LIVE FULLY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE

With an expiration of less than twelve hours,

what does Jesus count as all most important? 

"And he took bread, GAVE THANKS and broke it, 

and gave it to them..." (Luke 22:19 NIV).

Jesus offers thanksgiving for even that which will break Him and crush Him 

and wound Him and yield a bounty of joy.

As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible. Joy is always possible. 

Whenever, meaning-now; wherever, meaning-here.

Thanksgiving is the evidence of our acceptance of whatever He gives. 

Thanksgiving is the manifestation of our "Yes!" to His grace.

-- a few of my favorite lines from my current read, 

Ann Voskamp's 

"ONE THOUSAND GIFTS: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are."

PERFECT TIMING.
Thank you to KLG and The Today Show
for the recommendation.

'Thank you' are among my favorite words. My Gratitude Journal is among my most valuable possessions. That's why I easily gravitated to the book One Thousand Gifts.

Living in gratitude is easy through good times, tough through bad. But because I've experienced the truth in this -- The holy grail of joy is not in some exotic location or some emotional mountain peak experience. The joy wonder could be here! Here, in the messy, piercing ache of now...(Ann Voskamp) -- I choose to give thanks, no matter what.

As the book reminds us, Jesus revealed the secret to happiness, through his own example. In his dying hours, He still chose to give thanks. (Mamamatay na, papatayin na, nagpapasalamat pa rin.) The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything. He who has learned this knows what it means to live.


Today, I'm especially grateful for:

1. Our Amazing Adventure. Wow.
2. Thank you, God, for the wonderful opportunity. 
3. Thank you for all the life-enriching experiences.
4. New perspectives. 
5. The next chapter. 
6. The new road.
7. New Dreams
8. Stronger Faith
9. Our marriage. 
10. Our families. 
11. Tita Time!
12. Our friends.
13. Good health.
14. Our lovely home.
15. Our quiet little life. 
16. Freedom!
17. Current work set-up. (Pwedeng ganito?! Bongga.)
18. Because it can get too hot -- Thank you for cold showers, the swimming pool, the air con, and finally some rain!
19. Successfully crossed-over to advertising after doing TV for more than a decade. 
20. The opportunity of crossing-over into another dream industry. *praying*
21. The reminder to be cautious as to who you let into your life. 
22. Ikea
23. Today's errand was finished in less than an hour. We're pleasantly surprised. 
24. Thai massage. Pinoy dinner. American Idol.
25. Jessica Sanchez. We're in awe of the girl's talent. She's been making a lot of people, especially Pinoys, happy and proud. Final results in a few hours!
26. Be grateful that God doesn't grant us everything we want. Instead, He provides us with everything we need. 
27. God's Plans are greater than our dreams. (I never imagined I'd be where I am now. Again, pwede pala 'to?! Bongga.)
28. Thank you, God, for loving us the way you do. 

Try starting your own Gratitude Journal. List everything you're grateful for. Not of gifts you want but of gifts you already have. That's the dare to LIVE FULLY right where you are. 

WAN LIN HEALTH CENTER

We are massage addicts bent on finding the best value-for-money massage place here in Singapore. So umikot talaga kami all over Chinatown. Basta may foot reflexology signage, sinisilip namin. We're happy with the services at Young, see my recent entry about it here. 

But our search for the best (mura at magaling) has led us to Bugis. We're glad to have found a really good and affordable health center -- Wan Lin, located at the Fu Lu Shou Complex. It's right across Bugis Street (very Greenhills / Tutuban), right beside the Albert hawker center. 

Wan Lin has a branch on every floor of the Fu Lu Shou Complex. If the ground floor branch is full, paaakyatin ka. The mall specializes on Daoist and Buddhist religious paraphernalia. Shoppers looking for lucky charms can go here. According to Wikipedia, "the mall is named after the Daoist concept of Fu Lu Shou, meaning, respectively, good fortune, prosperity, longevity."

Wan Lin has very good therapists. They so know which spots hurt. And how to work on them. We've been enjoying their foot reflexology and half body massage services. They have the most affordable price points (see below) based on our pag-iikot. Yes, based on SG standards, mura na yan. No fancy interiors here. Basic massage chair for feet services, and basic massage beds for body services. It's far from being a spa. "Health center" would be the best description for it talaga.

We love it here!

30 -minute Foot Reflexology
SGD18 = Php630

30-minute Half Body Massage
SGD25 = Php875

Health heaven! *sleepy, satisfied smile*

WE'RE ON A MAGAZINE

As cover? Wish!

Hubby's back from a short Manila trip. Among his many pasalubong: Yes! (my guilty pleasure, binilin ko talaga) and Health Today (see the article on how to break dating cliches, we were among the interviewees!). Sayang, hindi siya umabot sa March issues ng Preview, Esquire and Rogue. 

Devoured the latest Manila showbiz chismis with Red Ribbon pastillas. Sarap! Ito ang chika: Yes' Best Dressed List does not include Kapuso stars. Mostly Kapamilya (Anne, Gretchen, Dawn, Piolo, Vice Ganda, Vhong, Kim, John Lloyd, Iza) and isang Kapatid (Lucy). 

Today's simple joy: Our dating philosophies (sabeh?!) are featured on a magazine. "Free yourself from dating cliches," Health Today magazine, February 2012 (Iya Villana on the cover). 

Here's the article, found on page 69. (Nice one, JVR. Thank you.) 
Photo: No, that's not me and Hubby, hehe.

The dating cliches, according to the write-up:

Cliche #1: That dates should be for special occasions.

(Out On a Date: Go for daily dates. Make every "ordinary" day count.) 

Cliche #2: You need money to have a good date.
(Out On a Date: Long walks, stargazing, reading in the park cost nothing.)

Cliche #3: Valentine's Day is exclusive to couples or ladies.
(Out On a Date: Try family road trips, barkada reunions, food or historical walks...)

Cliche #4: The date has to be well-planned.
(Out On a Date: Be spontaneous. Get lost in a new city.)


What's your day's simple joy?

LOVE PRESCRIPTION

Hubby got everything to help ease my pain.

Cut my right thumb with my umbrella last week. Don't ask me how. I'm engot that way.

I'm really so blessed to have a Hubby who rushed to the neighborhood mall to buy everything I needed for the wound. Including Oreo McFlurry! "To help ease the pain." *sniff, sniff*

After I washed with soap and water, he dressed the wound. And did so every day. The wound's totally healed by now. Thanks to my personal Nurse-Doctor.

Just want to share a prescription for a happy, loving relationship: Be each other's Ultimate Caregiver.

RESOLUTIONS, ANYONE?

I'm not really into New Year's resolutions. But if there are two things I need to do for me very soon, they'd be --

(1) Eat more fruits and vegetables.

No, I won't vow to "stop eating junk food" or "stop eating red meat" or "stop drinking Coke" because that would be torture for me. But I know I need to take in more of the healthier stuff.

Photo from elcivics.com

(2) Learn to relax.
I have to stop worrying too much, especially about things that exist only in my mind.
Based on experience, most of what we're worrying about never happen anyway (Thank God!).
Crazy, much? Lol

Photo from aleighedwards.com

Do you do New Year's resolutions?
What are on your list?

TODAY'S MUSINGS

The worst thing: To get very sick during a trip.

The best thing: To have a loving husband who'll take care of you wherever, whenever.

The greatest blessing: God's healing miracles.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

BEST MEMORIES of 2010 (in random order):

1. J and I experienced all four seasons this year (see the gift tag I made above). A first for us! Yey! But still no snow (Maybe by 2011?).
2. Welcomed 2010 in HongKong!
3. Attended a wedding in Singapore one week before the Chinese New Year.
4. Shanghai Spring! I was like a giddy little girl when I saw cherry blossoms for the first time.
5. Celebrated my birthday "on top of the world," at the Taipei 101, Taiwan.
6. Trekked one of the Wonders of the World – The Great Wall of China!
7. Treated my parents and sister to a Palawan vacation! One more item off my Bucket List. Next goal: To treat the whole family to a vacation outside of the country.
8. Started running (Loving it!). It has helped me lose weight. Today, I'm one pound away from my original weight goal. I'm considering pushing myself some more.
9. Back in the boxing ring. Whew!
10. Started Blog #2: My Little Black Book of Style
11. My sister P continued to excel in class. She actually scores perfect in her exams!
12. My niece S started school. I tried to be present in all the major school events -- for her, for my parents (I document the events for them).
13. Another year of us being blessed with good health, safe travels, stable careers, lots of love and laughter.

Some of the things I’m looking forward to in 2011 (also in random order)...

1. [Accomplished. School started 012911.] Student life. Part of my Year-End Bonus went to my tuition. So excited!
2. My family coming home. I want my parents to enjoy the fruits of their labor and the company of their beloved granddaughter (they miss her too much!).
3. I’m praying for a BIG LEAP I’m planning to take. (So help me, God.)
4. [Accomplished 010211.] New hair color.
5. Going back to yoga.
6. Back to 110 lbs.
7. More travels.
8. More discoveries.
9. More life lessons.
10. The successful launch of the new channel.
11. My dear sister P’s grade school graduation. And her move to high school (Oooh, I’m getting very sentimental. Ang bilis ng panahon.).
12. More of the good stuff: good health, safe travels, fulfilling and rewarding careers, lots of love and laughter for all of us.

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."-- Oprah Winfrey

OF FORESTS AND GARDENS

Our Sunday was about forests and gardens.

At 6am, we ran for the restoration of the country's rain forests via Haribon's Million-Hectare Challenge. I joined J in the 5K race (nag-level up na ko!).

Above: Our bibs & shirts

Above: After the Race

The 7am sky at The Piazza Venice, McKinley Hill, Taguig.

(Proud of this shot, taken with my lowly Nokia E63 pero maayos.)

After the Run, we headed to Sonya's Garden, Tagaytay for our well-deserved massages and super healthy lunch! Last time we were here, we were still boyfriend-girlfriend, and the place had no bed & breakfast, no spas yet. It's great to know that even with the expansion, it has kept its charm.

Above: This way to paradise!

Above: Not-so-Secret Garden

Above: lotus pond

Above: one of the many charming garden nooks

Above: Welcome to the Spa Area

Above: My massage bed

Above: Our massage room's window.

Super presko!

Hearing the tree leaves dance with the wind

made our massages even more relaxing!

Above: My view, face down.

Above: Dalandan-based Tea,

served after our massages.

Sarap!

Room's motif: traditional Pinoy bahay-kubo.

Capiz walls separated the massage rooms.

After our very soothing back and feet massages (Php560 each plus Php100 for the Couple's Room), it was time for our deliciously healthy eat-all-you-can lunch (Php610 per person).

Above: Create your own salad of freshly harvested lettuce and arugula

topped with mango, broad beans, eggs, cucumber, jackfruit, pineapple,

edible flowers in season, drizzled with Sonya’s Secret Dressing.

VERY GOOD!

Above: Bottomless freshly squeezed

dalandan juice (green mandarin).

MY FAVORITE!

Above: Pasta Fest

Two kinds of sauces and toppings: sun dried tomato and chicken cream with mango.

Topped with ratatouille, salmon belly, shitake mushrooms, black olives,

capers and grated parmesan cheese, pepperoncini.

OK LANG.

Above: Fresh baked whole wheat sesame bread

with an array of homemade dips and toppings:

basil pesto, white cheese, anchovies,

bruschetta tomato toppings, and mushroom pate.

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!

My lovely embroidered table napkin.

Above: Dessert

Homemade chocolate cake from the Sonya's Garden Panaderia

(good but Uno's is still our favorite),

banana rolls with sesame & jackfruit (sarap!),

glazed sweet potato (best eaten with mint leaves).

We're trying their Bed & Breakfast soon!

I WOULD RUNAWAY WITH YOU...

Say it's true,

There's nothing like me and you...

I would runaway...

I have runaway with you...

-- "Runaway," The Corrs

The running shoes of my favorite pair.

Who else could they be? *wink*

RUNNER'S WORLD

"The beauty of running is that it's so simple, so adaptable, and so positive. Any healthy person can run. (And many others, despite assorted physical and mental handicaps, have also succeeded.) You learned to walk when you were a child, right? Well, running is nothing more than glorified walking. You can do it.

I'm currently loving J's book.

You might not run fast. And you might not run far. But you can do it. And even if you have to mix walking with your running, you'll lose weight, lower your blood pressure, reduce the stress of daily life, and feel a surge of energy.

And those are only the physical benefits. The mental benefits include lowered risk of depression and increased creativity. Many runners take up the sport because they want to lose a few pounds or decrease their inherited risks of heart disease. They continue running for the way it clears their minds every day.

Running is the ultimate individual sport. It doesn't matter how fast or slow you are relative to anyone else. You set your own pace and you measure your own progress. You can't lose this race because you're not running against anyone else. You're only running against yourself, and as long as you are running, you are winning."

-- Amby Burfoot

Executive Editor, Runner's World Magazine

"AUNTIE BRIGADE"

"Maybe it's not only perfectly legitimate for certain women to never reproduce, but also necessary...

Childbearing and child rearing consume so much energy that the women who do become mothers can quickly become swallowed up by that daunting task - if not outright killed by it. Thus, maybe we need extra females, women on the sidelines with undepleted energies, who are ready to leap into the mix and keep the tribe supported...

Childless women have always run orphanages and schools and hospitals. They heal the sick and teach the arts and often they become indispensable on the battlefield of life. Literally, in some cases. (Florence Nightingale comes to mind.)

Such childless women - let's call them the "Auntie Brigade" - have never been very well honored by history, I'm afraid. They are called selfish, frigid, pathetic.

Here's one particularly nasty bit of conventional wisdom circulating out there about childless women that I need to dispel here, and that is this: that women who have no children may lead liberated and happy and wealthy lives when they are young, but they will ultimately regret that choice when they reach old age, for they shall all die alone and depressed and full of bitterness. Perhaps you've heard this old chestnut?

Just to set the record straight: There is zero socio-logical evidence to back this up. In fact, recent studies of American nursing homes comparing happiness levels of elderly childless women against levels of women who did have children show no pattern of special misery or joy in one group or the other. But here's what the researchers did discover that makes elderly women miserable across the board: poverty and poor health. Whether you have children or not, then, the prescription seems clear: Save your money, floss your teeth, wear your seatbelt, and keep fit - and you'll be a perfectly happy old bird someday."

-- Elizabeth Gilbert, Committed, 2010

RUN, FOREST, RUN!

Adobo Magazine's Night Run: Accomplished!

J and I had so much fun, we're doing it again.

Next Run: Haribon's

21 November 2010, 6am

McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City

3K / 5K / 10K

Let's help restore one million hectares of rain forests!

WHAT WE DID AFTER DARK

We ran our first fun run! Thanks to Adobo Magazine's "Run After Dark 2010," held at 6pm earlier tonight, at the McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio.

We've been "training" (Naks!) for almost a month now. Been working out together for at least five times a week. Time for us to get back in shape (we've been enjoying our food trips too much, haha!). Tonight's run serves as our warm-up. Getting ready for the long haul.

Above: Our Singlets.

Above: 8K combined

Thanks to HM & JM for agreeing to switch with Hubby.

My J was able to join the 5K group.

Runner's High!

(Kahit 3K lang ako, hehe.)

A fun run is no marathon but we're still glad to be back on track! *wink*

A JOKE A DAY KEEPS THE DOC AWAY...

I have a confession to make. For my Pap Smears, I require that J stays with me to hold my hand (Thank God for OBs who allow it!). This must be OA for most but hey, it helps me relax. To each her own.

Anyway, today, right after the procedure...

J asks my OB: "Is there an Orthopedic here, Doc?"

Doc: "Meron."
And she goes on checking the list of doctors.

J: "Parang nabali po kasi yung kamay ko."

Doc and Me: Laugh out loud.

HPV

Had my first HPV shot today.

You know what's so sweet about the "a bit painful" experience? One, J is paying for all three shots (Company Package: Php1,900 per shot x 3 shots). Two, he sat beside me during this morning's vaccination. I was the only woman in the clinic who had a date. Awww.

Doc: You can't get pregnant in the next six months.
Me: No problem, Doc, I'm on the pill.
Our thought bubble: No problem, Doc. We're childless by choice.


*photo from puppetgov.com