We'll Tell You - A&W Couple's Blog

“Ha? He looks so healthy—full of muscles and runs every morning! How come he got a stroke?” My sister answered: “He eats a lot of meat. A lot of street food. And mga matatamis” Well, we were shocked too! When Abbey was diagnosed with high blood pressure, it didn’t make sense at first. Ha? We eat mostly vegetables and not a lot of meat! So how did this happen?  The truth is, regular workouts and eating vegetables aren’t enough to guarantee a healthy body . You need a balanced diet, portion control, and mindful choices. I realized this too—despite thinking I was eating healthy, I still have high uric acid. So, what’s the takeaway? Exercise is great, but nutrition matters just as much. High blood pressure doesn’t care how fast the morning run was if meals are loaded with sodium, fried oils, and processed meats. Small swaps—less salt, fewer fried foods, more whole foods—consistently beat “outrunning” a poor diet.  👉 In this post, I’m sharing our first week of healthy meals and ...

ABBEY:   We had a buffet at Kwee Zeen (Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa). Though it was French-themed, one of the highlights for me was the lobster and prawns, which were incredibly fresh and paired surprisingly well with balsamic vinegar. I found myself going back for seconds (and thirds!) of the salt-baked fish, which was moist, juicy, and beautifully seasoned. The beef from the carvery station was equally satisfying, carved to perfection and full of flavor. For those who enjoy Indian food, the buffet does not disappoint. I enjoyed pairing naan with rich butter chicken, along with tender mutton from the briyani; a hearty combination that’s hard to beat. The spread also includes seafood delights like seasoned baby octopus, as well as fresh sashimi featuring salmon and tuna. Of course, no buffet is complete without desserts. I ended my meal with a sweet and refreshing finish to the feast with classic eclairs, fresh watermelon, and ice cream. Drinks such as soda, coff...

Whenever I’d ask him if I looked fat, he’d grin and say, “Hindi ka mataba, you’re voluptuous.” 🤭 And I, of course, would accept that answer with a smile, thinking, “See? No need to diet.” We were “healthy.” We ate vegetables daily, we did weekly fasting, and we even shared on a previous blog post about our eating habits. But the truth? We were feeling less and less healthy every day. Maybe you are experiencing subtle signals below that your body sends that you keep ignoring. And we ignored them too… until they became impossible to brush off. The Signs We Ignored — Until Our Bodies Started Crying for Help 1. Body Odor That Came Out of Nowhere We take two showers a day — one in the morning before work, and another thorough cleaning at night before stepping into our bedroom. So smelling bad? Unthinkable! But one day, I noticed my shirt smell funky. Abbey said it was just that one shirt. Few days after that, same problem — and I started blaming the washing machine. After observin...

ABBEY: During our recent staycation at  Mercure ICON , we decided to have dinner at  da Michele , a popular Italian restaurant that’s well-loved for its authentic flavors. The place was buzzing with diners when we arrived, and we happily joined the queue, knowing it must be worth the wait. We were seated al fresco, which gave us a front-row view of the hotel’s bustling driveway. Perfect for some casual people-watching as we enjoyed our meal. We had  Burrata & Capocollo Pizza , a thin-crust delight topped with olives, sun-dried tomatoes, savory ham, and crowned with a generous ball of creamy burrata in the center. While it was delicious on its own, drizzling some chili oil over it took the flavors to an entirely new level; spicy, salty, slightly sweet, with that perfect smoky note from the crust. Absolutely wow-worthy! Next was the  Orecchiette All’Aragosta Alla Positanese  pasta. The texture was spot-on, chewy and al dente, paired beautifully with a rich to...

ABBEY:  Another staycation, yay! This time, we checked in at Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre, and it turned out to be a great choice for a quick city getaway. We were able to get our room quickly, and to our delight, it came with a lovely view of Chinatown. The bed leaned on the firmer side, which was surprisingly comfortable, and the pillows were soft and cozy. It is perfect for a restful night’s sleep. Overall, the room was clean and well-maintained. The only drawback was a slight odor from the bathroom drain; not overly unpleasant, but noticeable enough to mention. We shared this feedback with the hotel, so hopefully, it gets addressed for future guests. For food and coffee, ICON LINK at Basement 2 is super convenient. We enjoyed our coffee fix at Tomoro Coffee and even grabbed a quick pizza dinner from Domino’s. Another highlight? The hotel’s close proximity to Chinatown Complex, where we savored delicious dim sum and a comforting plate of sweet and sour pork rice. Mercur...