My Favourite Things

May 11, 2019March 17, 202248 Comments

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I was inspired to write this blog post after reading Rebecca’s blog post called My Favorite Things. She runs a blog called Minimalism My Way and I encourage you to check out her blog. If you would like to learn more about minimalism, she provides a detailed explanation of what minimalism is.

I think that we share a lot common. We both listen to The Minimalists podcasts which originally inspired Rebecca to write her blog post. Rebecca writes:

I was listening to a podcast earlier from the Minimalists (those guys who made the Netflix documentary) that gave me the idea for this blog post. They have a really great podcast that I highly recommend to anyone interested in the idea of minimalism.

Personally, I think that this idea is fantastic because it makes me think about things that are most essential in my life. Looking back a few years ago, my list has changed quite a bit. People have the misconception that I still have an obsession with Hello Kitty which is not true. I stopped collecting Hello Kitty stuff years ago because I got bored of collecting and the clutter gives me anxiety. Everyone is unique so it’s understandable that we different tastes and preferences!

When you think about your favorite things, I want you to consider these questions: What things truly spark joy in your life? What items do you use the most? What items can’t you live without?

Photo credit: http://www.minimalismmyway.com

Here is a list of my favourite things which are in no particular order. Similar to Rebecca’s list, I also chose 5 items to include in my list of favourite things.

Coffee Mug

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This is definitely my favourite mug by far. I bought it from Bed, Bath and Beyond because it was on sale. I wanted a nice, tall mug for my coffee and this mug has served its purpose for 3 years and counting. I also like that it wishes me Happy Birthday everyday because why not celebrate 365 days of the year?

Essential Oils

img_3353-1 Can you tell that I really like the essential oils from The Body Shop? I have other essential oils but these ones are the best in my opinion. I first discovered them at a friend’s house and I’ve been hooked ever since. The scents are refreshing and different than what you would typically find elsewhere: boring lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus.

Please do not burn these scents using a candle and traditional clay diffuser. For best results, they are meant to be diffused in water. In the background, you can see the diffuser that I use. 🌱

My Cat

Meet Timon, the latest addition to our family!

My daughter and Timon the cat posing for an Easter photo.

We recently adopted an 18-month domestic short-hair cat from the shelter and named him Timon after the Lion King. I got him to help me cope with my depression because I know the therapeutic benefits of owning a pet. Timon brings me a lot of joy and I’m generally happier these days because of the cat.

PS4 and Okami HD

Screenshots of the game taken on my iPhone. It took me 60 hours to beat the game for PS4. I did not collect all of the stray beads but I collected what I could.

I cannot express how much I love this game but it’s A LOT ❤️ I had this game for PS2 and loved it so much that my husband bought me the PS4 version so I could relive the nostalgia. The HD makes this game even more beautiful than it already is. The soundtracks are pure bliss to the ears and the artwork is easy on the eyes. There’s a lot of demons and evil things lurking this game so I wouldn’t recommend it for really young kids. In summary, you are a wolf God your job is to rid the evil and restore everything to normal using your celestial brush techniques.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Adult Coloring

Adult coloring postcard I completed and sent to a lady living in a retirement home. I never heard back from her and still think about her to this day.

Another adult coloring postcard that I mailed to a friend for her birthday! 🍍

Even though adult coloring is more of an abstract concept than a thing, I felt that adult coloring deserved to be included in my list of favourite things. This hobby is something that I personally enjoy doing and it brings me joy. Personally, I don’t collect adult coloring books or use them because they add unwanted clutter to my house. Instead, I try to buy adult coloring postcards, cards, and stickers (I’m not making this up!) to color and mail to pen pals who are living in Canada and the US. I hope to send mail to other countries one day but I haven’t had the energy or the mindset to adult color my worries away in the most recent months.

What are some of your favorite things? Please join the conversation and leave a comment below ↓

Thanks for stopping by!

Goodbye Materialism, Hello Happiness

April 29, 2019April 19, 202025 Comments

2017 was the year that I finally set myself free from materialism and it was the best decision I ever made 🙌.

Believe it or not, there was a time when I spent [most of] my birthday and Christmas ca$h on materialistic items in an attempt to momentarily feel happy. Over the years, especially during my college years, I learned that wasting money on impulse purchases not only burns a hole in my wallet but my bank account takes the final blow as a consequence for my poor decisions.

Luckily, I learned the value of money from an early age. My parents taught me that money does not grow on trees and if I want something badly enough, then I need to work hard for it. There is a misconception that only children are spoiled, selfish brats, which may be true for some kids, but I do not consider myself to fit that stereotype. Honestly, it infuriates me when people assume that I possess this quality just because I “appear” to be spoiled, whatever that is supposed to mean.

Window shopping at the Mall of America in 2017. I left the store empty-handed even though these stuffies are cute. 🍌🎂

Be-grateful_Daily-Inspiration_The-Red-Fairy-Project A turning point occurred prior to moving out and living life as a 20-something independent post-graduate just trying to make it on her own, alongside her soulmate. Honestly, I could not imagine my life without my husband. I often wonder, where would I be today had I not met him? Would I still be living with my parents, hiding in my room all day, while caught in a mess of never-ending-drama-infused-quarrels among my friends, especially online? Social media was definitely my fuel for real-time connection, but was I really connecting authentically?

Unlike most of my peers, I try my best to detach myself from ego, likes, and popularity contests. Seeking approval and searching for happiness that is purely ego-driven is a pathetic way to live and sadly, too many people choose to base their happiness on external validation. I see it way too often, especially among my close friends, where their motives are purely ego-driven and they base their self-worth on the number of likes they get on an Instagram or Facebook photo. Personally, I am relieved to have left this realm where I no longer have the need to participate in this glass-ceiling dream of egotistical satiety or having to impress people I don’t like with stuff I cannot afford.

News flash! the ego is never satisfied. 😱

Throughout my young life, I have been trying to please other people and conform because I wanted to fit in. If normal is seeking everyone else’s approval while failing to love ourselves, if normal is relying on external validation such as the number of likes or comments or shallow happy birthday wishes we get once a year from people we barely know IRL, if normal is wasting countless nights dwelling on our past mistakes and wondering why we were ghosted by whatshername, then I don’t want to be normal. I don’t want that extra baggage weighing me down. The moment you realize that none of this stuff matters (external validation) is the moment you will set yourself free and start living a better life.

I’ve only been to the Mall of America once in my lifetime and I would like to go back one day.

I am curious to know whether or not you embrace minimalism. Also, what are your thoughts about seeking social media validation? Please join the conversation and leave a comment below↓

Thanks for stopping by!

S.L.E.E.P.S. 7-Day Challenge | Day 5

May 22, 2018November 28, 20192 Comments

Firstly, I want to thank everyone for visiting this blog. Without your support, I wouldn’t have had the motivation or energy to blog consistently. I am amazed that you want to read about the musings of my fantastical life as a nursing student, wife, and mother. If you are new here, this blog is not only focused on personal growth and development but it also highlights the typical struggles of a 20-something Millennial. My goal is to connect with people who may also be dealing with similar issues. I want you to know that you are not alone in this world. And it is okay if you don’t agree with my values and beliefs. To each their own.

Secondly, if you would like to read about the S.L.E.E.P.S. 7-day challenge, feel free to keep calm and read on. You can find my first posting here. This challenge was originally mentioned on a podcast called Operation Self Reset. The purpose of this challenge is to document personal progress, crush goals, and conquer fears over the duration of 7 consecutive days. Here is the breakdown from Day 1:

The acronym is S.L.E.E.P.S.

S – Smile: what made you smile yesterday?
L – Learn: what did you learn today?
E – Exercise: how did you exercise?
E – Execute (x4): what are your goals and what are you doing to achieve them?
P – Phone call: who did you call/text today? Show them gratitude.
S – Smile: what made you smile today?

Day 5~ May 22, 2018

S – I have tried convincing friends to blog, especially those who may feel stuck in life, suffer from depression, and/or possess creative writing potential. Personally, writing is very therapeutic for me and it has helped me untangle many complex thoughts that would have otherwise continued to make me depressed and hold me back from challenging the unknown. Last night, I tried convincing a friend to blog again and today, she told me that she wrote a new blog post. I am happy that she took my advice and I hope that she continues to write more often.

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L – What did I learn today? Where to locate the lost and found. When you are as forgetful as I am, it is important to be able to solve your own problems. The lost and found didn’t have my computer mouse, but I ended up finding it nonetheless. It turns out that kind souls really do exist! My husband was less than amused since he was so adamant that I needed to welcome modern technology into my life. During the long weekend, he even jumped on the opportunity to convince me to buy a brand new mouse. First, there was one mouse. Then, there were two mice. Gosh, I’m turning into a hoarder! 😱

E – Lots and lots of walking. I’m less lazy this semester because it is summer. Actually, I am less lazy because waiting for the bus while the sun beating down on me is actually worse than walking to campus. We didn’t even get to enjoy spring this year. I wasn’t prepared for these drastic temperature changes and I’m still trying to adjust to the unpredictable weather here.

E – The week has been one big blur so far:
(1) What am I doing again? Not homework, obviously.
(2) Yeah, I’m not filling this out today.

P – I called the in-laws today and Rebecca is adjusting well. She’s a very independent 18-month old and I think she bypassed the shyness stage that most toddlers experience. Also, she’s very comfortable around people so I’m confident that she will enjoy staying with her grandparents. I’m also trying to set up a Skype date with a friend but it’s very difficult to arrange. We have very busy schedules and I am terrible at initiating social events. Sometimes, being extremely introverted which borderlines #hermit-life is safer than being a social butterfly.

S – I am grateful for my health *knock on wood.* Last semester, I became very sick near the beginning of the semester. I encountered a couple of sick people today and had to sanitize my hands 10 times. Are they unaware of herd immunity? Please do us a favor and stay home if you are sick. In terms of stress, this week is like the calm before the storm. I don’t know what I should be doing or studying right now. It is difficult for me to stay focused on anything without a visualized plan. Am I about to face another wave of depression or am I drowning in an ocean of uncertainty?

Is this really what depression feels like? Sometimes I feel like I am drowning underwater. Source: http://i.ntere.st/a/170318124/p

Will you join me on this 7-day challenge? Please leave a comment below ↓ and feel free to leave a link to your blog if you decide to join me. I would love to read about your S.L.E.E.P.S. Let’s spread some love while crushing our goals!

Tropical Sour Patch Kids Review!

July 11, 2017November 28, 2019

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A few months ago, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t buy candy. This past week has been difficult for me, and when I’m stressed, promises may get broken. All my life, I’ve only known the traditional Sour Patch Kids, which were my favorite candy growing up. When Blue was introduced, that was exciting for me and blue raspberry did not disappoint. It is very rare to find unusual flavors in Canada where we live, so when I found a Tropical mix, I couldn’t say no. In the US, I could imagine finding a bag of Tropical Sour Patch Kids in every grocery store, but not in Canada. Here is my review of the tropical flavors, from most tasty to least tasty, to give you an idea of what to expect:

Orange – Tropical Twist; This flavor definitely lives up to the name. Tastes mostly like mangoes with some other tropical fruits mixed in. I cannot tell what fruits they are exactly, but the flavor is good for artificial tropical. Mango and Pineapple? Mango, pineapple, and orange? Who knows!

White – Pineapple; It’s not bad, and but I thought it was Pina Colada. Had they named it, “Pina Colada,” you would instantly know what flavor this is as soon as it hits your tongue? Also, this candy is white – not yellow, so I don’t know why their site features this flavor as a yellow candy. Pineapple-coconut or whatever this candy is by default isn’t my favorite candy flavor so I cannot give it first place. However, I’m impressed by this one.

Pink – Paradise Punch; Given that description, I had no idea what to expect. It didn’t taste bad but it didn’t taste great either. It definitely passed in terms of the sour factor. I love sour things, and Pink was the sourest of all 4 flavors. However, when it changed to sweet, that’s where it went from good to bad.

Purple – Passionfruit; This is an unusual flavor and I expected better, honestly. Passionfruit was the reason I bought these Sour Patch Kids in the first place. Overall, this flavor was the worst of the bunch and purple didn’t taste like passionfruit to me. This flavor possesses a very artificial, chemical flavor straight out of a laboratory.

Overall Rating: ★★✩✩✩

I won’t be buying Tropical Sour Patch Kids again. In comparison to original flavors in terms of tastiness, these tropical kids were nowhere close. Tanginess? Probably. The Pink is definitely the tangiest of the bunch but compared to the original flavors, these flavors are just “meh”. Tropical candy isn’t my preference when it comes to artificial flavors so this probably affects my rating. See for yourself: try them and rate them. See if they live up to the original flavors and let me know what you think of Tropical Sour Patch Kids in the comments below.↓