The first half of 2021 has come and gone, and things have been progressing rather well. I don’t know what the second half of the year would bring me, but I do have some ideas in mind as to how I want to spend it – spoiler: they involve leaving certain things, thoughts, and people in the memory vault.
During this past month, I was able to focus a lot on my personal wellbeing and create a more balanced lifestyle between my professional and personal endeavors.
Entertainment
Streaming service(s) might change from the time of writing this post due to the services’ contract with the movie/TV show networks.
CRUELLA (2021)
I didn’t know what to expect from Cruella, but by the end of the movie, my emotions were satisfied. The most impressionable strength of the film, in my opinion, is Emma Stone’s spectacular acting skills. She delivered Cruella’s character exceptionally well and truly brought such a well-known figure to life. Another major hit, in my opinion, is the personality given to Cruella. Since 101 Dalmations, Cruella has been the infamously dramatic antagonist of the film franchise. However, with this spinoff, the writers developed Cruella with a touching and humanized backstory, albeit still on the wild side, but, for me, someone I can empathize with more.
Maturity Rating: PG-13 • Genre: Comedy, Crime • Original Language: English • Streaming Service: Disney+
THE NUN (2018), ANNABELLE CREATION (2017), ANNABELLE (2014), THE CONJURING (2013), ANNABELLE COMES HOME (2019), THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA (2019), THE CONJURING 2 (2016)
In preparation for 2021’s The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It film, I figured it would be interesting to watch all the other storylines within the Conjuring universe in chronological order, according to a timeline chart I saw online – refer to the order I listed the films in above. Right now, The Conjuring 2 is my favorite, in terms of the storyline; whereas The Nun, The Conjuring, and Annabelle Comes Home are *chef’s kiss* when it comes to persuading me to cover my eyes and jump every now and then.
Maturity Rating: R • Genre: Horror, Thriller • Original Language: English • Streaming Service: Max
Food
BULGOGI FRIES AND BUFFALO FRIES
I just realized how much I’ve been craving and eating French fries for multiple days. Two of my favorite recipes that I’ve first tried in my life are the Bulgogi Fries from Ice Box and Buffalo Fries from The Buffalo Spot. Both are oh-so delicious and their portions are more than enough for one meal.
Health
Eye Checkup
It’s been about 3-4 years since I’ve had my last eye checkup and with constantly having to look at screens, it’s no doubt that I was beginning to worry that something bad may have happened to my eyes. Unfortunately, my vision has degraded, and I’m advised to replace my glasses and prescription. Fortunately, other than poor vision, my visit to the ophthalmologist cleared away all my other worries and fears as my eyes appear to still be healthy.
Products
JISULIFE HANDHELD MINI FAN
**UPDATE 07.2021: It’s unfortunate to say this after positively reviewing the product, but in less than one month, this mini fan had stopped working. Throughout its usage, it was difficult having it stay standing as any minimal imbalance of its placement causes it to fall and stop its movement (if turned on). With the amount of times it was forced to stop due to accidentally touching the blades or the entire thing falling, the blades were bound to stop working. I really liked this fan because its physical features look lovely, it was easy to store and carry around, its lowest speed was more than enough to keep cool, and it was able to last 8+ hours (on the lowest speed) before needing to be recharged. I don’t think I’ll be purchasing this type of fan in the future.
With the increased heat these last couple of days, my previous handheld fan had unfortunately expired, and I was in need of a new one. I’m grateful that I was able to find the JISULIFE Handheld Mini Fan (not sponsored). This is a 3-in-1 rechargeable fan, in which it comes with a fan (obviously), a flashlight, and a charger. It has only 2 speeds, but so far, the lowest speed is just enough to keep me cool during this heatwave. I also love that it’s foldable, making it easy to hold in my hands or place inside a pouch for travel. My only dislike about the fan is that it has to be placed on even-leveled surfaces as it’s easy to topple over.
Gratitude
I AM GRATEFUL FOR...
- Getting my eyes checked;
- Starting a new bullet journal for the 2nd half of 2021;
- Trying new food and desserts;
- Morning walks;
- Spending more days outdoors (still wearing a mask and social distancing).
A gratitude list does not have to include major life events (but include them when they do happen). Simple blessings, such as showering with clean water, are overlooked privileges to be grateful for.
Incorporate or reserve at least 10 minutes of your daily routine to write at least three (3) things you are grateful for.
We all need a good reminder to keep our feet on the ground.
“Create the sweetness of your life.” –Henpal
