Monthly Reviews & Blog Updates

2021 Turned Out Better Than Anticipated + Goals For My Best Year Yet! πŸ₯³

Ho-Ho-Ho Sexy wordpressers! How are you this mornin’? πŸ™‚

Right now I’m finishing my morning cuppa & I feel like sharing – I am already drafting my goals for 2022. I don’t know, the spirit’s in the air and all that jazz. You too? Tell me about it in the comments section!

Anyways, it is that time of the year (I usually do a huge purge of un-necessary physical stuff too but aside from that …) when goal-setting is appropriate.

But first, and since I went AWOL for so long, I would like to share the highlights of my 2021 especially since, I wasn’t expecting anything to come out of 2021 to begin with.

No. 1. I went plant based.

And I think I know enough to distinguish between the terms now, I could say I’m vegan but vegans do it for the environment. I’m doing it for my health primarily because … let’s just say there’s so much that’s considered “normal” out there for women in their mid-40’s (even much earlier!), that’s just not. That wonderfully disappear when you eat plants.

I even did an experiment on my 14 year old who, earlier this year, complained of irregular periods. They came back, in beautiful succession. And her face cleared up and she stopped experiencing stomach pains & her bowel movements became glorious.

But eventually I got tired of nagging. And the indomitable duo of Pizza Hut’s super mega cheesy soupy thingy with globs of pasta & meat (a.k.a. lasagne) & twice-stuffed-crust pizza ultimately won. And I had to return to wielding my power silently in the kitchen.

But I lost 16 pounds. Uh-huh! No, not from the nagging, silly! From eating plants only! So yes, jingle those bells! πŸ˜†πŸ₯³ πŸ₯³ 

What else? Ah!

No. 2. Yoga.

Yoga never appealed to me before. It looked boring. Too uneventful. Passing gas inadvertently. Awkward! πŸ™„

But the toddler and I were at each other’s throats. I needed an excuse to get out of the house and into the presence of other adults. I could only do it once a week on Saturdays, and there’s Covid so no group classes … Ahh well, one-on-one yoga classes then. I was desperate!

And now I’m hooked 😌 I don’t want to do any other type of exercise. What for? Yoga has everything I need and want – flexibility, mobility, balance, power, challenge. Ok maybe I’ll do a 30 minute Leslie Sansone here and there, but I now consider myself a yogi and look forward to prancing about in colorful & sexy yoga gear. (As opposed to, you know, those ratty tshirts & leggings because “this is just to get me out of the house anyways”).

Also, and I don’t know if this is a win but I think it’s worth mentioning ~

I stopped crocheting/knitting. I just burned out like that! I wish it happened before I invested in a closet-full of yarn because now I just don’t know what to do with it. I invested much more in yarn & knitting/crocheting paraphernalia in the past 2 years than in everything else combined, including clothes. And maybe that’s because of Covid too but, all that buying was becoming an addiction & it was getting out of hand. I think it’s also because I went on IG. A show-and-tell platform always makes life “more interesting” and the buying somehow felt justified. Does that even make sense?

So right now there’s this whole space that used to be occupied by crochet/knitting that’s just waiting for something new to come in (oooh, that’s such a nice way of saying it πŸ˜„).

~~~ oOo ~~~

And next year?

Well, next year has more yoga, more WFPB (whole foods, plant-based) eating, I am finally (finally!) going to learn how to use make-up, I will find a way to grow luscious hair, I will initiate parties, blog again, seek out online communities & go out more.

These things might seem mundane, minute even, to most of you but these are things I’ve just never been interested in or never had the chance to explore because of being an expat SAHM. Or just plain laziness and/or cockiness πŸ˜€

And you know what, I’m not even going to wait till next year! See you in my next post, yes? Love you too! 😊

Fitness & Vanities, Potpourri

July 13: The Weekly Check-In

A bright & sunny HELLO to you my sexy friends! Today is a great day because I get to review the week and plan the next πŸ™‚ Count my losses but also the wins.

Without further ado:

Stop drinking coffee

This one is definitely a “no-go”. I believe I was only able to stick to the plan for 3 weekdays, beyond that I would slip, especially whenever I’d feel lethargic from my workouts. My conclusion: this isn’t such a big deal to me right now, obviously I love my morning cuppa too much, so I’m going to put my energies elsewhere.

Start Weighing Myself

This is brilliant, I love this idea, I found out I gained 5 kilos from last December, I was really bothered about this but since starting to weigh myself last Monday, I’ve also been conscious about my food intake and managed to lose 1 kilo through some adjustments. Outstanding!

Additional buggers this week:

If there is anything the difficulties & heartaches of being an expat SAHM taught me that would definitely be having little to no tolerance for wallowing in problems. I just cannot indulge in it because I have no one to talk to, so I can’t very well work myself into a state of depression each time, can I? I have developed a very strong bias for action, believing that no matter the circumstances, there is always something you can do to improve your situation.

Vision improvement

I am now reading the bookΒ Vision for LifeΒ by Dr. Meir Schneider to educate myself some more on this topic.

Exercise Induced Lethargy

It’s mat Pilates exercises for now because my body perhaps is just not ready for anything more strenuous yet. What’s great about it too is that it’s perfect for posture improvement! πŸ™‚

Open item

I managed to visit that gym I was talking about in a previous post. So there’s a check on that finally, even though I am now ambivalent about this after finding out a few more details.

Next week’s challenge

And finally, last but not the least ….

….. I’m very excited about next week’s challenge because, with the success of this, I am 100% certain that with you to hold me accountable, I will be able to complete yet another thing I’ve been procrastinating on ~

~~ drum roll please!!!

~~~~ making crochet earrings!!!

(Yaaaaay!)

I’ve allotted an entire week for this, so there should be no excuses, I shall have at least 3 pairs of earrings by next Saturday. End of story. πŸ˜€

See you on Monday beautiful people. Have a wonderful weekend up ahead! ❀

Crochet, Potpourri

July 10: Chillax πŸ˜Ž

Good day my friends!

I wasn’t able to get back to you on yesterday’s quest because I was feeling down in the dumps. I thought it was a stroke of ennui again but then I realized, albeit towards the end of the day, that I was just feeling the effects of a new workout video I did on Monday. That plus I slept way past usual bedtime on Monday evening after having discovered a very funny person on Instagram and gobbling up his feed with gusto 😁

Alright then, it’s time for some pictures as promised. My assignment yesterday was to finish a crochet top I was working on. I was really procrastinating on it and couldn’t get a move on until I had you to hold me accountable.

So this was where I started yesterday morning:

thumbnail (2)

And by the end of the day I managed to do a photo shoot for the IG 😊

I really feel good at how this top has turned out. I crocheted it out of emerald green silk thread that I had in my stash but never really knew what to do with. The drape is absolutely gorgeous by the way, and it just feels so luxurious on the skin ❀

I added the 3 buttons to help me distinguish the back from the front more than anything πŸ˜‚Β Those too I had sitting aimlessly in my stash.

So anyways, this assignment and how you guys have sorta egged me on to the finish line has definitely hatched an idea in my noggin’. But I’m going to share it with you towards the end of this week yet because it’s for next week and it’s a bit of a departure from the original format of this challenge.

Stay tuned for that!

Meanwhile my challenge for today is just to chill, do nothing, kick back on the sofa & contemplate the beautiful sunny Indonesian weather β˜€οΈ β˜€οΈ β˜€οΈ

It’s my husband’s birthday today and, although later there’s gonna be dinner & we’ve booked a weekend at a resort 2 weekends from now to celebrate,Β  I still feel it deserves a day of relaxation & to just sit still in a space of grateful appreciation 😊

So there you go, that’s my update for today. Tomorrow’s assignment is to close off another ‘unfinished business’, an online course this time.

I’ll see you guys then ❀

Home & Heart, Potpourri

July 3: Goals

It is said countless times that what separates successful people from all the rest is that successful people have goals written down.

Allez, let us therefor join the ranks of the successful and write down our goals for July, shall we? πŸ™‚

Mine are:

Blog 6 days a week – do mini-assignments everyday

I want to blog again so I’ve given myself a ‘challenge’ to do one small ordinary act with intention everyday, and to blog about it.

I am an expat SAHM who is less-than-happy with my environment. I have found it really difficult to take root in this foreign country despite having lived here for 4 straight years already. Because there is nothing outside the house that I find worth going out for, nothing interesting ever goes on in this city, plus I have a 1-year old, I very rarely go out of the house which, definitely does not contribute to my happiness.

I have since learned that I need to exert more effort than usual not to fall into depression. Blogging gave me an outlet forΒ  my thoughts. It was like I had friends to talk to, and every time a “stranger” (yes, I’m looking at YOU dear) would care to comment, I would feelΒ heard.

So I am coming back to “friends” because I need all the friends I can get, real & virtual πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚

Be consistent with my exercise routine

After giving birth in October of 2017, I was only able to get some momentum going on any type of exercise last May (2019). Pre-childbirth I used to LOVE exercise and HIIT-type routines were my jam, jelly and butter combined with dance fitness & strength training.

That is why it came as a total shock and huge downer for me to observe that my body, 1 year post-natal, stillΒ loathedΒ exercise! I just couldn’t bring myself to do anything, not even a beginner 10-minute mat-Pilates routine. Heck, I couldn’t even do aΒ walk-in-place!

I tried several times and each time I would fail. Last May, after reading so many self-help books & listening to motivational podcasts, I finally got myself to walk around the block 2 evenings a week. Fortunately, the experience was enjoyable so since then I have been able to do it 3 times a week and at a much faster pace. (Yaaaaaay!!!)

Inspired by this success, by the end of last month I also started adding in some strength training routines into the mix, but only for 3 times a week.Β  I am taking itΒ veeery slowΒ because whenever I do a strength training routine, no matter how short & light, my body feels like it’s been hit by a ton of bricks for 5-6 days after! SoΒ I only do body-weight, mostly Pilates, and for max 30 minutes at a time only.

Painstakingly slow based on my previous standards, but you gotta work with your body and respect its own drum beat.

That said, I am hopeful that this schedule & intensity will work this time, and my goal therefor is to be consistent with it.

❀

Which brings me to today’s mini-assignment: listen to music & crazy-dance πŸ™‚

❀

 

Blogging

Expanding Horizons

What one new thing (or two) are you excited to learn or explore in 2019? πŸ™‚ (We gotta keep levelling up, right?)

Howdy amazing folks! We are moving into the final month of the current year which … likely means that you’re giving a think about the year ahead, right? πŸ˜‰ And if you haven’t yet then I would love it if you used this prompt to do so πŸ˜€

So that up there is Question #4. Give it some thought and share your answer/s below so we can inspire each other with awesome ideas & positive intentions πŸ‘‡πŸ‘‡πŸ‘‡ And don’t worry if it’s not final yet, we’re all entitled to brainstorm! πŸ˜€

~ My answers:

  1. Β crochet earrings
  2. Β working with t-shirt yarn

 

What are your answers? πŸ˜€

Blogging

What one thing during your normal day …

… which, when left undone, will “nibble at your sanity” until you finally do/fix it?

And that’s Question # 3 folks!

Is it taking the dog out for a walk? Giving your cat a nice tummy rub? Making up the bed? Tell me in the comments section below πŸ‘‡πŸ˜€ πŸ‘‡

My answer: cleaning out the dining table.

It’s just a surface that naturally gathers “stuff” during the course of the day, be it earphones or breadcrumbs, and for some reason, I just need to have it wiped clean. Only then can I go on with my day 🀭

How about you? Do share below πŸ˜ƒ

Have a great weekend y’all.

Β πŸ‘‡ πŸ‘‡ πŸ‘‡

Monthly Reviews & Blog Updates, Staying Sane

The Awesome Month of April & The Marvelous Month of May

April. Gurrrl how fast you go! But you gave me some awesome victories that I am definitely grateful for:

πŸ‘‰πŸΌΒ  I sorted out my feelings about blogging and this blog. As a result, not only does this blog now enjoy a fresh “coat of paint”, but more importantly, I’m staying true to sharing about me and my life as it unfolds.

πŸ‘‰πŸΌΒ  I started on a path to beauty because I hit rock bottom on this matter. There was a time when I was younger when I didn’t care about my appearance, and I could get away with it. But now I need to swallow my pride and get help because, as a stay-at-home-mom and as I grow older, I’d rather be an inspiration than a warning 🀭

πŸ‘‰πŸΌΒ  I discovered a new & interesting author, understand Indonesia better, and no longer feel guilty for a few not-so-nice observations I’ve had about this country and its people (in general) because the author has actually observed the same! As they are fond of saying here “begitulah” (that’s just the way it is)!

Indonesia Etc

πŸ‘‰πŸΌ I had my first FO of the year 🀩

πŸ‘‰πŸΌ This month my husband went on his second overseas trip and I’m no longer panicky about it πŸ˜€ As a matter of fact, I kinda enjoy the change of atmosphere πŸ˜€ It’s not that I no longer worry about what to do & who to contact in the event something unforeseen happens. But I think it’s because I’ve been learning a bit more Indonesian lately and I’m exposed to more people as a result of my new hobby.

πŸ‘‰πŸΌ And lastly, I think it could be the start of the rainy season. Yay! It’s been raining the past few days and right about time too because the heat was sweltering. (When is it ever not sweltering hot over here, eh? 😜).

rainy day

And Now for Making May Marvelous

A lot of people have a monthly bucket list and I enjoy reading them. I do agree that it’s a wise & deliberate way to ensure time is well spent. I’m also an enthusiastic goal setter myself (ok, way too enthusiastic most times) although the implementation part is often a bit problematic 🀭

But anyways, in that spirit, here’s what’s on my May bucket list:

πŸ‘‰ πŸ‘‰ Stay away from anything crochet (or knitting) 😁

I just thought it’d be cool to give something I’m obsessed with a break and see what rushes in to fill the void. I’m considering the following in its place:

πŸ’„Β  read a book, maybe 2

πŸ’„Β  learn a new recipe, maybe 2

πŸ’„Β  craft something out of paper, maybe 2

πŸ’„Β  have coffee with a friend, maybe 2

πŸ’„Β  celebrate Mother’s Day in a positive way

πŸ’„Β  buy a doll

 

Now on to YOU:

What are some of your April highlights? Looking forward to something special in May? Do share! 😊