Friday, September 30, 2011

Styling (On A Budget)

Fashion on a Budget can feel like that mannequin...
left with nothing to wear...

Luckily we can shop online for discounted, stylish items. Comparing prices, read reviews and comments to ensure the items are worth our hard earned dollars.

But then, sometimes, we are just stuck with no inspiration...nor be able to afford a personal shopper on call to assist...

We then look to Budget Fashion Blogs...
It's like looking at fashion magazine with a lower price comparison.  Very Fun...IMO

Frugal Fashionista

The Cheap Chica's Guide to Style

The Budget Babe

Happy "Window" Shopping.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Fun Thursday - Jetting Away

Planning A Surprise Trip (for the kiddies)...to see the Magic Kingdom & the Space Shuttle.

Nerdy Hubby and I have been to Florida once when we lived back East.

Reading off the many travel reviews, we are glad that we are able to be there in "Off Season."

A couple of sites have been extremely helpful for me with  my planning. Food, Lodging, Travel...even reminder that there are a ton of toll roads, so remember to bring some cash.

TripAdvisor.com
 http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g34515-Orlando_Florida-Vacations.html


Visit Orlando.com
http://www.visitorlando.com/

I also use Yelp & TripAdvisor Apps on my phone when I am on the go.

Now if there would just be an app that can pack your bags for you, then life would be Just Perfect!



Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Movie Night - The Inspiration of Billy Elliot

Billy Elliot (2000)

Inspirational...Heartwarming...Discovering One's Self & Talent...

Coming off of yesterday's post of the topic of Confidence...
Billy Elliot is the perfect example of how Gaining Confidence can lead to Success...(yes, I know it'a movie, but It's Possible)

The dancing, the acting, the interplay of relationships are all wonderfully played out.  Yes...it's predictable, Yes...it's a happy ending film.

But I still say it is the Inspiration of Possibility that won out at then end of the day (movie).

Billy Elliot - Official Trailer

Additional Trailer

The movie is rated "R," so my kiddies won't be able to see it. But...
Billy Elliot the Musical - winner of 10 2009 Tony Awards - Including Best Musical
http://www.billyelliotthemusical.com/
Will be coming to Los Angeles April 2012...Got to save up for those (pricey) tickets.


That would be a family event...Hopefully, one to remember.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Gaining Confidence...from a 10 year old's prespective

Success to a 10 Year Old...

Every new school year, we ask our kiddies to set a few goals for themselves regarding school.

The younger one is simpler in her mindset...I want to read faster, get good grades, get "blue" cards (ice-cream with teacher).

The older one, as the years pass, he is seeking more recognition. Last year, he was on the principle's list (3.91 GPA).  This year, he wants to try for 4.0 (you get a medal/trophy).

Objectively speaking, he is smart, but there are always a few smarter than him; he is fast, but again, a few faster than him.  One of  his biggest obstacles is, the extra confidence.  He is a visionary, but lacks the disciple of execution. He reminds me of the book by Jim Collins, Good to Great. 1st chapter is titled, "Good is the Enemy of Great."  I know the book talks about companies, and building for success.  Yet, certain success principles still applies (even to a 10 y.o. in 5th grade).

So we do our best to help our 10 y.o. gain confidence and hopefully succeed.

- Looking at Strengths and Weaknesses
- Clarify the Goal(s)
- Commit to Realistic Expectations
- Evaluate Level of Commitment
- Set Up Time Frames
- Making a Plan of Actions
- Weighting the Costs & Benefits
- Identify the Elements of Reward
- Envision Desired Outcome
- Action vs. In-action
- Relish in the Success
- Start All Over Again

In a 10 y.o. world...

- Upcoming Social Study Unit Test & Tall Tales Literature Test  (In the same week)
- What kind of grade are you aiming for (I want 90 and above)
- How much time are you willing to put into it (As much as needed, even weekend)
- Will you give up all electronics, even on weekend (...yes)
- It will take at least Friday after-school & 4 hours on Sat & 2 hours on Sun (...okay)
- Night before tests, are you ready? (Test Me)
- Still need to memorize study guide (Okay)
- Morning of Each Test, "Do you feel confident?" (Yes...Very Much)
- Both Tests Came Back...(I didn't get an A mom...I GOT 100% A+)
- Happy Mom, Relieved Dad, who helped with most of the studying...(Even the Teachers congratulated me!)
- Very Proud & Confident 10 y.o. (Until Next Time...) 

Monday, September 26, 2011

Good Eats Monday - A Visit to Palate Food & Wine

Palate Food & Wine - Glendale, CA
...Where Food, Wine + People Meet...(catchy)
http://www.palatefoodwine.com/

So we went for some food, wine with some very good people (D&D, we love you)!

It was Sunday Night, so it's supper menu.  An offering of either Seafood or  Meat.  All the reviews said they do their seafood very well.  We must concur.

We started with some small plates to share...all were wonderful...

Add a bottle of very nice Badge 2006 Pinot Noir

Ate all our food & forgot to take pics...sorry...
But here are other offerings on regular nights.

Verdict...
If you are in the area, wanting some food, wine, and have people (even just 2)...
Definitely give them a try! 

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Sunday Inspiration - Beautiful Beautiful

Francesca Battistelli singing "Beautiful Beautiful..."
Official Website:  http://www.francescamusic.com/

She has a great voice and energy...maybe because she is so young...maybe it's her positive attitude...maybe is her inspiring voice...

Beautiful Beautiful...is very uplifting...on a Crisp, Sunny, Lovely Sunday Morning...
It reminds me of God's Love, Children's Laughter, Radiant Flowers, Soaring Birds...

Like Sunlight Burning At Midnight
Making My Life Something So Beautiful Beautiful


Awakening My Heart
Breaking Through The Dark


And Though It's Pouring Down
I See Your Through The Clouds


I Have Come Undone
But I Have Just Begun


So This Day...This Song Is For You...And... for my beautiful beautiful kiddies.

Beautiful Beautiful - Lyrics


Live Performance of Beautiful, Beautiful - Francesca Battistelli

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Seeing The World - One Sketch At A Time

I Love Seeing The World
I Love Arts & Sketches
I Love Seeing The Styles of Different Artists

I Love...Urban Sketchers
http://www.urbansketchers.org/

It's a blog features sketches and stories of scenes from more than 30 countries around the world.
These are invited artists who share a passion for drawing on location.


There are about 65,000 sketches on http://www.flickr.com/groups/urbansketches/
And increasing by the day.

The latest one is of a Soy Sauce Factory in China...
Urban Sketchers: 天成號醬油廠 Thin Seng Soy Sauce Factory: Size: 5 x 8.25″ Media: Chinese ink & watercolour on Moleskine sketch book Size: 28 x 76 cm Media: Chinese ink on paper Posted by Kiah Kiean


Whether is China, Lisbon, Buenos Aires or San Diego...viewers and readers are transported to a different world just for that moment.  Seeing the world through an artist's eye...one sketch at a time.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Using The Clipper (Boys & Men Haircut)

The Andis Speed Master II Clipper came Today...
...Ta-da...

This one is Very Shiny and light.  The Nerdy Hubby & the Big Boy have to get their hair cut (too) often.

So Nerdy Hubby decided to give Home Hair Buzzing a try.  (I am actually very nervous for them)

NH was going to give himself a buzzing tonight and I started laughing...luckily he felt asleep right after dinner.

I like to plan and be prepared.  One wrong buzz and there is no saving it!

So onto Youtube I go...

There were different videos for different techniques and effects.  I am just looking for the basic.  Hopefully NB will watch all of them before he starts buzzing!

Basic Techniques for a Sporty Haircut

Detailed Video for a Short Sides and Longer Top
(best advise was to use the longest guide comb then move to shorter ones to finish)

Taper Cut Hair (so not to create steps)

Sideburns & Behind Ears Techniques 

Introduction to The Andis - Speed Master

If my next post is about missing chucks of hair or how to reattach an ear...then you know how this went...Just kidding!  
I have the utmost confidence in you my dear Nerdy Hubby! 

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Fun Thursday - Dancing Feet

Feet Are Dancing...

There are a few different venues in the Los Angeles area to see some dancing feet.
(discount tickets at Goldstar.com)

San Francisco Ballet - Works of Tchaikovsky, Bizet
at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa
http://www.goldstar.com/events/costa-mesa-ca/san-francisco-ballet-repertory-works

Bring It On - the Musical
at the Ahmanson - Los Angeles
http://www.goldstar.com/events/los-angeles-ca/bring-it-on-the-musical


All New "Battle of the Dance" Dinner Theater 
at Anaheim, CA
http://www.goldstar.com/events/anaheim-ca/battle-of-the-dance-dinner-show


Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Not...Movie Night - Mourning - It's Final Soap Week!

Ok...Not This Kind of "Soap" (although this kind of soap is kind of gone too)

My All Time Favorite Day Time Soap Opera - Ending This Week.

Farewell..."All My Children" 

I have watch you "on and off" for almost 3 decades...(sob...sob...)!

Good Bye...The Martins...The Chandlers...The Hubbards...(I still remember the Courtlandts, the Montgomerys and the Santos)...and of course The Kanes!

Never will I be able to follow the "partner swapping," cat-fight galore, the ever evolving "take over scheme," the inconsistent yet amazingly predictable plot-lines, the unbelievable yet "secretly hopeful" circumstances.

Gone forever, will be the crazy characters, the villains you-love-to-hate, the unhealthy boundary-less heroes, the comas, the secret twins, the back from the dead, the I used to be good-then-bad-then-good-again characters.

I will greatly miss my time with you (my dear dear "Children").  We had move through the Sands of Time (oh...sorry, wrong show), Whether it was pretending to be sick so I can watch you (high-school), Fighting with the VCR to make sure I figured out how to record (college), Best time gauger (maternity leave), or guilty pleasure after midnight online (now...well, until this Friday).  I will be lost (without you)!

Mourning...Grief...Loss...(at least for a little bit)

Interviews with the Cast...of course Susan Lucci, et al

Farewell...Farewell...Pine Valley!

Sob...Sob...To The End Of An Era...

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Am I Too Negative?

The Follow-Up 
to last Tuesday...Negative People

Today...We Ask Ourselves, "Am I Too Negative?"

I can tell you right now, in certain areas of my life...I am!
Sad to admit, working on it for year, and there are still times that I get caught up in it.  Feel like a tidal wave...slip and swept away!

Hint:  never...ever...ask me to help your children with homework. Invasion of the body snatcher takes over my body and I "oooooooze" negativity.

Here is a brief quiz for you:
Quizlla has a brief quiz on "Are You Too Negative?"
http://quizilla.teennick.com/quizzes/7320038/are-you-too-negative

My Result:  You Are a Little Negative...
You can be negative from time to time. You have a realistic view and most people appreciate your honesty. Like everyone else, you have your dark moods. But when you're feeling super negative, you keep your feelings to yourself.

I prefer to call myself  a "Realist" in terms of:

Hope for the Best
Plan for the Worst
Live in the Reality of Now, the Present

A very reasonable article on "Being Too Negative"
http://www.succeedsocially.com/negative
Outline:
-Ways People Can Be Negative
-Targets for Negativity
-Signs You May Be Too Negative
-Reasons People Can Be Too Negative
-The Difficulty of Breaking the Negativity Habit
-A Few Ideas On Being Less Negative

My advise aside from the article above (which I will work on myself)
- Be Less of A Perfectionist
- See and Speak The Positives First
- Be Less Judging 
- Have More Empathy & Understanding
- Focus on the Strengths & Only Notice the Weaknesses
- Be Aware that Being Positive Does Not Mean That You Have a Low Standard
- It Takes More Energy to Stay Negative Than to Be Positive

Now Go Smile At Someone And Greet The Day With A Big Hug!

Monday, September 19, 2011

Good Eats Monday - Lobster Fest 2011

The Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival


Over 20,000 lobsters flew from Maine to attend the events...sorry critters.

Here are my Twins...

It was as good as I remembered (way back when) when we would make the trip from NYC to Maine for lobsters and shopping.

This weekend, the lobsters were good...shopping, not so much...no matters.
The main features were the lobsters!

Note:  Definitely not a "1st date" activity.  Couldn't bear to take pictures of the "mess."
It was a wrestling match for sure...BTW, you get 1 plastic fork, 1 plastic knife, 1 regular napkin, 1 tiny wet wipe...Good Luck!

Kiddies had a "Staring Contest" with this one.

There were also Food Trucks.

Along with your typical "festival food" such as funnel cakes, fried everything and drinks of all kinds.
Also, a few rows of vendors, but nothing to write home about.
People were just really there for the food. Not sure the admission was justified.

The Banner - The "Back Kitchen" - The "lobster ladies" hard at work!

At the End of the Day...3.5 stars out of 5 - Worth Going At Least Once!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Sunday Encouragement: You Are More...

You Are More...Tenth Avenue North

You Are More Than The...
- choices that you've made
- sum of your past mistakes
- the problems you create
You've Been Remade

I've been talking to people a lot lately about...
Utilizing Your Strength...To Move Toward Tomorrow
and Stop Emphasizing Your Weakness...To Lag Behind

Of Course...there are consequences to our past actions...especially negative ones.
But using them as a crutch to hide from the future is aimless and creates hopelessness.
We are Not Alone...We are to Participate...To Be a Part-Of...
Our Lives as A Whole is More Than the sum of its parts. 

You Are More - With Lyrics

Official Video - Tenth Avenue North

The Inspiration Behind the Song

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Kate Hartman - Funky Devices Show How We Relate...

katehartman.com
Disclaimer:  This one is a bit "out there."
...But I love it!!!

Kate Hartman is more of a genius than it seems!
She is an Artist...Technologist...Educator.  MOMA loves her!
Her work are really more of a commentary that some may give her credit for.  As an observer of human behaviors and relationships, I applaud her for showing the truth and reality of how people relate to themselves, others, and the world beyond.

On the surface, her works seem light and airy...but the real critic of her work is the truth of what they demonstrate.

Examples:  view on her website - http://www.katehartman.com/thenextbigthing/

-(re)connect:  a garment that allow the wearer to receive feedback from their own gesture and touch
-talk to yourself hat (above photo):  considers the act of conversing with oneself
-wearable wall:  worn as a backpack, a portable structure that has the conceptual flexibility to be used in a varieties of situation 


Friday, September 16, 2011

Eat Out - To End Childhood Hunger

September 18 - 24, 2011
National Dine Out - 
To End Childhood Hunger

Share Our Strength's effort to end childhood hunger in America.

Support the cause Simply by Dinning Out at participating restaurants.  Click on the link to find restaurants near you...Again...this is a nation-wide effort.  There are definitely places near you.


For all of us who love food and love to eat for a cause...This Is A Must!
The list include place as simple as Togo's, Denny's, and Boston Market.
And as sophisticated as Roy's, Palm, and Simon L.A. (in the L. A. area).
There are choices for every budget!

Open Table has a dedicated search for "Share Our Strength's Dine Out to End Childhood Hunger."


Enjoy Your Meal and "Really" Feel Good About It!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Fun Thursday - (Free) Museum Day 9-24-11



Who doesn't love a day at the museum?
Who doesn't love a day at the museum when It Is Free?

This is a nation-wide event sponsored by Smithsonian Magazine.

By filling out an information form, you will receive 2 free admission tickets.

You can choose from a participating museum near you by location or by venue.
You can decide how far you want to drive and what excites you and your family.

Have a Fun Filled Day at the Museum!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Movie Night - Home...a documentary

Home (2007) - a documentary about New York City, its immigrants and the people who pay tribute to the cosmopolitan.

Brief Description:
An Award-winning documentary about a young Dubliner reflects on his recent immigration to New York City, contemplating the concept of home and the ever-changing cosmopolis.

I mentioned in the past week that I was feeling "home-sick" for New York.   Having left "the city" 17 years ago for the City of Angeles, I feel often a sense of dualism.

I live like a Southern Californian, yet in many ways, I am still a New Yorker at heart.  Things can always be faster, louder, better, bolder...

Coming from a city that never sleeps, finding everything closed at 10 pm still stuns me at times (honestly though, at this point of my life, I don't really stay out beyond 10 pm anyway).

Yet, welcome to "the City" of my heart...I may never go back to live, but it lives in me wherever I go.



Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Negative People...

Negative People...
We all have a few around us...workplace, family, friends, social situations.

When we pay attention, we often realize how draining they are.  The negative impacts are often more felt than seen.

And when we cannot avoid interactions with them, we have to find ways to consciously deal with them.  Negativity is contagious!

Here is a wonderful article speaks briefly on Negative People.

9 Helpful Tips To Deal With Negative People:
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/9-helpful-tips-to-deal-with-negative-people.html

1.  Don't Get Into An Argument With Them...
2.  Empathize With Them
3.  Lend A Helping Hand
4.  Stick To Light Topics
5.  Ignore The Negative Comments
6.  Praise The Person For The Positive Things
7.  Hang Out in 3's or More People
8.  Be Responsible For Your Reaction
9.  Reduce Contact/Avoid Them

...Next Week on Tuesday..."Am I Too Negative?"

Monday, September 12, 2011

Good Eats Monday - Chinese Mooncake

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival - 9/12/2011

It's all about the Mooncake...
Not really...

Almost All Chinese Festivals are opportunities for families to gather.
There are always lessons to be learned, stories to be told...but most importantly...Food To Eat!

Here is a link for the History & Origin of Mid-Autumn Festival:
http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/culture/history-and-origin.htm

For our purpose, it's just about the "Mooncake."

What is it?
It's a Chinese pastry, typically round or rectangular with a approx. 3" diameter . Made of a thick sweetened lotus seed paste filling (nowadays, they are filled with all sorts of pasty ingredients), surrounded by a thin doughy crust. It may or may not contain salted duck egg yolk (sounds "interesting" to say the least, obviously an acquired taste, but a good one IMHO) .

Mooncake is usually eaten in small wedges with a cup of tea. Families and businesses present them as gifts. Over the years, mooncake has become more and more expansive and exclusive, $25-50 for a box of four. Mini-mooncake can cost up to $5 per piece.

An interesting article on high-end mooncakes - Shanghai Presents - Magnificent Mooncakes 
http://www.thatsmags.com/shanghai/index.php/article/detail/980

At our house growing up...
As children, I don't think we loved it, but made it fun with how we would eat it.
We did like the double egg yolks ones better.


Each cake is cut into 8 pieces.  But, we can't peek at the inside.  The yolks are not typically distributed evenly in the cake.  So each 8th will not get an equal amount of filling and yolk.  It became a game as to who would get the "loser" pieces, the ones without the yolk.


Sometimes, even for a Chinese daughter, it is Not about the food...but the Memories.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Sunday Remembrance - 9/11 10th Anniversary

The 10th Anniversary of September 11th

Emotions may flair 
Tears may flow
Pains are not forgotten
Yet...people are not forsaken 
And... Hope is Forever


A 9/11 Tribute - There is A Hope (by Dave Pettigrew)

There is A Hope - Lyrics 


Saturday, September 10, 2011

Voices of September 11th



The 9/11 Living Memorial
http://www.voicesofseptember11.org/dev/content.php?idtocitems=1,6

Commemorating the Lives and Stories (excerpt from official website)

"The 9/11 Living Memorial digital archive chronicles the nearly 3,000 lives lost and documents the inspirational firsthand accounts of rescue workers, survivors at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, PA.
VOICES staff hosts 9/11 Living Memorial workshops around the country and meets one on one with families to digitize photographs, written materials and personal keepsakes. Memorializing their loved ones can be a healing and emotional day of remembrance for families. Our team of social workers helps participants through the process of organizing these fragile mementos to create a meaningful tribute to their loved ones.
The archive will expand to showcase the caring, courage and compassion that the world experienced that day. Audio and video will be included."

Voices' of 9/11


Friday, September 9, 2011

9/11 Memorial Museum


9/11 Memorial Museum 
Opening & Dedication on 9-11-2011

Time-Lapse Video 

9/11 Memorial Museum - An Introduction


Thursday, September 8, 2011

Fun Thursday - It's Fun...Educational...and Free!

California Science Center

We have been to the California Science Center many times. Yet each time we go, we are still discovering new things, new ideas, new information.  The "Ecosystems" exhibit is nothing short of amazing. The last film we saw at the IMAX theater was "Hubble 3D." It was a genuine wondrous experience.  The greatest aspect of the California Science Center is that...General Admission is Free. There is a $8 parking fee.

More exciting news...Coming in 2012 - The Space Shuttle Endeavor will be permanently on display at the California Science Center.

My only caution is...when there is a USC game, parking can be horrendous. Just a minor detail...

Photos of the California Science Center

Space Shuttle Endeavor - Coming to Los Angeles in 2012

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Movie Night - Ip Man (a Chinese martial art movie)

I am usually not a big Chinese movie fan.
Many of the ones I watched growing up had "unhappy" ending.
(not sure why, but somebody always die...the worst always happen...all the award winning movies always require a pack of tissue...)

Then there are the infamous kung fu movies. I know these have a "cult" followings, but this is just IMHO...
The settings are always ancient. Mostly, the plot is to support the fighting scenes.  Typically, not a date or girls'night movie.

So when I saw "Ip Man" on Amazon, I hesitated. But if I want Nerdy Hubby to stay awake and watch a movie with me...I will have to choose wisely.  (a subtitled, foreign documentary would not be wise)

Read up on the story line, realized that it was loosely based on a real martial artist and set in the time of the Japanese invasion of China.  A semi-biographic film, I would be interested in.

Ip Man (2008)


Watch it on Amazon.com - dubbed in English
Very impressive...inspirational...showing strength and restrain...positivity and integrity...
Ip Man the real person, was an epic man of a generation, in life and in martial arts.


Tuesday, September 6, 2011

9/11 Healing: The Alternative - Forgiveness

A decade after 9/11...
wherever you turn this week...this phrase appears every where...every media outlet...and almost every conversation...

I will voice out my disclaimer first...
- this is not a fully formulated post
- I am an advocate of forgiveness
- this is not a post of political view
- I value human life and human potential more than policies
- I believe that God is bigger and beyond all earthly evil
- this is not about persuasion, but seeking an openness

TED.com  -  9/11 healing: The mothers who found forgiveness, friendship

This is one of the more controversial presentations from TED.
A mother of a son perished in the World Trade Center attack (and) the mother of Zacharias Moussaoui moved through forgiveness and discovered friendship.
It's about mothers' pain, loss and moving forward and toward the un-fathomable ...









Monday, September 5, 2011

Good Eats Monday - The Monte Cristo

The Monte Cristo...

My all time favorite breakfast/brunch sandwich.

What's not to love?
Turkey, Ham & Cheese Sandwich in an Egg Batter.
I pan fried mine...But...some people do deep fried it.



Recipe:    Monte Cristo Sandwich

Make 1 Sandwich – 2 servings

2 slices bread (Texas Toast bread if you can find it)
1 teaspoon mayonnaise
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
2 slices cooked ham
2 slices cooked turkey meat
1 slice Swiss cheese
1 slice Fontina cheese

Batter (for pan or deep fried) – enough for 6 sandwiches
1 cup flour
1 tbsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 cup milk
3 eggs

Ingredients:

Dipped & Pan Fried

Ready to Serve

Enjoy!

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Sunday Encouragement - Sometimes You Just Have to Grow Through It

Feeling Stuck...Discouraged...Pained...

It's not an easy road to walk in those desert times of life.

Someone once said...
"God will not protect you from what will perfect you through."   

It's a difficult yet profound (even hopeful) statement when I take the time to ponder on it.

Came across a song this week...Courageous by Casting Crown
Then realized that it's a song in an upcoming movie "Courageous"
http://www.courageousthemovie.com/

It's a different kind of hero. It's a different kind of courage. It's a different kind of movie.
It is a reminder of what it means to have courage to growth through pain and suffering, regardless of the past.

Courageous - In theaters September 30, 2011

Courageous - Casting Crowns

The Story Behind the Movie - Courageous

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Redecorating...With What You Already Have

Redecorating...again...

Actually, it may be more accurate to say that we are "still" decorating.

My creativity is not spontaneous.  It is an organized unfolding process.  So many walls at our house are still bare.  Of course there is the issue of a very tiny budget.

The truth though is that we do have stuff. Over the years, we have cumulated a number of "treasures." The process is to figure out what goes with what and how to pull all the "stuff" together.

It's now a running joke that every time the kiddies' auntie stop by for a visit (at least once a month), something in the house will look different. We have been in this house for 17 months now. So stuff have been moved quite a few times.  We do feel like until we lived through a few seasons, we really can't get the hang of how we are using our home and what best suits our space.

Here are a few interesting sites I stumbled upon...Redecorating with what you Already Have!

Living With Lindsey
http://livingwithlindsay.com/category/easy-home-decor-projects

The Inspired Room
http://theinspiredroom.net/2011/06/03/how-to-decorate-using-accessories-you-already-have/

REDEcoRATE.com - use what you have
http://redecorate.com/

Will post pictures in a month or so...If...I didn't change it already.

Friday, September 2, 2011

The Schizophrenic Musician

For those who love classical music and live in L.A., Robert Gupta would be a familiar name.  He is a violinist with the L.A. Philharmonic.

What many people might not know is that he is also passionate about neurobiology and mental health issues.

He is currently also a TED fellow.  In this video, he talks about a meeting with Nathaniel Anthony Ayers.  The homeless musician in the movie the "Soloist." Jamie Fox played the character.

What he thought was a lesson teaching Ayers the violin turned into a lesson on the power of music.  How music changes a person, a person's mood and countenance, a person's reality of sanity...

Robert Gupta: Music is medicine, music is sanity
 
The Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation
http://www.naayers.org/index.php/site/index_more/from_management_to_recovery_emerging_approaches_to_serious_mental_illness1/


Book & Movie:  The Soloist (2009)

I cannot comment much on the subject of the severe mentally ill. For I do not work consistently with that population.

However, I do have to agree that, as difficult as it is working with them, how much more it is to be them.  More often than not, it is not the disease that concerns them, it is the isolation (from people).

It is true that management is not enough. How is society to help them to participate in the functioning world? What I seek is awareness (for myself), not simple answers. For there are none.