few years ago when I practiced The Secret to manage my stress and live my dreams. I also went for a more vegetable-based diet and now, I am being more cautious about it by going alkaline --- no oil, no salt, limited sugar, no acid, and sometimes almost raw but frequently baked or grilled food.  I call it my sexynomnom diet. A diet like this makes me healthy and generally gives me more energy to do the things I want.

Another thing you can do to achieve a better quality of life is by becoming more proactive. Don't wait for something to happen before you react to it. Make things happen no matter how small.

I know that doing the right thing is usually hard. There are just so many temptations around and most of the time, it's easier to just succumb to your natural desires, proclivities and impulses. But if you are focused on what you want and you are committed to getting it, then nothing ought to stop you. 

Below are some of my personal strategies to help me keep on track.

Fight the urge to hibernate.

Whenever the yuletide season comes in, I'm always hit by the hibernation bug. I feel lazy, I like to sleep all day or watch DVDs... I basically like to hide in my cocoon and be as lazy as I can be [enter Bruno Mars The Lazy Song]. Maybe it's the cold weather (although lately it's more wet than the typical December cold).

But for someone who's a workaholic like me, being bitten by the hibernation bug is actually like being forced to a much-needed vacation. Perhaps, it's my body's way of saying that I need to rest and take a break.

However, as I am becoming more conscious of my health, I am no longer allowing that to happen. Being an Aquarian, I can be  quite extreme. I either sleep all week, or I don't sleep for a month at all! I can't do that anymore. I love myself too much to fall into that trap once again. Yes, I still do rest. I sleep 8 hours a day now and take catnaps when necessary but I don't do my usual hibernation mode anymore, nor do I plaster myself in front of my PC, slaving away all day. I need to be active. I want to be active. I have to be active.

And so, the moment I felt that the hibernation bug has bitten me (after sleeping for 8 hours, I still wanted to sleep for 8 more), I forced myself to get up and break out a bit from my usual routine (which is to make sure the house is orderly and clean, exercise, prepare a healthy meal of oatmeal with cinnamon, apple cubes and honey + Vita Plus vegetable drink, shower then work). Peter and I this time, went to the park again, jogged instead of walked, and played some badminton. (And once this rainy spell is over, I plan to take out my bike too.) 

Change in Lifestyle

 

It all started last weekend when Danes, Tina, Radz, Peter and I went to Lake Caliraya to windsurf our Sunday away. I forced my body to change its body clock which has forever been in U.S. time. It was successful! Well, sort of... I now sleep at around 6:30-7:00 pm and I wake up before 3 am. I'm slowly moving my sleeping time to 9:00 pm at the latest so I can wake up at 5:00 am. At least now, I'm awake during the day. Plus, I don't travel feeling zombified anymore. Yay!

For the first time, I was able to windsurf all the way to the middle and other end of Caliraya lake, for an hour, without rest!

Remember when I said that some things will have  to take a backseat as I change my lifestyle a little bit? I didn't mean to but it seems like my blogging has naturally been included in that list.

I now focus on things that make me happier and when I get tired, I rest. Blogging does make me happy but I can only do it  when I really have the extra time. I got a couple of posts to finish but I no longer stress about them. I've noticed that other things make me a lot happier now like:

Building a New Vision Board

As I was reviewing Jack Canfield's Success Principle #7, which I blogged about in KickingPinay.blogspot.com, Unleash the Power of Goal Setting, I took notice of my 12 year old vision board which I started building when I was just in college, the same time that I discovered Oprah. I actually first learned about this whole thing from her, and with the help of my course, AB Psychology, in Ateneo, I was on my way to healing my broken psyche and building wonderful dreams.

 my 12 year old vision board and my longtime mantra

Moving forward, it's been more than a decade and everything on that vision board has already come true as I mentioned in my previous post. Yet, it's still this particular vision board that greets me every time I enter my office.  It's located on a side wall, just above my computer, so it's really hard to miss. It's no wonder that I get more of the same every year and I'm not complaining.

However, perhaps it's about time that I make a new vision board with images of things, places, situations that I want to come true / I want to go to / I want to have.

If you're also journeying towards a better you, a better life, a better new year for you, join me in this process. Let's take some time this weekend, maybe this Saturday, to stop, sit down, and meditate on the things that we really want to happen and have in our lives. Is it good health? Is it the ability to overcome certain fears? Is it to travel the world? Is it to finally get that job you want? Or maybe letting go of your current job and pursuing your real passion? Or maybe you want lots and lots of money, or a brand new home and car? Whatever it is, jot it all down. Then gather images that will convey all these goals you have for yourself.

Weekend of Healing, Passion and Discovery

I went through a lot a couple of weeks ago but through the help of my husband's continuous loving support, care of my friends, and my own will and desire to battle the rut I was in, things have been getting better and better.

Just like these vegetable plants which I have grown from when they were just seeds despite the many typhoons and cold weather they have braved since day 1, (they are now growing so beautifully and standing tall against our balcony window -- a sight I always behold first thing when I wake up and last thing I check before I go to sleep)...

... I, too, have grown a lot the past few weeks. Like my plants which need to be transplanted to bigger pots soon, for them to bear fruits and continue to grow, I, too, need to be uprooted from my comfort zone so I may take root in a bigger, wider, and more fruitful enterprise that I am really passionate about. *crossing my fingers* It would of course take careful planning, organization, determination and a lot of hard work. I need to invest my time, energy and resources to building this thing and some of my other lesser passions may need to take a backseat.

To Be or Not To Be Pregnant

Here's a litte excerpt and back story about that time I thought I was pregnant, how I felt before, during and after finding out about this possibility...

I've done a lot of scary things in my life: I married my first true love with zero money in our pockets; I've jumped off a 15-meter water fall; I did zip lining thrice (one in Lignon Hill in Albay, one in Club Manila East, and one in an Eco Park in Misibis Bay); I almost died while surfing; and lots more. But I think walking into the bathroom this morning and taking those two pregnancy tests were the scariest of them all.... Ready or Not

To my surprise, it was my hubby who got a little disappointed with what happened. And he was astounded with his reaction too. Perhaps someday we could do it all right if we really want to. Unfortunately, I have my own conditions that need to be met first. There's the beach wedding that I've always wanted since day one; there's the desire to be able to pay for our house and car mortgages in full without depleting our entire savings; there's the trust fund that I want to put up for our future kids if ever we do come to that point.

I know it all sounds "Are you for real?" And yes, I am. I want to be practical. Peter and I were both products of unplanned marriages and pregnancies and I'm speaking for my life which hasn't been very easy. If we ever do plan to raise a family of our own, I'm not wishing for it to be perfect because nothing is, but at least, I want our children to enjoy life and not worry about living the way I did.  

How are you, Jen? (a diary entry on GERD, stress and happiness)

This is an entry that I thought long and hard about sharing here. Some things are quite secret and some information are quite sensitive.  Then I figured, not a lot of people can handle a very long post so I guess not a lot of people will really know what has been going on....

It's been 4 years since I started practicing The Secret. That was late 2007. Prior to that, I've been an emotional wreck (since my adolescent years actually) and I was always stressed out, if not in school (all the way to taking my master's in U.P.), then at work, which is why I like to write about my life be it in a notebook or in my online diaries that are my blogs. Writing has always been a form of catharsis for me.

Early Christmas for the Juans

So how was your Halloween and the second long weekend that followed? I've been off the grid for some time after our Halloween Party, and it's all because of the "early Christmas" season we've been experiencing at home. To think I haven't even put up our Christmas decors yet and I'm not even sure if I'm gonna put them up at all. Unlike Halloween, Christmas is now my least favorite holiday season so I'm not that motivated to waste electricity and money on Christmas lights and decors... but who knows, maybe I will. Teehee.

So what is this "early Christmas" season I'm talking about? You probably know this already if we're friends on Facebook, Twitter and Plurk but here it is again:

Manila Halloween 2011 Events, Philippines

Though we're hosting a Halloween Party at home with our friends this Saturday, I keep searching the net for other activities Peter and I can do. After all, it's a long weekend holiday here in the Philippines and we gave up a trip to Camsur CWC to celebrate Halloween in Manila to the fullest, the Sexynomad and Mordo way. (^_^)

Caribbean Destinations: St. Martin Villas vs St. Barths Villas

They are both Caribbean islands. They both have access to some of the finest beaches in the region. Even their names are fairly similar. So, how do you decide on a villa vacation between St. Martin and St. Barths? Let’s take a closer look at these islands and what they’re like.

[View of Lune de Miel, a luxury villa on St. Martin]

About 87 kilometers square, Saint Martin is an island divided between France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. St. Martin villas tend towards being modern locations, with clean, white construction, mixed indoor and outdoor living areas, and some traditionally Caribbean styles. The island is also home to favorite locations like Lune de Miel, one of the most highly-requested villas in the entire Caribbean due to its status as a magnificent honeymoon destination. With all the features of an island that has around seventy-five thousand people living on it, villas on St. Martin are a good choice for those who want to mix tropical fun with true luxury. Additionally, the distinct cultures of the two sections of the island allow for experiencing two worlds without ever having to travel very far, and this uncommon design makes for some of the most memorable vacations in the world.

[View of Princess X, a luxury villa on St. Barths]

In contrast to the island of St. Martin, St. Barths is a rather smaller island, with only twenty-one kilometers square to call its own. The permanent population of the island is under ten thousand people, and this can make for a more relaxing vacation experience. Among other things, St. Barths villas gravitate a little more towards personal comfort and use as family vacation spots for people who are interested in relaxing more on their own time, rather than getting too deeply involved with the idea of a more traditional vacation. Resort areas and locations in the middle of town can indeed be very nice, but they might not always be what you want, and that makes all the difference.

So, how to decide between the islands? Simple! Merely pick which sort of experience you’d prefer; on St. Martin, you will probably find more things to do, more places to go, and more people to meet. St. Barths, on the other hand, can often give you a quieter, more relaxing vacation.
 

Last Minute Holidays

 

This shot was taken in Apo island. After booking a last minute holiday to Dumaguete the second time around, we finally made it!

I think it would be great to book some last minute holidays, which could either mean having a vacation 2 weeks from now, or at the latest, 2 months from now. Most airlines, like Cebu Pacific, now offer low rates to various destinations, and they usually text me when they do so I'd know. The reason that I say this is that I used to book flights before like way way ahead into the future thinking that I'd actually have the budget or the time to go through with it. But at the last minute, Peter and I wouldn't push thru with it coz of these three reasons:

To Diet or Not

Buffet lunch in Misibis Bay

The past couple of days, we have been pigging out a lot, most especially my husband. Buffet dinner here, buffet breakfast there, and before we know it, we've already gained pounds which can be so difficult to lose. It also doesn't help that when we're not traveling, we pretty much live a very sedentary lifestyle, what with being in the south and sitting in front of our computer desk all the time (Peter actually has a computer bed instead of a desk, so his case is much worse, hehehe). So, we've been thinking of doing some drastic changes in our diet, exercise habits, and intake of diet supplements like meizitang.

Mayon Volcano, Albay, Bicol Aerial View

 

The view of Mayon Volcano yesterday at LegaspiAirport

I first saw Mayon Volcano in its full perfect cone back in 2005 when Peter and I went on a three-day road trip to Bicol.

The view of Mayon Volcanoby during our road trip to Sorsogon in 2005.

Then again, last year, we visited Legaspi with our friends before we headed to Sorsogon to swim with the Butandings, then to Caramoan for some rough adventure of our own.

The view of Mayon Volcano at Lignon Hill back in April 2010

Then just recently, we saw Mayon Volcano again on our way to spend a luxurious weekend at Misibis Bay (very first photo on top) . Unfortunately, Mayon Volcano was hiding behind some clouds the whole time we were there.

I just brushed off the desire, although it would have been great to see it in its full perfect cone once again. On our way back to Manila, I was feeling a little bit down, Peter and I had a little misunderstanding, I got upset, and hid my face as I stopped the tears from falling...

Trying Out a Portable Steam Sauna

Our good friend Peachie suggested to us before to try this portable Steam Sauna by Apple. It took a while before I finally said yes to the person who will actually go to our house to set everything up. The 15-minute trial was for free but they did everything in their power to convince us to buy this thing.

The set up was easy enough. They asked if I have any essential oil they can add to the water. In fact, I do. I have tons at home and I chose my lavender essential oil. Then the house began to smell like a real spa! While I was there inside, I felt the knots in my muscles melting away. When the temperature got too hot, they adjusted it until I was comfortable in it.

Kenko Vibrarest 5000 Massage Cushion

The first time Peter and I had a massage together, we were two years into our marriage and we just transferred to Quezon City where we rented a small house near Congressional Avenue. There were a number of massage parlors around. Thinking of trying one, we went inside Touchpoint, expecting to have a wonderful massage experience together. Unfortunately, Peter got sick and I didn’t feel too good either. Since then, we rarely have massages conducted by masseuses. Even when we’re at the beach and local vendors would urge us to get a massage, we never say yes no matter how cheap the price is. I guess you could say that we’ve been traumatized by the experience. And on those times that I did it without Peter, I usually didn’t get satisfied. Peter studied proper body massage when he took a caregiver course in 2004 and it was only him who ever satisfied me (no pun intended).

On those rare times that I went to a massage parlor by myself, more often than not, I always felt like I wasted my money because they just couldn’t satisfy my tired muscles the way Peter could. But despite the fact that we don’t go to massage parlors anymore, ironically, Peter and I love massage apparatuses. We’ve been buying them since 2004. From the Php50.00 wooden massage toys, to mini vibrators, to Watson’s massage machines with infrared feature, to Home TV Shopping’s slender shaper that also helps trim muscles, to a Php30,000 massage lazy chair, to an awesome massager from Kenko.

This recent purchase of ours from Kenko Body Care is the best one so far. 

Why?

You’d be surprised to know that it only costs Php2,580. We got it at 20% discount in their Festival Mall branch. They sell a lot of massage appartuses there and what we got is the VIBRAREST 5000 Massage Cushion.

It has the following features: 

Win MISIBIS BAY Luxurious Getaway through NIVEA Sun

OMG! OMG! OMG! I only have a few more days left to join and hopefully win this contest! After everything Nivea Sun and I have been through this entire summer, I really think I deserve the chance. I am the last person who wants summer to end and the past week has been hard on me with my husband being sick and all. Winning a luxurious island getaway at MISIBIS BAY will more than make up for the fact that we were not able to celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary in a special way. Winning will give us all the time we really need, especially since we will be doing something we both love — traveling and exploring a beautiful and luxurious island, that is Misibis Bay.

Bringing Nivea to My Rated K Interview @ Club Manila East

When I was doing my 6-week stay in Boracay, ABS-CBN's Rated K writer, Marc Almajose, called me and asked if he can feature me on an episode they're doing about cool jobs and happy work life come May. It would of course be an honor to be featured on Mrs. Korina Sanchez-Roxas' Sunday evening show. So I said yes.

Fast forward to 1st week of May. I honestly have already forgotten about the invitation until Rated K's researcher Joseph Palileo emailed me about it. I was  of course delighted! Then finally, this morning, the Rated K crew picked me up at home at around 9 am and off we went to Club Manila East for the said interview. Happiness! ^_^

Week Before Valentine's 2011

The whole week before Valentine's Day started out beautifully for me.

• I managed to finish work on time.
• I was able to go to VTRs/auditions.
• I got in contact with some of my colleagues in the theater industry which I have been planning for a while now. I know I need to further hone my acting skills and hopefully I find the right theater company for me. If only my schedule is not this toxic (I barey sleep as usual), I'd gladly join PETA. It's on my wish list this year.
• The universe must be listening to my heart's plea when I was given an opportunity to showcase my talent in a video shoot. Honestly, despite my lack of sleep, that was the first time I felt really alive and exhilarated after a looong time. It's really different when you're doing your heart's desire. You don't feel tired, you don't feel short changed. You're just grateful, happy and feeling blessed. Hayyyy....Acting... it's the only one in my long list of passions that I have a love-hate relationship with. Let's just say that I'm in love with it again. Last year, I dodged most of the VTRs my agents sent me to coz I just didn't feel like it. After all, the business of acting is 10% acting and 90% waiting. Nevertheless, this year, if I physically can, I should just say yes to every acting opportunity.
• I made concrete steps to start a career in training. And guess what? The people I'd be working with are mostly theater actors too. I feel that where I'm headed at this point in time is just so aligned with my inner desires. Hopefully, when this new career path gets lucrative enough, I can use big funds for my other passions like soap making, reselling clothes and making beaded accessories which I will turn into regular businesses as well. *Crossing my fingers*

So my week was going well until a little bump appeared. My mom got food poisoned...

Loving the Minute Maid Real Pulpy Deal

I just drank a bottle of Minute Maid Pulpy. They say it’s got ‘no preservatives added’. Aw, c’mon…It’s bottled juice. Is that even possible? So I thought maybe... I'd do some more research about it. You know me, I like my 2011 to be healthier and better. No more bad stuff for my body please. I've had it with preservatives, chemicals and other hidden toxic food substances! It's time to be healthy, fit and sexy once again!

I didn’t believe it the first time I heard it’s got no preservatives added. So I read the ingredients (even the fine print) and everything checked out! It really has NO PRESERVATIVES ADDED! That means it doesn’t have ingredients that may turn out to be allergens, or worse...carcinogens! Whew! Now that’s healthy goodness that tastes so good, I...