Fire stick

Last Prime day I bought a new device. It's the Fire stick basic international edition. In the beginning, I was really excited because it could do so much more than a Chromecast. However, I got problems with registering and downloading apps. So after a weekend I gave up and waited for some free time after work and thought why not start from scratch. I register a new Amazon account and it worked. 

I have used it to follow my American drama's that haven't been updated through my rss app. So with an VPN and the fire stick, I have been watching the newest movies and series again. Hurray! The following movie Enola and the series Lucifer and The Good Doctor are superb. 

But the greatest thing is the connectivity with an bluetooth headset. I can watch the movie with my headset on. There are times when someone is in the kitchen making food or making a lot of noise. I connect my trusted wireless headset and watch the movie in peace. This is the biggest difference with Chromecast. And I like the remote that comes with it. And during Prime day it only cost 20 euros which is half the price off a Chromecast. I just love it!

Birthday

Normally I don't like to work on my birthday. However, I didn't requested in time for free days and I was scheduled with a training. Damn, but it was fun cause I didn't need to talk for around three days. I could mute myself and mom could call without trouble. 

This year we didn't made any schedule and I didn't eat out. Instead I haven't really anticipated to it. Basically I don't really care anymore about birthday. It just means getting older but I am thankful of course that I am healthy. 

Birthdays passes by just like any normal day. I didn't need grand gifts or celebrations, I am content with what I have and with whom I am. I am happy!

Freebies with a twist

I have been using these cardholders for few years. Kidding, these are brand new. Before using the knock off Secrid, I did use one of these. But as you perhaps know I dislike doing marketing for any company without getting paid. These have been laying around and during cleaning, I found these and was planning to threw them away until I remember it's paper. I only need the inside. I can find a nice paper to cover the outside. Just like my metal cardholder. This is a nice and easy project to do. I already have it cleaned up. Now, I only need to find nice wrap paper to make it usable. And start crafting again. 

 

Hooks

Last week I fixed something that has been bothering me for a while. Last year, I already fixed the trouble in my own room but the one in the bathroom has been like a stain on a white cloth. I have fixed the over the door hook in my own room for a year or something. 

During Covid-19 seeing the movement of a hook continuously is really bothersome. So I took the sticky mat and cut pieces to stop the movement. The marks on the door let you see how slippery it could be. But this can be fixed within minutes. I just need to do it. 

Paper shredder

 During prime day I have bought a new paper shredder. The old one I have is a cheap one from a decade ago. It only shreds in stripes and the buttons to operate broke fast. I only used it with pulling the plug to operate it. Now I wanted to buy an Amazonbasics shredder but the Fellows one was also in sale for a lower price than the basics. I canceled my order and order the Fellows. 

Next day I received it and was over the moon. I got it out of the box and start shredding. I am so happy because I still have a pile of documents that needs to be digitalized and then destroyed. I told my sister and a colleague how happy I am. My sister bought one a few months ago a Rexell and she recommended me to buy it too. 

Minimalism more commercial

Minimalism has changed in the last few years. When I started, there wasn't really a lot of blog, vlog or channels. I am still a minimalist and I am loving the vibe that I have been creating for the last past 7 years in my life.

I got a better relationship with my stuff. I know what I want and got rid of a lot of other things. I still buy but much lesser. In the past 5 years I have been wearing my jeans until it fell apart and got new ones to replace them. I am also trying to not buy bags which is futile especially when I was in Japan.

I even got two wallets which is bigger but good for travel outside of Europe. Especially in Korea and in Japan where they use huge bills. 

Minimalism still plays a huge role in my life but the way it's been promoted on different platforms like buying into minimalism is so not environment friendly. I kinda find it horrible when people throw things away just to buy the same product but aesthetically pleasing or environment friendly. How environment friendly are you when you throw something away that cost energy and money to produce. 

I also don't buy into the hype of particular brands being good/green. I think learning and thinking out of the box is way more important and really reducing my footprint (travel excluded). I already wrote about it before, minimalism is for everyone different. But I think the best starting point is reflect on what you have and what it brings you. Step 2: what do you want, what is your ideal living situation. Last step is taking action to achieve step 2. 

Keeping busy and being grateful

I think everyone is tired of this Covid-19 situation, not even a vaccin is going to change the new normal. So in the end I'm thinking about adjusting my lifestyle to it instead. As many say ' if you can't beat them, join them'. Rather to get caught with the virus I'm  trying to make my life as enjoyable as possible. 

I'm not a big spender, although my vacations can be expensive. The rest of the time, I only have few cost that needs to be payed and I've cut every subscription or cost as much as I can. I already ended my holiday travel insurance, my monthly lottery/donation which granted me a free pass to different cultural outlets. All have been ended. 

I've been drinking coffee much more and recently I bought the espresso illy cups. And I am hooked! The regular coffee that I drink is okay but the taste, the aroma is just so damn different. So I bought coffee beans from Lavazza also a coffee brand that I like. I have a burr coffee grinder, old style. It means I have to manually grind it and it cost so much time. 

I decided to buy an electric one. Just when the beans arrived. I'll first try to use it with my Nespresso machine and with my mokka pot. If it doesn't generates the nice coffee as I want. I will think of upgrading to an espresso machine. I try to use the thing I have first before buying an expensive machine. 

In a sense I'm keeping myself busy. I'm grateful for having a job where I can work from home and stay safe. I hope that in the end we will all learn form Covid-10 and adjust so we all can have a stable life environment. 

Cancellation due to pandamic

During the pandemic and quarantine I have been reflecting a lot. Last year, I went to Asia visiting family and a trip to Japan. So I bought travel insurance just in case. I decided to go for a year contract cause I wanted to travel in 2020 to Taiwan and South Korea. But also to neighboring countries like Germany, Belgium, France and UK. However due to the pandemic it all got canceled.

So after two months in quarantine and working from home, I looked into my expenses. I decided to end my insurance at the end date. This makes sure I will not be too late to notify and it will not be extended for another year. I also see that they will adjust the terms of insurance so, goodbye to this expense from September on.

I also got a free banking account, so that I can cancel my frequently used account. Since I don't receive any interest but pay a monthly fee for it. Even my event card for museums has been cancelled because I can go nowhere and enjoy the benefits of the card.

Quarantine is not fun but during the extra time at home, I can make sure that what needs to be done will be done. And cutting cost is always a plus.

Quick folding

At times, I forget things like folding and organizing. As you can see it the picture. I sometime also forget or have not put things neatly back. This leads to a chaotic situation like mine. So taking a few minutes to fold things up neatly and put it upright makes it so neat. Adding an organizer for my ceramics and putting it in a different way leads this beautiful picture. 

Cardholder improvement

This cardholder has been through a lot. It used to have a blue leather holder. But due to the stripping of the sides, I have ripped the leather off and used this beautiful sticker card. After using it with my coin purse I found it too bulky. So what do I do, find a solution.

I searched on the web and found a solution with modge podge. Let's improve it and make it my own. I love estactic appearing stuff. So with that I have taken out some washi paper that I love seeing.

Cutting the small pieces and glueing it on the cardholder makes it more appealing and easier to use with my coin purse. Now, when I go out I grab my coin purse and cardholder.

  

Hardware changes

As we have been in quarantine we all have extra time around the house to improve our living habitat. I have been trying to improve my keys. I had them on a beautiful ring but it still leaves scratches on my card and other things. So I decided to use this pouch that I bought in Japan in 2016 in a magazine insert. But the hardware is so flimsy, so what to do. Let's change it and improve my living style.

With a new hang clip inside and on the outside, I can click it in my bag. I have been loving the pouch as a small touch up pouch but it now function as it was meant to be.

The switch and adding extra hardware makes it much more usable. I don't need to worry about loose hanging keys or wholes in my bag due to the keys. And an other thing is that due to the pouch others aren't able to see the keys and copy it. Handing or lending my keys to my family is easier as they see the pouch. This makes my life a little bit easier.