It's Justice's third Halloween! By now I can tell you that I really enjoy making costumes for him (see his sushi and cup noodles costume in the past). This year, I want to continue our Asian food theme and bring one of our favourite snacks to life. May I present to you - our giant Pocky!

In case you didn't know, Pocky is a Japanese brand known for their tasty biscuit sticks originally with chocolate coating. The product line has grown popularity worldwide and has expanded its offering to a wide range of flavours. You can spot one of these goodies in most Asian supermarket. 

Not only our whole family loves snacking on Pocky sticks on a daily basis, its iconic, eye catching red packaging is so memorable and easy to replicate. Here's what I did and my thought process in case you want to turn your baby into a snack too!

I used felt for this costume as I want Justice to be able to move freely in it. I want a material that can be folded and stored away easily after use. Felt is thick and stiff enough to hold its shape, does not fray like other fabrics and allows me to glue things on it. I purchased a large piece of felt from my local fabric store along with some felt sheets in beige, brown and white colour. You can also make this out of cardboard box if you don't mind the bulkiness.

 

DIY Pocky Sticks Halloween Costume

Materials for Pocky Costume:

• Felt (red, white, beige and brown)
• White glue
• Bonding tape (optional)
• Fabric cutter or scissors
• Cricut or other cutting machine
• White iron-on vinyl
• My Pocky design cut file

Materials for Giant Pocky Stick:

• Cardboard tubes or paper towel tubes
• Brown / beige paint
• Paint brush
• Kraft wrapping paper (optional)

Justice is about 3 feet tall and I wanted the costume to be down to his knees, about 21 inches in length and 16 inches wide. The staff from the fabric store was very helpful in determining how much felt I'd need (since I suck at math!). So, to help you determine all the pieces you'd need, here's a diagram. You can adjust the size to fit your own needs. I also added about half an inch on all sides for seam allowance to attach the pieces together. For the head and arm holes, I traced an outline using a 4" wood circle on the side panels and cut all the pieces out with a fabric cutter.

Before attaching all the pieces together, I made the front graphic using beige and brown felt sheets for the Pocky sticks and some iron-on vinyls for the logos. The brown felt sheet makes 4 chocolate coatings, about 3 inches wide. I trimmed 3 inches on the shorter end of the beige sheet to make my biscuit sticks. Connected them together, trimmed the corners and stuck them onto the front red panel. I recommend using felt sheets with adhesive backing as they keep things clean and mess-free. But those might be hard to come by so attaching with white glue works fine too.

With my mighty Cricut machine, I cut out the logos and nutrition facts onto white iron-on vinyls. Then, pressed the designs onto the front and back red panels with my good ol' iron. After my front and back panel designs were finished, I cut holes for the arms and head in my side panels before finally attaching all the side seams together.

This part was a bit tricky. I find it easier to tell which pieces should attach together when I laid out all the connecting pieces in order on the floor. I put some bonding tape (or you can use white glue) and sandwiched between two connecting side seams. Then I used my hair straightener (yes, you read that right!) and pressed them together. The pressing and heat will turn the bonding tape into some kind of adhesive and bond the two felts together. I love using my hair straightener like a mini heat press. It's so helpful to apply heat to areas as narrow as the side seams! I also bonded the seams from the inside, with wrong side of the panels facing out. So, when I flipped the costume inside out, the seams are clean and hidden. 

Finally, to make the costume fall straight down his body and not crunched up (since it's quite oversized on him), I cut two pieces of cardboard in the same widths as my top panel, added velcro adhesive to them and inserted them like shoulder pads. The velcros help secured the cardboards to the felt.

If you give this a try, be sure to share your pictures with me on IG @tingandthings_ or use hashtag #diywithting. I'd love to see your version!

The weather is getting chilly across most of the country, and with that comes many exciting things! From gearing up for the holidays, more nights cuddled on the couch, and fabulous fall fashion, it also means stepping up your skin and hair care routines. You may have plenty of tips and trips for glowy skin in the winter, but have you been neglecting your hair? Whether starting from square one with winter hair care or looking for a refresher this season, keep reading for the essential things that will keep your hair shiny and beautiful this holiday season.

Cover It Up

While we're getting ready to dive into the products and routines that will care for your hair during chilly weather, it will all be for naught if you don't cover it up! If you don't already have a cute beanie or hat for winter weather, consider this your sign to buy one. While you don't need to cover your hair every time you go outside in cold weather, when it's snowing, or temperatures are below forty degrees, it's smart to cover your hair. Not to mention, you'll be more comfortable and warm!

Deep Condition

If you're like many women, you're doing a weekly deep conditioning treatment in your hair. If you've never done one, it's time to invest in a hydrating hair mask that can restore moisture to your hair during cold weather. When you get your hair styled during the winter, add keratin or other deep conditioning treatment in the salon. Cool air zaps moisture from your hair, so replenishing it is essential.

Pro Styling Tools

Any time you add heat to your hair, it's critical that you use heat-protectant products. But another key piece to styling your hair with heat is investing in the right tools. Pro styling tools may seem like a significant investment upfront, but the health and appearance of your locks are worth it. Your hair is one of the first things people notice about you, and keeping it styled and beautiful is easier when you have the right tools in your toolkit. Always purchase the highest quality you can afford from blow dryers, flat irons, or curlers.

Hydrating Humidifiers

Many people sleep with humidifiers during the winter for their health benefits, but did you know they protect and beautify your hair too? Humidifiers restore vital moisture in your home's air, which means they're keeping the moisture in your hair too! The best part? You're keeping your hair healthy during the winter in your sleep without lifting a finger.

Cool Water Showers

You may think the last thing you want on a cold winter morning is a cold shower, but if you're trying to keep your hair beautiful, it's just what the doctor ordered. Cold showers have many health benefits beyond your hair, like improved circulation, reduced pain, and lowering inflammation. However, the benefit is clear in hair health, with less breakage, brittle texture, and split ends. Wash your hair with lukewarm water and finish with the coldest rinse you can stand.

Regular Appointments

While most of us know, we need to get our hair trimmed every six to eight weeks, if we're being honest, we don't follow through. With winter weather's ability to wreak havoc on our hair, commit to getting regular trims done throughout the cold weather season. Your hair will look and feel healthier, so you'll be camera ready for all the photos you take throughout the holiday season.

Wash Less Often

Unless your hair is prone to significant oil and grease, foregoing shampooing during the week is fantastic for healthy winter hair. If you typically wash your hair three times a week, aim for once a week. If you're a daily hair washer, cut it down to twice a week. Your hair needs to retain oil and moisture to stay healthy in frigid temperatures, and one of the easiest ways to boost it is to stop stripping it with too frequent shampooing.

Taking care of your hair in the winter should also include using oils to revive your hair in the morning and never leaving the house with wet hair. It may seem like a lot to manage, but with practice comes perfection. Here's to your perfect winter hair!

Remember the days before kids when you could rock whatever fashions you liked without an issue? You know… when you could wear form-fitting clothes and a pair of heels all day without worrying about your figure or struggling from back aches. Then you got pregnant, had a baby, and encountered physical changes that lowered your confidence, wardrobe options, and style sense.

Many women have found themselves in this situation. Their wardrobes are no longer suitable for their body type or lifestyle. Believing they can’t be the stylish divas they were before their pregnancy, they become emotionally overwhelmed and let themselves and their fashion fall by the wayside.

Although dressing comfortably to accommodate your figure and your many obligations as a mom, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your style. Continue reading to learn about the trendiest fashions that offer both.

Leggings

If there is any staple item that moms should keep in their wardrobes, it’s leggings. These stretchy pants are comfortable yet stylish. They come in an assortment of colors and patterns to suit your tastes. Leggings are practical fashions as they can be worn day or night for any activity. Whether you’re shopping for groceries, doing laundry, exercising, going to lunch with friends, or chasing your active toddler around the house, these pants allow you to get around and look good doing it.

Pull-On Denim

Denim jeans are a classic fashion staple that evolves with time, making them perfect for everyday wear. However, some women find them to be uncomfortable. The durable fabric has little give and can make it challenging to fit, particularly for women who recently had a child. Fortunately, pull on denim offers a solution.

Before you assume that means you’re stuck wearing pregnancy pants with the cotton belly section for the rest of your life, pull-on denim is different. These are fashionable jeans in the styles and cuts you like most, with an elastic waistband that makes them easy to slip on and off. No more struggling to get dressed, holding your breath, or feeling self-conscious about your “muffin top.”

Oversized Tops

If you’re looking for a way to hide your waistline, oversized tops are a fashion staple to add to your wardrobe. Whether you prefer the boyfriend button-up, a baggy sweatshirt, a novelty t-shirt or a chunky cardigan, there are options that make you feel comfortable without compromising your style. You can pair an oversized top with leggings or some pull-on denim jeans and add accessories to enhance your fashion and fit the occasion.

Wedges And Chunky Heels

There’s something about wearing heels that makes you feel more confident and attractive. However, they’re not the most practical footwear for busy moms. High heels lead to back pain and are uncomfortable when doing activities like running errands or chasing after your agile children.

The good news is you don’t have to give up the feeling you get from wearing heels. Instead of wearing pumps or stilettos, opt for something that offers more comfort and support like wedges or chunky block-heeled shoes. This type of footwear still provides some height and elongates your legs for that feminine pazazz you desire, without the risk of pain and limited mobility.

Don’t Forget To Accessorize

Lastly, don’t underestimate the significance of the right accessories. When you pair your comfortable yet stylish outfit with the right necklace, earrings, bracelets, watches, hats, scarves, and purse, you add another layer of personality to your wardrobe. Shop for accessories that make you feel amazing. Let your creativity and fashion sense shine through and watch how it boosts your confidence.

Don’t let motherhood cause you to believe that you must ditch your fashion sense and opt for outdated, worn, and ill-fitting clothes. You can look and feel your best every day by opting for comfortable yet stylish fashion trends like those listed above. As you experiment with these pieces and accessories to add flare, you’ll find that you feel much better as you do the work to

I love the idea of a portrait rubber stamp as opposed to traditional signing my name on holiday or greeting cards. I wanted to make one for Justice as he's still too young to be able to write his name. Rubber stamps are easy for his little hand to grab and the coordination to stamp is simpler to understand and follow than writing at his age. With the stamp, he can leave a mark on notes and greeting cards himself with little guidance. After making a stamp for my holiday wrapping paper, I got a little addicted to carving and making my own rubber stamp. There's something about gliding through rubber that makes it so therapeutic. It's like carving butter. But instead of just carving out his name, I thought it'd be cute to turn his portrait into a stamp this time. It was a lot harder to carve on such a tiny surface without losing the details. Here are my step-by-step and tips for this DIY so you can also make one for your LO!

Tools and Supplies for Making Rubber Stamp:

• Japanese Rubber Block or Carving Block
• Carving tools 
• Pencil
• Paper
• Ink Pad

Japanese Rubber Block v.s. Carving Block

I used Japanese rubber block for this stamp. But any carving block meant for block printing would do as well. If you're a beginner or first-timer in carving, I recommend starting off with a Japanese block. It usually consists of 2 layers in different colours. The top thin layer is what you'd carve away. The different colours make it easy to tell which areas to carve and which to keep. It'll also prevent you from carving too deep into the block, making your stamp look even and clean. With the carving block, since it's all in one colour, it can be tricky for the brain to remember that you're actually carving out the negative space that you don't need. 

Start With a Sketch

I started by sketching a simple caricature form of Justice's face with a pencil. You can draw directly onto the block but I like to draw on a piece of paper first then transfer to the block. If you draw directly onto the block, it'll be hard to erase if you want to refine or correct a mistake. It's also important to make your portrait as simple with as little details as possible. The carving surface is small and fine lines could easily be tear apart in the carving process. After I'm happy with the drawing, I transferred it onto the rubber block by burnishing the back of the paper. 

Burnish Sketch Onto Rubber Block

To burnish the drawing, place your drawing onto the rubber block, portrait facing down. Shade the back of the paper with a pencil. The portrait will then be transferred onto the rubber block. Now, grab a v-gouge or u-gouge carving tool and start carving away all the unwanted areas. Pro-tip: carve in the direction away from your hand.

Refine your carving as needed. 

Check out my video below to see these steps in action.

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A post shared by Ms. Ting Ting | Ting & Things (@tingandthings_)

I hope you like this DIY tutorial! If you give this a try, be sure to share your pictures with me on IG @tingandthings_ or use hashtag #diywithting. I'd love to see your version!

Happy Crafting!

Getting a glow up is a great way to give yourself a confidence boost through some extra self-care, and with it being all over social media it’s natural to want to do it! Some glow ups can get pretty pricey, but there are a lot of things you can do to look and feel better without breaking the bank. It gives your current self-care practice a little boost, and with small additions you can give yourself the feel of that extra boost.

Here are a few things you can do for whole body self-care:

Skincare

It can be overwhelming with all the different skincare products and methods out there, but with a simple boost you can give your skin a little extra TLC. Keep things simple and effective, with just essential products like a good cleanser and a few top-quality products. If you don’t already have a moisturizer and a vitamin C serum that will brighten your complexion, invest in high-quality options for these products and your skin will feel the difference.

Also, educate yourself! There is a lot of skincare tips and advice out there and it is all free. For example, check out these Blue Lagoon skincare tips, precious advice from the world-famous spa in Iceland. The more you know, the more you can try and keep an eye out for when your skin may need some adjustments.

Hair

With just a couple steps, you can give your hair an instant glow up. Start with a trim for your split ends and do an intensive hair mask. You can DIY your split ends trim at home and even make a hair mask at home with simple ingredients like coconut oil. When you’re ready for those days where you want that glow up feel, take the time to style it and you’ll get that confident boost knowing your hair looks great. It doesn’t have to be anything drastic, even just styling your hair in an intentional up-do can feel beautiful.

Body

When it comes to taking care of your body, workout consistently, get some fresh air when you can, and a light fake tan can really give your skin a new fresh look.

Teeth

Boost your smile by giving your teeth a little more attention. Stay on top of your regular cleaning and you can use a teeth whitener as you like.


Updating your wardrobe is another way to glow up! And the best part is you don’t have to spend a lot to do this. Start by clearing out and organizing your closet, dropping off donations, and go thrifting while you’re out! Organizing your current pieces to love them even more is free and you can affordably add some new favorites by thrifting or doing a clothes swap with friends.

Working from home is an option that many Americans want to have. This flexible working lifestyle is greatly desired, and it is understandable why. Many find their productivity levels are far higher than working in an office. One of the reasons for this is that they can create an environment where they feel their most productive working.


If given the option of working from home, having an office set-up can be a worthwhile investment for someone to make. For those who have not already created a home office, here are a few reasons to invest in one.

Choice To Work From Home

An obvious reason, but valid, is that having a home office allows someone to work from home. Knowing they have the space to use allows people more flexibility with their working choices. A home office provides a space a person can work from and still deliver the same quality work they would in an office. If your company does offer the opportunity to work from home, consider creating a home office. This way, you will have a space to retreat during working hours and complete all your tasks for that day.

With your home office, you block out any distractions that feature in other areas of your home. You can shut the door to help deter people from entering whilst you are working. This will help you create a quiet and peaceful place, helping you to focus better on the set tasks you need to complete.

Create Ideal Work Environment

Aside from providing the luxury of choice, creating a home office allows you to create your ideal work environment. This includes how you want your office to look, the temperature, whether you have music or not playing and even choice in what candles or room diffusers you use. All these factors can impact how productive you are when working from home.

Additionally, you can also choose what equipment you use. This is not just what laptop or PC you use to complete work; it includes the chair you sit on, your choice of desk, keyboard, mouse, and other features that you have close to your working quarters. Selecting the right items can help to impact how productive you are. Use all resources available, such as Branch’s guide on the best home office desk. Finding the best home office desk to work from can make a noticeable difference to have you work. You can feel more productive, allowing you to space out all your necessary belongings to ensure your desk does not feel too crowded.

Separate Home And Work Life

When creating a home office, consider what space in your home you have available. If you are fortunate to have a spare room, consider making it an office and a spare room. Having this space where you can close the door will help to separate home and work life. Separating the two is an issue many people have when working from home. Understandably, it isn’t easy to switch off from work when you finish the day when you are working in the same place you would usually relax. That is why separating work and home life is essential, especially when working from home.


For those without the luxury of a spare room or garage, look for alternative spaces to use. It could be your dining table or a corner of the home with the space for a desk. Avoid setting up an office in areas such as your bedroom or living space. You will want to relax in these areas after you have finished working. Setting an office up in these spaces will have an impact on you. You might find that you struggle to feel relaxed as you are now starting to associate your living room or bedroom with a place of work.

Reduces Commute Time And Spending

One issue many have with going to work is the commute. The commute to work is often one of the most time-consuming parts of working in an office. If there is traffic due to rush hour, this adds even more time to your commute, both going to work and coming home. Factoring in rush hour traffic into your commute can often mean some leave work early and go home late. In addition to this, commuting can be costly depending on your mode of transport.

When working from home, the cost of commuting and the time it takes is noticeably reduced. It allows you to minimize the times you are late for work – of course, waking up late is still an issue when working from home. Should you choose to create a home office, you give yourself the option of being able to work from home if your employer allows it.

Creating A Home Office

If the reasons mentioned above have influenced you to have a home office, you will likely begin searching for creating an office at home. If you have limited space, use guides on creating a productive working environment without a home office. All the resources available will help you achieve a space where you feel the most productive. With your chosen ideas for creating a home office, you can implement plans and bring your vision to life. You can reap the benefits of working from home with your newly done home office or office area.

Pregnancy is a beautiful miracle in progress, one which should be as painless and stress-free as possible. Unfortunately, any woman who’s ever been pregnant will tell you it’s anything but painless and stress-free! Pregnancy is nine months of almost nonstop nerve-wracking anxiety about the future coupled with the physical burdens that come with having a baby growing inside your body.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. While nobody can completely eliminate stress and anxiety from their pregnancy, pregnant women can do a number of things to mitigate the negative aspects of pregnancy. The following are 6 ways to make pregnancy as stress-free as possible.

Consult your doctor

There’s no reason to live with fear and uncertainty regarding your pregnancy. Doctors are there to answer questions and provide expert advice. But the stress-reducing value of licensed physicians is only as good as your willingness to consult them. Book an appointment as soon as possible, commit to follow-up appointments, and take what your doctor says seriously. While they might not be able to respond right away, have a way to reach them if you have any pressing questions or concerns between appointments. In doing so, you alleviate the stress and anxiety that comes with uncertainty while benefiting from the uplifting nature of reassurance and support.

Bond with your unborn baby

Bonding with your unborn baby is easier than most people think. While the conversation is admittedly one-sided, simply talking to your baby throughout the day is an effective way to grow closer. You can also use an early-detection gender test and at-home fetal doppler as a way to get to know your baby better. Pay attention to when your baby kicks to see if it correlates with certain noises or environments. It could be an early indicator of their personality. These and other ways to bond with your baby will help alleviate the stress and anxiety that comes with the uncertainty of pregnancy.

Get plenty of sleep

Sleep deprivation is one of the easiest ways to feel stressed and overburdened throughout the day. While quality sleep is hard to come by the farther along you are in your pregnancy, doing what it takes to get a minimum of seven hours of sleep each night is essential for making pregnancy as stress-free as possible. Consider ways to improve your sleep environment, such as temperature changes, more comfortable bedding, or increased measures to keep light out in the early morning hours. Given the importance of sleep in reducing stress as well as maintaining health, achieving quality sleep should be the priority of every pregnant woman for the duration of their pregnancy.

Avoid triggers

The physical burden of pregnancy is plenty of stress imposed on your body and mind. The last thing you need is more stress coming from outside sources. With this in mind, take steps to avoid known stress triggers in your life. Avoid toxic individuals who always seem to bring drama with them. Limit the amount of cable news you watch to prevent the weight of the world from getting to you. While running away from your problems isn’t the answer, limiting your exposure to unnecessary stress is key to making your pregnancy as stress-free as possible.

Eat right

A healthy diet has been shown to help individuals reduce stress levels and increase overall happiness. With this in mind, pregnant women should stick to nutritious foods high in vitamins and minerals. While the occasional craving for something decadent is one of the fringe benefits of pregnancy and should be taken advantage of from time to time, your overall diet plan during pregnancy should be one that promotes brain health, heart health, and overall physical health.

Talk about it

The stress we bury inside never really goes away. Instead, it festers within, culminating with what is often referred to as a mental breakdown. Rather than let yourself turn into a ticking time bomb with a baby on the way, make a point to talk about what's bothering you to your partner, close friends, family, or a licensed therapist. While you don’t want to burden your loved ones with frequent venting, taking the time to talk it out in a calm and rational manner will go a long way in reducing your overall stress levels during pregnancy.

The miracle of pregnancy is a beautiful thing. Unfortunately, it also takes its toll on the body and mind. While it’s impossible to completely eradicate stress from pregnancy, there are plenty of ways to reduce stress as much as possible.

Julie Steinbeck is a freelance writer from Florida. She enjoys covering topics related to business, family, and travel.