earth day

Earth Day 2020

6:34 PM

Happy Earth Day Mother Nature! Thank you for all the natural gifts you've given us: the waters, the skies, the dirt, the animals, life, beauty. So many of my favorite memories are when I'm in nature, surrounded by the tress around be and the skies above me. Keep this one short and sweet but full of photos from some of my favorite memories.
What has been your favorite outdoor memory? Share them with me in the comments.


With love,

Linh

decor

Cozy Quarantine Corner

4:49 PM


It’s so important to take care of your mental health. It took me about 3 weeks to mentally shake off the crippling stress and anxiety I had been feeling. I found myself diving into the dark places in my mind without being able to find a way out. My routine was wake up, eat breakfast, sit on the couch for hours, lunch, couch, dinner then bed. I wasn't in the mood to do anything AT ALL.


 I'm not ashamed to admit it because it was my reality. It was difficult and it was horrible but eventually, I was able to get myself out of it. I'm saying this to you now, praying that it will give you hope as well (if you happen to be in that dark place). It wasn't until this week that I truly began to feel like myself again. I started making small to do lists and started working on little projects to keep my mind busy. In the midst of it all, I realized I needed a positive place for me, where I could unwind and decompress. While organizing the office/craft room, I decided to dedicate a corner for this purpose alone. Hence, the birth of the cozy quarantine corner!

Now it's one of my favorite corners of the house and I come here whenever I need a little extra dose of happy. Here's what I added to mine:

Books
Currently reading the To All the Boys I’ve Loved series by Jenny Han! I told myself I wouldn’t let myself watch the 2nd movie until I finished the 2nd book.


Journal & Pen
In a time where we are being overloaded with bad news, it’s important to fill our souls with good news as well. I decided to start a gratitude journal to write down all the good things that were happening. One day when this is all over, I’d like to have something to look back on to remind myself that I got through it.


Scrapbooking
Being able to create something always puts me in a great mood. To make something beautiful out of random scraps of tape and paper is always so fulfilling to me. At the end of it all, you have something wonderful to look back and reflect on.


iPad & Pencil
I’m one of those people that can listen to music, podcasts, movies or TV shows when I’m doing anything else. I love listening to music from the moment I wake up to the moment I fall asleep. Music can change my mood in a second. Here are some of my favorite apps at the moment: Hulu, Podcasts, Procreate & Spotify.
  

Water & Refill
It's so important to stay hydrated. I remember numerous times where I’m so focused on a project that I forget to drink water. So having it within reach leaves little room for excuses. Stay happy, stay healthy.


Devotional/Everyday Worship
Faith has been helping me through this crazy time so much. Anytime I feel overwhelmed or I’m at the point where I’m about to hit a mental wall, I pray. I start my morning with a prayer, sprinkle a few more throughout the day and then end my night with another one. The book I’m reading now is Beholding and Becoming - The Art of Everyday Worship by Ruth Chou Simmons.


Nintendo 3DS XL
Or any game console of some sort. I know Animal Crossing on the Nintendo Switch Lite is super popular right now. While cleaning the office, I found the charger to my 3DS so I decided to save my money and not buy the Switch Lite (even though I really want to play with my friends lol.. must resist). I also made a promise to myself that I wouldn't even entertain the idea of seriously buying a Switch Lite until I beat Zelda: A Link Between Worlds on the 3DS.


Comfy Chair
Of course you’ll need a chair or small couch for seating. Another option is to place a blanket on the floor and add a lot of pillows for floor seats. No need to spend money, just find things around the house that you can repurpose and reuse.

Blanket/Shawl & Pillows
Add a soft blanket and some pillows too complete the cozy corner. Robes are fully welcomed in the cozy Q corner.


If you create a space like this for your home, please share it with me by tagging me on Instagram: @labouroflovecrafts using the hashtag #cozyQcorner.


I hope you and all your loved ones are staying safe and more importantly sane. Sending you so much love (from a distance). If you need anyone to talk to, please know that I'm here.

 

With love,
Linh
Disclaimer: I understand that being able to create this safe space in my home is a luxury and privilege. I know a lot of people around the world don't even feel safe in their own home due to being forced to stay in a home with an abuser or having to share a space with someone who may be ill. This post was not written with the intent to boast or brag, I just feel that mental health is so important having dealt with anxiety and depression myself. I know others are having a much more difficult time than me but I just wanted to share some ideas to hopefully spark some ideas for you as well. I wanted to provide alternative options to help combat anxiety and depression. Anyway, I really hope this helps someone.

guide

Self Love Day (Valentine's Day on Your Own)

6:00 PM

You don’t need a significant other to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This day can be all about you. I’m an avid believer in celebrating all of life’s little victories and why not let this holiday be about that? How many of us have gone through traumas that we’ve never talked about. How many of us go through daily struggles that no one knows about?


Life can be challenging but beautiful. I think we take back the narrative and use this holiday to celebrate ourselves. Celebrate your self-worth with some self-love. Here are some ideas on how to enjoy solo Valentine’s Day. That or you can bring some friends along to join in on the fun with you.

 Get Active - it feels good to get your body moving
Sometimes a walk or hike is enough to change your mood. Put your phone on do not disturb so that you don’t get text messages but you can still use it to take photos of nature. Or you can take a group class such as yoga, hot yoga, barre, Pilates or spin. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can even try a pole or aerial silks class. You might just surprise yourself.

Relax - it feels good to chill
Plan a self spa day for yourself. Schedule a full body massage, a facial or book a mani/pedi appointment. Draw up a bubble bath, light the candles and put on some relaxing music right in your own home. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of show yourself some love.


Give Back - it feels good to give back
Volunteer at an animal shelter, take the dogs for a walk, feed them, spend some time with them. It always cheers me up when I hang out with my fur babies and I know it could do the same for you. Spend time at a women’s shelter, learn their stories and learn how you can help.

Family Time - it feels good to share the love
Why not spend time with those who raised you on this love day? You can make dinner (or dinner reservations) for your parents, siblings or even your friends (hello Galentine’s!).

Make Something Sweet - it feels good to spend time in the kitchen
You don't have to a baking champion to be successful in the kitchen. Buy a box of cookie, cupcake or cake mix and just follow the instructions. Pinterest also has a lot of ideas for "easy Valentine's Day treats".

DIY Something - it feels good to make something beautiful
It always ales me happy to be able to create something with my hands. It pushes my mind to be creative and I just love being able to make something new. Use Pinterest and search “easy DIY” and add whatever topic you like, such as home decor, bathroom decor, etc. You can keep the DIY and a reminder to yourself or share it and gift it to someone else.


You can absolutely take these ideas and do it with those you love but these are some options if you don’t have a significant other. You don’t need a partner to enjoy life and if you haven’t heard it before, I’m saying it now!
Let me know how you’re spending Valentine’s Day in the comments! If you end up going with any of these ideas, I’d love to hear about it.

With love,
Linh

love

Keeping a Daily Couple’s Journal

12:00 PM


Relationships require work. It’s a choice we make every single day to love someone. Some days require little to no work while other days requires more work than our mind can handle. For all of 2019, my husband Jonathan and I planned our wedding, we kept a daily couple’s journal. We wrote in the journal every single day and read it aloud to each other before we slept every single night. Regardless of the day we were having, it gave us a chance to slow down and reconnect as a couple. It was my favorite part of each day. We text each other about 3,467 times a day about everything. But, due to his work/gym schedule it’s hard for us to have dinner together most weekdays. So, before bedtime is the best time for us to talk about things.

 

I really do feel like it helped us during the wedding planning process. They days may have been hectic and crazy, but the nights were always a time for us to reflect and remind each other how much the other person meant to them. You’ve heard the advice, “never go to bed angry”. With this journal date every night, it made it easy to go to bed happy. I would recommend this daily couple’s journey to anyone that is planning their wedding, going through a rough season, working on communication, honestly every couple could benefit from this.

 

Here are some ideas on what to write about:
  -  Thank your partner for something kind they did for you:
      “Thank you for planning date night and surprising me with tickets to Beauty & the Beast.”
  -  One thing you want to work on to make them happier:
      “I will learn how to cook a new meal for you, so you aren’t eating the same 4 meals every night.”
  -  One thing you appreciate about your partner:
       “I appreciate how you always carry my laundry up and down the stairs when it’s laundry day.”
  -  One thing you love about your partner:
       “I love how you hug me from behind when I’m doing my nightly face routine.”


Here are some daily planners to look at:
  -  The Happy Planner (horizontal format with lines)
  -  The Happy Planner – Faith (can be used the same way but focuses on faith)
  -  Erin Condren
  -  The Happiness Planner
  -  Passion Planner
  -  Any notebook/notepad (Marshalls/TJ Maxx/Ross sells some great ones)

Let me know if you try this with your significant other and how it's going. Please comment other ideas on things to write about!

personal

7 Ways to De-Stress

12:00 PM



If you asked me two years ago, introvert would not be the word I would use to describe myself. I could have hour long conversations with a wall and find it amusing. I never felt uncomfortable in a room full of strangers and had zero problems talking to people I didn’t know. While dealing with my dad’s diagnosis, I found myself building walls around walls. I was pretty closed off and pushed quite a few people away. I didn’t want anyone to know about the struggles that I was going through, I didn’t want people to feel sorry for me or try to give me advice on things I didn’t want advice on. So, my solution was to not let people in. I spent a lot of the last year trying to repair a lot of the friendships I had brushed to the side.

Since March, I’ve been getting panic attacks frequently and I’ve been having a hard time trying to figure out the root cause of it all. If you’re not familiar with panic attacks, here’s some info on it. According to helpguide.org, “panic attacks develop abruptly and usually reach their peak within 10 minutes. They rarely last more than an hour, with most ending within 20 to 30 minutes. Panic attacks can happen anywhere and at any time. You may have one while you’re in a store shopping, walking down the street, driving in your car, or even sitting on the couch at home.”

Panic attack symptoms include:
   ●   Shortness of breath or hyperventilation (yup)
   ●   Heart palpitations or racing heart (yes)
   ●   Chest pain or discomfort (been there)
   ●   Trembling or shaking (UGH, YES)
   ●   Choking feeling (not fun)
   ●   Feeling unreal or detached from your surroundings (the space gets smaller and smaller)
   ●   Sweating (not cute)
   ●   Nausea or upset stomach (this is the worst)
   ●   Feeling dizzy, light-headed, or faint (yes, again)
   ●   Numbness or tingling sensations (usually in my arms)
   ●   Hot or cold flashes (this is so uncomfortable)
   ●   Fear of dying, losing control, or going crazy (thankfully none of this)

I’ve had this happen to me in the middle of a bar full of people, in the restroom of a nice restaurant, at dinner with my best friend, on my way home in an Uber, on my way to a meeting, while I was shopping at Jo-Ann and even sitting in my office. It’s been an adjustment mourning the loss of my dad. Traditionally, it’s a service followed by the funeral. But my mother is Buddhist, so it also included prayer service at temple for an hour or two every Sunday for seven weeks after his passing. We also did a 100-day prayer service and will be doing another one later this month as we prepare to spread his ashes in the ocean. Every time that I think I’m done crying about it, something I see or hear just sets me off. I know now that my panic attacks are connected to his passing. I’ve been learning to manage my stress and anxiety trying to pour myself into productive and positive projects (such as the launch of this blog). Here are some of the things that have helped me (in no particular order):

1.  Stop and Take a Breath
Sometimes it’s that simple. We are being force-fed information every second of every day. Through the gym and attorney billboards we see while driving to work to the Instagram ads that are somehow picking up conversations we’re having with friends (um, Instagram, how did you know I was just talking about Bali?). It’s hard to just have a moment to ourselves. We are so overwhelmed with text messages and app notifications that it’s made us all anxious people. So, stop and take a breath.

2.  Talk It Out
For those of us who tend to be more reactive, we like to blurt out our frustrations as soon as we’re going through it (hi, that’s me, but I’m working on it). As soon as I let it all out, I’m as good as new and ready to move on to the next task without any lingering feelings. Venting to loved ones can be healthy in small doses. It helps to have someone that truly understands you listen to what you’re going through and provide advice if needed.

3.  Write It Down
Others may need more time to process and work things through, for those I would suggest writing it down. When it comes to making big, life-changing decisions, I always find myself making pro and cons lists. Being able to visually see all the options in front of me helps me making my decisions. Similarly, sometime when I’m upset or stressed about something, writing all my thoughts down on paper helps me understand what was really bothering me in the first place. Often times, it was never the same thing that actually set me off (that’s just me projecting).

4.  Get Up, Get Active
Whether it be taking the fur babies out for a walk around the block, biking to the grocery store or doing a 20-minute hip hop dance workout you found on YouTube. The big idea here is to get up and do something that will take your mind off whatever it was that was bothering you. Sometimes doing a simple finger to toe stretch can do the trick. Sometimes it requires you going out outside to get some fresh air. But, just do something that will disrupt your normal flow.

5.  Music Therapy
With free music apps like Spotify and Pandora there’s no excuse to not having great music to listen to. If you’re not a natural-born DJ, that’s ok. These free music apps have curated playlists for every kind of mood you’re in. Here are some playlists that I’ve created:
   ●   Chill Vibes
   ●   Good Mood

6.  Take a Bath
One of my favorite things to do is set up a bathtub full of bubbles with some bath balms and Epsom salt (helps with any soreness and just overall relaxes your body). You can read a few chapters of that book you’ve been waiting to dive into, you can play spa music and just let your mind go blank or even enjoying a glass of bubbly with some fruits. Now that I think about it, why not do all the things!

7.  Watch Cute Videos
I have a folder on Instagram full of cute animal videos and I turn to it anytime I’m having a down moment. It’s cheers me up instantly. If dogs are your thing, save videos of dogs (might I suggest the #whatthefluffchallenge). If dolphins are our thing, save videos of dolphins! If you love videos of babies doing adorable things, save videos of babies doing adorable things! You get the idea.

For more ideas, check out these articles:
   ●   Inc: How to De-Stress at Work
   ●   Entrepreneur: 25 Simple and Proven Ways to De-Stress

As I think back, the one thing I would do differently is to not turn away the people who wanted to be there for me. I know that they had the best intentions at heart, but no one can prepare you on the loss of a parent. There’s no one size fits all guide to “How to Deal with a Parent who has Cancer”. I am not a therapist or psychologist, but I wanted to share the things that worked for me and I’m hoping that they can help you.

If you’re going through a difficult time in your life right now, know that you’re not alone. My inbox is always open, leave me a comment down below or DM me on Instagram.


With love,
Linh ♡ labour of love

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