All posts filed under: Get Happy

My Morning Routine

Published by Stephanie Jaya

I’ve always been a morning person, so mornings are my favorite part of day. It’s when I feel most active and alert, in anticipation of the day ahead. Back in school, my mornings used to be hectic and I’d be running around the house scrambling, grabbing things as I went, and eating breakfast on the go. But now that I operate on my own schedule, I ease into my mornings with calm. I get to do the things I want and need to do, which mostly involves taking care of myself, R, and our home. I take comfort in my morning routine as it helps set the tone for the rest of my day which I try to make the most of, everyday. So here’s what my current typical morning routine is like. I wake up: typically before 7. The first thing I do is drink a tall glass of water before emptying out my loaded bladder and brushing my teeth. I feel: energized and ready to start the day! The sun is up but …

What’s A Girl To Do?

Published by Stephanie Jaya

You like us skinny but we’re rewarded with cheer and a heart-to-heart pat on the back (and possibly other places) when we partake in your little weekly game of all-you-can-eat buffet of sorts. You claim to love au naturel but you, although perhaps in your mind, whistle when a 6-foot bombshell sashays along. And here we are looking down, gawkily wiping off crumbs off of our Bolognese sauce-afflicted face. Your bushy pits are a sure sign of your bona fide masculinity, while two wee stray strands of hair on our axilla would promptly activate a jesus-christ-that-is-distasteful-haven’t-you-heard-of-a-shaver-are-you-some-sort-of-gorilla reaction. Same goes for legs. While no-shave November or whatever gives you more time to contemplate on life and all, such a month exists not in our calendar. When we make attempts to talk to the cute guy at the bar, we are sluts. All night you’ve been brushing arms and elbows with eleven other girls you just met, and you are somehow a hero. You are the man. You beef about having to wait around for us so …

11 Easy Ways To Kickstart The New Year

Published by Stephanie Jaya

It’s that time of year again. The one time in the year we feel compelled to issue a list of promise and pact to ourselves to lose weight, eat healthier, sleep more, spend more time with loved ones, and attempt bungee jumping (still haven’t mustered the courage for it, and likely never will). And while moments of resolution-making give us a riveting sense of thrill and hope, kicking ourselves in the butt in hopes of changing our habits in 35 different ways seems less than reasonable and with the exception of superpeople, inexecutable. We are only human, which is why we like to start small. Here are 11 things you can easily achieve to kickstart the new year. No superpowers needed (not that we know of anyway). What are some things you do to start this new year fresh? 1. Declutter your space. The easiest way to declutter is to remove everything off the counters, shelves, and drawers. See what you have, keep what you use, and toss what you don’t. The key is to tackle one …

Life Lessons Learned from Orange Is The New Black

Published by Stephanie Jaya

I confess I’m four years so embarrassingly late to the saga of Orange Is The New Black. An avid follower of many other series, I don’t know how I managed to blindly skip this one. But since getting a brand new curved smart television (which really is just the same as any regular flat screen television, except it’s curved and way more awesome), I’ve been watching the tube a lot. You have to know, I’m not much of a TV person. I find my mini laptop suffices (although if you saw the size of it, you’d probably recommend I switch to a more sizeable machine). But now that Netflix is literally a click away on the big screen, I’ve been on it for much more than I should admit. To kick things off, OITNB is pure remarkable. The plot is no ordinary plot; the script deftly, poignantly, and beautifully written; the characters so fitting they are the actors or the actors are them; all in all the sui generis spectacle deserves all the success it …

10 Reasons Why You Are Still Single (Part 2)

Published by Stephanie Jaya

In our last post 10 Reasons Why You Are Still Single (Part 1), we had a few thoughts. And do we have more to say! Here are 10 more coming your way. 1. You’d rather feel alone than overcome your shyness. You want to belong, but you’re terrified of rejection. You see the social arena as a deep dark sea of dragonroachsharks that will bite you as soon as they sense the slightest hint of awkwardness or shyness. You are at a party in a room full of bright and beautiful people, and all you want to do is go home and tuck yourself under the duvet. You haven’t quite mastered the idea of “being in the moment.” 2. You don’t take things easy. Basically you allow yourself to be a doormat. At one point, some guy lends you a little bit of attention and you’re all over him like he is the pepperoni to your pizza or the meatball to your spaghetti. After two dates, he decides he’s not so into you after all. But …

10 Reasons Why You Are Still Single (Part 1)

Published by Stephanie Jaya

Being single is a very normal thing. We have all been there at one point or another. It’s plenty common. Like having brown eyes. Or knowing how to blink with one eye. Neither bad nor good, right nor wrong, it just is. But for those who may be desperately pondering their state of singleness – if it’s attributed to a lousy personality, frightening laugh, or braces – we have several ideas that you may or may not have thought of. Having a partner or being “taken” isn’t a superior state. It is exactly what it is: a status. Like everything else in life, its shape and form may evolve, change, or even cease to exist over time. So while you wish you could just tap your heels and the love of your life will just magically appear, you’re better off making the most of your singleness. While doing so, notice the things you do that may be contributing to your continued celibacy. 1. You are around the same people all the time. And chances are …

9 Tips for Taking Pre-wedding Photos

Published by Stephanie Jaya

So you’re engaged. The wedding planning is on a roll. Checking items off your ambitious mammoth list? Check. Next up: the pre-wedding photo shoot. Like with everything else you have planned for the wedding, your couple photos should, hopefully, be as personal as you’d like them to be. While many choose to travel to the end of the world to lands far far away, beautiful, meaningful photographs can be taken as close and simply in your own backyard (we mean it). But okay, if the backyard is out, there are endless options depending on your style, budget, and wants. So while many other parts of the wedding planning can wear you out, we hope our tips will help you to enjoy a stress-free and fun photo shoot with your beau. And if you remember nothing, remember to have fun. Cheers! 1. Determine your style. Engagement photos vary in style—formal, informal, romantic, fun, horror (yes, ever seen the recent coffin engagement photo shoot?), and the list goes on. First decide the general feel you want to go for. Style will determine much …

How Dating Someone Who Brings out the Worst in You Can Be a Good Thing

Published by Stephanie Jaya

I don’t believe in dating just anyone and everyone that comes your way. Or worse, dating unkind, selfish douchebags, intentionally. But as with any relationship, we take risks, some more calculated than others. They say to date someone who brings out the best in you. Yes, I don’t think anyone would disagree. Except, finding someone, that one person, who could do that in your life can feel like digging for a needle in a haystack. Which is why dating is a trial and error period in which both partners learn to cope, live, and laugh with each other and see where the relationship takes them. So how can dating someone who brings out the worst in you be a good thing, ever? Okay, please keep in mind when I say “worst” I don’t mean that dating this person leads you to doing drugs or committing crimes and that either of that is a good thing. What I mean is, in your relationship with this person, it isn’t sunshine and butterflies every single day. Or grilled …

Things Girls Get Away with during That Time of the Month

Published by Stephanie Jaya

The monthly cycle—the single most unforgettable experience a girl can have. How could we forget? It comes to us every. single. month. Predictably too! And even though we should in fact be thankful because a regular period signifies a healthy body, this bloody monthly episode gets to us, or rather, is out to get us. In turn, you may feel we are out to get you (and/or vice versa). But trust us, there’s nothing we wouldn’t do to be spared of the pangs and throbs of the cycle. Here’s the truth: we may or may not be our complete normal selves, and here are some things we (like to think) we can get away with during that time of the month. This list is by no means exhaustive (and we admit we are crazier in some departments more than others), so feel free to add your two cents in the comments section below! Skipping the gym. Yes, we know that it’s supposed to be good for you to still exercise during your period. We know. With …

14 Things That Are Okay To Fight About In A Relationship

Published by Stephanie Jaya

We love the people close to us. But let’s be real, sometimes they drive us crazy. And we drive them equally crazy. But no honest relationship is without at least some bickering or pie-throwing-at-face (just kidding, we hope). Unless of course you are Barbie and Ken or Snow White and Prince Charming. But hey, quarrels aren’t always a bad thing. They help us see the good and bad, enable us to get to know each other better, and hopefully bring us closer together. The good new is, there are certain things that are absolutely okay to fight about! From deciding which channel to watch to which ice cream flavors to choose, we think these 14 things are worth a little wrangling over. And just in time for the long-anticipated (or dreaded) V-day, share this list with a loved one, and while you’re at it, pick on them. So, let the battles begin! 1. Who Gets To Do The Dishes. The person who prepares the meal should never be subjected to dish-washing. So if you didn’t cook …