My Top 5 Goals for a Purposeful Life in 2017

A new year is about to turn the bend! I am still in disbelief that 2016 went by in a flash with so little accomplished in my list of annual to-do’s (most of which are tasks related to getting back on the obsessive-compulsive-organizer wagon). The list pretty much reflects my overall feeling of being "undone" for the past year --- moments of frustration over trying to find misplaced things, recalling forgotten deadlines, and seeing clutter pile up around me. Though it’s true that every moment is a chance to begin anew, there's nothing like a fresh year to get a fresh start!

Skin Wars: The Pores Awaken

EEEEEEEW. Those are not tiny facial hairs that I harvested from the sides of my nose, but BLACKHEADS! I consider myself blessed with normal skin, never having to conquer any form of acne during puberty. Until... I noticed that in the last few months, the skin on my face started to produce a little more oil that it used to. After 3 kids and more than 3 decades of acne-free skin, a few pimples started making their debut on my forehead, and some tiny black dots started occupying the sides of my nose. Is this late onset of puberty?! Though I suspect it is the heightened stress of being a full-time mom without a caregiver, partnered with a home construction. I'm surprised it hasn't gone any worse than having blackheads. :-)

Untangled + Upcycled

Ever found yourself in a tangled mess, literally?! As I sorted through my children's toys last year, I was able to collect so many hair accessories mixed up among the toys. Having two daughters means I have accumulated double the amount of hair accessories that have been given to them as gifts, giveaways, prizes or as part of their costumes. I have searched a lot of stores for organizing systems that will not JUST store these items, but organize them in a such a way that the clips are visible and easy to pick out for everyday use.

Mommy-Tummy: Strong to the Core

These were the reformers back in 2013. OneLife Studio expanded and imported brand-new reformers that are so premium, they're the only studio to have it here in the Philippines!

Simplified Suahe Thermidor

Shrimp is one of our family's favorite seafood and this homespun dish requires a bit more preparation compared to the classic steamed white shrimp, locally known as suahe. While I am perfectly content with hinalabos na hipon, I serve this up during our special family dinners. Most of the restaurants serve up prawns or lobster thermidor, but I personally prefer suahe because its meat is juicier and more tender, and being smaller in size, the delicious flavors of the ingredients are soaked up better. Just writing about it makes me crave for it!