Unbalanced

I'm tired. Incredibly exhausted. I was late for work, I didn't make it to our dance practice and there's just a ton of things to carry on my shoulders. Well, the only comforting thought from today is the company of real people.  Maybe that's the pull of "almost" strangers. You don't have to care if they try to understand you or not, and you hold no expectations in having them around. I wanna see myself in their eyes. Simply because, what they see is what's not yet defined. They don't know me for sure, and I don't know them for certain either. It's that kind of breathing space that I need.

Sorry for this post. It must have made you feel weird. I told you, I'm more broke than what I've divulged. I'm still finding the pieces, and there's no assurance if they'd ever fit in my always unbalanced balancing of personality.

Money Wasters!

The greatest enemy I have when it comes to saving more money, is my dear self. I used to be very good at saving, that's way back my elementary and high school days. But when I started earning my own dinars, it's been a roller coaster budget ride! What happened to living within my means? Well, it must have been thrown out of  my pockets! 


To intervene with this dismal state, I had to look within and keep track of my useless spending.  I took note of my habits and found out about the following:


1. When sad, I go watch a movie and eat in kind of somewhat pricey restaurant.
2. Shoes-they have a weird pull on me that's almost irresistible. 
3. Going beyond my cellphone plan! I usually pay more than I signed up for!
4. Abrupt purchases like shampoo, conditioner, etc. when I fail to do a well-thought of grocery shopping.
5. Printing--I print a lot of texts that I could study prior to my need for 'em. I barely note-take! =( 
6. Taking the taxi when I wake up late! =( 
7. Fast food stuff  for regular lunches! 


Err----It's high time to take budgeting and sticking to it more seriously! 


These will be my motivations: 

Credits to sbk, from blogspot

Venice: Googled picture

MY FAMILY and RELATIVES!

Googled photo of a starving Filipino boy.
Someday, I wish to be more helpful to others.

How about you? What habits do you need to kill to be better spenders and savers? What are your motivations ? ^_^

I need to challenge myself even more, for me to attain my goals. =) You should too! ^_^

Don't Quit

Today, I feel so lost. Well, it feels like despite many years of being employed, of 24 years here on earth,  I have not achieved much, if there's even any. This goes for all aspects in my life. I still feel very much "broke". I have no idea how to deal with all my frustrations, but I'm thankful that I have a wonderful friend who shared this poem to me.  


DON'T QUIT

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown

Here's a road side flower. =)
Photo credits to the person who posted this on google

I will bear this in mind. I will keep it in my heart. 'Coz there isn't much to bet on, but myself, and my God. With the many things that go wrong, and the little things that happen right, I'm trying a knot at the end of the rope. I will try my damnedest. 

Tips for a Good Hair Day for Less the Cost

Women consider their manes their crowning glory. It's a crime to have a bad hair day for most females. However, maintaining or achieving the most beautiful hair in little time and limited funds is no magic. Who would want to look like a mess in weddings, dates, or even on your regular work or school day?

        

Terrible hair searched on Google photos

Googled pic again! =) 

I remember an elementary friend who told my aunt about his impression on me when we were young. He said that I never combed my hair! Well, I was guilty of that in my childhood but I wouldn't want to be charged the same offense now that I'm older. =) 

Keeping a nice-looking  hair requires effort, self-done or paid for. Some hair types are easy to manage, no tedious preparation would be necessary for it to look well put. The type you just shampoo and comb dry. Realistically though, most hair types, including dry and frizzy ones, need more help. And if you are as lazy as I tend to be in fixing my hair, well, we should really be helped. 

My hair is straight but with a natural wave. I still don't comb often! It usually takes a lot of time for me to get curls. 

Because women often worry about their manes (I am not exempt from this), the hair care industry has become one of the most lucrative and successful businesses all around the globe. From shampoos and conditioners, to hair accessories and hair equipment.  Hair care is a serious milking cow. Look at all the ads around you, and all the top-notch celebs vouching for them. 

Here is the Korean actress Yoon Eun Hye for Amore's Ryeo herbal shampoo.

Anne Curtis for Loreal Paris 

And even...  Manny Pacquiao!!! 

                                                            Oops! He's not a girl! ^_^

If you have a lot to spend, it wouldn't hurt to visit the salon for a regular hair spa, hot oil, detoxing, coloring and other similar treatments. You can even have your hair cut and styled differently all the time. You can also afford buying expensive shampoos, creams and such products. However, for the more economical  people like me, that's just too much of a luxury. 

That is why, I've listed here some cheap tips or more frugal alternatives to having a good hair day! ^_^

1. Use mayonnaise to condition and deeply moisturize your hair. Don't go for the sweetened mayo's. Simply apply it on your hair, cover with a towel for at least an hour and rinse well. The smell would be hard to remove so ensure that you shampoo. =) 

2. Instead of going for blow-dry services or buying flat irons, use your electric fan to dry and kind of "blow dry" hair. Just ensure that you flip your hair over and comb it religiously until it's dry. =) 

3. Curling irons can really damage your hair if used often. Try no-heat curling! There are various ways to do this. Some use socks or tissue, others go by regular pins and rollers and others simply braid or tie their locks in a bun! Of course, you should sleep on those curls to achieve better results! 

Here's one video that teaches no-heat curling. You can find several others on YouTube.

Credits to ShimmerGold17 =)

I'm the one on the left. No-heat curling was done on my locks!

I left the curls on while sleeping and my friend, Mau, styled it in a half-pony the next day.

4. Drinking a lot of water, eating nutritious food, having plenty of sleep and proper hygiene also contribute to achieving healthy and beautiful manes.

There are more tips available online but the ones mentioned above are more or less the methods I personally do. I'm very much a fan of no-heat curling and heat-less drying! ^_^ I've also tried using mayo on my hair four times and it sure works! It's better than chemical hot oils!   

Have you other tips? Please share for everyone to hear! ^_^

Wearing Mom's Old Clothes

They say fashion is just a recurring cycle. Even Coco Chanel had something to say about this. According to her, "Elegance does not consist in putting on a new dress."  She even added that "Fashion fades, only style remains." 

True, indeed. Some pieces endure the test of time and can still be worn in the passing of years. All you need is to re-style or splash more creativity to make vintage pieces work. They don't need to look like something from that old box hidden in the basement. Proper care for clothes can ensure that they can still be worn years and years after. 

Here are two of my mom's old clothes. I wore them after decades of being hidden in her closet. Who would think these are oldies?  Looks fine, still. =) 

This yellow dress looked very plain then. It was added some beads and sequins to make it more young.

This green sweater must be around 25 years old. I didn't  do anything but put it on top of a simple white-sleeved top. It's just a classic piece.

I am still looking for other finds from my mom's closet. I recently found a see-through laced long-sleeved black top that's really "in" right now. I will take a photo wearing it soon and share it with you guys. ^_^

How about you? What clothes or accessories from your mom's or even grandma's closet have you tried wearing? Did it work for you? Let me know! ^_^

Cheap and Quick Fixes for my Stressed Soul

With all the stresses of my world, I seek comfort in the following things:

1. Food 

2. TV

3. Hanging out with friends

Stress Buster 1: CHICKEN BON CHON

For someone who's trying to lose weight, it's terrible that food is my number one stress reliever. What have I been munching on lately?

I'm really into Chicken Bon Chon right now. They boast of serving what's considered to be the number buffalo wings in New York. Their Philippine stores are selling like hotcakes that you'd experience lining up outside their chains for a few minutes! 

Here's their price list: 

Bon Chon's chicken meals, I think, are affordable enough.  Their perfectly crisp and spicy double fried Korean-style chicken takes me to gastronomic heavens!!! I always pair those wings or thighs or legs with spicy mayo, for an even greater kick! Burns my tongue really well, mate! =)You'd also appreciate their Iced Tea. It tastes way better than Lipton or Nestea. Kimchi Coleslaw is also worth a try.

My visits to Bon Chon were sumptuous and not very pricey that's why I keep coming back! ^_^

 Stress Buster 2: TWO BROKE GIRLS

This CBS production brings together Kat Denings and Beth Behrs as a table-waiting duo in a diner in Brooklyn. Kat plays Max, a sassy and streetwise character who makes killer cupcakes. Beth portrays the rich-kid-gone-penniless Caroline who boasts of her business knacks and education. They turned out friends despite their east and west backgrounds and personalities. In the show, they are aiming to put up  a cupcake business with their skills and each episode ends with how much they've earned for the start up capital. They are also joined by Matthew Moy, Jonathan Kite and Garrett Morris. They complete the roster of the show's natural comics! 

I find Two Broke Girls as pure joy despite its poor ratings and critiques in the U.S.! It's a good way to end a night even if I don't fully understand some of the jokes they pull. Hint, most jokes border on racist and stereotyping. I watch it for Kat! She's awesome in the show! She makes being funny effortless, as for my opinion. =)  The show's mix of characters is interesting for me too.   

Give it a try folks! ^_^

Stress Buster 3: TOMODAICHI/ FRIENDS

The third way to unwind for me is just to chill out with friends. You know, just sharing laughs and stories with them. There's no need for money there, just good company. 

I found this on the web, and this is indeed true. ^_^

Who do I do stupid things with at present? Well mostly, I hang out with Joey and Clarisse. =) 

Let's live less stressed lives everyone! Find quick fixes like the ones I listed here! ^_^

Worrying About Money and What the Bible Says About It

"As a cure for worrying, work is better than whiskey."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson


I've always been a worrier. It's one of the traits I've been trying to get rid of for years now. What do I usually worry about? Well, the answer to that is something we all know. It's money. Not that it's the only thing I worry about, it's just that, it usually tops my list. Like, how do I pay the house rent and utilities, my father's medicines and monthly check-up, food and other necessities? All these demand a lot of money on a very constant, never-ending basis. At times when my wallet has gone thin, my savings hit zero and no friend's available to lend even a penny, the result is a painstaking hell lot of worry.


To further illustrate the pain, here are two photos from Google:









We always think about money and we often reach the brink of craziness due to the desperation to have it. Some people choose to steal. Many politicians become corrupt. Others are down on their necks with debt. It's a money world, indeed.

But, I've realized that the more I worry about money, the more I lose and need it. It's like, more reasons to spend come. It must be the law of attraction or something but it happens to me. That's why I've decided to stop worrying about money. Instead, I keep in mind a more achievable plan and a strategy to pay off all my bills. I've come to a conclusion that bills are responsibilities and not a curse. I've come to accept that I should learn to use money, and don't allow myself to seem a victim of the need for it. I am little by little working on a spending and saving plan. I still often fail at it, but at least, there's something I'm working on to live less broke. =)

I have also found out that even the Bible talks about money and financial wealth. It reaffirmed the fact that worrying does no good. It also puts me in perspective on how to live abundantly without going the dark route.  

Here are some of these scriptures: 

Go to the ant, sluggard; consider her ways and be wise; who having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provides her food in the summer and gathers her food in the harvest. (Proverbs 6:6-8)

On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. (1 Corinthians 16:2)

Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. (Proverbs 10:4)

Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, but the one who gathers by labor increases it.(Proverbs 13:11)

He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. (Proverbs 22:16)

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:31-33)

Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.” (Luke 3:14)

Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.” ( 2 Kings 4:7) 

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? (Mark 8:36)

The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives. (Psalm 37:21)

I hope these scriptures help you out too. =) In the end, we just need to do our best at our jobs, live within our means, save as much as we can for future needs, learn to give and share, and trust in the Lord that everything will be provided for us.   =) 


'Til next post! ^_^

Hello world! ^_^

This is my first post!

I'd like to introduce myself first. =)  It's the proper thing to do, right?

Call me Trijata. I'm your average person. You know, that random stranger you almost don't notice when you are ambling outside. I got this name from Ramayana. Well, back in college, I was assigned to study the character  "Trijata" and report about it. She is the demon keeper of Sita who happens to have a pure heart. I love her irony because despite being an evil creature, she kept good intentions. =) Her characterization left an impression on me and since then, I've been writing under her name. ^_^

This is inyaa's photo interpretation of Trijata. Credits to inyaa ^_^

On this blog, I will be writing about my penchants and fixations, my successes and frustrations. I will use this to be my own cyber Beulah, my own road to the yellow brick one. I wish to be broke no more. For to me, "being broke" connotes various implications, things beyond the financial or the economic. I wish to find myself beyond the confines of my wallet and my self-esteem. =) Sounds ambitious, doesn't it?

To be more specific, you can expect me to write about the following:

1. Saving money and being more spend-thrift
2. Frugal shop finds and frugal shopping
3. Discounts and sales
4. Personal stuff like what I've been doing, reading, watching, etc!
5. Poems and Short stories =)
6. Slice of life realizations and more!

I look forward to blogging more this 2012!
I hope you find some things of interest to you too here. =)


'Til next post! ^_^