I'M GROWING AND REFINING MY EDGE

Reading Journey

        I’ve started reading again, and honestly, it feels great to be back at it. I picked up a motivational book today because I need the drive to move forward. It’s all about how successful people think, and I have to say, after just a few pages, I’m already feeling more inspired. What’s cool about this one is that, unlike most motivational books that focus on what to think, this one is about how to think. A lot of the time, these kinds of books are a bit of a slog, they’re heavy on the terminology, and I often find myself googling words or phrases. So, motivational books wouldn’t usually be my go-to. But this one’s different. It’s super easy to read, and everything it talks about feels so relatable. I’m actually hooked on it, which is rare for me with this type of book. It’s not that long either, so I’ll probably finish it in a week or two. I have a few selections of my favorites. I used to be all about sci-fi, but as I’ve gotten older, my interests have shifted. Now, I’m more drawn to books about life, things that feel relatable to what I actually experience day to day. I still enjoy thrillers and scary books, but I don’t read them as much as I used to. 

Passenger Princess & Salads Issue

        For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been living the passenger princess life, and I’m loving it! Having someone drop me off and pick me up after work feels like a dream come true. Hubby recently made a career switch and his new office is only 15 to 20 minutes away from mine, so we figured, why waste extra money on petrol when we can carpool? It's saving us a few extra bucks, which we’ve been using to make healthier food choices for our daily meals. Speaking of healthier choices, why do they have to be so expensive? I totally get why a lot of people choose to go the other way. They simply can’t afford it. It’s not really a choice when healthier options are priced out of reach, is it? I mean, how can a bowl of salad cost more than a plate of rice? It just doesn’t add up. Sure, I understand that some ingredients in the dressing are imported or of higher quality, but that alone doesn’t justify the price. Some of these salads are ridiculously expensive, to the point where it almost feels unreasonable, at least to me. I don’t know about you, but I’m not spending money on something that isn’t worth it. Honestly, I could make the same salad at home with the exact same ingredients for half of the price. I could probably have that same premium salad 4-5 times for what they charge for just one! 

Homemade Cooking

        I’ve been making my own baked granola lately, and it costs me less than 5 bucks for a big batch of healthy, homemade goodness. Honestly, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made. It tastes great and looks good. I’m just glad I have the option to make it myself instead of spending a ton of money on stuff I don’t need. I’ve also started making my own breakfast and lunch. I’ve been wanting to cook all my meals forever, but time was always an issue. Now that I’ve figured out how to set aside some time for meal prep, my breakfasts and lunches have completely changed. There’s something so comforting about eating home-cooked meals. Knowing exactly where the ingredients come from, how clean everything is, and being involved in the whole process just makes the food taste a hundred times better. Plus, I can customize everything to my liking and make healthier choices. It’s been amazing, and I’m hoping to keep this up for as long as I can. The best part is being able to cook for my husband. It’s incredibly rewarding to prepare meals for someone I love. I always ask him how the food turned out. Sometimes it’s excellent, other times, not so much. There are days when my toast ends up soggy and the eggs are overcooked. But then there are times when my chicken wraps are spot-on, almost like something you’d get from a restaurant. Every day is a new experience, and I really enjoy experimenting with my cooking.

Birthday Celebration

        My birthday was two days ago, and we went out for dinner last night at our usual spot. Hubby surprised me with fresh flowers and a wallet as my birthday gift. The food was up to my standards. We got a 12-inch Margherita pizza topped with creamy burrata cheese and some basil, sweet potato fries, and for dessert, a peach strudel (because I’ve got a sweet tooth!). It was our first time trying most of these dishes, except the peach strudel, which is something we always get. I’m glad we decided to be bold and try something new. It felt a bit risky, but luckily, everything turned out delicious. After dinner, we took some pictures and recorded videos for my vlog. The place was packed since the kids are on a one-week school break, and it honestly felt like a giant vacuum with all those people. It was so hot, I was practically sweating buckets. I wore a black dress with an oversized blazer, a printed black scarf, and black quarter-high boots. Hubby kept it simple with a black shirt, gray pants, and black loafers. Safe to say, we had a classy black theme going on! My makeup was on point last night, not the best I’ve ever done, but it went really well with my outfit. I wore my favorite baby blue contact lenses, and they fit my eyes perfectly. I didn’t start wearing contacts until my wedding, but ever since then, I’ve been hooked. I also treated myself to a new lipstick, and I’ve been obsessed with the color. The combination with my lipliner was just fire! Overall, I was really happy with my look last night, and I’m pretty sure hubby was too. 

Healthy Lifestyle

        Hubby and I just bought road bikes! It was totally unplanned, but now we’ve got these bikes parked at our house. Honestly, I love doing things on a whim. It makes life so much more fun and interesting. Of course, it cost us quite a bit, especially since we had to get everything tuned to our preferences. But no regrets! We had to take the bikes to a specific shop because road bikes are way more delicate and technical than regular bicycles. They need to be handled by specialists. A fully tuned road bike can go for 10k or more! Alif Satar’s road bike apparently costs around 50k! That’s the price of a car for a bike, which is just crazy. Since it’s a long weekend, we’re planning to ride the bikes tomorrow. But you can’t just ride anywhere, you can actually get sued if you’re not careful. Road bikes aren’t allowed on highways because it’s dangerous for both the rider and the public. And you’ve got to wear proper gear, day or night. It’s the real deal, so I’m taking it seriously. Safety first, always! 

        We had nothing on our schedule today, so we decided to go for a run in Putrajaya. It’s such a great spot for running, especially if you’re aiming to cover more than 5 miles. The scenery is beautiful, which helps keep you going without getting tired easily. Highly recommend it! I’m planning to do a 5-mile run today, so let’s see if I can pull it off. My usual run is 3 miles at an 8.5 pace, but I’ve been challenging myself because I’m prepping for a 10-mile run I signed up for under the Garmin event in October. Technically, it’s not a marathon, but for me, it’s close enough! Hubby signed me up and even paid the fee. He initially wanted to join the 21-mile run, but I asked him not to, so he could focus on helping me push through. I’m determined to get that medal! I’ve been running regularly for a few weeks now and doing pretty well. Hubby even set me up with a new running plan that syncs with my Apple Watch to help track my pace and endurance. I’m tired, but not as wiped out as I used to be. I’ve also added a 200-meter recovery walk after every mile, which helps me recharge. Over time, I plan to reduce that recovery time while increasing my distance to keep pushing myself further. I’ve been doing HIIT for a few weeks now, trying to tackle that stubborn fat especially around my belly and cheeks. I also want to shape up my muscles, so it’s been hard work, but I know I’ll get there eventually. 

        Hubby’s been into weightlifting for a while too. He’s aiming for a great body, just like I am. It’s nice that we’re both committed to looking good for each other, feeling confident, and leading a healthy life, not just for ourselves but for our future kids and the people we love. I have to give credit to my hubby for always pushing me beyond my limits and lifting me up when I’m feeling unmotivated or when life feels overwhelming. He’s the one who taught me that strong will and determination are the keys to success. I used to think time was too limited, like there wasn’t enough of it to do anything beyond work and rest. But now I realize that time is something you have to create, make an effort for, and prioritize. You may not be able to control time itself, but you can definitely shape your habits and lifestyle around the time you have. It’s all about priorities and how determined you are to reach your goals.

Vlogging 

        I’ve recently started vlogging, and honestly, it’s funny because I have no idea what I’m doing, and I’m super shy on camera. I haven’t posted anything yet, but I’ve got a few videos on my phone, just waiting to be edited and uploaded. I was totally influenced by my favorite YouTuber, Alia Zaita. I’m obsessed with her vlogs and watch them almost every day. There’s just something so soothing about her content, and it makes me want to live a life like hers. She and her husband even have a podcast that I listen to all the time. I relate to her life so much, it’s like we’re the same person with different personalities. Her video editing skills are incredible. It feels like I’m living her life, visiting the same places, and eating the same food. It’s all on video, but it feels so real and alive. That’s what I want to do, record my life and create something I can look back on when I’m older. I’m making this my New Year’s resolution, and since it’s already September, I’ve got a few months to get over any doubts. Next year, I’m going to make it happen. Sure, there’ll be people who talk, comment, judge, and question my project, but honestly, who cares? I know what I’m doing, and there’s nothing wrong with it. Plus, I’ve got all the support I need from my family, husband, and friends, and that’s enough to keep me going.