Since our new car arrives, our feet have always been itchy which take us here, there and everywhere. So over the weekend, we invaded the northern part of Davao.  In fact, that was a sudden decision as we're supposed to reserve our strength (to be honest budget, hehe) for our next vacation to Bukidnon this Holy Week. But since Randy, my husband's cousin mentioned about his sibling's birthday in New Bohol, we decided to go there as we've never been to this place before.

We departed from the house very late in the afternoon. It took us one-hour drive to reach Tagum and we stopped by at their city hall to take pictures. As you can see, the heat of the sun was scorching. I can feel the heat of summer, by the way.




Finally, we arrived at the New Bohol by 3:30 which is very late,  and one of the popular resorts to enjoy into whenever you get to this place is the Matin-ao Inland Resort. I have been reading good reviews about this place but we didn't bathe because it wasn't included in our plan.

Then, we arrived at Rodel's house. The smell and ambience of a province reminds me of my childhood years where life is simple. When the rice is not available, you'll just eat what is being harvested from the farm - banana, vegetables from the garden, and coconut juice.
I enjoyed a lot our escapade, though it happened instantly, the joy and experience it brought us cannot be exchanged with any penny. A memory that lasts a lifetime!

I haven't discovered these healthy products until I careered being healthy, which officially started just last year.  In fact, I have been juicing for four months now and it feels awesome to have supplied my body with the proper nutrients it needs. Aside from my juicing recipes taken every morning, I have additional supplements too to get me more healthy and energized. I thought these products are hard to find because I cannot locate them locally.  Until a friend of mine told me that there is a store selling imported healthy products, named Healthy Options,  located at SM.

I wasn't aware that the table salt we used to use is refined and processed which isn't good for our body. While the sea salt (picture below) is purely taken from the ocean and it's rich in trace minerals which are essential for our health.

Price: P171.00

Never had I heard about flax seeds and lentils before but during our 14th-Day Lifestyle Medicine Seminar, they are a good substitute for protein. Since I no longer eat pork, chicken, and beef, I already included them in my diet.

Price: 214

Price: 270

Lastly is the Aloe Vera juice. Based on my research online, aloe vera juice is a good remedy for acid reflux. I usually dilute it with juices and drink every morning.

Price: 570

I must admit that to be healthy is a little expensive. But if there's only one option left in my life, and that is to be healthy, then I would embrace it. Ultimately, I will be the one who can benefit from it.

We know Chesska really loves swimming but we tried to give her some options including Mc Donald's party for her 6th birthday but she insisted to have it on the pool or beach. So our newly-turned-six girl celebrated her birthday at Eagle Ridge Resort, Ulas, just a few minutes drive from where we live. Her wish was granted and here we are!
As you see, we were the only ones who bathe on the resort at that time. It looks like we had an exclusive birthday party. The area is small, just perfectly right for kids.

Chesska was having fun bathing in the pool alone. The pool is safe because it is just only around 3 feet deep.

The resort's hotel just beside the kid's pool.

Happy New Year! This post has been sitting on my draft for a month now. That's how busy I am.  I have many things in mind to tell, but I don't really have time to tell it. Well, as my first post for this year, I would like to share with you my goals for 2018. What's yours? Here's mine.

1. Cultivate a much deeper relationship with God.

Action: Continue our Bible-study which takes place every week with our new friends whom I knew from a close neighbor of mine. They are Seventh-Day Adventists though, whereas my family is Catholic but the bottom line is we are worshipping one God. It's not about the religion, it's about Him after all.

2. Create more happy memories for my family.

3. Pay close attention to my kids.

4. Date my husband once a week.

5. Love my job even more.

Action: I am so lucky to have found a decent job online with a kind-hearted employer. I promise myself to be more loyal, hard-working and dependable as my act of gratitude to her.

6. Maintain a healthy lifestyle.

7. Save more to buy a brand new car.

8. Have a closer relationship with friends.

9. Always practice gratitude.

10. Always ready to lend my hand to those who are in need.

Time Check: 4:40 P.M.

Six hours and twenty minutes left until Christmas, the birthday of our Savior  Jesus Christ is almost upon us. Christmas for me is insignificant without recognizing first the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. We felt His love through our loved ones or our family. My Christmas is as meaningful as last year because I spent it with my whole family. Before Christmas eve arrives,  here are the things we prepared for.

Earlier, I blew up balloons and set them up on our ceiling, and arranged the gifts and Christmas tree.



Then, my sister-in-law, all the way from Bukidnon prepared the foods for our noche buena. 

We had kinilaw, tilapia sweet and sour, grilled  tuna belly, lumpia, spaghetti, buko salad, and some chocolates and candies for our kiddos.

At 10 p.m. we attended a mass in our chapel, but before that we took pictures.

Me and my family.

My brother and his family.

My mother and all her grandchildren

After church, we had exchange gifts and we ate together our noche buena. This is the best and most memorable Christmas I spent with my family. How about you, how do you spend your Christmas?

One of the perks I get as a Work-at-Home mom is I receive 13th-month pay without any fail for 5 years straight. Some of my friends who are working in the government and receiving the same benefit said that I was so fortunate to have found a job online with that kind of benefit. That's very rare. I responded, "exactly"!
Since 13th-month pay is something I am always looking forward to when December comes, I see to it that it goes to something tangible. Like in the past years, I used to spend the money on different projects, house makeover for example. Or if I wanted to reward myself for the hard work I've done in the past 11 months, I allocated a certain amount to treat or pamper myself. One thing that I made sure of was I set aside an amount to buy some groceries and give to our poor neighbors or native carollers who were asking for foods or gifts.

However, my incoming 13th-month pay this year will go directly to our savings. Ronan and I have long wanted to buy a second-hand car with an age less than 5 years because our current car is super cranky now. There were several occasions that our car broke down in the middle of the road and we had no choice but to call our friend to help us tow our car. Loaning a new car is also possible but we have to contemplate yet because it will be an additional expense for sure.

Though my 13th-month pay will go to one purpose, it doesn't mean that it will hinder me to do the things I used to do every Christmas. I will still continue my mission by sharing my blessings to others and helping those who are in need.

How about you, how will you spend your13th-month pay?

It's no secret that I suffered from acid reflux for months now, which is one of the reasons why I lose 6 kilograms in three months. My weight has decreased significantly because I forbade myself from eating foods that could trigger acid reflux (which I just learned on the internet). Some of them are sugary, fatty, spicy and most of all acidic foods.  I felt like I was deprived of eating the foods I love, example coffee. Until it came to the point that I just resorted to lugaw (porridge) all day on some days when the alkaline diet (mostly fruits and vegetables ) is not always available on our table.

For over one month, I've been on a semi-alkaline diet but still, my acid reflux didn't go away. It's very uncomfortable and worrisome.  I got skin allergies each time I ate chicken meat, fish, and eggs. I even tried various synthetic medicines and herbals available in the garden but they didn't work either. I was so desperate then to find natural remedies how to cure my acid reflux. Until last month, our neighbor, an SDA invited me to attend their 14-Day Lifestyle Medicine Seminar held at their church. I learned that our body turns into acidic because of wrong foods combination. I also learned that there are certain bacteria in pork that will not die no matter how you cook them at high temperature. Ever since I attended the seminar, I promise my self to start being a vegetarian. And my transition to being a vegetarian was easier because I am used to eating fruits and vegetables even before I learned the seminar.

It really takes a lot of efforts when you become a vegetarian. We have to go to the market early to buy our supplies. We mainly went to Bankerohan because the fruits and vegetables there are super cheap.

Our fridge was filled with fruits and vegetables which my husband bought from Bkerohan or Toril

We first soaked the fruits and vegetables in activated charcoal to get rid of pesticides.

Proper Foods Combination I learned from the seminar

Schedule to follow if you want an optimum healthy lifestyle

I have been faithful to 6am schedule which is drinking fresh juices. But for the breakfast, I just did the fruits and unpolished rice alternately because I am working online. Fruits are easily digested in the stomach so I easily get hungry. It's really hard to function when our stomach is hungry. I really tried to stick to fruits for breakfast and I hope I can do it one of these days. Self-disciple is really needed.

apple, cucumber, and singkamas combination

Pineapple and Papaya

apple, carrots, celery, lemon

watermelon

beets, celery, carrots, kalamansi, apple

apple, carrots, celery, lemon

cucumber, celery, tumeric, and kalamansi/lemon

coconut water and guyabano smoothie

coconut water and malunggay smoothie

one of my breakfasts: papaya, melon, banana, and raw nuts

another fruits combo: jackfruit, banana, raw nuts

For my lunch, I am usually eating unpolished rice with vegetables as viand. I am sometimes eating raw vegetable salads which are highly recommended because of the natural enzymes present on the raw.

cucumber, lettuce, carrots, and potato

lettuce, carrots, cucumber, boiled camote and flax seeds for lunch

For the rest, I followed the schedules faithfully except the dinner. As I have said, I need a spank on the butt to instill self-discipline (hehe).



It's been one month now since I became a vegetarian. I feel stronger and healthier. Though my acid reflux did not go away 100% but I felt I had a lot of good improvement in my health. By the power of God's grace, I claim his healing.

I'm too loud, you're quiet. You're boring, I'm silly.

I'm antsy, but you're calm. You're patient, and I'm not.

You're frugal, and I'm a spendthrift gal. 

I cook foods, you eat them.

You easily forget things, I find them.

In other words? Opposites do attract. Thank you for an amazing 7 years of marriage.

Happy wedding anniversary and I love you Daddy Shark!

Pictures taken at Precious Garden Resort, Garden Island of Samal