Random Thoughts

I was browsing online about ways to make myself get excited on workouts, when I came across this article about apps that you can use for fitness. Very timely. Read on.

Fitness Apps For Your Specific Sport by Leyla Shamayeva

Data, especially organized data, gives insight into any subject. Take what Calorie Count provides as an example. The app is perfect for tracking all the details of your diet (right?), and the numbers help determine nutrient problem areas, eating patterns, and make you aware of and accountable for your food choices. When it comes to fitness, there are activity trackers like Fitbit, Nike+ Fuelband, or a simple pedometer that encourage a more active lifestyle...but your smartphone is useful as well. Try these apps (they’re some of my favorites!) together with Calorie Count to track the specifics of your sport.

For Walking, Running and Cycling

I’ve tried Endomondo, Runkeeper, and even Zombies, Run! to map my walks, runs, and bike rides, track time and mileage, and challenge my own personal bests. Currently, however, my favorite app is Moves, available for both iOS and Android. As long as you have your phone on you, Moves will accurately track every step you make, total your active time and miles for the day, estimate calories burned for each activity, and even map your movements. Best part? You don’t have to do anything. The app is smart enough to differentiate between when you’re walking, running, cycling, and driving. Although the app does cost a few dollars, it does more than costly pedometers you wear on your body, is pleasant to look at and easy to use.

For Yoga

A yoga studio isn’t the only place to obtain the benefits of yoga. When there’s no time (or money) to attend a session at your favorite studio, use an app to setup your own routine at home, or just add a few body-stretching poses after your workout. One such app is Pocket Yoga, available for iOS, Android, and Windows 8. It provides step-by-step instructions and detailed pictures for poses of varying difficulties, but is limited in the number of poses and full classes it offers. Yoga Studio is a similar app with a larger library of postures. One more recently released app by EA Sports is Yogify. Read the review by our Family Fitness Expert here.

For Tabata-Style Workouts

No time? Bored of your workout? No problem. Tabata-style workouts help you bust common workout excuses, and when you only have 15 minutes and no clue what moves to do, Nike Training Club is the perfect go-to app. Available for both iOS and Android, the app provides a large library of tabata and HIIT-style workouts to choose from for beginners, intermediates, and advanced users. You can choose to get lean, toned, strong, focused, or all 4 with a 4-week program that you create. Detailed videos, built-in timers, and voice guidance get you concentrated on your form and performance. In addition to quick 15-minute workouts, there are 30-60 minute options as well. Best part? The app is free (although it does require a bit of data).

For Making Fitness Fun (and Weight-Lifting)

If you’re looking for a game-like approach to fitness to “level up in real life,” try Fitocracy. This app prides itself for being “the fitness social network” that motivates users to continuously evolve in their fitness capabilities. A large supportive community paired with points and badges (similar to ours!) awarded to each workout logged brings you up in levels in the app. The best part? A very extensive database of exercises, including videos, descriptions, and tips on how to perform them, as well as detailed analysis of your performance in these exercises over time. Although there is a larger focus on weight-lifting exercises, the community welcomes everyone. I credit this app for sparking my interest in weight-lifting, and if you are anything like me you’ll quickly find yourself motivated to try new moves and work out with the app.

SOURCE.

This is one of the reasons why I love technology. It literally make our lives easier. Right?

It's been awhile since we went out on a date. We've been sooo busy this summer, attending kids' activities everywhere. So finally we were so happy to be able to set a night for just the two of us. A wine and cheese night at Barcino.

And oh, we had sausages and bread too. (*wink*)




Food and the place was great. We should do this again, honey!!! ♥♥♥

Such a beautiful song and touching video. Not to mention, this is my bridal march song too. ♥

Don't stop believing. God is always there to raise you up.

How time flies, it's 9 years since we had our honeymoon in Boracay and look at the island, it was still beautiful.

Well, Boracay is still a beauty up to now but Station 2 is waaaay different now. I hope they maintain this beauty and would last for years.

I came across another nice and useful article at MomCentre that I want to share here. Yes, the same author - Mariel Yuquiengco. Enjoy!

How to Create a Work-At-Home Mom Schedule by Mariel Uyquiengco

More and more mothers are opting to work at home. Advances in technology enable us to contribute to the family income while staying at home with our kids. While the situation seems ideal to someone looking from outside, it actually takes hard work to balance parenting and work when they share the same space. Creating and following a work-at-home mom schedule takes a lot of fine-tuning before we can truly say that we are happy with how our day goes on a day-to-day basis.

Marge Aberasturi has been a work-at-home mom (WAHM) for eight years now. Starting as a medical transcriptionist in 2006, she now offers administrative virtual assistance, technical virtual assistance, and creative virtual assistance through her own company, VA Support Pro. Here she shares with us her tips on how to make your work-at-home mom schedule work.

Know why you are at home

Marge says that the key to creating a work-at-home mom schedule is in knowing your reason for being a WAHM. As most of us tend to take the leap because of our kids, it is safe to say that like Marge, our days will be “about the kids first, the work second, and everything else down the list.”

Break down tasks

What are the things that you need to do during the day? Prepare breakfast, get kids ready for the day, attend to house chores, and of course, work are some of the things that we all need to do. Write them down one by one and categorize them.

Make your schedule

Now that you know your daily tasks, it’s time to write down a general flow of your day. Start with what is happening now. What time do the kids wake up? What time does your husband get home from work? How often do you really need to sweep the floor? Knowing the answers to these will help you in drafting your work-at-home mom schedule. Identify the time slots when you can work uninterrupted and when your kids most need your attention.

Prepare activities for the kids

If you have young kids, preparing activities for them will help occupy them during the times that youare working and they don’t want to take a nap. Books, toys, and art materials are a must. Older kids need activities too, though they are more likely to look for their own entertainment.

Unwind

Our day at home with our kids can be a whirlwind of activities that can leave us breathless and exhausted. An important part of Marge’s work-at-home mom schedule, therefore, is her one hour uninterrupted TV time. Unwinding, even for just a short while during the day, can recharge our batteries.

Working at home has two parts: “working” and “at home.” Making them work together takes organization and patience. But, as Marge herself says, “WAHMing is a lifestyle” that does not have a formula. She advises moms to play everything by ear and allow for flexibility whenyou are having an out-of-sync day.Most of all, remembering why you are at home in the first place will help you decide on how to best approach your day to day life. SOURCE.

I've been a work-from-home Mom for three years and I tell you, it wasn't easy. These tips are helpful enought that maybe I could be one again someday.

Happiness is...

1. Quick getaway at Nuvali and Tagaytay with friends
2. Lots of help from inlaws
3. Responsible kids! Proud of them. ♥
4. Super fun 2014 summer!
5. UK and Euro trip was a success. Thank you, Lord.
6. Pictures, pictures, pictures!
7. The One by Kierra Cass, such a beautiful story
8. Kids helping out these days
9. Work
10. Friends, household and community ♥

To know how this started and credits of the header, click here.

Since we (especially the kids) all love the healthy food at Phoa, we always go back here whenever we feel like it.

But, oooopppss, I know I said it was a healthy dinner, but I only was able to take a photo of our dessert.


LOL!

For dinner, we had seafood noodle soup, chicken BBQ and rice. Y.U.M.!

I went to Nurture Spa, 7 years ago and I liked their treatments so much. It was expensive though so I didn't expect to be back there. Thanks to Deal Grocer, my sister, my Mom and I was avail to get their 3-hour massage package.

WOOT!

I badly needed it. I was so tired from our trip 2 months ago and I haven't recovered yet. Thanks to Deal Grocer, we were able to go back.

I was surprised that Nurture Spa has expanded. They already have a lot of rooms to stay for overnight. Maybe we should try that one of these days.

A couple of months ago, I was able to go out of town with my Mom and sister for bonding! We had a wonderful massage at Nurture Spa, (which I will posting soon) and then we had a very good lunch at Pamana Restaurant.

Since my Mom was having a vacation from US, we ate all the Filipino food all over the metro. But the one we had at Pamana Restaurant was by far our favorite! Boneless crispy pata, pinakbet, steamed fish, oh yum! The best Filipino restaurant we ever had (so far!).

Beautiful day, isn't it? Here's a beautiful song for you too...

Have a great Sunday!