It's official! I'm a Neutrogena fanatic. (lol!) I've been this over and over on my blog and I'll mention it again, "I love Neutrogena products." I did a review of two other Neutrogena products: the water gel and the alcohol-free toner. Link here. (In case it interests you.)

So here I'll share why I love this product from them. Keep on scrolling down. ;)

Product Claims

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum instantly absorbs to quench skin and deliver higher hydration levels for fully hydrated skin that glows day after day.

Hyaluronic Acid acts as a sponge for dry skin cells, moisturizing with up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Get extra hydration when used with other Neutrogena Hydro Boost products.

This product delivers! And it's affordable under $20 USD. For value, price, and effectivity I give the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum a 5/5. ;)

one  |  barneys new york leather cosmetic pouch

You guys, this is on sale from $120 USD to $24 USD. That's a really good deal! This help keep the small stuff organized. It comes in green color too. Your moms will definitely love this. 

two  |  The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers: The Secret to Loving Teens Effectively by Gary Chapman

I love these books. I've read the one for marriage and #7 below. I'll get a copy of this book when my little boy becomes a teen.

three | burt's bees moisturizing liquid lipstick

This lipstick also comes in 6 different colors. I'm sure there's one mommy will like. ;)

four  |  neutrogena body oil

five  |  nike sports bra

Really cute. Love the intertwist design with the brand's logo. This is a great gift idea for active mommies out there.

six  |  cetaphil hydrating eye gel cream

Liked! I've used this for a while now. I love that it's not too thick, applies easily and moisturizes well. Price is reasonable too. I'm certain mom will appreciate your beauty concerns for her.

seven  |  The 5 Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman

I received my copy as a gift. I could never be thankful for the generosity extended to me. I'm sure mommies with children will feel the same especially if they are readers.

eight  |  kate spade new york card holder

nine  |  lululemon exercise pants

I noticed that most ladies out here in the US wear exercise/yoga pants all day. Maybe because it's comfier? or versatile? If your mom considers this a staple in her wardrobe or if she has an active lifestyle make sure to invest a good quality one for her. She will thank you for it.

Over the years, I have covered one of the most devastating and common disorders on the planet: depression. If you didn’t know, depression affects a whopping 300 million people worldwide.

According to various well-known sources, it is the “leading cause of disability.” What’s particularly troubling about this illness is the impact it has on people. As is the case with many things in life, there is a spectrum.

Some people are mildly affected while others are severely affected. But it doesn’t really matter where you are on the spectrum. Depression can have a lasting negative impact on your life. It can even lead to suicide.

[photo source]

Just a few weeks ago, I wrote about three habits that helped me overcome depression. I touched on various points that people can do in order to help them on their path to getting better.

• The first point was spending time with the Lord. In my opinion, it is important for your soul to be happy, not only when times are good but also when they’re challenging.

• The second point was exercise. Most people don’t understand the importance of exercise; it is known to play a large role in the state of your mental health.

• The last point was to read or listen to audiobooks and/or podcasts. More and more people are turning to “self-help” options, especially if they’re illness is considered mild. By simply listening to podcasts that are of interest to you, you consciously and subconsciously broaden your horizons and expand your overall mindset.

• One last point I mentioned was to set goals. Especially in the millennial generation, goals are largely a thing of the past. But boy can goal setting help. It can allow you to focus on life and be motivated to face the daily challenges that are ahead of you.

The above are just a few things that have personally helped me in my journey in life. However, everyone is their own individual. There are many different other ways that help people overcome depression on their own. It’s important to find what works best for you.

As noted above, 300 million people suffer from depression. That’s a lot of people, and unfortunately, not everyone can “cure” their depression by themselves. So, what should you do in this case? The short and easy answer: seek professional help. The long answer? It’s not so simple.

The long answer paints a picture of the current situation for a large majority of the population. Yes, a majority. 56% of the adult population don’t receive treatment for their disorder.

What’s worse is that the overwhelming majority of these people know that they have a mental illness. So, why aren’t they doing something about it, especially the ones who are dealing with more severe cases?

There are over a dozen reasons why people with depression, for example, don’t get treatment. The reason that stands out the most? Money.

People simply believe that they cannot afford professional therapy. While this used to be true, there are alternate therapy solutions available at affordable rates. Let’s take a look at some of these options. 

There is no shortage of organizations and associations that help you find therapy. Some of these groups either work with most insurance plans or offer therapy either for free or at a low cost.

While it’s unfortunate that most rural areas don’t have a licensed professional around, this is no longer an issue due to the rise of therapy over the internet.

An increasing number of therapists are offering their services online, many of whom charge at a heavily discounted rate. Simply filter by city and dozens of results will show up for trained psychologists in your area.

I like my food home cooked. We love gathering around the table during dinner time: talking about our day, enjoying each other's company and of course savoring the food even if it's just Maggi noodles. Haha!

And because both me and my husband grew up in Southeast Asia, it's no wonder we prefer preparing meals from our home country. ( Actually, he cooks 'em most of the time. ;) )

Out of the Asian grocery stores we've visited here in Austin we liked 99 Ranch Market the most. Now, I'm not paid to do this. This is just my honest opinion.

The place is a little bit nostalgic because it reminds me of the grocery store we frequented in Singapore when we were still living there -- called FairPrice.

Our little boy loves it there too! He likes watching the live fishes in the aquarium. He would then comment and say, "Nam! Nam!". You see, he's seen their potential in the plate! At 1-year-old he's already a foodie just like his daddy. Haha!


If you ever crave for something Asian, do check out 99 Ranch Market. I hope you like it just as how it's our favorite Asian grocery store in Austin, Texas.

And oh, don't forget to check out the Sushi Bar nearby -- Kura Revolving Sushi Bar. They're the best in Austin too. ;)

I grew up poor. Many times, my mother would intercept my grandma, father's side, whenever she'd caught her throw food away to be given to the pigs. My first paycheck was around $200 USD. Life was hard back then.

Until... I moved to Singapore. Suddenly, my income multiplied 10x more. And I like it! I started to lavished myself with things and experiences I didn't have access before. I spent everything I could until I got married and move to the US with even more money to spend!

I told my husband one day, "Wouldn't it be nice if after learning from the mistakes and experiences of others coupled with the knowledge gained along the way we'd bypass the woes.

He said, 

Just because you've read one or more books about financial management doesn't mean you'll get it instantly. Maybe others would, that's awesome, but not us.

Acknowledge the problem and continue to educate yourself. It's not a guarantee that you'll be mistake-proof. We will still be making wrong financial decisions. But don't repeat the same mistakes. Get up, move on and learn, learn, learn!

We're in our early 30's now and this is the first time ever that we did this. It's better to not to look back on the years that are gone but on the years that are still left.

We hit our first financial goal in March this year to get rid of our car loan payment. It felt like one heavy stone had been lifted up of our backs!

We were so excited to have accomplished this. In fact, this is the first step to our even bigger goal -- financial freedom. We felt like we could really do this.

Don't buy things you can't afford with money you don't have to impress people who don't really care.

Have you heard of, "Stop keeping up with the Joneses, they're broke." It's funny but true.

Our generation is obsessed with appearances. I believe it intensified with everything going online. We are the internet generation after all.

Now I don't make an exception of myself here. I'm aware that I'm also a part of the problem.

Be financially savvy. Live within budget and don't forget to set aside a little for fun, whatever that may be.

Don't mind what others say. They won't be around when you're in trouble. This is your life and your money. It's time to take responsibility!

--

Actually, what I've talked about is nothing new. In fact, It's common sense. Unfortunately, a lot of us missed it. But it's good to have that friend who reminds us of these things from time to time. ;)