20 Random Facts About Me - 2020 Year-End Edition

 

If you have been following me on Instagram for a while, you might already know some facts about me. As we end this year, I'd like to share more not-so-fun facts about me so you can get to know the person behind this blog better. 

1. My name means a doll or a puppet moved by strings but it's totally something that my parents didn't know when they came up with my name. They are just combining their nicknames. 🎎

2. I don't drive. In the Philippines, we have all sorts of public transportations and private vehicles are oftentimes a luxury. I did get a learner's permit here in the US but my husband is now too afraid to teach me because of one little accident we had while I was behind the wheels. 😂

3. I don't like taking medicines. If I can bear the pain, I will. 💊

4. I love crime movies, TV shows, and anime. I enjoy detectives and spy movies. 🚨

5. My superpower is that I can go on a day without eating or just eating once. Unlike many, I prefer sleeping over eating. 😴

6. I used to play guitar and write songs but now starting to have an interest in a Ukelele. 🎸

7. I am not a fan of horror movies or anything about zombies. 🧟

8. I have motion sickness. I can't read (even browse my phone) while in a moving vehicle. 🚓

9. I don't celebrate holidays like Christmas, New Year's, and Easter due to my Bible-based beliefs. You can check out this link for more information: https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/jw-celebrate-holidays/. 🌲

10. I can always imagine what could happen in a certain situation and in a negative way. Like for example, I saw a nail poking out somewhere, my brain would immediately imagine myself getting poked in the eyes, bleeding and I can sometimes feel it. Yes, it's weird. 💁

11. I love giving gifts. There is truth about what Acts 20:35 in the Bible says: ‘There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.' 🎁

12. I wanted to be a band member when I was younger. I dreamed of being a lead vocalist or someone who plays the guitar or the drums. However, I don't really have the talent for it.😆

13. I think I have grown tired of working in a company setting or working for others in general. This year, I felt so lost in what I really wanted to do. And I am still figuring things out. 📴

14. I am a graduate of Business Management and I majored in Marketing but I don't really think I have used my course that much. 🥈

15. I am not good with math or numbers. Thank goodness for calculators and Google. 🔢

16. I love babies and kids but I prefer to not have my own. People don't understand that sometimes and it's totally okay. But, if ever I get pregnant along the way of my married life, I will definitely embrace motherhood.  👶

17. I am not really good at English grammar so pardon me if you see or hear me say grammatically wrong things. 😅Although English was taught in school at an early age, it is not my first language. Tagalog (Filipino) is my native language and I feel more comfortable reading and writing in that language. 🔖

18. My husband was my first and last boyfriend. We met on Facebook thru a common friend and the rest is history. We are celebrating 6 years of marriage soon. 💓

19. I had one minor surgery once to remove fibroadenomas from my right breast but I am a pretty healthy person. I dread going to the hospitals and getting blood work done. 😖

20. If I can go back to one place aside from my hometown in the Philippines, I wanted to revisit Monterey, California. I fell in love with the place when we had our Legal Summit / Team Building in Cannery Row years back plus it is where I first met my then virtual boyfriend (now husband) in person. 💨

If you reach this far, nice to meet you! Please leave a comment with your Instagram or blog so we can connect! I hope to see you more in 2021.💗

What's one thing you'd like me to write about here on my blog? I am open to suggestions! Let's get ready for 2021!

Read More

My Top 20 Beauty Brands in 2020

2020 might not be everyone's favorite year right now. There was so much sadness throughout this year, but I can't help but to still be thankful. Along with everything that happened are some great realizations and discoveries for me. And although it might be a little early to say this, I will claim it already:

 "Hey, I am still alive and ready for 2021!"

But before we leave this super dramatic year, I would love to take this opportunity to mention the top 20 beauty brands that made my 2020 a little better. Shall we start?

1. PixiBeauty. This brand would be my number one on the list. If you read my previous posts, I never failed to mention PixiBeauty. Not only because I am on their PR list, but also because all their products are honestly incredible. So if you haven't check this affordable brand yet, you should start checking them out and see their wide range of skincare and makeup products. You might find a new favorite brand come in 2021. See my dedicated post for this brand here.


2. Good Molecules. Although I have only come to know this brand this year, it has quickly become one of my favorite. Their skincare worked so well for my skin and they have become a staple to my skincare routine. My wonderful 2020 skincare journey would not be the same without this brand. Learn more about them in my previous post here.

3. Fresh Beauty. This might be one of the most expensive brands I included in this list, nevertheless, they do deserve this spot because they have remarkable products that work. You can find something you will fall in love with from their variety of skincare, body care, and fragrance products. 

4. Rituals. Looking for something affordable but luxurious beauty products? This brand is for you! Their body care set is phenomenal. And I can't wait to try their perfume, skincare, makeup, hair care, kitchen essentials, and clothing products. Yes, they have it all.

5. Innisfree. Are you a k-beauty fan? This Korean beauty brand should be on your list this coming new year if you haven't already tried it. Aside from their cute packaging, you'll love their skincare, makeup, body, and hair product line up. 

6. Filorga. I have only tried two of this brand's products yet I might say they don't disappoint and it made me want to try all of their products. I am not even exaggerating. This brand is also on the pricey side but it's for a good reason. Their products are effective!

7. Kiss / Impress Manicure. I am not a fan of fancy acrylic nails but who doesn't like pretty nails once in a while? That is why I came to love this press-on manicure brand. Besides having a gorgeous line of beautiful nail designs, they are also easy to apply and are great for last-minute party calls. Yes, even the zoom parties.

8. Amika. What is beauty without beautiful hair, right? This brand has some astonishing hair care products. I personally love their Flash Instant Shine Mask. I didn't even have to comb my hair, let's leave it at that.

9. Eva-NYC. Let's talk more about hair care products. There's nothing more satisfying than a good hair day on quarantine mode. Ever since trying out their dry shampoo, this brand easily becomes one of my favorites.

10. Laneige. One of the keys to beauty is well-hydrated skin and lips. This is where Laneige comes into the picture. They have hydrating skincare and lip products that can make a difference in your beauty routine. 

11. First Aid Beauty. I was first introduced to this brand this year and I couldn't be happier. FAB created products for all skin types but has a specialty for dry skin. Their Ultra Repair Cream is a best-seller and is also a game-changer for me. Their products are one of my winter must-haves.

12. I Dew Care. This is a fairly new brand to me but swiftly became a favorite. They have adorable and fun packaging and their products are exceptional. They had me with dewy and glowy skin. Most of the time, that's all I wear.

13. Spongelle. Bath has been extra enjoyable with Spongelle products! Their body wash-infused buffers are my favorite. All of their products from body and bath, hand care, feet care, and candles smell heavenly. Need a bath? Make it extra with Spongelle.

14. Hum Nutrition. Would you agree that beauty also comes from within? I do! I was gifted some of Hum Nutrition products that help me look and feel good inside and out. It has been a very great help for my skin as I have noticed I don't experience troublesome breakouts like before.

15. Merci Handy. This brand has been a ray of additional sunshine amidst the pandemic. Not only do they have very fun packaging (and some lovely jokes to smile about), they also have a charming hand, body, and hair products.

16. L'oreal. This year won't be complete without some L'oreal products. To tell you honestly, most of my lipsticks are from them and who doesn't love lipsticks? It's my favorite makeup. Now that I stay home and do not wear masks, lipstick is the only color I wear on my face most of the time.

17. Pop Beauty. This is a rather new brand that brings a pop of color to the beauty world! Their products have interesting names that will certainly get your attention. They bring you "uncomplicated" skincare and "unapologetic" color through their quality products.

18. Buxom Cosmetics. They offer a variety of beauty products and my favorite was their plumping lip glosses. The shine of their glosses are gorgeous and provides that refreshing and cooling sensation. Let's keep that until 2021 and the years to come.

19. Joah Beauty. If you are looking for an affordable K-beauty and drugstore brand, this is a brand you should start looking at. You can find it at your local CVS and there are so many products to choose from. Take your pick.

20. 310 Nutrition. You might think, this brand is not a beauty brand and you might be right. But hey, beauty comes from within, remember? 310 Nutrition has been part of my health and wellness journey throughout my 2020. Their protein shake powder and collagen powder are something that I can say became part of my beauty journey. Their collagen powder helps support healthy skin, so that counts as part of beauty, right?

Thank you for making it at the end of the list! I hope you found some new brands to try this coming 2021.

What are your top beauty brands this year? Did any of mine made your list too? 

Read More

Achievement Unlock - Celebrating an Instagram Milestone

 

A few months back, I was stuck at 4k followers on Instagram. I made it a goal to have 10k followers by the end of the year. And here we are, making that goal a reality! 

But you might be wondering, why is the Instagram follower count so important? As a brand, it shows your brand power and as an influencer like me, it shows my influence and my expertise. Also, it's easier for me to be noticed by brands that I might be able to collaborate with if I have that big 10. But don't get me wrong, as I mentioned before, a lot of brands don't look at follower count but rather than engagement. So smaller accounts can still collaborate with brands. 

Of course, as you may have already known from my previous posts about my influencer journey and how I became one, my Instagram started as a hobby. I love sharing my first-hand experiences with products and found a passion for skincare and beauty. The main reason I set the goal to hit 10k was because of the swipe up feature. Since I just started my blog up again this year,  I find it easier for me to promote a new blog post and direct my followers to the link on my Instagram story instead of telling them to check out my bio. It's unquestionably a game-changer!

The Journey to 10K

It was never easy achieving this goal. It's a series of trial and error - what techniques work and what don't. Plus, Instagram's algorithm has been all over the place lately, so you cannot honestly tell. But you know what's the biggest take away from me? Reaching goals can only happen when you have help and support. So I am forever grateful to all the people who believed in me and supported me all the way. For all the likes, shares, and saved from my family, relatives, friends, acquaintances, and from all the people who genuinely followed my page because of my content. A ten thousand or a million thanks won't ever be enough to show you how grateful I am. 

The Promise

Of course, the journey never stopped here. My mission to inspire, motivate, influence, and make an impact continues. I know that honest and genuine content matters and I will continuously strive to be better. I am still learning my ways of creating captivating video content and still trying to improve the quality of my photos. Believe me, I was never the creative type when I was younger and art is not my favorite subject, so I'm a bit struggling here. But all of you are my inspiration!

So, all that being said, let's take a look at my Top 10 posts!

Top 10 Posts according to Instagram's Insights

Top 10

Posted August 23, 2020

This Sunatoria Black Mask post is surely a hit. It might be the photo? the caption? or the results? I will forever wonder.😂

Top 9

Posted May 8, 2020

Another hit is my post about our humble coffee corner. I might know why this one was an attention-getter, most of my followers must have been coffee-lovers.

Top 8

Posted November 25, 2020

This post was a very recent one. It was Black Friday week and Lookfantastic actually has some pretty great deals so no wonder this post has been on the top 8 spot.

Top 7

Posted October 7, 2020

There's always something about my work corner/home office post that most of them do surprisingly well. I think it was because most of the people are working from home now since the pandemic and looking through WFH office ideas. 

Top 6

Posted August 5, 2020

Aside from my WFH office corner post, my health and wellness posts also do great. I know for a fact that a lot of people resorted to home workouts when the pandemic started, so that might have been the reason behind this.

Top 5

Posted May 25, 2020

My DIYs and home makeover posts were clearly a favorite. During the beginning of the quarantine, I have been the most creative and people love creativity, right?! 

Top 4

Posted August 31, 2020

I think this is by far the most creative video (if not the only one) that I have ever made. Although the screenshot is only showing the reach of 1,085, it's a paid campaign and was promoted hence the reach was actually 3,072. Nevertheless, I think it is safe to say that it deserves to be in the top 4 spot. What do you think?

Top 3

Posted November 22, 2020

This has been a very interesting post! Not everyone knows that LED face masks exist and I am fortunate enough to be able to try one and share about it with my followers. It truly deserves the top 3 spot.

Top 2

Posted May 10, 2020

This was one of my early projects starting the pandemic and it clearly got the attention. Maybe because the kitchen has been our favorite place during quarantine?😂

Top 1

Posted August 13, 2020

Who would have thought that this post will be the top 1? It must have been the living room or my nice tops and leggings maybe?

It was nice to see a variety of top posts in my feed. But I seriously wish I have a way of figuring out how Instagram's algorithm is working. Because when I thought I figured it out, it then changes.😆 But still, I can't help to be thankful for the platform that gives me a way to share my passion.

To you who have read this entire post, thank you. If you have been following me on Instagram, thank you. If you are just passing by, thank you. All of you have been part of my motivation to continue this journey. 

I know it has been a tough year, but what has been your greatest achievement this 2020? Your comments are welcome, appreciated and who knows, will be rewarded! Extra is when you sign up and subscribe to my email list. 😉 I always love giving back to my supporters. 😚

Read More

Skin Update and Current skincare products

 

Hello! So today, we are not doing any gift guide post. Instead, I just wanted to share some skin update and the current products I am using on my skincare routine. Maybe, you can find something that you'd like to try!

Read More

My Influencer Wish List (Can be your next gift guide idea)

 

For today's gift guide idea, I would like to share my very own wish list!

Read More

Holiday Gift Guide – Skincare Edition

 

Holidays are just around the corner, and many people are starting to get their gifts list done. Although I don’t really celebrate any of the upcoming holidays, I love gifting in general!

I made up a list of some of my favorite things that would be great for gifting and in today’s post, I will be sharing skincare products.

PIXI BEAUTY GLOW TONIC

First on the list would be my all-time favorite PixiBeauty Tonic.

The Pixi Glow Tonic is a highly concentrated, invigorating facial toner that deeply cleans pores by sweeping away excess oil and impurities. I personally love this toner because it's gentle enough to exfoliate the skin but tough enough to remove dirt and impurities, leaving the skin soothed, refreshed, and radiant. It comes in 3 sizes - 15 ml, 100 ml, and 250 ml. It's perfect for gifting on its own, but if you want a more sophisticated one, you can get the Best of Bright Kit, which includes the Glow Mud Cleanser,  Glow Tonic, and Glow Mud Mask.

Photo from Pixi Beauty Website

GOOD MOLECULES - THE HERO REGIMEN

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I often rave about this brand - Good Molecules. This brand has become one of my all-time favorite skincare brands. It's not only effective but super affordable too! I also love their initiative of listing all the ingredients and how much percent they put in the product written on each box. They mostly use glass bottles and avoid the use of plastics to save the environment. Plus, who doesn't love products that were never tested on animals?

For a perfect gift, why not buy a mix of everything? The Hero Regimen Collection would be the perfect one! This bundle includes seven of their best selling products to prep your skin from morning to night - Instant Cleansing Balm, Niacinamide Brightening Toner, Hyaluronic Acid Serum, Overnight Exfoliating Serum, Squalane Oil, Silicone-Free Priming Moisturizer,  and Caffeine Energizing Hydrogel Eye Patches. Check out my previous post about Good Molecules and some favorite products from them here.

Photo from Good Molecules Website

MARIO BADESCU - DEW IT FOR THE GLOW

Who doesn't want that "glow," especially this holiday season? Why not gift a friend (or yourself) this Mario Badescu Dew it for the Glow Bundle?

Photo from Macy's Website

This set includes the Enzyme Cleansing Gel, Witch Hazel & Rosewater Toner, Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater, Hyaluronic Dew Cream, and Hyaluronic Dew Drops. These products are ideal for all skin types and will certainly give you (or anyone you are gifting this) a dewy skin that glows.

FIRST AID BEAUTY ULTRA REPAIR CREAM

Super dry skin? No problem! This First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration is perfect for your friends or relatives that suffer from dry skin, especially this colder season. This multi-function cream provides head-to-toe moisture and instant relief for dry, distressed skin and even eczema. It's lightweight and fast absorbent with no greasy after-feel.

If you want to make it a fancier gift, try getting the All that Fab Kit, which includes Pure Skin Face Cleanser, Facial Radiance Pads, Ultra Repair Cream, Eye Duty Niacinamide Brightening Cream, and Ultra Repair Lip Therapy. This 5-piece limited edition set of FAB skincare essentials will help promote a smooth, radiant, and hydrated complexion. Anyone will be delighted upon receiving this!

Photo from First Aid Beauty Website

INNISFREE JEJU CHERRY BLOSSOM JELLY CREAM SET

This is definitely a cute set any skincare-loving youngster will love! This set includes Dewy Glow Jelly Cream, Dewy Glow Toner, and Dewy  Glow Emulsion. This trio is all you need for a simple yet effective skincare routine that can boost your skin's radiance while delivering soothing hydration the skin needs.

ELIZABETH ARDEN VITAMIN C CERAMIDE SKINCARE GIFT SET

Vitamin C and Ceramides can be holy grail ingredients. It can be a wonderful gift for moms and grandmoms or just someone that needs extra love and care for their aging skin! This Elizabeth Arden Vitamin C Ceramide Skincare Gift Set includes Vitamin C Ceramide Capsules Radiance Renewal Serum, Ceramide Lift and Firm Day Cream Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30, and Advanced Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum.

Photo from Macy's Website

These are just some of my favorite skincare products that you can consider gifting to your loved ones.

Stay tuned for more holiday gift guide series!

*Some links are affiliates, and I may earn a small commission when you purchase through these links.

Read More

Home Office on a Budget - A glimpse of my home office corner

As I transitioned back to working from home, I started working on building my home office. I want to be as comfortable as I can, because the more comfortable I am, the more enthusiastic I will be to work, won't you agree?

I always wanted to work from home, and I truly believed that this is the time for me. I started looking at home office ideas on Instagram and Pinterest. These are some favorites so far.

theunstitchd.com - Pinterest Casinha Organizada - Intagram

worldmarket.com - Pinterest

Of course, I had to consider my budget, so I window shop  (well screen shop, really 😅) around for a few weeks to see the best offer. I am mainly looking for a desk and a comfortable office chair with good quality but won't break the bank.

I found my office chair in Walmart.com. 

Walmart - Yoyomax

This office chair was originally $169.99  but was on sale at Walmart for $91.99. I was drawn to it because of its ergonomic design with an adjustable headrest and lumbar support that looks so comfortable. It has a breathable mesh material that promotes air circulation and keeps my back and legs relaxed.  The headrest and the seat is adjustable up and down while the backrest can be adjusted forward and back. The installation is also a breeze - no additional tools or fittings are needed. It took me less than 3o minutes to install everything.

On the other hand, I found my office desk from Amazon.com:

Mr. Ironstone L-Shaped Desk - Amazon

I could have bought my chair in Amazon if the prize is on sale like in Walmart, but unfortunately, it was not. Anyway, I really fell in love with this Mr. Ironstone 50.8." L-shaped desk, perfect for the corner that I planned to build my home office. The original price was $129.99 but was on sale for $99.99. It has a white marble top and gold frame legs, so it was a perfect design. It also has excellent reviews and looks really good based on verified purchasers' photos. I also love that it arrived within two days! (I am a Prime Member, by the way😃)

The assembly is pretty easy too. It took me less than an hour to assemble everything all by myself, and I am impressed. 

So here's the overall look and feel of my humble home office:

I am really going towards the rose gold theme here, but I am still working on that. 😂  You can check my home office rose gold list essentials in my Amazon Store Front. You might find something that you would like too!

My Starburst Wallpaper Sticker is from Wallmonkeys that I was sent complimentary for review. The little frame below was from Dollar Tree; you will be surprised how much cute stuff you can find in there! You can also do DIYs from Dollar Tree products if you are the creative type on a tight budget. I like to do that, but sometimes my creativity runs dry along with my motivation. I am usually just too lazy. 😂

I also love the idea of having a brick wall. Am I the only one? I found out that one of the easiest ways to achieve brick wall design without spending too much time and money is by using faux bricks. I came across Faux Brickwork, which has some good selections of Faux Brick Wall panels.

Here's how chic they look:

I think this would really look great in my home office! 

Flemish Bond-Raw

If you are looking to step-up your brick wall-looking home or business, you may want to check Faux Brickwork. They are located in Clearwater, FL, and can serve the US market with exceptionally sturdy, beautiful, and realistic faux brick panels. They also offer samples to make sure you are 100% before committing to a large order.

Their panels range from $49.99 to $89.99 each with Dimensions of Width 39", Height 36 ½", Depth ¼" or 40", Height 35", Depth ¼".  They have a friendly design team that can assist and advises you on your design, and if you can't find the faux brickwork that speaks to you from their extensive line, they can provide you comprehensive design service for the more bespoke ideas.

What do you think? Is faux brick a good idea or no? Let me know in the comments below!

*Some links in this post are affiliates, and I earn commissions on qualifying orders.*

Read More

How to Build an Advanced Skincare Routine

 

Disclaimer: I am in no way a skincare professional or expert. All information in this post is based on my own combined research and personal experiences. Everyone has different skin types and can react differently from products. 

In my previous post, we discussed how you can start a skincare routine from scratch.

But although our skin's basic needs (cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting) remain the same, our skin's needs change as we get older. We might also develop some skincare concerns as we age - like pimples or acne breakouts, large pores, signs of aging, redness or uneven skin tone. So, you may want to step up your skincare game at some point.

Now that we covered the basics, let's move on to a more advanced skincare routine.

Basic Morning Routine:

Advance Morning Routine:

1.  Cleansing - it is still important to do your morning cleansing to get rid of all the dirt that might have build-up overnight. Choose a cleanser based on your skin type. You can visit my previous post to help determine your skin type.

2. Toning - this is not only a great way to remove dirt that has been left behind from cleansing, but it also balances your skin's pH. The use of toners help tone and tighten skin.

3. Improving - this step includes adding antioxidants to your routine. Vitamin C and E serums are great for improving your skin's texture. Serums with Vitamin C can help protect your skin from damage and reverse sun and pollution damage.

4. Treating- this step includes the application of spot treatments and eye creams. Most of the acne treatments are advisable to be used at night time, and I personally only use them at night. Eye creams, on the other hand, is a staple for me. It helps to brighten, smooth, and reduce puffiness and darkness around my eye areas. 

5. Moisturizing - this will always be essential because our skin needs to be hydrated all the time. If our skin is dry, it can easily be irritated, and we don't want that.

6. Protecting - this step is crucial. Wearing sunscreen can help your skin not only in the present time but also in the long run. 

Optional: If your skin is leaning towards the dry type, you may want to try adding the use of face oils. Face oils can serve as an extra level of skin protection that strengthens the outer layer of our skin and preventing water loss. You can add this step after applying your serum (step 3), or you can mix it with either your serum or moisturizer. 

Basic Night Time Routine:

Advance Night Time Routine:

1. Cleansing - if you wore makeup during the day, you may want to try double-cleansing at night to ensure all dirt and grime are removed.  You can either use an oil-based cleanser or micellar water first, followed by your regular lathering cleanser and water.

2. Exfoliating - this is an important step, but it's advisable to do it only once or twice a week. Exfoliating the skin helps remove the build-up of dead skin cells and helps unclog pores for smoother and healthier skin. You can use exfoliating cleansers or clay masks that are known to be good exfoliators.

3. Toning - apply your toner the same way you do in the morning. I prefer using my hands to apply my toner directly to my skin. I just gently tap it on my face instead of using cotton pads or balls. You can also use mist toners. Do whatever works for you.

4. Improving - add serums that are packed with hyaluronic acid. You can also alternate your hydrating serums with retinol that can improve your skin-aging concerns. 

5. Treating - Always follow serums with your eye creams of choice; we don't want to forget our precious eye areas! After taking care of your eye areas, make sure to address your other skin concerns like acne or pimples, dark spots, and acne scars by applying your spot treatment. If you are using retinol, make sure to read your product instructions before adding them to your skincare routine. It can sometimes be irritating to the skin if you use them both at the same time. 

6. Moisturizing - our skin works double time at night, and moisturizers are essential for glowing skin when you wake up. Use night creams, which are thicker than your regular moisturizer in the morning. It helps seal active ingredients and lock-in hydration. 

Optional: If you want to pamper your skin a little extra, add a sheet mask after your serums/essences (step 4). You can also use a sleep mask (usually gel or cream-like) in place of moisturizers. 

Final Thoughts

Again, everyone has different skin types and skin needs. 

Your skin may only need a 3-step skincare routine, or it may need the whole 6 steps or more. Listen to your skin and be observant to what it really needs.

Whatever you decide on, always remember the rule of thumb - apply products with the thinnest consistency to thickest, or from liquid to cream.

You may not see instant results, but if you find that skincare regimen that works for you, stick to it, and you will eventually see the results. 

Do you have a specific skincare routine? Share it on the comment box below!

Read More

Home Improvements During the Pandemic

When the pandemic started, most of us have a 360-degree turn of our lives. 

My work implemented a rotation schedule for us when the pandemic took it turns to worse just so there's not a lot of people in the office and that we are complying with the social distancing protocol. I started working for two days and then two days off. With all that free time, my husband and I started a home project. We repainted the house and bought new furniture. It was a total make-over. But no, we did not overspend or splurge. We bought what we can afford and somethings I repurposed and was used for something else.

The first thing we worked on was our kitchen. We used to have a lot of plates, utensils, bowls, mugs, and water bottles that we don't really use, so I started boxing them and put them away. We are only two at home and rarely got visitors, so all of those are mostly clutter in our kitchen. We got a cheap set of plates and bowls from Walmart with a color that eventually started the theme of our house.

Mainstays Amelia Topaz Dinnerware Set

Here's a look of our kitchen:

Our next project was then the dining area. We found the cheapest but comfortable dining set from Wayfair, and since the brown color doesn't really match our home aesthetics, we bought some chair Covers are from Amazon. The giant wall frame was given to us by a friend.

The living room was the next one we did, and it took us a while to finish putting everything together. The sofa set was also from Wayfair. The coffee table was something we got from Facebook Market for super cheap, and the TV stand was from a local thrift store in our area. This living room update is definitely our favorite part of our home project! 

The last part of the house that we had a significant update was the master's bedroom. The bed was, of course, from Wayfair too.

We did some minor updates on our bathrooms, but that would be for some other time for us to share because we are still in the process of repainting it. We are also still working on my husband's "man cave," a.k.a gaming room; when it's finished, we are going to share it with you too! As for my playroom, I updated it a couple of times already, and most of the furniture I have there was some old furniture from our bedroom and living room that I chose to repurpose instead of just throwing them away. I will do a separate post about it since I've got so many things to share from there! But here's a glimpse of my vanity area:

We are happy with how things turned out. I believed that even if you are renting, you can still make the best out of your home. But I am looking forward to that day that we'll be able to own our house that we can call forever home. I always wanted to move somewhere else. Maybe not on another state, because I love Florida! I guess, just somewhere new.

I've heard a lot of good things about Jacksonville. And if ever you are in the market for a new house yourself, you can count on Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty, Erin E. King MBA. Erin was recognized as Best of Zillow Realtor. He specializes in Jacksonville's historic homes like the homes for sale in Ortega. 

Erin King is also a Ramsey Endorsed local real estate provider in Jacksonville. A Ramsey endorsed local provider is a 3rd party affiliation that he has, and he's really proud of it! With his combined expertise and experience in buying and selling, you are in good hands and can definitely find your historic dream house in the Jacksonville area. 

His website is also easy to navigate, and there are quite several beautiful homes for sale in Ortega. I particularly like this one:

Home for sale in Ortega

My husband and I always dreamed of a house far from neighbors and with a big extra lot where we can have our fur baby, Luke, run around and play. 

You can check out more houses from the website and if you find what you are looking for, make sure to give Erin a call.

Hopefully, someday, we can have our own little house, may it be here in Florida or back home in the Philippines. For now, we are grateful that we are living in a charming and affordable townhouse that we can decorate on our liking. 

What about you? Are you planning on buying a new home anytime soon? Or were you able to do some home projects or improvements during the pandemic? I'd love to hear from you!

Read More