Family Updates After 2 Months in Lockdown and Why I’m Adding Personal Touch to my Blog

This is my fourth personal update post since I got back to blogging (as The Pinay Investor) last month.

It feels good to not only share about finance but also about personal experiences.

For the past three years, I focused on blogging about general topics in my other blog sites, and I hadn’t shared much about my personal life.

And now that I’ve started sharing a little bit about myself, I think it feels refreshing to have added some “personal touch” to this blog.

The reason I wasn’t sharing much about my life previously was because of my inferiority complex…

…That “I am not good enough”, “I don’t have much experiences”, “I’m not a good blogger”, and I came up with more excuses along the way until I stopped blogging for a while.

But I realized that I don’t have to be perfect to start blogging and I don’t have to know everything to start helping.

That’s why I’m back! 🙂

I’m leaving behind my insecurities and lack of self-esteem (for now) and I’m moving forward to continue blogging not only to inform but also to inspire.

I don’t claim to be an expert, but I am continuously learning.

I am a work in progress…

So, what’s new after two months of being on lockdown? 

Click here if you want to read my previous updates:

• The Pinay Investor Is Back: Updates on Blogging, Finances, and New Morning Habits this 2020
• How We Are Coping With Covid-19 Challenges
• What I Have Been Up To During The Lockdown

No TV and Netflix

I can’t believe I survived the past week without watching Netflix.

I was so motivated to do my other more important tasks that I could hardly find time to watch TV or Netflix.

I particularly enjoyed reading books this week than browsing social media or watching anything.

I think I deserve a pat on the back for this as it is not easy to say no to Netflix. 🙂

Food and Grocery

We received another food pack last Saturday which consists of 14 canned goods and 5 kilos of rice.

Not too healthy but getting creative and adding vegetables can make a lot of difference.

This is the fourth time we received relief goods and we are grateful for the support that our government provides.

Haircut day

Last Sunday, my brother-in-law came to visit us and to cut Dad, Macey, and Mama’s hair.

They felt happy and fresh with their new haircuts. Thanks to Kuya for the home service. 🙂

I also did my own mani-pedi at home.

Morning Routine

For the past week, I’ve been waking up earlier than usual.

I set an alarm at 4:45 AM. I pray, meditate, and get out of bed at 5 AM.

I make sure I’m already out in the garden upstairs before 5:30 am.

Why so early?

Because I recently discovered the beauty of dawn and sunrise.

It makes my day seeing the transition from night to day as the sky gets brighter and the morning twilight heralds the beginning of a new day.

It gives me so much peace and my heart is filled with gratitude for God’s wonderful creations and blessings.

How I wished I discovered this earlier.

This is how my morning routine looks like:

• 5:00-5:30 reading the bible and daily devotional book
• 5:30-6:00 writing in my journal
• 6:00-7:00 working out while listening to motivational audio resources
• 7:00-7:30 reading, writing, and visualizing my goals
• 7:30-8:00 reading self-help book (currently reading Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill)

One time last week, Mama went upstairs to see what I was doing.

I told her about my morning routine. The next day, I was surprised to see her wearing shoes ready to start exercising.

She’s been joining me in my morning workout for a week and she said she feels better and more energetic now.

She also likes listening to my motivational audios and she even asked me to download them on her phone.

She particularly likes the guided meditation entitled, “Speaking God’s favor over my life”.

She has also included dancing kuratsa and chacha in her morning workout.

By the way, I’m nowhere near my ideal weight goal, but I’m trying. 🙂

Cleaning and Organizing

As a mom to a 6-year old, cleaning and organizing is part of my daily chores.

But lately, I have spent more time cleaning up some areas in the house which I haven’t touched in several months and even years.

I have done a lot of decluttering and organizing during the lockdown than I’ve ever done before.

I’ve found items that have been missing, I’ve kept clothes and stuff that we no longer use, I’ve organized Macey’s books and toys and labeled them properly, and I’ve rearranged some of our furnitures and appliances in the house.

Thanks to Marie Kondo’s tips! It helps a lot.

It’s tiring but fulfilling at the same time.

My small home office is now clean and organized that I feel even more motivated to work everyday.

I have also discovered a small area in the house which I converted into a mini library and this is where I spend most of my time reading books.

Tithing and Giving

After delaying it for two months, I finally committed to give our tithes and offerings for March and April first thing in the morning today.

I also donated a small amount to GMA Kapuso Foundation and Red Cross through the Shopee App. Thanks to Jill of Frugal Honey for the inspiration.

We may not earn that much, but we are grateful that we still have income, that we are able to buy our food and necessities, and that we are safe and healthy.

We acknowledge that everything we have comes from the Lord and we feel it’s right to give back to the church and to pray and help others who may not have what we have right now.

We have also extended help to some family members and relatives who needed financial assistance during this pandemic.

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. – 2 Corinthians 9:8

Dad’s first salary and family treats

In my previous personal update post, I shared that dad (hubby) had resigned from his previous job last month and has started working for another company this month.

He received his first salary last week and he treated the whole family with two buckets of chickenjoy, spaghetti, and yum burgers from Jollibee.

How we missed Jollibee!

It’s been more than two months since we ate out, and having Jollibee on our table was like the best treat ever (during the ECQ).

Papa in Samar 

Papa has been in Samar for almost two months now.

Since he cannot go to our farm next town because senior citizens are not allowed to go outside the municipality, he just spends most of his time in our small backyard.

He has already grown papaya, melon, pechay, kangkong, talong, and other vegetables. And he has already harvested plenty of them.

Oh, how I missed this place!

10 days before my birthday

I can’t believe it’s only 10 days before my birthday.

Just like last year, we had plans of going out of town for my birthday this year.

But that plan had been cancelled and we have no choice but to celebrate my birthday at home since the ECQ has been extended to May 15.

So, what’s the plan?

Hmm, actually, I’m thinking of cooking something for the frontliners.

Although, I feel a bit sad that we couldn’t go out on my birthday, I’m still very grateful that I don’t have to go out as much as they do.

That’s why I want to honor them and give a little something to the frontliners who go to work everyday to serve and protect all of us.

Some of our family members also suggested to have “boodle fight” and sing videoke on my birthday.

That sounds exciting, but we’ll see…

Aside from that, I have also listed down some personal goals that I want to achieve or things I want to get done on or before my birthday.

These are some of the items in my to-do-list that I have been putting off for months and years which I believe can be done if I would only commit enough time and effort.

One of them is to write a blog post sharing how I manifested a car in less than three months and driving it home exactly on my desired date which was on my 30th birthday.

It’s just a simple car, but seeing how that simple dream unfolded and became a reality in such a short amount of time was so surreal.

How time flies…

It’s been four years since I got that car and I still haven’t shared that long overdue blog post.

Hopefully soon!

Conclusion

That’s the latest from me this week.

I hope you continue to visit my blog to get updated with my whatabouts. 🙂

How about you, what have you been doing lately?