Monday, February 23, 2026

Good-bye, Blue

Blueberry "Blue-Blue" Sales

March 25, 2018 - February 16, 2026

Almost 8 years of pure fluffy gorgeousness and sass.

Loved by a little boy who misses her so much.

This week has been really tough for our family. We knew she didn't have long because Polish rabbits typically have a lifespan of just 5-6 years. So we were happily grateful for every day she was with us in the last couple of years.

But on Christmas Eve, we saw her weakened and old. She was just sitting and didn't want to leave her cage anymore. Sometimes, she didn't even get up for treats. That was when we knew she didn't have long. My youngest son, and the only one Blue loved, wrote a poem for her.

We told her, "Blue, don't leave us on Christmas!" Then it was, "Blue, don't leave us on New Year's Day!" And then, "Blue, don't leave us on Valentine's Day!" But the day before Chinese New Year, she quietly left us while we were at work and school. It hurts my heart so much that she died alone. 

I have been crying on and off, but when her ashes finally came back home on Saturday, my heart felt at peace. She's with us again, and my heart is glad. I could tell my youngest boy is happy his fur friend is back home, too. He said he's stopped crying na. 

First photo together

Last photo together

Appreciating this thoughtful presentation of Blue-Blue's ashes

Good-bye, Blue. Say hello to Galady, Matilda, Gandalfi, Alice, Sari, Waiter, and CC for us!

Thank you. We love you. We miss you forever.

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Sunday, February 01, 2026

The kids are all right

Hi, dear Loyal Readers! I shared these photos over Christmas, and a lot of you were shocked. Yes, malalaki na sila. They're 15, 13, and 11. How fast time flies! 


Many of you asked how the kids are. Lalo na kasi yung mga kasabayan kong mommy bloggers na actively sharing pa rin about their kids, nasusundan niyo talaga. Eh, yung mga anak ko very private kaya after 2016 or so, di na ako masyadong nagkwento about them. I archived their photos sa Instagram, too.


But since nagtanong kayo, eto ang pwede kong ma-share. They're very smart and talented. They go to an international school (kaya naging corporate slave ako haha). Malapit lang school nila sa bahay so the high schoolers commute a lot. I'm proud of the fact that they're independent, and I'm glad di sila kilala because I really don't want strangers to approach them and be all, "Hi! I follow your mom's blog/IG/FB!" This freaks them out actually, the rare times it happens. 

They're doing very well in school except for Filipino. They play instruments. They sing. They enjoy their friends. Ano pa ba? Oh, they eat a lot. Grabe.


You'll be seeing more of my eldest child soon because meron siyang big fund-raising project. I am so excited to tell you! And I'm counting on all of you na suportahan siya! Kasama siya sa delegation to the International STEM Olympiad in Netherlands. And kasali rin siya sa Asia Math Engineering Challenge in Malaysia. I'm very proud!

My second son naman is really into music. Obsessed. He plays the guitar, piano, and bass. He even played in Sunday worship service once. So that's really cool. I'm very proud!

Yung bunso naman is like the ringleader of his friends. Ang kulit ng batang yan! He likes reading books and baking brownies. And he's insightful and wise. I'm very proud!


But what I'm most proud of is how sweet and good they are. They're really such good kids. Wala kaming problema sa kanila at all. Well, I wish they'd do the dishes and clean their room more, but in the great scheme of things, they're pretty awesome. 

And I know you're curious about how they are, especially since many of you saw them born. You were there watching them grow and talk and eat and do all the cutesy things babies do. And suddenly, you stopped seeing them. For 10 years! 

Thank you for understanding and respecting their privacy. I really appreciate that, despite the radio silence, you still love my children. I still feel it. Thank you. And you'll probably see more of them soon, with their consent, but just so you know, the kids are all right. Happy, healthy, thriving, and absolutely wonderful!

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Sunday, January 18, 2026

Affirmations that really work


I have a confession: I've always felt affirmations were kinda weird and woo-woo. I know that reality starts in the mind. You must imagine your reality! And you do that with affirmations. I just didn't really know how that's done.

Well, today, I learned something about affirmations that really changed how I see them. And I'm going to share them with you because it's a new year! And I bet we're all thinking of how to make 2026 a better year.

I took this Linkedin Learning course, The Six Morning Habits of High Performers by Pete Mockaitis. One of the habits is affirmations. And here's what high performers affirm every morning: First, affirmations must not be a lie. For example, don't say, "I am a millionaire," because your brain will go, "But... we're not?" That made so much sense to me, TBH. Another tip is the affirmations must not be passive. Don't say, "I am a money magnet. Success flows through me," because you're not doing anything. Just standing there thinking of money will not make you money.

And I screencapped this to help me write mine:

I love this thoughtful take on affirmations! Ground them in truth, must be action-oriented and time-bound. Doesn't it make much more sense?

Now, part of the course was to do assignments, so here's what I wrote down for me. Instead of vague affirmations, I reframed mine into commitments with clear actions and timelines. Check them out!
 
As a Mom

Commitment: I am a present and loving mom.
Why: Because my sons deserve to feel seen, heard, and supported, now more than ever!
Actions: I will create daily pockets of connection, whether through meals, bedtime chats, or shared activities.
When: Every day, even for 15-30 minutes. Even when I'm tired!

Commitment: I am raising kind, aware, and responsible boys.
Why: Because I want them to grow into good men who contribute positively to the world.
Actions: I will have honest conversations about values, model kindness, and give them space to share their thoughts.
When: Through daily interactions and family discussions, whenever the opportunity comes up.

For My Health

Commitment: I am prioritizing my physical and mental well-being.
Why: Because a healthy body and mind will help me show up fully in every area of my life.
Actions: I will move my body regularly, stay hydrated, and choose nourishing foods.
When: By exercising 3-4 times a week and making mindful food choices daily.

Commitment: I am honoring my body’s need for rest and care.
Why: Because rest restores my creativity, energy, and emotional balance.
Actions: I will create a consistent sleep routine, allow myself guilt-free downtime, and spoil myself rotten every month!
When: By being in bed by 10:30 PM on weeknights. (This is the only thing I'm sure I can commit to.)

As a Writer and Author

Commitment: I am building a successful and impactful writing career.
Why: Because my words have the power to inspire, heal, and connect with others.
Actions: I will dedicate focused writing time and submit/publish my work consistently.
When: By writing for at least 30 minutes on weekday mornings.

Commitment: I am continuously improving my craft.
Why: Because great writing comes from lifelong learning and practice.
Actions: I will read widely, study storytelling techniques, and seek feedback.
When: By reading a book every month or taking a writing course every quarter!

As a Communications Manager

Commitment: I am growing into a confident and strategic communications leader.
Why: Because my voice and ideas shape how others see, feel, and act.
Actions: I will strengthen my digital marketing knowledge, embrace new tools, and measure the impact of my work.
When: By dedicating time each month to learning and reviewing performance metrics.

O, diba? Very Linkedin ang language. And isa lang kaya kong i-commit for my job because it's already taking a lot out of me! Anyway, I like how this course helped me form affirmations that reflect my values, give me clear direction in my daily life, and keep me accountable. 

Actually, they're kinda hard to do! So I'm still struggling with the execution and accountability part. But I'm getting there! 

I know now that affirmations aren't about faking it till you make it. Affirmations are just words. Powerful words! But what really changes my life is consistent action. So this is me sharing with you my affirmations. Let's call them my commitments. So I can be accountable! 

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Monday, January 05, 2026

Take a peek at my BDJ planner (Big Dreams Journey, 20th Edition)

Aaaaand it's the first Monday of the year, so it's the real start of 2026! Let's take a look at my BDJ Big Dreams Journey planner!


This is the 20th edition of the Belle de Jour Power Planners. Grabe, 20 years. My blog is also 20 years this 2026, so wow! I was there when Darlyn Ty started her planner business, and I've used a BDJ planner on and off through the years (I was a bullet journal-ist for a few years). This year, I have 3 planners - one for my daily stuff, another for Bible study, and the BDJ planner will be my writing projects planner.
 

I know people who have at least 2 planners. One for home, one for work, one for hobbies, one for kids' schedules, etc. The last time I had more than one planner was when I was homeschooling the boys. Last year, my planner was bursting at the seams with so many to-do lists that I realized I needed more than one again. 

Since this 20th edition is called the Big Dreams Journey, it was entirely appropriate to devote it to my writing projects! 


The planner is a very serious one this year. It's usually colorful or has fabulous illustrations. This year, it's all business! From left, the Perks of a Bella coupons booklet, the planner itself, and a slim dotted notebook.


There are 60 partner offers inside - from beauty and wellness to fashion and food, there's a Bella experience waiting for you at a discount. And the more coupons you use, the more rewards you get! 


I'm using the notebook as my projects tracker. That list is all the courses I got from Udemy. I also have from Linkedin and Domestika. I've had those for years and I am either halfway through them or haven't started. So this is the year I finish something! The goal is just 12 - one a month. The rest of the pages are going to be for my income tracker for writing and editing projects, tracker for my works in progress (I have novels, devotionals, short stories, children's books!), and ideas dump.   


And here we are at the first part of the planner - where you're guided to visualize the life you want. This is actually useful! So I was writing all my dreams and plans and my surprising conclusion is my top priority is my...


My health matters because I had so many plans for 2025 and I was slowed down by lots of illnesses. It felt like I was sick every month! Usually a cold, nothing serious, but just bad enough to make me not want to work on my dreams and just sleep. And then there were a few times I had a really bad cold or cough and that was complete misery. And then when I wasn't sick, one or more of my family naman ang may sakit!

Oops, napa-Tagalog ako bigla. Ganyan talaga pag nagiging emotional ako haha

Anyway, so writing all my dreams in the guided vision spread of the BDJ Planner made me focus on what hindered me last year, crystallizing what I needed to focus on first so that I will be unstoppable in 2027!!! 


Here's my January monthly spread! Not a lot written down yet but that covered part, that's a big deal. I will let you know all about it soon enough! 

My Word for the Year is not final yet. But I've written down SLOW PRODUCTIVITY in my daily planner to remind myself to take it slow, that what matters is "Slow and steady wins the race" and not "Fast and furious but then you get sick and not get to the finish line." So one step at a time and be intentional in focusing on the projects that matter so I can finally finish them!


Anyhoot, the BJD Planner is undated. So, yeah, I spent a few hours over the holidays just writing down dates and decorating it with washi tape. Like I said earlier, it's a serious planner this year, not a lot of frills and fancy stuff, so I just busted out the stickers and stamps and had fun decorating! 


My first few days of the year are pretty empty, and I'm really trying to slow down so that I can prioritize my health, but I am very excited for 2026.  I have an upcoming announcement and I can't wait to let you know about it! So I have lots of plans, lots of goals, and it's so fun that I have you, my dear Loyal Readers, along for the ride again. Plus, the BDJ Big Dreams Journey planner! 

This 2026 is going to be a great year! 

Buy your own BDJ Big Dreams Journey Planner 2026 for only Php 896 here!

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Friday, January 02, 2026

Happy New Year! !

Happy 2026, dear Loyal Readers! 

The photos here aren't from today. They're from my new year, my 49th birthday a few weeks ago. I'm sick with a really bad cold in these photos. And we didn't know it yet, but my youngest, my eldest, and then my husband - in that order - will get dengue one after the other in the following weeks. So if I thought I was feeling poorly here, I ain't seen nothing yet! 


But, as with all things that happened in my 49 years, we survived dengue. I will say that I have never been more terrified in my life. Yung napaluhod sa dasal ba sa sobrang takot. And sunud-sunod pa talaga silang nagkasakit. Hindi talaga ako natulog ng isang buwan, mamas. No joke. And all this while I had work and one more healthy son to care for. 

I developed a consistent muscle spasm by the side of my head and, even when they were already well, I still couldn't sleep. I finally went to the doctor and I was diagnosed with fatigue. Meron pa lang ganung diagnosis?! He said even though the danger was past, my body was still on hyper-vigilance mode. So, for the first time ever, I was prescribed a sleep aid. Three tablets lang naman para raw makatulog ako. But stubborn me, I didn't take one until the weekend, which was days after, because I had so much to do, I couldn't afford to sleep. 

So that was how my new year started, and that was also why I resolved that for this 2026, I am going to prioritize sleep and healthy living. 


I had so many plans last 2025. But, grabe, lagi akong may sakit. Or kung hindi ako, yung pamilya ko. Dengue aside, we were all just sick enough so that I didn't have time for my plans of world domination! 

But I am still proud to say na kahit sakitin ako at exhausted last year, I was still able to get writing gigs. My articles came out in MEGA, Vogue, Smart Parenting, and The Beauty Edit. It is soooo nice to see my byline again! I also wrote stories and poems. And started books! Yeah, hindi pa nga tapos yung mga werewolf romances ko, nag-pivot ako to devotionals / memoir. 

So we'll see what happens next! 

"We'll see" kasi I think I will slow down na muna. Masyado akong ambisyosa last year, napagod tuloy ako. Aalagaan ko muna sarili ko, devote more time and energy to nourish this middle-aged body so I can be strong enough to make my big dreams come true. Kasi, imagine niyo ha, I was operating on near empty last year pero may mga significant accomplishments pa rin ako. I think I was also still a great wife and mother. And I was still showing up at the office and hitting targets left and right. Paano na lang kung I am at my 100% best and healthiest??? I would be unstoppable! 

And when you're 49, to even still have goals and dreams and be excited for more of what life has to offer, that sure is something. 

In fact, for 2026, I have something up my sleeve. A few somethings actually. I am so excited to tell you all about the first one! Soon, soon. I know you'll love this big project! 

So, if you're wondering what happened to my last year, that was it. Lots of highs and lows. But I am still here! With more to give than ever before. I thought life would get more boring as I get older. Hindi pala. Papunta pa lang tayo sa exciting part, mamas. So if magkasing-edad tayo at feeling mo nalampasan ka na ng life, at panahon na ng mga bata naman, no. Every day is a new opportunity to do something new! 

And, despite all my excitement, my something new will be, funnily enough, slow down na muna. Magpapalakas muna ako kasi marami akong pangarap pa, and God willing, you'll see them all come true. 

So please pray for me as I diet and exercise and sleep early (it's 1 AM as I type haha). Once I feel strong enough, let's run this new race together! 

It's such a happy new year! God bless you all. Mwah! 

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