Highlight Reel

Like most people on social media sites, if my little boy did something adorable or give me that much prodded smile, I share it.  If I am having a good time with good food and great friends, I share it.  If the family travels to somewhere cool, I share it.  Pretty flower arrangement, share!  Freshly baked cupcakes, share!

But that Friday night when I stayed home feeling overwhelmed because I have to sort the mountain of laundry, well that pretty much was not shared.  And I remembered that before I hit the share button for those baked cookies, I have to ask the husband to clear the counter top and move the dirty cookie sheet out of the way.

And so these photos below made it to my social media feed, because you see these were the wonderful moments I want to cherish. Social media is a great tool for capturing our family's moments.  It's my digital scrapbook. While I really want to create those DIY scrapbooks posted in Pinterest, I really don't have the time to do it in between dirty laundry, a whiny toddler, rushing for my early morning commute and being that wonderful wife to my husband.

My highlight reel are real, but they are not the whole story.  That's what I constantly remind myself every time I browse at social media accounts.  I see this awesome mother of three boys all under 5 who still managed to look so well put-together all time may have her own struggles too. This homeschooling mama whose living room look like something straight out from a designer magazine may have a pile of dishes left in the kitchen sink waiting to be washed.  That hot mama with flat abs have really worked very hard for that.

And instead of feeling bad that they are all so awesome and I'm not... I remember that they are there to inspire and uplift me to find my awesome too.

I totally agree with this writer from the HuffingtonPost when she said "Social media is a great tool for sharing joy and gratitude, but a strong relationship is built on sharing the bad along with the good.  We need to share the experiences that don't make the scrapbook and rely on each other when we don't feel like we have much to celebrate.  Let your loved ones record and share their happiness on Facebook.  If you want the whole story, give them a call."

I choose to share my, our family's moments in my feed, but if you want the whole story, email me, PM me or better yet, give me a call (hello Viber, Skype, Messenger, etc) so we can catch up on how real our struggles are and  celebrate how awesome our lives are too.

How about you, do you feel down seeing other people's highlights or do you feel inspired?

Hopping on the DIY bandwagon

I may be a career woman, a working mom that is, but I am a homemaker at heart.  And so cute knick knacks that makes a home homier really draws me.  But home-decorating can be expensive as what we have learned when we moved to our rental unit in the suburbs. And since we live under the down under, whatever is not made or grown here are imported and thus quite a bit pricey.  Well I think logical reason dictates that importing goods into the bottom of the world has to have a hefty price tag attached to it.  Anyways, I digress.  Now back to the cute knick knacks for the home.  *insert big smile*

Have you heard about Pinterest? Well, if not do check it out.  I think it’s an awesome site with an extensive curation of all things DIY and more.  A lot of businesses advertise there and it has also become a platform for people to showcase their crafty talents.  With Pinterest, Etsy, Instragram and felt.co.nz (the web is not short of crafty DIY inspiration), I too was inspired to be able to transform one thing into something beautiful and useful.

And when the sweet hubby gifted me this as a wedding anniversary present,

 

I squealed with joy! Yes that’s an exaggeration, but really while some ladies would prefer diamonds and pearls (but I don’t mind receiving these either *hint* *hint*), I was really happy with this gift because I can now find out whether I do have the makings of a domestic diva. :)

And so these two sealed the deal.  I am now hopping on the DIY bandwagon. 

So far these have been the projects made.

Throw pillows for the couch, to lean on or rest your head while watching the telly (that’s TV for us!).  And it’s amazing how these simply pulls together a lively spring aura for the living room. 

Cute matching curtains for our tiny toilet window. This pretty curtains can make doing your “business” here more relaxing.

With these small projects, the homemaker in me is equally pleased.  Casa de Martinez just got a little bit livelier and homier.  Just in time for the spring season!

I really do hope I can come up with some more.

How about you, any DIY projects lately?

Sweetest

Conversation with hubby this morning:  (actual conversation was in our dialect)

Me:  I won’t put on make-up bhe, it would take a longer time and we are running late. You might be late for your appointment.

Hubby:  No, it’s ok; we still have time for you to put on your make up.

I did my make up while hubby was waiting.

Me: Bhe, why do you want me to put on my make-up? You want me to look pretty always?

Hubby:  With or without make-up, you will always be beautiful to me.  But I don’t mind waiting for a few minutes because I know you feel much better if you have time to unhurriedly prettify yourselfJ.

Aaaaawwww the sweetest, he knows I’ve been feeling like crap lately because I have put on the pounds L  I need to exercise and go on a diet………………..All the Best!!!

HITCHED

a realist masquerading as a cynic who is secretly an optimist… with that said...that's the reason she got HITCHED ;)