A Day at St. Martin De Porres' Kids Home.

And just like that, my Mum's two-week holiday has finally come to an end.

Mum came home for a quick vacay to celebrate her birthday. But unlike the previous years when she'd throw a huge party or the entire family would go on a beach trip, this year, she chose to celebrate her birthday differently - more meaningful, if I may say. Mum celebrated her 57th birthday (yes, that's how young she is) with the kids of St. Martin de Porres Kids' Home.

Not even the rain can stop us from visiting St. Martin de Porres Kids' Home!

My siblings and I had extended help to SMDP KH previously by sending some toiletries, toys, and pre-loved books for the kids. Mum learned about our 'mini charity work' belatedly, so she pledged her birthday to SMDP KH instead.

Welcome to St. Martin de Porres Kids' Home!

Founded in 1997 by Rev. Fr. Gregorio Raymundo OP (+), St. Martin de Porres Kids' Home is a non-stock, non-profit educational and charitable institution in San Pablo City. It serves as a transitional home for male street children who have been neglected, abused, orphaned, maltreated, unsupervised, and uncared for.

Kuya Jorelle warming up to the kids. 

The shelter is located at Brgy. Concepcion, a ten-minute drive from the city proper, and currently houses 16 kids, with the youngest kid at just three years old.

Getting to know the kids.

Our visit to St. Martin de Porres Kids' Home was slated on a Sunday, from 11 am to 1 pm. It was raining heavily that day, but not even the bad weather could stop us from spending time with the kids.

Having fun...

It was so nice of our dear friend Jorelle (who is a balikbayan himself) to come along with us. He's a pro when it comes to children's parties, and he made our visit to SMDP KH more fun by entertaining the kids with some pep talk and parlor games.

Playing games...

No party would be complete without food, of course, and nothing says party like a hearty meal of Jollibee Chickenjoy. :)

Sharing food and smiles!

Aside from the fast food, we also brought grocery items and other food stuff for the shelter. The kids were so nice and appreciative, and it was such a humbling experience to see how positive they are about life.

Morgan had the most fun with the kids of St. Martin de Porres. :)

Mum with Ate Sally, who looks after the kids of SMDP KH.

Truly, it was a birthday made more meaningful for Mum, and a weekend well-spent for all us, especially the three kids (Yue, Maggie, and Morgan). The entire family is looking forward to doing this again with the kids of St. Martin de Porres.

Thank you, St. Martin de Porres kids for having us! 

They say we should always be a blessing to others, and yes, you too can be a blessing to these kids. :)

St. Martin de Porres Kids' Home

Purok 3, Brgy. Concepcion, 

San Pablo City

(049) 562 5288

Will You Let Your Ex-Partner Eventually Come Back?

Once things have time to cool down after a breakup, everyone always goes through the process of wondering if it was the right thing to do. You analyze the things that contributed to the end of the relationship and wonder if these were conflicts that truly could have been worked out if the feelings that you had were worth more than the offenses that you had. It’s hard to know if this is your heart still reacting to emotion or your brain trying to decipher facts. This needs to be thought through carefully because no one wants to get caught up in a ‘getting-back-together and breaking-up’ repetitive cycle. Only you will know what is right.

The breakup of the 'Song Song' couple was perhaps the biggest breakup news of 2019.

Should You Get Back Together With Your Ex?

• There is a lot of emotional turmoil following a split. It takes time and a great deal of healing before you come to a point where you can begin to think with clarity and logic. After that point comes, you have an idea of what is right for you, but you need to be certain and know the reasons you should try your relationship again.

• You have allowed a significant amount of time to pass to the point where you’re thinking clearly and your wounds have had time to fully heal. Sometimes couples simply need a break away from each other to think about what’s happening between them, to see the issues they’re having for what they are, and to determine how they truly feel for each other. Time and shedding new light on the union can potentially bring the fresh start that may have been all that was needed. This ultimately allows you to see that you truly belong together.

Lim Soo Jung in WWW (2019).

• When you really love someone and you want to put the work into something, any problem is workable. After breaking up, this is going to be obvious when you have the time to think about it. The problems are either going to seem like not so much of a problem anymore, or they will appear to be issues that have resolutions. Things have their way of working out whether one of you live in another city or the other tends to have a job keeping them tied up for all hours. If the relationship has value, you will work to find a solution to these conflicts.

• There could have been differences in your life plans with no potential for compromise. You decide to break up and then you find that things have shifted. After you have time to think, maybe you decide that you feel the same way they do. If you both still have feelings for each other and now you’re both on the same page with your life plan, there’s no reason you shouldn’t give it another shot. Go to https://www.elitedaily.com/p/how-to-break-up-with-someone-when-you-want-different-things-but-still-love-them-13183150 to read about what you should do when your life plans differ.

Namkoong Min in The Undateables (2018).

• Once you have an opportunity to heal from the relationship and you decide to begin seeing other people, it may be an eye-opener. Perhaps, you find that the quality person that you had was much better than what you’re currently experiencing on the dating scene. You may find yourself beginning to think about your ex-partner, and they may be having the same issue. It’s worth a try to start communicating again and see where things end up. Now that you’re both reflecting and appreciative of the kind of person you were with, you won’t be inclined to dive into the same patterns that you experienced with the first go-round.

There may be a great deal of time passing for both of you and neither of you can seem to get through the healing phase. You’re both still emotional and miserable without the other person regardless of how or what you are trying to get on with your life. You both have the feeling that you made a mistake in separating and feel that you’re much better as a couple. This is a good indication that you haven’t gotten over each other. There are still very strong feelings and any issues should be workable at this point. It’s most definitely worth giving it another go or at least consider trying again. Follow the signs you’re being given to let you know that it may be a good idea to try again. If you do decide that you are going to give your relationship another go, make sure that you give it a fair shot. Don’t go back in with the past but rather stay in the present. Let go of all the negative, forgive and forget any hurt, and start fresh.

Lee Sun Kyun and Song Ji Hyo in My Wife is Having an Affair This Week (2016).

If you decide to throw past offenses into the mix, you will only hurt the one you claim to love and ruin any chances for a future. Allow the relationship to truly have an opportunity for a second chance to work.

Sneak Peek | Etude House x Hershey's Collection.

I've been out of touch from the blogosphere and my social media pages lately. Been extremely busy since we moved to our new place, not to mention that my seven-year-old laptop seems to want to retire already (not yet please, says my budget). But I just had to tell you guys about this - the latest product drops from Korean beauty brand Etude House!

Etude House x Hershey's collection.

These new babies got me so excited because it's actually a collaboration collection with one of my favorite chocolate brands, Hershey's! Remember how Etude House broke the internet last year with their Kitkat eyeshadow palettes? Seems like they're gonna outdo themselves with this year's Valentine's Day collection by launching not just an eyeshadow palette, but also eyeshadow brushes and lip products.

Here's a sneak peek of what the Etude House x Hershey's collection has in store:

Etude House x Hershey's Play Color Eyes Mini Eyeshadow Palettes, 16000 won.

The eyeshadow palettes, which look like actual chocolate bars complete with foil wrappers, come in two variants - Original and Cookies 'n' Creme. The latter is perfect for creating 'soft and sweet' makeup looks, while the Original palette is great for 'cut-crease', 'night-out' looks with its warm brown and shimmery gold shades. 

Shade selection,
Etude House x Hershey's Play Color Eyes Mini Eyeshadow Palette in Original.

Shade selection,
Etude House x Hershey's Play Color Eyes Mini Eyeshadow Palette in Cookies 'n' Creme.

You can achieve these looks using the brushes included in the collection - the 'Creamy Milk Chocolate' brush with a rounder tip, which you can use to blend base shades on your eyelids; and the 'Cookies 'n' Creme' brush with a pointed tip, which you can use for doing detailed work, like blending eyeshadow and highlighting the inner corners of your eyes.

Etude House x Hershey's My Beauty Tool Brush, 6000 won.

And because no collection would be complete without a lip product, the Etude House x Hershey's collection also features two Powder Rouge Tints in yummy, chocolatey shades - Hazelnut Choco, a gorgeous terracotta shade, and Almond Choco, a sultry shade of red.

Etude House x Hershey's Powder Rouge Tint, 12000 won.

The Etude House x Hershey's Collection is now available in South Korea, and word has it that they will be released in other countries by February 1.

Which of these eye-and-lip candies will you be copping? :)

Which Affair Dating Websites Are Most Discreet and Secretive?

Believe it or not, this is an actual thing. Of course, we are not actually encouraging you to have an affair with someone you may find in an online dating website focused on... Affairs. But we know that each marriage is its own universe, with complicated circumstances and probably a reason behind such decision.

That's why we are here to help you decide from a list of affair dating websites, and help you cope with the decision.

Lee Sang Yeob and Park Ha Sun in Love Affairs in the Afternoon (2019).

Why should you try an affair dating website?
Well, there are a lot of different reasons why someone would cheat on their current partner. Be it, women or men, if they are in a relationship that's just not working for them, affairs are a usual response to the situation. Why people cheat may require its own section, so we recommend you to check this site for more information on the subject and whether you feel identified or not.

This is when an affair dating website comes in handy. Meant to be secretive and discreet, some of the apps and websites we are going to recommend actually help you get the most of your intentions. They teach you how to be furtive about it, and provide features focused on this particular matter.

Now, with that said, we are going to share with you a list of possible websites you can use, and overview some of its main features.

Ashley Madison
This website has been working for over 20 years now. It was recognized as a revolutionary website because of how it addressed the reality of people using online dating services to cheat on their current partners.

And, as a matter of fact, this is actually the truth. At least during these years. Do married millenials cheat on each other, though? According to research, this may not be the case. Still, with the internet revolution, hooking up with someone has never been easier. Even more, cheating.

With that said, Ashley Madison is probably the head online dating website on this list. This website is proof that there's a place for affair online dating websites, and they are actually profitable.

The sign-up process is rather simple. You'll need to use a photo at first, but you can always edit it or change it so you can avoid harming your current relationship.  Another thing you have to consider is that women are free to message without a premium account, but men need a paid membership to do it. It also has a chatroom feature where you can chat with multiple people at once.

Marital Affairs
Well... Its name certainly talks about itself. This particular website (and app) focuses on discretion, and as mentioned earlier, teaches you how to get the most effective outcome of your journey.

They promise high-level privacy as you use the app and a huge user base with people looking to have affairs, and help with them. These people understand what you are looking for, and how they can get the most of the experience.

Jo Dong Hyuk and Ye Ji Won in Love Affairs in the Afternoon (2019).

Gleede
This site is more focused on married people looking for a new experience with someone new. To register, you'll have to use a secret name, your preferences, and a location. The site then will proceed to show you members near your area, and you can narrow down your searching with a filter to find what you are looking for.

Like with Ashley Madison, women are free to message people, whereas men need a paid membership to do so. If you are a woman looking for an affair with someone, this site becomes an excellent alternative.

Victoria Millan
Victoria Millan's main feature is how it lets its users understand how it works, making them feel safe, and understand what they are getting into. It also has a really swift sign-up process and a feature that lets you blurry your face to protect your identity as you show a little bit of yourself.

Of course, there are more options focused on affairs. We recommend you to check this website for more options to choose from breakupshop.com/best-affair-dating-sites-for-married/.

Love Affairs in the Afternoon, Korean version 2019.

They are still dating websites
If you really want to get the most out of these websites, you have to understand that they are still dating sites. It is highly recommended to learn how to create a profile, upload photos (if you are brave enough), and how to create a great first impression. Another good recommendation is to take the process seriously and be as cautious as possible.  And remember, online dating can be daunting. Patience is a good thing to have, as well as a broad mind regarding people. You may find someone you really like, but once you met them, you may as well be disappointed. It happens. Especially for women. That's why you have to have the right mindset when it comes to online dating.

Of course, if you really want the best for you, reconsider your decision. Like we mentioned earlier, we are not here to judge, but we are not encouraging people to have an affair. Cheating is possibly the worst thing you can do when it comes to yourself and your partner.  Your course of action may depend on your current situation, but there's always a better choice when it comes to having an affair. If you feel like your partner doesn't love you, or the fire just extinguished, you may want to be honest with your partner, talk about it, and decide after you've been honest.

Park Ha Sun as Son Ji Eun in Love Affairs in the Afternoon (2019).

If you are in a toxic relationship with an overjealous woman or an abusive man, you should look for help. This kind of person does not deserve your time or affection. I know having an affair may seem like a great way to cope with the situation, but is not a solution, but an escape. I know it may be hard but look for help. You are not alone.

Now, if your current partner cheated on you, and you just want to have your revenge, this may be a good option... Depending on how you are. Your personality plays a significant factor in whether cheating is a reliable way to have your revenge or not.

In most cases, the best course of action is to break up with the prick and go on with your life, meet new people, improve yourself as a person, and move forward. This may sound hard at first, but believe me... Once you are capable of loving yourself, and being in peace with being alone, you'll be in perfect shape to break-up with someone and be perfectly fine with it.

Remember: Better to be alone than in bad company.

2019 | My Roller Coaster Ride of a Year.

Hello everyone! I've been extremely busy lately (so many things to do at home!) that I hardly have the time to sit down in front of my laptop, and update my blog. But because this has become a tradition of sorts, I definitely wouldn't miss the chance to do a year-end blog post.

2019, for me, was a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. This year has been quite good to my family despite Yue's hospital confinement because of pneumonia.  Husband is doing well in his job (and still with his same old employer), my boy is doing great in both academics and sports (three karate tournaments this year with good results, still with high honors in his class), and as for me, as you can see, my blog is still alive and kicking. I've worked with some really awesome brands this year, and even became a Beauty Ambassador for BeautyMNL.

However, unlike the previous years, we weren't able to travel to Korea for the holidays, or anywhere outside the country for that matter. We had planned to cut back on (travel) expenses this year as we're saving up for something big (ergo, our own home), and thankfully, with the help of my dear parents-in-law, we're almost reaching our goal.

It would have been awesome if my best friend could see this dream of mine finally come to life; unfortunately, 2019 also gave me the biggest heartbreak. My best friend passed away all of a sudden last August, and it took me awhile to come to terms with the fact that he's gone. I miss him terribly, and I break down in tears whenever I think of him - which I still do very often.

"The best is yet to come" so goes the Frank Sinatra song, and I do hope that the new decade will bring better, brighter, and happier things for all of us. Welcome 2020! Happy New Year! :)

Thank you, 2019!