Joei & Me

S&R has everything for everyone this summer!  

Staying home with the kids?  Bring summer to your garden with these! The Disney Swim Ring I'm holding is only PhP69.95 while the Inflatable Pools around me range from PhP549.95 to PhP849.95.  The cute Marvel Beach Boat with the steering wheel on my right is PhP849.95.

I've had second thoughts of blogging about this new (or more of renewed) interest of mine because 'Joei & Me' has been associated more with food or travel than fitness.  But like I always say, my blog is my diary so I finally decided to dedicate a post about running here since it's something that has sparked my interest lately.  In fact, I never realized it but my first entry in this blog is about my Nike+ Sports Band (read my blog post about My New Runningmate) which was a Christmas gift from T.   

To be honest, I'm not a runner.  I was a volleyball player back in the day.  We jump, we roll, we spike but we don't really run except if we're getting 'punished' for not being able to perform well in court during practice.  I also haven't been active in the past year.  My work out consists mostly of walking around the mall and carrying shopping bags :D But T's sister Michelle convinced me to be her buddy  for the Nike Women's Half Marathon this year.  Grabe diba half marathon kaagad??  I don't regret it though. In fact, I'm glad I said yes because this half marathon is something to check off my do-something-you've-never-done-before list before I celebrate my birthday in May.

So after we registered, I ran maybe once a week, twice at the most, but never really gave it much thought until last week when I realized that the race is only a few weeks away.  Panic mode.  Luckily, my friends are also into fitness lately so our 'gimiks' are now running or working out in the gym. It also helps that I have T who is very supportive and friends who push me when I say I don't think I can do this (hi Kat Reambillo!). I'm also thankful for my runner and triathlete friends who give free tips about running programs, what to do, what to buy, and all that (hi everyone!).  One important advice I got from Tito Joey Torres, who is an Ironman athlete, is to run in the morning since the race I'm joining is not in the evening.

So last Monday, I woke up early (this in itself is already a feat for me!) and ran.  I was gunning for 12K because I haven't gotten past 11 kilometers but when I felt like I still had energy, I continued on until I reached 16K.  I wanted to push it a bit further still but my phone's battery was dying at 5% so I stopped at 16.5K.

Earlier this month, T and I were invited by KPub BBQ to try their Bibimbap Lunch Set promo.  They told me that they will be serving a lot of dishes so I asked our friend Wowie Aguilar and T's sister Michelle to join us.

I love Broadway shows but T is not really fond of them.  So when he said he wanted to watch Les Miserables, which is showing at The Theater in Solaire, I immediately bought tickets.  I wouldn't have gone if it were just me because I just saw the play in New York a few months ago (thank you Coach Dennis and Aby!) but this is the first time we'll be watching an international production together.

The reality is that there are still a great number of homes in the Philippines that do not have electricity, which is one of the most basic necessities for decent living conditions.  Thus, in celebration of Earth day, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf will give these people the gift of life through My Shelter Foundation's Liter of Light project.  You can be part of this too!

On April 23, you can be a Solar Lamp Volunteer for a day at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's 26th Street Bistro Store in Bonifacio Global City from 3pm to 5pm.  For only PhP950, you will be taught how to build a solar lamp.  Parents, this is a good activity to bring your kids to because not only is it educational, it is also meaningful as the children are empowered at a young age to help those who are in need.

Last weekend, T and I went with his cousins to the Nivea Slidefest in Filinvest Alabang, which is said to be the biggest slip-and-slide in Asia. 

T and I are happy when new establishments open in Alabang, especially if it's Japanese or a burger place.  So when we heard that a restaurant called Burger Geek just opened in Molito, we decided to pay it a visit.

I've been invited by Footzone Day Spa a year ago but since I'm not usually in Greenhills, I didn't get to schedule a visit.  One weekend, I was in the area for a seminar and by chance, the spa sent me an email asking again when I could go.  I guess it was fated for us to visit! So I asked T, who was picking me up, if we can pass by before having dinner.

Footzone Day Spa has been in business for the past 15 years.  It's in a small little nook and you won't really see it if you're just on the road passing by, but what's noticeable are the expensive cars parked outside.  And while I was going in the spa, on their way out are people with drivers and bodyguards surrounding them.   I took this as a sign that the establishment provides quality service.

Last week, T's sister Michelle and I were invited to the VIP launch of H&M's Conscious Exclusive Collection 2016 at the Mega Fashion Hall of SM Megamall.    The clothes in the collection are made from sustainable materials such as organic silk, linen, hemp, Denimite, and the embellishments are made from  recycled glass.  How cool right?

Remember my post last time about a cake that's virtually fat free?  Mariella Martinez is back and this time, her business is officially known as Glazed by Mariella.  She sent me one of her newest creations called the Mocha Cake. Isn't it pretty?

There's a new ramen shop in the Philippines.. Sigekiya Ramen! T and I were invited by the owner to visit them before they opened last April 5.  I was sick last Sunday (well, even until today) and my throat was really sore so a hot bowl of ramen was just what I needed. After hearing mass, T and I went to Commercenter Alabang and had dinner there.

Sosro Fruit Tea is now in the Philippines! The brand is known in Indonesia for its refreshing blends of real fruit flavor and authentic tea goodness. Last month, T and I were invited by Sosro Fruit Tea for their official launch at The Palace Pool Club with the theme "Warm Summer Nights".  Our friends Nino Barbers and Wowie Aguilar also went with us that night.

I'm not really a breakfast person but one of the best breakfast buffets I've tried is at Balay Dako in Tagaytay.  T and I, together with his family, went here on New Year's Day.