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Her Little Loves 26

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

August seems to be slipping away in the blink of an eye. I wish there were a way to pause 2025, even just for a moment—I’m still catching up with July. How is September already upon us next week? I am bewildered that there’s only four months left of this year before we are starting a brand new year, again. This month will always be a somber month for me and it’s the month when my dad passed three years ago and also his birth month.

Nonetheless, here’s a collection of all the little things I’m fond of, at the moment:

01. My brother treated me to three new fantasy books and I’m over the moon. I picked up ‘The Book of Azrael’ by Amber V. Nicole, ‘Once Upon a Broken Heart’ by Stephanie Garber and ‘A Court of Thorn and Roses’ by Sarah J. Maas.

02. Rekindling my relationship with Dubuyo’s sundubu-jjigae which is why I had it twice this month. It’s literally my number one comfort food. The broth, the side dishes, yums.

03. I avoided drinking hot tea every day because I wanted to cut on unnecessary sugar, but since my mother-in-law gave me a bottle of stevia, I’ve been drinking tea as often as I can. Just a drop of it is sufficient to sweeten my tea and it’s zero calorie!

04. I finalised my wardrobe and study table cum bookshelf designs with my husband as his company will be fabricating them. I’m so excited for the end result.

05. What a great month to be a Swiftie as we will be getting her 12th album in October AND our girl is getting married!

06. Butter cream latte from Pociato Coffee is my absolute favourite as of now. My husband’s friend owns the café and their pizzas are the best so far.

07. After finishing Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros and having the worst reading slump ever (Xaden Riorson, I pledge my fictional love to you), I finally got out of it with the help of Katherine Center’s The Bodyguard book. I finished it in 12 hours. It is that good.

08. I got a new mug! I always have a designated mug I use for tea and the past five mugs I owned were all broken either by me or by other people. So I got this pretty one from Objet last week.

09. The Summer I Turned Pretty. Need I say more? Team Conrad 4ever. I watched the eighth episode yesterday and oh my god the cliffhanger is killing me. If you read the book there’s only one or two scenes left but we have three more episodes of the tv shows so we’re going in blind now.

10. I will be going on a staycation with my friends in a week so I got myself some new clothes. I probably shouldn’t be buying more clothes when I’m in the process of packing and moving out but I can’t help it. I needed new outfits.

11. I’m really happy with my skincare routine now. This blog needs an updated one because what do you mean my last skincare routine post was published five years ago?!

12. One of my girls got engaged last weekend and I’m so happy for her!

5 Second-Chance Romances I Can’t Forget

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

Alright – let’s put it this way: I am a sucker for second chance romance trope in books.

Maybe it’s because I had gone through second-chance romance as well, I don’t know, but I love it. I devour it. If it has the trope, it’s automatic 3 stars for me and I haven’t even read the first word yet. There’s something about rekindling old romances that just speaks to me on a deeper level. Sure, sure, it ends because they had issues they couldn’t get past (whatever that might be), but it was just wrong timing, okay? The right timing will come.

These are five second-chance romance books that live rent free in my mind since the day I read them.

Love & Other Words by Christina Lauren

I am the type of readers who will forgive a lot of faults in books if it has moments that leave me feeling a lot of feels. This book is exactly it for me. No spoilers here but there is an element in this book that should have been elaborated and discussed more (do check the trigger warning before reading any books).

This book is about teenage friends to lovers to a decade of separation to meeting again, unplanned and I ate this up like it was my dinner. I am a sucker for this book as do a million other people who have read this book. I wish I could read this book for the first time again.

The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce

My, my, my.

This was the first book I read from Jessica Joyce and I was an instant fan. They were lovers to a five-year separation to close proximity due to a mutual friend’s wedding. One quote that I still remember from this book is “When I say I’m still in love with you, I mean the first time I saw you and right now. I mean every second in between.”

SCREAMING CRYING AND THROWING UP. I remember falling head over heels for Eli (the MMC) because oh the pent-up yearning was just chef’s kiss.

Forget Me Not by Julie Soto

I want me a tattooed man with a flower shop and a florist himself. Yup.

This book centres around the wedding industry with a lot of talk about weddings so if it’s not your cuppa tea you might not enjoy it. It’s about lovers to a two-year of separation to workplace/close proximity due to them working on the same client’s wedding.

This was an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a fast-paced read with a grumpy, swoon worthy MMC who knows his flowers.

The Two of Us by Taylor Torres

This book is irrevocably underrated.

I finished it in a day, and by then I have already cried a bucket. The slow burn, the angst – the last 30 pages ruined me for good. I think this is the only second-chance book that made me cry and it was truly for the right reason. It was sad. This is a sad book (albeit a happy ending one), and I do wish for people to check the trigger warning.

I couldn’t put it down, to be honest. This is a best friend’s brother to lovers to a seven-year separation to coming back home to your small-town hometown.

Happy Place by Emily Henry

This is by far my favourite Emily Henry book and I seriously believe it’s because of the trope itself. I know a lot of readers rated this way below her other more famous books and I get it. Her other books like Book Lovers and Beach Read conform more to the masses and this book is honestly an acquired taste. Taste that I obviously have.

It’s about friends to a down-low break up to close proximity due to being in the same circle of friends who spend summer together. I can imagine Nicholas Galitzine playing the MMC as he fits the character really well. Obviously the cast hasn’t been announced yet but fingers crossed!

If you have recommendations similar to these books, do send them my way! I am currently on a reading slump after Onyx Storm and finishing a book feels like a chore for me nowadays.

Unexpected Essentials I Carry Everywhere

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

I love having a Marry Poppins bag. The thought of knowing that I am carrying a just-in-case essentials in my bag gives me a worlds of peace. I could be stranded on an island or stuck overnight somewhere – my bag and I are ready for it. There were instances where I was trying to look cute with my dainty bag and boom! Something happened and I needed something unexpectedly and boom!

I didn’t have it.

Because I had a dainty ol’ bag that could barely fit my Pro Max in it.

Sometimes I do bring just my phone and wallet when I know I’m only going out for a grocery run, but 98% of the time it’s me and my Mary Poppins bag against the world.

01. Claw clips. I wear hijab, but here me out – sometimes we unexpectedly visit my in-laws or my mom and it’s great to have claw clips in handy because I don’t wear hijab with them. My daughter can use it too.

02. Muji pocket notebook. I featured the notebook in this post, and it’s a great catch-all stationery from grocery lists to jotting down blog post ideas.

03. Snacks. When that low blood pressure hits and you just need a quick snack to replenish your blood sugar.

04. Small metal tin box. I store my daily jewellery here and wear them in the car, and it’s great because I usually forget to wear my jewellery after the chaos of getting ready.

05. Mini beauty kit. Consisting of cleansing oil, face wash, face cream, sunscreen, tinted sunscreen, powder, eyebrow pencil, lip tint and lip oil, you best bet I can be stuck somewhere with a clean face and fresh look.

06. Disposable panties. The amount of time this has saved me in the past is quite appalling. And why do I always get my period when I’m not at home?!

07. A comb. Like I mentioned already, I do wear hijab but I am always forgetting bringing a comb when we overnight at our parents’ house so…

08. Contact lens kit. Sometimes I do wear contacts for a long period of time and by the eight-hour mark I am done with the dry eyes already. Having this in my bag comes in handy.

09. Medicated ointments. I have Vicks VapoRub, Hurix’s Cool Inhaler, Axe Brand Medicated Oil, and Erawadee No 51 ointment I got from Thailand a few months ago. I’d be smelling like luxury in the morning and a tired and sore mom by nighttime. Sobs.

Little Things That Make Me Happy at Home

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

After a year and a half of being a stay-at-home mom, I learn to appreciate the littlest things I can find in my everyday, mundane life primarily in the comfort of my own home. I do think that by doing so prevents me from domestic burnout and I’m someone who really takes care of my mental health. My husband plays a big role in this as well. He’s not fussy about house chores and he only wants me to take some time to rest during the day so I’m not tired to care for our children after school.

Anyhow, these are little things that make me happy at home as a stay-at-home mom.

The silence after morning rush

Mornings are a little bit chaotic for us as do for most families. It’s that time where I’m just nagging at my kids to take a shower before they turn on the tv, rummaging through clean laundry basket searching for their school uniforms, packing their bags (they are in preschool so they don’t know how to), it’s just pure chaos one after another. But all that is worth it when they are out the door and I am left with… silence.

Dinner is sorted

Whether it’s me cooking or eating out or going to my in-law’s for dinner, as long as dinner is planned and sorted by noon, I am set for the rest of the day. My kids burst through the door coming right at me asking “Mummy, what’s for dinner?” so I can’t afford to not have dinner ready before they arrive, hahaha.

Beverage of the day

Sometimes I order takeout coffee, sometimes it’s just plain ol’ green tea, or sometimes it’s just my Hydro Flask filled to the brim with ice and water. Whatever it is, I always have a drink on my desk. Right now, I’m having hot tea.

Rainy days

Something about romanticising living in an apartment while sipping hot tea during rainy days that just brings me comfort. It’s the ultimate cosiness I believe everyone and their mothers love. I love moody weather, although not quite when it’s laundry day and I need the sun. But once in a while is what I crave for to warm my soul.

Empty laundry basket

It’s great while it lasts. Laundry baskets won’t stay empty for a period longer than six hours in my household so I have to appreciate it and stare at it and take photos of it because it’s such a rare sighting. Two adults and two kids’s laundry is no joke.

Full pantry

Cooking is an easy task when you have full pantry at your disposal. It makes me happy that I can just go to the kitchen and whip up something quick for lunch or snack because I have every ingredient I need. Believe it or not, it was my husband who did the grocery run for us the first four year of our marriage but I’m happy to say that I’ve been doing it for us now.

Shower and skincare routine

I appreciate being able to take a shower without my kids knocking at the door asking for this and that. I can do my skincare routine afterwards while listening to upbeat songs or watching tv shows (right now I’m watching The Summer I Turned Pretty). I can take my own sweet time letting the product absorb before getting to the next. It’s the best me-time all moms should be able to have.

Freshly laundered bedsheet

Nothing beats settling at night on your freshly laundered bedsheet after putting the kids to sleep in their bed. The cold pillows, the faint fragrance of soap, the crisp folds of comforter after air dry – those carry a promise of a good night’s sleep. I love it.

Being in my elements

I love sitting at my desk. I can do journalling, blogging, updating my planner, watching tv shows or YouTube videos, or even doomscrolling – all of that is possible at my desk. If there is one thing more important than having a bed in my home, it’s having my own designated space to unwind and do things I love.

Those are the little things I love at home. So what do you love? Do you enjoy some of the things I do?

Her Little Loves 25

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

Happy salt air and the rust on your door!

I am making the first Little Loves post in the eight month of the year and it’s such a shame, really, because I went through copious amounts of little things that should have been preserved on my blog for keepsake. The past month was filled with happy moments (some are not great, but that’s how life is) and I’m just basking in the joyous highlights of my life. Currently waiting for my husband and kids to arrive home from work and school while we’re staying at my mom’s where I just spent the whole day gossiping and heart-to-heart sharing.

Nonetheless, here’s a collection of all the little things I’m fond of, at the moment:

01. Cooking isn’t my forte but I do love to cook for my family, hence why I’ve been doing a lot of cooking lately. It’s fulfilling seeing your husband and kids enjoying every meal you make for them.

02. My favourite local stationery company, Ana Tomy, held a mid-year sale last week and I managed to snag a brand new planner for 2026 at 50% off. It’s gorgeous and I can’t wait to crack into it in five months.

03. I went on a no-buy ban for two months and finally made some purchases a few weeks ago. My makeup collection is thriving with new amazing products and my wrist is donned with a new bracelet from Habib. Love it!

04. Fancy omelette is my go-to easy-to-make lunch recipe. Some shiitake mushrooms, tomatoes, cheese and a lot of peppers with two eggs are guaranteed to make a filling lunch for me. Yums.

05. Water tumblers were among the things I do not want to buy this year, but who am I if not a trend-follower. I got myself a Hydro Flask travel tumbler in Ivory. It remains my favourite everyday product and I love filling it with ice and water.

06. My husband gifted me a medium Longchamp Le Pliage in the colour cognac for my birthday and I absolutely love it! Le Pliage tote bags are great for everyday wear. They are durable and they make the best mom bag.

07. The kids wanting to wake up before 7:00 am for preschool takes the weight off my shoulders. They shower and go to school early so I can start my day earlier for house chores and me-time. It’s also a great practice for when they are going to primary school in a year and a half.

08. I bought cheap phone cases from TikTok to scratch the itch of wanting to upgrade my still-good phone. Something as simple as a phone refresh is good enough to combat capitalism (for now), haha.

09. Our bestie staycation 2025 is all booked and confirmed for next month! I am super excited to see my friends and have the best time dining and gossiping with them. We’re staying at a hotel I’ve been eyeing for a few months, so I think I’ll do a post about it once I’m back.

10. Last weekend, my husband suddenly booked a hotel for one night for us at The Everly. We dropped the kids at my in-law’s and spent the next 24 hours together. We watched Fantastic Four at the cinema, satisfied my Korean food cravings, replenished my skincare and bought some books for the kids. It was very much needed!

11. We are moving out of our apartment of five years. Our lease ends in late October, so I need to start packing pronto. It’s going to be exhausting trying to pack a house you have lived in for half a decade. We are planning to completely move out by early September as we do need to do some repairs to the apartment.

Beauty Tips I Learned This Year

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

Despite being thirty and having been a lifelong user and lover of all things beauty and skincare (I used to have a beauty blog back then!), they do not stop me from learning new things as I experiment with more products and trying new tips. I came across a few amazing products this year and did some changes to my makeup routine by using different products that I didn’t realise I already had in my collection. Doing makeup declutter is working wonders for me as I ‘reconnect’ with old favourites that just… work.

Opting for brown eyeliner instead of black

For the longest time, I wasn’t a fan of black eyeliner as they tend to make me look harsh. My eyebrows are jet black and on the thicker side, and whenever I used black eyeliner I always looked like I was about to swallow people who gave me the slightest inconvenience. I found a dry brown eyeliner in a pot from Maybelline that I haphazardly revived by using the hair dryer technique and consequently used for my next makeup routine.

OH MY GOD. Brown eyeliner on me is just twenty times better. It softens my features and I just love how shimmery brown shadows look with it. I was mind-blown! I will, however, purchase a new pot brown eyeliner because the usability of the one I currently have is a little bit concerning. I don’t even remember when I purchased it, yikes.

Doing brows first

Still at the topic of brows, I recently came across a TikTok video of a girl doing her makeup and she basically said to always do brows first and foundation later. And I GET IT. I seriously do. I used to do foundation first since the day I wore makeup, and my brows were always a hit or miss. Why didn’t I think of doing brows first? Honestly, I don’t know. It might be muscle memory of always doing my makeup foundation first.

When you do foundation first, some of the liquid will get into your brows and that makes brow carving a lot harder as you need to use a little bit more force to make it show. Often times, the end result gets you a thicker, bushy brows that don’t look good at all. Happened to me more times than I care to remember.

It’s okay to splurge on good quality products

Our beauty and skincare journey started with drugstore products for the majority of us and honestly, there’s nothing wrong with it. They are accessible, fairly cheap, and hey it if works, it works! Eyebrow pencils, mascaras, eyeliners, and lipsticks are some of the products I swear you don’t need expensive ones to get amazing results.

However, as I grow up, I like my collection to be a little bit more refined and posh. I can’t deny the luxury appeal of expensive makeup products that has us by the throat and I am one of the victims. Despite all that, I do my own due diligence and scour every part of the internet for reviews. If there is even one too many negative review that applies to my skin condition, I’d tap out. If I were to spend a quarter of my net worth on expensive makeups, they better work.

Clear skin equals to good makeup

Taking care of the skin is not a walk in the park. If you are blessed with flawless gene, well congrats to you–I’m officially jealous. We tend to slather pound upon pound of makeups to cover up acne or any imperfections on our skin but we cannot change the fact that once all of that is removed, we are left with the imperfections and that mess with our confidence.

I feel that on the deeper level. I have my fair share of struggles with my skin ever since I could remember. There are certainly some good and bad years but I could never exactly pinpoint what triggered the breakouts. Last year was hard for me to the point where I almost cried looking at my skin. I still have the photos in my phone to remind me of how far I’ve come in this journey. Wearing makeup when my skin is calm and happy gives me that boost of confidence!

Smaller but curated collection is the way to go

As someone who watches makeup videos since she was thirteen, I must confess that I had an unrealistic view of how much makeup a person should own. They had drawers upon drawers of makeup and the old me couldn’t help but think that I needed them as well. It’s with the rise of TikTok I realised the amount of makeup those YouTubers own is not normal. Nobody should own that much makeup. Seriously.

Like I mentioned, I recently decluttered a lot of my makeup and purchased new products I think my collection lacked of such as a new liquid concealer and contour powder. I know that I will use all of them in rotation because I actually do really love every single one of them. Maybe we’ll see a makeup collection post in the future?

Those are five things I learned this year that change my makeup game for the better. Albeit being a makeup lover, I do want to feel comfortable in my own skin. I want to be able to go full-coverage-full-beat, you-slay-girl makeup look one day and go bare faced the next. That is the true meaning of empowering in my opinion.