Dreamed It, Then Real Lifed It

Posted on 03/24/2017 by morenabeachbum

So here I am, sitting on my bed in shorts and a baggy t-shirt, all nice and comfy in my air-conditioned room with a VERY cold Milo dinosaur in my hand. I’m escaping the extreme heat (36c, feels like 39) outside and I just can’t help but smile and think to myself, “aaahh yes, this is the life I dreamed of… No bosses breathing down my neck, I’m wearing whatever the heck I like, I don’t have to deal with horrible traffic that makes me want to slit my wrists, and well, overall I’m happy. Very happy.”

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Being Dark-Skinned in the Philippines (Or Asia For That Matter…)

Posted on 03/18/2017 by morenabeachbum

Being dark-skinned in the Philippines (or even Asia for that matter) hasn’t always been that easy. Not only do I get judged a lot, ESPECIALLY since I have a foreign boyfriend, but everyday choices are made even more challenging. Really! #thestruggleisreal

So here goes… A day in the life of: A Morena in Manila


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The Best Kind of Friendships

Posted on 01/31/2017 by morenabeachbum

The best kind of friendships are the ones that…

Can withstand the test of time and picks up exactly where you left off; as if no time had gone by. And despite the years that have passed, you’re still very much connected and are updated with each other’s lives.

 

The best kind of friendships are the ones that…

Knows no boundaries. You can be on opposite ends of the globe but still find time to say hello, how are you and what have you been up to. Time differences are no match with the friendship you have going on.

 

The best kind of friendships are the ones that… Continue reading →

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Sending a Little Love Your Way: Military Care Package

Posted on 01/26/2017 by morenabeachbum

Care packages! If there’s one thing I enjoy about this deployment, it’s definitely this — decorating, shopping for and sending out care packages. Not only does it unleash the Martha Stewart in me, but USPS has also made it a lot easier to send them out. And since I’m still on a care package high, allow me to share with you how easy it is to make your service member feel how loved and cared for he/she is, even across the miles.

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East Meets West: Top 5 Perks of Living in the USA 🇺🇸

Posted on 01/18/2017 by morenabeachbum

…and no, snow is not on this list.


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I Did It!

Posted on 09/15/2016 by morenabeachbum

Passing the bar exam.

Finishing your first-ever marathon.

Becoming a registered nurse.

Giving birth and finally starting a family.

Each and everyone of us trudging on through life,  all have our different “I did it!” moments. And naturally so, since we are all unique individuals.

I wanted to share with you all my recent “I did it!” moment which quite literally brought me to tears. First though, here’s a little back story (in case you haven’t been following me on my blog long enough). Continue reading →

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Making Extra Buck$: How To Manage Your Airbnb Space

Posted on 08/20/2016 by morenabeachbum

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Whether it’s doing a bit of freelance writing, selling handmade jewelry or renting your space out on vacation home rental sites; bottom line is, we’re all trying to make a few extra buckeroos. And why wouldn’t we be? If it means putting away a few extra dollars for our next vacation, well, quite frankly, I’m on top of it!

And since I’ve quite recently put our condo in Tagaytay up on Airbnb, I decided to write about how YOU can manage your Airbnb space — whether hands-on, or remotely.

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Manila, Manila, I keep coming back to Manila…

Posted on 08/10/2016 by morenabeachbum

…simply no place like Manila. Manila, I am HOME.


For those of you who don’t know, it’s been 1 month, 16 days and well, give or take a few hours since I’ve been back home, here in Manila, after my 1-year stint in Bali.

Upon coming back home, I’ve been able to reconnect with old friends and spend lots of quality time with family. And since the past month has been a bit of a blur with so much happening, especially with the arrival of my family from the good ‘ol US of A, I haven’t had much time to really reflect on the past year of my life, living in Bali and all.

So, here I am now, wide awake at 2:44am, doing a bit of reflecting on things I’ve discovered about myself whilst living alone abroad.

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~REB-FLECTIONS: BALI EDITION~ Continue reading →

Posted in About Me, Adventure, Bali, Digital Nomad, Inspiration, Life, Life Decisions, Philippines, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eat Like The Locals: Lalapan

Posted on 06/09/2016 by morenabeachbum

Traveling to other countries is always fun. Exploring new places, experiencing different cultures, meeting new people, and of course, trying out local cuisines.

While you can read about highly recommended, must-try food in travel magazines or guide books, I still prefer discovering hole-in-the-wall places recommended by no other than the locals.

And since sharing is caring, here I am imparting knowledge on where to get THE BEST lalapan in Bali.

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Posted in Adventure, Backpacking, Bali, Budget Travel, Eat Like The Locals, Eating Local, Indonesia, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Freelancing: How To Make Working From Home Work For You

Posted on 06/02/2016 by morenabeachbum

Digital Nomads.

Freelancers.

Bloggers.

Travel Writers.

Love us, hate us, or simply join us! After all, in this day and (digital) age,  we ain’t going nowhere!

So, for those of you who brave enough to tread a new path and go against the norm, first, give yourself a pat on the back (yay!) and second, read on to gain some insight on how to make working from home, work for you. #IAmMyOwnBoss

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Posted in About Me, Digital Nomad, Freelancing, Inspiration, Life, Life Decisions, Life Hack, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment