I want to update the lighting in our house. Put a pendant lamp above the dining table. Change the home office light to something warm. Install a task light in the kitchen. Figure out the what the other switch in the kitchen is for. I'm specifically looking at the IKEA Skurup for our dining. But I know it's not gonna hang dead center at the table, and I'm not sure if I can live with that.
On the matter of stuff I've been putting off doing, here's a list. Mostly got to do with throwing out things.
☑️ Throw away old boxes. Never mind that they can be used for storage in the future. That day never comes. This includes shoe boxes, apple boxes, and all the big boxes that's out of warranty. Don't even think about just flattening them to save space.
☑️ Clean the rust off the TV console. Try WD-40 and elbow grease.
☑️ Declutter clothes. Socks. Old jackets. Towels. Linen. Find some place to donate it to. Badly need to free up hangers and closet space.
☑️ Give away stuff. Old art materials and books. Unused cookware.
☑️ Throw away old cables, old dog toys.
☑️ Sell stuff. Anything new we don't need can be 50 each. Bundle useless and useful stuff together to get rid of them easier.
☑️ Sell my old smartwatch cos I'm back to using my older smartwatch.
There's a new way of decluttering I learned about. Which is treating your stuff like employees and giving them a performance review every now and then. If it's not doing its purpose anymore, it has to go.
I'm used to the Marie Kondo way of looking at something and deciding if it sparks joy. And it always ends up with me keeping things based on how I feel. This new method feels more pragmatic. Hopefully I give it a try.
I was recovering fairly well after my knee surgery. Until I decided to eat my neighbor's leche flan. I was contemplating on what to get for dessert one night. Magnum classic or a tub of ultra sweet leche flan - that has once (or twice) wreaked havoc on my throat, opening a portal for a host of diseases (mainly flu) to vacation in my body.
Against my better judgment I chose the latter of the two desserts, becoming a five-star superhost, once again, to my favorite visitors: tonsilitis, cough, and colds. Fever usually comes in with them but I've been housekeeping with Paracetamol so it couldn't get in.
For a week I toiled between relieving my sore throat by taking cold drinks, and relieving my flu by not taking cold drinks. It's a damn hassle living with both. I couldn't function properly at work. I couldn't talk. I have a mouth sore that sits on my lower lip, directly touching the top of my tooth that it stings all the time.
As a woman in her 50s, I’ve gone through many stages in life, but one thing I couldn’t escape was the changes brought by menopause. Suddenly, my belly became harder to manage, my butt lost its firmness, and I felt uncomfortable every time I looked in the mirror before heading out.
One morning, while getting ready for my friend’s daughter’s wedding, I stood in front of my closet with a deep sigh.
“Oh dear… nothing fits the way it used to,” I muttered to myself, pulling out a dress I hadn’t worn in years.
My daughter, who was scrolling on her phone nearby, looked up.
“Mom, why do you look so stressed?” she asked.
I shrugged, holding the dress against my body. “It’s not the dress, honey. It’s me. Ever since menopause, I feel like my body isn’t mine anymore. My belly, my hips… they all changed.”
She walked over, smiled, and whispered, “You know, there’s this thing called shapewear. It’s not about changing who you are—it just gives you a little boost. Like a secret superpower.”
At first, I laughed. “Superpower? At my age?”
“Yes!” she insisted. “You’ll see. It’s like a best friend that keeps everything in place while you shine.”
That night, I gave in and wore shapewear under my dress. To my surprise, it wasn’t just my clothes that looked better—it was me. The dress hugged my body in the right places, I felt more put-together, and when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I smiled for the first time in a long while.
Walking into the wedding hall, my friend leaned closer and whispered, “You look amazing! What’s your secret?”
I chuckled softly and replied, “Let’s just say I’ve found a little silent helper.”
The truth is, shapewear did more than smooth out the lines of my dress. It lifted my confidence, reminded me that I could still carry myself with grace, and helped me walk out the door with my head held higher.
Shapewear Is Not Just About Looks, It’s About Confidence
There’s a common misconception that shapewear only exists to hide “flaws.” But in reality, shapewear is about support—both physically and emotionally. When your body feels tighter and more defined, your mindset naturally shifts to something more positive.
For me, shapewear has become a part of self-care. Just like skincare, light exercise, or eating healthier, shapewear helps me feel comfortable and confident in my own skin—without forcing myself into extreme diets or endless workouts.
Why Black Friday 2025 Is the Best Time to Shop for Shapewear
When it comes to shopping for shapewear, the 2025 Black Friday shapewear sale is simply unmissable. Discounts are massive, new collections are released, and you can grab premium-quality shapewear at much friendlier prices.
Especially for butt lifting shapewear and tummy control pieces, which usually cost a bit more, Black Friday is the perfect time to stock up and invest in pieces that will last.
1. Shapewear Bodysuit: The All-in-One Lifesaver
If I could only choose one shapewear piece to wear daily, it would be a shapewear bodysuit. It hugs the body, providing support from the belly and waist all the way down to the butt.
As someone dealing with menopause belly, the bodysuit is my secret weapon. Dresses fall more smoothly, blouses no longer cling awkwardly, and my butt looks naturally lifted.
2. High Waisted Shapewear Shorts: The Menopause Belly Solution
For skirts, jeans, or fitted pants, nothing beats high waisted shapewear shorts. They don’t just flatten the tummy but also give the butt a subtle lift without that suffocating feeling.
I wear these often for work or casual outings. The fabric is lightweight, yet the effect is powerful: my belly feels flatter, and my posture improves instantly.
3. Shapewear Leggings: Lift Your Butt, Shape Your Legs
I never imagined shapewear could come in the form of leggings, but once I tried them, I was hooked. They don’t just lift the butt, but also shape the thighs and calves, making the legs look longer and leaner.
Perfect for coffee dates or casual strolls, shapewear leggings make me feel both sporty and feminine at the same time.
4. Tummy Control Shapewear Panty: Simple Yet Effective
Sometimes, you just need something simple. That’s when I reach for tummy control shapewear panties. They’re easy to wear under jeans or casual dresses, but they still deliver results: a smoother tummy and a perkier butt.
They’re the type of shapewear you can rely on daily without feeling like you’re trying too hard.
5. Full Body Shapewear: A Confidence Booster All Day
For special occasions—weddings, reunions, or even photoshoots—I go for full body shapewear. It’s a little more “serious,” but the results are unbeatable. My entire silhouette feels sculpted, my butt looks lifted, and I can go through the day radiating confidence.
How to Choose Shapewear That Fits Your Body
After experimenting with different pieces, I’ve realized there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all when it comes to shapewear. The right choice depends on your needs:
Struggling with belly fat? → High waisted shapewear shorts
And always remember: breathable materials matter. Comfort should never be compromised.
Lifestyle + Confidence: How Shapewear Became My Menopause Companion
For me, shapewear isn’t about hiding weaknesses—it’s about reclaiming confidence in this new stage of life. Yes, our bodies change with menopause, but that doesn’t mean we should stop caring for ourselves.
Shapewear is my “quiet companion” that helps me show up in the world with self-assurance, without constantly comparing myself to how I looked in my 30s or 40s.
Conclusion: Black Friday 2025—The Perfect Moment to Invest in Yourself
If you’re looking for a small yet powerful boost of confidence, give shapewear a try. And with the upcoming 2025 Black Friday shapewear sale, now is the perfect moment to invest in yourself without overspending.
I believe every woman deserves to feel beautiful and confident—at any age. Shapewear is just one of the tools that can help us embrace that truth.
Knee surgery was a success. Thought it was going to be a difficult recovery but three days later, after the anesthesia has worn off, I don't feel so much pain. I only needed crutches for a day but the following days I'm able to walk around the house, albeit limping. I was hoping to get two months WFH approved but I think I'll be back to normal in no time. I hope so.
I've been eating fast food a lot the whole time I was confined. Thanks McDo. I stayed in the hospital for 2 nights. A night longer than expected. I wasn't cleared for discharge on the same day of my operation since the anesthesia has not completely worn off and I'm still being observed.
So what happened to my knee? I have a lateral meniscal tear on the right knee and a cartilage defect. I underwent chondroplasty to smoothen and reshape the damaged cartilage, arthroscopic partial meniscectomy to remove the damaged part of the torn meniscus, and debridement to remove any damaged tissue around the wound. So much damage lol.
I'm looking forward to recover fully because it's Christmas season and it's gonna be so busy I don't want to miss out.
My surgeon sent me a photo of my intact ACL and inner meniscus which is good news. I don't know which is which in the photo I only care than my ACL is good. Yey!
Thankful that my HMO was able to cover everything in full (except for a very minimal miscellaneous fee). The final bill amounted to 180k+, with Philhealth covering around 60k. ☺️
I'm scheduled for right knee surgery on Friday. Please pray for me. I have a meniscal cyst that needs to be cleaned up. Then possibly they could also repair my meniscus. Stitch the torn part together. I don't know. My knee started locking frequently this year. By frequently I mean it happened five times since March. It's super painful when it happens. Like 8/10 💀. I've mentioned it a couple of times in this blog. The pain has been worrying enough for me to consult about it. After an MRI we've confirmed a cyst that's big enough to cause the frequent dislocation of my knee.
Hopefully I recover fast. The procedure isn't as complex as my ACL reconstruction so hopefully I'd be walking in no time. Hopefully. It sucks that I have to pause coming to the gym for this. I don't want to waste all the progress we've made when we started with Coach Gene. It's been great working out. I've never felt this good with my body despite still being on the obese scale haha. I feel stronger and leaner. I really wanna be in shape and become fit. I need the strength. At the state of my knees I really wanna grow old strong.
It's sucks that I already have osteoarthritis this young. Really limits my movement. Then again, it's kinda my fault my body deteriorated this early.
Anyway, I've been working 8 hours straight this isn't me. But also I don't wanna stop? Urgh.
It's office day today! New company policy says we have to leave 10pm onwards if we want to be eligible for the shift transport allowance (STA) which is like Php300 something per day. They used to be very lenient with this, as long as you clock in the office and stay at least 4 hours you'll get an incentive. But now they're being strict. Oh well! Guess I have to wait then!
Time check: 7:27PM
Just got back from dinner and a leisurely stroll. Had pho and spring rolls at Em Ha Noi next door, then walked to Muji to look around. I was gonna get a foot massage at a nearby spa but realized I have a meeting in an hour, and also, I need to work haha.
Pressure
I just finished two low priority items recently and was excited to start with this one big task that I've been pushing off for so long because I wanted to do away with the easy stuff first. Now that I'm ready to sit down and pour my brain into it, my manager told me to prioritize something else! Hahaha
So this new priority involves exploring the AI capability of the Power BI dashboard I created last quarter. It's a really curious task, except that they wanted to present this to the higher ups next month so there's the pressure. Whew.
Time check: 9:16PM
Normally I should be home right now but I have to wait for 10PM, also I have a call then so haaay. I've never stayed this long in the office. It's usually pretty quiet during the early EMEA hours, but when the NA shift starts people start pouring in and taking calls left and right. It's noisy!
I can't believe it's been a month since we flew to Bangkok to celebrate our eighth anniversary. It's the first time we celebrated outside the country. Quite honestly it's a bit spontaneous, booked flights and accommodation just a week before. Partly because we had money to spare at the time. We got our condo at Avenida refunded, lost 50% but the other half we got was more than enough for a good vacation outside the country. It's the best vacay ever! Can't wait to be back!
Here's my Bangkok vlog:
For the whole trip which was 4 days we spent roughly ₱91k
✅ Roundtrip flight was around ₱40k with PAL ✅ Four nights at Maison Hotel Bangkok was ₱17k ✅ Cash pocket money was around ₱21k ✅ And credit card spending was ₱13k
Not bad at all! Which is why I can't wait to go back already! I could imagine spending way more for a metro staycation had we stayed here. Not considering the flight, we'd probably spend more than 50k for a fancy staycation and a steak dinner hehe.
Here's our complete itinerary:
Day 1 (arrival at night)
Dinner at SW1 Market
Day 2
Lunch at Bangkok Train Station (Lap Paak)
Ayutthaya
Dinner at McDo
Day 3
The Grand Palace
Wat Pho
Lunch at The Deck
Malling and dinner at ICONSIAM
Day 4 (departure at night)
Lunch at Nobu Bangkok
Anyway, here's what went down at Bangkok:
Day 1: Arrival and SW1 Market
We arrived at Bangkok around 7PM. Obviously didn't have the whole day so as soon as we got to the hotel, we just dropped our bags and walked to the nearest night market which was SW1 Market.
It's like one kilometer away from the hotel and a good 16min walk. It was pretty far for my standards but it was a great place to experience their night market! Lots of food options! Some good, some bad. My favorites were pad thai, crispy pork, and crispy pancakes. Thai milk tea was also good! We tried crispy insects which literally tastes like seasoned nothing haha it's just crispy, nothing special. The mango pomelo sago I tried was also underwhelming, their mangoes aren't that sweet, pomelo isn't too, and the coconut meat was not real it's like coconut gulaman? Mango sticky rice was quite good though. Their mangoes are big but not as sweet unlike Philippine mangoes which is a bummer cos I really love mango sticky rice here. But their sticky rice and coconut cream? So goood! Then we also tried some skewered stuff, crocodile meat, chicken, and beef. Nothing special, I guess I didn't like the barbecue sauce. Wish I had the capacity to try a lot more dishes, but I got full already!
Today I clocked in 12k+ steps! Whew!
Day 2: Ayutthaya and McDo
This was an adventure. We didn't join any tours so we really planned this day out. Ayutthaya is famous for being the old capital of Thailand, before the Burmese attacked and occupied the city. They obliterated every royal structure, burned down temples to extract gold, and beheaded buddha statues everywhere. Now it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to historic parks, preserved ruins, and Buddhist temples.
We took a cab to Bangkok Railway Station and bought a train ticket to Ayutthaya. It was only 30baht for the two of us which is really cheap. The train is PNR levels though, fan only, and had so many stops. It took 2 hours to get to Ayutthaya. It's 80km north of Thailand.
After alighting at the station we booked a tuktuk tour, they're right by the entrance offering packages to tourists. They're not tour guides but they're gonna drive you to your chosen destinations and wait for you while you look around. We found it really convenient especially that the temples are far apart and we got there around 2pm already. They have a list of all the popular temples, parks, and attractions and you just point to where you wanna go and the driver will get you there. Depending on how much time you have, cos temples usually close at 5pm, the driver will suggest spots that are near each other so you can maximize the tour. It cost us 1,200baht for 3hours. Quite steep but pretty convenient if you ask me!
We were so exhausted after visiting 4 or 5 templates that we wanted to get back to Bangkok as quickly as possible and have dinner at Hia Lek Chinatown. Initially we bought the same ordinary train back, it arrives much later but drops us off near Chinatown (Hua Lampong). But after learning that there's another train that leaves earlier, has less stops, and arrives earlier at Bangkok as well - we decided to take that. Even if it means riding another train to Chinatown because it stops at a different train station - Krung Tep Aphiwat - which btw looks like an airport wow.
Train to Bangkok was super full. People were standing. But it's not MRT rush-hour full haha. After getting off at Wat Mongkon MRT station (Chinatown) we walked so far to Hia Lek only to find out it's closed! It's not even 9pm! We were so tired that we just decided to go back to the hotel area, find a nearby McDo and eat something local haha.
Clocked in 15k steps today!
Day 3: The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, and ICONSIAM
It's ferry day today and day two of temple hopping! We woke up pretty early (before lunch) to commute to our destination. Getting around Bangkok is pretty easy once you figure out the train system which is very efficient and interconnected. We walked to BTS Nana station, rode 'til Siam, transferred trains, and went down at Saphan Taksin station where Sathorn pier is. This is where the river ferries are.
All of the temples in our itinerary are best accessed through Chao Phraya river ferries, and so we decided to go this route. Also, for the experience! We bought an all-day pass with Chao Phraya Express Boat for 150baht each which allows us to ride the ferry unlimited times throughout the day. We thought this was the cheaper option because we had four destinations and each ride costs 40baht but then we realized that there are other boats going around the river that are nearer our destination and that we don't even need to ferry from The Grand Palace to Wat Pho haha.
The Grand Palace was huuuuge! Unlike Ayutthaya which is more nature park like, The Grand Palace screams royalty. Every building inside is meticulously adorned with all the shiny and colorful things. It's a different kind of awesome.
After getting lunch at The Deck where we had a pretty view of Wat Arun, we rode a ferry to ICONSIAM which is freaking enormous mall. It's so overwhelmingly big we got lost in a food court wth. It's also so very beautiful and have lots and lots of food and shopping options. One part of it looks like Podium and the rest is a maze-ing! Haha lol
Learned that we can ride the BTS train home because it's linked to the gold line. It's also at this point that I realized I lost the BTS Day Pass the hotel gave us huhu.
Anyway, it was a really exhausting and fun day! Got a relaxing and amazing foot massage a Sook Siam food court before going home. Then when we got back to the hotel we tried smoking a joint because it's legal in Thailand (medically). There's a smoking lounge right by the hotel. It's our first time to try mary jane and also we're not smokers so we're the ultimate weed virgins. Waste of money I tell ya. We got something beginner friendly that would just calm us down, like 22% something, shared a joint and followed their instructions to inhale twice, wait a bit and puff it out. Then drink water. Well I drank a lot of water cos inhaling that thing dried my whole throat. I brought my tumbler with me which was a bad idea because now my tumbler straw tastes like weed urgh. I hated it. I didn't even feel sleepy.
Anyway, walked 17,500 steps!
Day 4: Nobu Bangkok, flying home
Last day in Bangkok. We booked a Grab car to the airport in advance because we noticed how difficult it is to book a ride here. Or maybe Bolt is better? Had lunch at Nobu which was pretty disappointing because there was no Omakase during lunch and the menu is quite limited. Not to mention it didn't taste any better than Nikkei, which is loads cheaper.
Should've just eaten breakfast at the hotel!
We left Bangkok at around 7pm and got to Manila 11pm. It was definitely our best anniv celebration yet. It's so easy to plan vacations like this when you have money on hand no? Doesn't happen always so I'm really grateful for this year!
