June 28, 2015
Growing up in a Filipino household, I’ve always been taught to be gracious for things, whether for food or other items. My relatives instilled an appreciation in me for gifts received, items purchased and things made. On the other hand,…
June 21, 2015
The other night as I was walking my dog Lilo, I noticed three police cars on our street. We live in a quiet residential neighborhood, so this is not a typical sighting. As I walked by I learned that someone…
June 14, 2015
The one thing I’ve learned about myself in recent years is what a planner I’ve become. While I enjoy occasional spontaneity, for the most part, I like to know what I’m going to do before I do it. I write…
June 7, 2015
Finding a coffee table to go with the couch in our home has not been an easy feat. The couch is modular and can be transformed into a sectional, pulled apart to make individual seating, or pushed together to make…
June 1, 2015
To keep my home clean and as close to clutter-free as possible, I try to stick to items that have dual purposes. Our guest room has a vanity that doubles as a nightstand, and our entry table doubles as extra…
May 26, 2015
I have found that keeping things tidy around the home is much easier if you can plan for a little bit of laziness. I have a catchall tray on our entrance table for mail and keys, with adjacent space for…
May 19, 2015
Classes officially are over, summer vacation is in swing and the relaxation now can commence. While I plan to get in my fair share of activities, I also find relief in the little things I don’t take the time to…
April 19, 2015
Growing up, questions about bodily functions were always met with detailed explanations using proper medical terminology, seeing as my parents were both in the medical field. When it comes to cleaning, the same logic follows. I have friends who detest…
April 13, 2015
I always have been a details type of person. I have a tendency to hone in on the small stuff, which helped tremendously in my work as an editor. I have found that paying attention to tiny details can add…
April 6, 2015
Lately, I’ve been feeling an extra dose of nostalgia. I have been combing through pictures of friends and family from as far back as 30 years ago, and I can’t help but think the very cliché thought that “time flies…
March 29, 2015
I’ve noticed that changing preferences isn’t limited to edible fare. My personal taste in other goods, such as clothing or home items, also has evolved. No longer do I lean toward trendy looks and too-good-to-be-true deals. Instead, the top adjectives…
March 22, 2015
Spring break is a special week for many reasons. I’m anxious to have a week to catch up on things, and ever since I started graduate school, I’ve saved special projects for times like these. Topping my list this week…
March 16, 2015
I’ve tried many times to plant — and maintain — a garden. I’ve tried different herbs, succulents, flowers and other plants that have been said to require little watering, fer-tilizing and care in general. But what I’ve found is that…
March 12, 2015
Not too long ago, I was going through the stage in life when all of my friends were getting engaged and married. Now, it seems as though most of them are moving on to the next step: having babies. Two…
March 1, 2015
It amazes me how much my preferences have changed over the years. Not only do I now like olives and spicy food, which were untouchables a few years ago, but I also find fun in simple, everyday pleasures. This past…
February 22, 2015
I recently started using a wrist-based pedometer. I figured it would be a good way to motivate myself to take some extra steps whenever I could. I have been taking extra-long walks with my dog Lilo, and haven’t batted an…
February 15, 2015
Fresh off Valentine’s Day and just a few days before my husband’s and my six-month anniversary, I am feeling the love in the air. It’s put me in a good place as I help my cousin gear up for her…
February 8, 2015
Every family has someone that is at least mildly obsessed with gadgets and all things tech. For us, that person is my brother Raymond. He’s our go-to-guy when we have any questions about which new phone we should buy or…
February 1, 2015
My sister and her husband moved into a new home a few months ago, just weeks after having their first baby. Needless to say, the home is still a work in progress. They just finished unpacking and are now trying…
January 25, 2015
They say that to keep a dog sharp, you should teach them new tricks every so often. Among my favorites for our dog Lilo are playing dead and rolling over. But one of her most recent tricks she learned herself…