jE's AnAtOmY

Tips to Make Kids Enjoy Math

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 13:59:00 +0000

Math is probably one of the most hated subjects in school. We often hear people say, “I chose this job because I hate math.” Talking to some parent friends, their common sentiment is how much they struggle with teaching math to their kids. Zayne is currently in first grade, and she has a love-hate relationship with math. She really liked math when she started going to school back in 2020. Right now, when her math teacher introduces a new lesson that’s completely alien to her, she would start saying how she despises math. She’ll eventually come around and start loving math again. Boyet and I consciously do the things below to help Zayne appreciate and enjoy math.

1. Stop saying that you hate math.

Kids are like sponges. They mirror what they see us doing. And more often than not, they take everything we say as the absolute truth. I remember reading an article saying that we, parents, should stop being too critical of how we look, because kids will also end up doing the same. I believe this does not only apply to our physical appearance.

My husband and I took Computer Engineering in college, and we keep on telling Zayne how much we enjoy math. I even told Zayne that contrary to popular belief, math is actually an easy subject; that’s why I love it. I know that a lot of parents don’t share the same sentiment. But if you want your child to enjoy math, you should stop badmouthing it. You can still hate math, but try your best not to say it in front of your child. Hihi!

2. Tell them the importance of math.

When Zayne was starting to show aversion to math, she tried to convince us that it was useless. We told her that math is everywhere. I remember telling her, “When you ride the jeepney or pay for the groceries, you need to know addition and subtraction. Otherwise, you wouldn’t know if they gave you the correct change. When you cook or bake, you need to know fraction. When you become a doctor, you need math to know how much medicine you need to give your patient.” Zayne started giving other professions like an artist and a YouTuber, and I was still able to give her examples on how these people need math in their lives. :p

3. Start with the basics.

I was so perplexed when I saw that Zayne’s first math lesson in school was about primary colors. I thought it should be for the arts. When they discussed secondary colors, I then realized that it was introducing the concept of addition to kids.

Before Zayne started formal schooling, I enrolled her in a Play Math course, which was scheduled for one hour a week. I was able to talk to the head teacher at that time, and she explained to me that parents’ first mistake was teaching kids how to write the numbers right away. She said that the numbers are simply foreign figures for kids. Her worksheets were mostly coloring, writing straight and curved lines, and connecting dots. Apparently, this is to prepare the kid’s grip and muscles for writing. Before counting and the concept of numbers were introduced to her, she learned about comparing sizes and lengths. It’s the same as our kids’ math lessons progress. Our kids will have a hard time learning multiplication unless they master simple addition then addition with regrouping. If you see your kid struggling, always go back to basics!

4. There is power in repetition.

I remember that Zayne transitioned from Play Math to Basic Math a few months before the pandemic lockdown. Her first task was to solve basic addition. She used to complain a lot. According to her, the questions were repetitive. I told her that repetition is really important in learning everything, and that includes math.

Left Photo: Worksheet from her Basic Math class pre-pandemic

Right Photo: Practice worksheet I made her a few days ago

5. Incorporate math into play.

Never underestimate the importance of play. At seven years old, Zayne still likes playing with her kitchen toys. What we normally do is pretend that she owns a restaurant. She makes a menu with prices. And when we pay her, we ask her to make sure that she gives us the right change. On some nights, we play board games. For snakes and ladders, we use two dice instead of one. This enables her to practice addition.

6. Play math games with your kid.

I know that online games are usually frowned upon by parents, but there are actually games that can help kids with math.

The game Treze Coins exposes kids to the concept of money. It also lets kids practice simple addition as they add coins to put into a gumball machine.

A great part of why I grew up loving math is because my childhood dream was to be a grocery cashier! Hihi. I spent hours playing with my cousins in my pretend grocery store. There is a game called Grocery Cashier that will help kids practice addition and subtraction. And just like Treze Coins, it also helps kids become familiar with money. I bet adults like me who wished to be a cashier when they were little will also enjoy this game.

7. Incorporate math into daily activities.

Zayne loves to help me in the kitchen. When she was still learning how to count, I would give her tasks that involved counting. “Baby, put 5 tablespoons of sugar.” Now that she already knows the concept of money, we let her do a bit of budgeting of her savings. When she wants to buy a game upgrade, we let her check if she has enough money. She also enjoys lining up in the cashier when we’re in a store!

8. When teaching math at home, try to make it fun.

We help her review when she has math exams. Apart from the traditional way of preparing her worksheets to answer, we also try to do fun activities while reviewing. There was one time when we pretended to be in a beauty pageant, and the Q & A portion had math questions! Haha!

9. Tell them the importance of their progress.

It’s inevitable for kids to be frustrated and make mistakes. Recently, Zayne felt bad when she made a mistake in a math activity at school. We assure her that it’s normal to make mistakes and that she should learn from them. When she gets frustrated with her new lessons, we remind her she didn’t even know how to count a couple of years ago, but here she is now doing word problems and four-digit addition and subtraction.

There are a lot of after-school programs that can help your kids with math. Parents should not feel shame if they want to outsource help for their kids. But if you have time in your hands or you don’t have the budget for after-school courses, I do hope that the above tips will help you.

Dean & DeLuca | ORE Central Tower BGC

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 00:30:00 +0000

I remember visiting the Makati branch of Dean & DeLuca with my office friends years ago. Our office then moved from Makati to BGC, that’s why we were ecstatic when we found out that Dean & DeLuca would be opening a BGC branch, which is just a very short walk from our office. Unfortunately, we started working in different shifts, and then the lockdown happened, which forced us to work from home. Mitch, Jen, and I had been planning a lunch date ever since we started going back to the office. Our company adapted to the hybrid setup which requires us to only be in the office for four times a month. We go to the office on different days, but we made sure to find a common day before the Christmas break last year. We were finally able to pay Dean & DeLuca a visit!

We were fortunate to be seated right away even if we went on a Friday. It took us a while to choose from their menu because we were distracted by the breads and pastries behind us! Haha!

We jumpstarted our lunch with an appetizer – Crispy Calamari. This dish is a tricky one. It requires perfection, otherwise the squid will be chewy. I had high expectations given its hefty price tag.

Crispy Calamari PHP590

I’m glad it didn’t disappoint! It was cooked to perfection. I tried it without any of the dips, and it was good on its own. I had no idea what the reddish, powdery topping was, but it gave a nice kick to the squid. The arrabbiata sauce looked so refreshing. But don’t be deceived as its rich and spicy flavors enhanced the calamari. I loved the creamy remoulade because I could taste all the spices which notched up the flavors of calamari! This appetizer was the perfect way to wake up our taste buds.

We also got Green Goddess Pesto which cost PHP550. We opted to add chicken for PHP100. This one received mixed reviews from our table. It wasn’t my favorite, but Jen loved it. Don’t get me wrong. It isn’t bad at all. Dean & DeLuca’s version is quite subtle for me. I cook pesto at home, and mine is on the strong side. I requested for more parmesan cheese, and it did help elevate the flavors.

Green Goddess Pesto PHP550

Unlike the Green Goddess Pesto, the Chorizo Kimchi Rice was the runaway winner! We were all eyeing something from the Grain Bowls section of their menu until we finally decided to have the Chorizo Kimchi Rice. It was the best decision ever!

We love Korean food, so it wasn’t hard for us to appreciate the complex flavors of this dish, especially coming from the kimchi and the fermented vegetables. I loved the garlicky and spicy chorizo. Its pungent flavor was a real treat for my palates. The kimchi and vegetables didn’t only provide more layers of flavors, but also contrast with the textures. And those perfectly cooked sunny side eggs made the dish even better. I mean, everything is better with fried eggs! Haha! Each bite of the Chorizo Kimchi Rice felt like an explosive party of flavors in my mouth.

Chorizo Kimchi Rice PHP590

Food is on the pricey side, but I really loved the Crispy Calamari and the Chorizo Kimchi Rice. Service could have been better. It wasn’t bad, but getting the attention of the servers was such an arduous task.

Dean & DeLuca
Ground Floor, ORE Central Building,
31st Street Corner 9th Avenue,
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

My Top Wish for 2023

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 11:45:00 +0000

On our last office team huddle of the year, we were asked to dress up depending on how our 2022 looked like. Our office shifted to hybrid working arrangements in the second quarter of this year, with most of us being asked to be in the office four times a month. It was expected that my teammates attended the call in their home clothes. I did the same with my pajamas on, and I added something that would perfectly describe my 2022. I put an icebag on top of my head! Haha!

I’ll be turning 39 in January. For some odd reason, I always get sick days before my birthday. I was talking to Boyet and Zayne a few days ago, and I told them that I think it was because they both celebrate their birthdays in November. The stress of planning for their birthdays is followed by the Christmas holiday rush. And to add to that, even if I plan so hard, I still end up rushing to finish year-end stuff that piles up at work. And let’s not forget the erratic changes in weather here in the Philippines. And so even if I stock my body with more fruits, vegetables, and vitamins than usual, my almost non-existent immune system still fails at the beginning of the year. (I’ve always been strict with our family’s diet. I make sure that we have tons of servings of fruits and vegetables in our daily meals.)

My Facebook memories always remind me of getting sick before Christmas and my birthday. There was one time when my husband had to rush me to the emergency room on December 23, right after my shift at work. Good thing I was discharged on the morning of Christmas eve. Back in 2019, I had a health scare which made me hospitalized for more or less a week. I was discharged a couple of days before my birthday. I panicked when I started having dry and itchy throat a week before Christmas. Good thing that hot tea and manuka honey worked wonders, and my symptoms didn't progress.

Christmas Photo

(with occasional sniffles :p)

We took the lockdown very seriously during the pandemic. We did almost all of our transactions online and refrained from accepting visitors, including our relatives. But despite all efforts, our family still caught the virus on January 2, and the only time we broke our bubble was when we had to go to dental appointments because of Zayne’s tooth infection. Suffice to say, it wasn’t the best way to welcome the year. Our symptoms were gone in two days, but the long-term effects took a toll on our health. I remember still feeling weak and fatigued up until the first week of March.

Anxiety started to kick in when offices started the RETURN TO OFFICE mandate to follow government regulations. Although I’m lucky that our company opted for the hybrid setup, the change in routine starting in April of 2021 still shocked us. I usually experience migraines or acid reflux the day after I go to the office. Even my teammates who didn’t usually get sick pre-pandemic started using up their sick leave credits. Some of my teammates developed allergies and rhinitis for the first time. I even have a teammate who experienced having an asthma attack for the first time in her 30s! During the start of the school year in August, most schools also began doing face-to-face classes. Although I was excited because it was Zayne’s first time, I was so anxious with the unknowns. True enough, Zayne told me that her classmates would take turns in missing classes due to illness. By October, Zayne missed school for a week when she caught the flu.

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I still consider myself lucky because my job provides both flexibility and food on our table. I’m delighted to see Zayne enjoying school so much. I feel so blessed that despite having less gifts under our tree, my little family is closer and happier. It was also so nice to finally get to reconnect with families and friends after years of lockdown. But when Zayne asked me a few days ago what wish I would ask for if a genie pops out of nowhere, I told her that I really want better health for all of us. I know that I can speak for all moms out there, but sickness in the family is very stressful!

After two years of lockdown, our company finally made APE (Annual Physical Exam) mandatory again. I was surprised that I have teammates in their 20s with cholesterol and uric acid levels crossing the borderline. I’m glad that my blood results were not alarming, but I had something in common with my teammates - almost all of us on the team gained weight during the lockdown! It was inevitable being in IT working from home with food as our primary source of stress relief. I gained ten pounds. I’m at my heaviest, excluding the time I was pregnant with Zayne. My tummy literally looks like I am on my third trimester. Although my current weight is still within the normal range, the ten pounds I gained is obvious for someone like me who is only 4’11’’! When I came back to the office, I started wearing a “uniform” – straight cut black dresses. You’ll probably think I’m going minimalist, but it’s really because none of my old clothes, especially my pants, fit me. Huhuhu.

Aiming for my weight loss goal is not mainly to look good. The deeper reason is really my health. I think that my recent health issues, especially in my gut, are because of my lifestyle. Although I’m conscious of WHAT I eat, I sometimes neglect HOW I eat. I recently read about MINDFUL EATING and realized that I have been eating mindlessly for years. Things like eating fast, eating while working, munching something while watching TV, and using food to escape stress are just a few of the many mindless eating habits that I’ve developed. I believe this contributed not only to my weight gain but also to my health issues. Apart from this, my sedentary lifestyle is also to blame. At the beginning of the lockdown, I was glad that I found time to do more exercise. I used the treadmill and even followed yoga tutorials on YouTube. But then I started neglecting it, giving myself the “I’m too busy” excuse.

Again, I’m turning 39 in January. I have a seven-year-old daughter, and my wish is to live longer for my family. My health issues have been preventing me from doing more things for myself and for my family. Of course, I also want to look good in my 40s, so living healthier and losing my belly fat should be my main goals for 2023!

Wishing you all a happier and healthier 2023! :)

Texas Roadhouse | Robinsons Place Manila

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 02:00:00 +0000

Texas Roadhouse is probably our favorite restaurant from the Bistro Group. We love it so much that when you ask Zayne where she wants to it, her default answer is always Texas Roadhouse. Their Robinsons Manila branch has seen Zayne grow. We used to frequent this specific branch pre-pandemic, and it was one of the first restaurants we went to when the restrictions had finally eased.

This site used to be a very active food blog where I posted at least one restaurant review or recipe every week. But with motherhood and my crazy work schedule, this blog needed to take the back seat. Plus, when you go to a restaurant with a hungry baby, taking photos of your food is impossible. I’m just glad that Zayne is now very encouraging that she even reminds me to take photos before we eat. Unfortunately, my “photography” skills became a little rusty after years of hiatus in blogging. So, please excuse my photos. Hihi.

When I asked Zayne why she loves going back to Texas Roadhouse, she said that it’s because of the basket of complimentary bread they serve. I can’t blame her because their free bread is really yummy! It’s always served hot! It’s best eaten when you spread it with cinnamon butter. It’s heavenly! You can even ask for more. *wink wink*

Complimentary Bread

Apart from the free bread, you also get free peanuts! I don’t know how they do it, but their peanuts are always perfectly salted.

Complimentary Peanuts

We’ve been to Texas Roadhouse countless of times before. To be honest, this is the only reason that we renew our Bistro card. Haha! The last time we went to their Robinsons Manila branch was last September to celebrate Papa’s birthday. When we’re dining with my parents, we always make sure to get their platters, so we get to enjoy a little bit of everything.

On this specific visit, we had their Cowboy Meat Platter. It consists of Baby Back Ribs, Roast Beef, and Andouille Sausage.

Cowboy Meat Platter PHP1,850

I loved the smoky flavors of the Baby Back Ribs. The meat is so tender that you can simply touch it with your fork, and you can effortlessly get the meat. The platter also comes with two kinds of sausages. I thought they were the same until I noticed that one was pale, while the other was red. A bite to both gave my taste buds an extraordinary treat. Both are smoky, juicy, and packed with so many different flavors. One is a bit spicier than the other, though. And, let’s not forget the Roast Beef. The melts-in-your-mouth beef is proof that it came from roast beef heaven!

We also got their Texan Seafood Platter. It has Crispy Mahi-Mahi, Grilled Shrimp, and Fried Calamari.

Texan Seafood Platter PHP1,695

Cooking shrimp is always tricky, but the Grilled Shrimp from Texas Roadhouse has the perfect texture! I’m not sure what they put in it, although it looks and tastes like cajun seasoning to me. Whatever it is, it did an amazing job in enhancing the flavors of the shrimp! Calamari is another tricky dish, but just like the Grilled Shrimp, it was perfectly cooked. The Grilled Mahi-Mahi is a bit salty, but squeezing a bit of the lemon juice did its trick. The platter also comes with a serving of chips on the side.

Both the Cowboy Meat Platter and Texan Seafood Platter have coleslaw, corn and veggies on the side.

Texas Roadhouse never disappoints. And just like what I said earlier in this post, the Robinsons Manila Branch has seen Zayne grow. I’ll cherish the remaining years that she still excitedly asks for a picture wearing a cowboy hat!

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Texas Roadhouse
Level 2 Midtown Wing,

Robinsons Place Manila,

Ermita, Manila

Ways to Teach Your Kids How to Cook

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 10:20:00 +0000

My daughter just turned four years old when the first lockdown was announced here in the Philippines. Prior to that, I was already trying to train her in doing age-appropriate household chores with my hopes of making her self-sufficient when she grows up.

Cooking is a very important life skill. I was really planning to teach her how to cook, but I wasn’t expecting that she would show interest at a very young age. I didn’t even ask her to do things around the kitchen, that’s why my husband and I were both surprised when she asked us if she could learn how to cook.

Again, it just came to her naturally, but looking back, I think these things may have helped her in being more excited to learn how to cook.

1. We expose her to different kinds of cuisine.

Prior to this blog experiencing a very slow death because of my inactivity, this place used to be a very active food blog. I remember posting new restaurant reviews and recipes at least once a week. Suffice to say, I have always been a foodie. When Tatay and I started dating almost two decades ago, I was able to influence him into becoming more adventurous in trying out new foods. And we have been doing the same with Zayne. I was surprised that as a three-year-old, she was enjoying focaccia bread dipped in olive oil, balsamic vinegar and parmesan cheese. She knows a lot of Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Italian dishes by name. She simply loves food! And I believe that when you love food, learning how to cook will be easier.

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Let me know if you need more proof of Zayne being a real foodie! :p

2. She sees me enjoying in the kitchen.

“Your child will follow your example, not your advice.”

I grew up with a mother who loves to cook. My grandmothers were great cooks, too. Although being a wife and mom sometimes makes me feel that cooking has already turned into a “chore,” I still love being in the kitchen. I believe that a great part of why I love to cook is because I was also encouraged to do well in the kitchen by my mother. I guess Zayne showed interest in cooking because she saw how much I enjoyed doing it for our family.

Four-year-old Zayne showing her game face while doing pastillas balls during her virtual class

3. We ask for her input.

I am a very busy working mom. For years, I have been sharing on my IG stories how I do weekly meal preparations. Instead of cooking every day, I spend my Saturday mornings cooking meals that would last us for the entire week. With this, I make sure to include not only Tatay but also Zayne in choosing what to eat. I am actually very surprised with the complexities of her suggestions. There are times when she even rates my cooking!

We also take turns in choosing what and where to eat when we go to a restaurant. And yup, Zayne always has a say!

Zayne giving a thumbs up after eating pasta at her favorite restaurant

4. We watch food-related shows as a family.

Zayne grew up seeing me watch The Food Network. We decided to have our cable subscription stopped, but that didn’t stop us from watching food-related shows. Binge-watching Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix helped us get through the first lockdown back in 2020. Now, we love watching Tzuyang and Strictly Dumpling on YouTube! We are currently watching the anime series Restaurant to Another World. :)

5. We let her play cooking simulation games.

I recently discovered a site that has a variety of food-related games. I introduced this to Zayne, and she was immediately fascinated with the cooking simulation games. She first tried the Sweety Cooking Chocolate Game which lets kids follow a recipe in baking a cake.

I enjoyed playing Burger Shop which is a restaurant simulation game. The aim is to serve customers the exact burger they ordered. Zayne just watched me play it because it gets a bit stressful for her at later levels. Haha!

6. We let her use a real cooking set.

Last Christmas, her Ninang Aubrey gifted her with a real mini cooking set for kids. She was so excited to have her own pots, pans, utensils, and even a stove! Sometimes she would just pretend play to cook, but we also let her use the set to cook real food. I know that it results to a lot of mess, but that is where the learning begins! She loves the cooking set so much that she even thought of using it in her most recent vlog!

Please subscribe to her channel! ^_^

It’s important to know and take notice of our child’s interest instead of imposing on them what we believe it should be. And once we’ve noticed it, it’s our job as parents to help them be more equipped in honing their skills and talents.

I’m no expert in parenting, but I do hope that the above tips will help other parents in case they see their child showing interest in cooking. :)

Anime Review: Komi Can't Communicate

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 01:00:00 +0000

Komi Can’t Communicate appeared in our Netflix profile while I was browsing for another anime series to watch. I was looking for something cute and fun hoping to “cleanse my palate” right after watching the cute and fun BUT very dark Fruits Basket. Hihi. I was a little apprehensive at first thinking that Komi Can’t Communicate might surprise me again just like what Fruits Basket did. Unlike Fruits Basket which is Rated 16 in Netflix PH, Komi Can’t Communicate is Rated 13. I took it as a cue that the plot wouldn’t be as dark and complicated as the first one.

Komi Can’t Communicate is a story of Hitohito Tadano and Shoko Komi. At the first day of school, Tadano’s only plan was to survive without being “noticed” by anybody. He simply wanted to have a normal high school life, but fate has other plans. He was seated beside Komi, a girl so pretty that everybody around her treats her like a god. Everything she does, even if she’s technically not doing anything, is considered “divine” by those who “worship” her. However, Tadano found out that Komi has extreme social anxiety which makes it very difficult for her to talk to other people. Tadano promised Komi that he would help her make 100 friends.

My initial reaction after watching the first few episodes of Komi Can’t Communicate was, “Aww! They made an anime series about people like me!” :p Of course I’m not a goddess, and I can actually talk to other people, but I find it extremely difficult and sometimes exhausting to connect to people. For years, making small talks makes my energy bank empty. A big part of me can totally relate to most of Komi’s struggles. The narrator starts almost all episodes by saying, “Bear in mind, they only struggle to form connections. It doesn’t mean that they don’t want to.” Believe it or not, these words hit a raw nerve even after hearing them so many times, primarily because that’s how I felt growing up. My daughter once asked me how I made friends. I told her that between me and Tatay, Tatay is way better than making friends. I told her that I only have friends because they approached me first. That is why I like Tadano’s character very much. Tadano was the only one who noticed what Komi really needed. He made me appreciate the Tadanos in my life. Hihi.

It’s easy to fall in love and even relate to each characters. Even that one female character that makes me cringe with all of her crazy antics also has an adorable side. My husband and I are very careful with what our six-year-old watches. Zayne knows that she’s only allowed to watch Rated ALL and Rated 7 shows in Netflix unattended. She can only watch Rated 13 shows if she’s with us. She knows that she’s not allowed to watch anything higher than Rated 13. Going back to my review, I honestly think that the series could have been Rated 7 if this specific female character is not present! Hahaha! But with all honesty, Komi Can’t Communicate was a very nice series to watch with my daughter, especially now that she’s in Grade One and finally experiencing face-to-face classes for the first time. We were explaining to her the importance of building friendships and recognizing that you can be friends with people even if they are different from you. Apart from the cute animation and funny lines, Komi Can’t Communicate is a good series to remind viewers of the importance of inclusion and diversity.

When Komi Can’t Communicate introduces a new character to be Komi’s new friend, I could not help but quietly tell myself, “We all have THAT one friend.” It’s funny how the series was able to represent almost every kind of friend we know. (Or at least the ones I know.) I survived making friends because I have a kind-hearted Tadano and also a Najimi, who is everybody’s friend! My daughter and I love the responsible big sister, Onemine and the relaxed but absent-minded, Otori!

I believe that Komi Can’t Communicate might not be for everybody. Some might probably get bored because the episodes sometimes don’t relate to each other. I could sometimes see my husband zoning out. He said that the series is nice but finds the connections of the episodes a bit loose. It’s fine with me and Zayne, though. Again, the series simply revolves around Komi trying to make friends. I guess my husband was not so engaged because he never really struggled with making friends! Haha! But if you are looking for a no-brainer and fun anime series, I bet you will love Komi Can’t Communicate.

Photos are taken from komisan.fandom.com

Anime Review: Fruits Basket (2019)

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 01:14:00 +0000

Our little family has been watching a lot of anime series and movies in Netflix since the pandemic started. I got really sick at the first week of July which forced me to take a few days off from work. I could not find anything interesting to watch in Netflix during the first day of my sick leave. My plan was to start another KDrama, but I’ve seen a lot of social media posts from my friends saying how this and that KDrama made them more stressed out after watching. I was looking for something light and uplifting, so I went to check out some anime series. I remember that Rei, an office friend, recommended Fruits Basket months ago. She said that the original version was her favorite when she was a teenager.

Image from Netflix

I found what my sick and weak body was yearning for after watching the first couple of episodes. The animation was cute, and for some odd reason, it gave me some sort of “warmth” while I was watching it. I wasn’t able to watch the original version, so I had no idea what the story is about. The plot presented on the first few episodes was enough to keep me intrigued and wanting for more.

Fruits Basket is about Tohru Honda, a high school orphan girl who became temporarily homeless. Not wanting to trouble her relatives and two best friends, she put up a tent in the woods hoping to stay afloat. With some bizarre twist of fate, her tent was destroyed by a landslide. This was discovered by Shigure and her classmate, Yuki. Wanting to help Tohru, Shigure offered to let her stay in his house where Yuki also lives. The chaos starts when Tohru discovers that Yuki, Shigure, and the other members of the Sohma family are cursed. They turn into zodiac animals when they’re exhausted, too emotional or hugged by the opposite sex.

Image from fruitsbasket.fandom.com

Like what I said earlier, it was light and feel-good at the first few episodes. It seriously cheered me up while I was nursing a flu. Teenagers Tohru, Kyo and Yuki living in one roof with the crazy Shigure seems to be a perfect recipe for a wholesome romantic-comedy anime series.

Cute, right?

Ehhhhh, wrong answer!

The plot just gets crazier and darker as I watch more! I remember saying, “What the heck, Rei?! What the?!” HAHAHAHAHA! I thought it was going to simply be a cutesy high school love triangle where the girl will struggle in choosing between two guys who turn into a mouse and a cat. Apparently, I was wrong!

Very, very, very wrong, actually!

I must admit that when you pay more attention, there are some parts of the story which I find problematic and cringe-worthy. I mean, grooming and a grownup getting into a relationship with a minor are just two of the many things that I dread as a parent. But other than this, Fruits Basket was able to effectively tackle a lot of things that are still deemed taboo in this day and age. Fruits Basket offers more than its cute animation and nice soundtrack as it talks about mental illness, suicide, childhood trauma, various forms of abuse, and toxic family behaviors.

Image from fruitsbasket.fandom.com

Watching Fruits Basket is like a rollercoaster ride. One moment I am gushing over the romantic scenes which remind me of teenage love, the next thing I know I’m already crying while feeling the character’s pain. One moment I am smiling at the kind of sweet friendship that Tohru shares with Hana and Uo, and the next thing I know, watching their past reminds me that every person has a cross to bear and that most hide them from other people. The storytelling is superb as I was able to empathize with the characters, no matter how evil or twisted I think some of them are. It was so effective in making me not only understand but also somehow live through their pains.

Fruits Basket discussing taboo topics was such an eye-opener. Now that I’m also a parent, it somehow reminded me of the weight of every word I say and every choice I make for my kid. Most of the Sohmas look devious and evil, but the truth is, most of them are mere victims. They think that the curse is turning into an animal, but in reality, the true curse is being trapped in generational trauma. It’s liberating to see the development of each character as they fight their own inner demons.

It’s just ironic that I shied away from watching KDramas because of their stressful plots, yet here I am enthusiastically writing at how I like an anime series with such complex plot. Haha! But believe me when I say that this is an anime series worth watching. I know I’m already too late in doing this review, but in case you haven’t seen this yet, then consider this a recommendation. Hihi.

To Buy or Not to Buy a Car

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Sun, 10 Jul 2022 08:26:00 +0000

The pandemic has changed the landscape of almost everything in the world – tourism, retail, education, the way we work, real estate, and even car sales. Before the pandemic hit, we were planning to get another car out of necessity. We used to go to work every day using a car we purchased in 2016. Back then, it was the smartest choice. We had been using a second-had car which we had to buy in 2012, just a few months after my husband and I got married, because I opted to grab a new work opportunity which is farther from where we live. At that time, we just needed something to get us from Point A to Point B at the cheapest and most convenient way as we were also saving for a house. When I gave birth in 2015, our first car started giving us headaches, so we decided that it was time to get a new one.

This was back in 2016 when we bought our first brand new car.

Here in the Philippines, there is a road scheme that aims to reduce traffic. A lot of people think it is not serving its purpose, but we don’t have a choice but to follow rules. The said scheme limits the use of an owner’s car at certain times once a week. This meant that we had to leave earlier and go home later, so we wouldn’t be on the road on certain hours on the said days. It was taking away time that we should had been spending with Zayne. We were already checking our finances if we could afford to get a new one when the pandemic happened.

The pandemic forced us to work from home for more than two years, so that meant that an extra car was unnecessary for us. For a lot of people who were fortunate enough to still have uninterrupted sources of income despite the lockdowns, the pandemic made them save a little more money – money that was supposed to be used for gas, traveling, eating out or shopping. And for some people I know, they took advantage of this by finally getting long-term investments. The pandemic and the work from home setup made a lot of corporate workers see the beauty of living outside the Metro Manila. I have a handful of friends who purchased houses in the nearby provinces. But a lot of companies already started the return to office mandates earlier this year. This also urged people who relocated during the pandemic to buy a car. Reasons vary from convenience to fear of getting COVID-19 in public transportation. Fortunately for us, getting another car is still not needed as we are only expected to be in the office twice a week. We still limit going out of the house because we recognize that the virus is still out there.

This was taken a couple of months ago during Zayne’s drive-by Moving Up ceremony at her school.

We are seeing bizarre patterns in car sales worldwide. It’s plummeting in some countries because of increasing gas prices and the shortage of car parts brought by the pandemic and ongoing wars. We’re also seeing increase in sales of electronic cars in most countries. This is why it’s so important to really plan when buying a car. It’s a major purchase after all. There are a lot of things to consider like whether you should be buying a second-hand car or a new one, or whether you can pay the car loan with ease. Whatever your reasons may be in buying a car, you should spend ample time researching the type of car that will address your needs, talk to people who already took the plunge, and carefully plan your finances to make sure that you will be getting the most out of having a car instead of being more burdened with additional financial woes.

Kolokoy Household: Episode 87

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 02:00:00 +0000

I was planning a Kolokoy Household post to be my first blog post for the year because I wanted to start it on a happy note. Unfortunately, our little family was hit by COVID-19 last January. I was hoping to spend more time updating this little virtual space of mine, but there are just a lot of things on my plate. Tatay and I also started going back to the office last April, so that definitely made our schedules even tighter. I just realized six months later that I have a Kolokoy Household post sitting on my drafts, so I guess it’s not yet too late to have one! Hahaha!

WATERMELON

Zayne: Tatay, if there is watermelon, bakit walang firemelon or airmelon?
Tatay: Akala mo lang wala, pero MELON, MELON, MELON!

SADAKO

Zayne suddenly asked us what the story of Sadako is. She said that one of her friends told her about it. I told her that the movie was so scary that after I watched it with my best friends back in college, I was unable to watch TV and even look in the mirror for almost 2 weeks! I’m not joking, guys! Hahaha!

Zayne: Tatay, Nanay won’t let me know the story of Sadako. Can you please tell me?
Tatay: Okay, if you insist!

Once upon a time, there was a really happy girl with a long hair.

Something really bad happened to her which made her really sad…

that’s why she became SAD-AKO!

TEACHER

Zayne: Nanay, what do you call a male teacher?

Me: Teacher din.

Zayne: Ehhhhhh, wrong!

Me: What?

Zayne: A teach-HIM! Get it, get it?

@_@

BISCUITS

Tatay: Nay, ano’ng tawag dito?

Me: Ahmm, fish?

Tatay: Very good! E dito?

Me: Hahahaha! Alam ko ’yan! TWO-NA (TUNA) ! Akala mo ha!

Tatay: E dito?

Me: Ano???

Tatay: AQUARIUM!

Me: WTH?!

MERCH

Zayne: Nanay, what does MERCH mean?

Me: Ohh, I think it’s short for merchandise. Nowadays, when we say merch, those are the things that famous people sell to their fans or followers. Wait, I’ll Google just to be sure.

Zayne: Tatay, what does MERCH mean?

Tatay: It’s now MERCH. January... February... MERCH!

Me:

MATH

Me: Zayne, let’s go! We need to review your Math lessons.

Zayne: Hay, naku! Ma-ha-high blood na naman ako neto!

True enough! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

MATH ULI

Zayne’s Math lesson was about addition and subtraction word problems. Problem was something like: Anna has 4 bags. Her mother gave her 3 bags. How many bags does Anna have?

Teacher: Zayne, what is the addition sentence?
Zayne: Three plus four equals seven.
Teacher: Very good, Zayne.
Zayne goes on mute: WHY DOES SHE NEED SEVEN BAGS??? WHAT WILL SHE DO WITH ALL THOSE BAGS?!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Anak, hindi lahat ng babae e gaya ng nanay mo na walang hilig sa bags!

FILIPINO

Zayne: Nanay, if dining room is silid kainan in Filipino, why is living room called silid tanggapan? It should be SILID NG MGA BUHAY.

Owkei. 😳

Guys, speaking of Filipino. In case you missed it, Zayne started her own YouTube channel months ago. She had to convince us for months. We only allowed her because she promised us that she will help other kids with their school lessons. We also keep on reminding her that she should simply have fun. So far, so good! She thinks of her contents. All her spiels are hers. Walang script! Even the name of her channel, ZAYNE’S LEARNING AND GAMING CLUB, was her idea. Editor lang talaga ako at tagabayad ng internet connection. Hahaha! Anyway, one of her latest vlogs was a lesson in Filipino. I hope you watch her vlogs, and show her some love by liking her videos and subscribing to her channel. Thank you! 😊

Bigger Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Wed, 04 May 2022 12:37:00 +0000

One of the very first things that Tatay and I did as soon as we got engaged back in 2010 was to plan for our future home. We were both so idealistic that we wanted to have one even before we get married. But because we were only on our fifth year in the corporate world at that time, and we did not heed to calls of higher salaries overseas, our younger idealistic selves did not get it done as initially planned. While planning for a wedding, we went to different locations, mostly in the southern parts of Manila, in search of a house. With fatigue kicking in, we decided to focus first on the wedding, and my parents generously welcomed us to their home when we got married in 2011.

The house-hunting continued right after our wedding. We didn’t realize that there are a lot of factors to consider in buying a house. Boyet and I both work in Manila, and although houses in the South are relatively more affordable, we had to think of our daily commute. It didn’t help that I always get nauseated in long trips. Luck was on our side when we stumbled upon a pre-selling townhouse in Manila back in 2012. Although the price of our unit is the same as a bigger single detached house with a small garden in Laguna, we settled with it because we were still building a career in Manila. We had to settle the down payment for three years which honestly is already a good deal. By 2015, while I was pregnant with Zayne, we finally moved in to our house.

There are times when we go to Laguna or Cavite, and we wonder what life would have been for us had we opted to settle there. And then the pandemic in 2020 happened, and it somehow gave us validation that we made the right choice. Because our house is just a five-minute walk from my parents’ house, we have been getting all the support we needed. Our parents could still go to the house to see us even during the strictest lockdowns. When the three of us went to quarantine because we got COVID-19, my parents helped us by giving us food and buying us supplies. There are still days when we daydream of how nice it would have been to work from home surrounded by trees and fresh air in the province, but nothing beats being closer to our families, especially after the pandemic reaffirmed what we already know - that life is short.

But then again, the pandemic also opened our eyes to dream of bigger dreams. My husband and I have always wanted to have a second home. We want a farm house where my plantita skills can be of use. Hihi! Being forced to stay in our little bubble because of the pandemic made us appreciate slow living. It might still be because of being stuck at home for more than two years or maybe because we are nearing our 40s which make us frown at the idea of going back to the hustle and bustle of our old lives. We are still three years away from finishing our mortgage, and that is the biggest reason why we are hesitating a bit in making the big jump. Although the pandemic made us save more, Zayne will be starting grade school this year, and that would be an added expense to us on top of our monthly amortization. Plus, not going on travels for two years made us miss going to new places. And with the restrictions being lifted, traveling will probably be another of our priorities. But that doesn’t mean that we’re scrapping our dream of owning a second home! As a matter of fact, I can always see Tatay looking at farm lots and even sketching plans for a house. Little by little, we are reassessing our finances by diversifying our investments and looking for side hustles to increase our income. We’re also looking at how “heavy” it will be to pay for a second home. We’ve tried to estimate monthly payments and affordability in case there will be an overlap with our existing mortgage. And lastly, we have been spending a lot of time reading and learning about the ins and outs of owning a farm. I understand that it’s way different from taking care of a garden, so we really need all the help we can get.

Our Future Farm

by Zayne :)

I know that we still have a very long way to go before we realize this dream, but we will definitely work harder to make it come true!

The Only Time We Broke Our Bubble and Got COVID-19

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 02:00:00 +0000

I knew that getting COVID-19 was not a matter of IF, but a matter of WHEN. But a part of me was hoping that we would get it when Zayne has already been vaccinated. That is why our little family has been living in a bubble since March 2020. All of our moves are calculated. We stopped asking our stay out help and even our parents to go to the house ever since the pandemic started. All of our essential needs are bought online. We only had to go out of the house during pedia visits and when Boyet and I had our COVID-19 vaccine. But despite all of our efforts, we still got the virus.

2021 was such an exhausting year, so to say that I was looking forward to my holiday break was an understatement. I was working until December 23 because I had to deliver something at work on January 3. I was able to finish it off two days earlier, so majority of the things I did on the 23^rd were admin stuff. You had no idea how ecstatic I was when I set my email’s OOO notification.

I got busy cleaning and cooking in preparation for Christmas. If you personally know me, then you’re probably aware that our family celebrated Christmas 2021 the same way we celebrated the year before – in a bubble. Every time there’s a special occasion, my parents would come over and eat in the garage, while the three of us stay in the dining room. Right after our Christmas lunch, Zayne complained of toothache. It went away when she brushed her teeth. I spent the day after Christmas cleaning the entire house. I was so exhausted, but I got a little worried when Zayne started crying because of her toothache. I scheduled a visit to her dentist the next day. December 27 was the first time we broke our bubble when we went to the dentist. A few hours after we got home, Zayne started having fever and still complained of toothache. Her dentist prescribed antibiotics for the tooth infection around 10PM. We were planning to start her antibiotics the next day, but she woke up around 1AM due to excruciating pain. We booked a Grab pabili service to buy antibiotics, so we could start right away. She was awake anyway, so we gave her milk and banana before taking the meds.

The next day, December 28, Tatay had to go to St. Luke’s BGC for an MRI. He has been complaining of pains on his right arm since early October. And because he didn’t want to go outside, he has been using OTC pain meds and essential oils to relieve the pain. But after a teleconsult with our company doctor, he was advised to see an orthopedic doctor. To lessen going out, Tatay also scheduled his first PT session on the same day. Around 5PM that same day, Zayne was still complaining of her toothache. I sent a message to Zayne’s dentist, and we were asked to go back to the clinic. We were advised that if the antibiotics didn’t work, then we had no choice but to have the tooth extracted. That night, none of us got any sleep because Zayne kept on waking us up because of pain. She would go to sleep and wake up when the effect of the Paracetamol wears off.

December 29 was Tatay’s second PT session. Zayne was still complaining of pain. Tatay sent a message to his dentist friend on December 30 right after his third PT session. He said that there is a root canal procedure for kids. We talked to Zayne’s dentist about it. He said that it is possible, but he could not do it in his clinic because he doesn’t have an xray machine. I told Tatay that we should just wait for the antibiotics to work, but Zayne just kept on crying the whole day. She was also having a hard time eating. And so we went to the new dentist to have Zayne’s teeth checked. Unfortunately, the procedure was not done because Zayne kept on gagging during the attempt. The dentist just put a sedative on her tooth. Same as the days before, Zayne kept us awake the whole night. That was the last day we broke our bubble.

Zayne was still complaining of her toothache, but she was at least able to eat during New Year. We didn’t have any visitors inside the house. I started ironing clothes the afternoon of January 1. I woke up in the middle of the night and transferred to the living room because Tatay was snoring. I woke up again around 2AM with itchy throat and body pains. I thought the sore throat was because I ate smores the day before, and that the body pains were because I cooked NY lunch and ironed clothes in the afternoon. By 5AM of January 2, I already had fever. I wore a mask and isolated in our home office. I tried to backtrack my moves, but I knew that I didn’t even remove my mask when we went out on December 30. Again, I thought it was probably just fatigue because my immune system was already so low which I attributed from lack of sleep because of Zayne’s tooth infection. I thought that it might be my usual birth month tradition because I always get sick on January! I woke up around 10AM. I could not move, and my headache was horrible! I slept almost the entire day. I only woke up to eat, but I ended up throwing up everything. The good news that day was Zayne’s toothache was gone. Tatay said that she ate a lot - a first since Christmas!

I woke up around 2AM of January 3. I checked my temperature, and the fever was already gone. Sore throat was also gone, but my head was pounding. I consulted our company doctor. She said that I could just continue to isolate if I could. I wasn’t asked to get a swab test. I just spent the whole day sleeping and throwing up. The vomiting only stopped when my doctor friend (Doc Ninang) gave me meds. It didn’t help that I finally got my period after 40+ days. I mean, PCOS sucks, but I’m so used to not having my period for months. I would have been happier if it didn’t come on the same day that I was throwing my entire soul up! Tatay said that Zayne kept on crying and asking when I would get out of isolation. I could bear the pain and all the throwing up, but missing Zayne was the worst! :'(

I woke up on January 4 with a message from Tatay. He said that he slept in the living room because he felt feverish. Although I wanted to continue with my isolation, Tatay’s fever shot up, and we had no other choice but to swap places. I disinfected the entire study room. Tatay spent the night in isolation. I was still feeling very weak, but I had to take care of Zayne. We did not want to send her to my parents because both are senior citizens with underlying conditions. I had been on autopilot since Zayne’s tooth infection, so I literally felt like a zombie that day. We slept really late that night because Zayne kept on crying. She said she misses Tatay.

Tatay’s fever was gone the next day, January 5. Unfortunately, it was just the beginning of our nightmare. Zayne started feeling hot around lunchtime. She was still able to eat lunch, but she fell asleep right away. It started as low-grade fever. She was still feeling energetic. She even said that she is happy because at least we were all sick together! What a crazy girl! Around 6PM, Doc Ninang sent us antigen kits. We were on video call as she instructed us how to use the kits. Zayne was lying at the background, but she was still feeling okay. I was the first one to take the test. By this time, I was already on Day 4 of symptoms. You have no idea how I felt when I saw the two lines. I’ve been spending years of disappointments looking at home pregnancy tests with one line, and there I was, looking at two lines on the antigen kit! Boyet, who was at Day 2 at that time, tested negative. Doc Ninang told us that we could confirm via RT-PCR, or we could all just assume that we’re all positive because we already had symptoms.

The next day, January 6, Tatay started calling labs with home service swab tests. Unfortunately, the earliest we could find at that time was for January 10. We couldn’t go to a drive-thru testing, because my best friend, who got tested and turned out positive, told us that they waited for more than 10 hours in line. We also could not leave the house because Zayne’s condition got worse. What happened next was something that I would not wish to any parent.

Zayne had a hefty breakfast that day. But around lunch time, her fever shot up to 38.5C. We were giving her Paracetamol every 4 hours, but it wasn’t helping. Around noon, her fever went up to 39C. She was already lethargic, and she kept on complaining of headache. I was already crying because she kept on holding her head and eyes. It was Zayne that we were so scared of getting sick because she was the only unvaccinated person in the house. I helped her take a bath, but the fever was not going down. Around 2PM, I checked her temperature again. You have no idea how hard I was praying at that instant. Lahat ng santa at santo, pati si Santa Claus na yata muntik ko nang tawagin! My eyes were glued at the thermometer, and I was literally talking to it, hoping it would not reach 40C. The thermometer stopped at 39.9C! I was already crying at that time, but I needed my presence of mind. So aside from the Paracetamol, Tatay and I were both giving her a sponge bath at the same time. I sent a message to our GC, asking fellow oilers what EOs could help with the fever. I gave her the usual Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint, applied on her spine and feet. But another oiler also suggested Digize and Cypress to be applied on her liver area. She said it could help “break” the fever. (Much to my surprise, Zayne kept on farting which was a relief for me because it also meant that I was not losing my sense of smell. Haha.) Zayne also has Koolfever on her forehead and an ice bag on her head to help relieve the headache. Our neighbor, who happens to be a pediatric nurse, asked us to put wet cotton balls on Zayne’s armpit. We were doing all of these non-stop for hours, hoping Zayne’s fever would go down. Tatay and I realized that it was already 4PM, and we still didn’t eat lunch. We grabbed something to eat, but Zayne kept on waking up because of her headache. She woke up again around 5PM. I told her that she needed to eat something. She asked for milk and banana, but she threw up right after. Around 6PM, her fever started going down. Again, much to my surprise, she pooped! This was a surprise because Zayne always, as in always gets constipated after a bout of fever. There was even a time when she was hospitalized not because of a flu, but because she was constipated after getting better from flu. Looking back, I had to thank the Digize and Cypress oils for that. Around 9PM, Zayne’s fever was gone, and she asked if she could watch mukbang on YouTube!

Zayne woke us up the next day, January 7, telling us that she was so hungry. She threw up right after her first breakfast. Luckily, the vomiting stopped after she had her second breakfast. She pooped again a couple of hours after. We were so worried of Zayne getting LBM, because it was a COVID-19 symptom that should be watched out for, especially for kids. Luckily, it wasn’t the case for Zayne.

This was taken on the morning of January 7. Zayne suddenly got my phone and asked for a selfie. Photo is blurred, but it will always remind me of God’s healing hands!

On January 8, the three of us had no symptoms at all, but we were all exhausted. We were just lying down the whole day. We noticed that Zayne started coughing in the middle of a sentence, so we booked a teleconsult with her pediatrician. We were asked to continue with the quarantine, which we were already doing. The doctor also prescribed antibiotics and cetirizine for all of us.

I’m glad that the three of us just got mild symptoms, but nobody is talking about post-COVID recovery. Believe me, it’s horrible. As soon as the symptoms disappeared, fatigue started to kick in. The three of us were just sleeping all throughout the day. Even the easiest tasks make me catch my breath. I had to pause mid-sentence when I talk. Even doing breathing exercises make me exhausted.

I also spent the first few days in quarantine feeling so bad that we caught the virus! We followed all the rules. We only broke our bubble because it was an emergency. We didn’t go to the mall. We didn’t go to the beach. We didn’t even see friends and family members during the holidays. We just went to the dentist because my daughter couldn’t bear the pain! It was so unfair. I was so sure that we got it when we went out to go to the different dentist on December 30. We had no place to park our car, so we walked for a couple of minutes. We took the least crowded route, but there were a lot people without their masks on! I was so mad, and I wanted someone or something to blame. But then I realized that mental fortitude is also very important when you have COVID-19. And so I prayed for peace and acceptance. There was actually no point in pointing fingers and thinking where and how we got infected. I just accepted the fact that we were at the wrong place at the wrong time. I accepted the fact that the latest variant is very transmissible because I have friends who got the virus even if they did not go out of the house in the last two weeks. Gratitude kicked in soon after. I’m just thankful that we are on the road to recovery. I’m thankful that we made healthier choices since the pandemic started, and that contributed to our faster recovery. I’m thankful to my parents for cooking meals for us. I’m thankful to our neighbors who rallied behind us and helped us especially during the worst times of our quarantine. I’m thankful to Doc Ninang who monitored us from Day 1. I’m thankful that Zayne’s school declared an academic break this week, so that meant one less stress for us. I’m thankful to our friends who sent us fruits and well wishes.

Fruit baskets from my team (L) and Ate Kakay and Gab (R)

And most importantly, I’m thankful for this life and another chance to live it fuller.

Games for the Titas of Manila at Solitaire.org

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 14:52:00 +0000

I am fortunate to be a part of the generation that grew up playing traditional games. We became a part of the transition from the old ways of playing, to the current norm of the more advanced mobile and online games. My husband and I would always tell our six-year-old daughter how kids now are so fortunate to have access to different forms of entertainment – Netflix, YouTube, and mobile and online games that sprout like mushrooms every single day. I remember growing up in the 90s to a middle class family. I grew up without a lot of toys. Incidentally, it was the time when blackouts became a part of our daily lives, and the time when crime rates in Manila were so high. I would sometimes spend hours playing card games with my parents using a candle as our source of light because we had nothing else to do. My mom taught me how to play the solitaire at a very young age. It soon became my only way to help fall asleep along with answering the crossword puzzle from the newspaper! Hihi.

So imagine how excited I was when I learned of solitaire.org – a website that houses online games that I grew up playing!

I’ve always been an introvert, and I think I became more introverted because I spent a lot of days playing solitaire at home by myself. Our house would turn so quiet that I would blast the volume of our radio to listen to sad love songs while playing cards. Good thing that this online solitaire has sounds at every move! Try it! Hihi!

The site is not only limited to solitaire and other card games. They have matching games like the Candy Fiesta. I initially tried this because of this cute moving cat which reminded me so much of those waving cat figurines we see on the cash register in a lot of local stores here in the Philippines! :p

We all know that these kinds of matching games can get so addicting, so don’t say I didn’t warn you!

The hidden object games like the Hidden Kitchen brought back so many memories! I remember that during my first few years in the corporate world, my then officemate turned very good friend, Jeff, introduced me to these kinds of games. I have no idea where he downloaded those games, but I spent hours at night playing such games every time I was on a break from watching Korean dramas! I would only stop and sleep when I feel my eyes strain. =))

I don’t know if it’s because I love to read, but word games have always been my favorite. I initially thought that playing Letter Scramble would just be a piece of cake. It was easy at the beginning as I create words from falling letters, but things got a little more challenging when more piled up, making it harder to see all the letters. It was fun, though!

I remember my Mama used to buy those books filled with crossword and word search puzzles. I guessed that helped me a lot in building my vocabulary. Below is a 12x12 Word Search puzzle I played from solitaire.org. It was overwhelming at the beginning with all the letters flashed at the screen, but I definitely enjoyed it! My husband even joined me in hunting for words!

I play games for stress relief, but there are times when I feel like a lot of the newer games make me more stressed! Haha. The graphics may be cool and advanced, but they make me dizzy at times. I find it comforting that my Tita heart can still go back to the games I grew up playing.

My Little Foodie Turned Six

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 00:27:00 +0000

It feels like yesterday when I would spend countless of nights sleeping in a pillow soaked with my own tears because another cycle of our fertility workup failed once again. But in reality, my little foodie turned six last month!

We entered the pandemic with a four-year-old Zayne who was so excited to be going to school for the first time, but the unanticipated lockdown made all of us caught unprepared for what was about to happen. What everyone thought was a two-week lockdown turned into a year. We definitely struggled as a family, with my baby going through a lot of changes, which made me feel like she was forced to suddenly grow up. Zayne has always been so generous in giving us hugs and kisses, but there are also days when I feel like my baby is slowly slipping away. She still likes to play with dolls and Lego, but she’s also into reading biographies. Most of the time, she would excitedly tell me random stuff like, “Nanay, do you know that Charles Darwin has 10 kids?! Ten kids!!! Seriously?!” She still loves watching Cocomelon, but she also enjoys watching Strictly Dumpling and Korean mukbangers like Hamzy and Sulgi. I think they are one of the reasons my little foodie kept on requesting me to cook new dishes for her. Can you imagine that just last year, she simply requested for spaghetti and fried chicken for her birthday? This year, she requested for shrimps, crabs, and chicharon bulaklak!!!

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A post shared by Jerellt Andrade | Je's Anatomy (@dahwanderer)

Because of the extended lockdown, Zayne has been doing virtual playdates with her friends. They would play stuff like Roblox, but once in a while, I also see them doing zumba when they rest their eyes from playing! Haha. I think that is why Zayne chose Roblox to be her theme for her 6th birthday. She chose everything, from the banners to the colors of her balloons and her cake. I think her Tita Pam, the owner of PAMCakes, finally met her youngest yet most meticulous and most demanding client!

Zayne found a peg online, and changed the details to include her favorites – rainbow, unicorn, bunny, yellow flowers and paintbrush. She meticulously designed her Brookhaven avatar and asked Tita Pam to make it the center of her cake. Zayne invited all of her Roblox Amigas to a virtual birthday party. You have no idea how loud the screams were when they saw the cake!

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A post shared by P͙A͙M͙C͙a͙k͙e͙s͙ (@bakedbypamcakes)

We gifted her a dollhouse which she and Tatay saw from Shopee! Her Ninang Mitch sent her beautiful flowers and an alpaca stuffed toy which we initially thought was a llama. She named her Alfie (because it is an alpaca haha) and now goes anywhere she goes!

I know that her childhood is fleeting, and the pandemic definitely magnified that. Although it has been really exhausting and challenging, I will forever be grateful for the time I got to spend watching her grow into a smart and kind-hearted kid. A part of me wants her to stay little forever, but I am also very excited to see her grow up and pave her own path. I am not sure how long she will still let me smell her armpit, but for now, I will just cherish every moment, every hug and kiss, and every food request she makes. (Even if it includes random requests like ramyeon, tteokbokki and gimbap!) :)

P.S. In case you missed it, Zayne has her own YouTube channel where she helps kids learn new things. Please send my little foodie some love by watching her vlog, liking her videos and subscribing to her channel. :)

How to Revamp Your Home Office Space

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 11:24:00 +0000

When lockdown was first announced here in the Philippines back in March 2020, everybody thought it would only last for two weeks. Thinking that our setup would not last long, my husband and I just worked in our dining room. Because I’m a software developer, I use a laptop and a second monitor. Can you imagine how I need to remove all my things from the dining table when it’s time for lunch and return everything after?

Around May 2020 when we enrolled Zayne for a one-month trial class in preparation for preschool, we just setup her old arts and crafts table inside the bedroom. When we realized that the pandemic was not going to end soon, my husband and I decided to convert an unused room in our house into an office space for me slash study room for Zayne just before her school year started.

We didn’t go all out all at once in designing our home office. It was rather a slow progress because we only relied to online shopping for fear that we catch the virus. We started with buying my table and reusing Zayne’s old table. Slowly, it turned into something like this.

Before you can start feeling motivated to work or attend school, you need the right environment. No one wants to be in a cluttered and noisy space that is not conducive for creativity. Below are some tips on how to make your space help you feel more productive.

Designate a Work Area

Keep your work area away from distractions like the TV, your bed, or anything that makes you lose focus. Our home office is at the third level of our house, so it’s definitely quieter. I mentioned earlier that my daughter spent her first month of online school in our bedroom. Although it works for some, I wanted her to have some sort of a routine because it was her first time to go to school. I wanted her to learn that it’s school time when she’s in the study room. Our bedroom is for sleeping and family time.

Zayne in our bedroom using her old arts and crafts tables

In my case, since I spent the first few months of working from home in the dining table, I find our pantry so distracting! I always felt hungry even if I wasn’t. I definitely blame that for the start of my weight gain! Hahaha! But more importantly, having a designated work area helps in setting up boundaries for work and family time which is something that is very hard to set when you’re working from home.

Choose the Right Lighting

Find the lighting that works best for you. Natural light is always best but if it’s not an option, then use the right light bulbs. This is especially true for programmers like me who work in front of the computer for eight hours or more. On some occasions when I have team meetings that require me to be in a video call, good lighting is also important. :p

Invest in Quality Furniture

Investing in quality furniture and personalized décor is recommended to create the perfect atmosphere for you when you’re working. That way, you’ll be more likely to want to work in your space. Just remember that it doesn’t have to be expensive. We bought my table from a local seller at a very reasonable price. We also got lucky that my husband’s company was discarding all of their office furniture because they were going into a merger, so we got Zayne’s table at a much cheaper price! It was definitely a steal!

We bought this table from my husband’s office at a very low price!

Create an Ergonomic Workstation

Items like a standup desk or using a large workout ball to sit on are ways that you can stay active while working. Sitting on a traditional desk all day has been shown to cause many health related issues. Sitting on a dining chair during meals is fine, but it’s definitely not designed to be sat on for eight hours. I started feeling back and shoulder pains because of that. A couple of months after, the dining chair I was using broke! I posted it on my Instagram stories, and a friend saw it. Good thing that she sent me and Zayne the office chairs (both the chairs in the photos above) that they were not using anymore. (While writing this, I realized God’s providence through other people’s generosity helped us a lot in creating a nice work and study area for our family!)

Paint Your Walls

Home offices can be a lonely place with many of us working from home on a regular basis. It’s important to make your office feel like your own, so you’ll want to think about the colors that you want to paint the walls. Choosing colors or patterns that make you feel more productive are helpful in making the space more personalized.

Our house is purely black and white, and I’m fine with that. But I was so amazed when my teammate, Jessie, showed us how he painted his home office! If you’re from the Philippines, I’m pretty sure you know the Facebook group Home Buddies. That’s where Jessie got the idea!

Jessie’s workstation

It’s also recommended to add wall art for inspirational quotes or picturesque scenes. I wanted to do this, but I don’t have a single creative bone in my body, so I just settled with putting this frame on my table.

Add Storage

I get so anxious when I see clutter and mess. Having a preschooler who loves doing arts and crafts proved to be a challenge, but adding storage bins that keep everything organized is the key. Aside from a book shelf, we also placed a cabinet for Zayne’s art materials in our home office.

Put Plants

Being on lockdown for nearly two years, I found comfort in gardening. Plants definitely make any space livelier. It’s not only a nice way to liven up your home office, but it’s also good in keeping the air clean.

Use Essential Oils

After you’re done with making your office look good, don’t forget to make it smell good, too! With all the stress I get from work and my daughter’s online schooling, I make it a habit to diffuse natural essential oils. I love using Peppermint to keep me alert and awake. Lemon and Orange are also good for my mood. I also diffuse different blends depending on my mental and emotional needs for the day. Hihi.

Lantern Diffuser and a small part of my EO stash from Young Living

When things get so messy in the house, I find myself watching Dream Home Makeover on Netflix and visiting sites like Calgary homes for sale. My husband and I dream of having a second home outside the city. It would be nice to have a garden for my plants and a bigger kitchen because I love to cook. I love our humble home office now, but it wouldn’t hurt to dream of having a bigger and nicer home office with a view of either a beach or tons of trees. ^_^

How about you, how did you transform your home office space? :)

To YOLO or Not to YOLO

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 13:36:00 +0000

We’ve all heard and read of horror stories of people who live by the motto YOLO (You only live once) and end up getting into massive debts because they “enjoyed” the present but failed to prepare for the future. The pandemic made people realize a lot of things. One of which is that our money and our jobs can be taken away from us in an instant.

One of my best friends once told me that she admires how I handle my finances. The truth is I am far from perfect, but I can say that I have made a lot of wise decisions when it comes to handling my own and my family’s finances. Boyet and I started dating during our last year in college. A couple of years later, a lot of our batch mates started to work overseas. We knew that we could save money faster for our future together if we work overseas, but we both didn’t want to uproot ourselves to work in another country. That is why we became more conscious in making wise financial decisions.

As social media started to boom in the late 2000s, we started seeing friends and batch mates posting travel photos and luxurious gadgets. It was so easy to fall into the trap of envy. But now that we are in the middle of a pandemic, I am so grateful that I found the balance between handling our finances wisely and enjoying the fruits of our labor.

My husband and I were not born rich. So while some people already had a head start, both of us didn’t. I’m proud to say that we have been working so hard for all the things that we have now. I’m glad that my husband and I share the common goals even before we got married. Both of us grew up without an expensive lifestyle, so that was a very good starting point for us. The first thing we did when we started to talk about marriage was to discuss about our priorities. We first saved up for a wedding. The next on our plan was saving for a house. But in 2012, barely a year after getting married, I found a new job. I got a decent separation pay after staying in the company for six years. I was initially torn between putting that money to augment our savings to be used in buying a house versus getting a car because my new office at that time is way farther than the previous one. We went with the latter and bought a second-hand car. Some of my friends advised us to get a new car instead, but we didn’t want to get in debt very early on in our marriage. Our main priority at that time was to really save up for a house. We just needed a working car that could get us from point A to point B. It turned out to be a wise decision because we really got our money’s worth with that car. Apart from using it to get to and from work, we also got to use it to a lot of trips to the beach with our family and friends.

Around 2013, we started paying for our house. It was also around this time when we found out that it would be extremely difficult for us to conceive a child. Adding to the down payment for our house, the cost of fertility workup also strained our pockets. Years of saving and preparing helped us get through those years. But while saving for our house, we did not forget to enjoy our first few years of marriage without breaking the bank. We only went to one international trip and just decided to visit more of our local destinations. We were also happy and contended with simple joys like eating out or going to the movies once in a while.

By 2015, we started paying for our ten-year mortgage. Zayne was born the same year. The following year, our first car finally gave up on us, and we were forced to buy a new one. Instead of the usual five-year loan, we settled for three years. We wanted to get out of debt as soon as we could. We finished paying for it in 2019. That same year, we decided to reallocate some of the money we used to pay for the car loan to increasing our life and health insurance plans. Around this time, we finally got to enjoy going to different places with Zayne.

When the pandemic hit, I realized how our past choices greatly affected our life now. I’m glad that we were able to balance managing our finances while still enjoying life. My husband and I are both in our late 30s, and our primary goals now are:

1. Eliminate our only debt which is our mortgage.

2. Augment our emergency funds.

3. Expand our sources of income in preparation for our retirement, Zayne’s education, future travel plans, and our dream of having a small farm in the province.

4. Continue to live within our means. (I believe this is really the most important part.)

5. Stay healthier so we can enjoy life more!

So while it is important to live by the motto YOLO, it is just as important to always find balance. Delayed gratification played a very important part in making us more financially mature.

Source: FB/becomingminimalist

Kolokoy Household: Episode 86

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 02:00:00 +0000

Hello, guys! I hope YOU are still WITH ME despite my never-ending absence. The truth is I have a lot of stories that I’ve wanted to share to my very small community of readers, but LIFE always gets in the way. As of this writing, I’m taking some days off from work to do some sort of a MENTAL HEALTH RESET. (That probably deserves a separate post.) One of the things that I want to do while I’m taking a break is to find time to do the things that I used to enjoy doing but didn’t have the time because of all the madness surrounding my life. These include gardening, reading a book, and writing a blog. I just realized that I haven’t posted a Kolokoy Household post for more than a year, so here it is! =)

Tons of craziness coming from this little one in 3... 2... 1...

ONLINE CLASSES:

Back last year when Zayne was still new to online classes…

Zayne: Nanay, panis na ako. Balik mo na ako sa ref.

I don’t know why she said that, so please don’t ask me why! Hahaha!

DELTA

One time over dinner, we were explaining to Zayne that the Delta variant of COVID-19 is more transmissible that’s why we still can’t go out of the house.

Me: Hay, grabe ‘yung Delta. May Lambda na! Balak pa yata netong virus na ‘to na ubusin ang Greek alphabet at umabot ng Omega.

Zayne: What’s Omega, Nanay?

Me: It’s from the Greek alphabet, Anak. Hmm, paano ko ba explain ang Greek alphabet dito?

Tatay: Omega, Anak. Kapag natulog ka ngayon, paggising mo bukas, Omega na!

Me: Anak ka ng!!!

ANG ALAMAT NG AMING ROBOT VACUUM CLEANER

Zayne was looking for the remote control. She asked for my help, so I told her to check under the couch.

Zayne: I can’t see anything.

Me: Here. Use my phone’s flashlight.

Zayne: Ohhh. Here! I see something. It’s… it’s... Look! It’s a popcorn!

Me: Boyet, sabi ko magwalis ka kagabi e!!!

BASO

Zayne accidentally broke a glass. She started crying, but we assured her that it is okay because it was an accident. Tatay started sweeping the floor, but Zayne was still weeping.

Zayne (still crying): I’m scared!

Tatay: Why? I told you I’m not mad. It’s okay.

Zayne: Baka kasi MABUGBOG ako.

Tatay: HINDI AKO NAMBUBUGBOG! BAKIT KITA BUBUGBUGIN?!

Zayne: Ayun o! Broken glasses. Baka MABUGBOG ako!

Tatay: BUBOG, Anak! BUBOG! Hindi BUGBOG!!!

BASO PART 2

Zayne: Nanay! Why are you drinking water from my cup? Bakit wala kang sariling baso?

Me: E kasi ‘di ba wala kang ginawa kundi makabasag ng mga baso? Ilan na ba nabasag mo?!

Zayne: E bakit ka po nagagalit? Sabi mo hindi ka galit kapag nakakabasag ako. TATLO!

Tatay: HAHAHAHAHA! O eto ha. Isang baso muna ang ilalabas ko para may lima pang nakatago. Kapag nakakita ka kasi ng bagong baso parang gusto mong basagin lahat agad.

UNICORN

During one of her virtual playdates...

Zayne: Tatay, can I also have a unicorn headset like Ate Bella and Ate Zoe?

Tatay: You have one.

Zayne: No, I don't.

Tatay: Wait, I'll get it.

Zayne: 😒

FAT

I gained a lot of weight after more than one year of working from home. As in A LOT OF WEIGHT. Haha!

Tatay: Tara, merienda.

Me: Ayokong kumain! Diet ako. Sabihin mo na naman mataba ako.

Tatay: Wala akong sinasabing mataba ka. Ikaw ang nagpipilit na mataba ka.

Zayne: Nanay, you are not fat. You’re just… ahhhmmm… THICK?!

Me: Huwawwwwwwwww!!!

FILIPINO TIME

Zayne already has a Filipino subject this year. She has always been fluent in Filipino, but she began to speak in English more when she started going to school last year. We then started to refresh her Filipino vocabulary. As usual, source of comedy na naman ang bagets!

Me: Zayne, ano sa Filipino ang NEW?

Zayne: That's easy. BAGOOOOO!

Me: How about OLD?

Zayne: HINDI BAGOOOOO!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA TAMA RIN NAMAN HAHAHAHAHAHA!

=== === ===

Me: Ano sa Filipino ang head?

Zayne: Ulo!

Me: Eyes?

Zayne: Mata!

Me: Back?

Zayne: Likod!

Me: Shoulders?

Zayne: Ohhh, I forgot!!!

Me: BA-LI…

Zayne: BA-LI-KOD! Balikod!

Me: Balikat, Anak! BALIKAT!!!

In case you still have time to spare, see more of Zayne’s wackiness on this vlog! =)

Entertaining Kids in the Middle of a Pandemic

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt) — Sun, 29 Aug 2021 10:56:00 +0000

My husband and I have really been strict with Zayne regarding the use of gadgets. We used to only allow her to watch YouTube on our smart TV every Saturday, and we made sure that she was always supervised. Being a millennial mom, I’ve always believed that technology should not be demonized as it’s now part of this generation’s growth. My husband and I always find the balance between the use of technology and traditional materials in educating Zayne. Zayne grew up playing with toys, doing arts and crafts, reading books and running outside. I guess Zayne was able to read and write even before she started attending school because we make conscious efforts to incorporate plays with learning. Unfortunately, the pandemic changed everything. I mentioned in a previous blog how the pandemic affected my child. Being stuck at home since March 2020, kids needed to adjust, and parents need to adapt and become more creative in entertaining their kids.

We live in a gated community. We allowed Zayne to play outside with other kids. It felt surreal seeing kids running and riding bikes with their face masks on. Sadly, two families in our neighborhood tested positive with COVID-19 around the first week of July. Shortly after, the Delta variant, which is known to affect more kids, was discovered to have already been locally transmitted in the Philippines. And once again, she was forced to strictly stay at home. I knew that sooner or later, she would grow tired of doing arts and crafts, playing with her Lego and dolls, reading books, singing and dancing. My husband and I decided to become a little more lenient. We allowed Zayne to play Roblox and attend virtual play dates with her best friends. My husband and I set rules that she’s not allowed to accept unknown friend requests, and she’s not even allowed to use the chat box in Roblox. Boyet and I even installed it on our phones, so we could play with Zayne and her friends.

Apart from Roblox, I recently stumbled upon plays.org, a site that houses tons of online games. I initially checked out the games to make sure that they are child-friendly. This site has been a really good alternative over how Zayne usually tests out a game – downloading it, playing it for while, and then getting tired of it after a few days. Repeat until the games eat out the space of our phones. Haha!

Anyway, we all ended up playing the different games!

After trying out plays.org, here are some of our favorite games.

Defenders of Mathematika

I shared this to two of Zayne’s playmates. Her ten-year-old cousin, Ate Zoe, challenged herself to play it. The goal is to answer at least 7 out of 10 questions correctly per category. The player can earn shields and unlock weapons. It’s actually a very creative and fun way to teach Math to kids!

Tetra Blocks

The first games I tried were from the Arcade Classics category. Tetra Blocks brought so many memories! I remember sharing a Brick Game with my younger brother. Our mom actually got addicted playing with Tetris! Haha! I tried playing this after a ten-hour shift. Call me weird, but I actually felt refreshed after playing it! =))

Pac Rat

Another game from the Arcade Classics category is Pac Rat. Players my age surely know how this game works! I was literally jumping off my seat while I was playing it. Haha!

2 Minutes to Escape

Another category I’m pretty sure players my age can also enjoy (and relate to, haha) is the Retro Pixels. I tried playing a couple of games in this category. One of which is 2 Minutes to Escape. The title clearly describes the goal of the game. If you like playing under time pressure, I highly suggest you play this game. Unfortunately because I don’t have the best eye-hand coordination, I kept on dying around the fourth level! Hihi.

Shadoworld Adventure

If you’re like me who grew up playing Super Mario Bros. with your siblings and cousins, then you can also try Shadoworld Adventure. It’s also under the Retro Pixels category. I remember playing Super Mario Bros. with my cousins during the 90s. We would take turns, but I would always have the shortest time to play because my character kept on dying. I never passed level 3. I don’t think I ever got better when I tried Shadoworld, but at least I don’t need to wait for my turn to play! :p

Butterbean’s Cafe Cupcake Creator Game for Toddlers and Dora’s Wonderful Wardrobe Girl Dress Up Game

Zayne utilized the search button of plays.org, and she was able to enjoy these two games. She loved dressing up Dora, and she also had fun doing pretend baking with Butterbean’s Café, which by the way is one of her favorite TV shows.

Kingdom Defense

Tatay also got to try a few games. When Zayne and I kept on failing at Kingdom Defense, Tatay willingly taught us the game!

Here is Zayne being so amazed when Tatay figured out the game! Hihi.

Our family can’t wait to go back to the time when we can freely go outside to play without worrying that we’ll get the dreaded virus. Almost two years into the pandemic, I bet that parents are already running out of ideas to keep their kids engaged and entertained. (Because I sure am!) But just like what I said earlier in this post, for now, parents like me need to find the balance between using the traditional versus “online” ways of educating and entertaining our kids. We consciously allot time for Zayne to read books, study her lessons, do arts and crafts, exercise, play with her toys, and play traditional games at home like board and card games, charades, bring me and the like. But we also allow her to play online games with supervision and strict guidance. Again, finding balance is the key. :)

Why I'm Fine That My Blog Failed

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt) — Mon, 31 May 2021 14:39:00 +0000

I’ve always loved writing. Growing up, I was so fascinated with how words turn into stories and how these stories can affect people’s emotions. Being an introvert, I grew up finding peace locked inside my room writing poems and short stories. I knew that I wanted to be a writer. Unfortunately at that time, I didn’t get the push that I probably needed to pursue my dream. I was young, and I listened to people who would always tell me that there is no money in writing or that I should pursue a career that focuses on either Science or Mathematics because that’s where I’m really good at. I finished Computer Engineering, and with the bizarre twist of fate, I ended up writing codes.

When I entered the corporate world in 2006, a colleague told me that he read all my blog entries in Friendster. He asked me to try putting up my own site. By 2008, I started Je’s Anatomy.

It initially started as food blog. If you look at my old posts, you’ll see blurred photos and read my very stiff way of writing. My style has changed over the years as I’ve also started writing about travel, product finds, and bits and pieces of my family life.

I started blogging with the intention to share stories. It became my outlet where I could relieve all my stress from the corporate world. I was just happy that I finally found my own tiny space to write. Things changed after a few years of blogging. I started complaining about the quality of my photos. I got stressed fixing the layout of my site. I was so disappointed that my blog was not getting enough traffic. I got insecure when I saw other bloggers getting invited to events. I said YES to a few invites, but I would turn down most of them. It was either because the venue was too far or it had a conflict with an important meeting at work. It was then that I realized that although writing is the most important part of blogging, there are a lot of other factors that a blogger needs to work on before making it “big” in the blogosphere.

Now, the landscape has extremely changed. A lot of bloggers started to transition to other social media platforms. The term influencers became even bigger as more people get known in YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and most recently, TikTok. I started a YouTube channel a couple of years ago to chronicle my daughter’s adventures, but I still go back to blogging once in a while.

I’m humbly admitting that I never really made it big both in blogging and vlogging. It used to bother me a lot because of all the hard work that I put into both. I would be a hypocrite if I say that I don’t want to earn from it. But looking back, I realized that not making it big in the blogging world is a blessing in disguise. I remember all the events I attended which made me really exhausted mainly because I am not a people person. I went into blogging because I wanted to express my ideas without being “seen” by other people. I didn’t know that PR is a big factor in a blog’s success. Honestly, whether in events or even in the office, human interactions really make me exhausted. I’ve also seen blogger friends get stressed out in chasing brands who take a lifetime to pay. I’ve also heard of horror stories of bloggers spending more to attend to an event only to get a pen or an umbrella as compensation. I guess my blog’s “failure” saved me from a lot of heartaches. Plus, I got to focus more on my career which I learned to love and has never failed to put food on our table.

I’m happy to be getting a few blogging opportunities while I still enjoy the liberty of writing whatever I want. I get validation not from the amount of traffic of my site but from my few yet loyal readers who have remained with me even if I go in and out of hiatus. I’m glad that I was able to inspire other women who have been going through infertility and mental health struggles. These used to be taboo topics, but I’m glad that my stories put a “face” on these issues. Up to this day, I still get random messages from people who say that reading my blog gave them hope after realizing that they are not alone in their battles. I get validation as an influencer not from the amount of money I generate from this blog (because it is definitely not a lot) but from readers who reach out to me to say that I’ve influenced them, whether to visit a restaurant or hotel I tried, to cook the latest recipe I posted on my vlog, or simply to try a new product I posted in my Instagram stories. I don’t get paid to post these things, but I’m really happy that my very few readers and subscribers appreciate my authenticity. My blog may have failed in stats, but I believe I have succeeded in touching other people’s lives - which is the sole purpose of why I started blogging. :)

Intentional at 37

noreply@blogger.com (jErELLt) — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 01:56:00 +0000

I turned 37 last January. I know it is already months late, but I’m drafting this blog while waiting for my turn for a doctor’s appointment. (I started writing this post back in March before ECQ was announced. I do hope I get to post this before 2021 ends! Hahaha!)

The truth is, with an empty hallway of St. Luke’s BGC, this has been the most quiet place I’ve ever been for a very long time. My family has been taking the stay-at-home order very seriously. To date, this is just the 5th time that I’ve been out of the house since ECQ was announced March of last year. We don’t have a nanny, so Zayne is waiting in the car with Tatay to limit our exposure. I already lost count of how many times I planned to write something, but I always end up either too tired or just staring at my laptop with brain fog. The truth is, I am just like everyone else who struggled during the past year. With all my health scare and mental health issues from 2019, I actually felt like the past year was a walk in the park. The park is just messy and filled with thorns. I mean, at least I’m walking in the park, right? I must admit that I was on autopilot mode during the first few months of quarantine. Things became more challenging when I almost lost my job April of 2020. My husband’s company is also going through a major merger, so there were definitely a lot of uncertainties in our heads. Just when I thought that we were finally getting the hang of quarantine life, things became more difficult when Zayne started school. I blogged about how I felt like COVID-19 forced Zayne to grow up. She really struggled because she was looking forward to going to a real school. Because of exhaustion and all the drastic changes that we had to face, the walls of our house witnessed all the screams coming from two very tired adults and a kid who was probably more tired and more frustrated than us. Suffice to say, it took a toll on our relationship as a family. I am embarrassed to admit that there were a lot of yelling, throwing things, and negative emotions in our house. We knew we needed to do something about it. This is why looking back, one of the very important lessons I learned during this pandemic is being INTENTIONAL.

With all the bad things that happened even before the pandemic hit us, I’ve learned to practice INTENTIONAL gratitude. The fact that I almost lost my job made me value it even more. I may not love my job 100% of the time (because I really believe that only hypocrites do, haha) but I acknowledge the fact that it puts food on our table. My husband and I are very lucky to have jobs that let us work from home. We’re all exhausted from work, online school, and household chores, but we appreciate that we get to be together 24/7. I know people who lost their jobs and businesses, so keeping our primary source of income in the middle of a pandemic is such a big blessing. I also know people who can’t afford to work from home because of the nature of their jobs, so I’m just very grateful that despite all the craziness and exhaustion, our little family still gets to enjoy the best of both worlds – keeping our jobs and having more time with each other.

My husband and I became INTENTIONAL in spending time with Zayne. At the beginning of quarantine, we noticed that Zayne’s attitude drastically changed. I remember crying almost every single day because I felt like I’m slowly losing my gentle and happy baby. I also felt like I was becoming a really bad mother. We were following a routine just like what experts suggested, but we were still failing big time. My last string was when I saw Boyet, who everybody knows as the most chillax guy in the universe, also getting frustrated. There were days when he would easily get triggered and resort to shouting. The three of us sat down together to talk about what was happening. It was an eye-opener when Zayne said, “I want you to spend time with me.” We could not understand why she would demand us to spend time with her when we’re all together 24/7. “You’re always working. You’re not being good parents.” Boyet and I looked at each other. I felt like an iron fist punched me in my chest. We both knew that Zayne was right. Just because we were together day and night doesn’t mean we are spending time together. People who are working from home know that it’s a struggle to set boundaries. Our computers are within our reach. People can set meetings anytime. Our minds trick us that we should be working more because we’re at home anyway. We should be working more because we might lose our jobs because of the pandemic. When Boyet and I acknowledged this, we made drastic changes. We became INTENTIONAL in giving Zayne our undivided attention. I wake up earlier than the usual to prepare Zayne’s bento box. She looks forward to this even if she’s just at home. We go online before our shifts because we usually help Zayne in preparing for school. As much as possible, we go offline on time. When one of us needs to extend, the other makes sure to spend time with Zayne.

Having a routine greatly helped us with our dynamics, but we became INTENTIONAL in being lenient on some days. Even before the pandemic, Saturday is Zayne’s “free” day. She can watch YouTube, eat chips and chocolates, and play games on our phones. We realized that the rules we made before the pandemic need to be bent at times because all of us are going through a lot. We now let Zayne skip her nap time every weekends. Eating in the living room was a big no-no before the pandemic, but we threw that rule out of the window. What helped us was letting Zayne get involved in our decision-making. She has already mastered the art of negotiating!

We became more INTENTIONAL in addressing Zayne’s needs as a child. I’ve always felt that my child is being robbed of her childhood because of this pandemic. Her first experience of being in a real school, not counting the one-week trial she had a week before ECQ was first announced, is in front of a computer. She struggled at first in making friends, but we’re glad that she adjusted after a couple of months. We could not go on vacations or even simply go to the mall, so my husband and I are making conscious efforts in being more resourceful and creative in making sure that Zayne will still have a very memorable childhood despite being stuck at home. We’ve been doing picnics in our living room. We order food online and pretend that it’s from the hotel room service. Zayne and Tatay are currently building a DIY dollhouse made from cardboards and papers. We had a treasure hunt at home. And the list goes on.

I’ve always been frugal, but the pandemic made me more INTENTIONAL in building our wealth. I used to frown upon the mere mention of the word wealth. I didn’t want to get rich as I feared that money would “change” me. I simply want to be debt-free, to help our parents, to secure Zayne’s education, to save for our retirement, to be able to extend help to those in need, and have some extra to travel and enjoy life. But I recently watched a YouTube vlog which changed my mindset in building wealth. It made me realize two things: that building wealth is not bad and that I can’t get something that I’m not willing to receive. Now that we’re working from home and saving money which used to be allotted for gas, parking, eating out and travelling, I decided to become more stringent in building our emergency funds. I also have a couple of side hustles which have been helping me “finance” my essential oils and Boyet’s Shopee budol. 😂 (We also became more INTENTIONAL in doing home improvements which is the best explanation for my husband’s Addtocartitis. 😂)

Zayne has really been feeling so isolated because she is an only child. We had 4 (I think) failed cycles of fertility workups in 2019. We were supposed to resume the following year, but the pandemic happened. We waited for the cases to go down and for my doctor to go back from her medical leave. We resumed this year and had our first cycle at the beginning of March. It looks like it wasn’t working. We decided to stop again because of the unbelievable rise in COVID-19 cases once again. I’m really sad as I think that I’m being robbed of the fighting chance to try having a baby again. I can risk it, but aside from trying to be on the safe side, I realized that I need to make a sacrifice to make more room for at least one person who needs to go to the hospital more than I do. I’m 37 years old, and though I know deep in my heart that it still has a lot of room to love for another child, I’ve learned to become INTENTIONAL in letting go of the things that I cannot control and surrendering to God’s will.

I know that I’ve been neglecting this blog and also our YouTube channel. I really want to keep both alive, but I’m also trying to be INTENTIONAL in taking a rest. My mental health has not been at its best since 2019, so I’ve been taking conscious efforts in dropping things to make more time for myself and my family. Nevertheless, I will forever be grateful for the small community that I’ve built through this blog. I’ll see you soon. We’ll get through this pandemic sooner or later. Keep safe.

Paying Your Final Respects to a Veteran in the Family

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt) — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 06:28:00 +0000

We all, at some point, have to deal with life’s losses. There is no passing that is inherently more or less tragic than another. Each person has a world of connection within them and, so, when they pass, we lose more than that person, we lose a world. However, if someone who has passed recently in your family is a veteran in one of the military forces, you may want to make sure that a little more is done to honor the sacrifice they made for their country and people. Here are a few ways you might be able to do that.

Source

Finding the right place for them

Your family may have a shared plot or your loved one might have had a place that they requested they be put to rest. However, if that isn’t the case, then you may want to find a place for them that befits their status as someone who fought for their country. As such, there may be a national or state veterans cemetery available. These can include things like a grave site to be assigned, as well as some services provided like perpetual care of the grave site at no cost.

Create a memorial display

To make sure that their service is seen and respected by those attending any service or memorial you hold, it might be a good idea to put together a display that has unambiguous ties to that service. For instance, there are different kinds of flag cases that make use of the symbols such as the flag and even display medallions that they may have won in life in a respectful and simple way. These come in varieties such as glass cases and memento boxes so you can choose the one that you think best fits your loved one.

Writing a eulogy

One of the big challenges for those who might be burying a loved one who is a veteran of the armed forces may be finding the right words to say about them at a eulogy. There’s no denying that writing a eulogy can be difficult at the best of times. To incorporate the themes of service and their life as veterans can be even tougher, but there are plenty of eulogy-writing tips available to help you. An important one is to remember you’re not just writing about a vet, but someone near and dear to you, so be sure to make it true to your personal experience of them.

Be sure to be accurate regarding their service

Not all veterans are likely to talk too much about their experience serving in the armed forces. Most want to get back and acclimate to civilian life. However, a funeral is a perfect time to remind people of the sacrifices they made. However, if your loved one didn’t share too many details on their service, then you should be sure to do your research so that any facts you share or cement are true to avoid any embarrassment.

Who should be invited?

If your loved one had close friends that they were serving with, especially ones that they since made an effort to keep in contact with, then you may see fit to invite them to the memorial. Funeral invitations are not common, typically you would make a public announcement instead, but for those who had deep meaning to your loved one, it can be important to reach out. You will surely at least want to inform anyone you can remember to rather than simply letting them overhear it from someone else.

Can you get financial help?

Funerals are expensive, that’s simple and true. Furthermore, if you want to put in a little extra effort to acknowledge a veteran, then that may cost extra. As such, you may need help in covering the costs of any arrangements you put together. Depending on where you live, this can, of course, differ. However, in most cases, veterans are going to have some of their costs covered as part of a burial allowance run by the veteran’s association, and it is important to apply for this to make sure you’re not handling the financial burden alone.

There’s no objective measurement of whether or not you’ve succeeded in giving your loved one the respect that they deserved. Hopefully, the tips can help you feel satisfied in your efforts but remember that the first priority should be remembering and celebrating their life, not just the title they may have once had or the service they provided.

KDrama Review: Still 17

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt) — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Because When the Camellia Blooms stressed the hell out of me, it took me around two weeks to start another Korean drama. I wanted something lighter and not too “mainstream” which is why I decided to watch Still 17 as recommended by my teammate, Rei. She was also the same person who pushed me to watch Because This Is My First Life. She said that this is another underrated KDrama.

Woo-Jin is a 30-year-old single and eccentric man who works as a set designer. His life is being haunted by a dark past after being traumatized 13 years ago. He never really cared about other people and how they think about him. His life was changed when he met Seo-Ri, a woman who got into an accident and fell into a coma when she was 17 years old. Seo-Ri woke up 13 years after, not knowing anything about how the world has changed since her accident.

Photo from asianwiki.com

I was reluctant at first to watch this because I felt like the plot is unrealistic. I didn’t set any expectations when I started watching the series. Surprisingly, I was immediately hooked on the first episode. The first episode was really intense, and then the next ones will bring you into a wonderful ride. Although I have to say that Still 17 is generally a light-hearted KDrama, the story has a mystery that will keep the viewers on guessing. Still 17 will make you laugh, cry, guess and feel like a 17-year-old again. Tamang kilig din ihhhhh. Ayiieeeee!

The main reason why I decided to watch Still 17 was because of Shin Hye-Sun. I really like her and feel like she’s such an underrated actress. I really admire her versatility. I remember Shin Hye-Sun in The Legend of the Blue Sea and Oh My Ghost. She actually reminds me of Jodi Sta. Maria who can really stand out in whatever role is given to her. Pwedeng mabait, maldita, inaapi, shunga shunga, bida o kontrabida. Shin Hye-Sun once again displayed her versatility in Still 17. She was really good acting like a 17-year-old trapped in a 30-year-old body. She’s funny with her quirky antics, but she was also able to show her acting prowess on heavy scenes.

It was my first time to watch Yang Se-Jong in a drama. I found out after a quick search to asianwiki.com that he is fairly new in the industry, but I was so surprised how he delivered the very complex character of Woo-Jin. He was really charming in Still 17, both when he started as a “hermit” up until he lost all his facial hair. He may look cute and innocent, but he really showed vulnerability when the scenes called for it.

I first saw Ahn Hyo-Seop in Abyss. I only watched the first two episodes because I was in KDrama hiatus when it was being aired. I initially thought I would experience a second lead syndrome with Yoon Sun-Woo, the actor who played Kim Hyeong-Tae, Seo-Ri’s childhood friend who stayed with her even after she went into coma. I was wrong. Apart from the fact that Yoon Sun-Woo’s scenes were very limited, I still can’t get his character off my mind as the epal prince in Scarlet Heart. Haha! And besides, Ahn Hyo-Seop was really charismatic in his portrayal of a 17-year-old guy smitten by an older lady. Kyot kyot niya dito.

I really liked the supporting cast. Chan’s best friends are hilarious. The actors who played as the younger leads were also amazing, but my favorite was Yoon Chan-Young, the actor who played the young Woo-Jin. But my favoritest of them all is Ye Ji-Won. Grabe si Jennifer! She’s funny with her quotable words and overwhelming knowledge of almost everything, but her back story left me so heartbroken!

My initial thought that the plot of Still 17 is unrealistic was changed after I watched all the episodes. I realized that Seo-Ri falling into a coma served as a metaphor of how a lot of people battle being stuck in life. It can be because of an illness, an accident, financial troubles, getting married at a very young age or having a child when they’re at the prime of their careers. Seo-Ri waking up 13 years after was a very good representation of starting over again. I really liked the message it conveyed that it’s never too late to realize your dreams. Seo-Ri reminded me that I simply need to run on my own pace. Kim Tae-Rin represents people who live in sadness despite the perfection. Her story was a perfect reminder that we should pause once in a while to reassess what we truly need in our life. Chan taught viewers the power of having a positive mindset. He showed us that people can do anything as long as they put their minds on it. The stories of Jennifer and Woo-Jin living in regrets were so powerful. They served as a reminder how we should be facing life’s challenges.

I really liked that this KDrama does not have any antagonist that viewers would hate. The only antagonist that each of the characters faced was their actual self. If you’re looking for something light yet thought-provoking, I highly suggest you watch Still 17.

KDrama Review: When the Camellia Blooms

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt) — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 02:00:00 +0000

When the Camellia Blooms was shown while I was in the middle of my KDrama fast. So despite the fact that it was top billed by my darling Kang Ha-Neul (haha), I just got the chance to watch it a few weeks ago. I was immediately transformed into a Kang Ha-Neul fan after watching him in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. And when the news broke out that he won Best Actor at the 2020 BaekSang Arts Awards, I knew that this should be put in my very long list of KDrama backlog that I need to watch! Hihihi!:)

I started watching it more or less a week after I finished the last episode of Because This Is My First Life. I did so without reading anything online, not even the synopsis on Netflix. That is why I became so confused as I was watching the first episode. I told myself, “Ahmmm. This is not what I signed up for!” I thought it was a light rom-com with the story of how a guy falls in love with a single mother. Ehhh. Wrong answer!

Photo from sbs.com.au

When the Camellia Blooms takes place in a fictional town of Ongsan. It’s known not only for being a food district but also for the tight relationship of the people within the community. Yong-Sik, played by Kang Ha-Neul, is a native of Ongsan who became a police officer not because of his intellect but purely because of luck and his sheer desire in solving crimes. Dong-Baek, played by Kong Hyo-Jin, is a single mother who moved to Ongsan to put up a bar that she called Camellia. Her life has always been filled with hardships, and things didn’t get easier because the people of Ongsan love to gossip about her. Things became even more complicated for her when Yong-Sik fell deeply in love with her.

I should have gotten the clue that this is not a typical romantic Korean drama from the fact that Kang Ha-Neul plays the role of a police officer! My eyebrows were always creased as I was watching this drama. This is just 2% romance and 98% a lot of other things! For starters, the quiet town of Ongsan was being haunted by a serial killer, Joker! Growing up watching all seasons of CSI, I already knew at first glance who Joker was, but the writer kept on throwing my thoughts off to confuse me. There are a lot of back stories surrounding Joker and the people of Ongsan. There were a lot of times when I would start to question my guess about Joker, pero nagpakatatag talaga ako! Hindi niyo ako malilinlang sa mga crime chenelyn na ganito! HAHAHA! I’ll discuss more about the plot later kasi medyo mixed feelings ako sa phasing nito.

After watching Kang Ha-Neul in Scarlet Heart, I knew that he could do more. He definitely showed versatility here in his portrayal of Yong-Sik. I kept on laughing at his antics which was so far from his role in Scarlet Heart. Muntanga siya dito, promise! Cute pero muntanga pero nakakaaliw pero cute. Did I say he was really cute here? Hahaha! His portrayal got me really engaged with his character. He was really funny, but he showed vulnerability when the scenes call for it. Basta, ang galing niya dito!

I’ve seen a few episodes of The Master’s Sun when it was shown in a local channel here in the Philippines, and that was the first time I’ve watched a KDrama starring Kong Hyo-Jin. Hindi ko natapos kasi sakto na nakakatakot ‘yung isang episode na napanood ko. Hahaha! I’m not really a big fan of Kong Hyo-Jin, but I have to say that she did really well playing Dong-Baek.

It took me a few episodes to appreciate Kong Hyo-Jin’s acting probably because everybody in this drama was so good! The child actor who played Dong-Baek’s son was so adorable! Grabe ang natural ng angst ng bata! Damang-dama ko ang stress niya sa buhay! It was also a delight to watch the actor who played Mr. No. Ang galing ng transformations ng character niya. Havey din ang asawa niyang divorce lawyer!

If you’ve already seen this drama, I’m pretty sure that all the Ongsan ajummas made you irritated yet laugh at the same time.

Screenshot from Netflix

Siyempre, hindi magpapatalo ang paborito kong lider ng mga tsismosa from Crash Landing on You na si Kim Sun-Young! Eye shadow pa lang, umaarte na!

It was my first time to watch Son Dam-Bi in a drama. Her character, Hyang-Mi, was so complex that I initially didn’t know what to make out of it. I first thought that her character was just a nuisance, but it ended up being the most confusing yet very pivotal part of the story. And maygulay, she definitely delivered! I was so affected with how her story unfolded!

Lee Jung-Eun, the actress who played Dong-Baek’s mom, also stole my heart! Hindi ko na ma-review kasi maiiyak lang ako. Wahaha! Her acting was so effortless that I could literally feel her pain and longing.

I wanted to comment on the acting of the one who played Joker, but I don’t want to spoil it for those who still haven’t watched WTCB. He/she was so amazing!!! Once again, my guess was right from the beginning, but I still got so impressed with his/her portrayal! The darkness in Joker’s story was perfectly portrayed by ___. Ayoko ng spoiler talaga, so shut up na lang ako. Hihi! Basta, ang galing ng gumanap ng Joker!!!

I mentioned earlier on this post that I initially had an issue with the phasing of When the Camellia Blooms. I was quite hesitant to watch WTCB seeing that it has 20 episodes. Having watched too many Korean dramas in the past, I knew how such dramas usually start on a high note, have the climax in the middle, and eventually get stretched and boring in the end. But such was not the case for WTCB. It started out really well, but it got quite dragging around the second quarter of the drama. It eventually picked up, so I got hooked back. As I was watching it, I felt like there were a lot of things going on in the story. There were a lot of subplots that didn’t quite make sense in the beginning, but the storytelling and execution of WTCB were both so exemplary that everything fell into place. Even the smallest details and nuances were explained and connected to the main story. (Nagulat ako na kahit ang pink hat na akala ko e props lang, may kenekshens pala sa dulo!) The intriguing and compelling storytelling made me so invested that I ended up having no choice but to stick to it. I totally forgot the boredom I felt watching the second quarter because the rest of the episodes were so intense. Both my head and my heart hurt in episode 19!

When I was starting to lose my interest, my longtime friend, Dianne, said that she liked WTCB because the message was really nice. She was right! Viewers will definitely realize a lot of things while watching WTCB. The joys and pains of being a single parent were thoroughly discussed here. The stigma and prejudice that every single parent goes through were realistically shown in this drama. Kaya sa totoo lang, sobrang importante ng role ng mga tsismosang ajummas ng Ongsan! I always feel a lump forming in my throat at times when the back stories of the parents were being explained. I could totally relate to the guilt of always choosing between providing for your children and staying beside them. There were a lot of powerful scenes that showed the pain and guilt of the parents as they blamed themselves for how their kids turned out.

I really appreciated the fact that WTCB has a lot of subtle messages that would make the viewers think. (PRO TIP: Magbaon ng brain cells habang nanonood.) Some of which will probably serve as an eye-opener for a lot of people. Should we really just blame the ajummas of Ongsan, or was Dong-Baek also at fault? (Pero ang ganda ng development ng relationships nila sa dulo!) There are two people with the same misfortunes in life, but why did Hwang-Mi feel that Dong-Baek turned out better than her? Should we really chase happiness? Are parents always at fault with how their kids choose their paths later in life? Does a mother’s love have a limit? This drama will definitely make you look at a lot of things with a different perspective. WTCB even put hidden messages in dumplings and planting!

Photo from asianwiki.com

When the Camellia Blooms is not your typical Korean drama. Watching it was really a roller coaster ride. I totally forgave the slow pacing earlier on because I realized that the foundation of the story was being properly laid out. Things started to get more intense and interesting around episode 10. Episode 19 was really the most memorable for me. The last episode made me feel really good, but it left a haunting feeling that I could not explain. Just like what I said, everything just made sense at the end. I finished watching WTCB last week, but I still could not muster enough strength to start another KDrama. Suffice to say, WTCB is now included in my list of all-time favorite Korean dramas.

P.S. Ako lang ba, o talagang kamukha ni Joker ang isang artista from the 80s na kapatid ng isang actor-politician na na-link sa isang sikat na TV host na galing sa isang prominent political family? Kung napanood niyo na at agree kayo, just comment YES KAMUKHA NGA pero huwag niyong sabihin ang name para hindi ma-spoil ang mga hindi pa nakanood! =))

P.P.S. When I told Dianne that I already knew who the Joker was even at the beginning, she told me, “Hala, writer ka nga talaga! Ako kasi may gulat factor pa rin.” Sa mga nakanood, tama rin ba ang hula niyo kung sino si Joker? :)

4 Health Issues That Became More Common During Lockdown

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt) — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 14:59:00 +0000

The global health pandemic caused by the COVID-19 outbreak has put many people through the wringer. It’s true to say that numerous health issues have become more common due to this situation. Here are some of the health problems that have become more prevalent during the lockdown.

Source

Dental Issues

I am pretty sure that a lot of people resorted to stress-eating to cope up with the stress of being stuck at home. If you browse through your social media feeds, you will definitely see tons of posts of people baking and selling cakes, cookies, brownies and cupcakes. To add to that, dental clinics were closed for an extended period of time. This is definitely a struggle for people like my husband who are wearing braces!

While a lot have reopened now, people are still struggling to get the support that they need from dentists. Many individuals often assume that dental health is not important, but this is not the case. Oral checks are crucial for a variety of reasons including ensuring that there aren’t any signs of dental problems. If you are worried about the state of your dental health due to the lockdown, make sure that you book an appointment with a practice like Mona Vale Dental. I know that a lot of dental clinics have been exerting efforts to adapt to the new normal to ensure the safety of their patients.

Mental Health

Lockdown saw a rise in mental health concerns. This was mainly due to people being unable to venture out to visit family and friends. The older generation took the brunt of this and became very alone and isolated due to having no visitors. Feeling alone can aggravate existing mental health issues such as depression. The uncertainties surrounding this pandemic also caused people to experience panic attacks and anxiety. Experts have advised it is vital to keep up a routine and get back on track slowly. It’s also important to readjust your sleeping pattern and be more active throughout the day.

The C Word

Reports have revealed that multiple individuals have struggled to get the support they need and the right cancer treatments during lockdown. I personally know people who experienced this. This has led to numerous individuals feeling helpless and completely unsupported. People were even worried about contacting their doctor or visiting a hospital out of fear that they might contract COVID-19. It also didn’t help that a lot of hospitals are full, and medical practitioners are already exhausted treating COVID-19 patients. Cancer is always a terrifying diagnosis, but catching it early tends to lead to more positive results.

Diet

You definitely may have found that your diet has slipped and your weight has increased during lockdown. People went one of two ways during the lockdown. They either went on a fitness kick, working out every day, or decided to just let things go and ate more fast food. Of course, it will have been tempting to order food rather than queue for the shops through the lockdown. Now, you could be faced with the difficult task of getting your health back on track. Rather than dieting, consider simply adding a more intense workout to your daily routine. A ninety-second workout could be a brilliant option for burning calories.

As the world begins to emerge from the global health pandemic, it’s now up to us all to get back on track. We have to think about the health issues we may have missed and consider things beyond contracting the virus itself.

KDrama Review: Because This Is My First Life

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt) — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 02:00:00 +0000

My officemate, Rei, has been doing Asian drama reviews on her personal FB page. I was so intrigued when she gave Because This Is My First Life a rating of 100/10. Yup, hindi typo ang extra zero before the over sign! I was even more intrigued when I saw a couple of online articles which included Because This Is My First Life as one of the most underrated Korean dramas. I figured that I needed something like this after watching a much talked about KDrama like Crash Landing on You. In case you haven’t watched this KDrama yet or this is the first time that you’ve ever heard of this, you’re probably wondering whether I would also give this a 100/10. I’ll get into that later.

Photo from asianwiki.com

Because This Is My First Life is about Nam Se-Hee (Lee Min-Ki), a very stiff and frugal geek, and Yoon Ji-Ho (Jung So-Min), a writer who is struggling in every aspect of her life. Se-Hee just wanted to get by his very boring daily life. He had everything planned out until the day he dies. His mind only has two things – his cat and his house mortgage. Ji-Ho, who comes from a very patriarchal family, felt stuck at her job as she had been an assistant writer for dramas for five years. Struggling with her career and her finances, Ji-Ho found herself homeless. Due of a big misunderstanding, the two became housemates by accident. And because they both felt like they are able to give what each other needs, a home for Ji-Ho and a responsible housemate for Se-Hee who could tend to his cat, do household chores and even help him pay for his mortgage, the two carelessly decided to get married. I know that you’ve seen other dramas with the same plot. I’m also pretty sure that you find this situation very unlikely to happen in real life, but this is the only thing in this KDrama that seems to be a little unrealistic. Everything else are so realistic, and I know that viewers from different age groups will be able to relate to at least one of the characters from this drama.

I honestly liked Lee Min-Ki’s portrayal of Se-Hee. He was effortless in being awkward and stiff. I remember telling Rei while I was watching the first episode, “Hindi masyadong pogi etong si Lee Min-Ki, ano?” In which she replied with, “Oo, pero malakas charisma niya diyan.” As his character unfolds, viewers will actually appreciate his demeanor more than his looks. I think it was also good that his looks didn’t distract me from the story. Wala ring pakitaan ng abs dito kaya walang distractions sa story. Wahahaha!!! I also liked his versatility - from scenes na mukha siyang timang to scenes that require him to throw out all of his emotions.

Senior KDrama Tita Fans will probably remember Jung So-Min from Mischievous Kiss. She still has the same innocent look from when Mischievous Kiss was shown a decade ago which made her really suitable for the role of Ji-Ho. I initially had second thoughts about Jung So-Min playing Ji-Ho. I wasn’t able to engage with her portrayal at the beginning, but I finally understood as I continued watching her. I realized that Ji-Ho was supposed to be plain and unassuming because people around her painted her as a pushover. I finally connected with her character as soon as I understood her dilemma. As a person who loves to write and still dream of becoming a writer someday, I could really relate to Ji-Ho’s struggles. What started out as a boring character, I eventually embraced all the changes that Ji-Ho had to go through. Tawang-tawa din ako sa mga facial expressions niya!

Just like what I said, there are a lot of things that viewers can relate to in this drama. People who question their career choices will surely relate with Ji-Ho’s struggles. Those who were scarred by past relationships and failures will see themselves in Se-Hee. I really like that the side stories were built up well along with the story of Se-Hee and Ji-Ho. Couples who have been in a long-time relationship will find the story of Ho-Rang and Won-Seok very relevant. It’s nice that they posed an important question about marriage and relationship. Here are two couples, one is married without love, while the other love each other but are not married. Does marriage equate to love, and love to marriage? Believe it or not, I got a bit scared with how their story would end up. I’m just glad that I got the ending I was hoping for. Their story somehow reminded me of a subplot of Fight for My Way. And then there was the story of Soo-Ji and Sang-Goo. It’s nice that the drama was able to discuss the difficulties that women go through in the corporate world! Very good sila dun ng 1,000 times! I also appreciated the fact that the story of Soo-Ji and Sang-Goo provided a different perspective on marriage. Ang sarap din na ang CEO niyo ay parang si Sang-Goo na pwedeng i-bully ng buong office! Hahahaha!

I liked that Because This Is My First Life just focused on being relatable. This drama doesn’t have the antagonists that viewers will hate. Chill lang lahat! The conflicts presented were those that usually happen to ordinary people. I think this is why I ended up just watching it without stretching my brain cells. There was nothing really overly dramatic in this series except for one episode because Kim Sun-Young almost made me cry. She’s one of my favorite Korean actresses, by the way. She’s one of the tsismosas from CLOY. Hihi.

Photo from asianwiki.com

I also appreciate that Because This Is My First Life showcased women empowerment when the three friends Ji-Ho, Ho-Rang and Soo-Ji finally stood up and walked away from the things that have been dragging them down. I would really want to discuss each because that’s my favorite part of this drama, but I don’t want to spoil those who have not yet watched it. Hihi.

Did l like Because This Is My First Life? Definitely! Will I give it 100/10? Not really. There was one thing that I didn’t really like about this drama. Well, I didn’t like it while I was watching it, but I somehow understood it after pondering over it for a couple of hours after I watched the last episode. I just felt that the last two episodes were a bit stretched only for the main conflict to be rushed at the last episode. Watching Korean dramas for years made me get used to this scenario, to be honest. It’s just that Ji-Ho’s decision wasn’t fully explained. Why did she decide to “punish” herself and Se-Hee when they both wanted the same thing anyway? I understood the reason behind it because I’ve been married for years, but I guess it would have been nice if it was explicitly explained in the end. So ayun, may gamitan din ng brain cells na magaganap sa dulo. Hihi. At dahil pinag-isip niya ako ng slight, mga 9.5/10 ang rating ko. But I have to agree that this is such an underrated KDrama. This will make you smile, laugh, sad and reassess your life choices. At may kilig din sa mga linyahang, “Should we sleep together?” Wahahaha!!!

Low-Impact Exercises That Work at Any Age

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt) — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 16:00:00 +0000

Exercise is essential for taking your health. Nobody can really get away with not exercising without feeling the impact at some point. However, if you’re starting to show your years a little, have been injured in the past, or are simply dealing with joint or back pain, you want to be careful about how you workout. High-impact exercises like running and heavy weight-lifting can do more harm than good. Here, we’re going to look at those that don’t impact your joints, allowing you a safe and healthy way to get moving.

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Cycling

If you’re looking to get your heart really pumping and you used to enjoy going on a run when your joints would allow it, then cycling might be just the thing for you. It’s one of the best exercises for fat-burning, as well as working your leg and core muscles. Furthermore, it’s also one of the easiest to fit in your own home. There are plenty of bikes as shown at verywellfit.com that can even fit in a smaller space.

Swimming

If you live near any gym or recreation center, then it is very likely that you’re going to have access to a swimming pool. The water stops any impacts from doing too much harm to your joints, but the resistance it provides also means that swimming is one of the healthiest exercises around, offering both a full-body workout as well as tremendous cardio. Doing it for 30 minutes three times a week alongside a healthy diet can do a whole lot of good.

Tai chi

A practice that has been going on in China for over a thousand years, we still continue to discover new health benefits to tai chi. The lessons available from places like taichiforhealthinstitute.org involve movements that are slow and precise. While it might look easy on the outside, it teaches great flexibility and balance, much like yoga. It’s also a great source of stress relief.

Rowing

A lot of sports might feel off-limits to you, especially if they require explosive movements using your joints or involve physical contact. However, one that you can still get into, and easily practice at just about any gym, is rowing. A fantastic exercise for working the legs, arms, back, and core, as well as good cardio.

Nordic walking

In general, power walking is a great way to replace your runs with an exercise that doesn’t see you slamming your foot on the ground, causing impact to go up to your joints and your back. Nordic walking is one that’s particularly challenging since it uses specially designed Nordic walking poles that ensure good posture at all times when used right. Inwa-nordicwalking.com offers plenty of advice on how to start doing it as effectively as possible.

The low-impact exercises mentioned above should be perfect for those taking extra care of their joints. However, if you have any health issues and want to know what will specifically be safe for you, it’s recommended you talk to your usual healthcare provider.