5 Pick-Me-Up Tips to Lift Up Your Spirits.

In an ideal world, things will always go your way. There will be no traffic jam, the train will never be late nor packed, you can always buy whatever you want, and you will never gain a pound or two despite indulging your sweet tooth. But alas, an ideal world doesn’t truly exist and our daily reality can sometimes be tougher to navigate than how we hope it to be.

The thing is, experiencing these little bumps doesn’t exactly make life bad. Instead, you can think of them as little bursts of flavor that make your adventure a little bit more interesting! The way that we take pitfalls in stride is what makes the world of difference in how we manage them and so is giving in sometimes to situations instead of fighting them off.

If you need a little refresher that feeling BAD is not really all that BAD, then here are a few daily reminders that will surely turn that frown into a smile.

1. The only difference between a good day and a bad day is your attitude. – Dennis S. Brown

Could this be any more true? It may sound cliche or even too idealistic, but it is how we take and give in to things that change the way we view and feel them.

2. Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. -Robert Louis Stevenson

This is the perfect reminder to all of us who can be a little tough on ourselves when we fall short of our expectations. Sometimes you win. Other times you just get to be a step closer to your goal. Both are okay.

3. Sometimes you need those bad days, to help you appreciate the good ones. – Unknown

Read that again. If every day is perfect, then what makes a good day… good? Appreciating your wins is so much sweeter when you’ve experienced losses, too.

4. I am learning to trust the journey even when I do not understand it. – Mila Bron

Not ultimately knowing where you are going or what’s coming next may be one of the most terrifying things in life. But it’s the element of surprise and the way that we enjoy the ride that makes life all the more special.

5. If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor. – Eleanor Roosevelt

Yes, flavor. All the limitations we put on ourselves to make sure everything goes our way are the roadblocks that can make life black and white. Live truly and honestly by going through flavors. Bitter, sweet, or both, all are important in the great recipe of life.

When was the last time you allowed yourself to just ‘give in?' When you feel like the day is tougher than usual, tap on your inner child and remember how you used to handle your big emotions. For a lot of us, it is simply allowing ourselves to FEEL. That, or a bite or two of simply good ice cream.

The next time you are feeling down, get yourself your favorite Nestlé Ice Cream cold treat. The leading ice cream brand has never failed to make anyone smile with its quality flavors, one bite of which can turn a bad day into a good one.

Being the true champ that it is, Nestlé Ice Cream is making everyone’s summer extra special with its Great Ice Cream Sale. The promo, which will run until June 30 gives big discounts to cult favorites like Nestlé Temptations (Strawberries & Cream, Almond Brownie Fudge, Double Dutch, Cookies & Cream, Rocky Road, Mocha & Cashew), Nestlé Drumstick (Double Choco Vanilla and Ube Cheesecake), and Nobrelli (Choco-Keso-Ube, Choco-Manga-Ube, Choco-Pandan-Ube). This special treat is available when you buy in all leading supermarkets and Nestlé Ice Cream’s official Lazada store: Ice Cream Party PH.

If that is not a good sign that it is time for you to give yourself a break, then we don’t know what is. After all, ice cream makes everything so much better—though should you really wait for a bad day to have some? Go ahead. Indulge.

To stay updated on other promos, follow Nestlé Ice Cream Philippines and Nestlé Temptations on Facebook. You can also follow Nestlé Temptations on Instagram to add a little sweetness to your feed.

Althea x Get It Beauty Real Fresh Skin Detoxer is EXID Jeonghwa's 'Sohwakhaeng'.

Not too long ago, the concept of 'sohwakhaeng' became a trending topic in Korea, particularly in social media. 'Sohwakhaeng' is a Hangeul phrase that means 'small but certain happiness', and for some Koreans this could be an extra shot of espresso in their morning coffee, a bottle of soju after a long day at the office, or discovering a new skincare product that really works.

What's your sohwakhaeng?

I can totally relate with the latter, and even Kpop-idol Jeonghwa of EXID and Korean beauty influencer Minsco feel the same way. In episode 29 of Get It Beauty 2018, Jeonghwa and Minsco asked viewers about their sohwakhaeng, and one of the answers that stood out was 'getting a mask pack everyday'.

A mask pack everyday is a skincare junkie's sohwakhaeng. 

Even Jeonghwa agrees. :)

Jeonghwa agrees that a mask pack can make a huge difference to the skin, and Minsco whips out 'some amazing products' for them to try. Turns out, these 'amazing products' are skincare items that I have tried and actually use!

K-beauty influencer Minsco.

They're the Real Fresh Skin Detoxer, a 2-in-1 cleanser pack that deep cleanses the skin while boosting it with an array of nutrients. This skincare set is a collaborative product between K-beauty shopping website Althea and K-beauty talk show Get It Beauty, and the first (two) product/s that I have tried as an Althea Angel.

Althea x Get it Beauty Real Fresh Skin Detoxer.

I've raved about these products in this blog post the same way Jeonghwa raved about them in the video. I find it really cool that a popular idol like her uses the same product that I do, and that she finds joy in something as simple as a mask pack.

Jeonghwa loves them, too! :)

Here's Jeonghwa and Minsco's segment on Get It Beauty for your enjoyment:

Wanna give Jeonghwa's sohwakhaeng a try? Then head over to the Althea website and purchase the Real Fresh Skin Detoxer Set. They're currently sold at a discounted price of Php 990 and for a limited time, ships for free!

How about you, what's your sohwakhaeng?

Wordless Wednesday #90 | Share a Coke!

Little man was so happy to find this Coke can with 'Mommy' on it.

He was all the more thrilled when I showed him this bottle with his name on it. :)

Wordless Wednesday #89 | Happy Kid!

Life's simple joys. :)

Could happiness be just the thing to put a spring in the elderly’s step?

If you ask anyone of any age what they really want from life, the answer is likely to be 'happiness'.

And it seems that many Brits are well on their way to achieving this blissful state with recent research from the Office for National Statistics revealing that the average Brit rated their life satisfaction at 7.3 out of 10. This puts Britain in eighth place as the happiest place to live in the ranking of 27 countries in the European Union and also places it ahead of countries such as France, Germany and Italy.

Oxford Street in London.

The state of happiness is associated with a number of benefits for overall health and well-being, including helping to guard against conditions such as heart disease.

And the good news is that the benefits that happiness can provide aren’t limited to one particular age group. In fact scientists believe that being happy could be the key to staying healthy in your latter years.

Researchers at the University College of London have found that those people that enjoy life end up being happier and more physically active when they get older. Conversely those who were unhappy were at risk of a whole host of health and mobility issues. This group were also twice as likely to end up suffering more serious conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and arthritis.

The study of 3,200 people over the age of 60 found that happy pensioners didn’t have as much trouble carrying out daily tasks, such as getting out of bed, getting dressed or showering. The researchers also found that people that are happier throughout their lives do not decline in physical function as quickly.

Reaching later life
The research offers a ray of hope to those who are looking to take a proactive approach to their health as they age, and indicates that just having a real zest for life could put a spring your step as you enter your twilight years.

Whether you are 15 or 50 years old, it’s never too late to start making changes. Doing something different, such as joining a club, starting a new sport or travelling more could all have a huge impact on your quality of life later on.

Implementing even the smallest of changes whether you are in your 60s, 70s or 80s, such as those outlined by Action for Happiness, could all contribute to a happier, healthier new you – whatever your age. 

Homelift.

Increasing the amount of physical activity you do, as well as enjoying everything that life has to bring could have untold benefits for your well-being. Mobility aids such as home lifts from Stannah, could also help to ensure that you still have the energy to remain active and are able to move around your home freely. 

Ultimately, maintaining a positive attitude, making small changes to your lifestyle and getting the right support for your needs could all help to set you on the path to happiness and independence as you age. You never know, 60 could indeed be the new 30!

#Wonderful2014 | Looking Back and Moving Forward.

So, I have been challenged to do a blog post about the 'what ifs' and 'could have beens' from 2013. I could devote an entire day just writing about all sorts of trials and tribulations, but I'll spare you all from the drama. I don't want to spoil the festive mood of New Year's Eve. Haha!

Instead, let me share with you some nuggets of wisdom from my hero and icon - Bruce Lee. This pretty much sums up the story of my life this 2013.

I hope the past year had been good to all of you. Let's all welcome the New Year with a bang (not literally though), and look forward to an even more #Wonderful2014! Cheers! :)

Wordless Wednesday #47 | Matchy-Matchy!

Wordless Wednesday #38 | Mother's Day...

With my favorite cake and my favorite boy. 

How was your Mother's Day, fellow mommies? :)

Wordless Wednesday #36 | Playing with Filters.

Wordless Wednesday #22 | Dolls are No Fun.

My niece playing with the little man's toy truck. 

Seems like she prefers this over dolls. :)

Wordless Wednesday #21 | Stinky Face!

Wordless Wednesday #14 | Dr. Seuss!

"From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere!"

 - Dr. Seuss, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Wordless Wednesday #1 | To Be A Kid Again.

Finally, I've decided to join the Wordless Wednesday linky bandwagon. And with that, I'm inviting you all to link up your Wordless Wednesday posts below!


Please don't forget to link back to my blog! Comments appreciated, too!
Happy Wednesday!

Children Learn to Smile from their Parents.

Thank you Mommy Bubbles, for capturing my son's smile. :)

A Wordless Wednesday post.

Hanguk Saram + Nihon Jin?

In her Facebook page, my Mum stated that her grandchildren are 'foreigners'.

One is Korean (referring to my son),

while the other is Japanese (referring to my niece).

She meant that in jest, of course. :)

Sharing with Pink Friday, Pink Saturday, Insta-Friday. 

A Fun-filled, Photo-laden Easter Sunday!

I promised the little man that we're going egg hunting come Easter Sunday. And so we did.

Easter pink!

We were at the mall by 10am - the earliest we have ever been inside SM City San Pablo.

The Easter stage.

The entrance to the activity area.

All we had in mind was the egg hunt, but the event host kept on convincing me to sign Yue up in the costume contest as well. (Same story last Halloween. All I wanted was for Yue to take part in the Trick or Treat event, but they kept on asking me to enter the costume contest, too. They said Yue's dinosaur costume was so cute, that it deserves to win the contest. We ended up bagging second prize, heh.)

Find the eggs!

Upon their suggestion, a pair of bunny ears would be fine for a costume. He was reluctant at first, but when he saw some of the boys wearing them (some even bigger than him), he gave in as well.

Bunny baby!!!

The Hop, Hop, and Away Easter Celebration kicked off with arts and crafts activities for the kids. Yue painted an egg,

Alms, alms, spare me a piece of egg!

The finished product!

tinkered with colored sand,

Creative hands at work.

Busy bunny!

some colored pens,

Oh, there you are, Perry!

Love this photo so much!

and some clay!

Stamper + clay = amazed toddler.

When the kids were done with their art projects, the hunt began. There were kids who took some of the eggs scattered all over the activity area before the program even started. (I blame their parents for not listening to instructions and not having the initiative to return the eggs back.) So there were very few eggs left in the activity area.

SM eggs!

Yue and I were clever enough to hop from one merchant store to another to look for more eggs. We struck a goldmine at Mc D's and Octagon. Hah! In your face, overly eager mommies!

He looks like his Dad more and more each day!

After a quick lunch, we scurried over to the makeup section of the department store. I asked the ladies if I could use some of their makeup for Yue's bunny face. Since I'm a regular costumer (haha!), they were more than happy to help me out.

It sure pays to be a makeup junkie! Haha!

Ta-daaa! Makeshift bunny costume!

The afternoon activities began with the kids' parade around the mall.

All that quirkiness!

And all those bunny ears!

Smile, baby bunny!

We were surprised to see Ceana, My Charmed Mom's lovely daughter (and my goddaughter) in the running for Cutest Easter Costume as well! Icar and I didn't make arrangements prior to this, so it was great bumping into each other with the kids in tow.

Fairy Ceana!

Pixie baby and bunny boy. :)

Having fun kids?

The costume contest began as soon as the kids got back inside the activity center. The participants were asked to go up the stage by groups of 5. Here's Yue with some of the contenders for the Cutest Costume category.

Wow, costumes! Hahaha!

Look at how big the competition is. Heh. :)

Absolutely no stage fright.

Happy bunny!

I wasn't expecting to win this contest.
Really now. With Yue's 'costume'? Haha. But the little man had a great time, and that was the most important.

Magic show!

Oooh, the infamous hanky trick.

Amazed Ceana. :)

And he got to bring home lots of goodies from the Easter celebration.

Bring home the eggs!

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter Sunday, too!

Sharing the happiness with i Heart Macro, Shadow Shot Sunday, Mom and Me Monday, Blue Monday, Green Monday, MYM, Memory Lane Monday, Orange Tuesday, Wednesday Whites, Rednesday, Mommy Moments, and Color Connection.