I was randomly browsing the net when I stumbled upon this website called Lakbayan. It’s a really cool site where you can map out the places you’ve visited in the Philippines. I’ve been to quite a few places around the country, but apparently my travels are only enough to give me a grade of C. The knowledge that there are so many places I’ve yet to visit just fueled my wanderlust even more. Gotta travel soon!
Sweet Endings
I usually end my days by 9:00 when my little boy goes off to sleep. Around that time, I turn out the lights and immerse myself in my online universe. After a couple of hours on the net, I get tired and cross-eyed, and I promptly drift off to lala land. Of course, my body clock didn’t always function that way. When I was younger and before I became a parent, at 9:00 the fun was just about to start. My friends and I would be up until the wee hours, and bedtime was only a few minutes shy of sunrise. I think it’s safe to say that I have mellowed over time, and motherhood played a big role in my lifestyle switch. Of course, since I work in events, late nights can’t be completely avoided, but more often than not they happen for business, rather than for pleasure. Nights out with friends and even date nights with the hubs are now rare occurrences.
Tonight was one of those rare occasions where I found myself ironing my hair at 8 in the evening, preparing to leave the house. I had gotten special invites to an evening event in Makati, and I decided to attend and drag Mr C along with me. A friend of mine had organized a special preview of Tango Fire for bloggers and VIP’s at Nuvo in Greenbelt 2. I’ll get into the full event details in another post, but for now I just have to say that everything about Tango Fire is just sizzling hot!
After the event, Mr C and I took a short walk around Greenbelt’s gardens, and we eventually decided to try the Drive Thru Starbucks at the Fort before heading home. I got a glimpse of the Christmas light along Ayala Avenue, something I looked forward to while I was still working in Makati. We also drove by the Ayala Triangle Gardens and saw the lively lights hanging from the trees. I hope to be able to take a walk there one evening before the holiday season is over.
The Starbucks Drive Thru at the Fort was something I’d been wanting to try for a while now. We actually attempted to go there a few months ago, but it was late and we had Tristan with us, and we couldn’t find the right street to turn into! So tonight I was excited to finally see the place, which turned out to be really cute. I hope they open a drive thru branch in the south too.
While Mr C ordered his usual Cafe Americano, I decided to sample the new Christmas drink, the Cranberry White Chocolate Mocha. A friend of mine said that it was extremely sweet, and she didn’t enjoy it much. I ordered mine iced, and I think that was an excellent idea, because when the ice melted, the drink wasn’t so overwhelmingly sweet anymore. Of course, I also got a piece of my favorite Starbucks holiday treat, a nice big peppermint brownie.
Peppermint Brownie! Looks a little messy coz some of the chocolate frosting stuck to the wax paper. |
I’m just so giddy about being able to attend an event as a guest for a change, and actually just being able to go out in general, even if it was just for a few hours. I really should be getting some sleep soon, tomorrow is sure to be another long day at the office. Glad I got to escape my routine tonight, and on a work night no less! Seems rather risque in a grandmotherly sort of way.
Puss In Boots Comes to Festival Mall!
No one was as excited as I was about the Puss in Boots Meet and Greet Activity we had at the mall. The little kid in me had been jumping for joy since the day I first read the email correspondences confirming the mascot’s appearance at Festival Supermall. I’m glad that the hubs and the kiddo were able to join us that afternoon. Though brief, Puss’ appearance made a lot of kids and kids at heart, like myself, very, very happy.
The little boy and his very wawa toy |
With the kiddo and the team |
Forever alone |
Daddy and Mommy |
Baby love |
Getting excited!!! |
Last shot backstage |
Wacky. That We Are.
A Day With My BFF
Last October, we celebrated Pet Month and the Feast of St Francis with A Day With My BFF. This event, in partnership with the Lifeline Foundation and Animal House, brought together dog lovers and their best furry friends in an afternoon of fun and games at Westgate Center Alabang.
This activity made me remember how it was to have dogs around. It’s been years since we had a puppy at home. Our last doggie was Rex the Rottweiler who broke all our hearts when he died of liver failure. Before Rex, we had an assortment of big and small dogs, beginning with our first, Cujo the Toy Poodle, who was delivered by Santa Clause when Boyong and I were little. Our other two dogs, Bow and Buddy weren’t with us for very long, which may be why I can’t remember what breed they were. After we lost Rex, we shifted to cats, and have had our last remaining kitty Sasha since 1997.
Some of the dogs I met at the event were such characters, like the Frech Bulldogs from Ayala Alabang, Spam and Tapa, and the lovable Chewie Chowchow. All of a sudden, I’m tempted to buy a puppy, and would probably have done so already if we had our own place. My mom doesn’t want any new pets in the house while Sasha is still around, coz the last time we tried to introduce new kitties to our household she went on hunger strike. Yes, we have a cranky old kitty on our hands!
Look at all the cute doggies!
More photos from the event!
Registration |
MJ and Toni |
Goodie Bags! |
Ms Chona and Mr Noel of Westgate Operations |
Our friends from Healthway |
Pet Blessing |
Fun walk with your BFF |
Dr Contreras of Animal House and our host Dizzy Jojo |
Finale – A little poodle doing tricks! |
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Westgate Center
Filinvest Corporate City
Alabang, Muntinlupa City
(+632) 8460278 local 5033
inquiry@westgatefilinvest.com
www.westgatefilinvest.com
Lifeline Foundation Support Team Inc. Headquarters
#86 Aguirre St., BF Homes, Parañaque City, Philippines
(+632) 836.2514
info@ineedalifeline.org
http://www.ineedalifeline.org
Animal House
Level 1 Festival Supermall
Alabang, Muntinlupa City
(+632) 842-7485
anihouse@skyinet.net
Work-Life Balance + Healthy Living 101
There are just so many things I want to do, but with my erratic schedule, it gets hard figuring out how to squeeze everything in. Yes, that is the perfect excuse, if I do say so myself.
Looking at it from a broader perspective, I actually have a better work-life balance now than I did at the beginning of this year. I am able to do more leisure activities, spend more time with family, I get to write more, and I get to sleep better. Eventually, when my leave credits come in, I know I’ll get to go on a vacation, something I’ve been wanting to do for a while now. But despite all my new found free time, I still feel like there are more things I’ve yet to be able to do for myself.
Maybe the essential problem is not lack of time, but improper schedule management. I figure if I did manage my time well, I wouldn’t be late for work in the morning. I’d find time to prepare packed lunch, and even squeeze in an early morning walk. I’d have time to do homework with the kiddo before dinner. I’d be able to sleep earlier too. It’s the same scenario as my wanting to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle – I know what the problem is, I know how to fix it, I just can’t seem to get around to doing it. Maybe I need to commit to the idea of a complete lifestyle change more. Maybe I’m just to lazy to get moving. Maybe I don’t want it enough. But I really think I should get started soon, on the lifestyle change I mean. Maybe I lack motivation.
What motivates you to keep your schedule in check, to manage your time well? How do you make the most out of your day? And what do you do to live a healthier life? I’d love to hear from you. Maybe I’ll learn a thing or two.