The Spirit Conference International 2020

If you've been feeling down lately, you are not alone. While some of us are okay with coffee as a pick-me-upper, others feel an even deeper feeling of something lacking not just in their systems, but in their lives. During this time where we are all unable to make physical connections; it is time to enhance our inner sense of connection instead.

Source: Spirit Conference International Website

The Spirit Conference was first held in 2017. This year, the theme of the conference is "Remembering the Spirit". It is a timely and much-needed educational event to help us re-establish our sense of connection to our inner selves and to the greater community, that is humanity, and each being on this planet.

Vegan Froyo from Mahalo Acai

Being stuck indoors has given me a lot of time to reorganize my home and even my files. This unearthed a lot of files, especially pictures, that bring back memories. One such memory is my trip to Mahalo Acai with a friend.

Facade of Mahalo Acai

We took a walk and visited the place to get a taste of their vegan froyo. Our little exercise made enjoying their treats even more worthwhile - it felt like a reward!

A Week's Worth (or More) of Vegan Bento Creations

Japan's bento culture has always fascinated me. I love the creativity put into it but I know it will take a lot of effort especially if you're a beginner. I have experimented a lot with making my own bento before but deciding what food items to prepare and put on my bento still boggles my brain. But practice makes perfect so here is a glimpse at some of my attempts.

When staying at home, I use different sized bowls for my food items. 

Take note that I veganized my food items and also bought some ready-to-cook vegan meat alternatives to go with my veggie food items. So these are all vegan bento creations. I did not create them all in one week but I picked my favorites to share with you.

I Went Vegan for a Month and Here's What Happened

Wanting to start the year right is always part of our goals when January turns around. Having positive thoughts and maintaining a positive outlook is also one of my goals for this new year. This is why I am sharing here a positive experience I had a few years back. I decided to switch to eating vegan and I did it cold turkey.

I started a vegan diet cold turkey and I'm still loving it.

I had started researching about healthy eating when my grandmother started getting sick. I particularly looked for articles which offered information on how to reverse diseases and this is how I came to know more about vegetarian and vegan eating.

Vegetarian / Vegan Find: A Healthier Choice at Hap Chan Tea House

Based on experience, the challenge of sticking to a meat-free diet becomes even more difficult when you go out of familiar surroundings.

Chop Suey Guisado Rice Topping on Hap Chan's menu.

The most convenient option is to go into a restaurant and request for vegetarian and vegan options or ask them to veganize your order. Not all restaurants would fulfill this request but I was lucky that Hap Chan Tea House in Eton Centris accommodated me.

My DIY Kawaii Bento!

Many a chef would tell you that people eat with their eyes first so food has to be plated to look appetizing. For home cooks who live a busy lifestyle however, that may not always be the case. But it is undeniable that visual appeal do influence us to try out something new. So I experimented with making my food pretty by arranging it like a bento.

If I can make this bento cuteness for lunch, you can too!

The Japanese lunch box or bento is one way of preparing and arranging food on your container so it still looks appealing. Japanese moms have been making these for their kids at school to encourage them to eat a variety of foods to ensure that they get their much-needed nutrition. They make them look so cute and pretty that even adults love them, me included! So I made one for myself with a few, simple items.

Musli Biscuits - A Healthy Source of Energy

I attended the Blogapalooza event just recently. It was my first time to do so and I was glad that I attended. There were some brands and products that really interested me and I want to share them with everyone. One of the products that caught my interest is Musli Biscuits.

Musli biscuits with 40% oats in Hazelnut flavor.

People who exercise often find themselves eating expensive protein bars and other pricey health snacks. This can take a toll on your budget so a cheaper but a still healthy option is much needed in the market. Musli biscuits satisfies both these requirements.

Learning How to Bike at Camp N Incubator Trail and Bike Hub

Camp N at Nuvali offers a lot of activities that promote self-discovery and learning. The camp provides bike trails for bike enthusiasts who want to bike in a safe environment where they can also enjoy the landscape. Now, those who want to learn how to bike can learn here too with it's latest offering: the Camp N Incubator Trail and Bike Hub.

On our way to register for the bike camp.

Anyone who wants to learn how to bike or improve their biking skills need at least 3 things aside from the desire to learn: 1) a good coach, 2) a good bike and 3) a safe place to learn and practice your skills. Fortunately, Camp N caters to all levels of bikers and provides all 3 requirements.

G Stuff Healing Crystal Salt: My Personal Tooth Fairy

Taking care of our teeth and our oral health in general is a major part of maintaining our overall health. For most people, their dentist serve as their personal tooth fairy to ensure that they maintain healthy teeth and gums. However, it is at home that we should diligently do all the things we need to do to maintain our health including brushing our teeth regularly.

G Stuff Healing Crystal Salt is my personal tooth fairy at home.

I go to a dentist too but at home I rely on G Stuff Healing Crystal Salt to keep my teeth and gums clean and healthy. I consider this stuff to be my own personal tooth fairy and using it has given me good results.

Anne Curtis Invites You to Support the "Heroes for Children Run" on September 4, 2016

Want to be healthy and support a cause at the same time? Join Anne Curtis and other runners to support UNICEF's campaign for children's health and nutrition.

(L-R) UNICEF Celebrity Advocate Anne Curtis with UNICEF Philippines Country Representative Lotta Sylwander and Coach Rio dela Cruz invite the public to join the Heroes for Children Run.

UNICEF Celebrity Advocate for Children Anne Curtis calls on runners to join the second year of the Heroes for Children Run on September 4, 2016, Sunday, at the SM Mall of Asia grounds.

Vegetarian Find: Super Duck Modern Tea at SM Cyber West

Milk tea shops are sprouting all around the city and while I'm not very fond of them, I do enjoy them. However, I have always found it inconvenient that milk tea shop menus offer mostly sweets for food.

Super Duck Vegetarian Treats

I am always on the lookout for vegetarian food finds and when I learned that Super Duck Modern Tea offers vegetarian items on their menu, I had to try it out.

Fun Challenges Await the Kids and Kids-at-Heart at Alviera's GoPlay

Summer is not over but if you don't have time to go to the beach, climb a mountain or just commune with nature, you can still have a fun-filled experience at Alviera's newest fun offering GoPlay!

Inflatable Slide at Alviera's GoPlay

Alviera recently launched GoPlay, a large play area for kids and kids-at-heart in Porac, Pampanga. If you love the fun and games in popular TV shows such as Takeshi's Castle, Wipeout and Gladiator then you will love experiencing the various games patterned after these shows.

Vegan Glamping for A Cause at Cagbalete Island with the Manila Vegans - Day 2

The 2nd day of the "vegan glamping" experience was full of activities as well with enough time for an afternoon nap.

Early morning yoga was relaxing and invigorating.

We woke up very early to participate in a yoga session. While waiting for 7AM to strike, we had the pleasure of watching the sun rise on the horizon.

Vegan Glamping for A Cause at Cagbalete Island with the Manila Vegans - Day 1

A beach getaway is always a welcome escape from the daily grind but one that also allows you to help a good cause is even more amazing.

Drying my trekking shoes while lazing around and admiring the view.

Me and my friend Sarah attended a "vegan glamping" trip to Cagbalete Island to help the Bantay Dagat Patrol volunteer group keep the sea around the island and the fish safe from illegal fishing activities. The best part was, we did it while having fun and staying healthy.

Gaining Muscles and Friends in MetaFit T60

Not all thin or slim people are healthy. In a society that favors the look of stick-thin models, this is a hard concept to explain even to friends but I am always looking for ways to look and feel healthier.

Posing for our attendance picture with Coach Mike and Mommy Osie right after the workout.

When my bosses enrolled me in the MetaFit T60 class, I knew I was in for some crazy, hard training. They had told me a lot of stories about what exercises they did that I was mentally prepared for it already (or so I thought). At least, I was determined to really stick to it until the end.

Learning How to Cook Healthy at The Vegetarian Kitchen

My experience on eating vegan and now vegetarian has give me a lot of health benefits. I do cook but most of my dishes are substitutions for the meaty dishes that I usually eat at home and usually using just tofu. I could never get the same taste I get in restaurants and their vegetarian dishes. That's why I have always wanted to attend a cooking class to hone my cooking skills.

Dishes cooked during the class resulted in this delicious buffet which we ate after class.

Luckily,  I caught the announcement of The Vegetarian Kitchen about their cooking class and came to attend their Basic Vegetarian Cooking Class last Sunday.

Purple Morning Smoothie

Word of the benefits of juicing fruits and veggies are all around the internet and I very much want to be part of the juicing community too. However, if like me, you can't afford a good juicer just yet, there is a cheaper alternative in the form of smoothies. For this one, you're blender becomes your best friend.

Here's a brightly colored and delicious smoothie to start your day!

The original recipe is actually for a juice but I made mine a smoothie. I saw it on my Facebook news feed but it came from this page where you can read more about the benefits of this juice.

Workout of the Month: Cardio Ballet Workout

We all want to feel good. Feeling good also usually means you like what you see in the mirror. That's why I've been experimenting with different exercise routines. I'll be trying out different ones every month.

Source: ClubFitnessLC

Since I'm liking the results of my experiments so far, I am sharing with you guys my favorite workout routines. Now, I'm no fitness expert but I am passionate about keeping myself healthy so hopefully my experiments also benefit you.

Be Free from Dandruff with "Flakes, Release Me" from De Boer Organiques

Ever since I started using natural and organic products, I have been rid of many beauty and health issues. One major issue that I had then was having thin and brittle hair. But with the use of organic shampoo, my hair started to grow stronger and longer at a faster rate. Plus, with the helpf of an organic scap treatment product, I was able to grow my hair even thicker.

However, one recurring issue that I have been trying for so long to get rid off was seasonal dandruff. Seasonal because this usually becomes a problem during the hot and cold months: summer when my scalp becomes too oily and the "ber" months when my scalp becomes too dry.

Ana Santos: On the Field, On Sex and Sensibilities

This is supposed to be the first post I should have written in this series for last year's 1st Health Bloggers Meet - Kapit-bisig para sa Kalusugan Pangkalahatan: Iulat, Ipahayag, at Isulong, a collaborative effort of The Philippine Health Bloggers Society, International Youth Council Pilipinas and HealthActivist.ph.

Unfortunately, I think I'm the type who can only write about stuff in the order that they are presented or experienced. I'm organized that way and that's generally how I'm able to translate my thoughts unto words or paper. It's like my memory works on a first-in, first-out system.