Happy Birthday NN!

Coincidentally, Nuffnang and I share a same nickname. Some friends do call me NN. So when I was typing the title of this post, I thought I was wishing myself happy birthday. Hahha. Anyway, this post is an entry for me to get tix to Nuffnang's 6th Birthday Bash. Hehehe. This is the first time I'm joining a competition like this and if I do win passes, it'll be the first time I'm attending social events for bloggers!

Happy Birthday Nuffnang!

Two months ago, on this exact day, I celebrated my birthday too. (Yes I'm an Xmas baby) Birthdays for me are more of a time for self-reflections and I have not written some of my reflections for my birthday so I think I'm gonna cheat and write some here too. Haha. And what better to write about them than with songs.

This entry requires me to choose 5 songs that I would like the DJ to play at the birthday bash. I thought I would inject some fun into this entry and choose songs according to a theme and my theme is "Movie Memories". Haha. It's inspired by the fact that Nuffnang is six, and when I was younger and around that age, there are songs from certain movies that instilled in me some of the values and principles I hold to this day. Of course, I couldn't include some of my favourite songs from films like Sound of Music and Mary Poppins - too musical for a birthday bash I thought. haha. In the end, I decided on 5 songs that I think are upbeat enough for a party, and at the same time convey positive messages. I think positivity is real important in life and I find that I always renew my sense of faith and hope during birthdays. ahah. So here's towards a bright future for Nuffnang and all who's gonna attend the party!

Ok, here goes my playlist.

I have shared it on my Facebook and my Twitter.
I'm so embarassed to tell you that I have just created this Twitter account. hahaha.

For the purpose of this contest, I also need to share my favourite album and it has to be Kate Nash - Made of Bricks because she is crazy and because she is a Brit-eesh. Pronounce that in Cockney accent please. Despite her craziness, I find her lyrics profound and her music, musical. Haha. She is so unique and there's no one like her. I just can't stop loving Kate! My favs are Mouthwash, Skeleton Song, Mariella - crazy songs. Some friends think I have weird taste. :( So why not you have a try and tell me! :D

And luckily for me, I could find Kate Nash's songs on Deezer. :)
Yay! And I am listening to her now!

Now back to my Deezer playlist and what the songs mean to me. Told ya I'm gonna cheat a bit and write some of my own reflections.

1) Just Keep Swimming - inspired by Finding Nemo

"Just keep swimming, it will work out eventually"

I always imagine myself swimming in a large ocean towards my next paradise. This songs tells me to keep swimming and never stop or never give up regardless of my circumstances. And I think it means more than just not giving up; for me, it also means that, when I achieve something, I also do not stop and rest and be complacent. I am reminded to always look for ways and means to keep improving myself.

2) Hakuna Matata - from The Lion King

"Hakuna Matata, it means no worries, for the rest of your days"

I have always loved The Lion King and its soundtracks, so much so that I almost watched its Broadway musical when I was in New York. But at that time, time was a constraint so I passed Broadway. Then, The Lion King musical came to Singapore two years ago, and this time, I wouldn't pass! I dragged invited Mr Choe along and I enjoyed it so so so much! Hakuna matata teaches me to stop worrying and start living! I have come to realise that, to worry or to move along is just a matter of choice.

My short fringe once upon a time.

3) The Bare Necessities - from Jungle Book

"Look for the bare necessities, the simple bare necessities"

This is one of my all-time favourite songs. I have listened to it since I was a young girl and always found this phrase to be so true and so meaningful. And now that I am a young adult, I feel this simple truth even more. The most happy people are contented people. In this competitive world where people are trying to win over others, or show off their material possessions, I know that these victories are just temporary. The best things in life are still in the simplest things - a smile, a kiss, a hug. :) I always remind myself to be contented and also humble with what I have.

4) You've Got a Friend in Me - from Toy Story

"You've got a friend in me"

Toy Story is a story about the adventures of many unlikely friends. Friends complete my life in many different ways and for all my friends who have been so kind to me, I always try to be a good friend too. It's about appreciation. :) So thanks to all who have been so good to me all these years, I'm really grateful and hope that I can be a better friend each day. Hehe.

5) I Like to Move It - from Madagascar
"I like to move it move it!"

Well this is a party song that I think will get everyone moving! Sometimes in life, we just have to let loose and enjoy the journey! Life's a party. :D

With these songs and messages, I wish Nuffnang a happy birthday! And hope I can be part of the celebration!

To join, log onto Nuffnang website and start submitting your entries!

*fingers crossed* ^.^

Life, and death

I just came home from a funeral of an aunt who lost the battle against breast cancer. This is an aunt who was so strong to have fought this battle twice, this is an aunt who stayed jovial despite her cancer, this is an aunt who fought her battle to her last breath and for this, I salute her. And I respect her family for fighting this battle together with her too. They have been taking time off work to care for her, encouraged her, tried all options to nurse her back to health.

Unfortunately, everything has an ending.

Sometimes, attending a funeral put things back in to perspective. It reminds us of what's really important in our lives. It makes us see the real kind of love within a family. It brings back memories, some long forgotten. It makes us put aside all differences and reunites us in times of gloom. It holds a family together.

And it helps me too. It helps me understand better, the effect of my work, as a life insurance advisor. It helps to push me further, to overcome challenges that come my way. If my aunt can be so strong in the face of a killer disease, so can we, as healthy and fit people, overcome obstacles and challenges in life. It reminds me, that we only live once, and that everything I do, I put my heart and soul into it, because I only live once. It reminds me too, to extend kindness to all, to be a good daughter, a good partner and a good friend to everyone, because we never know when.

Thanks aunt, for teaching me strength and perseverance. May you always be remembered.

Noteworthy Noteworthie

Sponsored Post

I need scrapbooking ideas! Hehhehe. To decorate my noteworthy Noteworthie scrapbooks! Hehhehe. Don't you think this Noteworthie name is just so noteworthy? Hhaha. I keep playing with the word because I think it really sounds noteworthy and cool! :D

For the past two weeks I was looking for books with no lines then I asked Noteworthie whether they have such books and they recommended me these hardbound journals. Lines limit my creativity ok so I was really happy to find these at Noteworthie! You know it is so difficult to find a nice little book with no lines.

These are just two of the various designs at Noteworthie.

So obviously I chose this. Hahhaa.

This front cover is so cute and meaningful.

It reads "Keep a Green Tree in Your Heart and Perhaps a Singing Bird Will Come".

It reminds me everyday to have a good heart and good things will come. :))

So subtle yet so powerful~!

I am a shy (hahaa) person so I will just show you three pages of my Noteworthie journal ok. I also would like to decorate my scrapbook more so please accept these undecorated pages for now. Haha.

These are principles I adopt from Og Mandino. An amazing author.

*power of affirmation* Hahaha.

This page is inspired by Glee's I Came to Win / I Believe I Can Fly mash-up. (yes I watch Glee)

Psst.. No fish were harmed during this commercial. Hahahhaa.

Apart from these hardbound journals, Noteworthie has a wide range of unique products. And they are planning to launch more! That's why you need to LIKE Noteworthie's Facebook page now! :)

What's more, in this month of September, for every item you purchase you are actually supporting the cause to better mental health! 15% of ALL your purchases go to HELP World Mental Health Day. If you are still clueless about this event, read here. Their Heartwarming Inspirations tagline fits the cause so well. If you see a friend depressed, down and unmotivated, maybe give them a Noteworthie to cheer them up? Everybody needs positive words of encouragement, even we ourselves! You will find that Noteworthie items carry positive messages very well. :)

And, Noteworthie will also be at this Frenzy Bazaar so be sure to show your support!

Ok now this is off-topic. Hahaha. But I dont know how my blue marker pen and my yellow blade can stand like that for the whole day. Left them there before I went out and when I came home at night, they are still standing like that.

This shows their dedication to continue working on a Noteworthie scrapbook. LOL.

HELP World Mental Health Day

Which do you think is more important? Mental health or physical health?

Ok I am not asking you to respond with an essay to me, debating this out. Haha. I just wanted to point out that I believe, both are equally as important. In fact, mental health may even bring about excellent physical health.

Just recently, a person close to us was diagnosed with cancer. We were more than willing to help him get back on his feet. We offered him a place to stay, sent him to hospital for radiotherapy treatment everyday, encouraged him, did everything in our capacity to help. After two months of us taking care of him, he went home for a short break. The doctor said he needed three weeks of rest before he could continue on his chemotherapy treatment. So we thought we could all rest for three weeks. Just into the first week of this break, we received news that he passed away. He looked like he was progressing well and responding well to his treatments so I thought long and hard on what could be the cause of his death and after one day, I thought to myself, it could be a psychological one because I could sense that he was really down at times. Hence I thought the cancer got serious and he did not have the will to fight and therefore succumbed to illness. The next day, I received the shock of my life when we received news that he actually committed suicide. It breaks my heart to even write this now. We suspected that he could not handle the pressure and always thought that he was and will be a burden to us and his family and decided to take his own life. Till now we do not really know what went through his mind leading to his decision to end his life.

I have always sort of wanted to tell this story here but never really know how because I was still dealing with the shock that came with this news and the sad reality that he is no longer here. 

However, I think right now is a good opportunity to share this story, in conjunction with HELP World Mental Health Day. And the theme this year, which I can relate to really well, is Depression: Suicide.

When Ai Ting told me about this event and asked me if I wanted to write about it, I immediately agreed because right now it's a cause that I support. 

HELP World Mental Health Day is organised by a group of psychology students to raise public awareness on mental health and its importance. The keyword here is AWARENESS. If we are all aware of depression and its symptoms, we could always lend a helping hand or seek professional help on this matter. It is often that we don't recognise depression and its symptoms, and often, only when it's too late, do we know that the people we cared about were indeed suffering from depression.

The team has done very good job in promoting HELP World Mental Health Day thus far.

First flash mob in One Utama.

A teaser on HELP World Mental Health Day.

It's weird, I thought I hang out in One Utama very often but I missed the flash mob. Hahahah. :P

The BIG event will be on 12th-13th October 2012 at Piazza, The Curve, Mutiara Damansara. This team of courageous HELP students have lined up many activities leading to this big day so be sure to spot them around!

How to get involved?

1) Group into a team of 10 people and plan a flash mob in every mall in the city.

1) Like HELP World Mental Health Day Facebook page.

2) Follow HELP World Mental Health Day blog.

3) Watch their Youtube videos on WMHDProductions.

4) Tell your family and friends about this.

5) Show your support by attending the roadshows.

This is the upcoming roadshow to promote the cause and raise funds.

So maybe you could drop by!

But, I'm very sorry to tell you that I do not know where is KPD A.

Ask them on their Facebook page ok. Only HELP students will know I guess. Hhehe.

And I heard, a second flash mob is coming to you real soon!!

Long-lost love

Hugs to all! It's been a tough week recovering from all the holidays blues I know! Hahhaha. I, for one, find it difficult to return to my active (workaholic) self! *drops head* *facepalm* But as Terminator says, I will be back!!!

I have wanted to write about this for long time now, I had a painting session with Stacey! Stacey likes to paint and she wanted to try oil painting. She bought all these paints from an overseas trip and never used them before! Then I told her I used to do some oil painting during my school days and both of us thought that we should arrange a painting session together one day. Heheh. I am glad we made it!

See all the paints? NEW and niceeee... 

The sight of these paints makes me happy! And brings back memories too!

Stacey got a book on oil painting from me, for her birthday and we decided to use one of the tutorials in that book as a guide for our first painting session of more to come. Hahah. And, we found out that the colours described in the book are exactly the colours we have. Are all oil paint colour names universal?? I mean, the names are not just as simple as white, yellow, blue. Instead, they are very specific; titanium white, yellow ochre, cerulean blue, etc. So can someone answer me? Hehhee.

Then when I wanted to dry my first layer of paint, I came across this beautiful sight.

The flowers cast such a pretty shadow on my painting.

Then, from an artist, I became a photographer for a while. Hahhahaha.

The unfinished business. Hahhaa.

Stacey finished hers! I am a slow coach... :(

Only after this painting session did I realise how much I miss painting! Or rather, how much I miss doing artsy stuffs like this. And the joy of just having some quiet time to myself, immersed in a long-forgotten hobby - BLISS.

In the spirit of painting, here's a picture of a man doing refurbishment work to a temple in Penang. The hot afternoon sun did not stop him from his work. This is commitment - finish what you started! No sun can make you stop LOL.

I am in the mood for crafts now! Need to finish my painting and will show you all the final result ok! Hahhaa. I just need to find time - excuses. hahaha. 

Next, scrapbooking maybe? *wink wink*

Where there is rain, there is rainbow

When driving back to KL last Sunday, we saw this amazing rainbow right in front of us. It was like, we were traveling over a rainbow.

When faced with rain, sometimes one must know where to look and one might just find a rainbow. :)

Just like, when we face challenges in life, we need to be strong, face them, and something good will come out of these challenges. The best is yet to come!

Ok you may think I am feeling all wisey wisey out of nothing. Haha. But every time I look at this picture, I feel this way. Hehe. For the record, it is completely unedited and this is the first and only shot of this rainbow yo!

ps/ Today, somehow, I got compliments from two friends, one saying I am a hottie, another one saying I look pretty in white. Hahhaha. Thanks for making my day. :P (sounds so vain, lol)