Hello, friends! It's been three weeks since I moved out of my family's house to a two-bedroom unit somewhere in the South, and it's been lovely so far. Most of my time is being spent working, but my boyfriend j and his family and I have been able to squeeze in organizing my new home and making it livable. So far we have painted over the old accent walls and what a great improvement the new colors have been! I feel happy every time I look at them, and it's truly been lovely.

The living room accent wall has been transformed from a terracotta brown to the loveliest sea-foam green

My bedroom accent wall meanwhile has been painted from a dreary gray to a cheery lemon yellow. 

I've also been loving my kitchen. I love baking but I didn't care about cooking, but now it's something I enjoy doing, as long as I'm not busy working. I still don't like the food prep part, though, because I don't like chopping onions and garlic (I hate the texture) so I assign J to do it whenever I can. I still do it when he's not available, though. 

One of my favorite things in my tiny kitchen is my Instant Pot. It's so easy to cook with this magical equipment because you turn it on, you dump every thing in, and it's done with minimal effort on my part! What a lifesaver, I am so glad I bought it for myself as a very early birthday present, heh.

I still need a few things before I can say my kitchen is complete, though. I need an oven and baking pans and tools so I can bake again, a dish rack for my plates and bowls, a decent pot for cooking rice (I bought a rice cooker online but it was delivered to me heavily dented so I had to return it. I already got my refund but since I've already perfected cooking rice manually I think I'll make do without a rice cooker, but I need a nicer and thicker pot than the one I'm using right now), and a juicer.

Modern life is rife with anxiety. You’re constantly made to feel like you need to be more successful, earn more, and look better. There’s pressure to own the trendiest clothes and the latest gadgets, or get a good job and settle down with a family. There are millions of TV shows and films you feel you should have watched, and books you’ll never read. Advertising and celebrities tell you that you need more, more, more of everything, and if you can only buy enough stuff you’ll be a complete, whole person. But all this pressure doesn’t help anyone. All it does is add to your growing list of worries. If anything, this pandemic made us realize that we can actually make do without a lot of other things we thought we needed. 

Being happy and fulfilled is harder than ever. To achieve total satisfaction, you need to stop worrying about what you don't have and start appreciating what you do have. Life is too short to spend fretting about things that don’t matter. To help you realize this, here are a few things that no one should ever have to worry about.

Money

I know, right? While you’d struggle to get by without any money whatsoever, most people place far too much emphasis on it in their lives. Money isn't everything. Sure, you need enough to pay your bills and put food on the table, but it should be seen as a means to an end, not the end itself. There are countless people who spend their lives toiling in unfulfilling careers to earn huge amounts of money that never brings them happiness. As long as you have enough to keep you alive and healthy, then you’re a richer person than they will ever be.

To highlight the unimportance of money, remember that currency doesn’t exist in nature. It is a fictional construct dreamt up by people. Humans lived without cash for several millennia, and we are still the only animal that relies on it. So instead of constantly worrying about earning enough to buy a big house and an expensive car, focus on what makes you happy. For me it's family, friends, music, laughing, nature, books, and exploring. 

You spend a third of your adult life in work, so it’s far more fulfilling to work a lower-paid job that you love than to break your spirit in a lucrative career you detest. Pursue your passion, not the paycheck.

Other people’s opinions

We’re all guilty of caring too much about what other people think of us. Some people are easily able to shrug it off and go about their days, while for others it has a much bigger impact. You might find yourself hiding aspects of your personality, changing your style, and masking your own feelings to fit in with others or convince them to like you. But no one should have to be anything other than what they are. You should spend your limited hours on this planet doing what makes you happy, not pandering to mean-spirited people.

In truth, very few people care what you do. You might feel self-conscious about eating alone in a restaurant, or not wearing the latest Stussy clothing, but no one is looking at you. Our minds can play tricks and make us feel we’re the center of attention when really everyone is just as concerned with themselves as you are. Once you realize this, it gives you free rein to do whatever you want to do and be whoever you want to be.

Your looks

There’s not a single person on the planet who is 100% happy with the way they look. Even seemingly-flawless celebrities and supermodels have self-esteem and confidence issues. And if you are unhappy with your appearance, you are not alone. But it’s important to realize that you are your own worst critic. In the same way that you would never look at someone else and criticize their appearance, no one is doing the same for you. When you stare in the mirror, your mind can often focus on the imperfections and neglect to notice your many beautiful features. Things like crooked teeth or large noses are less noticeable than you think, as your own perception blows them out of proportion.

It’s easy to feel self-conscious about your looks when you switch on the TV or scroll through social media and see swarms of good-looking influencers with perfect teeth and toned bodies, but this is not the norm. You are seeing these people through a filter that makes them look perfect and superhuman, but when they wake up in the morning they have puffy eyes and bad breath just like the rest of us. It’s crucial you realize that looks aren’t important in the grand scheme of things. No matter how attractive someone is, looks fade over time. But the important things that make you who you are - intelligence, humor, compassion - are forever.

Getting old

When you’re young, you feel like you’re going to live forever. But after you hit middle age, your body and mind start to lose their vigor and you start to worry about how many years you have left. Humans have been worrying about getting old for millennia, and until science comes up with a formula for immortality, that’s not going to change any time soon. There’s nothing you can do to stop yourself from getting older, but you can stop worrying. Instead of wasting your time fretting over the inevitable, start embracing your advancing years and enjoy yourself. Take pleasure in all the things you couldn’t do when you were younger. And remember, you can make your golden years healthier and happier by eating well and keeping active with regular exercise.

It is usually middle-aged people who worry about aging. But those in old age tend to be more accepting and tolerant of their advancing years. As you get older you will lose your concerns, and you will start to fully appreciate the time you have left. You’ll come to see that age is just a number, and the things that are important to you, like family, friends, and culture, have no age restrictions.

It is typical of women to look in the mirror and sometimes feel underwhelmed by their image. I personally relate to this because I feel like I have "off" days when I feel like my skin looks a little dull or I feel blah. When this happens, I know that it is time to make a little adjustment to my look.

Depending on certain factors such as your time and budget, the adjustments can be simple and periodic, but they will go a long way into changing up your look. Sharing some tips below ;)

1. Change Your Lip Color to Red

This is my favorite tip because, well, a bold red lip is my favorite statement look. One swipe and you're ready to go! Many people tend to forget the sensual appeal that lips have. They may be the first feature that a person notices and admires about you. If you are one of the women who prefer to remain subtle in their makeup choices, you might be surprised at how much venturing into the wilder side changes your look.

Red is a surprisingly democratic lip color. Bluer shades of red favor most hair shades and skin tones and they also work well with neutral wardrobe colors such as brown, black, white, grey, blue, and khaki.

To balance out this bold lipstick color, you can darken your eyebrows using a brow pencil or dab petroleum jelly on them. You may also opt to add mascara and eyeshadow, but this is purely optional. If you can achieve this balance, your cheekbones will instantly look more prominent, teeth whiter, and your eyes will have more shine.

2. Change Your Accessories

Accessories usually get the least share of attention when it comes to a wardrobe upgrade. When you think of switching up your look, your jackets, pants, sweaters, and skirts are at the top of your list. However, the secret to changing your look with minimal effort is paying attention to details.

Scarves, necklaces, and earrings are easy ways to inject excitement into your wardrobe. Belts, on the other hand, help to improve the appearance of dresses by adding color and shaping your body. A few small updates can greatly impact your overall look.

You may also change up the look of your face by going for a flattering eyeglass frame that complements the shape of your face, whether it has lenses or not. www.eyeglasses.com is a good site where you can shop for prescription or non-prescription glasses from the comfort of your home.

3. Change Your Hairstyle

Changing your hairstyle can be scary since it is an integral part of your look. On the other hand, staying with one look for too long can be boring. Moreover, hair trends are very dynamic, and what looks hot now might not be trendy in the next five years. This doesn’t mean that you must do away with the general color or length that suits your face. However, switching up your hair look often can leave you looking young and fresh.

If the idea of changing your hair sounds a bit too scary, you can start with a little experimentation as you progress. For instance, you can add a few highlights to your hair for a younger and more sun-kissed look. Going a shade darker will help to add a mystery to your look. I used to sport different colored hair and/ or hairstyles when I was younger, and pre-pandemic I had permed hair. I would love to do it again as soon as it's safe!

4. Shop Out of Your Comfort Zone

Style isn't only about how you look in clothes. It entails how you feel in them as well. If you are never open to trying new things, you will hardly ever feel comfortable in fashion. Depending on your perspective, new materials, styles, and accessories can either be exciting or intimidating.

Visit medium-sized or large malls and window shop the clothes and accessories shops. You can visit a few shops that can upscale your lifestyle in some way but ensure that you hop within your budget. Get comfortable with looking around and asking questions until you are bold enough to try new looks. Or, since we're in a pandemic, check out online thrift shops like what I do and shop sustainably :)

5. Learn From the Best

There is an endless parade of slideshows on the internet about the latest fashion trends. If you often come across such, it is time to stop admiring and start taking notes and screenshots.

You can always borrow styling tips from your favorite celebrity or fashion blogger. If you are impressed by how a certain fashion figure dresses, you can pay attention to their look and borrow tips on updating your style from someone whose fashion savvy you trust.

If you wish to quickly update your looks, try one of the above solutions for pleasant results.   ;)