Category: X-Archives

100% Whole Mom: Branding & Passion Cards

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wholemomph

When most of the hours in a day are spent hustling and working, you don’t only set aside your personal needs and dreams, you also start to feel uninspired and underwhelmed. Work becomes robotic, you start doing it just for the money, and you feel like you’re wasting your time on things that don’t have long-term value. That said, 100% Whole Mom couldn’t have come to me at a better time.

It took me out of the design rut and allowed me to do work that matters. Sure it required a couple of sleepless nights and about ten thousand revisions. (That sponsor card had to be revised over and over up to the last minute because sponsors just kept coming in!). But it’s projects like this, ones that have eternal value, that don’t feel like work at all!  Continue reading “100% Whole Mom: Branding & Passion Cards” →

ChasingDreams.Net, Year 6

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chasingdreams

Chasing Dreams

Exactly one month ago, on June 19, this blog (quietly) turned 6 years old. It always feels like it’s my birthday when this blog turns another year, and I can’t help but wax poetic about how this little space in the web has changed my life.

The truth is, blog posts like this are the hardest ones to write, especially since I’ve written several versions of this over the past 6 years. But words have to be said, milestones have to be time-stamped, gratitude has to be expressed. I will always be grateful for this platform that the Lord has given me, and for the countless of blessings and opportunities that came with Chasing Dreams.

This blog has seen me through my cynical + and rebellious years +; to finding love and losing it + and finding it again +; through heart breaks +, deaths and being alone +; through places +, wasted plane tickets +, Hillsong and detours +; from Sydney + to New York + and my endless moving from one place to another +; through making a long distance relationship work +, planning a wedding +, becoming a wife +, surviving pregnancy + and embracing motherhood +; celebrations +, career growth +, passion projects +, Pursuit Community +, growing in faith +, the continuous pursuit + for my calling and purpose +. This blog has seen me grow in so many levels, and I’m so humbled that anyone would keep reading this thing, much more that anyone would walk alongside me in this journey.

The best things

Yesterday someone messaged me out of the blue, thanking me for being one of the first people who inspired her to write. I’ve met a lot of friends and made a significant amount of income and business through this space; but the best kind of affirmation, really, is knowing that somehow this blog has become a channel of blessing and inspiration to another person. It’s humbling and mind-blowing how the Lord affirms to me and reminds me why this space even exists, and why I should keep trying.

The best things that came out of this blog, indeed, are the opportunities to contribute to other people’s dreams, to see them find their voice, their purpose, their place in this world. I’m grateful for the chance to meet other women who uphold the same faith and values and passions, that we can encourage and strengthen each other in our individual pursuits. And I love that I get to do all of these while preserving trinkets of my days in this little space. 

Passion Cards, Chasing Dreams edition (and a giveaway!)

To celebrate this 6th year, I’ve put together a new set of Passion Cards, the Chasing Dreams edition, which is now available in the shop. It comes with 11 cards (instead of the usual 10), with carefully curated quotes and Bible verses that I hope will inspire you in your journey to make those dreams happen! You can buy this special edition HERE.

But wait, there’s more. :) I’ve put together some of my favorite things—paper, pens, washi tape (from Art and Sky!) and some passion cards—and doing a little giveaway! Visit my Instagram to know more!

Ready for Year 7? :)

Dream on, dreamers, dream on!

It’s The Little Things: 02

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It's the little things 02

I’m normally a navy blue and grey kinda girl, but I’m going through a blush-and-mint phase right now. I don’t know why! Anyway. Two weeks ago I started an “It’s The Little Things” series here because of my love for discovering new brands, and being intentional in choosing products I support or buy for myself.

Hence, I thought I’d list and share some of these little things that make me happy and inspired and hope that you find something that you will love yourself. Here are my happy little things this week!  Continue reading “It’s The Little Things: 02” →

It’s The Little Things: 01

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I have become a very reluctant shopper. Pre-motherhood, I was impulsive and didn’t think so much about how I spent my money. I swiped my credit card irresponsibly, consumed my loneliness with (careless) retail therapy, and collected too many unnecessary stuff.

Things have changed, and motherhood has taught me to think many times over before purchasing anything at all. I suppose my reluctance comes from being budget-conscious as well as being more intentional about keeping a specific set of values and style. I became careful about the brands I choose, and only stuck with ones that are familiar and I’m sure of. I’m less of a hoarder, but I still make it a point to “enjoy the little things”, as they say. That said, I thought I’d curate some of these little things that pass my reluctant-shopper filter. :)

Here are some of the items that I’m loving lately. Check them out!  Continue reading “It’s The Little Things: 01” →

21 Years: My Faith Journey

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june11

June 11, 1994. Exactly 21 years ago, I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ in my heart and received His gift of salvation. “Accept” is the word we use when we were kids, because truly it’s all about “accepting a gift”. But as I grow older I learn that it’s also about surrendering your life, making Him the Lord of all, submitting to His will, and obeying His Word.

More so, now that I’m a parent, I find myself in this whole new level of understanding and gratitude, that Anyone would love me so much He would spare His only son to save me. Tell me, how can anyone not surrender and trust Someone who would do just that?

It’s been 21 years since that day I made a decision to follow Jesus, and that decision was only possible because He chose me and loved me first. Today I remember and celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness since that beautiful day in 1994, and for everything He’s done to stretch me, mold me, bless me these past 21 years.

And today I invite you poke into your heart and look into your life—somewhere inside of you is a God-shaped hole that no one and nothing else can fill. You can try to fill it up with work, achievements, material possessions or relationships, but you’ll find that nothing truly satisfies than the love and the presence of our Father.

Today I invite you to believe. :)

Cheerful Journey: Branding and Blog Design

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Cheerful Journey

I’ve been learning a lot about how important it is to find the right clients. As creatives, even though we have similar processes, we have different ways of translating a vision or an idea. Over the past year, I learned that my most satisfied clients are the ones who come to me because they’ve seen my work and feel that my style and my vision resonate with their own.

These are people who trust in my ability to help make their dreams happen and translate their personality and vision into a brand. On my end, these are the clients I enjoy working with and am proud to place on my portfolio because they reflect my design style well. It’s a win-win scenario—they’re happy with my work, and I’m happy doing the work.

That said, Audrey of Cheerful Journey is one of those clients I haven’t met yet, but we just instantly clicked (or at the very least, our style clicked!). And who wouldn’t enjoy translating an inspiration board like that one above, yeah?  Continue reading “Cheerful Journey: Branding and Blog Design” →