Category: mental health

March Goals | Spring 2024

8 Comments

I apologize for the delay in writing this blog post; I’ve been preoccupied with tasks other than what I should have been doing. Lately, I’ve been catching up on sleep and playing a mobile game called Eatventure, which has taken over my life since the devs added the “Clubs” feature. Having reached level 120 and completed two full rounds of this game, I think I’ll be taking a break for a while. I’ve also managed to catch up on sleep, although I tend to crash and sleep for 10-12 hours at a time. My energy levels fluctuate between being wide awake and completely exhausted.

For those following me on #Twitter, I’ll be sharing updates on my workouts, water intake, daily steps, and occasionally posting creative works like poems, unpopular opinions, and photos. Twitter/𝕏 is where I feel comfortable opening up and sharing my thoughts on a daily basis. You can follow me using the link below:

♡ Quick Link: https://mobile.twitter.com/serene_hilz

ℑ𝔱’𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔩𝔲𝔠𝔨 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 ℑ𝔯𝔦𝔰𝔥🍀

＊˚*•̩̩͙ Who I Want to Become •̩̩͙*˚＊

I still have the dream of becoming the person I want to be. I aspire to be a confident girl who feels comfortable in her own skin. While I don’t care much about becoming a social media influencer, I do want to inspire others to take accountability and responsibility in their lives. I may not be a leader as I am more of a follower, but I have creative ideas and gifts that I want to share with the world. I believe that if I don’t share my gifts, it would be a waste not to use my talents. It’s frustrating to try to stand out when everyone else is competing for the same thing. Sometimes, I feel like my thoughts get lost in a sea of words.

Lately, I haven’t been sticking to my water goals and fitness goals. Instead, I have been doing whatever I please to try and figure out what brings me joy. Moving forward, I believe that a daily to-do list (aka. Power List) is honestly the way to go. As exhausting as it may be (I have tried this in the past), I feel like it is the most sustainable option long-term because it would not be a generic list but rather a personalized list. I need to find a way to incorporate all three areas of my life (career, personal, and health) into a list that I can check off each day to help move the needle forward. These are just my thoughts—I am thinking out loud!

March Goals 2024

Career Goals:

  • Bid for shifts for March as they become available
  • Catch up on emails if there are any
  • Add 5 new sticker designs to my #Redbubble shop
  • Design more art for my Ko-fi gallery + do more research
♡ You can browse my designs here: http://shorturl.at/otvxQ

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly goals/recap blog posts
  • Write 1 personal development article for #Medium
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments
  • Read 10 pages of a personal development book each day
  • Send snail mail before end of the month
I miss sending snail mail to pen pals who live far away 😓

Health Goals:

  • Aim for 10,000 steps/day
  • Limit drinks to water, tea, and coffee
  • Track hydration on Water Llama app (3000mL water/day)
  • Track steps on Pikmin Bloom app
  • Clean eating 80% of the time

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

I feel like I have lost my way since the beginning of March and am still trying to find balance in my life. Most days, I feel too tired, and on other days, too lazy to tackle big projects. I also sense that things have changed on WordPress, and I’m not sure if it’s due to a recent update, but I am not getting the same level of engagement as before. I acknowledge that I have been MIA, so this is probably my fault. It’s strangely quiet here these days. Perhaps I need to reach out to more people and see if I can boost the algorithm or something.

I am curious to know what your goals are for the month of March. Feel free to let me know in the comments section below ↓ Also, I would really appreciate it if you followed me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), that is, if you aren’t already a follower. It is so hard to grow on that platform but I really do enjoy using it to connect with like-minded bloggers.

(っ◔◡◔)っ Like what I do? Your support goes a long way! 👉 https://ko-fi.com/sereneluna

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

February Recap | Winter 2024

Leave a comment

Where have I been, you might ask? I have been busy during the month of February because I have been working out and reading books instead of writing blog posts and reviews. It seems odd, but I actually read 2 self-help books and have just started reading my third book. This is even surprising to me, considering that I haven’t picked up a book to read since I was in University.

  1. You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero was just okay. The author comes across as overly happy, full of sunshine, rainbows, and feel-good vibes. While I used to resonate with her book, I find it less appealing now. Some readers may not mind the use of made-up words like “Source Energy” instead of God and “The Big Snooze” instead of ego, but to me, it dilutes the concepts and major points she is trying to convey.
  2. “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo was a better book overall, but it took me a total of four attempts to read the whole thing. Instilling the habit of reading 10 pages a day forced me to finish her book, which turned out to be a good thing. I believe she introduces many fresh ideas to an otherwise mundane topic, but there were a few aspects that bothered me. Not everyone can clean their homes in one go as she suggests. I later discovered that she has an online shop selling storage items and trinkets, which seems hypocritical to me, given that the goal is to declutter and eliminate excess items that do not spark joy.

＊˚*•̩̩͙ Who I Want to Become •̩̩͙*˚＊

I have been focusing on my word this year, which is discipline, but it has grown to be much more than that. I am working on cultivating healthier habits that need to stick long-term. This isn’t just for vanity reasons, but I would be lying if I said it wasn’t. This is for overall health and well-being, and more importantly, to hopefully slow down the progression of my health issues. I started going to physiotherapy as an adult and was told that it is very rare to see someone as young as me seeking therapy for vestibular/balance issues. Also, my eyesight is absolutely terrible and I just recently had to get even stronger prescription glasses. I have astigmatism and a few other issues that had the eye doctors stumped for weeks.

During the month of February, my main focus was health and fitness, which unfortunately led to neglecting my blog. Moving forward, I believe I should return to using a “Power List” instead of a task list solely focused on mental toughness. I felt burnt out from completing tasks, which affected my motivation for blogging, my sticker side hustle, and exploring other avenues to earn money. Additionally, my work shifts were reduced, resulting in inconsistent work hours compared to before. Anyways, here is a recap of how February 2024 went down:

February Recap 2024

Career Goals:

  • Try to aim for 9-12 shifts this month I thought I had enough shifts but a couple of them were cancelled. I am a bit disappointed that I didn’t get nearly as many shifts as I would have liked.
  • Catch up on emails if there are any I often I check my emails even if it takes a long time to reply to them.
  • Bid on shifts for February as they become available There haven’t really been shifts to bid on and any shifts that are available don’t work with my schedule.
  • Add 1-2 new designs on #Redbubble Redbubble just increased their prices without telling me and I am not happy about it. It has killed my motivation to upload new designs. Prices now start around $2.00 CAD but it seems to change on a daily basis depending on how the Canadian dollar is doing….
🌸 Follow me on Redbubble: @sereneluna 🌸

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly goals/recap blog posts Like I said above, I have been busy focusing on working out and other life commitments that I haven’t had time to blog. I hope to blog more next month.
  • Figure out a posting schedule for #Medium I actually want to start uploading articles to Medium again, especially since work is so slow and I need to find other ways to earn money.
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments I have been doing surprisingly well at this despite not using a planner. I track all appointments on my phone, which I know isn’t a good idea but it’s what I’m using for now.
  • Read 10 pages of a personal development book each day Yes! I have stuck with this habit and am really enjoying it so far.

(っ◔◡◔)っ Want to buy me a coffee? Now you can! 👉 https://ko-fi.com/sereneluna

Health Goals:

  • Two 45-min workouts per day + upload progress on Twitter Yes! I have been exercising on a daily basis. It is exhausting and I might cut back on the 90min workouts or just aim for 10,000 steps/day since two 45-min workouts isn’t really sustainable long-term.
  • Limit drinks to water, tea, and coffee Yes! I have been really diligent about this. Also, I finally used up those Nuun tablets btw.
  • Track hydration on Water Llama app Yes! I have been doing this consistently and I’m happy with my progress so far. I seem to forget to track my water intake if I’m not sticking to a routine, so I need to remember this for next month.
  • Track steps on Pikmin Bloom app Yes! I use the app everyday and have finally moved up to Level 45 (insert blog post)
  • Healthy/clean eating 90% of the time Um, more like 80%. Even though I cut out take-out food and processed snacks, Tim Horton’s donuts, and all food from MCDs, I still eat Asian processed snacks which I know makes no sense. I really like the Pineapple tarts and White Rabbit Candy and Lucky Strawberry Candy, m’kay? My husband is Singaporean and buys the snacks, and then I eat the snacks.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

I know I am not perfect, nor am I trying to be perfect. I am doing my best. I am aware that I still have a sugar addiction that may be hindering my weight loss goals. I’ll know that I have reached my goals when my clothes fit comfortably again. This journey can be frustrating, so I am focusing on how I feel internally and making decisions based on that, rather than living by strict rules.

Sadly, my infinity hoop keeps breaking so I am afraid to use it now. Once the last remaining piece breaks, I can’t replace my hoop. I have decided to get a weighted hula hoop but not sure where to get one. My husband wants me to buy one from the store rather than purchase one from Amazon, but I can’t find one anywhere. So if anyone happens to know where I can get a weighted hula hoop or an adult-sized hula hoop that I can use for workouts, please let me know.

Finally, I am curious to know what your goals were for the month of February and whether or not you accomplished what you were hoping to. Feel free to let me know in the comments section below ↓ Also, I would really appreciate it if you followed me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), that is, if you aren’t already a follower. It is harder than ever to grow on that platform but I really do enjoy using it to connect with like-minded bloggers.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

February Goals | Winter 2024

17 Comments

I’m super late writing this blog post only because I have been busy working on myself. And by that, I mean personal health and well-being. It takes up most of my free time, which leaves me with no time for anything else. I haven’t forgotten about you all and you are the reason why I keep coming back to this blog. I want to try and keep you guys updated on my whereabouts.

For those of you who have been following me on Twitter, I will continue to add updates of my progress regarding my workouts, water intake, and daily steps. Additionally, I may post small pieces of creative work, like poems, unpopular opinions, and photos of my family. Twitter/𝕏  is where I tend to open up and share my thoughts. You can follow me via the following link:

♡ Quick Link: https://mobile.twitter.com/serene_hilz

𝒫.𝒮. 𝐼𝓉’𝓈 𝒶 𝐿𝑒𝒶𝓅 𝒴𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒴𝑒𝒶𝓇!

＊˚*•̩̩͙ Who I Want to Become •̩̩͙*˚＊

I have made the decision to shift my monthly goals for February and March. This means that I will be focusing more on fitness and wellbeing. I am doing a [free] program right now and I’m 1/3 of the way through the program. It’s not really a fitness challenge but rather a mental toughness challenge. I cannot talk much about it unless you ask me directly on #Twitter since I am a novice and don’t feel competent to give advice about whether this program is right for you.

February Goals 2024

Career Goals:

  • Try to aim for 9-12 shifts this month
  • Catch up on emails if there are any
  • Bid on shifts for February as they become available
  • Add 1-2 new designs on #Redbubble

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly goals/recap blog posts
  • Figure out a posting schedule for #Medium
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments
  • Read 10 pages of a personal development book each day
👉 Elsie LMC got me into reading books again! This is the current book I’m reading.

Health Goals:

  • Two 45-min workouts per day + upload progress on Twitter
  • Limit drinks to water, tea, and coffee
  • Track hydration on Water Llama app
  • Track steps on Pikmin Bloom app
  • Healthy/clean eating 90% of the time
Timon the cat helps keep me accountable 😆

Finally, I would like to end on a positive note, but I do want to address one more thing. I have been receiving numerous requests for pictures of myself, and I want to clarify that I am not currently posting them. I have set a personal goal to achieve my desired physique before sharing more photos. Until then, you can expect to see my daily stats on Twitter/𝕏, which some people may find boring. Don’t like it? There’s the door. I don’t owe anyone anything and love myself enough to know my self-worth and where I stand regarding this.

I am curious to know what your goals are for the month of February. Feel free to let me know in the comments section below ↓ Also, I would really appreciate it if you followed me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), that is, if you aren’t already a follower. It is so hard to grow on that platform but I really do enjoy using it to connect with like-minded bloggers.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

January Recap | Winter 2024

12 Comments

So, my blogging goals took an unexpected turn when I decided to dive into a fitness journey mid-January, leaving me with little time for my usual hobbies like uploading poetry and updating you all on my whereabouts. I haven’t even had time to add more sticker designs to my Redbubble shop! 🤦‍♀️

Where was I? Spending way too much time tracking my daily steps, tracking my exercise routine, and tracking my water intake. Yeah… that was not what I had in mind for January 2024 but now that I have gone done the rabbit hole of “glowing up,” I will continue to go down that rabbit hole until I recognize myself again.

Posted on Jan 30 • Follow me on Twitter/𝕏

Oh yeah, and I figured out my word for 2024 since many people on the internet are doing this. My word for this year is discipline. You can find me using the hashtag #discipline over on Twitter/X.

January was one big blur.

Reflecting on January 2024, I honestly can’t remember much of it. Between appointments and workouts, I found myself too exhausted to care. A lot of people said that January was a long month that seemed to go on forever and I agree with them. For me, it was also one big blur where I couldn’t remember much of anything other than focusing on one day at a time.

Posted on Jan 26 • Follow me on Twitter/𝕏

I didn’t refer to my January Goals at all so I am not sure how accurate my goals are compared to what I actually accomplished. Keep in mind, for my February Goals blog post, I will be making some changes so next month’s goals accurately reflect what I am doing these days. Anyways, here is a recap of how January 2024 went down:

JANUARY RECAP 2024

Career Goals:

  • Start bidding on shifts for January I didn’t work that much in January but have shifts lined up in February and March.
  • Catch up on emails and sign up for N95 fit test Yes, I attended the N95 mask fitting and sent an updated email.
  • Complete 100 total designs for #Redbubble I have a total of 92 designs in my shop. I haven’t had any time to upload new designs since starting a new fitness program on January 16, 2024. You can check out my #Redbubble designs here.

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly recap I did upload a poem which you can read here in case you missed it. I apologize for the lack of original content this month. It will likely stay this way unless I can figure out a way to find time for my hobbies.
  • Complete questionnaires + submit digital copies for SW We completed and submitted the questionnaires a while ago.
  • Complete Application B Questions Yeah, no… I haven’t finished it yet. I’m having a bit of a disagreement with my husband because he decided that we’re not going to go through with the plan (he already submitted his answers). So now I’m at a standstill, feeling frustrated and vulnerable.
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments I have been managing just fine with just my iPhone.
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪 I’m still doing the bare minimum and repeating easy lessons just to maintain the streak. Honestly, it’s not worth it at this point, so I won’t include it as a monthly goal for February.

Health Goals:

  • YMCA 2x per week minimum I have been going to the YMCA 1-2 times per week depending on my husband’s work schedule. On the days I don’t go to the YMCA, I do workouts at home.
  • Buy a new bathing suit for the pool I still need to do this and I am procrastinating.
  • Healthy/clean eating 80% of the time I actually changed this to healthy eating 90% of the time which includes no cheat meals.
  • Buy new scrub pants and long-sleeve shirts I just bought new work pants from Lululemon, and surprisingly, they are really comfortable. However, I’m still wearing my old long-sleeve shirts. The new long-sleeve shirts I bought from Walmart have a weird spandex texture that I don’t like. I lost the receipt and I don’t think they’re worth returning.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

It’s already 10:00 p.m. and I still haven’t finished editing this blog post. It happens to be Groundhog Day today. Wouldn’t it be great if we could go back and repeat today? I wouldn’t mind having more time to complete my unfinished blog posts. Plus, it would give me the opportunity to create new sticker designs for Redbubble. 24-hours in a day just isn’t enough for me!

Have something to share with me? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment down below ↓ Currently, email is NOT the most efficient means of reaching me. Leaving a comment is the quickest way to get in touch, and even then I am slow replying and often miss comments. It sometimes takes me weeks to reply to people, so please be patient with me.

(っ◔◡◔)っ FYI: If you’re not already following me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), you can get real-time updates about my day-to-day life there. Every day, I share updates on my fitness journey, daily objectives, and a mix of other interesting topics.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

She Was Never One of Us

25 Comments

Oh, Canada! 🇨🇦 I have lived in Canada my entire life; I was born and raised here. Canadians are often recognized for their friendly and apologetic nature. On a personal level, I have come to realize that I possess these traits, often giving people numerous opportunities and extending my trust to them. As you may have noticed from the title, I am throwing some maple leaf shade here. I won’t give you much context for privacy reasons, but publishing this poem on January 4th was intentional. If you like this poem, feel free to check out my other poetry musings here. ✨

Thanks for reading! ♡

Thanks for reading! ♡

January Goals | Winter 2024

23 Comments

As the new year approaches, I will continue to plan out my monthly goals because it proved to be incredibly helpful for me last year. Surprisingly, it kept me on track and gave me the motivation to not abandon this blog. It compelled me to show up not only for myself but also for my readers. Not only do I take criticism personally, but I also carry a chip on my shoulder. To the person who called me a hypocrite and a jerk, what did you do last year? You ran away from your blog, switched it up three or more times, changed its name once, started a business, scrapped the idea before even launching it, and abandoned a couple of social media platforms as soon as things got tough.

Meanwhile, I have remained here, consistently showing up month after month. My goals are not mere empty promises, but well-thought-out objectives. But I don’t need to tell you that. In fact, I believe the results speak for themselves. I don’t blame the pandemic, a car accident, a surgery, or even the government for my circumstances. I take full responsibility for everything. What about you? Are you still placing blame on others for your current circumstances? I firmly believe that nothing will change if we don’t change our mindset first. Personally, I started making changes last year and will continue to do so heading into 2024. Have you started thinking about your plans yet? How will this year be any different than last year?

*Drops Mic* 🎤 And that’s the end of my rant. I feel compelled to share this because I genuinely believe that some individuals need to focus on self-improvement before pointing fingers at others instead of themselves. For those who have been keeping up with me on Twitter/𝕏 (@serene_hilz), you’ll know that I’m active on that platform. If you’re interested in getting to know me better and learn more about my personal development journey, please feel free to follow me over there. I’ve been stuck at 1300 followers for a while now and would truly appreciate seeing some familiar faces.

♡ Quick Link: https://mobile.twitter.com/serene_hilz

𝕀 𝕒𝕞 𝕖𝕩𝕔𝕚𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕁𝕒𝕟𝕦𝕒𝕣𝕪 𝕙𝕒𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕞𝕖!

Yes, we are doing this again in 2024 📆

Are you familiar with these monthly goals and recaps? That’s great! And if you’re new here, that’s fantastic too! I personally find monthly goals and recaps to be highly beneficial and therapeutic for personal reflection. That’s why I’ve made the decision to continue doing them this year. If you want to read my previous blog posts, please use the search bar on my blog. I believe it would be less distracting for you to manually search for them, rather than me listing all of those blog posts here. Moving forward, here are my goals for January 2024. Let’s get started, shall we?

January Goals 2024

Career Goals:

  • Start bidding on shifts for January as they become available
  • Catch up on emails and sign up for N95 fit test → Check MLL
  • Complete 100 total designs for #Redbubble

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly recap
  • Complete questionnaires + submit digital copies for SW
  • Complete Application B Questions 
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪

Health Goals:

  • YMCA 2x per week minimum
  • Buy a new bathing suit for the pool
  • Healthy/clean eating 80% of the time
  • Buy new scrub pants and long-sleeve shirts

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

And there you have it! While it might appear easy on paper, sticking with it long-term can actually be quite challenging. I have found that New Year’s Resolutions don’t work for me because I prefer goals that can be broken down on a month-to-month basis. It feels less overwhelming that way. However, it’s important to find what works best for you and go after it.

I am curious to know what your goals are for the month of January. Feel free to let me know in the comments section below ↓ I enjoy connecting with like-minded bloggers on here.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

December Recap | Winter 2023

20 Comments

Today is a truly special day. Not only am I uploading this blog post on time for once, but it also happens to be a noteworthy date: 123123. The next time you will see a date with a repeating pattern like this will be 78 years from now. It’s amazing that my husband was able to do that math calculation in his head in less than a minute. He’s incredibly smart and knowledgeable about various facts.

I suppose I should write a blog post about setting New Year’s Resolutions. Last year, I wrote a blog post last year sharing my thoughts on this topic, which I will include here. Reflecting on it, my overall perspective remains unchanged. However, I plan to step up my game even further for 2024 by focusing on actionable, daily tasks.

♡ Related Blog Post: What Do You Hope to Accomplish in 2023?

Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/

Lost and Found

I didn’t end up writing a blog post about this, but it was a significantly stressful thing that happened this month. I lost my Apple Watch as soon as the Christmas holidays started. I searched everywhere and tore apart the house, but couldn’t find my watch anywhere. I ended up buying a new watch, only to discover that they had introduced a new, beautiful Starlight colored aluminum that didn’t match the wristbands very well. As a result, I ended up purchasing both the Starlight and Silver SE to replace my lost Silver Apple Watch SE. The coolest wristband I was able to find is the one below ↓ as Apple has discontinued my old wristband.

Let me tell you, the “Find My” app is useless when your Apple Watch is dead. That’s why I couldn’t use the tracker. I suppose the app wasn’t lying when it suggested that it last synced somewhere in my house.

It was truly a Christmas miracle when my family found my lost Apple Watch on Christmas Day. To my surprise, it was buried in a drawer, even though I swear it wasn’t in there when I searched through it. I returned both of the watches I purchased and will be using my old Apple Watch instead. As an individual with undiagnosed ADD, I often struggle with misplacing items. However, I am working on creating systems to stay more organized and improve my ability to remember where I have placed things. Here’s a recap of how the rest of the month unfolded:

DECEMBER RECAP 2023

Career Goals:

  • Plot availability for January 2024 I plotted my availability super late, so I don’t have any shifts yet for the month of January.
  • Catch up on work emails I am mostly caught up. I have yet to read the remaining emails.
  • Complete BLS renewal I emailed a copy last night (again, super late getting around to things).
  • Complete 100 total designs for #Redbubble I currently have 91 designs in my shop which is better than I thought I would do. You can check out my #Redbubble designs here.

👉 Follow me on Redbubble: @sereneluna

☆ Prices are still $1.57 CAD if you buy any 10 from my shop! ☆

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly recap I did the minimum this month but didn’t write additional content. 
  • Frame seminar completion certificates (bonus) Since my husband doesn’t want to frame them, I will be adding them to a binder instead. However, I need more paper protector sheets.
  • Complete Application B Questions Again, it didn’t happen. We now have everything we need to complete Part B, except for answering the questions that we have been neglecting.
  • Get an eye exam I just did that yesterday!
  • Get a massage Nope, it didn’t happen this month.
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪 I have managed to maintain my streak, but that’s pretty much the only thing I’m doing with it right now. I have dropped down in the ranks and stopped caring. However, I hope to get back into learning German in 2024.
I’m bombing the leagues right now. Epic fail.

Health Goals:

  • YMCA 2x per week minimum For the most part, I have been going to the YMCA twice a week on weekdays. However, it has become harder now that the children are not in school or daycare. I might get my 7-year old daughter a YMCA membership too.
  • Buy a new bathing suit for the pool My bathing suit is falling apart and I need a new one badly. I haven’t been to the store yet.
  • Clear out the cupboards → Finish 3+ food items I forgot that this goal was on my list this month. I think I finished some food items but we also bought a lot of new ones.
  • Make honey lemon lozenges I made them once while I had COVID and my family was sick, but I didn’t make them again after we recovered. Instead, I bought bags of Halls Vitamin C lozenges which don’t taste terrible because there’s no eucalyptus in the Vitamin C lozenges.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

December isn’t complete without holiday celebrations. In my family, we celebrate Christmas, and my husband is Catholic. This year, we attended a daytime mass on Christmas Day and had a small, quaint celebration at our house. I always strive to make Christmas magical for my daughter and baby boy. I had hoped to see the Christmas lights this year, but unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance. Additionally, I had wished that we could have done studio photos, but we decided to opt for cell phone pics instead.

Have something to share with me? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment down below ↓ At this time, I am not replying to emails because I don’t have time. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all of my readers a blessed holiday season and a Happy New Year! May it be filled with joy, love, and success. ✨🫶

(っ◔◡◔)っ FYI: If you’re not already following me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), you can get real-time updates about my day-to-day life there. I recently made the decision to join X/Twitter and I’m excited to see what it has in store for me.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

November Recap | Fall 2023

15 Comments

I was sick with COVID last week (yes, I had the plague) and was unwell throughout the entire week. I am now starting to feel slightly better but still taking it easy for the time being. Unfortunately, my entire family also fell ill last week and we all spent the week bedridden. As November 30 arrived and it was time to reflect on the past month, I found myself too unwell to engage in any activities. Instead, I decided to ride it out until I am able to blog again.

When reflecting on November, I can confidently say it was a consistently busy month. There was always something demanding my attention, whether it was attending appointments, taking my children to their appointments, or working diligently. It seemed as though time flew by, and before I knew it, it was the end of November.

Sick and Sick Some More

At the beginning of November, I fell ill and thought I had recovered completely. However, to my dismay, I soon developed a persistent cough which turned out to be COVID. It seems like my immune system didn’t fully recover from my earlier illness in November. If I learned anything, it’s to never take your health for granted. One day you could feel fine and the next be completely bedridden. So be prepared for anything.

It should come as no surprise that I haven’t had much motivation to write recently because I was sick and it’s hard to write when you are sick. I did renew my WordPress plan, but I downgraded from the Premium Plan to the Personal Plan. Honestly, I haven’t noticed much of a difference and I don’t miss the Premium Plan as much as I thought I would. Additionally, I would like to mention that I have successfully resolved the PayPal issue I encountered last month, and the money is now visible in my PayPal account. Although I have not transferred it yet, it is reassuring to see it there, and Redbubble has reset my earnings on their end. Overall, Redbubble has been a super slow month, but I did manage to make a few sales during Black Friday week.

(っ◔◡◔)っ P.S. I am currently accepting sticker requests for anyone who is interested. Feel free to visit my shop and browse through the designs I have uploaded so far. Currently, you have a selection of 87 designs to choose from!

👉 Follow me on Redbubble: @sereneluna

NOVEMBER RECAP 2023

Career Goals:

  • Go back to work I did go back to work, but then I got sick again and missed more shifts.
  • Reply to manager’s email regarding COVID swab result I sent not one but 2 emails because I ended up with COVID in the end.
  • Catch up on work emails I am mostly caught up. There’s a couple minor things I still need to do.
  • Complete BLS renewal Yes, I completed it. This reminds me, I should probably email work a copy.
  • Complete 80 total designs for #Redbubble I currently have 87 designs in my shop. You can check out my #Redbubble designs here.

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly recap This is the monthly recap lol Additionally, I have compiled a list outlining what I am able to do and what I cannot do, which you can find and read here. I also wrote about a week that was almost laughably crappy, but it pales in comparison to what was to come the following week, which you can read here.
  • Send email to SW regarding International Gov form In the end, we decided to scrap the idea after encountering a roadblock.
  • Attend Domestic seminar this month Yes, we attended the seminar. The process is still super slow and frustrating.
  • Complete and submit International Seminar Questions Yes, I submitted all 11 pages but again, we ended up scrapping our plan in the end.
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments Managing my family’s busy schedule is exhausting. Text message reminders have been a lifesaver for me in staying on track with all of my appointments.
  • Complete and submit Application B Nope, that didn’t happen. We still need to submit Applications B & E, which are more extensive. We have hit a bit of a roadblock with the application process as well.
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪 I have managed to keep the streak going, but that’s pretty much all I am doing with it at this point. Unfortunately, I just don’t have the time to learn German these days. When I looked back at what I did this year, the results were surprising.

Health Goals:

  • YMCA 2x per week minimum I have been going to the YMCA on twice a week on weekdays when I am feeling well, and this routine has greatly benefited my overall mental and physical health.
  • Buy a new bathing suit for the pool My bathing suit is falling apart and I need a new one badly. I haven’t been to the store.
  • Finish Kool-Aid and Nuun drink mixes I am considering getting rid of the Nuun drink mixes, but for now, I occasionally add them to my water when I am working. However, these days, I prefer using Gatorade drink mix, as I find it much more enjoyable. While it may not be the healthiest option, if it helps me drink more water, I don’t really care.
  • Leave the house once a day and get some sunshine ☀️ I fell ill twice in the month of November, which resulted in me staying home most of the time. The limited exposure to sunshine had a significant negative impact on my mood and further exacerbated my feelings of depression.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

Wow! Can I just say that November was a challenging month? Not only was I sick at the beginning of November, but I also fell ill again towards the end of the month and unfortunately caught COVID. On top of that, I had a rough couple of weeks. However, despite feeling nervous about returning to work, I am grateful that I am now [mostly] healthy again. You don’t realize the importance of your health until you fall sick. Immunity is something that should never be taken for granted. I still need to write a blog post about my December goals, and I plan to do so either tomorrow or sometime next week. In the meantime, enjoy listening to some soothing beats that will help you stay focused on your work..

Have something to share with me? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment down below ↓ Currently, email is NOT the most efficient means of reaching me as I behind in relying to emails. Leaving a comment is the quickest way to get in touch, unless you are one of the lucky ones who has my phone number.

(っ◔◡◔)っ FYI: If you’re not already following me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), you can get real-time updates about my day-to-day life there. I recently made the decision to join X/Twitter and I’m excited to see what it has in store for me.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

When Everything Goes Wrong

36 Comments

Have you ever experienced those days when it feels like the world is against you, and everything, from the smallest details to the biggest challenges, seems to be going wrong? It can be incredibly demotivating when nothing seems to be going your way.

Drowning in a Sea of Sadness

Why is this happening to me? Who knows! 😖 And please don’t tell me that this is happening for me instead of to me; that is a bunch of BS created by self-help gurus to reframe the situation. No amount of self-help is helping me right now, which is worth mentioning because I listen to a lot of self-help guru advice. But I digress.

I could have also been been influenced by the news, something I read online, or a combination of various factors that are completely out of my control, all of which are highly likely. Either way, I’m struggling with depression and anxiety this week.

Image source: https://www.deviantart.com/

A Stressful Weekend

It all began last Friday when I went to work. The following days, Friday through Sunday, were incredibly busy, leaving me with no time to eat during the few breaks I had. By Sunday, my nerves were on edge and I desperately needed a steeped tea. However, my husband informed me that the line was too long, and I would have to go without it.

Over the weekend, my plastic Nalgene water bottle completely shattered into pieces. Can you believe it? I’m just as puzzled as you are. How does a plastic water bottle smash like that? RIP Nalgene water bottle ☠️

A Stressful Monday

Due to a stressful weekend, I ended up with a migraine on Monday. As a result, I wasn’t able to do piano practice with Rebecca, and I also forgot my swipe card by the time I arrived to the YMCA. Despite having my gym bag with me, I couldn’t sign in. Eventually, the kind lady at the front desk allowed me to enter, but it was a waste of valuable time and I felt rushed. Moreover, I didn’t get to enjoy a cup of steeped tea that day either.

When I feel stressed out, I like to create digital vector designs which I then turn into stickers and other merch for #Redbubble. On Monday night, I uploaded a seemingly innocent design, only to have it temporarily suspended, which kept me up all night. Karalee, who runs a blog called Tales of Belle, pointed out that there were similarities between my design and LOL Surprise Cats, specifically the one called Royal Kitty. This connection might be the reason why my design was flagged for review.

A Stressful Tuesday

On Tuesday morning, Redbubble unsuspended my Kawaii Royal Kitty, but the whole ordeal was still nerve-wracking, to say the least. Unfortunately, due to my chronic insomnia, I ended up sleeping in late again. However, yesterday I made it my mission to treat myself to a steeped tea and take Aaron out for a stroll. But to add to my frustration, the zipper on my jacket got jammed, and I ended up looking like a fool wearing this jacket with an uneven, stuck zipper. You know what I’m talking about, right?

Photo by Danik Prihodko. Link: https://www.pexels.com/photo/

This Week Continues to be Crap-tastic 🧻💩🦄

The rest of the week hasn’t gotten much better. On Wednesday evening, something unfortunate happened – I consumed an almost lethal amount of erythritol. Who puts erythritol in their beverages? It’s a bad idea, guys. I didn’t realize there was erythritol in it when I purchased it.

Yesterday morning, I woke up with yet another migraine. In an attempt to alleviate my discomfort, I decided to pour myself a glass of freshly squeezed juice. As I went to pour myself a glass, beet juice splattered all over my kitchen, resembling a crime scene. The kitchen island, baseboards, and floor were covered in beet-stained splats, creating a truly dreadful sight. Cleaning up the mess was even more dreadful. ಠ෴ಠ

Which brings us to Friday. Well, it’s Friday, so only time will tell what challenges I’ll be dealing with today. Unfortunately, my toddler is sick, so he will be staying home. On top of that, I have a 6-hour online seminar scheduled for today, and I haven’t quite figured out how I’ll be able to take care of him while fully participating in the seminar. However, I am confident that I will find a solution because there is always a way.

Do you ever have those days where nothing seems to go right? How do you handle it? Feel free to join the conversation below ↓ and I’ll do my best to reply to your comments within the next 24 hours.

(っ◔◡◔)っ FYI: If you’re not already following me on Twitter/𝕏 (@serene_hilz), you can get real-time updates about my day-to-day life there.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

I am Taking Sticker Requests

13 Comments

I am taking requests for designs that you would like to see in my #Redbubble shop. If you have any specific requests, please feel free to leave a comment below or privately message me through the form provided in the Contact Info section of my blog. There is a form available for you to fill out, which allows me to reply to you via email. My main focus is on creating stickers, but I also offer custom designs for t-shirts, notebooks, and other merchandise. I do not charge extra for sticker requests.

All stickers are priced at $1.63 CAD when you purchase any 10 stickers from my shop. Additionally, there is a 25% discount on all stickers when you buy a minimum of 4 stickers. Currently, my shop offers a selection of 79 unique sticker designs for you to choose from. Don’t forget to check out the ongoing sales and discounts on Redbubble as there are often sitewide sales.

👉You can browse my designs here: http://shorturl.at/otvxQ

•♡•♥•♡•♥•♡•

Here are the things I won’t do:

❌ Celebrities: Due to potential copyright issues, I avoid creating content related to celebrities to ensure I don’t violate any rules and risk being banned.
❌ People: I prefer to focus on anime and cartoon-style illustrations rather than realistic portrayals of individuals. I won’t create a cartoon version of you. I believe it’s best to leave that to the professionals who specialize in commissioned art portraits.
❌ Writing: I won’t do writing or lettering. It involves too much extra work, and I simply don’t have the patience or skills for it.
❌ Trademarks: On Redbubble, you can explore a diverse collection of copyrighted and trademarked art, including popular ones like Disney and Hello Kitty. However, I would advise against posting such content as it carries the risk of getting banned.
❌ Realism: It is not my preferred style as I lean towards a more playful and cartoonish approach. My shop is meant to be lighthearted and not too serious. I should mention that I am not fond of designs that have excessive detailing or realism. There are other talented artists who specialize in that style.

Here are the things I will do:

✔️Kawaii theme: I love anything cute, especially cats, but I am open to working with other animals as well. In the past, I have even added foxes upon someone’s request.
✔️Animals: They don’t need to be kawaii, but personally, I have a preference for the kawaii style. However, if you prefer a different art style, I can certainly try my best to accommodate your request.
✔️Abstract scenery: I can create scenic art, but I prefer not to focus on specific landmarks. As for flowers, I absolutely adore them, especially cherry blossoms.
✔️Japanese art style: You may have noticed this art style in my shop. That’s because I love this style!
✔️Fantasy: I enjoy designing whimsical creatures like mermaid-cats (also known as merkitties), moon cats (a combination of cats and moons), and creating astronomy-inspired art, among other things.

•♡•♥•♡•♥•♡•

(っ◔◡◔)っ Please Note: If you can, please support me by purchasing a sticker design or merchandise from my shop. Your support would mean a lot to me. Even though I earn a few pennies with each purchase which may not seem like much, it gradually accumulates over time. Most importantly, it helps cover the expenses associated with pursuing this art hobby and side hustle. I am sincerely grateful to each and every one of you who has made a purchase from my shop.

➤ Click here to visit my Redbubble shop 🐈‍⬛💕

October Recap | Fall 2023

2 Comments

This blog post is overdue, and I must admit that I lack enthusiasm for blogging. However, I did successfully renew my blog plan and downgraded to the Personal Plan without any difficulties. It’s unfortunate that I was unable to directly contact the WP engineers via chat like I have done in the past. When the time came to renew it, the only option available was email. While email still got the job done, it was a bit more time-consuming and annoying. Fortunately, they knew exactly how to assist me and were able to switch me to the Personal Plan. I didn’t have to worry about losing my data or deal with exporting backup files.

Looking back at October, it was an incredibly busy month. “Busy” is an understatement. There was so much going on that my memory is hazy. October came and went in a blur. Between my daughter’s birthday, the birthday party, seminars, and appointments, it was a lot to handle.

Am I Bored of Writing? No, just frustrated.

So I did end up posting an article on Medium and engagement was absolutely pathetic. I guess it wasn’t a complete failure because I did end up making $1.98 CAD for doing absolutely nothing with it. My account on Medium is is still pretty dead at this point, and I really hate how the algorithm punished writers who aren’t active on the platform. It’s the same phenomenon on all platforms, and I am not singling out Medium here. All I’m saying is that if you aren’t active on all platforms at all given times of the day, then good luck lol Since it isn’t hurting me to keep my Medium profile, I will continue to post the minimum on it to keep it active, but don’t expect much more from me.

I am more concerned about my lack of commitment to blogging as of late, and I am less and less enthusiastic about writing altogether. I haven’t been actively blogging like I would have liked to, and just want to be making designs for Redbubble. I also have some frustrations with Redbubble, especially when it comes to their payment method, namely PayPal. I have never used PayPal before, and it is quite frustrating that my commissions are not showing up in my PayPal account. Will I have more luck contacting Redbubble to try and sort this out? Probably not. Enough of my complaining.

👉 Follow me on Medium: @sereneluna

👉 Follow me on Redbubble: @sereneluna

OCTOBER RECAP 2023

Career Goals:

  • Figure out the orientation dates for work This got sorted out for the most part. Do I feel confident now that I did the orientation? Not really…
  • Print and review orientation notes + reply to manager’s email I reviewed my notes and I did reply to that email. However, I now have another email to reply to so it’s really a chain of emails.
  • Catch up on work emails + attend workshop on Oct 12 Yes, I did both of these things.
  • Work on side hustle if there’s time I added quite a few new designs to the shop. There’s currently 78 designs to choose from! You can check out my #Redbubble designs here.

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly recap I posted a blog post that was also published on Medium. Unfortunately, the Medium article didn’t generate any traffic, which suggests that the algorithm penalizes inactive users. You can read my blog post here.
  • Complete and mail a paper copy of international form to Gov. We finally accomplished this, but I was instructed to seek guidance from another person, which I have not done yet.
  • Update planner with due dates, appointments, etc. At this point, I have completely abandoned paper copies. Paper books simply do not work for me at all.
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments Managing my family’s busy schedule is exhausting. Text message reminders have been a lifesaver for me in staying on track with all of my appointments. With the constant brain fog I’ve been experiencing lately, I honestly don’t know how I manage.
  • Complete and submit Application B Nope, that didn’t happen. We still need to submit Applications B & E, which are more extensive. We also need to answer the questions from the first seminar.
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪 I have managed to keep the streak going, but that’s pretty much all I am doing with it at this point. Unfortunately, I just don’t have the time to learn German these days.

Health Goals:

  • Exercise every day (hula hooping, treadmill, chores, etc.) I have mixed feelings about how I did. In my mind, I think I did okay. I joined the YMCA last month so swimming has been helping A LOT.
  • Finish Kool-Aid and Nuun drink mixes The artificial drink mixes have become increasingly unpalatable. Despite my strong dislike for them, I find it difficult to throw them out. The only drink mix that tasted good was the low-calorie lemonade.
  • Leave the house once a day and get some sunshine ☀️ Some days were so cold and miserable that I hardly left the house, but on the nicer days, I did leave the house and got some sunshine. I could do better with this and it might be time to break out the sun lamp again.
Leave a comment if you want my IG handle. I’m not active in Instagram.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

Unfortunately, my daughter’s picture day didn’t go as planned, and there isn’t an opportunity for a picture redo-day. On the bright side, my son’s picture turned out great! This year, I had hoped to have both of my kids’ photos professionally taken in a studio. However, my husband suggested that we prioritize saving money instead. He does have a point – the cost of in-studio photos has alarmingly increased over the years. Last month, my daughter celebrated her 7th birthday with a fun-filled birthday party. We were delighted to have 18 kids attend, making it a great turnout. Additionally, we took the kids trick-or-treating, and my daughter had a blast!

A sleepy skeleton and Mommy Long Legs

Have something to share with me? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment down below ↓ Currently, email is NOT the most efficient means of reaching me as I behind in relying to emails. Leaving a comment is the quickest way to get in touch, unless you are one of the lucky ones who has my phone number.

(っ◔◡◔)っ FYI: If you’re not already following me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), you can get real-time updates about my day-to-day life there. I recently made the decision to join X/Twitter and I’m excited to see what it has in store for me.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

I Tried the Medium Subscription Trial

20 Comments

The reason why I am including this article as a blog post is because it is more of a review, if anything. I also wrote a Medium article called “That’s It! I’m Getting a Medium Subscription!” which I didn’t share on the blog. Lately, I haven’t been as active on Medium and the traffic on that platform has been virtually non-existent. That being said, I still see the advantages of writing for that platform.

The following post was first published on Medium on October 19, 2023. It is worth mentioning that if you use the following link to read this article and you are already a Medium subscriber, I will earn a small commission. It might be only a few pennies but it’s better than earning nothing at all. This article is behind a paywall on Medium but I want to make it available for everyone to read.

♡ Medium Article: I Tried the Medium Subscription Trial

♡ Medium Article: That’s It! I’m Buying a Medium Subscription!

Photo by Ola Dapo on Pexels.com

(っ◔V◔)っ Serious Question: Was the Medium subscription worth it?

Here’s What I Think 🤔

Things started off well, and I was enjoying the perks that come with having a 1-month Medium subscription trial. In the beginning, it was all fun and games. However, the fun didn’t last long. It took me about a week to realize the importance of putting in effort and dedicating my time to this platform if I wanted to make the most of my subscription and get my money’s worth.

It should come as no surprise to you that engaging with others can foster genuine connections. That doesn’t sound too hard, right? Well, unless you dedicate several hours a day to interacting with your readers and engaging with other writers on this platform, the algorithm won’t show favoritism towards you, regardless of whether you have a subscription or not. Having a subscription simply makes the grind a bit easier, as you don’t have to deal with the annoying paywalls.

So, what’s the problem? For starters, Medium doesn’t cater to casual users. Like any other social media platform, it rewards active participation.

During my time on this platform, I noted that the the people who succeed on this platform seem to share a few common traits:

♥ They post consistently.

♥ They post multiple times a week.

♥ They have multiple streams of income.

♥ They engage with others.

We Are Not the Same 🙅‍♀️

I clearly do not possess these traits, nor do I want to. And that’s perfectly fine. Thus, I realize that I probably won’t reap the same benefits as those who are part of the Medium Partner Program (MPP) and have an active Medium Subscription. I am still a part of the MPP, even though I don’t have a Medium Subscription, because I got in on it at an earlier time when a subscription wasn’t required to qualify for the MPP.

In the end, I didn’t end up getting the Medium Subscription for $7 CAD/month. I know that some people may dislike the fact that I am earning a commission without having to “pay to play.”

But don’t worry, there’s no need to be envious of me. The earnings I make from writing for Medium are not something to be jealous of. On a successful month, I earn around $0.20 USD, sometimes even less! So, rest assured that I’m not making a fortune or fueling my caffeine addiction through my writing on Medium. Initially, I was optimistic about being able to earn enough for a cup of coffee, but now I have my doubts.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

Who knows, maybe I will get a Medium Subscription eventually. If I were to get one, I would prefer a monthly subscription rather than a yearly one, but I don’t think a monthly subscription is an option. If you’ve been following me on Medium, you might have noticed my brief absence. It’s true, I took a break from publishing new articles around May 2023. My biggest concern right now is potentially being disqualified from the Medium Partner Program due to being absent for several months. I constantly remind myself to write, even if it’s just a mediocre article. I understand that this may not be my best work, but perfectionism is not something I need to worry about right now.

When I’m not writing, my attention is captivated by my passion for creating cute digital art for print-on-demand (POD) designs. I have my own shop on Redbubble, where you can explore the digital art that I made. Ironically, I opened my shop around the same time my writing habit took a nosedive.

👉 Follow me on Redbubble: @sereneluna

Congratulations! If you managed to read this entire article, you are undoubtedly a one-of-a-kind individual — a majestic unicorn in your own right! 🦄💕 Did any of my points resonate with you? Do you have a Medium subscription? I’m curious to know about your experience. I have so many questions. Feel free to join the conversation below and I will try to reply to you within the next 24 hours.

Thanks for stopping by!