My Year-ender Post

Few more hours and 2014 is here. The year 2013 has been so crazy but fun. I turned 27, and I realized many things about life, especially the importance of family. Now that I have my own, I realized that they are the ones who always got my back no matter what. 2013 also allowed me to see who my real friends are and who I should cut out. I admit this year was tough, but it did help me grow and be strong.

 This year, I want to thank the Lord for always looking after and taking good care of my loved ones. I always pray that they will have a happy, healthy, safe, and contented life. I am also thankful for the many blessing we received - my baby G. turned one this year, and she's growing up so fast. Now, I am happy with my decision to take a break from office work and stay at home with my family. I will continuously pray that she'll grow up intelligent, kind, healthy, and beautiful. I am also thankful that my marriage is going strong. Despite the misunderstandings and fights, my husband and I will do our best to keep our bond and love stronger.

 Hopefully, 2014 will be good for us. I have so many plans and want-to-dos for the coming year. So 2014, bring it on!

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DIY: GIFT WRAP USING MAGAZINE PAGES

Merry Christmas! I know, I know—this is a very late post, but better late than never! How was your Christmas? Mine was great, although I was already so busy in the weeks leading up to the holidays. I had to wrap more gifts and buy a few more as well. It's tough having so many godchildren, but it's also fun!

Anyway, I came across a fantastic gift-wrapping idea on Pinterest—recycling magazine pages as gift wrap. What a great way to save on gift wrap! So without further ado, here are my masterpieces:

Since my magazine collection wasn’t enough, I used my hubby's instead because his mags are better than mine. They’re precious to him, but he gave them to me anyway—it’s Christmas! I love the texture of Pulp Magazine; some of its pages have cool designs, which are excellent for gift wrapping. The only problem was that most of my godchildren are girls, and the magazine is designed for "boys." However, we still used it!

Here are just a few of the gifts I got for them. I love giving something useful. When it comes to the little ones, I usually give educational items.

And here’s the result of my experiment. I’m proud of it! How about you? Share your Christmas DIY ideas—it’s not too late!

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The Man in the Pink Tutu

 (photo credit: Buzzfeed.com)

This story made my day - A man wears a pink tutu in every place he visits. Find out why. Read his story here.

If you want to see more pictures of Bob Carey and his pretty pink tutu, read his The Tutu Project blog..

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3 Life Stressors and How to Deal with Them

With so many distractions grabbing our attention, we never run out of things to do, making us constantly busy. Because of this, we become more prone to stress. Various factors contribute to it, depending on our habits, lifestyle, environment, and the food we eat. I’ve battled anxiety for many years, but it became a more significant issue when I became a parent. Recently, I experienced extreme fatigue and stress—reaching a point where I'd had enough. So, I decided to list the things that make me feel stressed. That way, I could evaluate them and find solutions. After identifying my stressors and finding ways to address them, I can say that my day-to-day life has improved. Here are some of the stressors I identified, which might help you determine your own:

Technology

As a freelancer, I usually spend 12 hours a day in front of the computer. Even when I'm relaxing, I often feel the urge to check my phone and browse the web. I realized that after using them, my eyes and back hurt a lot. It’s an unhealthy habit. To prevent stress early on, I focused on completing my work on time and limiting internet browsing when there’s nothing important to do. After my shift, I now spend time with my baby and husband.

Negative People

Sometimes, other people can cause us stress. I have a few friends who constantly complain about their lives and relationships, which affects me because I sympathize with them. However, I realized that I was becoming their emotional shock absorber, and in the end, I was the one carrying the burden. While there’s nothing wrong with listening, especially to a friend, make sure you’re strong enough to handle the negativity. If not, you can still listen, but if you're asked for advice, give a suggestion and then move on. I decided to take a break from absorbing negativity. When I’m with my friends, I bring up interesting topics and share happy stories that have nothing to do with their personal issues.

Environment

I usually spend most of the day or week at home, in my small office, without seeing other people or visiting new places. This can be stressful, especially when my room becomes messy. So, I organized my space and made time for cleaning and family bonding. A cluttered environment can be a major stressor, so it’s better to tidy up. A clean space helps clear the mind.

So far, these are my main stressors and how I’ve dealt with them. They may seem like minor issues, but when they pile up, they can become overwhelming. How do you deal with stress? Please share your experiences! :)

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4 Creative DIY Christmas Decorations to Make

Hey ya! Christmas is fast approaching, have you started decorating your home with Xmas decos?

I gathered some creative holiday diy decorations that you can add to your collection, so here they are:

1. SNOWFLAKE CHANDELIER by Homestoriesatoz
2.  CUTE CHRISTMAS DECOS by Audrey Jeanne 
3.  CHRISTMAS BALL DECOS by Star Inspirations
4.  DIY FIREPLACE w/ WASHI TAPES by Brit Co.

HOPE YOU LIKE IT! :)

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