Disclaimer: This recipe was originally posted as a separate page. I changed it to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding! 😊✨
Here is my favourite cookie recipe of all time! You may remember seeing this recipe from an older blog post that I posted back in December 2019! 😅 I love making mini Christmas cookies and decorating them with cute sprinkles. If you live in Canada, you can buy these sprinkles at Bulk Barn. I also like to package these cookies in tins to give away as hostess gifts. When my now-husband and I were first dating, I gave these cookies to his family as an attempt to win them over and I think it worked. My husband and I have been married for 5 years now, so I believe that the saying is true: the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.
A close-up shot of what these miniature cookies look like. I wanted all of the stars to look the same, all of the snowmen to look the same, etc. There are 9 different shapes featured here: 1. snowman 2. snow-bear 3. snowman 4. bell 5. Christmas tree 6. gingerbread man 7. holly 8. star 9. stocking
These cookies are a timeless classic and are totally worth the hard labor it took to make them. Just kidding! Decorating them is a lot of fun and it doesn’t feel like work to me. If you enjoy baking, you’ll probably enjoy making these cookies. The best part about mini cookies? You can eat 10 of them in one sitting without feeling guilty about it!
SUGAR COOKIES
Heavily filtered photos meant for Instagram but they will have to do. In the future, I will take new photos with a decent camera. I just wanted to give you an idea of what these miniature cookies look like. 😊
INGREDIENTS
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
3 cups of flower
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
cling film (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Combine sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, cream of tartar, and baking soda.
Add butter to mixture and combine until crumbly.
Add eggs and vanilla to mixture.
Roll out dough and wrap in cling film (optional).
Chill in fridge for approx. 1 hour.
Slice dough with fancy cookie cutters and place on cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.
I encourage you to give this recipe a try. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments section below ↓ I love reading your comments ❤️
Disclaimer: This recipe was originally posted as a separate page. I changed it to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding! ♥
Most recipes found on this blog are designed for 1-2 people, particularly college students or small families who are short on time. If you are making this smoothie for 4 people, simply double the recipe. You can add other fruits such as peaches or add a handful of spinach/kale for a green smoothie. If cantaloupe isn’t your preference, you can use other kinds of melon instead, such as honeydew or watermelon. #melon-fruit-power from pixabay.com
WHY SMOOTHIES?
Fruits and vegetables contain important enzymes, vitamins, and minerals that we need to stay healthy, maintain energy levels, and keep diseases at bay. Making delicious smoothies from fresh fruits each day is an easy and tasty way to obtain your daily nutrient requirements. Smoothies are thicker than fruit juices and they may contain other ingredients such as milk, yogurt, ice cubes, etc.
CHOOSING INGREDIENTS
The quality of a smoothie is directly related to the freshness of the ingredients that you use. Try and use the best fruit that you can get by choosing fruits at optimum ripeness. Although fresh and organic are usually best, fruits that are flash-frozen soon after picking may be better than fresh fruit that has a short shelf life. Examples of summer fruits are strawberries, cherries, raspberries, and peaches. If you use canned fruit, avoid fruit soaked in syrup and aim for fruit soaked in water or natural fruit juice.
EAT WELL, FEEL GOOD, AND LOOK GREAT!
The nutrition that you are consuming by drinking smoothies on a daily basis will also begin to show through your radiant glowing skin, energy levels, and overall improved well-being. For example, antioxidants are found in fresh fruits and are also essential for younger-looking skin. Another example is folic acid, which is found in many fruits and helps keep hair and nails strong. Another advantage of drinking smoothies is the high water content that is found in fruits. It is easy to forget to drink 8 glasses of water per day. Many beverages that we consume such as coffee, tea, and alcohol are dehydrating compared to smoothies which are very hydrating.
CANTALOUPE SMOOTHIE
Servings: 2 Time: 10 minutes Difficulty: easy
INGREDIENTS
1 cup peeled, cubed cantaloupe
1/2 banana, frozen chunks
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 tablespoon lemon or lime juice
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 tablespoon flaxseed (optional)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
Add the cantaloupe, banana, orange juice and lemon juice to a blender (I am using a Vitamix blender). Cover and blend on high until the mixture is smooth.
Add the yogurt, flaxseed and vanilla. Cover and blend on high until the mixture is smooth.
Pour into 2 glasses and add milkshake straws (optional). Serve immediately.
Disclaimer: This recipe was originally posted as a separate page. I changed it to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding!
This recipe is a remake of the Taro recipe I posted on Yummly years ago. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate that recipe and it wasn’t exactly healthy. Taro bubble tea mix often comes in instant creamer-like packets. If you think about what is in these packets, it’s pretty unappetizing. Can we do better than that? Yes, we can, and I will show you how 💁♀️
At this time, I plan to make a collection of flat belly-friendly recipes for you all. However, bubble tea generally isn’t healthy, to begin with, plus it is often laden with calories. The horror! 😱 Yes, tea is good for you and should be consumed in your diet but the added refined sugar, tapioca pearls, and saturated fat in the drink outweigh the benefits of consuming the drink in the first place. I am here to give you a healthier version of this beloved beverage. You can sub any fruit out for the mango. I chose mango because it nicely complements the coconut. I added coconut milk for the healthy fats and extra vitamins.
Brew some green tea and chill it in the fridge. 2 cups is more than enough for 2 servings.
Using a pot, fill the pot with 4 cups of water and bring to a rolling boil. Next, add ~1/3 of the package (approx. 1 cup) of tapioca pearls to the water and 1/4 cup of brown sugar – half of the brown sugar you are using. Following the instructions on the package, cook the tapioca pearls. This step takes a while and it’s easy to mess up. It won’t cook properly if you cook it at the wrong temperature, hence the recipe being medium difficulty. Occasionally, stir the tapioca pearls so that they don’t stick together.
Once tapioca pearls have risen to the top of the pot and they have the desired chewy consistency (I taste them to make sure), strain pearls under cold water and make a sugar syrup for the pearls using the rest of the brown sugar. Set aside.
Using a personal blender or my personal favorite, being the Vitamix, add the brewed tea, mango chunks, coconut milk, and ice cubes. You will need to scrape the sides of the blender depending on the consistency you want. I recommend working in batches since a cheaper blender may get jammed. The Vitamix however, can handle it like a champ.
Divide the cooked tapioca pearls and add them to the bottom of 2 tall glasses. Add the blended mango coconut slush to the glass along with a wide milkshake straw for pearl slurping. Enjoy!
I encourage you to give this recipe a try. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments section below ↓ I love reading your comments 🥭💕
Disclaimer: This recipe was originally posted as a separate page. I changed it to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding!
Nothing beats this classic drink recipe. You may have noticed that I talked about this delicious drink in my blog post titled, March Recap Spring 2021 because this drink was one of my favourite things to drink while I was pregnant. Re: Virgin Piña Colada!
I made this drink often while pregnant, and people ridiculed me for drinking it because they thought I was drinking its alcoholic cousin. Seriously, who do you think I am?! To this day, I rarely drink alcohol because I really don’t see what’s so great about drinking nail polish remover. Sorry, not sorry! Alcohol does not taste good to me and I have to drink it with loads of sugar to make it more palatable 😝 So if you came here for the alcoholic version of this drink, feel free to add your own alcohol. For the rest of you who enjoy Shirley Temples and other fun non-alcoholic drinks, you are in for a treat today. My sans alcohol version of the classic Piña Colada has been tested and approved by myself and my family. Cheers! 🍍🥥
Virgin Piña Colada
Servings: 1 Time: 2 minutes Difficulty: easy
INGREDIENTS
4 tbsp. crushed pineapple
1/3 can low fat coconut milk
2-3 tbsp. pineapple juice
6 ice cubes
DIRECTIONS
Using a personal blender (I use a Nutri Ninja), add the crushed pineapple, pineapple juice and coconut milk. Quickly pulse the ingredients. Using a spoon, taste to make sure the coconut balances the pineapple. If flavours are balanced, continue to step #2.
Add the ice. Personally, I like my drink very iced so I use 6 cubes. Slowly add a few ice cubes and pulse. Then add a few more ice cubes so the blender doesn’t get jammed. When the desired consistency is reached, it is ready to drink.
Pour into a fancy glass and add a milkshake straw (optional).
Photo credit: Pineapple Supply Co
I encourage you to give this recipe a try. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments section below ↓ I love reading your comments 💕
Disclaimer: This recipe was originally posted as a separate page on November 15, 2017. I changed it to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding!
My husband and I take health and well-being very seriously. Usually, I will make several trips to the grocery store when trying a new recipe but this time, I decided to only use what was in my cupboard. I changed the original recipe I was referencing quite a bit. You can find the original carrot muffin recipe over at Genius Kitchen.
CARROT COCONUT MUFFINS
Servings: 12 Time: 40 minutes Difficulty: easy
INGREDIENTS
1 egg
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup coconut
2 cups shredded carrots
DIRECTIONS
Crack an egg into a bowl and whisk the egg.
Add orange juice, margarine, brown sugar, and white sugar to the bowl. Stir well.
Sift together dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
Stir in egg mixture and mix until dough is moistened.
Gently fold in carrots and coconut. I shred the carrots using my Vitamix blender.
Spoon into well-greased muffin pans. Cupcake liners are optional but I don’t recommend using them for this particular recipe. The dough is too dense, making the cupcake liner difficult to peel away.
Sprinkle some of the white sugar on the muffin tops for extra shine. Again, this step is optional.
This recipe was originally posted as a separate page. I changed it to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding. 🌱
This recipe is fantastic. Although Dr. Ann Wigmore’s energy soup is not the most palatable the first time you try it, it really starts to grow on you the more you consume it. I use this recipe whenever I am feeling moody, depressed, need to detox, or whenever I’m in pain (for example, toothache). Sometimes, I grow my own bean sprouts but I often buy them for convenience. Eating a 1.5-liter jar of homegrown bean sprouts is quite the challenge for one individual.
I doubt other 20-somethings eat energy soup at all. Even my husband cringes a the thought of eating this stuff on a weekly basis. Eventually, I hope to make this soup on a daily basis. The health benefits outweigh the taste, and the bland flavor is greatly improved with a little garlic and lemon juice. The original recipe was created by Ann Wigmore and you can read about her here. However, the recipe I have adapted comes from Karyn’s, so be sure to check out these two amazing women.
“Let me share my vision with you: I see a world without sickness, sorrow or mental disturbance in which we are living in perfect balance with abundant health and harmony. Reconnect with nature and your body will take care of the rest. This is the beauty of self-healing.” – Dr. Ann Wigmore
Confession: I do not use Rejuvelac. Instead, I substitute Rejuvelac for green tea. I have adapted and modified Karyn’s version of Ann Wigmore’s energy soup. I do not think my version is necessarily healthier. In fact, I highly doubt it contains as many vitamins and minerals compared to the original recipe. However, as a university student who is tight on time and energy, my recipe is easy to make and very palatable. I am NOT a vegan or raw foodie by any means and I do not encourage you to hop on the bandwagon. I am currently dealing with Iron Deficiency Anemia and can use a boost of vitamins and minerals every now and then.
RAW GREEN ENERGY SOUP
Servings: 2 Time: 10 minutes Difficulty: easy
INGREDIENTS
1-2 cloves garlic
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 1/2 cups green tea
1 teaspoon seaweed
1-2 apples, coarsely chopped
1 cup baby spinach leaves
1 cup beansprouts
1 avocado
DIRECTIONS
Prepare 1 1/2 cups of green tea. Set aside. Soak the dried seaweed in water and add 1 teaspoon of soaked seaweed to the green tea. Pour into a powerful blender such as the Vitamix (what I use).
Coarsely chop the garlic and add to the blender. Blend on low until smooth
Coarsely chop the apples and add to the blender. Add the avocado. If you don’t have avocado you can substitute with coconut oil. Pulse the apple and avocado to combine with the green tea base Pulsing adds texture to the soup.
Add the beansprouts and the spinach leaves. Pulse in blender until you have reached the desired consistency. Add the lemon juice for freshness and flavor.
Pour into a bowl and serve. Garnish with parsley if desired. Store the leftover soup in a glass container and refrigerate up to a week. The soup tastes best when consumed within 1-2 days.
Yes, the raw green energy soup is really this green! Put your future in good hands ❤
Note: I garnished the soup with cilantro because I couldn’t find the parsley. I tried making the soup from memory and the color of the soup ended up being much lighter. Why?! Because I forgot to add the seaweed! The raw green energy soup was still delicious – a perfect midnight snack!
Whenever I have zero motivation to write a blog post, I remind myself to take a step back and think about the topics that have been accumulating in my rough drafts. I currently have 34 topics in my rough drafts but I have zero desire to write about any of them. I had to take a Marie Kondo approach and ask myself the following question: Do any of these topics spark joy? Sadly, the answer is no. Perhaps it is time to scrap my rough drafts and start over again.
When life gets too chaotic and hectic, I often feel the need to simplify my life. It is important to take a step back to appreciate the things that make my stupid, busy life a little less stupid and busy. And not surprisingly, the items on my list are inexpensive. Does it surprise you that I have a go-to list of 10 affordable purchases that make my life more tolerable? Keep reading if you are interested! 😊
•✽ 10 Cheap Purchases that Improved my Life ✽•
1. Tylenol I know, I know. Acetaminophen aka. Tylenol (everyone here calls it Tylenol) is not very exciting but for anyone who suffers from frequent ocular migraines, it helps provide some relief. I typically use 2 tabs each of 500mg per dose.
2.Hand sanitizer If COVID-19 taught me anything, I learned about the importance of hand hygiene. It would be a crime not to hoard hand sanitizer. I carry it around with me everywhere I go and learned to embrace the plain, boring scents too.
3. Baby wipes These wipes are not just for wiping baby bums! Baby wipes are one of the most useful things to have around the house, whether or not you are a parent. Baby wipes are incredibly useful for wiping faces, cleaning sticky surfaces, and dusting. Yes – dusting! Need to clean something fast? Use a baby wipe!
4. Alarm clock I had one of those loud, obnoxious alarm clocks that could wake the dead from their sleep. I say *had* because it fell apart over the years. Still, I never missed a shift while I was using that alarm clock. Now, I use an obnoxious ring tone on my phone which works almost as well as the alarm clock.
5. The 64-ounce hydrator water bottle Not just any water bottle! This is a 64-ounce hydrator water bottle. I bought mine from Winners for $10 and it holds 8 cups of water. Personally, I don’t like refilling a water bottle multiple times a day. My goal is to refill my water bottle twice a day for a total of 16 cups of water. If you did the math, my goal is to drink 1 Gallon (128 oz.) of water per day. I seem to fail miserably at drinking water unless I am actively tracking my water intake.
Stayin’ alive and hydrated!
6. Sharpie highlighters This is my favourite brand for both markers and highlighters. I only buy this brand for highlighters because they don’t bleed through paper or smudge the ink. During back-to-school season, you can usually find Sharpie highlighters on sale at Walmart.
7. Sheet protectors It seems like my list is turning into a “Things Around the Office” Listicle. What can I say?😂 I spend a great deal of time using office supplies. Sheet protectors are another item that I love using for notetaking, clipping recipes, saving snippets from magazines, etc. Gone are the days where I have to worry about spilling coffee on my notes. I also want to mention that sheet protectors are waterproof!
8. Bubble Bath Hot baths are good for chronic back and neck pain. A bubble bath won’t break the bank and it is one of the few things that I have to look forward to on a typical cold day in Canada. My favorite bubble bath is Korres because it makes the best bubbles in my opinion, even though this brand is more expensive than others. Trust me, not all bubbles are created equal.
9. PlannerA planner can be cheap or expensive depending on your preference. Personally, I like the $4 Dollarama planner which I can throw in my backpack at any given time. For habit tracking, I like the Habit Tracking planner which I got from Costco. I usually recycle my planners after 2-3 years to cut down on clutter. I used to keep ALL of my wall calendars as a kid and ended up with a drawer full of memorabilia junk. Never again.
10. Podcasts Personal development podcasts have changed my life for the better. I use iTunes to listen to podcasts. The best part about podcasts is that they are FREE! Free edutainment – what’s not to like about that?! I listen to podcasts on a daily basis and I love learning about psychology, philosophy, spirituality, entrepreneurial skills, and decluttering. In a previous blog post, I talked about The Mindset Mentor by Rob Dial. Admittedly, I don’t listen to his podcasts nearly as much as I used to, but his takeaway messages are very good. Also, a shoutout goes to my blogger friend Deandrafrom #TBPD. She also has a lifestyle podcast which I recommend checking out! 🙌
Overall, these 10 items help my life suck a little less. Did anything on my list surprise you? What inexpensive items would you add to your list? Please join the conversation by leaving a comment below ↓ I look forward to reading your comments.
If you need a refresher, please go read No Spend Challenge | I Messed Up. Setting ambitious goals is one thing, but persevering despite a less-than-perfect month takes even more self-praise, motivation, and commitment. In total, I had 7 days where I “accidentally” bought non-essential items. Nothing is truly accidental because we are ultimately responsible for everything we do, including yearly subscriptions that we may have forgotten about 🤦♀️
Below is the PDF sheetthat I printed off and taped to my wall formonth of January. Whenever I had a good day, I got a sticker. I know it sounds silly but it keeps me motivated since I like to keep the positive streak going. I am also keeping a tally at the bottom of the sheet which indicates the number of days that I cheated or unintentionally spent money. I am aware that January has 31 days and felt that it was only fair to include that extra day in the challenge.
This is how I kept track of No Spend January.
Perfectionism Was Not The Goal
I received lots of feedback from my readers throughout the month of January, and your comments meant a lot to me – thank you so much! ❤ I couldn’t help but notice that several of you a) agreed with me or praised me for attempting such a challenge or b) were appalled that someone like me screwed up the No Spend Challenge or c) questioned this challenge with much skepticism. To clarify, I am human too and make mistakes just like everyone else. God might be a woman according to Ariana Grande, but last time I checked, I was an imperfect human being and still am to this day. Remember, perfectionism was not the point of this challenge. In fact, perfectionism can be quite damaging to one’s mental health and probably contributes a great deal towards neuroses.
Setting Personal Goals
Sure, I could have chosen to lie about my spending habits, but that would have defeated the purpose of this challenge 🙅♀️ Although the No Spend Challenge was annoying and inconvenient at times, it made me more mindful of my spending habits and helped me develop a better relationship with money and unnecessary purchases. Rather than go cold turkey during the month of February, I have decided to continue tracking my spending using a planner. I also realize that banning myself from places like Dollarama did not save me money in the long-run. Therefore, I am limiting myself to one Dollarama shopping trip per week with a budget of $20-30 since I also shop for the family. Honestly, this challenge helped heighten my awareness, and I am even more mindful about my spending habits these days. I learned that I do not need to deprive myself of the simple pleasures in life, as long as I continue to live an honest and intentional life 🌺
A Small Victory!
I accumulated $50 worth of Tim Hortons gift cards from Swagbucks, which helped me survive the month of January 2021. My husband decided to join Swagbucks using my referral link, after seeing that I was able to redeem $100 worth of e-gift cards in 2020! Because my husband joined and earned 300 swagbucks (SB) within 30 days of joining, we each received a $3 rebate bonus. In conclusion, Swagbucks is legit and rewards people for shopping online, submitting receipts, completing surveys, playing games, and completing daily tasks (they’re easy). You won’t get rich from Swagbucks but you will be rewarded for your efforts.
A shoutout goes to Nicholas Tan (my husband) for supporting me! Thank you for the delicious Steeped Tea(s)! 😊💕
If you sign up using my referral link and start earning SB, you will be helping me out A LOT. For every 10 SB you earn, I will be earning 1 SB which adds up over time. Also, if you acquire 300 SB within your first 30 days of signing up, you will receive a 300 SB ($3.00) welcome bonus on top of the $3.00 that you have already earned. As a thank you for earning SB to help support my steeped tea addiction, I will give you a shoutout in a future blog post (your blog link included) as my way of saying thank you. That way, other bloggers can find and follow your blog too! ❤
I think I just screwed up the No Spend Challenge. I did not think it was possible to royally screw it up until January 8, 2021. One thing I learned about myself is how easily I call it quits as soon as I make a mistake 🤦♀️ And just like that, on January 9, 2021, the No Spend Challenge went out the window. Like I said in my previous blog post, No Spend Challenge | January 2021, I have an All or Nothing personality which can really hinder progress and prevent me from implementing lasting habits. I know I can do better and I plan to pick up where I left off… today, anyways.
Below is the PDF sheetthat I printed off and taped to my wall. Whenever I have a good day, I get a sticker. I know it sounds silly but it keeps me motivated since I like to keep the positive streak going. I am also keeping a tally at the bottom of the sheet which indicates the number of days that I cheated or unintentionally spent money:
This is how I am keeping track of No Spend January.
Hilary, How Could You?!
This No Spend Challenge was going well until I received a disturbing email on Friday, January 8, 2021. This company had no problem telling me that they charged my credit card for a another yearly subscription of $30.00 USD. In all honestly, I completely forgot that my subscription was about to expire and assumed that I already unsubscribed from this service. I know that this is my fault and nobody else’s, but I wish they had sent me an email alerting me that my subscription was about to expire. Personally, I think that auto-ship and subscription services are dangerous when forgotten about, and I honestly do not know how all of you manage to keep track of your subscriptions. I will not mention the name of this company out of all due respect. Don’t get me wrong – this subscription service is pretty good, except that I no longer need or use this service. *Sigh* I tell myself that I am more forgetful than usual due to my pregnancy brain. Update: Rebecca is getting a baby brother in May. We are Team Blue! 💙
Calling It Quits 🙅♀️
I felt guilty. I felt shame. I was angry at myself because I was the one to blame. I was upset because I broke the promise I made at the beginning of January 2021. So, what did Hilary do to make up for this screw-up? She dug a deeper hole on Saturday. SHE SPENT MORE MONEY! 💲💲💲
I ended up spending money on sour watermelon slices, sour neon gummy worms, and OMGs ($13), postage for the US and international stamps ($17 + $8.20). and a few other miscellaneous items that I certainly did not need ($15). Even though I continued to avoid Dollarama like the plague, as mentioned in my previous post, I ended up spending more money by avoiding Dollarama, so avoidance was clearly a dumb decision. At least I learned from these mistakes; however, I still messed up the No Spend Challenge, nonetheless. Like I tell my fellow blogging friends, I do not expect anyone to have a perfect month, and this includes myself. Like you, I am human and I make mistakes. Like you, I need to start practicing self-love and forgiveness. It is okay to mess up, and the important thing is that we pick up where we left off. 🙏💕
Can you picture yourself not spending money during the month of January? I was inspired by Happy Simple Momto embark on this journey one year ago and I haven’t looked back. I did the challenge last year and felt much better after putting a temporary ban on buying non-essential items; thus, I was able to detox from the Christmas debt hangover. Is this extreme? Maybe a little, but I assure you that this challenge is totally doable. In fact, you might actually enjoy it. Chances are, you probably already have a lot of stuff laying around your house for future DIY projects (Pinterest, anyone?). And if you are like me, chances are you probably forgot about most of the stuff that you already own.
Below is a list of 10 non-essential items that I will not be buying this month. I do not encourage you to ban essential items like groceries, gas, phone bills etc. because these things essential for a reason. Non-essential items include extra things that you can learn to live without, and this list will vary from person to person. Remember, what you choose to give up for January is entirely up to you! 🙌
January No Spend Challenge
Here is a list of some of 10 things that I am not buying throughout the month of January 2021! 💰
1. Coffee and Steeped Tea I love coffee from MCDs and Steeped Tea from Tim Horton’s. Even though I can make MCDs coffee at home, I crave their coffee when I am running errands. I also crave Steeped Tea from Tim Horton’s which is a bit trickier since I cannot replicate it at home. I have tried numerous times to replicate it but I have not found a good replacement for store-bought Steeped Tea. I am able to justify buying Steeped Tea in-store by using gift cards and Tim’s Rewards (buy 7, get one free).
In 2020, I used my Swagbucks Rewards to purchase $75 worth of Tim Cards. If reward programs like Swagbucks appeals to you and you are interested in signing up, my referral link is https://www.swagbucks.com/profile/hellokitty8404. It is free to sign up using my referral link and you will be helping me out too. It’s similar to “Buy Me A Coffee!” but doesn’t cost you anything! ☕💕
2.Junk FoodI have been a junk food addict for as long as I can remember. I could live off of junk food instead of real food but my guilty conscience does not allow me to succumb to poor lifestyle choices. However, I do consume a concerning amount of junk food on a weekly basis, specifically sugary treats like candy and chocolate. There is nothing wrong with junk food in moderation, but I admit that moderation is not a word in my vocabulary 😂 For this reason, I will be making my own treats in the New Year. In the past, I have made DIY honey-lemon candy, protein gummy candy, air-fried BBQ chips, kale chips, Dalgona coffee, and chocolate mug cake.
Dalgona coffee is the classic 2020 quarantine beverage! ☕
3. Ordering Takeout We told ourselves that we would only eat out twice a month, but we do not keep track of our spending. I feel like we were eating out at least 4 times per month, not including the Tim Hortons runs. I realize that we eat out way too much, so during the month of January, we plan to cook our meals at home. Often, I find myself giving into hanger when I am running errands, my husband wants to celebrate a special occasion, our daughter is hangry too etc. Next time, I will pack snacks when we travel, even if we are just running errands.
4. Eating at Restaurants We eat out at restaurants once a month because we spend more on takeout, and this goes hand in hand with point #3. Still, there is no reason to eat out if we can learn how to create our favourite dishes at home. There is no need for physical cookbooks since I can [usually] find what I need on the internet.
5. Online Shopping I pride myself for having self-control when it comes to online shopping. I keep online shopping to a minimum and only use a couple of sites, at most. There are some products which I can only buy online, such as Natural Calm – Calmful Sleep Natural Sleep Aid (powder) which you can purchase at an unbeatable price here. Now that my shipment has finally arrived, I do not need to buy anything else for a while. Oh yeah, and I avoid Amazon because of bad experiences/scams from questionable sellers.
6. Dollarama This goes hand and hand with #2 and #7 because two of my biggest culprits when shopping at Dollarama are junk food and stationary. Dollarama has good quality stationary and I cannot fathom why anyone would spend full price on greeting cards. The prices at Dollarama range from $1-$4 per item and the quality is decent, unlike other dollar stores I have shopped at. I shop there 2-3 times per week and usually spend $20.00+ per shopping trip. It is a problem that needs to be nipped in the bud.
It is addictive and it is hard to stop 😆
7. StationaryWhere do I even begin with this one? I ❤ stationary! I love sending mail as much as I love receiving mail. Snail mail seems to be a dying art, and I usually give up when so-called pen-pals don’t reciprocate at all. I know I set my expectations too high and need to work on that. I also have an all-or-nothing personality, so this year I ended up mailing zero Christmas cards. That being said, I still have a problem when it comes to buying stationary and I get carried away sometimes. Therefore, I am putting a ban on stationary and will use up what I have before I buy more. 💌
I got a little too carried away one Christmas and realized that all of this effort wasn’t worth it in the end 💔
7. Skin Care ProductsNot only did I find some great deals during Boxing week, which you can read in my previous blog post, my mom also mailed me a bunch of skin care products from around the world for Christmas 2020. I definitely have an abundance of skin care products not limited to: face wash/cleanser from Japan, mini shower gel(s), a family-sized shower gel imported from Greece, body butters, body creams imported from Greece, hair care products from Korea, pain relief analgesics by Kalaya, and body yogurts. There is absolutely no reason for me to buy more skin care products unless I run out of something, which is highly unlikely.
8. Alcohol We are not big drinkers, so alcohol has never been an issue for me. Also, I am 19 weeks pregnant so I am not drinking alcohol anyways. I find it incredibly irresponsible for pregnant mothers to drink, fully knowing that they are harming their unborn child. For pregnant women who want something a bit classier than sparkling water this holiday season, there is a non-alcoholic beverage on the market known as sparkling fruit juice and it tastes delicious. I like how this beverage even comes in wine bottles which closely resembles champagne. This drink is a treat and not an every day indulgence. Cheers! 🥂
9. Miscellaneous Gifts I often spend money on others before I spend money on myself, and I like to buy “just because” gifts for my husband and daughter. I feel like this is my way of telling them that they are important to me. I know what my husband’s favourite candy and snacks are, for instance. He is aware that I am doing this January No Spend Challenge, and I am pretty sure that my daughter won’t notice. A friend of mine has an upcoming birthday, and because she lives in a different province, I want to send her something by mail. This might end up being an exception to the rule as I have no way of sending homemade gifts without paying ridiculously high shipping costs.
Finally, I encourage you to try this challenge during the month of January to kickstart the new year! I also encourage you to track your spending habits using a budgeting app or free PDF trackerso that you are able to see the progress that you are making. The results may surprise you! 🙂
If you need some extra encouragement this month, feel free to message me on my Contact Info Page. Please note that I mostly use email and WhatsApp. Also, feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment below ↓ and I will do my best to reply to your comments! ❤
I originally got the idea from blogger Becky who runs a blog called Strikeouts + Sprinkles. She has a weekly blog series calledOne Good Thing although I only plan on making this blog post a one-time thing. She made me realize that I tend to view life from a negative perspective, and therefore, I need to be more mindful about focusing on the positive things in my life. You might be wondering how the above photo fits the theme of this blog post; this is a photo of my car covered in snow from last week’s snowfall. Normally, such an event would discourage me from leaving the house, but luckily, my husband volunteered to rescue my poor car. Had he not forced me to get out of the house, I would have stayed indoors all weekend feeling sorry for myself.
Ruthless Frugality
Six years ago, I embarked on the frugal journey while working on personal development and honestly, I prefer this lifestyle compared to the typical consumerist culture that has plagued the western world. Every year, I look forward to the semi-annual sales because I can save money on items that I already use on a regular basis. This week, I am grateful for the boxing week sales and still having access to in-store shopping in my province. This weekend, I was able to buy what I needed for the New Year. These items will easily last me an entire year! 😊
Disclaimer: This is not a humble-brag blog post similar to the ones I have seen littering the WP Reader lately. The purpose of this blog post is to give readers hope and empower them to think about how they can save money and live life more intentionally. I challenge you to think about the things are most important to you, and learn how embrace discomfort in the year 2021. Most importantly, you need to learn how to let go of the things that do not matter and completely let go of the things that give you zero return in your life.
Buy All The Things!
Even though I am not currently employed, hopefully I will be starting a new job(s) in the New Year. It costs money to live, but I do not like spending full price on things if it can be avoided. Please note that there is a clear difference between being cheap and being frugal, and if you need more context, please google it instead of asking me. Also, if you want to learn more about frugality, you can read my blog post called 7 Ways to Stop Wasting Money under the page titled STUDENT LIFE ツ
Today, I will share with you what I bought during boxing day weekend. I purchased all of these items myself after making a list and checking it twice prior to going out. None of these items were gifted to me. Let’s face it – most bloggers would love to receive gifted items from sponsors and advertisers but this is not reality for the majority of people. Most of us are stuck buying our own shit stuff. Here is what I bought:
1. The Body Shop: Body Butter and Shower Gel
I bought 3 sets of body butters and shower gels from the Body Shop, priced $5 each ($15 for all 3). One travel size butter butter costs $6 regular price so this was a great deal. It takes me a very long time to use body butter so travel sizes are perfect for me. I have yet to try these scents: British Rose, Almond Milk & Honey, and Mango. The shower gels are bonuses! Every year, I also get a $10 gift card on my birthday just for signing up with The Body Shop!
2. The Body Shop: 2 Body Yogurts
One body yogurt costs $16 CAD regular price. At sale price, they usually sell for $10 each. Using the birthday gift card, I scored a free body yogurt 2 years ago not knowing if I would even like it. I ended up really liking the texture of body yogurt since it does not leave a sticky or greasy residue on my skin. I recommend body yogurt to anyone who is tactile sensitive like me. For this body yogurt duo, I only paid $12 CAD! This is what I call a discounted-discount item. I am happy that I waited until after Christmas to buy it as I have been wanting to try British Rose and Almond Milk Body Yogurt for a while.
3. Posh Planner from Costco & Backup Planner
Not everything goes as planned which is why I ended up with 2 planners for the year 2021. Ironically, I ended up with the same planners last year! I initially bought the planner on the right costing me a pretty penny ($4) from Dollarama. The planner itself is OK but the pages are really thin. Then I went to Costco for a non-alcoholic sparkling juice beverage, and to my surprise, this Costco had the Posh Deluxe Organizer! I love this 17-month, habit-tracking planner; Posh Deluxe Organizers are the best, hands-down. I loved my 2020 Posh Planner but I am not a fan of the price. It costs $14.99 CAD at Costco; if you go anywhere else including amazon.ca to get this planner, it will cost you $29.99+ so consider your options.
Where will 2021 take you?Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. I hope that you feel inspired to live a more intentional life next year. By habit tracking, I believe that we can stop wasting money once and for all. Feel free to leave a comment below ↓ and I will do my best to reply to your comments! ❤
My laptop is still causing problems so I haven’t been posting as often as I would like. Thank you for being patient with me as I attempt to solve these issues (thank you, handyman husband, for your help in this matter). I am in no hurry to buy a new laptop as I am taking the Frugalwoods Approach to live on a simple budget and making do with what I have.
Kijiji is a Godsend
Some of you may know that I recently embarked on a Kijiji journey as a way to embrace minimalism. I am forever grateful that such a platform exists for us Canadians, where we can attempt to hand our crap over to the next guy in exchange for cold hard cash. The truth is summed up perfectly in this famous quote:
Rather than pawn off overpriced junk like the majority of people like to do, I intend to sell my sentimental items at significantly reduced prices because donating was out of the question. These things are still dear to me and have a value attached to them, so knowing that there is a risk that these items could end up in the landfill if I were to donate them makes me feel uneasy. Knowing that someone actually wants to pay money for these items helps me let go of both my physical and mental clutter which is preventing me from discovering my true passions and desires in life. It is my way of saying goodbye to these things in a respectful way, which is a concept that Marie Kondo emphasizes.
We all gotta start somewhere. During the decluttering process, you might benefit from reading this book: The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
But Then Again, No.
The thought of meeting a stranger doesn’t have to be scary as long as you listen to your intuition and take measures to protect yourself from the scammers and creepers. If anything feels off to you, listen to your gut because it’s probably right. I cannot stress how important it is to have a buddy with you if you are selling to a stranger. Never go alone because you don’t know who you’re dealing with.
🍁Protect yourselves, my Canadian friends! 🍁
If someone tries to lowball you by offering to pay a price that is significantly lower than what you listed, kindly tell them to GTFO. Seriously, you’ll get good at saying NO to people. I block lowballers because I cannot deal with people who do not take me seriously, and why should I? Lowballing is rude, especially when I have listed my prices competitively low, to begin with. Also, I get the sense that people who cannot pay my asking price don’t actually have the money which is a red flag.
Last but not least, be prepared to be disappointed. People will inevitably bail on you at the last minute or fail to show up at all, hence a “no show.” This actually happened to me yesterday evening. I did not encounter issues with my first customer but my second customer was a different story. She texted me 10 minutes before meeting up to see if I was open to an e-transfer, mind you, for an item I was selling for $7.00. I refuse to do e-transfers because I prefer simple transactions involving cash. Cash is a language everyone understands; either you have it or you don’t.
All the new Canadian bills looking pretty. Photo credit by Reddit User Zingledorf
I thought her request was suspicious as I proceeded to tell her that there are ATM’s where we were meeting. She gave me some lame excuse as to how she doesn’t have time to go to the bank and get the money. Not to mention that my husband and I drove 30 minutes out of our way to meet her at a location she requested, which was clearly a mistake on our end.
Anyways, I was aggravated by her bailing on me so I ended up stuffing my face with Bulk Barn treats which is something I regretted afterward. Bulk Barn is another Godsend store in Canada, for those who choose to eat their feelings when their emotions get the best of them. In my case, I felt a mix of frustration, anger, and disappointment which translated into sour cola gummies, sour berry gummies, sour cherry gummies and clusters of OMG goodness (not entirely sure what they are but they’re divine). Fortunately, the prices are reasonable and you control how much you buy since everything is weighed.
Enjoying the beautiful Cotton Candy Sunset last night while typing out the rough draft on my balcony. Sometimes I need to reconnect with nature to overcome writer’s block! 🌸
If you are Canadian, I am curious to know whether or not you have tried Kijiji as a buyer or seller. If you aren’t Canadian, have you used Craigslist or other apps like Let Go? What were your experiences like? Please join the conversation and leave a comment below ↓
Rather than pawn off overpriced junk like the majority of people like to do, I intend to sell my sentimental items at significantly reduced prices because donating was out of the question. These things are still dear to me and have a value attached to them, so knowing that there is a risk that these items could end up in the landfill if I were to donate them makes me feel uneasy. Knowing that someone actually wants to pay money for these items helps me let go of both my physical and mental clutter which is preventing me from discovering my true passions and desires in life. It is my way of saying goodbye to these things in a respectful way, which is a concept that Marie Kondo emphasizes.
