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.

Christmas Gift Ideas for all at the 2018 Taiwan Excellence Experience Zone

Every year, you promise yourself you won't wait till the last minute to do your holiday shopping. But once again, Christmas is getting closer and you haven’t even started. Before you enter a crazy shopping frenzy, check out the 2018 Taiwan Excellence Experience Zone. You'll find everything you need with time to spare, and your gifts will be met with beaming faces.

The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) celebrates Christmas by bringing top-of-the-line products to our Filipino friends. The Taiwan Excellence Experiencing Zone will showcase awesome brands and gadgets in time for your Christmas shopping, offering you effortless, first-class shopping for your loved ones. The event is being held at Glorietta 2-Palm Drive Activity Center in Makati, November 30 - December 2, 2018. It will feature four exciting zones including: ICT and Gaming, Smart Mobility, Smart Home, and Health and Leisure. A total of 38 Taiwanese tech companies will present over 90 premium products. With such variety, you won’t run out of gift ideas!

The ICT and Gaming booth will showcase everything from rigs, consoles, mainframes, and accessories, serving to boost businesses and provide entertainment. TAITRA will also display cutting-edge devices from tech giant ASUSTeK Computer Inc., offering the ROG Zephyrus M laptop powered by 8th Generation Intel®, the industry's most advanced processor for computers ensuring fast and seamless laptop performance. In addition, ADATA Technology Co. Ltd. will showcase its HD710 Pro, which takes external hard drive durability to the next level. It’s equipped with a triple-layered protective material to ensure it withstands destructive shocks resulting from falling on the floor.

New trends and all-terrain adaptability will take center stage at the smart mobility station. Tern Junni Industries will exhibit military-grade, trailblazing products that are specially designed to conquer rugged conditions, such as the Tern Verge D9. This small-wheeled bike is equipped with a polished quill stem, leather grips, and classic silver crankset that makes it a stylish mobility device. Meanwhile, mall-goers will be able to check out Kymco Philippines Inc.’s Super z 150i’s modern dashboard, hooks, and front and rear box compartments.

TAITRA is also redefining the Filipino household through its lineup of Smart Home devices including Tatung Co.’s detachable cook pots, which have ferro-carbon technology that avoids damage from dust, weight, and heat.

Lastly, the Taiwan Excellence Experience Zone will offer its visitors firsthand experience of Taiwan’s health and leisure products. Johnson Health Tech. Phil. Inc.'s stylish yet functional treadmills - Citta, Elite, and Elliptical - are thoughtfully designed to provide 19 workout programs that include a half-marathon feature. Additionally, Tokuyo Biotech International Co. Ltd.'s sleek and powerful Fancy 2 massage chairs and Departure International Co. Ltd.'s high-impact resistant and lightweight multipurpose luggage will also be on display.

In parallel to the Experience Zone, the three-day activity will also feature fashion shows, dance performances, and stage games. Upon entry, guests will be given an opportunity to join a raffle as well as receive a shopping pass with discounts from tech brands such as Tern, Johnson, Kingmax, Saeko, and Tatung.

Also, watch out for young artists including Darren Espanto, Julie Ann San Jose, and Inigo Pascual who will join us to entertain our crowds, while performances from chorale groups will welcome the spirit of Christmas.

The Taiwan Excellence Experience Zone will celebrate Christmas and provide consumers with a vast array of devices to give their loved ones. Admission is free. For more information, please visit taiwanexcellence.org, or like our Taiwan Excellence Facebook page.

The week that was: waiting for sweldaaaay

Helloooooo! So for the last week, I spent a total of ₱1,036, slept an average of 7hrs and 31 mins , and STILL --- NO LATES!!! Noice.

Monday (Nov 19)

I called in sick today 'cos I haven't fully recovered from flu. Yes, I spent my birthday weekend sick and fighting it but I still had a blast. It was my first long drive and I thank God for keeping us safe always! Today all I did was sleep!

☽  Slept 12hrs 52mins
✧ Spent ₱75

Tuesday (Nov 20)

☽  Slept 6hrs 6mins
★ In at 3:44PM
✧ Spent ₱315

I almost got late because it took a lot of time for me to get a parking slot. Today at work we were so busy shooting clips for our Movie Trailer project. It's a contest for our Thanksgiving celebration on Thursday and it's so fun to do. I initially thought it would be a drag to produce something like this but boy my manager is a photography and film enthusiast so you could tell we had a taste of prod life under his direction. I didn't think shooting scenes and assisting on the lights and effects could be so fuuun bwahaha!

Wednesday (Nov 21)

☽  Slept 5hrs 35mins
★ In at 3:36PM
✧ Spent ₱210

I'm sleeping less and less omg this can't beeee! Can I blame Netflix? Kim's Convenience is just so hard to drop. And What's wrong with Secretary Kim just started airing too! I've been waiting for Netflix to get the series, so finally!

The company held a Thanksgiving Salu-Salo today so yey for free food aaaand Turkey!

I'm at this point in my life where I'm considering dropping all my sidelines just to get more rest and me time (read books, learn new piano pieces, EXERCISE). I've had two graphic design inquiries and my articles just keep on piling, and as much as I want to keep on working, it feels like it's not worth it anymore ever since my salary got updated. In short, I may not need the extra income anymore because I'm already earning extra.

BUT OF COURSE, sidelines like these keep my uhm creative juices flowing and I thought maybe I could just keep whatever I earn and save it for car things. You know, maintenance, insurance, accessories, blah. Having a car is like raising a child, so expensive (like I would know?!).

Thursday (Nov 21)

☽  Slept 6hrs 8mins
★ In at 3:21PM
✧ Spent ₱110

Today is our department's Thanksgiving Celebration and aside from my excitement for the food, I'm also excited about how our movie trailer will come out! Looking forward to it hahaha!

Okay it's over! SO MUCH FUUUUN! We won best trailer and bagged all the awards WOW! Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Movie Trailer yehey thank you Lord! I'm so proud of my groupmates, most especially my boss who's a film enthusiast so alam mo yun sisiw sa editing! HAHA

Here's my 3 second part in the trailer bwahaha. Trimmed and converted to gif to save uhm resources? Also our trailer is unlisted on Youtube so I can't really share? Dunno.

Yesss mahangin sa basement.

It's truly a day of thanksgiving. Our 13th month pay just came in too! Huhuhu thank you Lord!

Friday (Nov 22)

☽  Slept 6hrs 56mins
★ In at 3:28PM
✧ Spent ₱326

Our 13th month pay was credited yesterday and I'm so frkn happy! First of all, I got a full month with my updated basic pay. And also, it was credited along with our salaries so yes I feel so rich. But it's fleeting of course. Jeckie and I have no plans of splurging. We're saving our bonuses to add to our dollar investment so that we can totally take over paying the car with its proceeds. :)

Nothing much is going on at work, I guess everyone's busy for the holidays? :D