I remember before the birth of my baby I used to have the music blaring really loud around the house. The first house we were given at the time was huge, with many spacious rooms & large common areas. I’d be all alone on weekdays but it never bothered me because music from my favorite radio station would be playing & reverberating in all that space.
I’d be dancing like nobody was watching (because nobody was!) or I’d lipsync or do a spontaneous aerobic choreography. I’d laugh myself silly sometimes.
On most days that was how I’d combat extreme homesickness and severe ennui.
Fast forward to today (we’re in a different house now, sadly) and I actually forgot about my love for upbeat music up until a couple of months ago. I realized I could still play it loud around the house even with the baby, I just needed to use headphones! (How smart am I? Yup. Genius!😂)
Since then, at least for several days a week & whenever the baby’s asleep, I make sure I lose myself in a fantasy world filled with upbeat music (where I dance like Kimberly Wyatt) for a few minutes. My body is stiff and heavy from the lack of exercise but I do what I can 😉 😆
For today’s mini-assignment, after crazy-dancing myself breathless, I updated my playlist to include Trap music, music for walking & for working out. I love it!
❤
Next mini-assignment: plan a weekend to look forward to.
I’ve recently discovered Jazz/Bossa Nova a.k.a.Cafe Music and boy, what a difference it makes! I put it on every morning and it continues to play well until early afternoon-ish.
It fills the house with good, relaxing vibes. Makes me do a cha-cha step or two as I’m folding the laundry or washing the dishes. I LOVE the idea of it floating out into the street from my open balcony door. It’s unobtrusive enough to not annoy the neighbors and it masks the noise coming from a building construction just across the street.
I LUV IT!!! 🙆🙆
I used to listen to mainstream pop, but it would get distracting. Plain instrumentals, although effective at certain times, somehow wasn’t zesty enough. Chill/beach music would lull me to sleep.
I searched “happy instrumental music” on YouTube and it offered me Cafe/Jazz/Bossa Nova music and I found the purrrfect backdrop to my puttering around the house!
Score! 💃
What’s your favorite background music?
When you drive?
When you study/read/craft?
When you’re relaxing in the bathtub?
When you want to cuddle up (or get frisky 😇😇) with your partner?
When you’re about to do open heart surgery? (I’ve seen it on … was it House or Grey’s Anatomy?)
Hellooooo! 😀 What? You didn’t think I’d let the topsy-turvy condition of my new abode keep me from blogging, did you? 😀 Truth be told, it’s a bit awkward writing this post coz I can’t find my mouse, along with a lot of other things. Every day I hear “mommy, where’s my ….?” several times – I feel so relevant and indispensable! XD
But today I felt like saying “hi!” (don’t I just ❤ you so!) by way of an SYW post so, here we go:
With your answers, please remember we are in the SYW world which may not always match our reality.
If you were given a boat or yacht today, what would you name it? (You can always sell the yacht later)
Since yesterday I’ve been picking my brains about this and I am nowhere near settling on a name. What a difficult question this is! XD
Come to think of it, since settling on a name is so difficult, I probably won’t sell it XD
Which of Snow White’s 7 dwarfs describes you best? (Doc, Happy, Bashful, Sleepy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey) Plus what would the 8th dwarf’s name be?
Definitely Dopey. I like to be the crazy-silly one in the group although at times I have a little Grumpy and Doc in me too ❤
The 8th dwarf’s name would definitely be Sassy.
Oooh, maybe I’d name the yacht Sassy or Dopey. Sassy Dopey? (I don’t think the husband would approve) XD XD
Name a song or two which are included on the soundtrack to your life?
I love this question! I have music on almost all the time 😀 But this is quite difficult to decide on though … hmmm. I don’t think you can ever go wrong with music though so, just off the top of my head these two here always make me stop whatever I’m doing and dance:
Incidentally, these 2 songs are mashed-up in my running playlist and I find myself going back to it over and over again so … ❤ ❤
Complete this sentence: I like watching…
The night sky. I NEVER tire of it. EVER.
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week ~
Easy! 😀 We moved house!
and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
Easy as well! Getting organized and being able to find things intuitively 😉
Now what are YOUR answers? Let me know in the comment section below ❤
I’ve been deliciously busy last week, just plunged the depths of my interests and curiosities in the face of my “boredom” problem which is now but a pathetic & cowering shadow dragging its feet towards the gates of oblivion.
My! How dramatic. XD XD
Today, I chose to close May with a list of things that make me happy. And I have to thank the radiant Lindsay over at the always insightful Letters to Dutch for happiness-tagging me 🙂 🙂
I was so excited when I got the tag because, who doesn’t want to make a list of things that make you happy?! I mean, that has got to be the single most simple, thoughtful, cost-free and happiness-inducing act you can do for yourself, yes? 😀
I was also happy because I really want to share with you a personal story. Something I did when I first started out in the corporate world, in a big city full of strangers, that was telling of the attitude towards happiness I’d soon come to embrace.
Ready? 🙂
OK!
The Story
It was a huge job in a huge city away from home. I was new, I still had no friends and, Valentine’s day was coming up. I don’t know why but all the single ladies in that office made such a big deal out of it. Talking loudly about their guesses and fantasies about how their boyfriends would surprise them, fancy dinners, gifts, etc. I’d hear them and swallow saliva because I already felt so lonely and uprooted, and now I’d have to be pitied for not having romantic liaisons too???
Que barbaridad! 😠 😠
My agony grew as Valentine’s day drew nearer.
But then a miracle happened. 🌟 💫 ✨
On that Valentine’s day I walked away with the hugest, most impressively arranged (and probably the most expensive) bouquet of veeery pretty flowers.
And I lived happily ever after was beset with inquiries from curious (nosy) ladies for days after! XD XD
How did that happen?
Well, I bought myself that bouquet and told everybody it came from a “secret admirer”. End of agony. XD XD
And that was perhaps the first time I realized that happiness is something you engineer for yourself.
Granted, my example is petty and simplistic. But I know now that happiness doesn’t have to be complicated or profound.
This phrase “happiness is something you engineer for yourself” is not mine by the way. I came across it reading blogs on WP and the blog author was an engineer (not surprisingly). I can no longer recall who this person was, but I thank him and give him credit for something so simple yet profound. Note the use of the word “engineer”, because indeed, happiness does not fall out of the sky and most of the time, circumstances do not cooperate.
Shine anyway! 🌟 💫 ✨
There are SO many things that make me happy – from the obvious (my family) to the mundane (that mug of coffee in the morning) and anything in between (looking up at a magnificent moon in the evening). For this post however, I have to narrow it down to 5 and, off the top of my head, these are:
⭐ Exercise ⭐
The fountain of youth! I cannot do without exercise now that I’ve gotten used to it and have fallen in love with it. My body and mind crave it. It makes me feel grateful for being healthy and capable, and I am dosed with feel good hormones for the rest of the day. Truly, exercise gets me out of any funk I might be feeling at any moment.
⭐ Music ⭐
Mainstream top 40. Lounge. House. Spa. Meditation. Acoustic. Medieval. Instrumental. Beach… I’ve been blasting The Black Eyed Peas on my speakers lately and then shift to Medieval when I’m reading my medieval mysteries. I listen to House when I’m doing yoga. It’s crazy but it works for me. Music makes me happy! ❤ ❤
As a gift to you, here’s the song that’s predicted to be the happiness theme song for 2016 🙂
⭐ Kindness/Generosity ⭐
The two are synonymous, I believe. An act of kindness gives my feet wings and even just seeing it or reading about it being done by others warms my heart. That’s why I watch the Ellen Degeneres show whenever I can because those surprises she doles out to unsuspecting people, they just make me want to swim from the chandelier (in a good way). LOL! XD XD
In my ‘confined’ state I am unable to do Random-Acts-Of-Kindness (RAOKs) directly, so I’ve taken to doing this via the games I play. I’m currently obsessed with Seeker’s Notes: Hidden Mystery and I take great delight in helping my “friends” complete collections by gifting them with special items I have in surplus. The harder the item is to come by or build, the more excited I am to gift it 🙂 ❤
I’ve thought of knitting/crocheting for charity too but, I really prefer doing an act of kindness in person. It just gives the most satisfaction ❤ ❤ ❤
⭐ Crocheting/Knitting ⭐
I am project oriented and I relish having a practical end-product at the end of my efforts. And if I can accomplish this with the least amount of equipment, then that’s just purrr-fect!
That is why crochet -and just very recently- knitting, appeals so much to me. The whole process is just so juicy! From choosing the project, the materials, the recipient and finally the making of the product itself. Yes, crochet and knitting definitely float my boat! 😀 😀
⭐ Choosing to be a SAHM ⭐
I love it! Little to no stress. The luxury of time to take care of your family and yourself. I even love the luxury of “boredom” that comes with it because I can cure that with something that nourishes my soul, mind or body. It’s just the perfect setting to be so deliciously self-focused.
~ oOo ~
And now it’s time for me to choose 5 others for this happiness tag 🙂 👏 👏
One of the earliest blogger friends I made here on WP, I call her Karla (but I don’t really know for sure!) who takes the prettiest pictures and blogs over at My Messy World.
And … I just realized I’m gonna choose 6 instead because I have these 2 new blogging friends I just can’t leave out 🙂 ❤
Yanti of New Lives and Opat of Handsy Craftsy. These lovely ladies are from Indonesia and they do not know (until now!) that they made me very happy when they responded to my meltdown post by inquiring about where I live in Indonesia and offering to be contacted if I ever should visit Jakarta ❤ ❤ ❤ (There’s just NO reason for me to sulk now, is there?) I’m just blessed like that 😀 😀
OK, that’s me.
But what about YOU? What makes YOU happy? Let me know in the comments section so I get more ideas for my happy-list 😁😊💞
TGIF y’all! And Happy April Fool’s Day! 😀 Did you do any pranking? Or were you the one pranked?
Listen, I have a question for you and I want your answers in the comments section. K?
But first, the introduction:
If previous posts are enough indication you all probably know by now early mornings are my absolute favorite part of the day. We (you and I) have exchanged our early-morning routines in this post and learned a bit about each other – always such a treat 😀
We’ll I’ve recently upped the ante in that department so to speak. I’m now using my feel-good song as my alarm. I used to use this zen-y, slow-rise melody which honestly was a very good choice but, every once in a while you just have to shake things up, no?
So that got me curious about what other people’s feel-good songs are and of course I have to ask the question on my blog 🙂
I shall start the ball rolling with my own happy-ness anthem which izzzz:
Now look me in the eye and tell me if that’s not a great song to begin the day with XD Dancing absolutely recommended 😀
Okay so it’s now YOUR turn – what’s your feel-good song at the moment? You don’t have to be like me and use it as your morning alarm, just that it makes you smile or places you in a happy/inspired/motivated/peaceful space.
You can give me just one or an entire list. Run with it! I shall be waiting for your answers 🙂 Seriously, I will.
Yesterday I realized I’m already feeling jaded about my fitness classes at the gym. I’m sorry but I’m just really easily bored like that 🙄
Diversity Kills The Flab
Especially if it’s the exact same thing week after week. And it has been the exact same thing week after week. No wonder the instructors can afford to stop and just look at us because ~ you know those ladies who are always up front? The ones who’ve been fitness class-ing for so many months now? Well, they can take over the instructor anytime she drops the ball. They’ve already memorized every step, move and sequence!
Both sides are apparently proud of it, and I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. That was just to illustrate my point – coz in my case, repetitiveness enhances the flab.
Going AWOL One Too Many Times
So lately I’ve gone absent a few times already, working out at home instead. And I do enjoy working out at home much more because I have control over certain things like, what type workout to do today, in what order and in what intensity. Like today I did Zumba for 40 minutes followed by a 16 minutes upper body strength training from Fitness Blender.
That, plus I could be doing the laundry at the same time! 🙂 (Did I ever tell you I’m such a stickler for efficiency?)
And I know exercising by your lonesome can be, well, lonely. But imagining myself to be a fitness class instructor seems to do the trick for me 😀
Coming Back To What’s L❤️ved
In any case, it does seem like I won’t be renewing my gym membership next month – maybe a break will be good. My already non-existent social life is gonna take a hit because this was my main means to socialize.
But I don’t feel too bad about it. On the one hand, I’ve really missed this blog as well as crocheting and, there are other avenues to keep in touch.
Now excuse me while I pretend I’m one of the Pussycat Dolls in this video – shhhh, it’s all about torching calories XD
I want to start this post by saying I’ve made it official 🙄
Amidst cheerful encouragement from my fitness-classmates, I finally bought my first pair of Zumba uniform*. Voila (sorry for the creases, they’re fresh out of their plastic wrapping):
The Case For Fancy Clothing
I thought I could stick to your average black workout capris and plain, body fit tank tops. But no, those are just too ‘meh’ for Zumba. You should observe my fitness pals ~ notwithstanding what they have on at the time, they still crowd around the instructress like moths to a flame, gushing and carefully inspecting whatever new Zumba gear she wore to class that day XD 😛
Secretly, I thought they were all being silly. You don’t need to wear that in order to dance!!! 🙄 I came here to exercise, not for a fashion show!!! 🙄 🙄 🙄
But now I carefully retract those thoughts. Which would you rather dance in, I ask? This or this?
I know, right? 😀
Loca Over Anything Zumba
Here’s another proof of Zumba insanity – one day we noticed our instructress drove this ‘mobil’. Can you guess what happened before AND after class?
Right! We took pictures with the car like the car was Beto Perez himself! XD
Fevah!
So anyways, I know I caught the Zumba fever myself when I created my first playlist on YouTube over the weekend – to use in the pleasure of my own home on days where there’s no Zumba class. In short, I now Zumba Mondays to Fridays, for at least one hour.
And then I lift weights.
But back to Zumba.
A Different High
It’s not that I was oblivious to Zumba in my previous life, I just never gave much thought to cardio exercises in general. You jog, brisk walk, skip rope, do jumping jacks, a few (too-complicated-for-a-non dancer) dance vids here and there, whatever – just get your heart rate up. (No wonder I couldn’t do cardio for more than 20-30 minutes)!
Now with Zumba an hour can go by and you don’t even notice it. Because dancing to infectious beats is so much fun. And learning the easy-to-follow choreography is so engaging that by the time you’re done you feel some sort of accomplishment at having memorized the steps to an entire song 😀
And so I leave you with my favorite at the moment. Give it a try. Be warned, it’s addictive! ❤
* must be the same as with other ladies in the class, excluding color & size 😉
Of Snailmail, Books & Vanities 