I'm a big fan of Taiwan's mega famous F4, now known as JVKV, such that when I opened my Twitter Account, I followed Jerry Yan and Vanness Wu (JVKV/F4 doesn't seem to have an official Twitter Page).
I went through each idol's timelines and apparently, Jerry's Twitter is just the shortened version of his official Facebook page. But still I liked following him on my Twitter.
Then when I went to Vanness' page, I wasn't surprised to see casual Tweets, since English is his native language (being born Stateside). What bowled me over was his Tweets on his feelings towards God. Here's an example (I hope he doesn't mind). " I'm excited... Haven't felt like this in awhile~ God is good... I don't know why me, but I am grateful to Thee for deeming me worthy. Amen*" It was very refreshing to read this from a famous guy. It's like I'm admiring someone who's on the same page as me (in the God department that is). And if that's not enough, his Tweets are very witty and fun to read too!
It's a nice change to see Vanness, whom I've always associated with MeiZuo, in another light! (A halo over his head perhaps?!) Merry Christmas, Vanness! And please send my greetings to the rest of your posse!
I am a subscriber of Cheryl Richardson's newsletter and I got really great stuff this week. Like I said in an earlier post, because of the weather and the holiday frenzy, it is easy to succumb to a weak immune system. Here's Cheryl Richardson's advice for us who are ready to take the holiday leap and enjoy the season peacefully:
Topic of the Week
Really Good Self Care
Last week I asked my Facebook community to tell us how they take really, really good care of themselves during the holidays. I thought I'd share some of their ideas with you. We have such wonderful people with wise advice. Check it out...
I play in the snow with my children!
The one thing I absolutely love to do for myself is to sit quietly at night by the lit tree for a short while and breathe in the smell of pine. I take time to be grateful for everything, including the beauty of the season. There is nothing quite like those moments of total peace.
I listen to Christmas music as much as I can.
This year I put my Christmas tree on a revolving stand and I am getting a big kick out of it.
The best way I take care of myself is to show kindness to people who are need of a little kindness - shut-ins, shelters - especially women and children. I like being an anonymous elf to those who feel forgotten-that is what Christmas is really about to me. These things bring me joy!!
EVERY year (since my divorce) I buy myself a Christmas present FIRST.
Hire a cleaning lady - it's the best self care, besides a facial!
A couple of years ago I got honest with people in my life and told them I wouldn't be sending cards or buying gifts any longer and that I didn't expect them to do so for me. Instead I asked that we 'keep the season in our hearts' all year and use the time, money, and stress we'd have put into cards and gifts to stay in touch with little dinners, favors, and surprises throughout the year.
My friend and I take one day that we spend with our children and with two kids that she got to know through a camp for severely abused children and we make cutout sugar cookies and then decorate them with frosting and sprinkles. We just have a blast! Then we send home a big package of the decorated cookies with them to have for the holidays! And they absolutely love it and now ask, "When is our cookie day" each year because they remember how much fun it is!
I go to the ocean, find 3 pieces of driftwood, write the things I would like to let go of (judgment, fear, sadness, etc.) on the wood, thank them for having made me who I am, and toss them into the ocean to be carried away. Then spend some time on the beach imagining what I want for the coming year.
Holidays are holy days of love, light and hope. I make a point of smiling at everyone I see and sending thoughts of good will. Keeps me connected to the spirit.
Each time I stand in line to make a purchase I look at each other person in line and Namaste them, then I pray and give thanks for each cashier. It turns the bothersome task of waiting in line into an opportunity to reorient my vantage point.
I take an afternoon off and go watch a movie all by myself. I don't have to worry about anyone or having to share the popcorn. Believe it or not I always get a divine message.
Simplify, simplify, simplify!! I cut out EVERY thing that is not necessary. If I'm not hosting Xmas, I do minimal decorating. Bake ONE kind of cookie, instead of 10. I say no to things. I also will suggest we "get together" in January instead of trying to cram everything into December.
In the spirit of Christmas and the New Year, I will reflect on something new that I would like to birth this year.
~*~
Ready to make your holidays even better? Take our challenge below (and watch the video that reinforces this message - men and women alike!).
Take Action Challenge
This week, choose one holiday self care strategy from above and put it into practice. And, be sure to watch this week's video (sent to me from my dad - thanks dad!). While it's focused on women, the message certainly applies to men, too! You'll find it here.
I was looking for some images on Peony in Love when I happened across this picture called "Romantic Comedies with Killer Interiors". I think this room from Down with Love is beautiful!
You can curl up in it on weekends while reading a book. Be swayed till your asleep. I've always wanted a rattan rocking chair. I like this classy-homey piece of furniture which would be good if it came in two. Good for chatting and just looking at the sky.
I got a phone call from a friend of mine who lives in faraway New York. We caught up over the hour-long conversation as if she was just next door. She excused herself while we were talking since she was munching away the Chinese take-out dinner she was enjoying. She said, "Hey, I got two fortune cookies. I opened the first one, but the second one will be ours."
I could hear her opening up the next cookie and then she read with the Chinese accent flair:
"Big things coming in future, only matter of time."
Bring it on!!! Thank you my dear friend for sharing that wonderful fortune!
I've always appreciated architecture. I don't pretend to be an expert, but I do get attracted to beautiful structures, particularly century old edifices (like the Chinese courtyards, with houses that are tile-roofed with curling corners, the charming Filipino bahay-na-bato with the nipa roofing and stately colonial American houses with pillars at the porch, to name a few).
*** In the recent times, I have seen movers and shakers in the eco-friendly architecture scene.
In today's Yahoo homepage, I saw this interesting article on a a Beijing Egg House built by Dai Haifei, a 24 year old architect from China. His tiny mobile egghouse is a rent-free solution to one of the China's most expensive addresses. The six feet tall, solar-powered, egg-shaped structure fits a bed and what the picture shows a shelf/book case.
It is made of bamboo strips and wood chips, sacks and grass seed. Yahoo cited China Daily noting that it cost Dai Haifei $1000 (USD) to build the cozy mobile house.
The Philippines is not to be left behind in the eco-friendly architectural world thanks to the efforts of power socialite and highly proactive intellectual Illac Angelo Diaz. He spearheaded Design Against the Elements, an architectural design competition that aims to build structures that are able to withstand the tropical storms that hit the Philippines. His most recent achievement is the almost-done first ever recycled PET bottle classroom.
*** I greatly admire the creativity and passion of both Dai Haifei and Illac Angelo Diaz, who have not only studied about building and entrepreneurship, but have used these knowledge for the higher good of the community. They have answered the call for the need to update information that is at hand. The world needs more people like them!
It's a Sunday evening and tomorrow is another work day. I doubt that I'll be able to work tomorrow since the doctor suggested that I take a rest. I'd like to go to work tomorrow but then again, I'll have to heed the doc's advice since health is wealth.
To avoid the flu, the most common ailment on hectic holidays, we have to load up on Vitamin C, take lots of liquids and pace ourselves in order to enjoy the season more. I might as well tell myself this since I was bogged down today - spent the rest of the day sleeping, and I will do the same on the first day of the week, which is tomorrow.
As I'm writing this first post, my best friend and I are together both facing our laptops while deciphering on the periphery the Mandarin words of the Taiwan Idol drama we are "watching".
Tomorrow is a Sunday and I'm hoping to do NOTHING. Just sleep in and recharge my body for the working week ahead.
I'll stay away from work for the meantime. Need to rest to be able to work. Meantime, I'll blog away!
Upon starting this blog and even way before, I've always visualized about my dream home. But before that, a little something about where I live right now.
I live in my mom's house. Though she has been living in her own small space across her original house, I still consider this home hers and I'm thankful to have a roof over my head.
But that hasn't stopped me from dreaming of my dream house/property.
I remember a classmate from high school who lived in the suburbs. They had an ample landscaped front yard with a car port at the left beside the small white house. It was white with black wrought iron windows and a sturdy red roof. Inside the house, the floor was waxed a shiny red. There was a small living room to the right and to the left was the dining room. Beyond the dining room was the kitchen, and even beyond this, I'm guessing it was the laundry area. Next to the living room (which was at the right side of the house) was the boys' room, followed by the master's bedroom. The last room at the right was the toilet and bath. Across the toilet and bath was the girls' room. The house was decorated with classy, solid stuff and was definitely well appointed. It was nothing fancy, but you could tell that it was a home well-kept.
Here is a picture from Country Living that would approximate my dream house. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="823" caption="an approximation of my dream house. imported from wikimedia commons"][/caption]
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matthew 7:24
"Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? The Big Bad Wolf? The Big Bad Wolf?
Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Tralalala!!!" - First and Second Little Pigs
One day, in the middle of brainstorming for the perfect blog site, I was telling the story of Walt Disney's version of "Three Little Pigs" to a group of children ages 3-4. I enjoyed the cadence of the words in the retelling:
"Once upon a time, there were three little pigs who went out into the big world to build their homes and seek their fortunes..."
They each built a house: the first one of straw, the second one of sticks and the third one of sturdy bricks.
The first and second little pigs were happy-go-lucky gay little pigs with nary a care in the world. They loved to sing and dance while playing the flute and sawing the fiddle. They invited the third little pig to join their merriment, to which came his resolute reply:
"I build my house of stones, I build my house of bricks, I have no chance to sing and dance 'cause work and play don't mix!"
The first two little pigs laughed foolishly at their hardworking brother and went their merry way.
And then along came the Big Bad Wolf liked nothing better than to catch pigs and eat them. He huffed and puffed the flimsy houses of the first two pigs. They both ran in fright to Third Little Pig's strong and sturdy house.
The wolf chased after them in frustration and huffed and puffed and PUFFED and HUFFED the brick house. Angry at his failure, he climbed up the red tiled roof, determined to eat the pigs, went down the chimney straight into a boiling pot of kettle. He shot up back to the chimney and ran in fright, never to be seen again.
And the Three Little Pigs spent the rest of their days singing and dancing in their well-built brick house.
The-End!
As I was retelling this story, I thought of my teenage dreams of becoming rich by building empires like my classmates' parents who owned and ran gasoline stations, hardware stores, general merchandise and other hardy businesses that made them live comfortably.
But then again, my forte and interest is writing, not "business" in the conventional sense. So here I am, writing in my own construction shop: building my home through my visions and interests and hoping to seek fortune through my Third-Little-Pig-Tenacity in writing.
I hope you enjoy coming to my brick house where we can sing gaily, since it's open house time!
Here's the wonderful 1933 Walt Disney Silly Symphonies clip for the Three Little Pigs, uploaded by newlookchick on youtube.
[/caption]
