Last year, Jan and I visited Mt. Tate (Tateyama) and made a little promise that we’d come back with the kids next time. And this year, we fulfilled that promise. 😊 Since it’s almost impossible for us to book a winter trip because the season falls while the kids still have classes and th…

Yesterday, I had an emotional breakdown triggered by a teeny tiny rubber band. It was so awful that I would lose sleep over it.  Let me start by saying that I got a new pickleball paddle. It was not a cheap one, at least for me. I did not pay for it. But then again, I would never shell ou…

Japan has become one of those places that keeps calling us back. This was already our third trip, and every visit has given us something new to love, whether it's the food, the culture, the convenience, or simply the feeling of being there. But despite visiting Japan before, there was…

The other day, I got an email from a brand inviting me to an event in Manila. Of course, I absolutely, unequivocally said YES. And that would mean I'll be packing my bags, and I'll disappear for a few days for a blogging event for the fifth time this year. At this point, with me h…

For most people, buying a dress online is a classic hit-or-miss situation. More often a miss with sizing inconsistencies, low quality fabrics, and fits that never quite match the photos.  But somehow, that hasn’t been my experience at all. Time and time again, every dress I’ve ordered is …

The recent weeks have been crazy. I spent a stupid amount of time fretting over our kids' visa application. But of course, I sucked it up and self-medicated with online shopping. Then last week, I finally let my hair down after collecting our kids' passports with multiple-entry vi…

You know those moments when you just want to do something special for your mom? I guess I’ve reached that chapter where I’m no longer just receiving. I’m finally in a position to give back. My mom worked hard for us her entire life, and now that she’s retired, I want her to truly enjoy wh…

First, let's get things straight. This is not a guide on how to get your Japan visa approved. If that’s what you’re looking for, you may refer to  this post  instead. What I will walk you through is the actual process of applying for a Japan tourist visa , based on timing and preparat…

I was competitive in badminton. And by competitive, I mean I competed and won tournaments. So when pickleball became a thing, my ego couldn't bring myself to try it. It felt like a downgrade to my first racket sport (table tennis is the second, by the way). Hyped, slower ball, and it …

But humans with AI can replace humans without AI. And I'm speaking from a Multimedia Artist's perspective. But first, let me give you a background story: My high school batchmates have started planning for next year’s homecoming since our batch will be hosting the alumni event. Se…

I love dancing. It's just that, I haven't danced ever since my immune system went haywire and started attacking my joints.  As one friend would put it, " wala na lagi ka nagasayaw, Sar? " (How come you don't dance anymore?) I do have my reasons: 1. My joints are pain…

"The main goal of Women's Run PH is to motivate, inspire, and empower women through running, building a supportive community where they can challenge themselves, increase participation, gain confidence, and achieve personal bests in a non-intimidating environment. They aim to ove…

If I had to sum up this year in one word, it would be movement . I moved across cities, across physical limits, across my budget. 😅 This year, I boarded the plane 16 times. Yes, I’ve traveled more in other years, crossed more borders, collected more stamps. But this year is, without a do…

I have been a quiet follower of Kulas/BecomingFilipino. Over the years, I've watched his vlogs and read his long posts. The way he told his stories, his curiosity and perspective, and how he seems more Filipino than I ever could be have kept me following him for more than a decade. I …

Back in 2023, I was one of the speakers at a blogging and grammar workshop, and one of my topics was the use of dashes in the English language. The dash, en dash, and em dash each have specific functions. And I remember sharing that the em dash is my favorite. Not just among the dashes, b…

I've been buying Christmas presents.  I know, it's only the middle of November. But hear me out. For the first time, we finally have a 7-foot Christmas tree! I’ve always wanted a big tree, but buying one from the malls was never an option. A tree that size costs around Php 10k. Th…

I’ve been digging through my old drafts in a desperate attempt to find something to post that isn’t about running (again). 😅  This was written back in 2013. I decided against publishing it at that time because the story was still raw. But it has been 12 years and I thought I'd share …

When I was still a student nurse, about twenty years ago, we were taught that a very low heart rate could be a cause for concern because it might mean the heart isn’t pumping enough oxygen-rich blood to the body. A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60-100 beats per minute (…

When I was young (and by young, I mean in my 30s), I used to join fun runs just for... fun.  Even without proper training, I’d just show up whenever there's a race, run the distance, get the free banana, and go home. I wasn't running regularly.  But in 2019,  I was sponsored a 50k…

I remember back when I was at a fastfood resto with friends when, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed someone asking another person for a photo outside. I recognized the content creator right away. He doesn't come across my feed (thank heavens!) but the media pages I follow feature…