I am feeling extra guilty today for overspending this month. T.T
I also overprocrastinated, trying to avoid something important to gain control over my life again.
September hasn’t ended and yet I overspent $400 this month alone, which is equivalent to PhP 22,000! And I am not proud of it. T.T
I wasted 24 hrs to escape from the task I need my focus and attention the most.
These two things I am not proud of and feel very guilty about, especially today. So, I am challenging myself for a month of no spending except for healthy food. Also, of using my time wisely.
But, let me identify first why I am doing these two bad habits knowing that they are bad habits?
1. I am overwhelmed about writing my dissertation and scared of looking at the revisions. My inner soul is so freaked out it diverts itself to instant gratification, such as buying stuff or doing other things like cooking or sleeping instead of facing my fear.
Then, identify what has been done and what can be done?
I already bought them, and that’s done. I can eventually sell or give away some of my stuff that does not spark joy anymore and STOP accumulating more stuff starting today. Any amount you are thinking of spending, put them in stocks. Invest your money in your retirement and future – something that can still be done.
I already spent my time doom scrolling and doing other stuff instead of the important things, and that’s done. Time is our most precious asset use it wisely. I can start being more organize and face my fear instead of running away from it. Any second I am thinking of scrolling or doing unnecessary stuff, grab a research article and read it thoroughly. Invest your time in your growth: read, write, meditate, run, learn stock trading, learn a new language, learn how to create digital product, or learn how to become a part-time content creator. Allocate a couple of minutes to focus and give your attention at the task at hand.
Small efforts that consistently done everyday will accumulate towards a better you. Let’s do two things everyday:
The first watch I remember having was a pink Baby-G that my mom gave me when I was 7 yo but lost in a typhoon. And, I guess that when I started liking wearing one. It took me some years before I finally had money from my own pocket to buy a decent one. Can you guess which one?
Above is the image with all my watches. I do not have a high-end watch yet because I cannot afford one. LOL. They are all below $200, and the most expensive and treasured one in this collection is the big automatic SEIKO. Let me list from the one closest to my hand down my arm:
1. Citizen Women’s Watch
I could not find the model number. LOL. But this is originally my mom’s. She bought one for me and one for her. Mine had already broken, and then she gave me hers. To date this has been with us since 2008.
Years with me: 16
Size: 20 mm
Pros: Durability. Versatility. No battery needed.
Cons: Not waterproof. You have to wear it often so you keep it running well.
Price (in Ebay): $100-200
2. Timex Indiglo
The second-hand second mid-brand watch I bought with my own money. I love the leather wristband that makes it versatile in a formal or casual outfit. Bought this a year after I graduated from my undergrad online for $35.
Years with me: 10
Size: 21 mm
Pros: Versatility. Light feature of Indiglo when you are in a very dark place.
Cons: Not easy to find leather band. Not waterproof. Needs battery every 3-5 yrs.
Price (in Ebay): $22-50
3. Seiko Women (SWR053)
My recent buy. Got this one month ago because of the Cartier Tank that slapped me in the face that I cannot afford it. HAHA. This is the perfect alternative, and it costs only a fraction of the Cartier. So elegant and classy. You can wear it in a dress or even in jeans.
Month/s with me: 1
Size: 18 mm
Pros: Versatility. Very light weight. Dupe of Cartier Tank without breaking the bank.
Cons: Needs break-in for the leather part. Requires battery.
Price (in Jomashop): $109
4. Fossil (f2)
My most used and had the highest ROI. My first watch to buy with my own money before graduating from my undergrad. I used this everyday. Got this wet while washing the dishes and I even accidentally wet this in the shower and in the beach but still working perfectly fine!
Years with me: 12
Size: 19 mm
Pros: Versatility. Duarability.
Cons: Needs battery. The gold tone will fade if it always gets wet.
This is my favorite and treasured watch in my budget-friendly collection, you are right! It is given to me by my late father. Very versatile boyfriend watch from casual to dressing up!
Years with me: 7
Size: 38 mm
Pros: Does not need a battery. Versatile. Water resistant.
Cons: If you are not using it for some time, you have to wind it a bit again to make it work again.
Price (in Jomashop): $129
6. Casio BGD140-1A Women’s Baby-G Black
Because I miss my Baby G watch I had when I was a kid and I lost my Timex IRONMAN (which I highly recommend because it is very durable and not very big for the wrist compared to this Baby-G), I had an excuse tp buy this one. Used it in all the harsh weather locations.
Year/s with me: 1
Size: 42 mm
Pros: Very durable in the snowy, hot, and rainy conditions. Has light for dark settings.
Cons: Very dark dial so it is difficult to see the time. Difficult to clean. Needs battery.
Price: $70-100
7. Daniel Wellington Classic Sheffield
There was a year that this watch was very popular and as a bandwagoner, I had to get one. LOL. It was a good buy. Brought this in my very first trip abroad in 2018 and it served me well in all my outfits.
Years with me: 6
Size: 36 mm
Pros: Durable. Versatile with different outfits despite the size.
Cons: Leather band needs breaking in. Needs battery every 3-4 yrs.
Price (on the site): $199
8. (Not in the photo) Apple Watch Series 3 38 mm
I am not a big fan of digital watch and was not planning to get one til I found this one with the perfect size and did not break my bank (bought this second hand for $87). It helped me get back to my exercise habit but still I will not buy this brand new unless gifted to me. LOL.
Years with me: 2.5
Size:38 mm
Pros: Water resistant. Easy to charge. Reduces time to use phone.
Cons: Needs charging everyday.
That’s it! Over the years, I had several other watches, midbrands, unbranded ones, and a Swatch that was gifted to me and lasted for 3 years. I learned that investing in a quality watch pays in the long run, especially if you wear a watch everyday. A quality watch does not always equate to breaking the bank. Yes, I cannot afford a ten grand watch but each mid-brand watch I have had served me well for years, and most of them are still serving me during formal or casual days.
My most viewed entry in my blog has always been the scientific names in the song “Bahay Kubo.” Recently, a new segment on Showtime, “Throwbox”, asked for the English name of sigarilyas, which I agree is difficult, especially for vegetables we do not commonly consume. So, here is my entry to learn the English name/s of the vegetables in the song Bahay Kubo.
Lyrics
Bahay-kubo, kahit munti Ang halaman doon ay sari-sari Singkamas (Jícama, Mexican yam bean, Mexican turnip, or Spanish jícama) at talong (Eggplant, aubergine) Sigarilyas (Winged bean) at mani (Peanut) Sitaw (String bean), bataw (Hyacinth beans), patani (Lima beans)
Kundol (Wax gourd, white gourd, winter gourd, winter melon), patola (Sponge gourd, silk squash), upo’t (Bottle gourd) kalabasa (Pumpkin, squash) At tsaka mayro’n pang Labanos (Radish), mustasa (Mustard leaves) Sibuyas (Onion), kamatis (Tomato), bawang (Garlic) at luya (Ginger) Sa paligid-ligid ay puno ng linga (Sesame)
——
The vegetables in the lyrics are rich in nutrients, minerals, antioxidants, and antibacterial properties. Eat veggies to strengthen your immune system.
I just had yummy jalapeño poppers from Pal’s brewery and my friend’s dad’s house. But back in the Philippines, we do not usually cook this, so I looked into recipes. The easiest recipe I found involved stuffing the jalapeño with cream cheese, wrapping it in bacon, and baking it. And as a self-acclaimed innovator, I did mine with a little twist. Can you guess what I did differently?
I love bacon, but it is not very healthy, so I vowed not to eat it unless it was free or part of a recipe from a restaurant’s menu. So, my jalapeño poppers had spam instead (free from the university pantry), plus I added ground meat and topped it with shredded cheese.
Ingredients:
1 bar of cream cheese
6 pcs jalapeño
1 cup ground meat sauteed in 1 tbsp oil with 1 tbsp garlic and a quarter of onion (optional)
12 thin strips of spam
1 cup shredded cheese (optional)
Procedure:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 425F.
2. Slice each jalapeño into half, giving you 12 halves of it. Remove the middle part and all the seeds.
3. Fill the middle part of each half jalapeño with cream cheese and ground meat (optional).
4. Top it with cheddar cheese and a thin slice of spam.
4. Bake for 12-15 minutes.
Note: if you do not like it very spicy, you can opt to use small bell peppers instead of jalapeño.
#1 What if a multiverse is HERE? On this very planet that we live in. What if it is in the context of the lives of different people? Maybe each of us is a world, and the collection of us is the multiverse. And, what if the life you have imagined for yourself from another Earth is just a life being lived by someone else here? What if each of us is a universe and together we create the multiverse?
#2 You are not lucky. You are kind. It is not easy to be kind. The world is cruel, but the world knows how to reward people’s kindness. If respect begets respect, I guess kindness begets goodness in life. When things go easily your way, we feel like we are lucky, but this luck is a gift for your kind soul. Always choose to be kind. It will later be rewarded, and if not, being kind is something you will never regret choosing.
#3 When your heart desires something, do not stop it. Do not forget it. Let it scream what it wants. Do what is now, but never brush off your heart’s desires. Keep it. Work for it. The universe does not only hear. It listens carefully. The universe does not only see. It keenly observes. So, when you suddenly have something that seems impossible to achieve, write it and plant it in your heart until it reaches your soul. It will be exuded out. It will create a way to meet and ask the universe. And when the generous universe meets it, know that it will granted. Be more specific when asking something. Get the details on paper, and engraved in your heart and soul.
#4 Just keep working on your goals and give your best. If you are hurting now it is ok. Keep going. We can cry, feel, and grieve later. But we should not stop putting our life on hold. The clock is ticking. It will not stop for you. Keep the faith. You have been in this situation before and we will survive this again stronger and wiser.
#5 To the girl who owns this page: you fell in love with science in highschool specifically plant science. Look at you, still doing it even when you are always in doubt whether you are on the right track. I hope you find your way of getting to your full potential deeply happy and sacrificing knowing that bigger rewards await.
larswrites 