Later on, I was faced with making a difficult decision that resulted in my giving up the regular games, becoming a food blogger, and becoming what I hated most – a couch potato. Years of having my buns sticking on the sofa has cursed me into a sick, overweight, depressed human being.

The opportunity to go back to exercising and eventually to a healthier lifestyle came about two months ago when the doctor told me I was sick and needed to lose weight to become well again. So I started with food. I gave up soda. From someone who had cases in stock of coke zero to someone who doesn’t drink soda at all is a feat. It was a difficult journey to be in but I am still traveling down that road. Just don’t tempt me with an ice cold glass of my favorite soda. I have also now turned to eating mostly fish, chicken and vegetables. I still eat pork sometimes or even beef but stay away from fried or fatty dishes.

As for exercise, well I have signed up at the gym and do 15 minute weight sessions at home with my kettlebell. So I confidently signed up for my first race – the Century Tuna Superbods run 2010. I registered for the 3K as I don’t think my body or my blood pressure can take more than that. I was apprehensive and feared I would not be able to finish even the 3K but my friends cheered me on.

Come race day, I woke up at 4am and set out for Bonifacio High Street. The streets leading BHS were already crowded with cars and I had to settle for parking in one of the open fields surrounding the area. There were tons of runners! Every street and corner was littered with people in their race shirts and running shoes, stretching and warming up before the guns go off.

And we were off. Because of the volume or runners, it took about 2 minutes before we even passed the starting mark. The atmosphere was charged with so much energy as my friends and I jogged with thousands of others. At the first turn, I noticed many had started walking. I myself had to settle for brisk walking as I felt my sides were about to break. I let my friends go ahead as I didn’t want to hold them back. I resolved to finish the race on my own. I found that brisk walking was much harder on my legs and knees so every 2 minutes or so I went back to jogging. What kept me going was the opportunity to people watch. I was amazed at the different people that turned up for the event. It was interesting to watch the different types of personalities that I crossed paths with.

Just when my body and my legs were getting used to the pace, I reached the finish line. I finished the 3K route as one of the last runners but at less than 1 hour (which is what I expected to finish in), I was proud of my time.

My body felt sick for a week and my legs were sore for days after the race but I was on high spirits hopeful that I can turn around my life and go back to being my old self again.

It is quite a challenge to be an uninhibited woman in the Philippine society. Due to many having been brought up in strict Catholic homes, a lot of things, ideas and actions related to sex are often taboo. And because we were taught that lovemaking is simply a means to procreate, few realize and reap the benefits of embracing your own sexuality.

Photo courtesy of beyrouth

I know a lot of people who seem to have lost their minds and swore off sex completely because of the painful memories of childbirth while I know many, like me, who are lucky to be in tune with our inner desires and fantasies. So its a refreshing thought that we now have an accessible sex store (for lack of a better term) in the middle of the metro. The place does not attempt to hide in nondescript walls with no signs whatsoever. In fact, it was fronted by ceiling high glass windows where you can peer through and see the interior of the store. The windows were decorated with displays of the store’s merchandise with no apologies. You have to be a hundred percent sure of yourself to enter the store as everyone is able to see who’s shopping, browsing and touching the goods.

It was totally different from a similar store that I visited in the US. I once accompanied a guy friend who went to an adult store to buy his uncle some “nice” DVDs. While outside the place was a simple brick building, inside was like your neighborhood video store. The lights were so bright and there were shelves upon shelves of almost every type of adult toy, DVD, even greeting cards that were only slightly naughty and had me hoarding a couple to bring back home.

The Pleasure Place comes across as a really cozy fashion boutique which just happens to sell toys for adults. My husband and I walked away from the store with a shiny new pink gadget. Hint: I think this should be called every woman’s best friend.

The Pleasure Place

GF Metrowalk Commercial Complex
Meralco Ave., Ortigas. Pasig City
Metro Manila Philippines.

Tel No: (63 2) 631-9788

As people get older, it is expected that things would become easier to achieve. After all, there are more resources available to us as we age, and even parental constraints become less of a problem. Although the things we want by the time we are in our 20’s are not as simple as when you were 5 years old, I still believe that all things are achievable if you want it badly.

Photo courtesy of Laura Burlton

Sometimes it surprises me that there are still adults who are unable to take a leap from some of their dismal situations but wail that they really want out of their predicament. I fondly recall the time when my sister moved out of the house. She was younger than my brother and I but was the first child out of our parent’s house. Despite the pleas of my parents and the threat of a silent treatment from my father, she came home one day bringing a van to haul out her stuff to bring to her new apartment. She knew that living independently will be difficult (it still is) but she did it anyway.

I know someone who was forbidden to have a boyfriend all throughout her teenage years but she did have them (take note of them) anyway. Some elope. Some run away. Many do what they want if they really really want to do it. That actually proves the cliche, “If there is a will, there is a way”. For myself, I found a way to learn how to drive even when a lot of people were not optimistic that I would learn how.

So why does it seem hard for others? Maybe timing isn’t right? Maybe the stars are not in the right position? Or maybe they just don’t want it bad enough? Because no matter how bad things will be as a result, no matter how poor you may become, no matter how ugly things will be, if you want it to happen, you will take all the crap that comes with it and swallow it. Bottom line, if you want it, go get it. Right?

From top left clockwise: Canon EOS 1000d, KitchenAid Cook for Cure Edition Artisan Mixer, Jimmy Choo Griffin Platforms, 17” Macbook Pro, and Coach Leather Parker Hobo in violet.

Canon EOS 1000d

My first digital camera was a Sony. Although it performed as well as can be expected, it had gotten old as many other digital cameras came out with more features than the one I had. I bought my first Canon P&S last year and immediately fell in love with it. I had always wished for my own DSLR ever since I bought my husband his Pentax K100D. The Canon Powershot SD1000 that I had though was a pretty nice fallback. Now I still wish for my own DSLR and I want one from Canon.

KitchenAid Artisan Mixer (in pink!)

So everyone knows I am a foodie. I not only love to eat, I also love to cook and bake. Luckily, I got a hand me down stand mixer from my mom. It is perfect for whipping up a cake or maybe even two but it isn’t as heavy duty as the KitchenAid one. It also isn’t pink. I love how KitchenAid has come up with the perfect stand mixer for girly bakers like I am.

Jimmy Choo’s

Although I love my red stilettos, I still am in need of a chic black pump that I can strut in to work everyday. Jimmy Choo’s Griffin platforms are perfect in every way. Perfect for me. Perfect for my collection. Perfect for my feet.

Macbook Pro

Like my longing to own a DSLR, I long to own my own Macbook. Its practically an obsession – wishing for it. Sigh.

Coach Leather Hobo Bag

Go figure!

Now that Starbucks has lost its monopoly on stylish planners, many other cafe’s, clothing stores and stationery stores have jumped on to the same idea and produced and marketed their own chic planners. I am not talking Belle De Jour, or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf or even the Amore food planner. I am talking about the exclusive National Bookstore 2010 planner.

I found this accidentally as I was shopping for school supplies for my kids. The pale green color caught my attention and I knew I just had to get myself one before the word got out and stocks run out. For Php200.00, it was a steal. At least you don’t have to buy tons of expensive coffee just to own a hip planner.

Available colors for the National Bookstore planners are black, red and pale green (not sure what its called really). They also come in pocket size and large versions to cater to everyone’s preference. These are exclusively available at National Bookstore. Grab one now.

All night partying is a thing of the past for me. Now I prefer to either dine, chat, or mingle when going out with my husband or with friends. Most of the time, these affairs call for casual getups instead of the all out bling. So my wardrobe and make up stash has turned to more subdued, neutral, minimalist hues that I can use everyday at work and afterwards. That means no blues, greens or yellows on my makeup kit.

Now that there are only 26 days to go before Christmas, I need to accept that there are certain events where my neutral tones will not be appropriate. To amp up my stash, I recently purchased some mineral makeup from Ellana and Elianto. My experience with mineral makeup from Barenaturals (BN) has been very favorable and I continue to be a fan of MMU. Since I already tried BN, I wanted to try a different brand, to see if it will make a difference. Plus some of the colors from Ellana really took my fancy.

Note that my choices still did not stray away from a brownish base but then again at least the eyeshadows are more shimmer than flat and definitely darker than what I would normally wear to work.

Elianto Baked Eye Shadow Duo

I have heard of Elianto products but have never really known anyone who has actually tried them or even want to try them. But today, the saleslady at the Elianto counter at the mall was fortunately persistent and suckered me into falling in love with the Baked Eye Shadow Duo in terracotta is simply divine and goes well with my collection of browns, bronzes and neutrals. I love how it felt on my skin when I tried it and that really got me hooked. I am so excited to wear this tomorrow!

Here is how the Ellana eye shadows go on my skin: From left – Hush, Embrace, Brillance. You can use embrace and brillance separately or use both for more amped up look. Combine with hush as base eye shadow.

Embrace, Brilliance, Hush eyeshadows from Ellana

I have been using Ellana mineral makeup for weeks now and I have all praises for what I have bought from them. I am using their Intensive Cover Mineral Foundation and Oil absorbing Mineral Finishing Powder and of course their famous Awake concealer. Their colors are strong and their makeup goes well on my skin (I have oily skin). Their eyeshadow colors are strong and stay on well throughout the day yet leave your skin soft and supple after taking them off at the end of the day.

I have always wondered why there are very few women here who wear red stilettos. I have worked for so many years at the city’s business district and have always paid attention to someone’s shoes. But I cannot recall that I have ever seen more than a handful of women trotting in red shoes. Most of the time, they wore unexciting, forgettable pairs. Not one pair made me stop and stare and with wide eyes mutter – “I want those shoes!”.

Several years ago, I laid my only pair of red stilettos to rest. I had finally worn them down until it became embarrassing to even be known to own that pair. It took a few more weeks before I agreed to throw them out without a replacement. It was very difficult to find another pair of red stilettos that I finally gave in to letting go of the storage space for my other pairs of shoes. I visited many stores, strolled across the city’s largest malls but did not find what I was looking for.

Why don’t a lot of stores sell red shoes? I think its because not many women would think of buying themselves a pair as they would one that is black, brown or cream. I think green colored shoes would attract more buyers than red ones. Is it because red make people think of the words sexy, vamp, flirt, temptress. Red intimidates people. Red catches people’s attention and only the gutsy can get away with it.

So red stilettos are much like lace lingerie. They make you feel sexier and they add a spring to your step. And I am so happy to have found the perfect pair of red shoes recently. Although, my feet would die if I were to wear them to work regularly but they are one of my most cherished possessions today. I swear I feel 6 feet tall while wearing them. Everyone should have at least a pair on hand for those special moments. Something akin to the long black dress.

Do you have red shoes? Get one now.

These are my new Louboutins

** topmost photo courtesy of xtina_badgirl

The internet has also been a great source of information as I have discovered that products which are made of all natural ingredients are the best in the market. One such lip balm that I have come to love is Leyende’s Kiss Kiss Balm Balm that come petrolatum-free.

In my search for more organic and eco-friendly products, I came upon Etsy.com.

Etsy provides a marketplace for crafters, artists and collectors to sell their handmade creations, vintage goods and crafting supplies. Most of Etsy’s shopping Categories are for items handmade by the Etsy seller.

– From the Etsy.com website

A single query at Etsy for lip balms will produce pages and pages of sellers who make their own lip balms from shea butter, beeswax, aloe, cocoa butter and other ingredients you may not have even heard of in a lip balm. I looked through each and found the products that best fit my needs and my budget.

Mummumscrafts has this amazing offer of a 5-for-the-price-of-4 lip balm package that consists of the following flavors: watermelon, cherry vanilla, coconut, peppermint and tea tree. The price is so cheap and when I asked, she confirmed she will ship to the Philippines! For $10, the 3 week wait was bearable and at the end of that, I had 5 yummy lip balms to add to my stash.

I have used up my cherry vanilla and am almost at the end of the watermelon lip balm tube. They slide on thin and moist and you can feel the moisture immediately penetrate your lips. However, the strong scents are too delicious and too tempting that sometimes I don’t notice that I have managed to lick through my lips again. I still love them though (even if hubby doesn’t) as they help ease up the pain that comes with chapped lips.

Now I resolve to try harder and use more eco-friendly and natural products on my skin and on my face. I feel they work better with my skin composition as evident with my foray into mineral makeup and skincare. I wish I could stick to a 100% all natural line but not all things I need are made that way yet and if you think beauty (or the illusion of it) has no price, then think again. Cheers!