If zombies were to chase me, I only have a 300-meter chance to run for my life. Anything farther than that does not guarantee my survival. Because I hate to admit this, I AM NO LONGER FIT AS I WAS BEFORE. How do you survive a zombie apocalypse?

With the series of strong earthquakes happening in our city, I thought I'd never go braless inside our home again. I hate bras not only because they are uncomfortable but I also had to deal with the trouble of trying to tug my boobies back into their proper positions as if they are al…

For more than a decade, I was okay with having jobs that can provide our needs, pay the bills, and splurge a bit. I have never been in debt. And that's pretty much an achievement, especially for a then single mom like me. BUT THAT WAS IT. I had no savings at all. I guess it&#…

It has been a week since  our wedding books arrived and I cannot get over it. I've already wasted hours flipping the pages and ogling at the same thing for days, and it still was not enough. I can't help it. Our wedding is no doubt one of the best days of my life and that i…

Korea is going to be our next destination. And honestly, I was not that interested. Especially after having been told quite a lot of times that Korea might be underwhelming for someone who has already visited Japan . Despite that, I have found myself binge-watching Korea travel vlog…

I couldn’t think of a better title but after posting my skincare routine , I was asked to try a line of whitening products in exchange for a promotion or a review. I politely declined. For the record, I have nothing against whitening products and people who want to whiten their skin. Do w…

I have always wanted my skin to look radiant and healthy but the idea of a 10-step skincare overwhelms me and I cannot be bothered to have such extensive routine because I do not have the time  I am lazy. When I started to look for products I could use, I realized that I had no idea…

I am getting addicted to boots. I find this funny, ridiculous, and stupid because I am living in a hot, humid, tropical country where boots are an abomination. And I got 3 pairs! But before you raise an eyebrow on me for having 3 freakin' pairs that is more useless than a white cr…

Oh Deer! If there's one thing I love about Japan, it is the people. They are the kindest, most disciplined, and most respectful people I have ever met. And quite surprisingly, the deer in Nara are just as polite as the locals. As a matter of fact, these critters are far more polite …

Davao City — Ever thought of trading the hustle and bustle city life for a day or two of unplugging without having to go too far? There’s no bad time for a relaxing escape to the Tengoku Japanese House . Situated not too far away from Eden Nature Park, this charming two-bedroom Japanese-…

Jan and I cried the other night. But that's because of a freakin onion that stings more than any of the hundreds of onions I've cut in my entire life. I have never been terrorized by anything, not even by my mom who recounted those embarrassing moments during my teen years in …

Robots. Sushi. Anime. Sakura. These are the first things that come to mind when I think of Japan. When we booked our flight to Japan, it just happened that we took advantage of a seat sale, chanced upon a very cheap flight to Narita, and booked it right away. Plus, the timing couldn&#…

Tokyo is currently my favorite city (next to Davao, of course). I'm not really huge on highly-urbanized cities. Skyscrapers and cityscapes don't fascinate me. But Tokyo offers more than the high tech toilets, electronics, Anime, and manga. It's where you get the best of modern…

We went to Japan for Jan's birthday which is just in time for spring. And since it was only the first official day of spring when we landed, the weather was still chilly and temperatures dropped to as low as 4°C. I actually thought that I was prepared for that. I had 3 layers of cloth…

When we went to Japan last March, it was transitioning from winter to spring. That means, we were able to experience both snow and sakura season at the same time. You see, even though the season was leaning toward spring, a deep-rooted fascination for snow has definitely gotten my mind …

I went to the  ukay-ukay the other day and scored this mint condition leather jacket that fits me perfectly for only eighty pesos. Eighty pesos! I proceeded to a nearby mini grocery afterwards to buy something and left the prized ukay-ukay at the baggage counter where you can just put …

"Have you had your dinner already?" Mama asked. "Yes," Red replied. "Was it delicious?" "Yes! Where did you buy it?" That would have been an insult. It certainly is my son's indirect way of saying that I cannot make something appetiz…

"How does it feel like?" "Nothing has really changed," I said flatly. "Wait until the honeymoon phase is over." I have been asked this question over and over again for weeks now and I have been repeating my answer with the same flat face. And it is not …

My heart had been broken terribly when the owl carrying my Hogwarts acceptance letter lost its way (must have been held up in Customs  😂 ). I thought I would never know my magical powers. But here I am, saved from eternal despair. For those who are still waiting for that letter, here i…

Right after the wedding, Jan and I started working our arses off (pitiful, I know). We were not able to plan a honeymoon because the Japan trip happened. And as much as we would have loved to make Batanes our honeymoon destination, we are holding that off. You see, I won a round trip dom…

When Jan and I planned our wedding, we agreed to keep it simple because it reflects who we are individually and as a couple. And also, truthfully, we're on a tight budget. But we all know that even the simplest weddings can burn a huge chunk of money—in a blink of an eye at that…

I just wish I have the makeup artist skills so I can transform my face into something better and more tolerable to look at every time I get fed up with my face that's as bland as the miso soup I made so I can leave my hair alone. Because, well, haircuts cannot be undone. You know ho…

When we went to Singapore the second time, we made sure we would avail of attractions that are fun, interesting, and most importantly, family-friendly. Attractions in Sentosa can be pretty pricey especially when you do multiple activities in a day. But you can book tickets online that off…

The last time my name was printed on a local newspaper was in high school (about 16 years ago) when my football team won against a college team and the two scorers' names were mentioned. That was a huge deal back then. Right now, where the generation is more fragile than a snowfla…

The succeeding posts in this blog would most probably be all about our wedding because, honestly, I have not gotten over it yet. Our wedding is nothing short of amazing. It is magical but it's real. It's simple but it's the best. It's cheap (by current standards) but i…

Hello everyone! I'm back to reality... but in a much better reality despite going back to a monstrous work load needed to be done pronto. I'm finally married to my travel buddy, my soul mate, my best friend! I know this blog still has a lot of catching up to do, but for now,…

Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope nope nope nope nope nope nope. That's what I keep telling myself every time I come across a hashtag for the wedding. One friend suggested #anJANnasiSARAH . Big NOPE.

Less than 20 days before the big day and I have finally felt a tinge of pressure. I thought we have already settled almost everything when I realized there are a few more things needed to make our wedding personal and extra special. I know we want to keep things simple, but here I am, l…

All this time I thought wedding preps are unbearably stressful it can bring out that bridezilla in you. But that is not the case. You see, we only have less than a month to prepare. With Saturdays as our only free time, technically, we only have 3 days to iron everything out. We are st…

Jan and I are planning to apply for a South Korea visa this year, anticipating a 20% rejection rate. Funny thing is, South Korea isn't really on top of our travel list. And I think that's because our souls have not been sucked into this Korean fandom abyss. Thank heavens!  Kpop,…

We have a lot of catching up to do. I hate not writing about the shiznit happening in my life because that's what this blog is supposedly for. But this is what happens when you have a counterproductive after-work hobby. I get mentally drained every time I get off work that I wouldn…

Jan and I went to the casa last Saturday for Bill's periodic maintenance service (PMS). Since we still have 2 hours to spare before our turn, we decided to go to SM to pass time and browse for wedding rings. We went inside Odysseus Suarez and I was glad to see the same friendly man …

We still have a little more than three weeks before our next out-of-the-country trip and I've already packed. Excited? Yes! And that is an understatement. In fact, I am too excited that I almost forgot I'm in the middle of wedding preparations that I left everything on pause since…

Jan and I went shopping for down jackets at Uniqlo yesterday. We were quite pleased that they got almost everything on sale. He scored an ultralight down jacket for only P1,990. Not bad, I must say. And he was quick to shop. Unlike me, I was torn between colors that it took me quite som…

After days of anxious anticipation and nights of reading horror stories of rejection and denial, Jan and I reached the highest level of excitement when we received our passports with approved visas yesterday that we did not feel the strong earthquake that shook our city. You see, the bi…

You know how I still get "judged" for being skinny despite my reputation of being a voracious eater and having a flabby midsection (that's about 2 inches of pinchable flab, I kid you not). "Kain ka ng marami. Mas maganda kung magkalaman ka ng konti." No high w…

I took a day off from work last Monday so I could dedicate my day for the visa and wedding preparations. What I planned was to get my PSA birth certificate (BC) in the morning and meet with our coordinator and photographer in the afternoon. Three of my friends told me it only took them …

That I apparently forgot to post. And I'd like you to believe I was busy. 1. Bagged two awards at the Davao Blog Awards co-presented by PLDT-Smart. Best Personal Blog

Jan and I visited our future home yesterday and we're so happy about the progress. See? Knowing how real estate development works here, one could say that that's a lot of progress. #TeamNoLigo Haha. I'm really looking forward to the day we move in because finally *d…

I would have loved to write about the 2018 that has been awesome or whatever topic that's fitting for the new year but I am more excited to share this with you. You see, I never really thought a bridal bouquet can cost so much. Php 5,000-7,000 seriously?! No, thanks. Today, I de…

I'm not sure whether I should start my intro with a defensive speech as to why I got 39 new books (not including the children's book I got for Rhett) in less than two months or should I just accept my fate that I always get defeated in a battle against impulsive book buying. S…

I have got to admit, when I was ten, I already knew the exact dress I want to wear for my wedding day. I want one that screams royalty. A sparkling ball gown, adorned with diamonds, having a 6-hoop petticoat underskirt, and all that jazz. More than twenty years later, I do not want …

I have never really figured out parenthood, especially when I'm doing it alone. As much as it flatters me every time I get a pat on the back for doing twice the parenting work without losing my sanity, what makes my heart flutter is when someone says my son, Rhett, is a well-manne…

I suppose the wedding preps should have gotten me busy. But truthfully, I have no excuse for not posting regularly. Honestly, Jan and I haven't gotten far with the wedding preparations. We'd love to think we're busy but all we’ve been doing is play Big Fish. Yes, that terrib…

When I told the universe I'm ready for the great stuff, awesomeness started pouring in. I just hope I don't jinx this, but it does feel like the entire universe is working in my favor. Don't get it wrong though. My life is not exactly all rainbows and butterflies as I would …