| Day 1: 9/12/24. I love this art piece Gigi made maybe 4 years ago. And that's a pasalubong (travel gift) from Justin and his lovely wife. It is a fancy hot water bottle too pretty to use so I use it as decor in my office space at home :-) |
My 30 day detox from social media has me doing more conscious work which has nicely activated my prefrontal cortex and quieted my amygdala.
As a quick recap the prefrontal cortex and amygdala are parts of our brains that work together and when the prefrontal cortex is in charge and the amygdala chills out, life is more peaceful, purposeful, and bustling at even, happy keel.
And this is exactly the feeling of what I was going for so that I can have a clean and clear mental palate. We are nearing the last quarter of 2024 and I want to greet 2025 with a clean slate energetically by cultivating healthy ways of navigating the world in real life rather than acting on easy and fast compulsions.
For me, blogging is like going to the mental gym because it requires the activation of the prefrontal cortex and requires a steady state of focused attention. And how I feel when I am blogging is calm, focused, and purposeful. Not sure what chemicals my brain is producing right now, but I LOVE IT!!!
Anyhow, this post is going to be forerunner of the rest of the remaining posts for the remainder of the year.
My inspiration was an old post from 2014 here that invited my old self to post 1 photo that made me happy that day for 100 days…I lasted 13 days womp womp. So…10 years later, I am challenging my older, wiser, and fitter ;-) self to freakin do SOMETHING for 100 straight days. Can I do this? Will I fold? Will I delete this post once I’m bored of it? Will I be alive in 100 days? eeww morbid thought Delete.
New paragraph.
Now.
So I will do it because I want to cultivate discipline and prove to myself that I can do SOMETHING I set out to do for 100 straight days that will directly feed into my purpose of choosing happiness today and 99 days thereafter which will be Saturday, December 21, 2024. Woot woot!! That will put us almost at Christmas so I'm already there energetically lol ;-)
Day 2: 9/13/24. I love this photo because it shows feminine strength, nimbleness, and grace. All physical states I fully enjoy embodying. Happy Friday 🫶💃🏻🩰🌟
Day 3: 9/14/24. Out n’ about back to school shopping with my loves today. We had a good time even if I made them do unnecessary cardio making them walk around and carry their shopping bags by parking faaarrr at our fave outdoor shopping area 🛍️💛😊🌟✌️
Day 4: 9/15/24. This pic made me the happiest because it is a very old one my Auntie Stephanie happened to send to me today (pretty lil girl in the pic.) It's a pic of my dad (tallest boy in a tie) and his family. And good golly my grama was a legit hottie! Gramps is good looking too but she definitely steals the show 😍👍🌟✌️
Day 5: 9/16/24. Uncle Asian man over there is delightful and schooled me today. I’m like “Sir you look fantastic but maybe too early for Aloha Friday.” He smiled and said “It’s Aloha Every Day young lady.” I loooovvve that❣️Thank you Uncle 🙏🏽🌺🌞💛🌷
Day 6: 9/17/24. I was just telling my kids I need to get back on a motorcycle or the skills I learned from a professional motorcycle rider will go to waste. Then, lo and behold, not one but three (3) motorcycles showed up at my gym this morning. I could be wrong but these bikes look like track racing bikes. Last week there was a beautiful red Ducati. Looks like Rider Nation is joining my gym. Funsies 🤩
Day 7: 9/18/24. Been hearing Pickleball is all the rage! Young, teens, mid age and up are taking to it and loving it. While the kids and I were back to school shopping, we picked this up and and just learned today a new friend loves it and has a local court where they play. Scoooorre 🫶💛✌️🎉
Day 8: 9/19/24. I love sitting in my stylist's chair and getting taken cared of. Tanya is an amazing human, mom, very talented at her craft, and always connects with me authentically and enthusiastically. She's hella funny and is as real as it gets. Case in point, I walked in and she was flabbergasted because I was wearing PANTS lmaoooo. She was like, "All these years I think this is the first time I've seen you in pants." lmao. "I'm like its pants season. I gotta suck it up. Grrrrr. lol " ;-)
Day 9: 9/20/24. This is my workout journal that brings me joy because I can track my forward progress :-) I met up with Hang, a kind and adventurous mom friend who enjoys being active like me. We did a repeat upper body workout from 6:00 am - 6:50 am. Very early. Needed a nap after lol ;-) Lifting weights is great w/ a buddy because re-racking, setting up, and chatting in between sets makes the work feel more like play. Sidenote: I had been thinking of my friend Honey and been wanting to connect w/ her, and lo and behold, she gets my "mental text message" and texts me this afternoon! Very cool huh :-) YOUR people feel you!! Happy Friday!
Day 10: 9/21/24. If you don't have a girlfriend who feels more like a sister and gab with enthusiastically for over an hour while she makes home made Hawaiaan & Filipino food for her kids, you need to meet Karina! She's the BEST. LYLAS Happy Saturday!
Day 11: 9/22/24. Worked out early with Leti & Lance and we hit legs and abs; my fave! Gym goers at that time are friendly and consistent. We even had a nice breakfast after with Abe and Lee. Worked for a bit and after, took a very refreshing nature walk at Coyote Hills. I love it up there :-) Lots of open spaces and friendly nature goers today. There were young families crawfish catching, nature watchers with binoculars, elderly people on walkers, and lots of turkeys!
 |
| Love open spaces |
 |
| Walking on here is very grounding and serene |
 |
| Love the reflection of the sun and the ripples on the water. It almost give the illusion of movement! |
 |
| Turkeeeyyyss! |
 | |
| Light weight stalking the turkeys cuz they needed to be on the blog | :-) |
 | |
| Have a wonderful upcoming week everyone! |
Day 12: 9/23/24. I had a cooking session Saturday night and made lobster butter and corn bread. Was super busy yesterday so didn't get to do anything with it until this morning. I did try the butter yesterday and thought it needed more seasoning and was bland. This morning, with a fresh set of eyes, I noticed the bottom of the glass container holding the lobster concoction was brown and gritty looking while 80% was light yellow/buttery. Turns out all I had to do was mix the brown gritty stuff into the yellowy stuff because that's where ALL the FLAVOR lives, in the grit. Duuuuuuuuddddeee!!! That stirred up butter warmed on corn bread + home brewed coffee (50% coconut caramel crunch + 50% blonde roast) was absolutely decadent, individually, and together. The best part is I can make a lot of savory dishes with that lobster butter alone as a base. Happy eating!
 |
| Taste tested Saturday night's cooking efforts this morning. Delicioso! |
Day 13: 9/24/24. Got in a short sunset 🌅 run at my fave running spot. Gotta get here earlier so I can run longer next time especially with our days with sunlight getting shorter over the fall season. Happpppyyy Running Everyone🏃🏻♀️!!
Day 14: 9/25/24. Looking forward to watching this basketball charity match up. The team rosters looks pretty good 👍 🏀👌
Day 15: 9/26/24. My cuties growth and style progression over the years 😍❤️😍❤️
 |
| Stay golden, friends, and aim to be your own sunshine! |
🌞✌️💛
Day 16: 9/27/24. Super productive + positive Friyay. Killed it early at the gym. Went heavy on legs w/ my trainer + practiced combos on all six punching bags up and down for max burn + finished w/ dance choreography and across the floor drills. Caught up on life w/ Honey over lunch and discussed potentially bringing back our podcast, "More, please." Knocked out four in person back to back meetings in the afternoon and in the evening caught up on emails. Very little distraction today and stayed focused on my goals + responsibilities. **happy sigh** See you manana 😉
Day 17: 9/28/24. The St. Anne Charity Basketball Event was a huge success and extremely entertaining. Gavin was the pink piggy lol ;-) Congratulations to the Dino who won!
Day 18: 9/29/24. Had a wonderful Sunday✌️ I may or may not elaborate tomorrow but need to get this post in before time slips away. Feeling blessed 🙏🏽✌️🌷🫶
Day 19: 9/30/24. Bro has no shame at all 😆This is the chillest and sweetest German Shepherd you will ever meet. He recently won over the lead groomer at Petsmart and when she was done w/ services told me “they” (her whole team) loves 😍 him and that she only wants to work on him, lol❣️He was super duper loved up on. She did all the extras like brush out his tangles, trimmed his foot pads down, and everything all on her own. She’s like “they” her team doesn’t know how to do those things because they’re not certified or trained. We now have a fairy dog auntie🧚 🧼 🐶 🐾 who fawns and takes care of him 😊
Day 20: 10/1/24. September was a consistent gym month for me and looking to continue this trend this month 🎯 Hit legs w/ Hang at 6 am today and put in some double digit, 11.1 cycling 🚴🏻♀️ miles today. Finished off w/ hydrotherapy spa & dry sauna 🧖♀️
Day 21: 10/2/24. With the TeamBoom24 crew for Rudy’s birthday! 🥳 🎉🎂🫶From L to R: Leti, Lance, Sharon, Millie, Rudy, Deanna, Tim 💥✌️🫶🥊
Day 22: 10/3/24. Leg 🦵 day errydayy lol May wobble a bit today ✌️🎉🌷🩰
Day 23: 10/4/24. So after the gym I hit up my local Filipino grocery store and what I observed was a very good thing. Some lady named Maureen that works for Kaiser left her work badge at the store and Kuya (big bro) in an apron that works there in Tagalog said, “I’m going to FaceBook her so she knows she left her work badge here.” And to Ate (big sis), who was ringing me up, I said “Wow, that is such a nice thing to do!” No putting in the lost and found, but Kuya busted out his phone, took care of business, and hit up Ms. Maureen on her social. THAT is the natural Filipino way. Helpful above and beyond the call of duty because it is the RIGHT thing to do✅ Super proud of my Kababayan (people) today and I told them so 🫶👌❤️✌️🇵🇭 Have a wonderful weekend all!! 🌷🌷🌷
Day 24: 10/5/24. Gym. Target. In-n-Out ⬆️ 🎯🏃🏻♀️😁 Gigi and I went hard today. She did a full leg workout and I did bag work / across the floor drills / and a full body HIIT. Very freaking tiring 🥵but I needed to knock this off my list today ✅ 💯👊👍
Day 25: 10/6/24. Throwing 👩🏻🍳down in my kitchen today🫶🏄♀️🌷😁 Making the first Filipino dish I fell in love with when I moved out of home and had to learn and teach myself because my family did not know how to make this. It has a strong Spanish influence in that it is named "Chicken Pochero, Kapangpagan style" which translates to Chicken Stew made the Kapanpagan way (the best lol). I call it "Sexy Chicken" cuz the cooked veggies and sauce are the star of this show and the savory chicken is the cherry on top. I hope this is gonna be good 🤞 Have a charmed and blessed Sunday everyone ✨🙏🏽🫶💓
Sunday continued:
The Chicken Pochero turned out fiyaaahhh babbyyy! 🔥😋🫶👌
Gigi said it hit all the points and "fed her soul." Wow. Dropped some off to my mom's for her, Auntie Minnie, Elvis, and Niko and my mom said I passed! It's very Filipino kanu. She said I could put cabbage for more veggies but I elected to leave it out because my pot was not big enough and I prefer pechay (baby bok choy) over cabbage.
 |
| eat a lotta veggies and you'll get hella sexy lol ;-) |
 |
| plantain bananas. gigi and i are bonkers for this 🫶 |
 |
| gimme some! |
 | |
| NOW! | |
| (that's what gavin gets for ganking my phone and posting a story on my behalf. | break yo' self fool lol) |
| sharing is caring. food delivery via millie door diva dasher. please give me 5 stars on yelp. i'm fancy, i know | ||
 | ||
| made it to church w/ no adult / teenage meltdowns on this hot a$$ day. yeeee!!! 🤸🏻♀️🤸🏻♀️🤸🏻♀️ |
Day 26: 10/7/24. Gigi says the gym is my second home and she is right. I find that I am more consistent and can push myself harder when I have a trainer and am working out with friends. Word is that we will be getting some upgrades in our cardio room that are exciting: new kicking bags and a speed bag. I really, really, really want to spar and checked out a local boxing gym but was unsatisfied with their program. So, for now, its gamifying my experience, practicing, and having fun.
Day 27: 10/8/24. My vibe, this month, if it had a name would be "Manuel." Manuel Turizo to be exact. Love his music! 🔥💃🏻❤️🕺🏻🪩✨💓 Give it a listen and you'll be dancing too ;-) My jammy jam right now is VAGABUNDO. Thats a slappaaahh!!
Day 28: 10/9/24. Been waiting for the much needed cool down from the heat we have been getting hammered with the past week. Please don't come back👊! Phew. Fall to me, is always about falling in love with your life and the things you have always enjoyed, like running! Starting ALWAYS sucks and is extremely humbling because all the body parts that are not as toned make themselves known by jiggling and its impossible to pretend they aren't there lol ;-) Whatevvs. So, I did 3.5 miles yesterday with flip flops because I have no breaks and might just go ham w/ little training and get hurt. The flip flops are natural stoppers for me and they stopped me for sure. I worked on my tan, meditated, prayed and got the mileage in. Right now building up my base because I have zero endurance. Running, like my brother Erle's wrestling coach friend says about fitness is, "perishable." We all had a lively conversation about that word and learned its application during Christyne & Marcus' baby shower in August. Right now is a good time to take up running. Why, you ask? CUZ. . . I . SAID. SO 😁 LMAO. j/p peace out✌️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏽🫶👣
Day 29:10/10/24. I’m gonna start Throwback Thursdays here on the blog. Check out my baby boy 🥰 He’s been putting in miles even before he could walk via his mama. Gavin, today, at 14 years old is a natural runner 🏃🏻♂️ who has both speed and stamina. Can’t wait to get back on the dirt track🏃🏻♀️👣🏃🏽👣
Day 30:10/11/24. It's about the animals today for me. The goat farmers let their goats feast to help out the city's overgrown shrubbery ever year around this time. It's so peaceful I always have to stop by and say hello 👋🏽
Day 31: 10/12/24. I like having as many home made meals together. For me the perfection of the sunny side up eggs 🍳 and being together is what I want to remember 🤓This hearty breakfast fueled a full, positive, and productive day for us
🙏💪🧠🫶
Day 32: 10/13/24. My mom is finally open to learning how to write and send text messages. It’s been a hoot because we learned Siri can transcribe 📝 Kapangpagan & Tagalog if you enunciate properly. I was impressed because my Siri even spelled the “Putah” with an “h.” My mom’s Siri on the other hand has a sense of humor and transcribed the dictated text message to Auntie Beth as “Anak Buto” lol You can Google that and have fun with it #siritranscribestagalogslang #wetriedit
🫶 📟💬🗯️
Day 33: 10/14/24. Big puppy 🐶 paws 🐾 gonna be a big dawg. I channel his need for physical activity by sparring playfully with him and tossing him around just like his furry mom would do. I love his breed so much 🫶
Day 34: 10/15/24. Sibling photo shoot time. Day 1 of Spirit Week at school 🏫 and it’s Disney Day themed 😍💛🥰❤️
Day 35. 10/16/24. I am very excited I have come to 35% of my 💯day goal of this project and I am going strong 💪 and still engaged lol. If you know me I am non committal by nature because I do not like being tethered to non essentials. This project must be important and enjoyable to me to keep going at this happy clip. Anyhoo. Here’s a pic from Day 2 of the kids Spirit Week and the theme today is “Bring anything but a backpack 🎒 day.” As you can see Gavin brought a red cooler which was Gigi’s idea lol 😂 Yay to my kids teamwork ❣️
Day 36. 10/17/24. Helloooo❣️Happy Throwback Thursday again on the bloggie blog ❤️👩🏻💻💛This pic was taken on July 14, 2009 on a run 🏃🏻♀️ at Lake Elizabeth which makes Gigi 1 year and 1 + month old. She loved going on runs with me and making comments on the scenery. She spoke clearly at around 8 months and her little voice was super adorable. She melted everyone when she spoke cuz she was tiiiiinnyy and didn’t look like she should be talking lol 😂 When she would nap I would find shade, read, and chill. When she woke up we would have a picnic 🧺 because she would be in a good mood and ready to eat🫶 She loved being outdoors as much as I did ⛰️
Day 37, 10/18/24, and going strooonngg 💪 It’s the frickin weekend and happy aloha friyay everyone 🌺 Killed it this week with workouts and motivation was high. Blogging right now at the gym and hopefully Blogger 🤞will post.Have a fun 🤩 & safe 🫶weekend friends whatever you’ve got going 💛
Day 38, 10/19/24 and got in an early full body workout with Sasha this morning. Strength, Cardio, and Partnered Boxing 🥊 Drills. We’re gonna start holding for each other because I bought holding boxing mitts from Amazon that should arrive this weekend. Very busy weekend of baking and driving faaar today for my Uncle Omar’s birthday. At least they have a jacuzzi so I am looking forward to that and Filipino party food. Yum 😋
Day 39, 10/20/24, a busy and super fun weekend for us! We all kicked it with our respective crews and a special shout out to Gigi, Leah, and Noah for snagging 3rd place in their speech competition yesterday. Happy Sunday everyone and have a wonderful upcoming week🌞
🏅🏅🏅
Day 40, 10/21/24, Happy Birthday Uncle Omar! 🎂🎉🥳🎊
Day 41, 10/22/24, 299 day puppy 🐶 progression. Seeing life and time unfold in a puppy's life is amazing and sweet 🤗🙏🏽😘😍.
 |
| 8 weeks at 12/28/23 |
 |
| Hella weeks after at 10/18/24 😆 |
Day 42, 10/23/24, Super jam packed day but a very good one. Told Gigi during our Target run about this sweet man with a strong 💪 & kind 💛grampa vibe, Mr. Bharat. I chatted him up after his yoga class and he gave me home made Indian treats he brings to his students AND a proprietary essential oil blend for muscle rejuvenation. Who the heck does stuff like that!? Mr. Bharat does 💝Anyhow, I want to remember this today. There ARE kind people are out there ! ;-)
Day 43, 10/24/24, Happy Throwback Thursday ❣️My Uncle Virgil commented about missing my dad (his older brother) the last time we hung out for his birthday this past August. My dad, to me, was fully human, flawed, strong, open minded, and wise. He was able to transcend his own ancestral dysfunctions with his intellect and heart in his short 62 years with us. His legacy is an everyday inspiration to me and will be passed down to my bloodline. I super Love this pic of us at Disneyland because that doting father of mine forever lives in my mind and heart. Have a blessed day everyone ♥️🙏🏽😇💝
 |
| Disneyland 1987 with my old man 👴🏽That Mickey Mouse watch was everythiiiing to me! lol ;-) 🕰️ |
Day 44, 10/25/24, Happy Aloha Friyaay ❣️Jam packed day and weekend 🥳 Been chopping it up w/ peeps and everyone seems to be doing something they are excited about 🤩 Hope you have some funsies too and be safe. Killed it at the gym, per usual, today. Hit legs w/ my trainer then went hard with the w/ boxing drills and across the floor dance drills. Also, chatted it up with our delightful Zumba instructor Emily after class. Have a wonderful weekend everyone ;-)
 |
| Friday vibes sets the tone for the weekend 🦵🥊 💃🏻 🌞 |
Day 45, 10/26/24, so far our weekend has been golf for Gavin, speech competition for Gigi, and toy drive volunteer for me. Thankful for a good day and productive day 🙏🏽🤓💛🎉💝
Day 46, 10/27/24, we all had a very good day especially this guy 😍 lil bro 😎 is one☝️today 🐶
 |
| he was waiting for them to wake up so they could greet him ;-) |
 |
| someone's loved 😍💛🥰❤️ |
Day 47, 10/28/24, I have outfits that are recycled seasonally and updated accordingly with accessories. This combination is a fall favorite because it is feminine, flowy, and free. The hat / long scarf combo / dress / boots is always a winner and I get stopped by nice passerby’s on the aesthetic of this fashion combination. For my lovely ladies, some fashion advice: flowy stuff in the right shape and combination for us is flattering. It’s like letting your hair down and feeling the majesty of your femininity come alive. Happy Monday 💝💛💝💛
Day 48, 10/29/24, Handling work thangs from la casa today and forever grateful I can (and have been for a looonng time now) can do this 🙏🏽🏠❤️😊👩🏻💻Hope everyone is staying on the up and up✌️
 |
| have a blessed one 💝 |
Day 49, 10/30/24, Gigi snags 1st 🥇 place at her high school's annual poetry slam. Her poem entitled "Spare Change" was written and performed by the talented artist herself 🤩 Great work honey and congratulations 🙏🏽🤓💛🎉
Day 50, 10/31/24, Look at those cute + tough looking faces with their hardcore hydro squirt guns lol 😂😂 Happy Throwback Thursday everyone❣️Have fun and be safe out there ✌️💛🙌💛
Day 51, 11/1/24. It’s a new month and I am absolutely love struck 🥰 with Mika’s music and made a playlist so I can learn a little French 🇫🇷❤️🥰💙
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1dcwuvrfaZhl7lfztgTujA?si=vmRHF2yDSRut6t9w9r5ujA&pi=u-Cqxy2zmUTZml
Day 52, 11/2/24, at a workstaycation in Napa and having the best time. Please visit the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel 🏨 and Spa 🧖♀️. It’s so quaint, unassuming, and fabulous 🥂L💗VE it here so much ❣️
Day 53, 11/3/24, celebrated lots of things this week 🫶🌞💗🎉 Taking steps toward a successful and productive month 🗓️🥰👋🏽😇✅👍 Sending hugs and lots of love from our neck of the woods 🌲🏡🌅🌻💛🌟
Day 54, 11/4/24, listening to all this French music is giving me a hankering for culture and museum going. My last birthday in 2018 I spent all day at the MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, NY) and here are some fave photos of mine. 😍🤩🥸🤓
Day 55, 11/5/24, puppies 🐶 are similar to human babies. They need to learn how to sleep in their own space, learn how to be away from mom, learn how to play and socialize, learn how to control and expel their bodily functions in designated places, and most importantly learn the skill of self soothing without the constant need for 24 hour supervision by a human. If a puppy learns this, and this is all he knows, he will grow into a well adjusted Big Dawwgg. So far this chill dude is doing great, acclimates to change, and is just super duper freaking easy to love and take care of 💗💕💗💕
