This Season is All About Me (And I Won't Apologize for It): Things I've Been Doing to Invest in Myself

 

For years, I poured everything into everyone else—my child, my home, my work. I put myself last. And I told myself that was noble. But I’ve realized that self-sacrifice without self-care leads to burnout, not sainthood.

The truth? You can’t pour from an empty cup.

When I flipped the switch, I started pouring into myself. I started investing in myself. I no longer feel guilty if I use my money to buy things for myself, things that I need and things that make me happy.  I no longer feel guilty if I come home hands full of shopping bags and wasn't able to buy anything for my son. For years, I always made sure that I got my son  pasalubong (homecoming gift) whenever I went out. Now, I no longer feel guilty if mom got stuff and he didn't. That doesn’t mean I love him less—it means I’m learning to love myself more, too.

Here are some things I’ve been doing to invest in myself. These are more than purchases—they’re little promises I keep to myself.

💧 A Tumbler You Actually Want to Carry Around

Hydration isn’t just a wellness trend—it’s survival. My trusty tumbler follows me everywhere in the house: during writing sprints, while prepping materials, and in between tasks. Pick one you love—a color that brings you joy, a texture that feels good in your hand. Hydration is beauty. Hydration is energy. Hydration is healing. And honestly, every sip feels like a love letter to my body.

I hydrate inside and out that's why there's a bottle of Evian Brumisateur beside my tumbler. I'm in an airconditioned room the whole day and my skin tends to get very dry. My skin needs constant hydration. 

✨  Skincare That Honors Your Skin's Needs

I stopped forcing full-face routines that my skin doesn’t want. I stopped chasing 10 steps. I now listen, rotate, and apply only what’s needed, where it’s needed.

Laneige Water bank for my face. 

I talked about my current moisturizer here. 

Innisfree My Perfumed Body Lotion that feels so luxurious. 

Check out my experience with this lotion here. 

As for body care, I've been rotating lotions for several weeks now. I mentioned in one of my posts that I need to keep rotating body products, otherwise, I get an immune reaction. In short, I get rashes. So, I make sure not to use the same product for two weeks straight. 

I've been investing in different brands of lotion over the past couple of months and my skin is very happy! 

There’s something sacred about applying lotion to your skin at night—it feels like tucking yourself into bed with care.

💄 A Foundation That Feels Like Skin

I don’t wear makeup daily, but when I'm feeling special, I reach for NARS Foundation. It gives me just the right amount of polish while still looking like me. It reminds me of the joy I felt when I was training under makeup mentors in my 20s. That sparkle came back with a few pumps —and it made me feel beautiful again. 

Makeup isn’t about hiding—it’s about highlighting the woman you already are.

For other days like quick errands and lessons, I reach for these:

BYS CloudSkin

Read my experience here.

I recently got these and am in the process of testing.

Before, I stuck with one brand, one kind of foundation. Now I realize, with my skin condition,  I need different kinds of foundation for different kinds of days, so I've been investing in them. 

👗 A Dress That Makes You Smile at the Mirror

Several weeks back, I found a dress I love. It’s blue, feminine, flattering—and when I wore it, I felt light and pretty again. I invest in clothes that fit my current body. Not the “goal weight.” Not the pre-mom era. Now. This body is sacred—she made life and carried that life for 9 months. She deserves to be dressed with love.

Your closet should rise to meet you, not the other way around.

🎨 A Hobby That Calms the Noise

Journaling. Scrapbooking. Planner design.

You don’t need to spend much—just open a notebook, pick up a pen, and begin. I find peace in creating something beautiful from paper, stickers,  and washi. It's my reset button, my safe space, my creative sanctuary. Even ten minutes with paper and color can feel like therapy.

Sometimes I just doodle. I paint a blank page on my watercolor book and doodle. 

🥗 Bento Boxes & Pretty Plates that Spark Joy in Meals

I noticed something: I eat better when my food looks happy. A simple bento—free-range egg, rice, pickled vegetables,  fruit—feels special when arranged with love. Don’t wait for a special occasion. Use the cute plate. Invest in pretty bowls. Even leftovers get elevated with the right kind of plate. 

And I always buy the best food my money can buy:

Free-range eggs. Antibiotic-free chicken. Grass-fed beef. It’s not about excess—it’s about respect. I fuel my healing body with quality. My cells deserve the best.

Eating well stopped being a diet—it became devotion.

🙏 Ten Minutes for the Soul

Spiritual wellness counts too. Whether it’s a verse, a prayer, or a quiet moment in your journal—center yourself. Start the day with something sacred. You’ll notice how different everything feels when you’re grounded.

Because peace is the most luxurious gift we can give ourselves.

This is a soft reminder for you, dear Glow Girl:

You’re worth the time. You’re worth the money. You’re worth the investment.

🌷 Final Thoughts

This journey—balancing mom life, healing my sensitive skin, rediscovering style in my 40s—it’s not always easy. But every week, I find new ways to honor myself. These aren’t “just products”—they are reminders:

I’m healing.

I’m growing.

And I’m worth showing up for.

Glow Girl, remember: every investment in yourself compounds. One day, you’ll look back and realize you’ve built a life that feels like abundance.

What are you doing to invest in yourself this week, Glow Girl? Share it in the comments or tag me—I’d love to celebrate with you 💗