October 6, 2009

There’s a reasonable explanation why I’m posting a photo of our Christmas tree from last year….it’s the last quarter of the year!  Back home in the Philippines, one can hear Christmas carols being played on the radios, at the malls, and practically at every nook and cranny of the country as early as the first day of September.  We have the longest Christmas season!  Hee hee.  And I love it!  See,

Around this time, Filipinos abroad are already busy cramming balikbayan boxes with presents for loved ones in the Philippines so that these boxes can be received in time for the holidays.  It’s just too bad that this year, the Christmas spirit was dampened a little because of the recent calamity that hit the country.  Aside from opening the usual boxes full of Christmas presents, people back home will be using box cutters to open boxes full of relief goods as well.  Through this sad ordeal, there’s something good that we all should be happy about… and it’s realizing that the bayanihan spirit is still very much alive in each and everyone of us. Christmas decorations always lift up my spirits.  I hope the above photo does for you, what it does for me.   Mabuhay!

October 4, 2009

Over the years I have amassed an insane amount of work out videos, from aerobics to taebo to belly dancing…name it, I probably have it.   Oh, mind you, it doesn’t end there!  Over the years, I’ve also bought practically every exercise equipment my humble budget would allow – treadmill, airwalker, stepper, dumbells, yoga ball – name it, I’ve probably have bought it at some point.

The thing is, there was a time when I worked out like there was no tomorrow.  I used to be able to do 3 aerobics classes in one day!  I was unbelievably disciplined!  Things started going wrong after I got married…not to blame my husband, of course!   Burn out must have caught up with me.  At least, that’s what I tell myself.

For the last 7 years, I have been trying to find my exercise mojo.  I may have finally found it again.   Meet my new friends and workout buddies, the Kettlebell…

and the KettleWorx videos…

I received a package some weeks back containing these items exactly so that I could review them.  For about 3 weeks now, I spend 20 minutes, 3 times a week doing the KettleWorx workout.  It IS a struggle, mind you…because I could always easily find an excuse to skip working out: mommy duties…chores…blogs…chores again…etc.   Still, I manage to bring myself to pop the video in the vcr and follow the simply 20-minute work outs.

The workouts may only be 20 minutes long but they are quality workouts.  For 20 minutes, I huff and I puff as I go through two sets of full body workouts.  I can actually feel my muscles working and burning.  The workouts are never boring because I mix up cardio, core and resistance training.  Plus, every week, it’s a different set of work-outs!  The Kettlebell I’m using right now is 5-lbs.  I think I’m ready to move on to 10-lbs.  But that’s another expense so…

There may still be hope for me…to look good in time for Christmas…or Thanksgiving!    The holidays are coming and I can’t afford to gain anymore weight!  Pahleeez!

It’s a Pink October and pink is definitely the color of the hour, that you can’t deny.  To usher in Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I took the first step to achieving something that I’ve been wanting to do since 2007, and that’s to Walk for the Cure.  Last Thursday, I registered my family for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, which will be held here in Austin on November 1st.  We are Team Tickled Pink Munchkins.  Hee hee.  My family will not really be racing as we are joining the 1-Mile Family Walk.  We have set a reasonable fund raising goal, which is $200.  We are hopeful that we will reach that goal.  You are most welcome to help us reach it!

It’s going to be a very busy last quarter of the year.  Before I can even start thinking about holiday gifts there’s a lot of things that I’ll need to cross out from my to do list first.  One of them is to come up with a t-shirt design for our team.   It’s not really necessary to have a team shirt, but it would sure be nice to have one. I hope to get that out of the way by the end of next week.  So wish me luck!

October 1, 2009

A few days ago, my little girl came to my side while I was watching a video on Facebook of cars that were uncontrollably floating in flood water and bumping into each other.  I explained to Abby that there was a flood in the Philippines brought about by a terrible storm.  Curious, she continued to watch the video and proceeded to ask me, “Why is there flood in MY Philippines?”  Awww.  The worry in her voice was unmistakable.

At the very young age of 5, Hubby and I try our best to let our daughter know about the harsh realities of this world but not so much that instead of knowledge, it is fear that we end up instilling upon her.  It is every parent’s instinct to protect his child…from everything, worries included.  The last thing we want is for Abby to suffer child stress, thinking she’ll go hungry or homeless or be sick with a disease she can’t even pronounce, like malignant Mesothelioma.  Instead, we want Abby to realize at a very young age, how truly blessed she is…how truly blessed we are.  We want her to value, be content with and be grateful for the things we have.  So, no worries, my child.  We’ll do everything in our power to make everything all right.

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