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My two small humans

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

Just me, kids, and the beach.

(sans my husband who was.. somewhere. haha)

I don’t usually post my kids on social media except for a few here and there on Stories which I know will disappear in 24 hours. It’s something that my husband and I agreed upon and we don’t judge parents who do choose to post their kids online. It’s whatever you’re comfortable with. But I would like to have this photo here on my blog. A photo so serene of things I love. My kids and the beach.

I took this photo on June 28th. We were having a family day trip with my father-in-law’s extended families. My kids were playing with their cousins and building sandcastles. I was relaxing on a lounge chair, taking in the windy weather and the soft swash of the wave. Life was good.

Are we out of the woods, yet?

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

Dropping by to say hello—I AM BACK. I MISSMISSMISS MY BLOG.

Life has been hectic, so to speak. I’m checking in to say that I miss this space and I miss my blogger friends ever so dearly. This blog lingered in the back of my mind for the many months I left it bare of new posts. I kept logging in, checking on comments and trashing spammy ones but was not quite at that headspace to form words into post, you know? And so I ‘X’ed out of my blog. For five months and a half.

Time flew by and suddenly we’re in the month of June, almost halfway through the year 2025. I must say that the first half of the year was fun and I’m deeply grateful and blessed for everything thus far which explains my absence here on my blog. I usually have things going on every week and most of them I must say are impromptu which made it a whole lot exciting.

I WENT TO HAT YAI, THAILAND WITH MY MOM

This trip was necessary. Full stop. Five years of being a mom, I’ve only ever been apart from one of my kids for a couple of nights on separate occasions. This time, I left them for four nights and it was much, much needed. I’m just a tired and overwhelmed mom who needs some time off from her kids. I didn’t shop all that much, but I did get the Gentlewoman tote bag that has been all the craze for the past year.

Impromptu trip to Malacca

Impromptu trip is the best. A few weeks ago, we went to Malacca with a few friends and their families. We stayed at Rekta Habitat, a homestay that in my opinion is great if you have a big extended family so you can rent the whole place. Our kids were just running around playing in the pool the whole time. We weren’t really worried of their safety as they weren’t any tenants aside from us the whole three days there.

Next trip?

We have a family day trip next week with my father-in-law’s extended family. I am excited–my kids are excited to go to the beach. I just know that we’re gonna have so much fun. It’s been months since I’ve tasted hotel breakfast. It’s the highlight of staying in a hotel for me. Yums.

Apart from that, we have bestie staycation in the works. Our last staycation was in December 2022 and this is very, very much needed and long awaited. Just hotel room, my girls, gossiping, and waking up the next morning to breakfast buffet–ugh I’m obsessed. We’re probably going to have a few more trips to plan for the last quarter of the year so that’s exciting as well. I love going on trips. Be it in the country, out of the country, as long as it involves packing and travelling, I am on!

How am I doing?

To be quite honest, I don’t know. I feel like I’m cruising through life without a definite purpose. I do feel like going back to work might give me some sense of purpose in life but my husband is still not keen on that idea. He just wants me home. Not even to take care of our children full-time as they are both in school, he just doesn’t want me to feel tired from being a working adult. So my days are filled with resting, me-time, reading, watching movies, cooking dinner, doing house chores, and that’s it.

Sometimes I go out with my mom during the day, and on the weekends we usually go out or visit our families. Kinda great, huh? But I’m only thirty. I can’t be doing this until forever. I need to do something with my life that doesn’t involve reading and streaming content all day long. But whenever I try to start something beneficial, it’s always “ok but I need to read this book now” or “just one more episode” or “I don’t want to do anything today just lemme take a nap.” All these excuses and in a wink, it’s already the end of June. I can’t let the second half of 2025 be the carbon copy of the first half. It’s time to take control of my life, be a bit more disciplined and thrive in other parts of my life that need TLC.

However, one thing that I’m really proud of myself this year is the fact that I have been really good in controlling my impulsive shopping habit. I hid shopping apps on my phone so that I wouldn’t be scrolling them just for the thrill of it. I don’t need anything I think I might need from those apps. I am not shopping as much as I used to and guess what? My life goes on. I’m still happy. I still have books to read, food to eat, shows to watch at home. I still go out and have good food and desserts. I get my dopamine rush elsewhere–something that does not involve spending money on trivial things.

Okay now, till then. I have bags to pack as we’re going on a day trip tomorrow!

8 Things I’m Not Buying This Year

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

I went down the rabbit hole of #underconsumptioncore on TikTok, and thought it will be a great idea to share the 10 things I’m not buying this year. At this time and age where everything can be bought with a simple tap on the screen, many of us have fallen victim to overconsumption, often purchasing items that we do not need or use. By consciously choosing to refrain from certain purchases, I aim to embrace a more minimalist lifestyle, focusing on quality over quantity and prioritising experiences over material possessions.

shoes

I have enough shoes for every occasion, hence, I will not be buying more this year. However, I will limit myself to one shoe purchase as I would like a pair of training shoes just so I can be more active.

Makeup

All the products I have now are tried and tested, and while I don’t have as many as I used to, I am rather happy with my makeup collection. To me, makeup is for enhancing our features so we look our best, so as long as I have what works for me, I’m okay with not buying more. However, I might purchase a few lipsticks here and there because I couldn’t resist. Lip products are chef’s kiss.

Water tumbler

I know that the Stanley cup is all the craze right now, but considering how it’s RM200++ here in Malaysia, I really couldn’t justify the price and I wouldn’t be buying it. I have a cold cup for my daily fix of iced water, and another tumbler fits for coffee and travelling. I don’t need another one.

Perfumes

A dozen bottle of perfume is just sitting on my vanity table, waiting to be used, collecting dust. Need I explain more? I want to finish at least two or three bottles before I can make more purchase. I use perfumes every day and they just won’t run out.

Tech accessories

This includes accessories for all of my tech, including my Kindle. The reason for this is because I love buying phone cases and the fact that I have almost 30 cases is abhorrent. This needs to stop once and for all. I will declutter my tech accessories and will only be keeping good ones.

Digital products

Knowing me, I will buy a mid year planner once they come out despite already having a full year planner that I purchased last month. Because of that, I’m going to make it a mission to refrain myself from buying and only use what I have right now. This goes to digital stickers as well.

Stationeries

Black pens are my weakness. I have enough pens for every month of the year, and I don’t even do analog planning these days. I will not be buying a single pen this year, that’s my promise. Same goes to stickers because I still have tons of stickers from five years ago during my paper planning era.

Knick-knacks

You know those small and cheap knick-knacks sitting there on your cart for months? The ones you don’t need but kinda nice to have and is cheap enough you won’t notice the small change it cost? Yeah, that. I need to remove them from my cart so I won’t be inclined to check out. I don’t need them and you don’t, too.

So there you have it–eight things I won’t be buying this year. I’m going to continue the money diaries series because I think it’s a good way to keep track of my spending. What are you not buying this year?

What’s in My Everyday Bag

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

What’s in my bag was and still is my favourite type of content to read and watch on the internet. I think at some point in our lives we all have gone to YouTube and consumed millions videos of people showing off what’s in their bags. I have another handbag for when I’m travelling and needing a lot of just-in-case stuff, but today I’m showing you what I carry in my everyday bag.

The bag I’m using is Sacha Moly bag in pure white. I couldn’t find any links online for it but you can get it at all department stores in Malaysia that carry this brand. It’s pretty cheap, too. It comes with a long strap for crossbody-wearing but for now, I’m going to stick with the short strap.

In my bag…

The Bath & Body Works rose gold sanitiser holder is a must on every bag I use. The sanitiser I’m using right now is Into The Night. Smells divine!

I go everywhere with a Kindle Paperwhite 4. I feel incomplete without my digital books albeit only getting to read a page. A small progress is still a progress.

Tissue pack and wet wipes are staples in my bag. Pantyliner, plaster bandages, and a hair tie for my daughter. My favourite mint is Himalaya salt candy. I am aware that it is a sports candy, but but to be fair I do have low blood pressure and I only have it when I’m walking out and about.

House keys and car key are attached to a Swarovski Glam Rock Key Ring I received for free five years ago. I keep my current favourite lipstick–the Catrice Shine Bomb in 030 in the bag as well. A Rohto Aqua Eye Drop that is suitable for lens-wearer because my eyes can get dry and itchy. I have Fresh Milk Body Lotion for my hands and body. For sunscreen, I have a travel size The Pastels Shop Glow Moist Sunscreen. And lastly, I have a leather cardholder from Sembonia that I got aaaages ago.

I tried to minimise what I’m carrying to only things I really need on day to day basis, and I think these are it. Maybe I’d throw in some painkillers in there, too. So what do you carry in your bag?

5 Habits I’m Incorporating in 2025

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

I’m not old per se, but I’ve been doing adulting for quite a while, so there are just some things that I honestly think I need to stop doing or start doing to be the best me I can be. Now, I’m not going to reach for the stars or anything–I just want to improve my health and overall well-being, which is crucial for leading a fulfilling life, and also create a more harmonious living environment in my home. I hope some of these things inspire you to also reflect on your own habits and consider what adjustments you might make to enhance your quality of life and well-being.

Wardrobe declutter

At this point in life I need to admit that I have way too many clothes, shoes, bags, even hijabs. And what’s more annoying about this is I keep wearing the same thing over and over again when I have well enough clothes to last me months and months without repeating outfits. It’s that bad. Wardrobe decluttering will be the first thing I’m tackling this new year, and I’m thinking of selling them so I can top up my savings. As for shoes and bags–most of them are recently purchased so I’m going to hold onto them for a while. I’m limiting myself to only three pairs of new clothing for Eid this year and that’s it.

Skincare minimalism

10-step routine isn’t always better, and I learned it the hard way. My routine right now consists of double cleansing, exfoliating, toning, moisturising, and sunscreen. I skipped serums altogether and only use vitamin C once in a while. I want to stop being influenced by TikTok or any other social medias. Skincare regime is personalised and one size does not fit all and just because it works on people who advertise it (aka, making money off of it), doesn’t mean it will work on me. I’m done spending money on new products. I’m accepting that skincare alone will not make me have flawless skin and I shall only get treatment for my skin concerns from certified doctors.

Making sugar the (fr)enemy

I’m not a huge dessert girl nor a fan of sugary, soda drinks. But boy, do I enjoy my takeout coffee every other day. To be fair, I do order for less sugar but they’re still sweet nonetheless. So, I decide to cut sugar altogether and make my own coffee at home where I control the type and amount of sugar if I’m using any. Sugar is not good for anyone’s health and every time I take a bite of desserts or a sip of really sweet coffee, I die a little inside. I know it’s not good and I want to change that habit in 2025 (I have started cutting sugar where I can since November!)

Drive more

The term passenger princess is coined for me, as I was spoiled to bits when it comes to commuting. From having my late dad driving me around, to my brother after he got his license, to my husband now that we’re married. However, taking into account that my eldest is entering grade one in two years, I need to start driving more to ready myself with the school traffic. If it were up to me, I’m okay with not driving at all but transport service costs a lot these days, and considering the safety of my children, I need to step up my role.

Body self-care

Okay, let’s rip the band-aid–I do not like exercising at all. The thought of vigorously moving my body, going to the gym, brisk walking, jogging, etc, makes my skin crawl and I stay far away from them as possible. However, I am interested in going to pilates class. I want to strengthen my core muscles and get all the benefits that come with it. I have surveyed a few studios and the packages they offered but I would love it if I found somewhere near my house. Maybe this would be a great start for me to actually start taking care of my body better. I also would like to get body massage regularly. I have a masseuse who provides home massage service so I might ring her soon. This body needs some TLC.

So there you go! Five achievable habits that won’t stress me out. I try not to set up difficult habits because I know I won’t be able to enjoy doing them. These habits are easy and while it may not produce instantaneous results, a small progress is still a progress. Anyway, Happy New Year to everyone who’s reading! I hope 2025 will give you everything you desire and may we flourish in this coming new year. Lots of love.

Her Little Loves 24

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

It’s time for the last Little Loves of 2024! I can’t believe this year is ending in less than a week. This is, by far, the least stressful year of my twenties. I want to enter 2025 with a positive headspace and a different outlook on how I see life as we know it. I’m entering my 30’s era next year, so that’s very exciting! I used to think that life ends at 30 but now that I’m turning into one in three months, I feel like my whole life is just starting. So to my fellow 30’s girlies out there–hello, please welcome me to the club!

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

01. After our dinner at IOI City Mall a few weeks ago, my husband asked me to choose a charm for my Pandora bracelet and I went with this gorgeous Mom dangle charm. I absolutely love it and would like to purchase more dangle charms for my bracelet.

02. Days when I get to be all cosy in my living room with soap operas playing on the TV, snuggling with a pink blanket, curtain closed blocking the lights from coming in, iced water in my tumbler, and writing blog post on my MacBook.

03. I have a lunch buffet with my side of the family this Saturday and my kids’ preschool graduation/concert day on Sunday. A busy weekend with family to wrap up 2024.

04. Grilled cheese sandwich with nutty wholemeal bread. Need I say more?

05. Clothes and shoes shopping for my husband and kids. I’m all about empowering independent women to make your own money, spend your own coins–but there’s just something so exhilarating spending your husband’s money on him and the kids. Oops.

06. An everyday shoulder bag that fits my phone, small knick-knacks, and cardholder. And oh! It fits a Kindle, too. Thank you mama!

07. I’m the type of person who needs a new phone case every other month. My latest purchase is this gorgeous Foodie case from the Beach collection by Cases by Azza. I’m done buying flimsy, cheap cases that don’t protect my phone at all.

08. Listing down big goals as well as small, achievable ones that I couldn’t wait to start in 2025. Why don’t I start now? It’s the new year spirit we know all too well. Come January 1st, I’m tackling one by one, baby!

09. Changing my tech wallpapers at the start of the month with freebies from Good Mondays, Haus of Planner, and The Everygirl. I’m looking forward to 2025 collections!

10. I started posting regularly on my Instagram again. I used to only post once or twice a year, but now I want to post whatever and whenever I want to. They are not curated into certain themes or anything as I found it restrictive. It’s not about getting likes, I couldn’t care less about that. I just want to share things I love on my IG feeds. If you would like to follow me, it’s @everydayereen.

11. Apples with nutella dipping. They just match.

12. Waiting for menses week so I can wear fake nails I got from TikTok shop. If you’re wondering why I have to wait for menses to wear, it’s because Muslims don’t need to pray (you can’t have anything covering your nails to perform ablution before praying) during menses so I can do a little manicure at home during that time of the month.

13. Finishing 2025 planner setup in my Good Mondays Paper portrait planner in just a bit!