Cooking staycations

You know you're getting old when you want to stay at home more than usual. Pre-marriage, my partner and I would always go out everyday, eat out, watch movies, attend events, and meet with friends. Now I observe we usually only go out when work is involved or if it's a family thing.

The increasing population inside malls and other places really puts us off. Especially when you're traveling with a kid, lining up for food or to pay for purchases becomes very time and energy consuming. Not to mention, the horrible traffic.

We've succumbed to staycations which means I'd cook food and make snacks, and we'll enjoy watching a movie all together - cocooned inside our house.

Husband's version of budget meal at home - for snacks

Frosted cupcakes for midnight snacks aka last full show at home

I also recently discovered how to make a quickie macaroni and cheese using the new Del Monte Cheese Magic. The TV ad really got me! Just cook the pasta, put some butter on it, some milk, and pour cheese magic. You can top it with sliced spam or bacon bits. We had this last night while watching 700 club! :)

We're surprisingly happy staying more at home and saving a lot while at it. I will need to read up more about quick cooking at tim ferriss blog. I know how to cook but with a busy schedule everyone needs to master the art of the 4 hour chef! 

Stress-relieving aromatherapy

We rarely notice it but scents do affect our moods. Whether we're at home trying to relax or at the office working. It's the same thing as when the smell of your favorite food cooking in the kitchen instantly lifts you up. Although the scent of food is appetizing, you don't really want it to linger especially in air-conditioned environment.

I love how some houses and offices I have been to have the expensive Lampe Berger that emits fragrance of different flavors. Thank goodness much more affordable choices are now available. It's been about a year since I purchased my oil diffuser, it's called airoma and I kind of miss it because my mom borrowed it to treat her cough. We drop eucalyptus essential oils in it and it diffuses the calming scent instantly plus it feels really good in the lungs.

There are plentiful of similar products, I even heard of a vaporizer volcano  and some desktop vaporizer for the office. I guess people are becoming really stressed these days and want their aromatherapy in their pockets :)

If you have been to Foot for the Gods (the foot spa in Mall of Asia), they really have calming eucalyptus and I'm sure it's why I instantly relax when I get inside. I'd love to replicate that feeling at home but I imagine if you are living in a condo unit - it's much easier to achieve compared to an ordinary house with windows and lots of space.