Krutika Puntambekar

My Hakuhodo Brushes

March 1st, 2021

Hey fam!

I’m writing a series of posts on Japanese Makeup brushes that I’ve purchased over the last few months. They are from different brands but manufactured in Japan. I am someone who has always been interested in good instruments, like pens/pencils, paintbrushes, makeup brushes, cooking utensils, etc. While I look for functionality, I always am fascinated by design, color, craftsmanship, presentation, etc. So sometimes I do get pulled into buying something for its design, or for the color. The reason I am saying this is while Japanese brushes have functionality, they also have all the other things I’ve mentioned above. But to get everything in one, the price per brush can become a bit expensive. So, this is not everyone’s cup of tea.

If you are someone that sees makeup as just something that you apply, get it done with, and move on with your day, you might not notice how a good brush makes a difference. And, you might not consider how a natural haired brush will differ from a synthetic brush. In the realm of brushes, you will find different shaped ones, brushes made with different materials and designs, etc. Below are some that I’ve picked up so far from Hakuhodo.

From Left to Right: J4005, B125R, J116, i021, G5539, J212, G5557

J4005: This is a large concealer brush made out of synthetic bristles. As you can see, the shape is interesting and it almost looks like a paintbrush. This is a large brush, but great to contour your nose, or to apply concealer right underneath your lash line or the inner corners. You could even use this for cream contour and really sculpt out your cheeks, but you would’t be able to blend with this brush.

B125R: This is a duo fibre brush. It’s made out of goat hair and synthetic fibers. I initially bought this to blend concealer, but it didn’t work for that. The result was a very streaky application. But, this works great with cream eyeshadows. Being that it is duo fibre, the brush won’t absorb a lot of the product. It’s small enough that it fits in a good size pot and covers enough eyelid space.

J116: This brush was a surprise to me. I honestly bought it on a whim, and I didn’t know what I’d use it for. Surprisingly, I really like using this for cream blushes. The brush is made out goat hair, but since it is un-dyed, you can used it with creams. I really like it for blush, as it disperses the perfect amount of cream blush and being that it’s a bit fluffy, I can easily blend.

i021: I do not like this brush. I bought it as it’s a large eyeshadow brush, and thought that it would be good for cream eyeshadow application. But the brush head is so large that it doesn’t fit into the pot that I have very easily. I haven’t used it for anything else yet. This brush is made out of synthetic hair.

G5339: This is labeled as a tapered eyeshadow brush, but this is great for under the eye powder application. It disperses the perfect amount, and it gives you more control over the application. This is a great one to have, but it doesn’t cover a large surface area so you might want to think about that!

J212: I bought this brush to use as a large concealer brush with blending capabilities. I really do enjoy this brush. It’s pretty big, and would work well for concealing on the face. I use it to apply liquid concealer underneath the eyes, stipple the product, and then blend. You could use this for contouring, or applying highlighter as well! I’ve ordered two more brushes from Hakuhodo for concealer, so will report back.

G5557: This brush is great for liquid foundation. It’s a duo fibre brush made out of goat & synthetic hair. I found that this brush doesn’t absorb a lot of product and really blends foundation in well. It’s a dense brush but also is airy, being that it is duo fibre. If you have the budget for this type of foundation brush, I’d definitely say this is a great duo fibre option.

The price range for the brushes that I’ve written about are between $25-$75. I won’t say you need a specific brush because everyone’s price point is different. I’ve found some other brushes that I like as well, and usually I like to have multiples of a certain function of brush around, so I don’t have to keep washing mine.

The other thing to think about is if you are allergic to animal hair, you may want to consider natural hair brushes.

All of these brushes can be found on https://hakuhodousa.com.

Hope this helps, and there is more coming!

-K
My Eczema Journey/What I use

February 24th, 2021

Having Eczema isn’t easy, and I definitely empathize with anyone that has a major skin issue, as it takes a toll mentally and physically.

My first patch of eczema showed up when I was 4-5 years old, and it started out as a small patch on the back of my neck. At that particular point in time, we weren’t well educated on what steroids or a hydrocortisone can do to your body. So while the cream suppressed the patch (while also making my skin darker), it never eliminated the problem.

Fast foward to my late elementary school years, and this is where things became worse. I started developing it in my scalp which never happened before, and it just got worse. I was going to a homeopathic doctor for sometime in elementary school, which suppressed the problem for sometime, but again, never fully eliminated it. I had patches in middle school, but it was pretty much status quo. This is also the time, that my love for skincare and makeup was found again, and since I had this skin issue, I was researching ingredients and learned a lot about synthetics, etc. This was because I didn’t want what I was using to irritate the skin on my face or my body.

Come high school, we decided to go with a different homeopathic doctor, and this is where things got a lot worse. Homeopathy has a tendency to make things worse at first, and then better. But, this medicine blew up my eczema like no other. I had patches everywhere. I was wearing socks at night on my hands, so I wouldn’t scratch my skin off (which I’d do very often). I only wore long sleeves in school, because my patches hurt so bad, and I couldn’t bear to show them. Anything I ate, or touched seemed to set off my skin. I had no choice but to use the steroid cream to calm my skin down completely, and this seemed to do the trick, alongside some Ayurvedic herbs I was taking. I continued this particular medication for a few years, but eventually stopped as this doctor was in India.

I’ve even tried Ayurveda, but nothing has ever fully eliminated my eczema. It still pops up, depending on what I eat, what I use, etc. However, for the last few years, it hasn’t been a huge concern to me, as it has gone down quite a bit as compared to when I was younger.

Lately, I have introduced Grass-Fed milk in my journey of healing in relation to my hormones and gut issues. Now, while I haven’t faced any sort of stomach reactions, I am thinking this is instead aggravating my eczema.

I am currently dealing with a few patches on my fingers, eyelids, and near my ear. I have three different products that I am using to combat my inflamed skin. Now, as a disclaimer I have to say that I still use my steroid cream, once in a while, depending on where exactly the patch of skin that’s inflamed is. I would never use the steroid cream on the face, as the skin is much different from the rest of the body. And, I have no idea what steroid cream would do to the skin on the face.

For the patch around my eyelids, Ive been using the One Love Organics Vitamin E Balm. This has significantly helped to reduce the dry skin, and tame down the redness. For the patch near my ear and behind my ears, I have been using May Lindstrom’s Blue Cocoon. This balm is truly wonderful. The blue tansy in it, helps calm down the skin to a huge extent. I even use it on the patches on my fingers.

Lastly, I use the steroid cream, on small parts on my fingers, or on my body, but when needed!

My mom is amazing at making this homemade body butter, which is what I use. And, there are a ton of products in the eco-beauty market which are great for soothing the skin on the body as well.

Food, stress, sugar, and products all have an impact sadly. If you have this skin condition, I’d suggested switching out your body products to non-scented ones, or making your own body butters. Try avoiding essential oils in your skincare, and avoid night shades in your food. Sugar is highly processed and induces anxiety, which then can be a trigger for eczema.

It is a complicated journey, but you have to be persistent and not be hard on yourself, in the process of bringing it under control!

But because of eczema, I started this blog, and my love for all things eco beauty grew. So, in a way I am thankful, and for the fact that I can always offer support for folks who are going through the same thing!

-K
Skincare Haul from Beauty Heroes

February 16th, 2021

I typically don’t ever need an excuse to buy new skincare, but this time I had one. I’ve been having an eczema flareup and this time around I’ve had some patches form on my eyelids as well as under eyes. Back in the day, when I have had flareups, the thing that’s worked for me is to really simplify on my products and also be cautious of ingredients. I basically was in need of a new eye cream, that didn’t have a lot of actives, or essential oils that could potentially, really irritate my skin.

I was recommended the One Love Organics Vitamin E balm, and it’s worked wonders for folks with eczema.

This is a really solid balm. The best way to use is to scoop out a little and warm it up between the fingers to apply. There is a really faint smell, but I like it a lot! So far, it hasn’t irritated my skin, but I will report back.

I picked up a new cleanser from Free+True. This is their AM Creamy Gel Cleanser. I was looking for something that isn’t a traditional cream cleanser, but that has more of a gel texture. I was also looking for something that doesn’t have a strong scent profile.

This has more of a milky consistency, so I wouldn’t say this has a gel texture. I really like the scent on this, and it rinsed clean. The price point on this is relatively affordable for eco beauty, price at $38. I used it once, so will report back on this as well.

This haul gave me a chance to replenish my Osmia Spotless Blemish Oil. This is a great blemish oil. If you have a spot that you know is going to become big or painful, applying this after my skincare routine has worked wonders. I initially thought this wasn’t as good as the Black Cumin concentrate from Odacite, but when I went back to that one, I felt like the Osmia oil works better. It comes in a small rollerball form, so makes it really easy to apply.

The last thing in my haul was the Kahina Pricky Pear Oil in a rollerball form. I love eye oils, and because of my eczema flareup, I was looking for a single ingredient oil. I was told that even Prickly Pear oil can be considered active, so I’m not sure how this will react with my skin, but I will test it out and get back. I thought I might as well pick it up and if not now, will use it after!

So far that’s my little haul, but there is a part 2 coming up because of a patch of eczema on my face! Thought I would get a few new things to make sure I do not aggravate the skin on my face further.

-K
Favorite skincare discoveries of 2020

January 22nd, 2021

Hey Fam!

I wanted to round up a few skincare product discoveries that came my way in 2020. For me the last year was a chance to dive deeper into the notion of self-care, and a huge portion of that for me, is taking the time to indulge in a good skincare routine. I’ve always found having a good skincare routine to be really therapeutic.

The first discovery is the one above, which is the Inlight Face Cleanser. This is a balm cleanser, that doesn’t emulsify. After massaging a little into the skin, it needs to be removed with a warm washcloth. The scent on this is really alluring. It has hints of clove in it, which really come through. But, I LOVE taking the time to massage this into my skin. I’ve discovered quite a few products from their line, that I’ve come to love, so I’d definitely check the brand out.

The next discovery is the famous Kypris Antioxidant Dew. This product was really popular amongst a few Youtubers I follow, a few years ago. I never jumped on the bandwagon, but last summer I was looking for a serum that was more complex than just a basic hyaluronic acid serum, and I went ahead and tried it. It’s safe to say, that I really love this serum, and I even have backups. It has all the hydrating benefits one can ask for, plus a dose of Vitamin C. This product does not irritate my skin, whatsoever, and it just adds more plumpness to my skin. This is actually a pretty big sized bottle for a serum. Usually serums, come in at around 1oz, but this here is at about 1.67oz. So, this has already lasted me about 5 months, and I use it every evening.

My next favorite is the May Lindstrom, the honey mud. This mask was always part of the line, but the brand removed it for a year to reformulate it and bring it back in a more stable form to have a better shelf-life. The thing that stands out to me first and foremost, is the scent on this product. It is truly intoxicating and warm, and feels like a cozy blanket on the skin. It has some exfoliating properties to it, but it’s also hydrating at the same time. You can’t go wrong!

The last discovery of mine is the Bluh Alchemy Body Oil. This line is small, but they make some exquisite products. This body oil is so healing, and makes me feel immensely relaxed. The scent on this is warm, and exotic. The smell lingers on the skin for sometime, but it truly is beautiful! The other wonderful products from this line, that I would recommend are the Eye Serum, and the Vitamin C serum.

As always, if you have any questions, I’m happy to answer them down below, in the comments!

-K
Exa Foundation Review

January 13th, 2021

It’s been a while since I’ve discovered a new foundation that I truly love. I’ve become pickier about the finish of products, and also about not wasting money on something I don’t like.

Last year, Credo Beauty launched their new makeup line called Exa. The first product in their line is a foundation, and along with it, they launched a primer.

Now, let me a highlight a few key things before I dive into the actual performance of the product. For a clean foundation, coming from the green beauty industry, this foundation comes in 43 shades. This is unheard of in clean beauty till now. They also have a variety of different undertones available, which again, is pretty unheard of. The other plus point is the price. This retails for $38. Most foundations in the green beauty world are well above this, hovering at about $50 or more. So I’d say this is quite “affordable”.

The finish is exquisite. I’d say this feels like a tinted moisturizer to me. I picked up two shades from the line so I can use one in the summer and use a different shade in the fall. On my skin, the finish is radiant without being greasy. This all depends on how you prep your skin, etc.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the primer. In general, I don’t like the feeling of primers on my skin, and I prefer to prep my skin with an oil for foundation application. But if primer is your jam, then this will work well for you!

I wore this foundation for a good five months, and it truly has become on of my favorites! You cannot go wrong with this. The scent isn’t overpowering either, in fact I find it to be quite pleasant.

The best way to apply this foundation, is using a dense buffing brush, or a flat foundation brush.

I have the shades 260, and 290. I use the darker one on the perimeter of my face, and the lighter one on my cheeks, and middle of my face

Hope this review helps! You can find this foundation at http://www.credobeauty.com or http://www.ulta.com.

Enjoy,

K
Want to explore your passions?

September 9th, 2020

Hi Fam!

A dear friend of mine, Pavithrah, started a Podcast a few months ago called Illumined Podcast. The content featured in her podcasts is geared more towards going within oneself and discovering who you are! She invited me onto her Podcast as a guest to talk about discovering one’s passions. Do give it a listen, and let me know what you think. The link to the podcast is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/illumined-podcast/id1524033485#episodeGuid=b2b12897-bcf8-4a7d-8015-c32fff030e41. All of the episodes are available on Spotify and Apple.

My friend also has a blog: https://illumined13.com. Check it out and give her some love!

Best,

K
1 Basic Closet Staple, Styled in 5 Ways

September 2nd, 2020

Hi Fam!

Let’s talk about how to choose closet staples that never go out of style, and how to make sure that you get your best use out of the piece, especially if you’ve spent a good amount of money on it!

One such staple that I purchased a few months ago, was a Black Silk Skirt, from Anine Bing! I’d seen quite a few slip style skirts from various brands, but I wasn’t too impressed with the quality. A few questions I’ve started to ask myself before purchasing an investment piece, is 1). Does the silhouette suit my body type? 2). Will I be able to wear this with different items in my closet? 3). Is the material worth spending money on? 4). Could I see myself wearing this for the next few years? If the answer to at least 3/4 questions are yes, then it’s a justified purchase in my mind! This particular skirt is made out of silk! The material flows beautifully on this piece, and it feels substantial.

Let’s take a look at how I’ve styled this wardrobe staple!

I styled the skirt here, with an Anine Bing Silk Shirt! The leopard print sits beautifully with the black silk skirt! I paired this outfit with pointed black boots that have a 2.5 inch heel

I paired the skirt here with a camel toned sweater from Aritzia. I love neutral toned sweaters, and a turtle neck vibe for the fall is always something I go for, as it adds a cozy look to the whole outfit. I believe the sweater is part Cashmere, so this whole outfit works for the fall/winter. When you wear neutral tones together, you can play up the entire outfit with some cool footwear. I love snakeprint, when it is done right, and I found the perfect pair last fall from Freda Salvador.

You can always make a silk skirt more causal by painting it with a plain t-shirt or a graphic tee. Here, I went with one from Anine Bing. I love the quality of her t-shirts, and the designs are pretty muted. She always pairs her t-shirts with gold jewelry, so that’s always a vibe. I wanted to add a bit of edginess to a more classic silhouette, so I paired this up with some combat boots. The boots have silver hardware, so it goes well with an all black outfit. The boots are from Freda Salvador as well.

To make the skirt work for a more dressier look, I paired it with a plain white t-shirt, and added a neutral checked blazer. I love a slightly looser fitting blazer, but you have to make sure you’re wearing something a bit tighter inside to add structure to your body. Finally, I paired this look with some woven mules, in one of my favorite colors, to bring in some warmth to the outfit. The blazer is from Topshop, the t-shirt is from Anine Bing, and the mules are from St.-Agni.

To make a piece like a silk skirt even more casual, at the same time put together, I added a crewneck sweatshirt with some layered jewelry. I like this type of a look a lot. I feel comfortable, put together, and ready to get out of the door to meet folks! I paired this with some brown oxfords that have some metal details to add more warmth to the outfit. I think neutral tones like this, can be paired up together so easily! The sweatshirt is from Anine Bing, and the Oxfords are from Freda Salvador.

I’d say it’s a great idea to think about how you’re investing your money, and if you’re buying with the mindset so that something lasts. I’ve definitely hopped on the train of purchasing less, but also buying more staple pieces that can easily be accessorized or mixed and matched to wear more often.

More style posts to come soon!

-Krutika
August 2020 Makeup Favorites

August 28th, 2020
Hi Fam!

Don’t even know how this month has gone by so fast! But, there are some makeup favorites that I’ve loved all throughout this month, so let’s chat about them.
1. The RMS beauty Gold Luminizer. RMS beauty is known for their cream highlighters and this new shade popped up a few months ago, which I’ve started using since then. On my skin tone, I have found this to be extremely flattering as it has more warmer undertones. The texture melts easily into the skin, and leaves you with such a nice dewy glow! I have quite a few shades in their luminizer range, so this formula does not disappoint!
2. The Tom Ford Brow Pomade in Expresso. I love applying a brow pomade with a brush and taking the time to draw in the individual hairs. I’d heard a lot about this pomade, and while the price tag on this is high, I went for it! The color is not too warm nor too ashy, which works well with my hair color. I like that this pomade isn’t so creamy, and so it stays put for a longer time. This product isn’t clean by any means! I’ve had a hard time finding a brow product within the clean beauty range, which works for me.
3. The Victoria Beckham Beauty Eye Brick in Tweed. I don’t think I’ve reached for a palette, more than this one in the last year. I love all the colors, and I use this palette on most days. The pigmentation and texture are great, and they are on the cleaner spectrum than most mainstream brands in terms of ingredients. This is a pricey palette, but in my mind, I don’t see any of the shades going to waste. It’s one of those palettes that you can justify the price tag if you’re going to use all the shades! This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot when I purchase an eye palette now. If I’m going to be using about 90% of the shades, then it’s a good investment in my mind!
4. The Pat McGrath Labs Dark Star Volumizing Mascara. This is not a clean formula, but again, I’ve not been able to find a mascara in the clean beauty world that really works for me. I was surprised by this formula and ended up actually liking it. I don’t have a problem with the length of my lashes, but I love loads of volume, and this one gives me that. The shade of the brush is more hourglass shaped and curved, so it builds on the product well and gives your lashes that lift and curl that you need!
5. Tarte SEA Breezy Cream Bronzer in the shade Grace Bay. I’ve loved Tarte for years, but nothing has really excited me for a while with their releases until now. They came out with a few cream bronzers a couple of months ago, and I picked up the darker shade. I do like the texture of the bronzer, but the shade is a tad bit too warm for my taste. Unfortunately, there aren’t a whole lot of cream bronzers out there in the mainstream market or even in the green beauty market. All of the ones I’ve tried so far, either have a limited shade range or the textures aren’t right. I’d look into this one though, to see if it’s up your alley!

6. The Kosas Revealer Concealer in Shade 7. Kosas has been hitting it out of the park recently, and this concealer doesn’t disappoint. While there aren’t a whole bunch of shades, I was able to find one that works for me! This is a really hydrating concealer that can be built up, and it’s super creamy. It does move around a bit, so I’d recommend setting it with a powder of some sorts. But I like that it keeps my under eye area moisturized and gives me a seamless finish.

7. The Kjaer Weis Cream Foundation in Illusion and Velvety. I LOVE this foundation. I have written about this one before, but I lost touch with it over the years as I didn’t understand how to use it well. The key to this foundation is to prep your skin ahead of time with an oil, and I’d even add a few drops to the mix as well. This makes a huge difference in application and how it sits on the skin. While it goes on as a semi-matte finish, over the course of the day, it looks better and more glowier. And, it doesn’t move around as much. If it wears off, it wears off evenly as well. I do have to mix two shades to get my correct shade! While this price tag is high, the entire system is eco-friendly and the packaging is refillable. So, you pay extra the first time for the packaging, but you can purchase refills separately!

8. The Kjaer Weis Cream Blush in Joyful. I wanted a new blush shade for the summer months and Joyful is perfect. It has a warmer undertone, and it’s a beautiful coral, with a hint of pink, and red. It can be described as the perfect watermelon shade on my skin tone, and It gives an amazing sun-kissed glow! I had an old highlighter that I wasn’t using, and since the size of both the highlighters and blushes is the same in the KW range, I just bought a cream blush refill and popped it in.

9. The Live Tinted Huestick in Grounded. I’ve recently discovered Huesticks and the founder of the company I bought them from is actually a South Asian American who speaks Telugu! Woo( I speak Telugu as well, so gotta represent)! Grounded is an easy shade to wear. The texture is great and goes on so smoothly. I only wish they’d come out with a few more shades of brown. This one in particular, has more of a grey undertone when I wear it on my lips! And, when I wear it as a contour it has a much warmer undertone. So if it works for your skin tone and undertone, I’d definitely check them out!

-Krutika
August 2020 Skincare Empties

August 26th, 2020
Hi Fam!

It’s almost the end of the month, and so that means, it’s time to talk about my skincare empties for this month!
1. The Bluh Alchemy Eye Oil Serum. I received this in a Beauty Heroes box I had purchased at the beginning of the year, and it was a great way to try out this oil serum. I love that it has a rollerball, as it makes application much easier. But, the rollerball on this was a bit faulty though, and sometimes I would have to rigorously apply it to the back of my hand to get the product out. Otherwise, I loved it. It’s an amazing eye oil with Kakadu Plum, Green Tea Extract, and Caffeine which will help with brightening and de-puffing the eye area. There is a scent to this product, which I actually really loved. The oil is very gentle on the eye area and nourishing. I typically would apply this during my evening skin care routine. I haven’t re-purchased this yet, as I have a few others to get through, but it’s great one to pick up if you are in the market for a new eye oil!
2. Kahina’s Brightening Serum. I really loved this serum. I have a sensitivity towards Vitamin C serums, and while this has brightening properties, the serum did not irritate my skin in any way. It has ingredients like White Lily, Japanese Seaweed, Argan Oil, and much more to help brighten sun spots, and hyper pigmentation, etc. I already have gone ahead and repurchased this and would highly recommend.
3. May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon. This is hands down, one of my most favorite products on the planet, which is a big claim to make about a skincare product. But, I would buy this again in a heartbeat, and I have as well. Even though, my wallet cries at the price. The scent alone, has so many therapeutic benefits in my opinion and has worked many times to calm down my nerves. It has amazing ingredients like Blue Tansy, Marula Oil, Vanilla Extract, Lavender Oil, and many more. I have found this to help with the inflammation and redness in my skin and calm it down but also work towards healing my eczema as well. it looks solid when you open it, but it melts upon touch. It’s described as a balm-to-oil texture. I love it, and really I can’t say more!
4. May Lindstrom The Youth Dew. This is another one of those oils, that I have repurchased and will continue to have in my arsenal. This is a lovely golden-organge color, and the smell is fantastic. More so than that, it gives my skin this lovely glow, and hydration! It has helped with dark spots as well, and to keep breakouts at bay. While it is hydrating and a bit thicker in viscosity than a dry oil, it doesn’t clog pores. The amazing blend of ingredients in it include, Avocado Oil, Olive Oil CoQ10, Rosehip Oil, Jojoba Oil, Pomegranate Oil, and much more! I would highly recommend this oil if it is in your budget! You really cannot go wrong.
-Krutika
2017, and visions for 2018

January 8th, 2018

How was 2017?

2017 was a huge year. I started a new job which proved to be more challenging than ever and my family had to deal with a lot of ups and downs with my grandfather. I lost a lot of free time for myself . I realized how much I value my freedom, and how I didn’t really balance my life before. Most of my days were spent being really tired from work and not have any time to exercise, read, relax, work on music, etc. Basically I didn’t have a lot of breathing room. I spent the first half of the year adjusting to a new life and learning how to find time during the week to take care of myself. I have a new sense of appreciation for weekends and I’ve become a bit of a home body but I don’t mind. Our extended family and ours came closer together this past year, something that I didn’t think would happen. It was truly because like I said, due to my grandfather’s situation and am ever so thankful. It’s been so fulfilling to have everyone together and see their defenses being dropped and just being themselves.

What’s the plan for 2018?

I don’t tend to make resolutions as I start something if I feel like it’s the right time to do it. Not necessarily wait for a new year to do so. I decided to build a vision board for myself envisioning what I wanted this year to look like and what I hope to achieve. This year is going to be hugely about me, and there’s this sense of freedom I feel as way, which I can’t put into words.

About 3/4 the way last year, I started getting a nagging feeling that I wasn’t doing much for my yoga teaching journey (which is true, again due to work) and I started questioning myself with what I really wanted to do job and career wise. That feeling that I need to go out and teach has been growing each day and I’ve decided to not ignore it. I’ve taken up some new opportunities and the early part of the year will really decided whether I stick to a normal corporate job or I go out and give this teaching thing a full time shot. It’s not easy, but I feel less afraid to do so. To me, I want to be able to help people and make them feel better about themselves. We live in a very materialistic society and everyone seems to be on this high strung journey to make money, gain some titles, and be on par with everyone else. But, while this is going on, I have definitely noticed people losing a sense of who they are day by day and also not realizing their self worth. It breaks my heart each and every time, as human life is so precious. My main hesitation in taking up teaching full time was that it’s been taught to always be realistic and to have a well-paying job that gives security. Your passions and dreams tend to be really risky and not always practical. I’m not saying being realistic is not a bad thing, but for some of us it’s like being trapped in a cage. Your mind says be sensible, practical, realistic, but in your heart you know your meant to do other things. So, instead of jumping into things all at once, I’ve created attainable steps which will show me what path is right.

I want to study more. I debated for a while whether I really wanted to get a higher education, but this past year confirmed that I do. Regardless of what happens in the future education is important. So, off to studying as well.

I want to spend time with all sides of my family and take more time to talk to them and check in with them. Regardless of where you go and what you do, family is family. There are definitely going to be issues and differences, but those are all really petty at a higher level.

I’d like to travel more and take better care of my health which I got to do last year, but want to dedicate more time to it this year.

Well this is what’s going on 🙂 There’s a lot more detail to why I chose to work on those aspects I listed above, but it’s too much to share on this.

Hope this new year brings many many good things for each one of you and that your a little closer to your dreams. You come first, and then only you’ll be able to give to others.