The Year We Finally Did Our Annual Blood Test (And Why I’m Glad We Did)

So, a few years back, my husband and I had this brilliant grown-up idea:

“Let’s do an annual blood test together! You know, to monitor our health like responsible adults.”

It sounded so simple and mature. Except... we never actually did it.

Every year, it became a sort of running joke. I’d say, “Shall we go this month?” and my husband—usually while staring lovingly into his coffee—would say, “Next month, dear. This month is a bit busy.” And of course, I didn’t want to go alone. Partly because it felt less scary with him, but also because I imagined us sipping tea afterward, going over the results like two doctors on a medical drama. The more, the merrier, right?

Finally, this year, we did it. We made an appointment, fasted the night before, 8 hours of sleep, and walked into the lab hand in hand, and our 3 children. Honestly, I felt oddly excited. Like we were on a quirky date, except instead of dessert, we got our veins poked.

Now, if you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know I started my healthy lifestyle journey in 2023. I became that woman who actually drinks water (a lot!), watches her sugar, and even gasp loves weight lifting. My BMI? Finally in the healthy range. My energy? Up! My mental health? So much better.

So yes, I was feeling rather smug about the blood test. I thought, “They’ll probably want to frame my results on the wall.”

And the verdict?

Mostly good. My cholesterol? Normal. My kidneys and liver? Doing their jobs like pros. But—and there’s always a but—my blood sugar was borderline. Officially, I’m pre-diabetic. And my uric acid? Slightly above the normal range. The doctor wasn’t alarmed, but gently reminded me that even with a healthy routine, there’s always room to do more.

At first, I’ll admit, I felt a bit deflated. After all that effort, after choosing oats over cake and going on sunrise walks instead of extra sleep, it was still... not perfect. But then it hit me:

This is exactly why we do annual blood tests.

Not because we want gold stars from the lab, but because prevention matters. Knowing your numbers means you can adjust before something becomes dangerous. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about staying proactive. No matter how much good our looks, how many weights we can lift. That is not the ultimate measurement of health.

And doing it together? That made it even better. My husband and I sat with our printouts, comparing notes like two nerds in love. We even planned small changes together—like we skipped breakfast and less rice during dinner (which, I confess, he likes more than I do).

Reflecting on this, I realised something important:

Healthy living isn’t a finish line; it’s a lifelong partnership—with yourself and, if you’re lucky, with someone who’ll hold your hand through fasting blood draws at 8 a.m.

So if you’re reading this, wondering if it’s time for your annual health check, let me say: do it. Bring a friend, a partner, or your sibling and maybe your kids. It will be fun. Turn it into something positive rather than something scary. Because catching small issues early is the best kind of self-care there is.

And as for me? I’m doubling down on water, movement, and joy. Because health isn’t only about numbers—it’s about how we feel, live, and love.

To strength, sweat, and showing up every day —

Finding power in motherhood and muscle

The Morning I Overslept... and Witnessed a Big Brother Moment

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My weekday usually starts at 5 a.m. Like clockwork, my alarm sings its obnoxious little tune and I zombie-crawl out of bed, regretting every single episode I watched the night before. But hey, Monday to Friday, that’s life. The only exception? Weekends. On Saturdays and Sundays, I let myself sleep in. Not like, teenager-sleep-in—but until a glorious 7 or 8 a.m., which, for moms, is basically noon.

Now, here’s the twist. My husband? He’s always up before me. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I married a man who voluntarily wakes up to cook breakfast. By 7 a.m., you’ll hear the gentle hum of the kitchen fan and the chop-chop-chop of onions being expertly diced. The smell of garlic? That’s the unofficial alarm clock in our house.

Typically, I roll out of bed just in time to catch him finishing the fried noodles. Then it’s my turn to take the parenting baton and serve the kids their breakfast. It’s a well-rehearsed routine—he cooks, I plate, we both survive.

But last Saturday... something magical happened.

I’d had a headache the night before and clearly didn’t hear my alarm. When I finally stirred, it felt like I had bricks in my skull. I lay there, trying to will my body upright. My limbs were on strike, and my brain was sipping coffee somewhere without me. Ten full minutes later, I managed to peel myself off the bed.

I walked into the kitchen, expecting the usual chaos: hungry kids asking, “Where’s breakfast?” and my husband still frying eggs or something. But instead, I saw him.

Our eldest.

He stood at the dining table, carefully scooping noodles onto three plates. One for each of his younger siblings. His little brothers were already seated, patiently waiting—hands folded, eyes wide, not a single “I’m hungry!” in sight. It was like watching a mini parent in action. I blinked, just to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating from lack of sleep.

My husband was there too—cleaning the stove, looking just as stunned and misty-eyed as I was.

“He just started doing it,” he whispered, as if saying it louder would break the spell.

That moment right there? Pure gold. The kind of moment parenting books don’t prepare you for. The kind that sneaks up between ordinary routines and makes you cry into your coffee.

Because here’s the thing: parenting is often about showing up. Day in, day out. Cooking, cleaning, disciplining, loving. You don’t always get a round of applause. Sometimes, you just get sticky fingers and loads of laundry. But then—you get a morning like this.

A moment when your child, the one who once needed help putting on his socks, steps up without being asked. A moment that says, “I’ve been watching. I’ve learned. I’m ready to help.”

It made me realize that children become responsible when we model responsibility, and that all those mornings of quietly serving them breakfast were never just about food. They were lessons. And our eldest? He was paying attention all along.

So, to all the tired moms out there dragging themselves through their morning routines—hang in there. You’re planting seeds that bloom when you least expect it.

And if you ever need proof that the little things matter… well, just oversleep once in a while. You might be surprised by the magic you wake up to.

To strength, sweat, and showing up every day —

Finding power in motherhood and muscle

How I Accidentally Fell Into the World of Chinese Mini Dramas

And I Might Be Fluent in Fictional Mandarin

It all started with a scroll. You know the kind — you're lying in bed after a long day, thumb mindlessly flicking up your Facebook feed, promising yourself just five more minutes before sleep.

And there it was. A dramatic scene. A girl in a wedding dress standing in the rain. A cold, impossibly handsome CEO yelling something intense (probably about betrayal or fake marriage contracts — the usual). The subtitles flew by. The background music was overly dramatic. I rolled my eyes. I scrolled past. Then… I scrolled back.

Just one episode, I told myself.

Ppfftt. Famous last words.

What followed next was a deep-dive into the whirlwind world of Chinese mini dramas — or as I now call it, “My Accidental Mandarin Crash Course.” These bite-sized episodes, usually 1-5 minutes each, pack more drama into 180 seconds than an entire season of your favorite K-drama. Think forbidden love, contract marriages, secret identities, and rich CEOs falling in love with poor but feisty girls — all before dinner.

I found myself hunting down titles in the comment section like some kind of undercover drama detective. Someone would mention the name, I’d copy-paste it into YouTube, and poof! I was three episodes deep before realizing I hadn’t blinked in ten minutes.

Now, weeks later, I’ve watched at least 100 Chinese mini dramas. I’ve picked up Mandarin phrases I never planned to learn (including, but not limited to, how to dramatically say “You lied to me!”).

And now watching plot twists while brisk-walking at 4.8 km/h like a woman on a mission. I mean, who needs background music when there’s dramatic slow-motion crying, mistaken identities, and surprise hospital scenes? Honestly, nothing motivates me to keep running like a good old-fashioned cliffhanger.

And yes — I admit it: most of the storylines are completely fictional and ridiculously over-the-top. There's always a revenge plot. Someone always gets amnesia. And the cold CEO inevitably turns into a cinnamon roll by episode 27.

But that’s the charm, isn’t it?

Why We Love Chinese Mini Dramas:

1. They’re short and addictive — perfect for busy moms or anyone on a lunch break.

2. The acting is surprisingly good considering the runtime.

3. They provide escapism in the best way — colorful sets, glamorous outfits, and fairytale-level love stories.

4. They’re easy to follow, even with subtitles.

More importantly, in a world that can often feel chaotic and unpredictable, there’s something comforting about knowing the heroine will overcome her villains, the cold CEO will confess his love, and justice will be served… in 60 seconds or less.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve never fallen into the rabbit hole of Chinese mini dramas, consider this your gentle nudge. Just be warned — once you start, there’s no going back. You might start dreaming in subtitles, emotionally investing in a fictional heiress’s inheritance scandal, or dramatically sipping tea like a palace empress.

And hey — life is stressful. If watching a beautifully lit CEO fall in love with a girl who sells steamed buns on the street helps you unwind, then by all means, hit play.

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Got a favorite Chinese mini drama that kept you glued to the screen (or treadmill)? Drop it in the comments below! I’m always on the hunt for my next cardio-fueled obsession.

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To strength, sweat, and showing up every day —

Finding power in motherhood and muscle

Date Nights, Diapers, and Dirty Laundry: Keeping the Spark Alive in Motherhood

He’s Still My Husband, Not Just the Kids’ Dad — Remembering to Love Each Other First

The other night, I yelled, “Babe, where’s the remote?”

Three voices answered.

None of them were my husband.

And in that moment — surrounded by noise, school bags, sippy cups, and a half-eaten fish finger — I realized something. My husband and I had officially been upgraded (or maybe downgraded?) to full-time co-parents. Somewhere between our firstborn’s diaper explosion and our third child’s last tantrum, we had stopped being us.

Balancing motherhood and marriage is a dance nobody really teaches you. You just kind of stumble through it, holding snacks in one hand and resentment in the other.

Don't get me wrong — I adore my children. But sometimes I miss us. The “us” that used to laugh at memes in bed. The “us” that used to get dressed up for a cheap movie date. The “us” that had inside jokes not involving Paw Patrol.

And then one evening, as I watched him load the dishwasher without being asked (yes, he’s a keeper), I remembered: He’s still my husband. Not just the kids’ dad.

Why That Realization Matters

We talk so much about parenting techniques and schedules, but rarely about how to stay connected after kids. The truth? Our marriage is the foundation. When it’s strong, our whole house feels steadier. When it’s ignored… well, the cracks show up in everything — even the bedtime routine.

And no, rekindling doesn’t mean a spa retreat or three-day getaway. (Though if you offer, I won’t say no.)

It’s the Small Stuff

We started small — teeny, tiny things that made us feel like a couple again:

• A kiss on the forehead before the chaos starts

• Texting “I love you” in the middle of work

• Sitting down for coffee together after bedtime

• Saying “thank you” even for the obvious stuff, like taking the bins out

• Choosing to watch a show together instead of silently scrolling on separate phones

And you know what happened? We laughed more. We fought less. We felt like teammates again, not just co-managers of Household Inc.

What Changed For Us

We didn’t become Pinterest-perfect. The kids still interrupt mid-sentence. The laundry mountain is still Everest. But we’re closer. More patient. More present.

Sometimes I look at him and think, Wow, we’ve been through baby puke and broken sleep and school meetings — and I still fancy him. That’s magic.

To Every Mom Reading This…

If you feel like the “you” in your marriage is missing, you’re not alone. If you feel like your husband is more “Dad” than “Partner,” that’s okay too. The beautiful thing? You can bring the spark back — one tiny, conscious moment at a time.

Because before the babies, there was a love story. And guess what?

It’s still being written.

To strength, sweat, and showing up every day —

Finding power in motherhood and muscle

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