Tag: family

Why Slow Travel Just Works Better for Kids

Why Slow Travel Just Works Better for Kids

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Okay, so here’s the thing about family vacations. They sound magical in your head, the kids are smiling, everyone is bonding, maybe even a sunset in the background. But then you blink, and you’re sweating through a zoo map, your kids are being picky eaters, someone’s crying about their shoes, and you haven’t eaten since breakfast. Now, does any of this sound familiar? Well, it’s not you. It’s not the kids. It’s the pace.

Yep, you read that right, so that’s where slow travel comes in and quietly saves the whole trip. A lot of parents make the mistake of thinking they can cram everything into one trip. Now, sure, you might have been able to do that before having kids, but it doesn’t exactly work that way once you have a family of your own. But how?

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2024 LOOK BACK: A Year of Growth, Celebration, and Dreams Taking Shape

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As the clock ticks closer to the end of 2024, I can’t help but reflect on what an incredible year it has been for our family. This year wasn’t just about celebrations; it was about growth, stepping out of comfort zones, making bold moves, and seeing long-held dreams start to take shape. And so, as I sit down to reflect on 2024, I feel a mix of emotions. Though the latter part of December saw me struggling with a wave of depression, I now realize it was likely hormonal — my period suddenly arrived after a delay, which made me wonder if I might be entering perimenopause.

It wasn’t just hormones, though. My VA business has grown exponentially this year — I now have 12 clients! On top of that, I juggle multiple roles in our businesses: as co-owner and Chief Marketing Officer of our hotel, restaurant, cafĂ©, and catering business, all while trying to keep up with the many business and personal development courses I’ve enrolled in. Somewhere along the way, I over-fatigued my already overloaded system.

Thankfully, I have my husband, Hanz, by my side. His unwavering support, his constant reminders to take breaks, and his effort to make sure my “love cup” is always filled to the brim helped me push through. Looking back at all that we’ve accomplished this year, the sadness has lifted. It’s been replaced by a deep sense of gratitude, hope, and joy for every big and small blessing that has come our way.

Here’s a month-by-month look back at the highlights of this unforgettable year. (Note to self: I hope to blog about each of these things in more detail this coming 2025…)

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Sudden Death of a Great Man Weeks After Getting Vaccinated — My Grandfather, Almost a Centenarian

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I’m still in shock about the sudden death of my Lolo, Atty. Domingo L. Martinez. I didn’t think this would be my post here after a long hiatus on blogging. I have several vlogs lined up, so many exciting things have happened since we moved here in Oslob, Cebu but the news about my grandfather passing away really came as a shock to me.

It is our family’s theory that it’s all because he got vaccinated with Sinovac recently
 Though official WHO (World Health Organization) findings reported that various Covid-19 vaccines pose as no threat to human health, and that the benefits of taking the doses far outweigh the risks, there is still news circulating about some people experiencing complications from getting vaccinated, one of which is dying. I’ve been seeing real-life accounts of both people I know and don’t know saying how the vaccines caused them grave illnesses with some eventually dying like my Lolo when they were otherwise in good health prior to getting those jabs. Getting that vaccine for my Lolo was the only thing he did differently in his routine in the last few weeks. And suddenly, he couldn’t breathe… He died of pneumonia according to my step-grandma. He was still very much alive and well just a few days prior to this.

To cut it short, please refer to screenshots of my Facebook posts below before heading to my current writing


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Thoughts of 39-Year Old Mom About Her Dreams, Regrets and More…

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Since we got back from a very long road trip, life has been back to normal. And by normal I mean, very busy being full-time, stay-at-home parents to our 18-month old toddler, Tuz. We’ve gotten back to our natural body clock which is on U.S. Time Zone (I swear, it keeps going back to this time zone for no apparent reason at all!) and we’ve quite settled into our new routine:

  1. Wake up before or after midnight.
  2. Fix bed.
  3. Prepare breakfast/brunch.
  4. Do chores.
  5. Let Tuz play in the rubber pool.
  6. Bathe together.
  7. Dress up.
  8. Go out for errands or food at dawn.
  9. Work.
  10. Provide more activities for Tuz.
  11. Prep meals.
  12. Do other chores.
  13. Wind down.
  14. Sleep before noon or after.

Then the whole thing starts all over again the next day. It’s been like this for a month now.  Continue reading →

2017

Hello 2017! Three Questions to Ask Yourself This New Year…

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It’s almost 3AM, Philippine time, on the first day of the new year and this is the first time, in a long time, that I am able to breathe, relax and write down my thoughts… I hope this is a good sign… sort of like saying that the new year will bring me more relaxed moments to just be. *crossing my fingers*

Anyway, the house is now all cleaned up, quiet and dark after a whole day of preparation — running errands, picking up groceries and slaving away in the kitchen so we can all have a feast come media noche. And hurrah! Indeed, we were able to fill our dining table with yummy dishes that I think will last for another week just like our Noche Buena did last Christmas which lasted until New Year’s Eve. Hihihi! We feel so blessed! No more cooking the rest of the week, yey! I’m sure a lot of you can relate.  Continue reading →

responsibility

How to Take 100% Responsibility For Your Life

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A BUSY introduction

I know, I know, I KNOW. It’s been 10 days since my last post and I have so much to share! Before baby Tuz’s first birthday, my life partner, Mahal, and I have been having sleepless nights taking care of work, parental stuff and domestic duties because we wanted to celebrate our baby’s first birthday on the date of his birthday itself, which was the 17th, a Thursday. We could have just decided to have it on a weekend so all our work responsibilities have already been done by that time and we can all relax and enjoy our son’s birthday beach celebration. Well, we did enjoy, but it could have been better. And it’s all because we wanted it celebrated on the birthdate itself, which, now, looking back, has been a semi-terrible idea! Continue reading →

Nuvali

Top 8 Things to Do in Nuvali 2016

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“Set to bring fun and one-of-a-kind activities and events all year-round, activities reflect NUVALI’s values anchored on the Evoliving (Evolved way of living) principle.

Structured on a system that encourages modern, responsible living supported by a belief in maintaining balance between development and nature, NUVALI’s framework allows each individual the space for a well-enhanced sense of oneness with the natural environment and its bounties.” – http://nuvali.ph

Even before Nuvali opened to the public, this has always been their principle. I was one of the lucky few who got invited back in 2010 to witness everything Nuvali has to offer and as the years passed by, I make it a point to visit the place once in a while because aside from Sta. Rosa being near where I live, Nuvali is just really a fun place to be whether you’re alone, with your significant other or with your family. Continue reading →

Nuvali Night Sky Cinema

Nuvali Night Sky Cinema 2016 Family Event

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I blogged last time that we were attending the Nuvali Night Sky Cinema event. So that’s where we came from last Saturday with my family and as usual we had a blast! We were there early in the afternoon so we did a lot of things first before finally heading to the Open Fields for the 2016 Night Sky Cinema. I’ll blog about that on another post after this — about things people can do in Nuvali.

For now, here’s a photo essay of how our Pre-Halloween Family Get-Together at Nuvali Night Sky Cinema went and a guide as well for those who plan to do this next year in case you missed it last Saturday.  Continue reading →

Nuvali Night Sky Cinema

Nuvali Night Sky Cinema – 2016 Pre-Halloween Prep

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To all those who know me since way back, you know that Halloween is my most favorite time of the year. Christmas only comes second followed by Summer. This is why every year, since I was little, I always celebrate the season one way or another — whether by visiting the dead and playing with candles in the cemetery, watching horror flicks (which I don’t enjoy at any other time of the year because I easily get scared — so ironic!), doing tarot card reading, palm reading, playing with a makeshift Quiija board, giving out candies to kids, trick or treating, holding Halloween costume parties, attending Halloween costume parties, etc. These are the things that I’ve been doing since. Continue reading →