Breathe. Smile. Live colorfully.

anthropologie: There are adventure seekers and then there are...

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:56:30 -0700

There are adventure seekers and then there are adventure sleepers. For example, anyone planning a stay at Waldseilgarten – an outdoor getaway in Bavaria – can expect to catch their Z’s from a hanging tent in the trees.

Via: Waldseilgarten

What's in your mind as you shower?

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 13:05:00 -0700

Fun Question of the day:

Once the water splashes on your body, you start to do the same old routine, washing from head to toes. After a trillion times of showers you have taken in your life, have you ever been aware of the thoughts that came up as you shower? What were the thoughts in your mind? Did your mind work better in the shower? What did you do?

I was infused with astonishment when I learned that one would write in the shower! Yes, shower, not bath! (writing while I am soaking in a hot bath is something that I enjoy doing, especially when dealing with brain wrecking college essays, believe it or not!) I knew about this because one time I asked for a solution to combat creative blocks and she told me to relax and write my thoughts down in the shower. When she said to me that she wrote in the shower, I couldn’t believe what I heard. She even told me that I could easily get water-proof notepads and write on them with a normal pencil! Before that, I didn’t even know such thing exists!

It was such a great discovery because my brain is wired to be more creative when I’m in the shower: flashes of words, sentences, images, sounds… all senses become vivid to me. And so this leads to my answering this question.

My mind becomes refreshed and I feel very relaxed that my senses grow stronger and stronger. I will make good use of my senses and pay extra attention to the water droplets that hit on the ground. (Try and pay attention to it! Bring the sounds into your conscious mind, and you’ll be amazed/ bothered by how loud the water splashes can make!)

My mind is boomed with music as if I desperately needed some background music (my mind just can’t rest in peace!!) Because sometimes it gets too loud in my mind, I’ll just sing at the top of my lungs when no one’s at home. (I guess this is what many people would do- Singing in the shower :) )

I have this weird thought one time when I was showering in a clubhouse, which was located on the 8th floor of a building, and I thought to myself that I was naked in the same building of hundreds of people. I was fully aware that while I was showering, standing naked, other people right downstairs were eating in restaurants or shopping around. If you think about it, who would have thought that someone would be naked in the same building you’re at… (well, I admit that my mind is naturally grown with random weird thoughts)

Best time to come up with dance moves (oh yes! I dance in the shower), song lyrics, and tunes

Create many hypothetical situations dealing with social events/ personal issues what I would say and how I could behave ( I guess this covers reflections on life)

Side note: completely random again, not answering the question, but related to showering.

Do you know that it’s a very weird feeling when chewing a gum/ sucking a candy in the shower? At least it feels weird to me! Without much human biology knowledge, I wonder if our bodies are structured in a way that our taste bud goes kind of numb when we’re “in” water, or it’s just because we’re not used to eating “in” the water, or it’s simply because we’re distracted by the water soaking us up?

A place that keeps me coming back for 4 years

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 11:41:00 -0700

While enjoying myself in a steam room after Body Combat and Women’s Yoga classes, I realized that Myoga was a place where I had been turning to for FOUR years of summer in Hong Kong!

I started at this place after a long break from my public exam before taking off to Calif. I learned about this place in the internet. I was searching for yoga classes because yoga has been an exercise that has always spoken highly of by my mom. Gathered with all those positive comments about how good yoga could do to my body and being a person who’s always been actively involved in exercises, I brought myself to Myoga.

The time that I got a tour there, I knew it was going to be a place that I would enjoy myself tremendously. I still remember when I walked into the inside to explore, I saw this breathtaking view of the harbor right in front of me. Along with the use of khaki, brown, and beige colors for the furniture and decorations, it creates a calming and peaceful ambience that I love.

The best part of this place is that it not only provides great quality yoga classes, it also provides a variety of dance or other fitness classes. For me who finds happiness in dancing and vigorous sports made this place more appealing to me. The dance classes varied from Bollywood dances instructed by Indians, Zumba Fitness (one of my favorite classes in which I still take at school), Modern dance, Body combat (a really enjoyable fitness class for me that comprises of loud beat music and kickboxing/ martial arts movements. It’s especially enjoyable because I came from a background with Taekwondo skills!), Jazz Funk, Hip hop and more. One great experience for me that brought me to fall in love with Spinning was another studio here that provided cycling classes.

With this place that offered yoga classes that I was interested in learning, dance classes that I have always taken a great interest in, and cycling classes that provoked my interest in Spinning, I was brought to a place which now has become a place like home to me whenever I’m back Home for summer.

My usual routine at Myoga has always been rushing from home and trying to be punctual to my classes…for all these four years! (Luckily, I managed to be punctual) Once I reached there, checked in, and got slips for my classes for the day, I would flee to the changing rooms, get changed, put my stuff in the lockers, and finally, keep my composure and go the classes. Usually my approach is to take those fitness/dance/ Spinning classes first and then follow up with a yoga class so that I can calm myself after the vigorous exercises.

So after yoga classes, I would feel very relaxed, but rejuvenated in a very calm and peaceful way. Then I would go to the steam room to enjoy the relaxation and my free-flowing thoughts, with my body drenched in the heat and moist. After about 10 minutes, I would hit the showers and then get changed, blow dry my hair and head out. Sometimes, I would just stay in the longue, sink myself very comfortably in the soft and squishy sofas, with the harbor view in front of me and read the magazines provided, newspapers or books that I brought on my own.

Throughout the four years, nothing major changed. Familiar faces and pretty much the same instructors. One of the changes that I observed was that there was an influx of men, still not a lot, but there were more men that came here than my first year here. It is very understandable that this is not a place that is crowded with men because they usually have to work from 9-5 and also because of the quality of yoga, which is a really quiet exercise that doesn’t involve competition, but a personal exercise that rehabilitates the body system and brings the mind to serenity. As a result, mostly women turn to this place and they are mostly housewives and retired women, and I am the one who’s the youngest. I guess the reason why I’m the youngest can be explained by the fact that I value exercise, health, and mental health a lot than many of the others of my same age. I know how to find the perfect ambiance and things to do to pleasure and feel happy for myself.

And this is how I find my life meaningful B-)

A surprisingly interesting conversation with a twelve year old

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0700

“Oh wow! You still remember his name.” I said to her. She said “of course! I named him W- the weasel!”

When she kept on talking, I stopped her.

“We’re not together anymore.”

“why?” she asked curiously.

There was a long pause. It took me a while to put my thoughts together.

“Not compatible?” she broke the silence before I could explain in simple words for her.

I was surprised when I heard her saying the word “compatible”. Even a twelve year old girl had an idea that compatibility was what kept a relationship going.

The thing that has kept me interested was that why would a 19 year old guy couldn’t follow what I said when I explained that “we’re not compatible” while a twelve year old could.

I was further surprised when she said “accepting him as your boyfriend is harder than getting over your relationship” after I told her that my mom was heart broken over my termination of a one year relationship. And the girl added, “that’s not her relationship.”

When she said it was harder for someone to accept a new person into a family than to let go of a past relationship, I couldn’t help but to spill the beans to her that I was recently in a relationship, very in love, with a guy whom was unaccepted by my parents.

As she heard what I said. Curiosity was all I saw in her eyes. I quickly filled her in.

I said” well…” I was hesitant when saying it out. “he’s…Greek.”

“Completely Greek?” she asked, completely amused by what I said.

I said yes with a smile on my face.

It was when she asked something completely out of my expectations, where I found it ridiculously funny after I understood what she said, and was reminded that she was still a twelve year old girl.

“Did he dye his hair?” was what she asked me.

I couldn’t follow what she said and asked why.

She said “Did he dye his hair black?”

At first I thought she was so mature that she was aware that there were different types of hair and eye colors in Greece, unlike for the Chinese where 97% (I made that up. I’m not really sure about the percentage) of them have black hair and eye color.

So I was confused by what she said and I said he didn’t have to because his hair was already dark brown, almost black like us and I asked why again, feeling befuddled.

She gave me a lovely smile and said because he would look like Asian if he dyed his hair black.

I cracked up after I heard her explanation. It was really funny when you heard someone who tried to help you out with a solution which was thought to be easily fixed, but was more complex than it was.

After all, it was such one good laugh that has made my day completely.

What a very precocious girl you are dear, Nicole.

Roam around in nature.

Thu, 03 May 2012 18:12:54 -0700

Roam around in nature.

Photo

Thu, 03 May 2012 17:51:41 -0700

GORGEOUSS. katespadeny: wheels

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:43:23 -0700

GORGEOUSS.

katespadeny:

wheels

katespadeny: picnic anyone?

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:02:18 -0700

katespadeny:

picnic anyone?

Ingrid Michaelson is one of the best inspirational singers for...

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 21:54:45 -0800

Ingrid Michaelson is one of the best inspirational singers for me.

“for many others they would just say ‘FML’. Personally I...

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 21:48:11 -0800

“for many others they would just say ‘FML’. Personally I hate this word and the way people use it- why saying fuck your life when you in fact have control over it? We can’t plan our life. We never know what comes next. But we have a choice.” Can’t agree more! and YES! we do have a choice. We can be very in control with our lives. <3

halliebellies:

Finally a night feeling free and relaxed to do some blogging. FRUX have been going to school and earning money, can’t even manage to get some good sleep. But fortunately I’m at least getting enough of them - most of my friends don’t even have time to sleep. Have been wondering what’s the real meaning of university life. For me it’s alright, still on track at least, but for many others they would just say ‘FML’. Personally I hate this word and the way people use it- why saying fuck your life when you in fact have control over it? We can’t plan our life. We never know what comes next. But we have a choice.

Seeing people worrying overwhelmingly about their academic results and internship stuff just upset me. I am very clearly that I am NOT being naive or unrealistic, I just think there is not just one or two ways of doing things. There’s not only that one or two way to earn money. There’s not only getting high marks to be a great person.

Taking photos has always been the best way I relax myself. Going over the little details of things in daily life, searching with your eyes the funny, warm thing surrounding you and take them with you. I am a romanticist, yes. But I am not unrealistic or a dreamy person. If you ask me why I keep doing this? Because I feel most alive and happy for only a few things in my life: singing, photographing, writing and being with lovely, warming and great people. I love things that are beautiful. And I seriously hate business.(I mean BUSY-NESS. See how this word actually derived from BUSY? HA.) It drives one crazy.

Recently I have been struggling hard over something. I want to face the true self, hear the inner voice.

WE DO HAVE A CHOICE, RIGHT?

Learn to charm colorfully :-)

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:28:00 -0800

Learn to charm colorfully :-)

A song that gets me through the tough times.. I just need to...

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:16:00 -0800

A song that gets me through the tough times.. I just need to remember to B.R.E.A.T.H.E.

Everything’s gonna be fine.

Notebook- my lifetime fav flick. It brought me to the time that...

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:55:00 -0800

Notebook- my lifetime fav flick.

It brought me to the time that I want myself to be in.

Being a health conscious person, most of the time, I will take a...

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:20:00 -0800

Being a health conscious person, most of the time, I will take a look at the nutritional information of the food I am craving for and then decide if I really want to eat it :0) well I’m not that kind of a dieter who goes WAY too extreme neither eating at least a little bit of healthy meat nor consuming any fat related dairy products JUST BECAUSE ONE WANTS TO GET SLIM. ( I pay all my respects to those who restrict their diets because of their religious values or whatever their beliefs are)

I believe that eating a little bit of everything from the basic food groups- grains; fruits; vegetables; fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products; lean meats, fish, poultry; and nuts,seeds, and legumes- just the right amount and stop when you feel content, then I think this is quite a healthy eating habit!

Even though I’m a health conscious person and a person who doesn’t have a SUPER sweet tooth, sometimes being able to indulge in some sweet treats is one of the best things to do in life :D

Few days ago, I had this craving for macarons so badly! especially the almond flavor one from ‘lette!

Macrons are already cute to look at. I really love the vibrant colors they have :) Color really has this powerful psychological tool that draws our attention to it and most importantly, it makes us feel happy!

hmm. when you take your first bite of the right flavor, right texture of the macron, you will immediately get this inner sweetness flooding all over your senses.

I never get to explore different macarons’ places. I might not have come across the best macron place, but I feel quite right when I get the macarons from ‘lette. I think they are not the best or the most authentic because the filling is a bit too “jam-y” (hmm.. maybe they are meant to be jam-y?), but I can truly indulge myself in the texture of all the macarons and especially the Sweet Wedding Almond macaron that gives me this great almond aroma lingering in my mouth.

‘lette carries different fascinating flavors:

salted caramel, caribbean chocolate, coconut (not a big fan of coconut..so I don’t really like this one), colombian coffee, lemon, madagascar vanilla, sicilian pistachio (yum!), sweet wedding almond (absolutely amazingg), earl grey tea (love it), violet cassis, rose (smells good), raspberry, lychee, and passion fruit.

Well these are the flavors listed on their website, but the one I got that was in dark green color and with black color filling, I was wondering what that could be. When I took a bite of it, I realized that it was the flavor of my FAVORITE food at all times. CHOCOLATE + MINT! This heavenly yummy combination is not that good on this macaron, but I am really surprised that this combination can be put on macarons. SO CREATIVE :)

YUM.

Turn the things that you feel bored with to things that you...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:33:53 -0800

Turn the things that you feel bored with to things that you love!

I really felt so inspired after reading Kate Spade’s blog....

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:18:00 -0800

I really felt so inspired after reading Kate Spade’s blog. I really LOVE how colorful,sophisticated, and interesting every post is from there! SUPER AWESOME. I simply LOVE everything from Kate Spade…it’s not just the apparel there, but also the designs, patterns, materials used, colors, vibe, how the graphics are placed and the choice of words… simply everything is perfect!! I can’t believe it was just few days ago that I got notice of the Kate Spade’s blog! I wish I discovered the blog side sooner.. :0)

Since the movie 500 days of Summer that I was first exposed to Zooey Deschanel, I’ve been immediately fallen in love with her. Her vintage yet playful kind of personality and her retro-ish singing voice completely drew me into her. How I wish I could dress like her, do the same make up that she does and also her hair style that I like a lot. But I guess I couldn’t pull it off as naturally as she could.

When I saw her, I felt like she is a Kate Spade person beacuse I know she would be so dazzling in its outfit and the clothes she wears will speak out her personality super loud. SO I searched for her photos and she definitely wore one of the cute outfits of Kate Spade’s.

I’ve always loved and been writing…but it’s always been on paper. Writing on a...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:38:00 -0800

I’ve always loved and been writing…but it’s always been on paper. Writing on a piece of paper always feel safer and more private for me. What I wrote there were all my thoughts that I never dared to share..it’s just private. Maybe because I know my words were safe with me so that I was able to spill all the words out without being scared of being judged. Even though I felt most personal to write on papers, I did have a blog back in the days of high school, but it was because of, well, kind of, conformity.

Because I know my posts would be read by my friends, I have always kept in mind what my friends would love seeing me writing. Now, I’m not going to do that here. Despite the chills I get now, feeling naked and insecure for posting here where strangers might take a look at, I’m still gonna post what I love here, share my thoughts, and not think about the judgments from people. So, everything here will be purely me :)

* I would definitely NEVER start posting here without your encouragement and inspiration, Halliebellie. x Love you :)