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My Desk Essentials

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

My desk is my safe space. To me, it’s where everyday magic happens for a homebody like me who spends most of her day on her desk. I could be doing nothing at all but it would still make me happy, like I’ve been injected with a healthy dose of oxytocin just by sitting on the chair. I feel a powerful sort of attachment with my desk and everything on it. Whatever residing on my desk has its own purpose; what I don’t reach for on a daily basis has no permanency on it.

Desk lamp

I am more of a warm light kind of girl, so I appreciate a three light setting desk lamp at night, particularly the warm setting. It’s so cosy and easy on the eye, as cool/neutral setting hurts my eyes.

Trinket dish

I purchased a bubble trinket dish a few months ago to store my hand cream, lip balm, and a bunch of Apple Pencil tips. It’s the cutest thing ever, and I love having knick-knacks that are actually useful.

Desk mat

I think having a desk mat really transforms your desk space. It also protects my desk from crumbs and water stains as I also eat and drink on my desk. I have a MacBook Pro, Magic Mouse, and a handmade coaster on it. I’d usually have either coffee or a Starbucks tumbler for my daily fix of plain water.

Apple Watch holder

If you own an Apple watch, you’d know how annoying the charger is. I have a silicone Apple Watch holder that you can insert the charger in and it would charge and hold your watch at the same time. And the best thing is? It’s under 10 ringgit.

Ikea phone/tablet holder

One of the cheapest and functional items anyone can get from Ikea. I use it to hold my Kindle Paperwhite 4. I can easily grab my Kindle and go and I honestly love seeing the book cover I’m currently reading staring back at me… begging me to stop whatever I’m doing and read. Heh.

Headphone holder

Since I have moved on from the AirPods and dabbled into the world of headphones, I have a wooden headphone holder/stand for my Sony WH-CH520 headphones. It’s cheap and it works.

iPad stand

I’ve had the iPad stand for so long, it’s borderline ancient by now. I’m not keen on using my iPad by folding the trifold case, so having this stand to put my iPad on so I can watch whatever content while doing work or eating is amaaazing. Moreover, it makes my desk tidier by not having my iPad lay flat on the desk.

So there you go–a list of simple but functional knick-knacks on my desk. I try to keep it clutter-free and organised most of the time, but I appreciate a good work day with stuff laying around. Stationeries and paper products are kept in separate drawers within arm’s reach as they can get in the way of whatever I’m currently doing. What do you have on your desk?

Money Diaries: November 2024

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

My November Money Diaries came in late this month but as the saying goes, it’s better late than never. The first week of November was fine financially, but came mid November all hell broke loose for me. It felt like I forgot my November intention of low-buying and no self-rewards. Let’s deep dive into my finance for last month.

A little bit of introduction

I am a stay-at-home-wife with two preschoolers in school. I do have some freelance jobs here and there but fixed expenses are all paid by my husband. The only payments getting pulled out of my accounts every month are 1. RM3.90 iCloud subscription, 2. RM24.90 Spotify Family plan, and 3. RM11.80 food subscription services (I get free deliveries/vouchers etc).

Week of Nov 1 – 3

No spend!

Week of Nov 4 – 10

  • RM18.10 – Kami Sushi for lunch
  • RM37.05 – bythebrook 2025 digital planner
  • RM18.41 – OldTown for lunch
  • RM15.00 – Apple Pencil sleeves
  • RM17.90 – Burger King for lunch

Total = RM106.46

Week of Nov 11 – 17

  • RM20.30 – Emart for breakfast
  • RM19.32 – Coffee (Kopi Saigon)
  • RM42.01 – sunscreens
  • RM15.68 – households
  • RM30.18 – skincare
  • RM65.32 – skincare & haircare
  • RM20.10 – Balado ETC for lunch
  • RM16.70 – Takoyaki for snacks
  • RM19.60 – Subway for lunch
  • RM36.99 – titanium rings from TikTok shop

Total = RM286.20

Week of Nov 18 – 24

  • RM140.00 – traded in my gold rings for this gorgeous clover leaf ring with stones, paid the price difference
  • RM21.60 – Family Mart for lunch
  • RM12.90 – Zus Coffee

Total = RM174.50

Week of Nov 25 – 30

Total = RM449.45

Aside from the last week of November where I spent almost RM500.00 (most of it on my education so I can’t complain there), I think I did pretty okay-ish? I surely can cut back on food deliveries (hey, what’s new here?) and random self rewards of buying fake nails (?) and costume jewelleries that don’t hold values. How’s your finance looking this month?

The Sunscreen I Can’t Live Without

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

I can’t live without sunscreen. To me, my AM after-skincare routine isn’t complete until I spread a healthy amount of white blob on my skin to ensure that it is well protected from the blazing sun. I have tried plenty sunscreens from various brands before–having been religiously using one since 2018– but I think I have found the one, guys.

The Pastels Shop Invisible Sunscreen is the sunscreen of my choice as of now. It has come to a point where I stock up on it whenever it goes on sale because it’s that good. What I like the most about it is my skin feels as if I didn’t wear anything at all. It’s not oily, but it’s also not matte. It feels velvetty but not too much.

Moreover, you don’t need to double cleanse to remove it. Just washing your face with water suffices to remove it. I’m used to double cleansing for PM routine so I do it anyway but my Muslim sisters who need to pray outside of the comfort of their home can easily wash their faces and perform ablution with no doubt.

It leaves literal zero white cast so my darker skin girls can use this without looking ashy. It also doubles as a makeup primer and I have tried this sunscreen under all of my foundations and what I can say is it’s really good as a primer in a way that my makeup didn’t crack the whole day. Now I don’t wear makeup for more than 12 hours but so far it’s serving as a good makeup base for the length I’m using it for. See how I’m saving money on primer here?

For days when I need to go run a quick errands but still want to look presentable, I use the Glow Moist Tinted Sunscreen after the Invisible Sunscreen for that glowy look. It evens out my skin tone, gives a little bit of colour on my skin without looking too much.

All in all, I’m really happy with this sunscreen. It is a little bit pricey if you buy it full price but they always have a sale going on TikTok and Shopee Live so you can save some coins and buy them during those time. For my international girlies, I think they do ship internationally if you buy on their official website.

Disclaimer: I am not sponsored. I just love this product so much LOL.

Life lately: Onto the last month of 2024

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

The sweater weather is quite cosy at my home, with YouTube videos playing on background while I’m nestling with a blanket and my MacBook in the living room. It’s one of those perfect days where nothing could go wrong – the one thing that can make this situation even more perfect is if I had a cup of coffee (or iced!) on hand. I’m not leaving this space for anything.

I’ve been quite busy this past month. I feel like I’m just trying to survive adulting and managing my home. 2024 is like a gap year that I didn’t know I needed to find myself which had been buried deep years ago during the pandemic. It’s the year where I wasn’t achieving much if you measure success in money and career currency, but I achieved so much personal and mental wise.

I spent a lot of time on my own, resetting everything I thought I believed in. I listened to myself better, I talk to people even less so in a way I kinda deviate from the negativity and toxicity that come with too much time spent with people.

However, I do spend a lot of time with my mom these days. We’d go to the mall, do grocery shopping together, café hunting together. She really is my best friend. Oh! She got me a leather bag from Italy! She just got back from her Balkan trip a few weeks ago and bought us some goodies so that’s really exciting.

My husband and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary last month so we stayed at Dorsett Putrajaya (without the kids), had dinner at Tony Roma’s, watched a movie, and he also got me a Chanel Coco Mademoiselle L’eau Privée perfume which smells absolutely divine, I am obsessed. It’s nice to spend time together alone especially when you’re a parent. I’m looking forward to our next short trip.

So, what else? Oh! I saw that the WordPress theme I’m using received an update from the designer so hello from a little bit new-ish look of Everyday Ereen! My theme is fairly new but I love the features of the latest update I just had to update it.

Liam Payne was finally laid to rest on Nov 20th. I bawled my eyes out. I cried for what could’ve been should’ve been would’ve been an epic One Direction reunion, but at the end of the day I was mourning the loss of someone that was monumental during my growing up phase. I was 16 with a huge love for a British boyband. I’m not even 30 yet and we’re already burying one of them. How is that possible? I should be at least 60 before we receive any news of any one of them passing away. It still seems surreal to me.

On another note, cheers to another year of having Taylor Swift as my #1 artist on Spotify and The Alchemy as my #1 most replayed song. Thank you very much, I’ll see you next year.

Money Diaries: October 2024

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

We are back on another episode of Money Diaries! If you would like to check out previous Money Diaries, please click here. I am not happy with my spending in October so with a cup of tea on hand, let’s open our spending tracker app and deep dive into my “wtf were you thinking?!” expenses.

A bit of introduction…

I am a stay-at-home-wife with two preschoolers in school. I do have some freelance jobs here and there but fixed expenses are all paid by my husband. The only payments getting pulled out of my accounts every month are 1. RM3.90 iCloud subscription, 2. RM24.90 Spotify Family plan, and 3. RM4.90 food subscription service (I get free deliveries/vouchers etc).

Week of Oct 1 – 6

  • RM89.25 – treated my mom and brother to Wong Solo lunch
  • RM 4.50 – Jom Kopi iced milk tea
  • RM7.00 – high protein flour and yeast to make focaccia bread
  • RM221.50 – clothes for my kids*
  • RM89.40 – books (Shatter Me and Powerless)
  • RM41.00 – new lipsticks from the drugstore
  • RM34.00 – Judy Doll Iron Mascara

* reimbursed by my husband

Total = RM265.15

Week of Oct 7 – 13

  • RM13.10 – Subway for breakfast
  • RM19.50 – Emart for lunch*
  • RM16.41 – OldTown for lunch*
  • RM49.14 – Buke Notebook journal
  • RM10.40 – Peach tea at The Chicken Rice Shop (they forgot to charge me when I came a few weeks before, so I came back to pay)
  • RM44.99 – House of Hur glowy ampoule tint for my mom and sister
  • RM19.31 – Kopi Saigon (Vietnamese coffee)

*reimbursed by my husband

Total = RM136.94

Week of Oct 14 -20

  • RM8.30 – Burger King for breakfast (my order got swapped with someone else’s so I got partial refund)
  • RM160.00 – WordPress hosting and domain renewed for another year!
  • RM20.60 – Emart for lunch
  • RM109.21 – a new blog theme from November Dahlia on Etsy
  • RM21.20 – lunch from Balado Etc
  • RM18.98 – Zus Coffee
  • RM20.24 – lunch from OldTown

Total = RM358.53

Week of Oct 21 – 27

  • RM13.23 – lunch from Mohd Chan Express (I got partial refund from uncooked shumai)
  • RM19.50 – lunch from Emart
  • RM25.20 – pregnancy tests (I had a pregnancy scare ahah all is good I’m not pregnant)*
  • RM17.92 – Zus Coffee
  • RM16.07 – OldTown for lunch

*reimbursed by my husband

Total = RM66.72

Week of Oct 28 – 31

  • RM15.74 – chicken and rice lunch
  • RM21.99 – Zus Coffee
  • RM28.50 – dinner*
  • RM100.70 – new underwear*
  • RM25.50 – Auntie Anne’s pretzels*
  • RM70.00 – KFC for dinner at my mom’s*

*reimbursed by my husband

Total = RM37.73

My expenditure this month was quite high due to my blog hosting and domain renewal, on top of that I got a new blog theme and those two costed me around RM270.00. My food delivery addiction needs to stop. It’s costing me a lot and those monies could be put towards something else. Disappointed with myself but not at all surprised. Tsk. I hope this month I can manage my money well and it’s time to uninstall food apps thank you very much.

Her Little Loves 23

Published by Ereen @ Everyday Ereen

October is coming to an end so it’s time for the latest edition of Her Little Loves. You can catch up on previous editions below.

The month passed by ever so swiftly, and it’s going to be the month where my teenagehood sort of ended with Liam Payne’s passing. I’m having a hard time swallowing the fact that I won’t be seeing them all five on stage, ever. Like, ever. It was a hell of an era.

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

01. I made focaccia bread! It took me a few solid months to finally do it and it’s the easiest and the best thing ever. I made it four times already and it’s so delicious!

02. Every morning, I’d bring a glass of warm water to my desk and crack open my journal. I start by writing the day and date, and write away everything I could think of. It’s the best practice for my mental health so far.

03. Last week, my husband and I went tile shopping with my mother-in-law for their new house. I’d never thought tile shopping would be so fun!

04. Binge-watching TV shows during the day is a great way to accompany this mama at home. I am now currently watching The Resident season 5. I’m trying to finish TV shows I started that have already ended so I can just remove them from my watch list once and for all.

05. This blog has been renewed until October 2025! I talk about the blog redesign here if you fancy a read. I love this theme and it feels light and airy that I feel an eagerness to write more on my blog.

06. I’m turning 30 years old next year so I want to start incorporating retinol in my skincare routine but before I can do that, I am still breastfeeding my youngest (she’s 3 and she just wouldn’t wean off) so I opted for its bf-friendly sister–the bakuchiol. OH MY GOD. It’s game-changer. I love how my skin feels in the morning and it doesn’t break me out. Major love.

07. Liam Payne’s passing is not in this list but my love for One Direction emerges again after the news. It’s like the Directioner in me has woken up from a deep, years-long sleep. FOUR is my favourite album from them and why did I ever stop listening to them again? They’re so good! There’s not one bad song in their discography (some you may like less than the others but even the least likeable is good!) I’m Harry’s girl again.

08. Adulting is realising you don’t need a load of beauty products–just really good, really functioning ones that suit you best. I rehomed a lot of beauty products to my sister. I’m quite happy with my small collection of makeup as they are the ones I reach for the most.

09. My favourite coffee order from Zus Coffee is their Buttercreme Spanish Latte with less sugar and Lydia beans. I must say that we are boycotting Starbucks, still, and I won’t be going back because we have a lot of good coffee here in Malaysia. Yums.

10. A few months ago, I received a small inheritance from my late grandmother so I thought I would use that money to buy gold. I ended up with two gold rings that I’m obsessed with. I don’t wear it at home because this mama has two kids to care for but I will stack one of them with my engagement rings and they look so good together.