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Reflecting on 2023 and New Year’s Resolutions for 2024
It is normal to look back and reflect on what happened during the year. According to Stanley, the end of every year always makes him feel like a storm is coming. He says I go into my annual end-of-year meltdown and I freak out because I don’t feel like I achieved any significant milestones. From his perspective, I only consider lofty pie in the sky as success and anything else is nothing. Therefore, I decided to write my first ever reflection blog to “remind” myself of what milestones I have accomplished and eventually, each section will become its own blog post (I hope). I will also list my new year’s resolutions.…
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Brewing Joy: Creating Your Dream Coffee Station at Home
Hey there! How do you start your day? For me, there needs to be coffee. It’s not just a morning ritual; it’s a hobby that’s stuck with me since my college days. I’m definitely not a morning person, and I rely on that jolt of caffeine to wake me up and kickstart my day. I remember being like a little tornado every morning, rushing out of the house to catch the bus to make it to class on time. Back then, the quality of my coffee was the least of my concerns – it was all about the quantity! How It Started I had this $20 Mr. Coffee 5-cup maker,…
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Smart Spending: A Guide for a Budget- Friendly Holiday Season
Ah, the holiday season- a time of giving, but always, the season of SPENDING! Last time I talked about how to stay organized to avoid being overwhelmed by the holiday season. Read here! Today, let’s delve into the holiday money problem! Don’t let the holiday season break your wallet. Many people forget the concept of budgeting and money management, and when holidays arrive; they tend to overspend, or they don’t have the budget to celebrate the holidays. These are my tips to save money while still enjoying a happy holiday season. 1. Start planning early So many people stress out during the holiday season because of the spending on gifts,…
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Rediscovering Joy: The Unexpected Journey of Adopting Bagel
Today is Bagel’s gotcha day! After March passed away, the sadness of losing him was excruciating and I vowed that I will not have any pets in the future because I don’t want to go through that painful experience again; March was with me throughout most of my time here in America. The loss of March was an emotionally challenging experience for me, and it seemed impossible to fill in the emptiness inside me. It took me a few months to accept that he is no longer with me and begin the transition to my newfound sense of freedom and independence. Life without a pet was amazing and I had…
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Home for the Holidays: The Joys of Adopting a Pet
The holiday season is a time of joy, warmth, and giving, and what better way to embrace the spirit of the season than by opening your heart and home to a furry friend in need? Holiday pet adoption is a wonderful way to make the season even more special, both for you and for a deserving animal waiting for a forever home. Before you head to the shelter, please make sure you do thorough research, so you are aware of the expectations of being a pet owner. Pet ownership is a huge responsibility. Here is the article I wrote for OPC that can help you started with your research: New…
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Recreating Cozy Magic: A Homemade Mulled Wine Adventure
The first time I tried a mulled wine was in the autumn of 2015. I went to Frankfurt for the International Book Fair for a business trip. After the fair, I decided to brave the chilly weather and embark on a sightseeing adventure with my parents; The temperature hovered around only 9 degrees Celsius. My mom who hates the cold, and she still bravely joined and explored local marketplaces with us. When my dad decided to take his beer break, she questioned the sanity of us sipping cold beers in such cold conditions. She doesn’t understand how we can still order beer like German. However, she would like to have some…
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Conquering chaos and creating memories for the holidays
The holiday season is just around the corner! Some people are psyched about it but others are not because the holiday season also comes with the hassle of tons of festive preparation. The holiday season can also be very overwhelming if you aren’t not organized or you are just like me, and you’ve been busy and you haven’t had time to keep up with all the house chores. Don’t let the mess overwhelm you! Many of us are on the same boat! This is how I conquer this chaotic task. The trick is to divide and conquer!! No matter how big the mess is, before you undertake this task, make…
