It is the middle of February, and I think it is a good checkpoint time for any resolutions or goals made around New Year’s.
This year is the first year I feel like I’ve actually made some changes at the start of the year. For 2019, I decided this was the year to cut back on spending and social media, cook more at home, and save up for a new car. It’s been a month and a half, and so far, I’ve been good! I have been using my gift cards first from the holidays, instead of putting it on a credit card, and buying things I NEED over what I WANT. Usually, my Need vs. Want ratio is about 40/60… maybe 30/70… but this year, so far I’ve done about 60/40 at least, and I feel good about it! I haven’t bought much, but I’ve definitely talked myself out of most purchases.
Here are some of the purchases that I DID make and am very happy about:
- Wide-mouth glass jars (for soups)
- Gourmia Air Fryer
- Clinique’s Beyond Perfecting Powder Foundation + Concealer
- Pilot FriXion Clickable Erasable Gel Pens and GeckoPads Reusable Static Note Sheets
I feel very motivated to keep all of my resolutions going strong. I do know that I will continue stepping back from my side businesses to help with the social media exposure, which has helped so far.
Cooking Up A Storm
First and foremost, the wide-mouth soup jars have been amazing for bringing my own soups to work. A DIY instant noodle cup recipe inspired me. I have been making and bringing my own ramen, and it’s been so good.
Here is one of my favorite recipes:
- Organic Brown Rice Ramen
- Grilled Pork (made in my Air Fryer, of course)
- Miso Soup Paste (about 1 tbsp)
- Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base (about 1 tsp)
- Fresh Bean Sprouts
- Korean Kimchi Cabbage
- Frozen Sweet Corn
- Chopped Red Cabbage
- Chopped Green Onions
- Bamboo Shoots
- Dried Basil Leaves
Layer the ingredients all into one of the wide mouth jars, preferably the bases and veggies at the bottom to “cook” when you add the hot water. The noodles and meat should be cooked already before putting them in the bowl. Close up the jar and refrigerate. When you’re ready to eat, pour boiling or very hot water in the bowl until the ingredients are submerged. Cover the jar for a few minutes so the water heats everything up. Mix the base and ingredients around, then enjoy!
Cooking at home is so much easier now. The air fryer is amazing. I love grilled foods, fried foods, and now I can make it all with minimal or no oil! The air fryer drains the fat from the meats and gives a nice crispiness to the foods. I’ve made my own sweet potato fries, grilled pork and beef, garlic & parmesan fries, and plan to make much more. It only takes minutes to make the most delicious foods.
I’m still experimenting with the timing, because I’ve overcooked more than I’ve perfected, but I’m definitely getting better. Frozen salmon is next! All I need to do is season it, throw it in the air fryer, and eight minutes later, done! This makes cooking at home so much easier for lazy cookers, like myself
Natural, New Face For The New Year
When I open up my face powder, seeing the silver bottom of the compact case reminds me to replenish my makeup. I remember receiving the news that they were discontinuing my favorite powder from Clinique, the Almost Powder Foundation. It used to have SPF 15, then it went away, and now the whole powder formula is being discontinued. So, naturally, that means I need to find a new one to replace my daily pressed powder foundation. 
I’ve decided to try their new Beyond Perfecting line. The Clinique’s Beyond Perfecting Powder Foundation + Concealer works really well, and gives me just enough coverage using a powder brush instead of the sponge. Lightweight, natural finish, and has many shades to find your perfect match. I like that you can control the coverage fairly easily, and I only use the sponge if I’m going to use it as a concealer. Then, I use the Almost Bronzer with SPF 15 (discontinued, but any bronzer will work) to contour slightly. Finish it off with a bit of Moisture Surge Face Spray to set the makeup, finish my eyebrows and eyes, and I’m good to go! So far, a great replacement! I used to work for Clinique for seven years as a floating Associate Consultant, so I love the products and have a ton of it in my bathroom cabinets.
Sustainable Notes: Static Cling and Erasable Pens
At work, I noticed that we would go through Post-It stickies like water, and I kept thinking I needed to find something to keep my quick notes and be reusable. First, I have a 12″ x 12″ personal white board that I write on at my desk, but it’s quite large and cumbersome most of the time. The pages are not actually “sticky”, but static charged, so it clings to various surfaces! These are made by GeckoPadz and come in multiple colors. The other amazing thing is that the other side of the sheet is dry erase! Whaaaaaat?
I also bought these awesome pens called Pilot FriXion: Clicker Retractable Erasable Gel Pens, which are SO COOL! Not just with the built in eraser, but also wipes off with a damp cloth! Definitely not something to use for permanent notes. I use it at work when I need to make notes for myself, and once completed, I just erase it all. It’s a great way to brighten up your workspace, while conserving paper waste!
Maybe Some New Wheels?
I’ve also set a budgeting plan aside, that stretches through 2020, that has all my essential payments for each month, with monthly deposits to save up for a car down payment around October! That gives me enough time to figure out what model I’d want and compare pricing options. I currently drive a 2004 Acura TSX with 195,000 miles on it. I’ve had it since it was two months old, 2003 and fresh on the market, so I am ready for a new ride! Acura is one of my favorite brands, so I’m looking at possibly the ILX as a newer model similar to the TSX. I really love the hybrid cars and am wanting to make the switch! I like the Honda Accord Hybrid or Insight for a hybrid option. Ooh.. or the Toyota RAV-4 Hybrid? I’ve always wanted a crossover.. or a Kia Niro maybe? I will have to look into it more. I would save money in the long run without having to use Premium gas AND fewer gas fill-ups than I do now with my TSX. I will do some more research and keep you posted!
That’s all for now!
Thanks for reading, as usual! I hope to give another update soon on how I’m doing with my resolutions, and I hope you are all sticking to yours too! Whether it be for self-improvement, lifestyle changes, or overall health improvements, it’s a great thing to set goals for yourself throughout the year.
So, what are you changing to improve yourself this year?
HW Life & Style 