2017 Wrangler Travel Planner: The Convenient and Lightweight Choice for Travellers

I've traveled all my life. My dad was an Ambassador and that entailed moving the entire family from one country to the next every few years. I guess you could say that I've lived a well-traveled life.

A lot of people consider me lucky because of this. What they fail to realize, however, is that as a child, tween and angsty teenager, traveling so much was the last I ever wanted to do and as such, I took all of those trips for granted and never really appreciated them fully.

It isn't until my dad retired that I realised how therapeutic and fulfilling traveling can actually be. As such, I have taken it upon myself to travel as much as possible now that I earn my own money and have a job that requires me to do so every now and then. I have whole bucket lists of places to explore and visit, along with elaborate plans on what to do at each location, as well.

If you've been bitten by the travel bug like me, then you might want to check out the 2017 Wrangler Travel Planner.

I love its leather exterior and my name on it is just an extra touch that Wrangler did for me for their planner launch.

This pre-trip checklist is an absolute MUST for travellers.

There's plenty of space to jot down memories, as well.

Since the notebooks are removable and replaceable per quarter, you won't have to worry about lugging around a huge and heavy planner whenever you travel.

It also has a separate notebook for any notes you might want to jot down while on your trips.

If you're looking for a lightweight planner to be your travel buddy this 2017, the 2017 Wrangler Travel Planner is a convenient choice. I also love its classic and timeless look.

To get one, simply purchase Php4,000 worth of Wrangler items. If you still have a few Christmas gifts to buy, I suggest buying them at Wrangler, so you can get yourself a Christmas gift at the same time. ;)

Conversely, you can join my giveaway, too! Just post a picture of your favorite trip so far on any of your social media channels (make sure the settings are set to private!) with the hashtags #WanderWithPassion and #WWRxWrangler - make sure you're following me on your chosen social media channel, too (Wonder Woman Rises on Facebook, @the_lil_miss on Twitter or @lilmisswonderwoman on Instagram).

For more updates and information on Wrangler, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram at @WranglerPh :)

Why I Have Fallen in Love with Aerial Hoops at Chrome Divas

This may seem mababaw to some, but I experienced a whole new level of Aerial Hoops last week.

The week before that, I came back to Aerial Hoops after a very long hiatus and was doing simple tricks to start, like the Bird and the Bat. But last week, I found myself doing drops and attempts at splits and all sorts of other tricks I never thought I'd even be trying in my first week back.

It was a little terrifying and incredibly draining and my hands now look like this…

…but man, was it satisfying!

I love the pressure of training with patient and inspiring people who are more advanced than me by miles. I love seeing what they can do (just watching them is an absolute joy!) and hearing about their past struggles; they make me believe that I, too, can become as awesome as them someday. I also love how it pushes me to do more and to train harder. Heck, I even impulse-bought a pull-up bar just to build up strength on days that I'm too busy to join them.

This is something I had never experienced in a yoga studio or a gym before (barre3 aside - barre3 still rocks!) where people mind their own business, judge you, nitpick on your flaws and don't really care much about your journey and how you got there.

Last year, I weighed much more than I do now and here I am, 30 pounds lighter without any effort to diet, without MySlim (though you were a big help, my love!), and without a strict workout schedule.

I highly recommend trying out Chrome Divas (you can find them in Shaw now, too, if BF Homes is too far for you). The teachers will push you, yes; but you'll be surprised by what you can actually do because of them - no matter how much you think you can't do something.

I end up shaking at the end of every class, nursing my ugly scars and bruises in places I didn't even know I could get scarred or bruised in, and I ache for days on end after a session; but it is truly worth it.

Of course, it is something that I believe you need to experience for yourself because I know there are some people who can't really handle the feeling of failure or don't like getting scars or bruises, in general.

For me, though, this is the only place I've worked out in since barre3 where people of all shapes, genders and ages come together to grow as a community. And it's beautiful. It truly is.

(This is not a sponsored post, by the way. I have paid for all of my classes at Chrome Divas and truly just love them, thus the post.)

I hope to see you there sometime. Or, if you need a workout buddy in the South, feel free to let me know. I need one, too. :)

Jollibee Rocky Road Overload Sundae - Indulge in Sweet Goodness for Only 35 Pesos

How many times do I get something from Jollibee per week? No exaggerations? At least five. I know, I know. Fast food isn't healthy, but I don't always have meals there. I actually spend most of my money there on their Chocolate and Coffee Floats. I can't help it. They're delicious and an absolute steal when compared to the rest of the coffee houses here in BF Homes, where I live.

Well, it looks like Jollibee is out to fulfil yet another one of my needs: my ice cream needs, that is. When it comes to ice cream, my go-to flavors tend to be anything with coffee, pistachio, cookies and cream, and rocky road... and there you have it!

The Rocky Road Overload Sundae is the latest in Jollibee's line of desserts and is said to be topped with a generous drizzle of chocolate fudge, sweet mini marshmallows and crushed peanuts.

I'm gonna be perfectly honest and admit I haven't tasted it yet, but JUST LOOK AT IT (and it's only 35 pesos, yo!)

For an honest-to-goodness review, follow me on Instagram at @lilmisswonderwoman and wait for my post on it when I try it this week. Lol. Who am I kidding? I'll probably try it later today. Will keep you posted on whether it's really worth it! :D

Don't forget to share your own photos with @jollibee on social media and use the hashtag #JollibeeRockyRoadOverload if you're trying out the new flavor! :D

The Little Things That Make Me Happy

I've never been the fashionista girly girl who dresses up to the nines when she attends events. I've always been more of the "this is what I'm comfortable in - take it or leave it" kind of girl.

While I don't mind slipping on a dress for something important or to surprise the boyfriend with, most of the time this is how I dress. Say hello to my staples: a geeky shirt and awesome footwear. I think my bottoms and my accessories are the only things that I really change up in terms of my go-to getups.

I wore this to the press con of the AsiaPop Comic Con a few months ago. It was my first time at Conrad Hotel and I absolutely loved the place - from the friendly faces to the interiors to the gorgeous view from their gigantic glass wall. Let's not forget that Conrad happens to be my favorite hotel in Bangkok and my favorite hotel for buffets in Singapore. Conrad never disappoints, it seems!

Uniqlo never disappoints, either. This Star Wars shirt I got from their store totally threw my happiness levels through the roof when I got it, too. I think I bought 4 shirts at Uniqlo that day, but this is one of my favorites Star Wars shirts to date (I have a whole collection of them - did you know? :p)

I especially love this one because it doesn't just scream of Star Wars geekery; it's witty, too. It's not too visible in the photos, but it says "This is where it's AT-AT." Hahahaha. Star Wars fans will get it. :p

I think the peak of my day that day, though, was catching a bunch of Voltorbs and Magnetons. :p It was my first time in the Pasay area and Pokemon GO was still in full swing then and I swear I had a field day just catching the little buggers. Happiness definitely comes easy in Anj-land. :p

Sadly, Pokemon GO has kind of died down now, and I have found myself playing a lot of Kim K: Hollywood, Shuffle Cats and Pokeland Legends in its stead. If you have any app recommendations, please do send them over! :)

(black Wayfarers from Ray-Ban / white Star Wars AT-AT shirt from Uniqlo / beige blazer from Sammy Dress / blue cut-off jeans from Human / colorful ZX Flux shoes from adidas)

Photos by Julian Carag.

Also, what are some of the small things that make you happy? :) That could be an idea for a blog post, if you're looking for inspiration. Would love to read some of your latest thoughts, in general, though, so make sure to leave your link below! :)

Meet and Greet Cartoon Network Characters at BGC This Weekend!

To celebrate the new offerings of their Cartoon Network apps, Globe has a fun weekend in store at BGC this weekend - specifically for kids and kids-at-heart who absolutely love Cartoon Network! :)

The new features are being showcased through a fun digital experience at the Globe ICONIC Store at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater in BGC.

Once you enter, you get a chance to fill up one of these 'passports'. If you fill everything up, you get the chance to win a new phone or a cool Cartoon Network loot bag!

Look! Syrena got to meet Gumball and Darwin!

Free Kimy popsicles all day! (Not a good idea for the kiddies, though. :p)

Cool Ben 10 merch on sale!

Sign up and instantly get Safeguard products!

The bad-ass stage at the Globe ICONIC store.

Kids get to line up for face painting or body painting.

They can doodle and color whilst there, too!

I love how organised this mini bouncy castle was. :)

Of course, the highlights all happened onstage: 

The Powerpuff Girls have a very cute choreographed segment prepared for everybody.

Even Finn and Jake make an appearance.

And look - Ben 10 is there, too!

Love Cartoon Network? Well, thanks to Globe Telecom, Globe customers can now livestream Cartoon Network and on-demand content on the Cartoon Network Watch and Play app.

Just download the app (it's free!) and unlock various services, including livestreaming Cartoon Network on your devices, playing games, and getting access to full episodes on demand. A unique micro-network called Cartoon Network Anything is now part of the Globe app bundle, as well.

My 6-year-old is definitely a very happy camper now that she can be a hero with Ben 10 and the Omnitrix, rule the Candy Kingdom with Princess Bubblegum, flip out with The Powerpuff Girls and embark on mathematical adventures with Finn and Jake whenever she wants.

Check out how the app works here:

Did I mention there's a 30-day free trial this November? I definitely don't see us deleting the app anytime soon, though. Thanks, Globe, for the awesomeness that both Syrena and I can enjoy! :) Cartoon Network Anything can also be accessed for free via the Globe Switch app.

Don' forget to like Cartoon Network Asia and Globe Telecom on Facebook for more updates and fun stuff! :)

BDJ Fair 2016: 5 Reasons Why You Should Get a VIP Pass (It's Only Php200!)

I've been a fan of Belle De Jour (or BDJ) for years now. Through the years, I've come to find that their beauty subscription box is an amazing way to discover new beauty brands and even meet the beauty products of your dreams.

Another great thing about BDJ is their events. I've met many fellow beauty aficionados at their events and learned a lot of tips and tricks from their previous workshops. As such, I cannot wait for the BDJ Fair this Sunday at the SM MOA Music Hall! Here are 5 reasons why I think you should get a VIP pass to the event:

BDJ Fair 2016: 5 Reasons Why You Should Get a VIP Pass

5. It's only Php200.

A ton of activities to enjoy and a bunch of memories to make for only Php200? Yes, please! :D

4. You'll get to learn something!

At BDJ events, Bellas come together to learn, experience, and have fun through different talks, booths, activities and workshops. With a VIP Pass, you get to choose to attend two of the talks from this roster:

You can also avail of a workshop and get a VIP Pass with it - plus access to exclusive VIP booth activities! Find out more here.

3. Meet the new BDJ Planners!

The much-awaited next edition of BDJ Planners will be launched at this event!!! I've used every single BDJ Planner made since their inception and I must say: they are totally worth it. I can't wait to see the new BDJ Power Planner, NAVI, Everything is Possible, Focus Journal and even other BDJ paper products.

You'll even get to customize your planner of choice! :D

2. Get a special loot bag!

Bellas with a VIP Pass will get a special loot bag at the event! :D And who doesn't love discovering new products and getting bang for their buck, right? :)

1. You'll get to help various advocacies.

One of the best parts about the annual BDJ Fair is that, through it, you can help raise funds for the advocacies that BDJ supports. Why not have fun and learn new things while helping out at the same time? :)

The BDJ Team is always on the lookout for ways to empower Filipinas to live life to the fullest. Now on their 11th year and with 60,000 members, BDJ continues to make a difference in the lives of Filipinas by encouraging them to have an unshakeable trust in their hearts to overcome the waves of life and push themselves forward - without fear and without limitations.

Want to join the BDJ Fair this year? :) I'm giving away 5 VIP Passes right here. Just fill up this Rafflecopter form:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hoes Over Bros.

This time last year, I didn't really have a lot of friends. I would like to blame this on the guy that I was dating, but I also know that it was a personal choice that I made at the time - a bad one, I must admit.

black aviator sunglasses from Ray-Ban / black Rolling Stones tank top and black floral skirt from Forever 21 / animal print boots from SM Parisian

I was hurt by a guy who ghosted me last year, so when this new guy swooped in and showered me with attention, I decided to forgo having friends and have nothing but him in my life. It's not that I didn't want to hang out with my friends anymore. It's just that he didn't like me hanging out with my friends.

He was the jealous type, so he didn't like it when I went out drinking - forget the fact that I only ever go out drinking with my girls and gay friends. I tried inviting him to go out drinking with us, too; but he also happened to be the socially inept type who couldn't look new people in the eye, let alone hold conversations with them.

I tried hanging out with my friends even though he didn't like it, but that just turned out being a whole lot more trouble than it was worth. There was a lot of screaming, explaining and more screaming, and then I started lying about being in bed getting ready to sleep just to hang out with them… until I got caught and there was more screaming, explaining and more screaming, that I just stopped going out to appease him and keep the waters calm.

My resting bitch face

Fast forward to the day things blew up and I learned that he had been cheating on me for months and there I was… without friends… and no one to talk to. That's when I realised that 'hoes over bros' really should be my mantra.

And so, that's how it has been ever since I started dating Julian. Fortunately, Julian is the sociable type, so I can bring him out with me and introduce him to practically anyone and he'll be able to hold his own.

In fact, I am proud to say that he gets along with my friends just great - so much so that he hangs out with us for hours on end, and the best part is that my friends don't see him as just 'the boyfriend' (you know the kind I mean: the one who's there, but doesn't wanna be there and looks like he just wants to leave).

Why am I talking about this? Why do I think this is important? Well, I've heard so many girl friends tell me they can't hang out because their boyfriends won't let them. Having been there, I just want to say: please don't let your boyfriends dictate your life.

You wanna hang out with your friends? Go hang out with your friends. You wanna dress a certain way? Dress however the heck you want to. Do you enjoy putting on makeup because it makes you feel better about yourself? Pack it on.

Why should you let a man dictate what you do or don't do? If you let your boyfriend control your life now, just imagine what it will be like years from now. Unless, of course, you don't see yourself with this guy in the long term… In which case, what are you even doing with him to begin with?

Remember: at the end of the day, your friends are who you've got. I'm just lucky mine welcomed me back with open arms and willingly worked with me at rebuilding our bonds, even though I ignored them for half a year. Don't let that happen to you. If you don't wanna lose your man, find some sort of compromise. Your life will be much happier if you find the right balance. :)

Why You Should Swim with Whalesharks in Donsol Instead of Oslob

Not a lot of people know this, but I've been a WWF member for around 6 years now. I don't really talk about it much unless provoked, but I always make it a point to do my best to help the environment and to help out as much as I can in terms of wilderness preservation.

I'd like to believe that my monthly donations to WWF help in the latter aspect, but I didn't really get to do anything hands-on or really feel like I mattered in that regard until earlier this year when I was invited to the announcement of WWF's global partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruises to support ocean conservation in Donsol, Sorsogon.

I had no idea where Donsol or Sorsogon was when I got on the plane, to be honest, and I was going through a lot of emotional turmoil at the time; but when we landed and I saw the beautiful Mayon Volcano, my entire being breathed and I felt at peace.

Meeting new people, making new friends and discovering sili dirty ice cream (with different levels of spiciness!) aside, I learned more about whalesharks in Donsol. Up until that day, they were nothing but an animal in a museum and an attraction in Oslob that I had thought about experiencing one day.

Little did I know that whalesharks weren't treated well in Oslob. In Donsol, we went 'whaleshark hunting' with hopes of getting a glimpse of a beautiful butanding. However, before we even went on our excursion, we were given a set of rules to follow: no feeding, no touching, and no riding - all three things of which I had seen in pictures and heard from stories of people who had swam with whalesharks in Oslob.

Photo from lonelyplanet.com

In fact, from the stories I had heard, the 'tour guides' in Oslob sprinkle food into the ocean to attract the whalesharks, so that the tourists who paid for the tour can swim with them. This is a huge no-no! Not only are whalesharks no longer finding food naturally this way, but they also no longer migrate when they should because they know that people in Oslob will feed them. Why leave when food is so easily offered up to them? Need I mention that the 'food' that people feed them in Oslob doesn't have the necessary nutritional value that natural food like plankton can provide the whalesharks?

Also, from what I've heard, things can get super crowded at Oslob with tourist boats popping up left and right to get to see the whalesharks, sometimes even hitting the whalesharks unintentionally because of the proximity. In Donsol, there are only about five or six going out at a time with hopes of getting a glimpse of these majestic beings - but none of them ever throwing out food to entice them over.

Yes, it's true that it's much harder to 'swim with whalesharks' if you search for them the natural way. In Donsol, we actually looked for those whalesharks for hours. And then, when we finally jumped into the water after spotting one, we had maybe 10 to 15 seconds of swimming with them - nothing more. Some of the boats weren't even able to spot a whaleshark while we were there, causing them to go back the next day to try again.

This may not be as fun or as cool as the amount of minutes you get to spend with them in Oslob, but at least you aren't tricking them to come to you by feeding them. Instead, you get to experience them in their natural habitat in a completely safe way. Besides, trust me: the adrenaline that comes with seeing a whaleshark from afar and knowing you might have a chance to swim with them is intensely amazing and well worth the hours spent trying to spot one to begin with.

Of course, the best part is that your conscience will be completely clear afterwards. :) Have you tried swimming with whalesharks in Donsol yet?

#ItTakesCourage: Ray-Ban Launches New Empowering Campaign

For years now, I have been so used to Ray-Ban's #NeverHide campaign that it seemed absolutely bizarre to me that they would even think of changing it. After attending their #ItTakesCourage event last week, though, I don't just understand why they did it; I absolutely love that they did.

Before we get to that, though, check out how cool the Ray-Ban event was first:

There were cute Ray-Ban scooters.

Foosball! (I beat Jules, of course… I am Monica Geller, after all. :p)

A display of all of the different Ray-Ban styles.

Ely Buendia providing the live music.

They also had an open bar! Score!

Heck, they even had free portraits and free (yes, free!) tattoo sessions - real ones, not Henna ones.

Of course, their amazing sunglasses were also on display and ready for anyone to try on and take pictures with.

Which I, of course, gladly did… :p

They also had this cool wall of Ray-Ban's History:

I never noticed until then that all of the iconic movie stars wearing glasses all wore Ray-Ban styles!

And now… back to the campaign. Now, you've probably seen the many posters of Ray-Ban's Never Hide campaign - colourful pop art that  exuded the carefree spirit of Ray-Ban and their love and encouragement of individuality.

They eventually moved from pop art to real life situations where people truly stood out and, as mentioned, I loved everything about the message of that campaign. However, there is much to love about the new campaign, too.

The It Takes Courage campaign doesn't actually replace the Never Hide campaign, but instead builds on it. Instead of just being yourself, why not take things up a notch by being courageous and stepping out of your comfort zone?

Face your fears and do something you've always wanted to do. Unplug from your devices and actually talk to people. Fight perfection, speak your mind and stand for what you believe in.

Being courageous doesn't necessarily equate to massive gestures, either. It can be something as simple as talking to a stranger at an event or being the first one to apologise to someone. As long as you are doing something new or doing something that makes you feel better, that is already an embodiment of #ItTakesCourage :)

What's the most courageous thing you've done lately? :)