Take Your Fitness Routine to the Next Level in 2019

If you have started the new year with the goal to be fitter and to take your fitness and training to the next level, then where do you start? Of course, you can just carry on doing what you are doing. But when there aren’t any more hours in the day to train for longer, it can really be a struggle. There are several aspects to taking your training to the next level, though, and they aren’t all around the actual exercise that you are doing. There can be training around the physical changes that you should be making, as well as the mental side of things, and what you can be doing at home in preparation. So with all of that in mind, here are some simple practices to help you to make 2019 your year for fitness goals and for getting to where you want to be.

Photo from Pixabay

Eating Plan

It is important to have a meal plan that works for you as part of your fitness regime. A lot of your success with training will come down to how prepared your body was for the exercise, having the energy to do it to the level that you need, as well as how you recover afterwards. Protein is something that is great for recovery, but there are things like supplements that you could be taking pre and post workout, depending on your goals and aims. A site like The Diet Dynamo could shed a little more light on what supplement would be best for your needs, but really, taking some time to research to see what is going to be best for you can help your training a lot. A meal plan that work for you will help to get you to where you want to be, as long as you stick to it, of course.

Photo from Pixabay

Get Outdoors

Training in a gym does have its place, and can really play a part when the weather is pretty dismal. But when you train in a gym it is a really unnatural environment. Take triathlon training, for instance. If you are running on a treadmill it is very unlike what you might experience outside, due to uneven ground and so on. The same for cycling and swimming; the gym versions of those things are nowhere near what it will be like when it comes to the actual event. Being outdoors can offer you other stimulation too as there is more to see, as well as the benefit of fresh air and vitamin D.

Get Enough Sleep

There is no set amount of sleep that is going to work for everyone, simply because different people have different needs and what they can cope with. But as long as you are getting enough sleep for what you need, then that is going to make a big difference. Your body can repair well when it is rested, as well as leaving you with all of the energy that you need to get your training done.

[Review] Big Skinny Monte Cougar Red Women's Wallet

Updated! After 10 months... see bottom

I don't know what hocus pocus Big Skinny does to its products but true to its claim, it really did slim down my usually bulky wallet! I knew I had to rave about it too because I'm really impressed at the quality of this thing. Nevermind that I didn't like their logo, when I got the item and finally held it in my hands, I'm like "Oh wow this one's a keeper." The fabric is soft and smooth, made of nylon microfiber. And the color is just right, not too red, almost maroon. I love it.

I had so many doubts about this product but all of them got crossed out, as in. I carry more than 20 cards with me and a lot of other miscellaneous paper things like receipts, calling cards, and GCs. I also always carry cash and I keep coins too. This is how my old wallet looks like:

I love this wallet. It has served me for a long time now and I never really thought of replacing it until the zipper broke. And even then I wanted to get the exact same model. It's a black leather Seiko wallet I got on sale more than 2 years ago. To be fair, my old wallet was great. It's not that bulky even when it it's super full, and because of the full body zipper, it doesn't blow up even when I put my phone inside. 

But now that it's showing signs of retirement, I had to look for an exact or even better replacement. And that's when I chanced upon Big Skinny. I can't remember when I first heard of it, I guess it's on Facebook and from the ads too?

Anyway. Their catalog is full of interesting choices, all thin, but not everything is pretty hehe. I wanted to visit their shop at BGC to see how the wallets really look like in person but my excitement got the best of me so I purchased one blindly 'cos I can't wait any longer. The reviews are all good, and the photos look true to life so I'm hoping my judgment would spare me of an expectations vs. reality moment.

And by God, I wasn't disappointed.

Does this comparison matter? Haha

It's so freakishly thin.

It's maroonish, which is okay. The logo looks bearable now, too.

It's so soft to the touch. And being made of nylon microfiber, it's light, smooth, water resistant, and washable too. I was afraid putting multiple cards on the same slot would make it hard for me to fish em out, but nope, not getting stuck.

It has a coin compartment as well. Yeyyy!

So yeah, as soon as I got it I went ahead and switched the contents from my old wallet, making sure to do obligatory shots of before and after, side by side, and so on hahaha. 

Overall I'm so pleased with my Big Skinny!

Want one?

You can purchase yours from Big Skinny PH for ₱2,450. I got mine from Shopee for much less tho!

For more details:

https://www.bigskinny.net/monte-cougar.html

https://bigskinny.ph/products/monte-cougar

Update! After 10 months

My wallet's coin compartment zipper broke. Huhu. And the hemming in the interior is fraying already. Zipper can't be fixed without wrinkling the fabric, according Mr. Quickie, and it's gonna be ugly. Decided to replace this with a nylon Panther Clutch.

Too bad, I was expecting this to last years. Did I purchase a fake one? I got this from Shopee after all, and not Big Skinny Philippines. :(

Hey December!

Last month's challenge was a success. I didn't have a single late for the month of November and it was so rewardiiiiiing having to see no deductions on my payslip. I have decided to build healthier habits this 2019 so to somehow give myself a head start, I challenge myself with something everyday, just to see how far my resolve goes hahaha.

If November was all about not coming late to work, this month's challenge is much harder and requires (at least for me) much more uhm discipline. Unlike No Late November, this challenge requires me to be mindful of the entire day. So guys, with a heavy yet hopeful heart, I'm doing...

NO RICE DECEMBER.... 10 onwards hahaha

I've done this a lot of times but I never kept tabs, so I keep on failing. No Rice December is as simple as it sounds. I'm not totally eliminating carbs, just rice. I've done this before and while the habit never stuck with me, it did come with noticeable results so why not try it again? Yes! I'm doing the challenge at the worst timing possible but it's actually a win-win because you know, I have the Christmas season to blame if I fail! Makes it easier for me to restart next month bwahaha.

This isn't to say I'm free to be late this month, nope. I'm continuing No Late November but I'll stop taking tabs on it, I figured I've logged enough to continue to stick by it even without having to report about it haha.

Also, I'm quitting logging my expenses because there's never really a ceiling to it. Naks anurawww? As long as I don't use up all my allowance I'm good hehe. As for my sleep goals, I've stopped actively monitoring it because I feel hopeless looking at the numbers. I never get enough sleep, as iiiin. If it's not cooking or cleaning the house that's eating my time, it's watching KDrama and finishing my writing backlogs (which I have 2 of right now lol). So yeah, it's always a busy day for me huhu.

So to recap my last week... wow wala pa tayo sa recap hahaha

December 10 to 14

I'm proud to say I survived an entire week without rice. I also added a side-goal of doing at least 100 skips (on a rope, like skip rope? what's the proper term for this haha) everyday in an effort to add a bit of physical activity in my lethally sedentary lifestyle. Since I started, I've moved up to 200 skips a day. Isn't that rewarding?! Hahaha Unfortunately I don't see myself moving to the next level. 200 is probably my max. I can't even do it without resting, I do 20 skips times 10 reps with about a minute of rest in between hahaha wow. such strength.

A major downer for the previous week was arriving late once because it was coding day. AAARGH. I was internally crying at the bus when the clock hit 3:59 and I'm still stuck at Ayala Ave. Hay.

Friday last week a took a leave from work because I miss my parents so much. I went to Fairview to spend time with them and eat dinner, and I also spent the night because Jeckie won't be home 'til morning anyway. I don't think I'll ever get used to not seeing mommy, daddy, and my sister terai. It still makes me feel sad knowing we live in different cities now! If only they could move closer?! Hahaha *wishful thinking*

Soooooo, that's a wrap. Nothing really interesting about my last week haha. Off to writing about childhood trauma and weighted blankets!

Decorating with Prints Without Having an Art Attack

Photo from PXHere.com

Art is a fantastic leveller. Even the dullest and boring spaces come to life when there is a painting which acts as a focal point. Anyone can use it to their advantage as long as they aren’t amateurs and therein lays the problem.

The majority of homeowners like what they like, yet they are by no means connoisseurs of art. So, it can be tricky to figure out what makes a room and what breaks it into tiny little pieces.

Thankfully, there’s no need to have an art attack. With a few basic tips, your home can reap the benefits of beautiful prints and paintings without stress. Here’s how to throw shade properly.

Outsource It

Let’s be realistic and admit the chances of choosing the right pieces are slim to zero. Once everybody accepts this fact, it’s easier to get the perfect mix. Why? It’s due to the fact you can outsource the job to a third-party who does have expertise in the area. An art rental service will do everything from consulting on your needs and wants to install it in your pad. There’s nothing you have to worry about other than paying them a flat yet affordable fee. For beginners, the money is worth outsourcing the responsibility.

Hang Loose

And low. It’s 2018, which means there is no need to hang it on the wall whatsoever if that’s what you prefer. Plenty of contemporary homes lean frames against a divider to give off a casual, informal vibe. If that isn’t your thing, get a nail and hammer it in so that there is a place for the art to hang. However, make sure it’s no more than eight inches above the sofa and the rest of the furniture. Art should be at eye level so that it grabs people’s attention. Unless you’re a giant, that means no more than a foot off the ground.

Photo from PXHere.com

Design The Room Around The Piece

Now, this sounds like a tough thing to do when you’re not a specialist, yet it’s pretty straightforward. The first thing on your list is to procure a piece which you love. There is nothing else to it; just buy something which makes you go “wow.” Next, figure out which area in the room is best for a focal point. Where are your eyes drawn to every time? The print should go there so that it has an incredible impact. Finally, use elements of the painting in the room itself. For example, if there are flowers or flowery colours, you can put a vase on a coffee table or window sill.

Photo from PXHere.com

Choose A Colour Per Mood

Different shades have different effects. Do you know orange makes people angry? You do now, which means it has no business being in the bedroom. Instead, opt for a neutral colour as they are calming. Grey is usually the best option as it’s not as light and won’t affect your sleeping patterns. If you do go neutral, make sure the wall it hangs on is bright so that it stands out.

Do you think your room will be the spitting image of what you want after reading this advice?

The week that was

Last week in numbers: Spent ₱1,964.80 and slept an average of 6 hours and 15 minutes arggh
And the highlight? I overcame the NO LATE NOVEMBER Challenge! Yeyyy

Monday (Nov 26)

☽  Slept 7hrs 7mins
★ In at 3:42PM
✧ Spent ₱1,164.80

Our landlord is coming to visit tomorrow so I cleaned the house today. I swept the floor, vacuumed and mopped it clean. Then I cooked our baon and watched What's wrong with Secretary Kim after. It's so fulfilling having the house clean, at least the floor!

While resting, I looked online for oil diffusers and aromatherapy things. I'm considering getting a small one, preferably rechargeable so I don't need to hook it to an outlet all the time. I'm pretty excited to explore nice scents. I want something that smells like the spaaaaa, or a hotel,  maybe lavender, peppermint or lemongrass I'm not sure lol.

While browsing I came across the famous Young Living Essential Oils that I've been hearing a lot from my groups and damn it's freaking ₱8,500 for a starter kit! I think it's a networking thing? I'm curious about how potent their oils are!

In the meantime I'll go get a cheap one from Shopee.

Tuesday (Nov 27)

☽  Slept 4hrs 55mins
★ In at 3:38PM
✧ Spent ₱260

Okay, a lot of things are going on in the office right now. I'm working on a new RPA task, we had an RPA demo earlier, we're setting up for an engagement activity tomorrow (ie. need to design some paraphernalia), and we're scheduled for another RPA demo with our Director so we got to plan for our presentation.

Aaaaand I have 5 freaking pending articles to write, 2 of which require a thousand words each (Lord have mercy). My team lead (I don't really know what to call her but she's the one who gives me writing tasks) sent a group message saying they're hiring more writers because the demand is growing and a lot of their current writers are submitting late and/or low quality articles. She added that if this continues some of us might get removed from the team or get less tasks. Judging from the frequency at which I receive tasks, I'd like to think I'm still on the safe side. ALTHOUGH, I do admit to submitting very late sometimes. Argh.

How do I deal with this? I like everything I'm doing but I want to have enough time to focus on them.

Wednesday (Nov 28)

☽  Slept 6hrs 23mins
★ In at 3:48PM
✧ Spent ₱270

Still on the run for No Late November! I just finished writing a one thousand word article about epilators and waxing. I'm so freaking tired. I forgot to put down the frozen meat last night so I wasn't able to cook meat when I got home! Aaaargh. Okay time to sleep!

Thursday (Nov 29)

☽  Slept 6hrs 37mins
★ In at 3:50PM
✧ Spent ₱260

We were supposed to have an important meeting today but it got cancelled. Not sure if I should be happy about it, 'cos I sure wanted to get over and done with it as soon as possible.

Friday (Nov 30)

It's a holiday so I'm not taking tabs today! This also means that I completed the NO LATE NOVEMBER CHALLENGE! Huwowww. Pushing for the next month!

Interior Design Trends 2019

Photo from Pixabay

A lot of people are excited for the new year. There is just something about new beginnings that can excite people. Of course, it can also be daunting because the future is not always known. There are different things that you can focus on such as the design of your home. It is time for you now to look for an interior designer los angeles who will be in charge of helping you with your home’s design. You would like to have a home that is modern and is able to showcase your personality at the same time. The right interior designer will be able to provide that.

These are some of the design trends to watch out for this coming year:

• Florals are in - There was a time when you are not recommended to use anything floral aside from actual flowers to decorate your home. Right now, florals are popular. It is the pattern to use and there are so many selections.
• Jewel Tones - Are you wondering what colors you need to place at home right now? You can use various jewel tones in order to make your home pop. Emerald green will be nice especially against a white backdrop. Indigo can also be great to use. In order to enhance the jewel tones further, you can can use dramatic accessories. It will make your home look different for sure.
• Patterned Backsplashes - When was the last time that you have paid attention to your backsplashes? You used to have a simple kitchen but now, you have the power to make your kitchen look bolder with patterned backsplashes. If you are not too fond of patterns, you can also choose backsplashes that come in attention-grabbing colors.
• Sustainable Pieces - Do you have piececs at home that seem handmade? If you answer yes, then you are following this design trend. There are still a lot of people who are concerned about the environment. They promote the use of sustainable materials. You can seek the help of interior designers in los angeles in order to find the pieces that will best fit your home.

If you have no time to search for the other design trends, look for top interior designers. You are sure to find designers to provide the help you are looking for.

Tricks to Never Make Your Party Boring

Photo from Pixabay

Being at a boring party will make you feel like you are wasting your time. You may think about so many other things that you can do with the time that you have. If you are going to throw the party yourself, you do not want your guests to feel that way about your party. You want them to have fun. You want the guests to rave about the party days after the actual event.

You would like to check Los Angeles event rentals who will be able to provide the items that you need to make the event a success. How will you throw a successful event when you do not have the right items that will make people comfortable.

These are some of the tips that you have to remember so that you can have a more successful party:

• You can always ask other people to help you set up your party. You can have a partner who will help you organize the party properly. There are even some guests who are willing to contribute food and so much more.
• Get to organize the food that you are going to serve your guests ahead of time. Do you plan on serving some finger food or would you rather serve food that will make your guests feel full? Decide on this ahead of time and it will surely help you.
• Make sure that you are going to play good music. The definition of good will differ from one person to another. Choose music that most people can appreciate. This will depend on the guests that you will be inviting to your party.
• It is best if you would have different games that will entertain your guests. There are a lot of introverts who hate parties because they are required to mingle with other people. This time, you can just have games that will allow your guests to focus their attention on other things. There are some unique game ideas that you can find online.
• You have to make sure that you will decorate the place the best way possible. If you need table rentals, then you should fix this issue ahead of time.

Do you think you will be able to make things fun? Follow the tips mentioned above.