Warning: you may find yourself wanting to do ALL of them
3-5 min read
I feel you, smarty femme. You’ve been sheltering-in-place and you’re so over being at home all. the. time. COVID-19 has been lingering a little bit longer than we’d all hoped for.
I really hope you’re hanging in there, though. Really, take the time to do what you need to do to feel okay. My friends and I have realized that texting can only do so much, but calling or FaceTiming each other does amazing things for the soul. It also helps to release some steam from time to time.
Call your friend, call your mom, or even call your Aunt Deborah whom you haven’t seen in 2 years due to some twisted family drama. Kidding, I probably wouldn’t recommend the last one.
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The sun is out! Rather than being at home, you’d rather be doing ________ [fill in the blank].
Trust me, I totally get it. When I was in college, I was still studying through mid-June since classes were held on a quarter system. When the spring and summer months rolled around, I just wanted to go to the beach, relax, and drink passionfruit La Croix. #FlashbackFriday
Once you have a full-time job, you may miss having an entire summer to do everything (or nothing) that you wanted to do. You really need to savor those precious PTO days. But, then again, you’re (hopefully) getting the weekend off. You can choose to take care of your plants, get some ice cream, use your jade roller – whatever R&R means for you. You do you, smarty femme!
Keep in mind that you can still have a great summer. Whether you’re inside or outside the house, being in a good mood (and mindset!) is essential.
To help, here are some summer tunes to get you in that sweet zone, with TSF commentary:
P.S. The Smarty Femme’s 2020 Summer Playlist will be linked below. Follow The Smarty Femme so you don’t miss a post. Click the Follow button on the top right-hand side (desktop) or bottom right-hand side (mobile).
Weekends are blissful. After working a long work week, it feels so refreshing to be able to do whatever you want, whenever you want. You want to take a sip of your homemade iced tea lemonade? You want to binge-watch The Circle?* You want to take care of your thriving house plants? Yes, you can do all that and more on the weekends. Ahhh, amazing.
On the flip side, you can also be productive, if you choose to do so. This weekend, I chose to take care of some things on my to-do list, and I am so happy I did so.
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Below are three things I did this weekend:
1. Cut Up Fruit
When you’re starving and looking in your fridge and pantry for a snack, it feels so easy to reach for unhealthy snacks since they’re so accessible. For healthy snacks, you may need to wash and cut them up before you can eat them. But when you’re absolutelystarving, you think, “It’s okay if I eat this unhealthy snack this time. I’ll do better next time.”
Unfortunately, you find yourself saying it a little more often than you like.
To curb those unhealthy habits, it’s a good idea to start forming new ones. On the weekends, I like to chop a lot of fruit and place them in these glass containers (which I received as a bridal shower gift – thank you!). Since I’m already using a couple of glass containers for leftovers, I had to resort to using some plastic containers. But, I typically enjoy using the glass containers since I find that they help fruit last longer.
In the photo above, I cut up pears, apples, grapefruit, oranges, and mangoes. I’m actually taking a bite of the mangoes as we speak. So delicious!
2. Wash bed sheets, bath towels, bathroom rugs, and living room blankets
I had to do several loads of laundry this weekend. I like getting started at laundry first thing in the morning so I can do other stuff while I wait for them to finish.
When my husband and I were trying to find a place in San Francisco together, we made a list of things that we wanted our place to have. Having an in-unit washer and dryer was high on our list, since we really didn’t want to deal with laundromats and wait around for our laundry all day.
Laundry took me the whole day since I was doing other things at the same time. I didn’t feel that it was too much of a chore since whenever I wanted to take a break from doing whatever I was doing, I just did more laundry!
3. Deep Clean My June Oven
The June oven is an amazing tech + cooking device. It’s not just a toaster oven since it does so much more. We use it every day from making toast, roasting vegetables, to cooking and broiling meats. My husband won it from his company’s hackathon and chose the June oven as his prize (Yay!). Given the amount of things that we’ve toasted, cooked, and baked, it was definitely overdue for a deep cleaning.
I created a paste mixing equal parts of baking soda and dish soap. I also covered the oven burners with aluminum oil so the paste wouldn’t get on them. I used a sponge to apply the paste and let the mixture set for about 45 minutes. Afterwards, I used a slightly damp paper towel to clean the paste out. The June oven is looking so much better after the deep clean!
So, those were the three things I did this weekend. Below are three things I’m choosing to focus on this week:
3 Things I’m Choosing to Focus on This Week:
1. My Skincare Routine
I recently ordered some skincare and hair care items from Sephora. When the package arrived two weeks ago, I organized my skincare products in my drawers, but I haven’t figured out which products to try out first.
I’m going to carve out some time to look through my skincare and haircare items and pick out a few items to play around with this week. I’ve been sticking to my regular skincare routine (and my jade roller isa part of it), but it’s time to add a few new products to the mix. I can’t wait!
2. Deep Clean the Bathtub
This is probably my least favorite out of the three things I’m choosing to focus on this week, but one that I really need to do. When I last cleaned the bathtub, I ended up destroying a sponge since I scrubbed a little too much. This time, I’ll be using a long handle brush to clean it. Hopefully it goes well!
I’m a fan of non-toxic ingredients for cleaning solutions. My go-to solution is a mix of baking soda and vinegar. I find that vinegar is especially helpful when you need to tackle hard-water stains.
The pros to doing this is that I’ll probably take a bath after my work is done. Can’t wait to use some Lush bath bombs!
3. Carpel Tunnel Prevention Exercises
I feel like I’m always on my computer. For work, I’m on it for 10+ hours every weekday. Then, I edit my YouTube videos and write my blog posts on The Smarty Femme. As a former athlete, I find that it is very important to take care of your body, and I realize that I haven’t been doing so these past couple of weeks. I’m choosing to focus on doing some prevention exercises such as these so I can prevent getting carpel tunnel. A little massage doesn’t hurt, either.
Hope these things can help inspire what you’ll be doing this week. You choose what you focus on, so make some good choices. Stay smart, you smarty femme!
Today’s Friday. Give yourself a pat on the back because you made it through the week!
Honestly, I almost forgot that I took my exam this past Monday. Do you ever get that feeling when you have a lot of things going on, you forget when you did what? This week felt like one of those weeks for me. But I must say that it was a truly productive and happy week. Yay!
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Below are five things I made this week:
1. DIY Face Mask
I made a DIY face mask using my husband’s old jacket! Not the ones that you use to moisturize your face, but the ones that you use to go to the grocery store these days.
The only materials I used to create the face mask were 1) part of the old jacket, 2) thread, and 3) sewing needle. I don’t have a sewing machine, and it worked totally fine. Using a sewing machine probably could’ve sped up the process, but this little project took me 30 mins tops.
I’ll be releasing a tutorial of how I did this on my YouTube channel. If you’re interested, you can subscribe to my channel here to get notified when my video is released.
This is called martabak manis (pronounced mar-tah-BAHK MAHN-niss), a sweet (or savory) Indonesian pancake. It’s basically a glorified pancake, but even that doesn’t do it justice.
My grandparents love this stuff. My parents love this stuff. I love this stuff. My friends love this stuff. My aunt’s twice-removed cousin’s father’s niece love this stuff. This stuff is really, really good. You must try it for yourself, so here’s the recipe I used.
It doesn’t taste exactly like the authentic thing (since it’s usually drippin’ in delicious oils, cheese, peanuts, and lots of chocolate). Still, it’s pretty good.
Usually the filling is made with chocolate, cheese, and peanuts. It may sound like a weird combination, but once you’ve eaten it, you’ll be forever changed and there’s no going back.
3. Bittersweet Dark Chocolate Ice Cream (Homemade)
When I visited Las Vegas a couple years ago, my mom and I always made it a point to visit the Sprinkles location in the Strip. I love their cupcakes, but what we really enjoyed was their dark chocolate ice cream (which I always had in their red velvet cone). Sadly, Sprinkles shuttered down their Vegas location on the Strip and the Sprinkles location closest to us doesn’t sell ice cream, only cupcakes.
So, a smarty femme’s gotta do, what a smarty femme’s gotta do.
I tried to emulate the dark chocolate flavor by following this recipe from the NY Times. I incorporated some tweaks of my own, and it turned out pretty well. It satisfied my chocolate craving, but it still wasn’t quite the same as Sprinkles’ dark chocolate ice cream. Looks like I have go on a trip to LA next year, since this year is definitely out of the picture.
After trying to perfect my fried rice recipe for so long, I am finally getting it right. It just took a lot of research and a couple of creative batches.
The ingredients I used were the things I had in my fridge: rice (I used long-grain brown rice), tofu, half a red onion, eggs, and garlic. But I’m telling you, the secret is in the sauce. I used a mixture of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and Chinese cooking wine (which I found at my local Asian grocery store).
To me, cooking feels like an art form and is a bit therapeutic for me. Some recipes may call for exact proportions, but cooking may take some trial and error. You have to experiment a little to see how it turns out. The journey is as important as the destination. Really, you only need to invest a little more time to be 100% better. Think about it.
5. Recorded videos for Mother’s Day
I actually recorded multiple videos – one by myself and another with my husband. I won’t spoil the details here, since it’s not Mother’s Day yet. I’ll have an update in a couple of days!
Have a great start to the weekend, you smarty femme! I’ll be doing a special piece this weekend, so stay tuned…
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Been there, done that. It’s time to get productive!
~10-15 mins read
What do you do when you’re bored?
Growing up as an only child, I’ve learned to keep myself entertained. Whenever I feel bored, I know exactly what I need to do to stop feeling that way. When boredom creeps in, you feel that you don’t have motivation to do anything. But, it’s possible that you just don’t know where to start. Luckily for you, you’re in the right spot, you smarty femme!
Also, we all love to watch our favorite shows, but after binge-watching them for an entire weekend, it’s time to shake things up and be productive.
Below are 58 things to do when you’re bored:
Make your bed. Your bed is likely the largest piece of furniture in your room. Once you make your bed, the entire room will look instantly neater!
Read a good book. See if your local library offers e-book rentals that you can access online (even if you don’t have a Kindle). Here are the books that I’ve been reading (slowly, but surely): This and This.
Make banana bread. It seems that everyone and their grandmothers are making it. I mean, those bananas you bought a week ago are perfect! Here is the recipe I’ve recently used.
Organize and cleanup the applications on your phone and tablet. It’ll open up some free space, plus you won’t need to spend an extra 10 seconds trying to find that one app.
Take a bubble bath with bath bombs or use your own DIY bath soak.
You might want to first clean your tub first before doing #5, if you haven’t done that in a while!
Do an impromptu photoshoot. Put up that tapestry that has been lying around, and place your phone on a makeshift stand (if you don’t have an actual tripod). Snap away, and post on Instagram, obviously.
Take a look at your closet. For any articles of clothing you haven’t worn in a year, it’s time to find them a new place. Separate into three piles: Keep, Donate, Sell. You can also take a look at #20 and #52 for ideas to repurpose your clothes.
Try a new recipe that you’ve been meaning to try. Here is an awesome macaron recipe – my friend Stephanie made them the other day and they turned out so well.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with your makeup. Instead of putting on your everyday makeup look, why not try out something new?
Make a delicious dessert using things you have in your pantry and/or freezer. Frozen blueberries can make desserts come alive in a pinch.
Cut up some fruits and veggies now, so you can eat them later as a snack. It’ll help you avoid munching on unhealthy snacks so you can stay on top of your fitness goals. Healthy body, healthy mind.
Practice hair braiding. Try searching “Double Dutch Fishtail Braids” online. It looks super gorgeous!
Start a bullet journal. What I love about a bullet journal is that you can use any notebook you have available. See below for one design I loved doing!
That junk drawer of yours that has been left untouched for years? It’s time to finally organize and throw away any unnecessary items.
Clean your makeup brushes. I recommend doing them over the kitchen sink so if you have any crusty brushes, they don’t clog your bathroom sink. I like using a brush cleaning egg and shampoo to clean them. Let them sit out to dry while you do other tasks.
Do your laundry that has been piling up. Also, those towels that you’ve used for the past two weeks? It’s time to put them in the wash, too!
Put into motion a new skincare routine. Now is the time to see what skincare products you’ve hoarded over the last year (trust me, I have some!). Pick three new products to try out this week. Hello, glow-y skin!
UP-cycle your old t-shirts into new t-shirts. For ideas, you can take a look here. You could even tie-dye them! I used to tie-dye my clothes when I was in Girl Scouts, and it was loads of fun. Messy, but fun.
Throw out everything in your pantry that has expired. You might need to reach far back into those shelves, but you’ll finally get some space for new items!
Call your parents. They’ll appreciate it more than you think.
You’ve always wanted to research about __________ (fill in the blank). Now, you get the chance to do that.
Clean your toaster oven. I know, this isn’t the most fun but absolutely necessary. And yes, this is probably more of a reminder for me.
Throw away food and condiments in your fridge that have expired. Clean out the drawers and shelves, and wipe them down. Your fridge will smell fresh and clean and your future groceries may last longer.
Create your own Spotify playlist and break out into a dance party tonight. No one will judge!
Coloring for the soul. Find a printable online and whip out those colored pencils you’ve had since elementary school. Light a candle and play some relaxing music while you’re at it.
Find yourself sneezing more than usual? It’s time to take out your Swiffer and start dusting away. Or, use a paper towel with cleaner solution to wipe down counters and shelves. If you don’t have cleaner solution, you can always use vinegar or dish soap diluted with water.
Hang those frames that you’ve wanted to put up for a while. Don’t want to use nails? I purchased these to hang our artwork and picture frames. They are durable and don’t cause any damage to your walls!
Evaluate your shoe collection. Try on old pairs and see whether you want to keep, donate, or sell.
Replace any old light bulbs that are not working. Make sure to unplug before replacing them!
Make a delicious smoothie. You can attempt to make a copycat recipe of your favorite smoothie. I’ve been trying to make a copycat “You’ve Got Kale” by Native Co. and “Mango a Go-Go” by Jamba Juice.
FaceTime your friend who lives across the country. Tell him/her to read The Smarty Femme. I heard it’s a great blog.
Figure out what to get your Mom for Mother’s Day. Shipping from certain stores can take longer, so it’s best to do this sooner than later. Also, don’t forget the card!
Sanitize the microwave by using a slightly damp sponge with water and a small amount of dish soap. Please, your microwave has been through a lot.
Place pancake mixture in a squeeze bottle to create some cool pancake art. If you don’t have a squeeze bottle, you can place the batter in a ziplock bag and snip off a teeny-bit of the corner. For artistic pancake inspiration, check out this video.
Give yourself a foot massage with calming lavender-scented body lotion. Your feet deserves love, too.
Evaluate the kitchen shelves and take note of the things you use on a regular basis. Re-organize the items to make it easier to grab the things you use most You can also purchase these organizing containers – I have them and they are honestly life-changing.
Do any of your clothes need to be ironed or repaired? It doesn’t have to be such a chore. Play some upbeat music while you’re at it.
Use a face mask. Not the ones you wear to the grocery store, but one of these. Take a picture of you using a face mask and send it to your friends to tell them to use a face mask. Face-mask par-tay!
Get into a productive mindset by reading this post.
Make origami. While origami paper will make your creations absolutely stunning, you can use regular or construction paper.
Put up spring decorations, and remove all of your Christmas/New Year’s decor that you still have up.
Take note of products you use in your bathroom that you’ll soon run out and purchase them online! Your future self will thank you.
Step inside your room. Close your eyes for a moment. Open your eyes and take an unbiased look around. What things need to be organized and put away?
Make #47 a reality by doing the things you need to do. Let’s get to it!
Try a new workout that you haven’t done before. Recently, I’ve been doing some boxing workouts which I am loving. Who knew cardio can be this fun?
Do a DIY paint night, if you have the supplies on hand. Or, you can do a DIY fondue night. DIY chocolate night? I mean, anything DIY works.
Notice those dirty dishes piling up for the past week? Time to wash them or use the dishwasher if you have way too many.
Sew together a scrunchie out of your old t-shirts and a hair tie. Here are the instructions. It also has a no-sew option, if you’re not the sewing type!
Check your medicine cabinet and throw away old and expired medications. You can finally place your skincare products in the remaining space. What a relief!
Tap into your childhood and make those friendship bracelets that you’ve always started, but never finished. But you’re an adult now. Once you’re finished with it, mail them off to a friend. Or, you can mail a half-finished bracelet and include instructions on how to finish it. Up to you!
Do some light yoga and stretches to relieve your aching back. You’ll feel 100% better.
Re-focus on your goals. Read this to implement them, because what are goals if you don’t take the steps to accomplish them?
Create a fort. All you need is a couple of blankets, pillows, and a flashlight to tell each other scary stories in the dark.
Take out the trash, recycling, and compost bin. Someone’s gotta do it, right?
Hope this list can inspire you to start doing things and relieve yourself from your boredom. Tap into your inner smarty femme.
Let me know what tips you’ll be doing in the comments below.
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The Smarty Femme 