tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86002277437078559512024-03-14T04:10:28.689+10:00Dance with Chaoswhat have I learned so far in life?
the music will always change-- the beat can sometimes go faster or slower, but nothing should ever stop you from dancing.Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-90723654899320154452012-03-23T13:29:00.002+10:002012-04-04T16:15:21.188+10:00Sad but true<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I almost forgot how its like to be happy, genuinely happy. At my best, I was living beyond plain existence. What I am was less important to what I was doing.<br />
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But now, as I stare at the mirror, I couldn't recognise myself, who that person is. What am I becoming? What am I now? What was I before? Felt something was lost in between.<br />
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As if my tears knew the perfect cue, it rushed down like water from a dam. I've been holding back for so damn long.<br />
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I am wrong. Honesty's not gentle-- its brutal.<br />
<br />Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-45801581941762018382012-01-29T14:13:00.024+10:002012-02-16T23:26:38.360+10:00Rafa, I believe in you!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Rafa being Rafa</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am feeling sick in my stomach. Seriously constipated. Is this really how you're supposed to feel when your favourite tennis player reach a Grand Slam Final? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My heart and mind is battling over another Rafole showdown in this Australian Open 2012 Men's Final. Who'll win? Heart says Rafa and logic says the Djoker. And why do I care so much over two men blasting a ball inside the lines of a rectangular box?? (that's another heart-to-heart conversation) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, no one is betting against the Djoker and I see why-- he's not in human form ( too good, like the computer I'm against when I play Top Spin 4), doesn't get tired and even if he's tired-- he can still win (!!!!) His desperate shot making is undeniable. But where does that confidence and grit come from? ( Want to know my wildest guess? I think he sold his soul to the devil lol)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I witnessed how this Djoker crushed Rafa for 6 consecutive times in the finals last season. And as a new Rafa fan at that time- it was hell of an initiation! With every loss to this one <strike>robot </strike>man, I felt the pain is getting harder for me to bear. The pain, I must admit, multiplied with every loss from the Djoker. So will it be 7 times greater after tonight? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No matter what happens, I know I'd still be rooting for Rafa. My heart tells so. He always makes me feel that I am part of his battles: The fist-pumping for a hard fought winner, the I'm-not-letting-go-every-ball attitude and all those dying-on-court moments-- always strike me in awe every time I watch him. As a spectator, all I want to is be moved, be surprised, to believe in the impossible. When Rafa channels his inner Houdini, any thriller movie will lame in comparison.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rafa constantly reminds me that hard work triumphs over natural talent: stars are made not born. He fought all adversity and prove them all wrong. He's not just a clay courter but learned to dominate other surfaces too. But tonight, more than anything, I hope that he'll carry on the belief (the last potent ingredient to victor the Djoker) that he can achieve the seemingly impossibly task. He's too good of a fighter and a player not to win this. Rafa knows what to do, for sure ( Tio Toni to the rescue!), but the question is, can he overcome his nerves and nail it on break point or match point? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Courage, my dear Rafa, courage! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so with all bravery (wearing my lucky green and blue combo I wore on his semis match), I shall watch the finals tonight, because I believe in Rafa. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div></div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-16533137348624014022011-11-17T22:38:00.028+10:002012-02-16T23:27:14.572+10:00Dear Future Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1wHEdHcjJ6I/TsT2kLE594I/AAAAAAAAAVY/mQYBjKxZdT8/s1600/550w_gamingreview_professorlayton3_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1wHEdHcjJ6I/TsT2kLE594I/AAAAAAAAAVY/mQYBjKxZdT8/s320/550w_gamingreview_professorlayton3_1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have just received an email from myself. But no, it’s not one of those times when you forward an email to your inbox to save yourself a copy, and neither one of those control freak habits of checking how your email is going to look like to the one you're sending to and so you send it to yourself first. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two years ago I found a website called FutureMe.org which allows you to send an email to yourself anytime in the future. I find the idea interesting because it makes you think about what you want to tell yourself 5 or 10 years from now in the second person point of view:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Hi Kat, how’s your vacation in Europe going? Probably you’re having a romantic getaway with your hubby on your first year anniversary!” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fun right? It’s like practising your fortune telling powers on yourself. But if these self prophesies do not happen and you receive an email from your past self to affirm such inaccuracies or overestimations, then I don't think it will be that fun anymore. Instead it might turn out to be funny because you like a fool with this reply:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> “<i>Haha what anniversary are you talking about?! Ugh you mean my mum and dad's anniversary?”</i> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So today, I received this email I have made on 16th of November 2009. Yes, two long years and now here it is!! I was quite scared on the sight of it because aside from forgetting that the day shall come for me to read it- I know it's going to burst my bubble.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what did my 23 year old self two years ago told 25 year old self now? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think I was congratulating myself in advance for having a stable life, and in my own terms that simply means being financially independent above anything else. Just like how any Taurean defines security. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I knew for sure is that aside from being an insomniac nothing really changed about me or the things I wanted in life. I still want to be 'Carrie Bradshaw-esque' fabulous, rich, successful and all that jazz. I know I won't be surprised on what I'll read from my past self, I was rather scared because I know have let myself down again. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How will I explain to my past self that things didn't work out exactly the way she wanted it?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They say that the future is always promising because it gives us hope- that things will get better than they are now. But sometimes that’s not always the case because things could always get worse. Disappointed on how I did not live up to the expectations of my past self, I pondered instead.. what would my future self tell to my present self?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I was surprised to realise that nothing was ever lost- that all those tears, struggles and heartaches might be useful one day and become a foundation for something greater. I'm not sure but I think I heard the future me whisper: <i>"Put on a smile. The game is not yet over." </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-66994745383440738762011-04-23T01:35:00.020+10:002012-02-16T23:14:04.178+10:00What happens when you turn 25?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BEqcJZ4VWAM/TbGStFWFEuI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/SFx-vPKQpdg/s1600/happy%252Cwords%252Cme%252Cwant%252Cballoons%252Chappiness%252Coptimistic-1eb84dad8cb41b747aafdf90ed67e6e6_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BEqcJZ4VWAM/TbGStFWFEuI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/SFx-vPKQpdg/s400/happy%252Cwords%252Cme%252Cwant%252Cballoons%252Chappiness%252Coptimistic-1eb84dad8cb41b747aafdf90ed67e6e6_h.jpg" width="381" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gee, I'm just a few hours away from officially hitting twenty five. Technically I am already right now, but not really yet- because the morning hasn't cracked and I was born at 10 in the evening ;-) </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, this day is not just any lavish excuse to throw a wild birthday party one last time- bidding goodbye to a couldn't-care-less attitude we had in my 20's. Neither is it a ticking time bomb before our youthful glow vanishes; nor a much feared reminder to start ticking items in our bucket list before reaching 30. But why<i> fear </i>when this is actually a point when great transformations are primed to happen.<span style="color: purple;"> </span></span></div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Contemplation</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="line-height: 150%;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lucwg9vFJaE/TbGlVyfxTGI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/1oyyhyqFW3o/s1600/AZN7wsuV4pfi4zbuZgh39r6to1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lucwg9vFJaE/TbGlVyfxTGI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/1oyyhyqFW3o/s320/AZN7wsuV4pfi4zbuZgh39r6to1_500.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="238" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twenty five is the age of reason where the mind is fully developed to make rational decisions, however, it doesn't make it any easier for us to choose which path to take, as errors in this point will not be as easy to correct as it was 5 years ago.</span><br />
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</span></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe going back to school as a 20 year old kid was a decision you would take without even thinking as time is in your hands to exploit, but add another 5 years to the equation and at 25, that option may not exactly be a gamble worth the jackpot. Or say would you stay in a lousy relationship with a person you see no future with? At 20, hope can keep that relationship alive but come 25, the only option is to find more an investment that will provide a better return.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe reaching 25 is one of those pivotal moments in our life where we cannot help but reassess how life has been in the past quarter of a century. There comes an expectation for us to fit into the norm. So what would a 25 year old person be committed to at this day and time? We don't want to veer away from 'normalcy' and try to live up to our own and most especially to our family and peer's expectations.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's the rising point leading to climax at a story plot. Reaching 25 would make you pause, and wonder whether or not the path you are standing at this moment is the still the same direction you want to see yourself 5- 10 years from now. The more we get older it seems that time is becoming a scarcity and that quality transcends quantity. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="line-height: 150%;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple; line-height: 150%;">Frustration</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></b></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LXbUC5DX-j0/TbGmzdwPjII/AAAAAAAAARI/rx90GjyRxGM/s1600/Marilyn_Monroe.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LXbUC5DX-j0/TbGmzdwPjII/AAAAAAAAARI/rx90GjyRxGM/s320/Marilyn_Monroe.gif" width="283" /></span></a></div><div style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 36px;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10 years ago I couldn't wait to grow up and be one of those adults who ruled the world. I wanted to be a woman of power and become rich, beautiful and successful. Thinking about it now, I realise that it was nothing but a safe aspiration. Yes I had the vision, which is better than having nothing at all, but I had no exact plan for execution.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my mind, I was driven enough to pursue anything that will come my way, but there was one thing I missed. I was not courageous enough to put into concrete terms what that ‘anything’ is supposed to mean. “Lawyer”, “Accountant”, “Entrepreneur”, “Journalist”, “Dancer” and “Actor” would have filled the blanks and I would have arrive at the same end point of success. </span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Letting Go</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div></div><div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4HsDDIxh6Mc/TbGoA4xaqtI/AAAAAAAAARM/lUf4vyMDLlg/s1600/4152259187_0eaf78d881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4HsDDIxh6Mc/TbGoA4xaqtI/AAAAAAAAARM/lUf4vyMDLlg/s320/4152259187_0eaf78d881.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel as if in a few hours I will be given a life sentence to a prison they call 'real life'-where an attempt to escape is seen as a mortal sin rather than an act of jest and a moment to breathe. So no more games for me? Not entirely, but it probably means playing with calculated risk this time around because the stakes are higher.</span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't want to be the girl who refuses to grow up but I still do want to visit <i>Neverland</i> from time to time. We sometimes have that love-hate relationship with children because they are animated creatures who happened to be brats- but the thing I love most about them (that I want to stay with me) is their sense of wonder! And with the good comes the bad, thus being mature means letting go of being childish about life: throwing tantrums and non-stop whining!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next 25 years will be the most productive years ahead of me and I doubt that this is the last time I'll be having such a mid-life crisis. Twenty five is just the beginning of this roll- it's the time when career, family, self discovery and everything else will reach its fullest potential, so the best way to deal with it is to just live and let go! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div></div></div></div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-48107895883348372322011-04-19T13:06:00.009+10:002012-02-16T18:11:42.072+10:00Something you don't hear everyday from your dentist<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-77nRm_azV30/Taz5yXxbZ2I/AAAAAAAAAQs/xkloZGR4Yyc/s1600/500_1190320913_19206276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-77nRm_azV30/Taz5yXxbZ2I/AAAAAAAAAQs/xkloZGR4Yyc/s320/500_1190320913_19206276.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes the most important lessons in life do not come from the ‘life experts’ or gurus we all run after to seek advice. The answers we long to find does not necessarily need to be found elsewhere, you may already know it but you just need someone to remind it for you. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realised this might be true- a week ago when I was in my least philosophic moment- how could you be when you are about to anticipate pain in one of your most sensitive areas. My mind was busy, rather in panic mode as I was trying to calm down my nerves. I was a few moments away from a tooth extraction.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The least thing my dentist could do was to assure me it’s gonna be alright- and so she did a cleaning first before taking out one of my precious whites. Before the procedure, I asked her if she could straighten my left front tooth but she said I need braces for that. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With a smile, I said that I was just referring to straightening the edge of the tooth (not the whole tooth itself). And so she did with drilling machine, then handed to me a mirror so I can check it out. I tried to conceal my blah expression but she read it right away- because I really didn't notice any difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But she explained that going further ‘to correct it’ will cause more unevenness. (True, why fix it if it ain’t broken?) And then the unexpected I heard, coming from a professional more likely trained to criticise and look for something to fix - she said: It doesn't have to be perfect because<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>that</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>shows character- that's what makes you unique.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All this time I've been running away from something I shouldn't really be afraid of- from being flawed downright to a self made agony of a painless tooth extraction. Oh well... Life really has a way of giving you an assuring pat on the shoulder when you least expect it. :)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-26819811060066733722011-03-31T19:26:00.022+10:002012-02-16T18:13:32.869+10:00The Manduka Black Mat Pro: A beginners review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LVfHJ7GQh2c/TZQ9M4oPZyI/AAAAAAAAAQY/Zig-fkrzkw4/s1600/41OYrO1KWiL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LVfHJ7GQh2c/TZQ9M4oPZyI/AAAAAAAAAQY/Zig-fkrzkw4/s1600/41OYrO1KWiL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almost a month ago I most certainly didn't have the slightest idea what in the world is a <a href="http://www.manduka.com/us/catalog/categories/products/mats/black-mat-pro/">Manduka Black Mat Pro!</a> But since I started doing yoga and have had many bruises, joint pains and the daunting experience of sticking my face on our dusty floor, I decided for myself that I need a firm, sticky and durable cushion for practice once and for all. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am just the typical beginner who gets real excited about a new interest. I don't normally splurge right away because I might find myself starting another hobby in a few months time. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the more I have spent time stretching my limbs and reaching my toes on the floor (while hearing my body cry out for help to stop doing the unthinkable)- the more I felt a stronger connection to my mind, body and spirit that I want to explore what more I can do. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZc1bLwtAFs/TZQ16xbeFNI/AAAAAAAAAQE/w1_DsWY9XXk/s1600/IMG_1968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZc1bLwtAFs/TZQ16xbeFNI/AAAAAAAAAQE/w1_DsWY9XXk/s320/IMG_1968.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Love at first sight, looks exactly as advertised. </span></i></td></tr>
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</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Pros-</span></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Longevity</span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So when other people have asked me why I am willing to spend a hundred dollars on a yoga mat- I simply said its a good investment. Why? The Manduka Black Mat Pro has a lifetime warranty and according to owners it can last for years and years which I find practical as I cannot afford to buy a new yoga mat every 3 months. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is what is says it is</span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my first yoga mat and even if I cannot make a direct comparison from other models or brands, I can say that based on the yoga mats I have held when I was shopping for yoga mats, I can say that the quality of the Black Mat Pro is by far superb than those sold in the retail shops. It definitely has a league of its own. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rE5npGCfS38/TZQUJz_gAaI/AAAAAAAAAP8/n427MSe2YRY/s1600/IMG_1971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rE5npGCfS38/TZQUJz_gAaI/AAAAAAAAAP8/n427MSe2YRY/s320/IMG_1971.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Almost the same width as the foot of my be</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">d. </span></span></i></td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been using it for a week and so far so good! I feel comfortable and secure. I have never seriously slipped because it is sticky enough. It doesn't move and has a good traction on the carpet when I jump from one corner to another. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course no yoga mat is designed to be perfect! But perhaps the Manduka Black Mat Pro is as close as perfect can be. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Cons-</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The smell</span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was reading the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Manduka-BlackMatPRO-71-Inch-Yoga-Pilates/product-reviews/B0000DZFXZ/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1">customer reviews</a> about the Manduka Black Pro, the most complained aspect about it was the strong PVC- rubbery smell. Yes, this is true especially on the first few days. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xFjfbyVxSa4/TZQ5J9TQouI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/dS4F82pcj68/s1600/IMG_1937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xFjfbyVxSa4/TZQ5J9TQouI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/dS4F82pcj68/s320/IMG_1937.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Straight from the box, unwrapping it was the best feeling!</i></span></td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was working on the computer all day, all windows closed, the smell coming from the mat made me quite dizzy that I had to open the windows to escape from its empowering smell. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But after a week the smell is not as strong as it was, that I can be with it in same room with little ventilation. Of course if I stick my nose on the mat I can smell the rubber but aside from that its very tolerable.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bulky </span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its actually not as heavy as I thought it was. I can carry it around with ease it's just that I find it hard to find a normal bag that can contain it and to solve this problem I think I need to buy a customised carrying bag for it. I don't really mind about the weight because it's good for toning the arms. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qPU7Vokgn6c/TZQ5TNZCzNI/AAAAAAAAAQU/YB28h-zD6Ko/s1600/IMG_1952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qPU7Vokgn6c/TZQ5TNZCzNI/AAAAAAAAAQU/YB28h-zD6Ko/s320/IMG_1952.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Black gives it a slick surface. Lays flat on the floor.</span></i></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Final say: Stamp of approval! </span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pros outweigh the cons a million times so its really worth the pricey tag. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You might find this quite over the top if you are just a beginner who doesn't really do the vigorous movements on a regular basis, but in the long run as your movements become intermediate you might need a sturdy mat for support in case you fall and a cushion to keep your knees or hands from maintaining a pose. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are really serious about integrating yoga in your lifestyle then by all means save for a Manduka Black Mat Pro. </span><br />
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</span>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-48643449802977656052011-03-23T15:47:00.014+10:002012-02-16T18:19:09.876+10:00The Illusion of Happily Ever After<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bkeQ6UXltYc/TYluJLagTSI/AAAAAAAAAPg/MzuNA8T0Z3U/s1600/MSW+-+Gorgeous+Gowns+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bkeQ6UXltYc/TYluJLagTSI/AAAAAAAAAPg/MzuNA8T0Z3U/s320/MSW+-+Gorgeous+Gowns+3.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> If I am living according to the way I planned it perhaps a few years from now I most certainly be walking down the aisle on a lush green garden on the side of a cliff, wearing a Monique Lhuillier custom made creation, with Mr. Funny-Hella Gorgeous-Smart-With-Abs-Groom waiting for me on the altar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That sure sound pretty ambitious, and it really is! And now as I put my feet on the ground, I can feel reality speak through the roughness of the my bedroom carpet. Being grounded, its easier to realise that I am not a character in a fairy tale book where I can just sing by the well like Snow White or sleep in the woods like Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), in order to get LOVE's ultimate kiss and awake in forever bliss. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thought of happy endings or happily-ever-after, though shallow, made me bear life's problems easier to swallow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even if I know that happy endings are more of a metaphor- something that was made up for us grown ups to have an escape, and a creative way as well to protect children about life's uncertainty, I still need a dose of a happy ending or an it-will-all-work out-in-the-end mentality to make through a horrible day. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-k8SKmHWKe9I/TYl-i75oiiI/AAAAAAAAAP4/jldzqid4CT0/s1600/0615-fallenprincesses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-k8SKmHWKe9I/TYl-i75oiiI/AAAAAAAAAP4/jldzqid4CT0/s1600/0615-fallenprincesses.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: italic;">Happy Ever After? </span></b><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><i>.....If your life was a race, and reaching the finish line first guarantees you a million dollars, can you say that you can live happily-ever-after when you win?</i></span></span><i> </i></span></div></div><div style="display: inline ! important; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i> </i></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="display: inline ! important; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">If you just graduated from the university- can you slack off since you got honours anyway?</span></i></span></i></div></div></td></tr>
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<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.....When you reach your ideal weight at the end of the year- can you celebrate by eating carelessly and not care on what happens the new year?</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like to think that happy endings, if you put it in a proper perspective, is not really a one-time-big time moment depicted in the movies where someone survives a bloody gun shot, gets married, wins a competition, catches the criminal, kills the villain and save the plane from crashing.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These dramatic moments in our lives defines a part of who we are but it does not entirely make who we are. Its the same reason for believing that when you get what you want: the car, the house, the job, the partner- life does not stop from there because you gotta pay the bills, mortgage, suck up to your boss and do your share of the house chores. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-GG7ABtX1n5c/TYl85ZCxzaI/AAAAAAAAAPw/35xqMqsajZ4/s1600/il_fullxfull.86097054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-GG7ABtX1n5c/TYl85ZCxzaI/AAAAAAAAAPw/35xqMqsajZ4/s320/il_fullxfull.86097054.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Is it a destination?</span><br />
</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happiness is a state of mind. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The switch is in your hands to either turn it on or off, but its not toying with your emotions and forcing yourself to be jolly right after being robbed, but rather seeing the whole picture, looking for something else to be grateful about like the fact that you are alive- which is way better than being penniless! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do not rely on the promise of a happy ending when you can be happy right now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you treasure little joyful moments, like the way your dog excitedly greets you at home after a long day's work, you will earn a bucketful (thousands) of reasons that you can throw at yourself when you're having a bad day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> If you set your bar of happiness so high and prep yourself to a mission impossible- that you will only be happy upon reaching perfection- I doubt that you will ever be truly happy. Happily-ever-after becomes true to those set achievable goals on a daily basis, those who find pleasure in small improvements and those who appreciate the freedom that life brings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> If you always live in the moment and grateful that you can still open your eyes in the morning and know that you have another chance to correct yesterday's mistakes, then you can be rest assured of your own happily-ever-after. . .</span><br />
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</span>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-4330966397920217012011-03-14T14:58:00.027+10:002012-02-16T18:26:48.651+10:00Losing Weight.. Again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WmX_2tWKFRQ/TX2UM_Clt3I/AAAAAAAAAPA/WbZLmdxbuF0/s1600/300_406928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WmX_2tWKFRQ/TX2UM_Clt3I/AAAAAAAAAPA/WbZLmdxbuF0/s320/300_406928.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>I must.. I must.. </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I really must lose weight</b></i><b>. </b>And I decided that I really must do something about it after people started teasing me on facebook and right in front my face. I only happen to figure it out by myself (that I was getting thick) when I was trying on my favourite pair of jeans and I could no longer fit in them! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Four years ago I have successfully lost weight because of vanity's sake. But now, I already have a real motivation to lose weight because it is affecting the quality of my life and happiness. I have<b> gained around 12 lbs or 5 kilos</b> in the course of just 2 years!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am still not overweight but with some more pounds added I feel sluggish and less confident. This alarming realisation made me dissect on the kind of lifestyle that I have and found out I have <b>become lazy as a cow</b> and <b>turned to food when I was lonely</b> instead of being proactive.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Extreme measures leads to extreme consequences</span></b></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lzl8Atxlvp8/TX2XWTARtQI/AAAAAAAAAPU/aXIMiZncNac/s1600/128677671602779201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lzl8Atxlvp8/TX2XWTARtQI/AAAAAAAAAPU/aXIMiZncNac/s1600/128677671602779201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lzl8Atxlvp8/TX2XWTARtQI/AAAAAAAAAPU/aXIMiZncNac/s400/128677671602779201.jpg" width="340" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the past, I have tried a lot of <b>diet tricks and tactics</b> like exercising till I drop to the floor, drinking diet teas that painfully empties my stomach to surviving through a "no-white-stuff' or no-bad-carbs-diet. </span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, I ended up feeling <b>MORE</b> <b>miserable and starved.</b> I felt that losing 6 lbs back then was not worth-it because I was not living the life that I wanted! Since my diet back then restricted me not to eat my favourite foods, like pasta and pastries, I became more cranky and moody. The carb restricted left me lifeless, and the only energy I had left is used for working out which leaves me lowbatt for more important things. </span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A healthy diet must always include carbohydrates<b> </b>so you can have the energy to move around. Eradicating it totally will do more harm than good. Yes you may become thin quickly by not eating bread or rice but eventually you can become so fragile and weak- that with just a kick of a dog you can fall over easily. </span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was into extreme dieting, I had my weak moments where I could not help but give in to the temptation of a chocolate cake or cookies & cream ice flavoured cream. And when I do so, I always feel guilty that<b> I punish myself through a very vigorous workout</b>-<b> </b>that I could no longer stand the next day!<b> </b> I treated food as the enemy that I no longer enjoyed eating because at the back of my head all I hear is "stop it, you'll be fat!". </span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I realised that since food is primary need for survival, I should not deprive myself if I am hungry. <b>If I love and respect myself I should take care of my body</b> (a dwelling place of my soul) and give it what it needs and not what it always wants. Moderation is key and control must overcome cravings. </span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The faster you lose weight, the faster it will come back</span></b></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oPCkSnw1SYg/TX2VHKpKOpI/AAAAAAAAAPI/yfKZKGBiEFE/s1600/yo_you_dieting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oPCkSnw1SYg/TX2VHKpKOpI/AAAAAAAAAPI/yfKZKGBiEFE/s1600/yo_you_dieting.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who isn't a procrastinator? If you are, then you might have tried crash dieting just because you have felt the pressure of getting in shape for an upcoming wedding in 2 weeks or for a summer vacation in the tropics. </span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Quick fix solutions</b> like getting into liquid diets will let you achieve short term goals, but sustaining that new weight becomes another problem because you know that you can't stay on a liquid diet forever. So when you decide to come back to your normal calorie intake, you will probably eat a lot more than normal because you were deprived for quite sometime and in effect you will gain back quickly what you have lost. Sometimes even a lot more.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Getting a lean and toned body is simply the result of hard work and commitment. Just the habit of learning to eat healthily and giving up an addiction to junk food takes a significant period of time to master. <b>Taking things slow will make a better impact </b>because once healthy eating and exercise becomes second nature to you, then you will be sexy without much effort. </span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aim for reaching an ideal weight- permanently! </span></b></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xSjfTGG1jSo/TX2UXRPEk8I/AAAAAAAAAPE/3n06y2cbToY/s1600/britneyspearsweight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xSjfTGG1jSo/TX2UXRPEk8I/AAAAAAAAAPE/3n06y2cbToY/s320/britneyspearsweight.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Of course we want the old Britney back but let's give her a break, realistically washboard abs may not ideal anymore since she already gave birth to two sons. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal;"><b>Reaching an ideal weight is good but keeping it forever is the real challenge! </b>Few years back my goal was to reach 100 pounds from 106 pounds. When I was able to finally reach it, I was so proud of myself because it came from hardcore discipline. But as years passed by and life got busy, I neglected taking care of my body. </span></i></span></i></span></i></span></div></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></i></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal;">I ate whatever I wanted because I thought I can easily get rid of the fat I accumulated- if ever weight becomes a problem. I stopped exercising too, so all the muscles I built up a few years back went to waste.</span></i></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></i></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b>Gaining 10-12 pounds really hit me hard!</b> I figured out what was causing it and now all I want to do is get out of this vicious cycle of<b> <a href="http://www.thedietchannel.com/Yo-Yo-Dieting-Break-the-Yo-Yo-Diet-Cycle.htm">yo-yo dieting</a></b>, which celebrities like Janet Jackson, Britney Spears and Oprah are <i>infamous</i> for.</span></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3K-ywMcBc0s/TX2OSEunBrI/AAAAAAAAAOw/6ajZak0-LqU/s1600/oprah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3K-ywMcBc0s/TX2OSEunBrI/AAAAAAAAAOw/6ajZak0-LqU/s320/oprah.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Oprah</b> just like us she also struggles with maintaining her weight permanently. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LjWJjQWeLC8/TX2RCsFkX0I/AAAAAAAAAO4/6PaOMrswG7A/s1600/j-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LjWJjQWeLC8/TX2RCsFkX0I/AAAAAAAAAO4/6PaOMrswG7A/s320/j-2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><b>Mischa Barton</b>, a serial yo-yo dieter in different sizes in 2006, 2008 and 2009. </i></span></td></tr>
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No one is ever going to convince me to eat moderately and exercise regularly but myself. If things got of control, I absolutely cannot afford a personal trainer to get me back into shape at the snap of my finger. So now, I must think of finding a <b>permanent solution to yo-yo dieting</b>. And that is to reset my goal into having a healthy and active lifestyle instead of just fitting into my jeans in the next month or so- which in fact is just one of the many good results of living a healthy lifestyle. </span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps the first step I am planning to take is to integrate an exercise regimen that I enjoy doing on any given day so it does not become a boring chore. It may take a few weeks or months to get that rhythm but the important thing is this becomes part of my routine 365 days a year. Motivation wise, I truly am amped up for this.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think that <b>being fit and healthy says a lot about a person's character</b>. Taking good care of your well-being is not just a personal victory- you can be a beam of light to others. If you are successful in any goal that you have, big or small, it means that you can achieve anything! </span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The end result is not what's really vital, whether or not you reach 50% or 99.9% of your ideal weight, but having something to improve on continually adds another purpose to your life. Isn't that what makes us happy? - when we hope for something, go ahead to chase it and enjoy its fruition. </span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-42344313771481412272011-03-05T18:23:00.011+10:002012-02-16T18:28:03.121+10:00My Silly Secret<div class="PadderBetweenControlandBody"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KLESlIicbSo/TXHjmrhlwjI/AAAAAAAAAMM/AnEIyliprgU/s1600/peace_by_vampire_zombie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KLESlIicbSo/TXHjmrhlwjI/AAAAAAAAAMM/AnEIyliprgU/s400/peace_by_vampire_zombie.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Do you want to know a secret?</span></i><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"></span></i>We all have nasty habits or secrets we don't want other people to know so we keep it safe to ourselves. And maybe, just maybe- only a circle of trusted friends knows that quirky side you've been keeping in years.</span></div></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deciding what part of yourself you want to share others is not always easy for the fear of being laughed at. I mean, not all people can get you without explaining too much. I bet you'll be called a freak if others find out you like salt too much that you can eat it by itself. But today that's the least of my concerns. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am opening a little shop of <s>horrors</s> *$&#* about myself- attempting to be brave. Don't worry, this is not even close to a monologue of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">exposé</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> </span>I intend on telling a shrink. I just remembered something I used to do, which I'm not sure anyone has ever done or will ever attempt if they're not at all half kooky. All I'm sure of is how silly the idea was. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm dying to let this off my chest and wondering if by any chance someone else is as nuts as me who did something like this: </span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Crush Certificate</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A crush certificate was a kind of document I used to prepare and sign to acknowledge that I have had a crush on someone for a period of time. I don't do this anymore but my 11-12 year old self certainly did. This certificate of appreciation was awarded to an exclusive pool of big time crushes I had in the late 90's. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most essential feature it had is an issue and expiry date. On every certificate I made for a crush, I have written the exact dates when I started having crushes on them and the exact dreadful day as well when I no longer find them cutest guy ever. Like when I found out that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Stephen Gately</span> of Boyzone was gay! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><b>Stephen Gately</b> of Boyzone,</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i> one of the firsts who broke my heart.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To make it official, I sign my name on this document legibly as a declaration of 'love'. But I also bring meaning to every declaration by justifying why they are worthy of a<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>Kat's Certificate of Appreciation</b></span></i> because for me it's not just a spur of the moment thing. Like I stated reasons (gazillion of them) on what I liked about my crushes, like Nick Carter's serenading voice and charming smile. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xYuH5E-Lsd0/TXHd-cCe45I/AAAAAAAAAMI/F3Utu533lZ0/s1600/nick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xYuH5E-Lsd0/TXHd-cCe45I/AAAAAAAAAMI/F3Utu533lZ0/s400/nick.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Nick Carter,</b> once the apple of my eye.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hunt for the best picture I can find in song hits magazines or newspapers and paste it in this top secret document. So if in case someone blew my cover and found these crush certificates, they can at least give kudos for my taste for cuties. </span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have left behind a stash of these certificates on a well kept suitcase hidden in my room back in my home town. I'm hoping it's still there when I come back so I retrieve it and use it for cheering up myself on occasional bad days. I can't remember on what hooked me into doing that. It's like deciding at any early age I want my heart to be exclusive by dividing my heart into rooms meant only for people I really care about. </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me justify that perhaps during that time that's how I perceive adults are like when they are in love: crazy. So I tried to encapsulate a moment in time, through pieces of fine paper and handwritten scribbles of madness on what it felt like to be head-over-heels for the first time. </span><br />
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</span></div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-89332753633679445382011-02-24T00:17:00.005+10:002012-02-16T18:28:40.842+10:00The Ugly Price of Beauty<m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AANNpU6jxxo/TWO3m53LAVI/AAAAAAAAAK0/rbGHNZJeMoY/s1600/celebrities-before-and-after-photoshop-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AANNpU6jxxo/TWO3m53LAVI/AAAAAAAAAK0/rbGHNZJeMoY/s320/celebrities-before-and-after-photoshop-21.jpg" width="305" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To become beautiful, women are willing to do anything, I mean EVERYTHING- from extreme diet fads to going under the knife- just to look like a Hollywood star, say Jessica Alba. But do we really know up to what extent the beauty industry will manipulate or photoshop decent pictures to perfection? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Truth be told, even the most confident and beautiful person still has insecurities. Society has become so judgmental and less tolerable about women's flaws and imperfection. The evidence lies in the rampant use of airbrushing and cropping techniques to make celebrities lose 10 lbs in a magazine cover. It's not totally wrong if only minor retouches are done, but what happens is a total overhaul. We have been groomed over the years to believe that anything far from perfect is ugly. </span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wanted: Sticks and Bones </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fashion industry is very brutal. Designers are very picky in choosing what type of models they want to use for runway shows or editorial campaigns. Sometimes they can be specific- demanding girls with an edgy look, an androgynous feature or a strong walk. But the bottom-line is you have to be size 0 with a 23 inch waist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What we see on runway shows are the fashion industry's full blown fantasy. Most of the dresses worn on the runway are extravagant, impractical and over-the-top. It's the kind of clothing that you would not normally see any person wear in real life. And if you happen to see anyone wear it down the street- you'd think of them as crazy and absurd fashion whores.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BLuJvgoZB74/TWUHT2qbQsI/AAAAAAAAAK8/_br3uzIWgQk/s1600/alg_fashion_karan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BLuJvgoZB74/TWUHT2qbQsI/AAAAAAAAAK8/_br3uzIWgQk/s320/alg_fashion_karan.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(image source: <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BLuJvgoZB74/TWUHT2qbQsI/AAAAAAAAAK8/_br3uzIWgQk/s1600/alg_fashion_karan.jpg">here</a>)</span></i></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The same analogy applies too for stick thin models wearing designer clothes. Being stick thin may be normal for fashion experts if you are a model, but never will that body type be considered a model for girls and women to emulate in real life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fashion has tweaked our mind that a super skinny body is the most desirable. However, common sense tells us that if you are stick thin it means something is wrong with you. It's either you are gravely sick or starving because of impoverished conditions. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hxt73op50cI/TWULt5lgw6I/AAAAAAAAALA/iK_eZwXsqN4/s1600/6778_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hxt73op50cI/TWULt5lgw6I/AAAAAAAAALA/iK_eZwXsqN4/s320/6778_3.jpg" width="228" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(image source:<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hxt73op50cI/TWULt5lgw6I/AAAAAAAAALA/iK_eZwXsqN4/s1600/6778_3.jpg"> here</a>)</span></i></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I see the point why basketball players need to be tall, or why jockeys need to be small- that makes their job easier. Models need to be skinny for aesthetic purposes- I get it, but why allow the unhealthy looking models work when these girls should be placed in a hospital or rehab centres. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Skinny vs. Super Skinny</b></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In order to compete against many aspiring models, girls resort to extreme measures to lose more weight. Being skinny is not enough because those tiny (size 0) sample clothes must fit you all the time. Gaining 1-2 pounds or just moving 1 size up may jeopardise your chances of being booked.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pressure of staying thin over a long period of time can make girls develop eating disorders like Anorexia and Bulimia. Professional models start out as early as 14-16 years old so their bodies are not yet fully developed. But eventually their bodies start to grow, thus, they do whatever it takes to maintain a small frame, and most of the time- they go overboard with dieting. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Coco Rocha, below, was called 'too fat for the catwalk' </span></i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kn2I4jqnqmo/TWOks_PPHfI/AAAAAAAAAKg/Tp7jiXJxZQw/s1600/Coco_Rocha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kn2I4jqnqmo/TWOks_PPHfI/AAAAAAAAAKg/Tp7jiXJxZQw/s320/Coco_Rocha.jpg" width="186" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #666666;"> </span>( image source: <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kn2I4jqnqmo/TWOks_PPHfI/AAAAAAAAAKg/Tp7jiXJxZQw/s1600/Coco_Rocha.jpg">here</a>)</i></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></i></td></tr>
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</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Elle Style Awards Model of the Year 2011, Coco Rocha, was labelled last year as <i><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/fashion/2010/02/16/2010-02-16_sick_world_where_size_4_is_too_fat.html">too fat to walk the runway</a> </i>at size 4. In response, she opened a can of worms through her <a href="http://oh-so-coco.tumblr.com/post/1480452881/my-uncensored-point-of-view">tumblr account</a>. She attacked the fashion industry’s obsession with size 0 and questioned the morality behind encouraging young models to lose more weight- when in fact they’re already skinny. </span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tmmUb86AOo0/TWOoZSIn4LI/AAAAAAAAAKo/xDQBVElx3FM/s1600/coco01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tmmUb86AOo0/TWOoZSIn4LI/AAAAAAAAAKo/xDQBVElx3FM/s400/coco01.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (image source: <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tmmUb86AOo0/TWOoZSIn4LI/AAAAAAAAAKo/xDQBVElx3FM/s1600/coco01.jpg">here</a>) </span></i></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2008, this 5’10 beauty was also told that she’s too fat for weighing 108 lbs. And she was advised: </span><br />
<blockquote style="color: #444444;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> “You need to <span style="color: black;">lose more weight.</span> The look this year is <span style="color: black;">anorexia</span>. We don't want you to be <span style="color: black;">anorexic</span> but that's what we want you to look like."</span></b></i></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Zombies on the Runway</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every girl wants to be a model because you get to wear designer clothes and travel the world. But what upsets me the most is the price young girls are willing to pay in order to reach supermodel status.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are cocaine, smoking, diet pills and starving the key to fame and fortune? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What you get quickly will soon vanish before you know it. Sure, healthy eating and working out can take a while before its effect can be noticed, but relying on instant methods will not only destroy one’s body but it will mess up your psyche- crash your self respect. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ASpHHjmHkDc/TWOrgZRUfeI/AAAAAAAAAKs/rIIlp0pT95Y/s1600/Zombies-Supermodels-878x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ASpHHjmHkDc/TWOrgZRUfeI/AAAAAAAAAKs/rIIlp0pT95Y/s400/Zombies-Supermodels-878x1024.jpg" width="341" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">( image source:<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ASpHHjmHkDc/TWOrgZRUfeI/AAAAAAAAAKs/rIIlp0pT95Y/s1600/Zombies-Supermodels-878x1024.jpg"> here</a>) </span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whenever I watch fashion shows all I see are Zombies- minus the blood, but the gore factor is still there! Their hollow face and boney arms speak for themselves: FEED ME! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their face is so ghastly and cold- it looks depressing. As a rule of thumb, designers prohibit models to show emotions so the attention goes to the clothes and not the wearer. Well isn’t that quite degrading? It seems that couture clothes are put on a pedestal so high that you have no right to outshine it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0aDWVED4R10/TWOkb-E8uDI/AAAAAAAAAKc/mn1E-Eylrvw/s1600/starving+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0aDWVED4R10/TWOkb-E8uDI/AAAAAAAAAKc/mn1E-Eylrvw/s320/starving+girl.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In real life, only the upper class really wear designer clothes because they can afford it. I can't help but notice that the look that most common on rich people’s faces is actually not far with the blank or snobbish expression that models-turned-zombies have. And I want to ask both of them: “You are lucky, but what’s keeping you miserable?"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Starved to Death </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In recent years, models have died because of complications from eating disorders. A lot of blame has been pointed out to unrealistic body proportions demanded by designers. Since then few groups in the industry have banned skeletal models. But why not make an approach that solves the actual problem? Perhaps increasing the size to a more realistic one, since real women with curves are going to wear it anyway. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Girls with big dreams have died, I don't know what else will it take for the fashion industry to take accountability and revolutionise the concept of beauty. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so here are some models who lost their way and take look closely at the massive transformation after starving themselves: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ana Carolina Reston</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b> BEFORE</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lQU2oZ06YmE/TWOaginj1VI/AAAAAAAAAKM/213kuqOIiLw/s1600/1811W_MODEL_narrowweb__300x400%252C0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lQU2oZ06YmE/TWOaginj1VI/AAAAAAAAAKM/213kuqOIiLw/s320/1811W_MODEL_narrowweb__300x400%252C0.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <i>(image source: <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lQU2oZ06YmE/TWOaginj1VI/AAAAAAAAAKM/213kuqOIiLw/s1600/1811W_MODEL_narrowweb__300x400%252C0.jpg">here</a>)</i></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AFTER </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w-FPhedPluc/TWOapqyuPHI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/7Wn2cprgwIE/s1600/Ana-Carolina-Reston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w-FPhedPluc/TWOapqyuPHI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/7Wn2cprgwIE/s320/Ana-Carolina-Reston.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>(image source: <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w-FPhedPluc/TWOapqyuPHI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/7Wn2cprgwIE/s1600/Ana-Carolina-Reston.jpg">here</a>)</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2007/jan/14/fashion.features4">Ana Carolina Reston</a>, 21, died for the most obvious reason- complications from an eating disorder. At her death she weighed 40 kg or 88 lbs at 5’8 tall. Her diet of choice: apple and tomatoes. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Luisel Ramos </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BEFORE</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YRPXoa4r5XU/TWOcGLYTajI/AAAAAAAAAKY/3L4WfFCKxcg/s1600/JTRAMOS_L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YRPXoa4r5XU/TWOcGLYTajI/AAAAAAAAAKY/3L4WfFCKxcg/s320/JTRAMOS_L.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (image source: <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YRPXoa4r5XU/TWOcGLYTajI/AAAAAAAAAKY/3L4WfFCKxcg/s1600/JTRAMOS_L.jpg">here)</a></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AFTER</span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l-xnw8KbBdM/TWObGgvrY_I/AAAAAAAAAKU/jkO6U0rnAMc/s1600/Eliana_Ramos%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l-xnw8KbBdM/TWObGgvrY_I/AAAAAAAAAKU/jkO6U0rnAMc/s320/Eliana_Ramos%25281%2529.jpg" width="182" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <i>(image source: <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l-xnw8KbBdM/TWObGgvrY_I/AAAAAAAAAKU/jkO6U0rnAMc/s1600/Eliana_Ramos%25281%2529.jpg">here</a>)</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.theage.com.au/news/eating-disorder/survival-of-the-thinnest/2006/10/05/1159641434825.html">Luisel Ramos,</a> 21, died from a heart attack after stepping out of a runway show. Her diet of choice: lettuce leaves and diet coke. Her younger sister, <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/sister-models-both-starve/2007/02/15/1171405328301.html">Eliana Ramos</a>, 18, also died a month before her death after suffering from the same condition. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b>Not One Size Fits All</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There may be standards of beauty sealed by those who call themselves 'experts' but at the end of the day what makes you beautiful is not because you fit into sizes 0-4. What we see on the runway are unrealistic expectations of how a modern woman should look. A real woman knows how to take care of herself- eats a balance diet and exercises regularly. She is empowered to make good decisions. And most of all she would not in any way harm her body just to satisfy other people's perception of beauty. </span><br />
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</span></div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-79182161565737937112011-02-12T13:41:00.004+10:002012-02-16T23:20:24.602+10:00Valentine's Day for Singles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pFKaKGNdddk/TVYAHF_tKrI/AAAAAAAAAIo/4IY6JScxuro/s1600/jamie-oliver-im-single-not-desperate-mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pFKaKGNdddk/TVYAHF_tKrI/AAAAAAAAAIo/4IY6JScxuro/s1600/jamie-oliver-im-single-not-desperate-mug.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Valentine's Day is once again knocking at the door.</span><br />
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</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It's only not a big deal of a theme this weekend for retail stores or restaurants- the truth is, for twenty something singles this is an annual dilemma. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For new couples this is one of the most opportunistic occasions to romanticise a budding love.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And most likely for long time lovers, who are past the honeymoon stage, this is the time to be more creative in pulling off something special what will make both feel like a teenager again- might as well bring back the spice they had for each other when they were dating for the first time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<b style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Anti-Cupid</b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are people who hate Valentines Day as much as the Grinch does- telling that they don't seem to care- well, I think they are saying the half truth! Obviously, those who hate it the most are probably singled out just recently or had the most painful love story and haven't moved on ever since. Or simply put- they are haters.Who knows? They might soon change their minds once they fall in love again under the spell of Cupid's love potion no.13.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A long time ago I've never heard of this but now there are group of singles who organise parties and call it- <i>Love Stinks- </i>or the more straight forward- <i>The Anti-Valentines Party.</i><i> </i>This is<i> </i>another way of crying out loud that being single sucks. Oh- what better way to not feel left out when couples are smooching in every corner? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But this is absolutely sugarcoating <i>pathetic-ness </i>(let's say that's a real word) at its finest! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/QdrO3yHpGzs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though the chances of me being invited to these parties are higher- than being invited for a romantic candelight dinner for two, I still wouldn't go to these wear-only-black parties! Who wants to celebreate Halloween on February? You mourn for the loss of a person but please spare LOVE- it's immortal. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I may be single and had my heart broken, like what everybody goes through, but it doesn't mean I wanna play <i>the victim</i> when everybody's feeling lovey-dovey. Being single on Valentine's Day is not an excuse to feel sorry for myself, disassociate with my happy-in-a-relationship friends, curse on exes and shout that love sucks!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yeah it's normal for us to make fun of ourselves when we feel miserable. This is a defense mechanism we do, so that we feel the blow of <i>being alone, </i>at a lesser extent. But I don't want to make a mockery out of love's sting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love sure did hurt us at least once in our lives. But is it really that bad of an experience, that we have become losers/ lunatics to make Anti-Valentines Day something to look forward to? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or is Valentine's Day really important that we need to ensure no one is left out: so singles or non-singles can both be happy? <b> </b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Misery loves company</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.singlesawareness.com/index.html">S.A.D or Single Awareness Day</a>, not quite known to the dear the public, was declared an unofficial holiday for singles every February the 15th. The founders say that it doesn't mean that if you're single on Valentine's day- you have no right to be happy anymore. They encourage people without a Valentine's date to get together with their single friends, celebrate the joy of singlehood and shower each other with the works: flowers and chocolates <strike>or edible underpants</strike>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I get the tone that while the Anti-Valentines Party focuses on the negative sentiment of being <i>loveless </i>- however S.A.D is proactive or a better alternative for singles. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/OLj5zphusLw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although the acronym associates perfectly with the common feeling that single men or women dread having on February 14th, which is sadness in the romantic point of view, it's really about empowering what its like to be single. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me its means to have fun and mingle a.k.a window shopping. No need to buy the lovely dress if you still have no use for it, can't afford one or you know there are still better designs waiting in other botiques. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>One for all- all for one</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The common notion about being single is that you are sad. Of course that's not true. Life does not revolve around romantic love alone. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are single not because you have no choice, but the circumstances in your life right now are not yet ripe for you to make that choice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having a great time with friends and family on Valentine's Day is fine. Go out of town or surprise your girl friends or mom a bouquet of flowers if you haven't done it yet. Do the unconventional. Treat people who have been good to you and make amends with an enemy.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1GjyY7m8ZFA/TVX6lmIfWwI/AAAAAAAAAIg/DfO5S9tFGzU/s1600/09122008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1GjyY7m8ZFA/TVX6lmIfWwI/AAAAAAAAAIg/DfO5S9tFGzU/s320/09122008.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Realistically, this may not be one of the greatest hits in your V-Day compilation of memories, especially if you are a hopeless romantic, but at least you don't have <i>self pity</i> written all over your face! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love is such a universal need for our survival. It comes in a variety and most complex of forms- so express it endearly to your loved ones this Valentines in any way you could.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Valentine's day works like a cliche- making the non-comformist squeal and hate its cheesiness- but me- I don't mind. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love deserves to be celebrated even in the most outrageous way because I don't know if I'd be here without it. </span><br />
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<i style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Valentines Day! </span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feliz Día de los Enamorados! </span></b></i><br />
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<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_641084662"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_641084662"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-46729706615167194572011-02-09T15:06:00.005+10:002012-02-16T23:15:51.490+10:00It doesn't have to be that way<m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theresilientearth.com/files/images/hurricane_clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.theresilientearth.com/files/images/hurricane_clouds.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i style="color: #666666;">The pain.. is it all worth it in the end ? </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heartaches hurt the most.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wounded feelings scrape its way to the soul. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Physical pain is bearable because bodies can heal itself, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but the Mind never forgets- cannot let go. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope is something that can be taken away </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">brittled by unpleasant experiences and failed attempts. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Mind is logical to believe in something called Faith. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It blames anything: from the weather down to the bubble gum stuck under your shoe: like a child throwing tantrums- when it doesn’t get what it wants.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Mind is a powerhouse in its fullest potential,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but flawed by its blinding ego; </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">thus suffering becomes inevitable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loneliness silently kills people faster than cancer or AIDS. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can be living but you may be good as dead. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And Hopelessness may whisper in your deepest corners: </span></div><div></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<blockquote><div><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You plan but nothing gets done."</span></b></i></div></blockquote><blockquote><div><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You love but no one stays forever. " </span></b></i></div></blockquote><blockquote><div><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You give your best but it’s not enough."</span></b></i></div></blockquote><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grudges locked inside can make you crash and burn- </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As they say, the rear view mirror is not to be obsessed about. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look back for caution, but let it not be a distraction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What you have passed through is distant and gone. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Misery only haunts the restless- don't be trapped in yesterday’s worries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Escape is not a permanent solution to problems which by nature are temporary.</span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No one ever comes out in this world alive anyway,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so why quit, when this is soon going to be over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your living body is only a gift and your soul it's caretaker.</span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matter may be disposed but its essence lingers. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the realm of the invisible, guilt can cause unrest. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Better to die trying- in vain, than leave beforehand quitting. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-7843436429095237922011-02-01T16:48:00.007+10:002012-05-05T12:04:39.846+10:00Success is the Sweetest Revenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.fashionmagazine.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Apr10reads_LegallyBlonde_Elle-Woods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZVexs-AdIfY/TUemOFFtZ2I/AAAAAAAAAIE/WW7ZVGry0zs/s1600/blonder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZVexs-AdIfY/TUemOFFtZ2I/AAAAAAAAAIE/WW7ZVGry0zs/s320/blonder.jpg" width="317" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #444444;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Reel and real. What do these blondes have in common?</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sure you’ve heard this line a couple of times but what does it actually mean? The movie <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_34871595">Legally Blonde</a><a href="http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=6915"> </a> is what comes first to mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The lead character, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250494/">Elle Woods</a>, was dumped by her boyfriend because she was too blonde and not ideal for his political career in the future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pathetic as Elle can be, she also applied for Harvard so she can win him back and to prove him wrong that she’s a dumb blonde. Little did Elle know that his ex-boyfriend just got engaged with another student, whose influential roots can boost his less than impressive track record. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there are two brick walls that are in front of Elle. First, his ex-boyfriend’s fiancé whose making her life miserable and second, surviving Harvard Law School. In real life, I don’t know what most people will do in this kind of situation. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are truly a vengeful person and would like them to suffer, you might as well put the girl out of the picture- set her up for a crime or be as annoying as can be to destroy their relationship. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But ideally, I guess all of us would want to take the higher road. Acceptance and forgiveness, although underrated at times, will really set you free of a vicious cycle of grudge, hate and rampage. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcwVdOdwmRKUDCAAQDKdfFG0XpkRz6XRNfkcaLJ8R_QDDYAcfZ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcwVdOdwmRKUDCAAQDKdfFG0XpkRz6XRNfkcaLJ8R_QDDYAcfZ" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #444444;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Softie on the outside but a toughie on court</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elle is a fighter and she proved it the first instance by getting a high SAT score and overcoming people’s airhead stereotype of her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the difference she has with those who never stop fighting until havoc is served, is that she realised after being pathetic that not getting what you <i>want </i>is not the end of the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not all battles are worth fighting for, especially if it's a lose-lose situation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isn’t there more pride and glory in graduating the top of her class rather than wrecking a made-for-convenience relationship? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elle may be a fictional character but her formula to success in reality is tried and tested, it works. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just like another blonde, a real person in the name of <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1351435/Acid-attack-victim-Katie-Piper-attacked-going-boy-met-Facebook.html#comments">Katie Piper</a>- I think is one of the most courageous people out there who is currently teaching the world that not even an acid thrown at your face can make you an ugly person if what you have inside is already beautiful to start with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The mastermind of the tragic acid attack was a boyfriend she just started dating- who’s paranoid that she’d tell the police that he sexually assaulted her.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6FhNhX28bxk/TWhDJW6QehI/AAAAAAAAAL0/3Cpmju8uqzI/s1600/katie_piper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6FhNhX28bxk/TWhDJW6QehI/AAAAAAAAAL0/3Cpmju8uqzI/s320/katie_piper.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Katie Piper at that time was a model and TV presenter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How she looks is an important part of her job, and amongst other things like love and respect from her boyfriend- her angelic face was taken away from her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In May 2009, after a year of living in the shadows, she went public and told her story through a <a href="http://veehd.com/video/2582285_Cutting-Edge-Katie-My-Beautiful-Face-2009">documentary film. </a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More than spreading seeds of awareness, she’s now working on the <a href="http://www.katiepiperfoundation.org.uk/meet-katie/"><i>Katie Piper Foundation</i></a>. It's a charity dedicated to provide support<i> </i>to other burn victims with a vision of creating an advanced burn and scar management and rehabilitation clinic in the UK.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some people have had a hard time feeling sympathy towards her because they think it’s her fault of choosing the wrong guy whom she only met in facebook. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How can you go in a hotel with a guy and expect no intimacy to happen? And to think they were only dating for 2 weeks. No doubt, she has placed herself in a situation to be raped.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But for me, I think it’s not my right to judge her; nobody deserves an acid attack for trusting too easily and attracting the wrong kind of guy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A bad decision has been made but she chose to move on with her life. I admire her for capitalising on a treacherous event which to others may seem like death that needs no revival.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her attacker’s motive on destroying her face might have been out of selfishness, so that so no man could ever want her again after him, <i>but he was wrong in thinking that her physical appearance is her greatest asset. </i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He did not take away anything important, in fact, what has now emerged is a more beautiful person. Her strength in facing adversity, positive attitude and dedication in helping other victims makes her success stand out in today’s superficial world. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.contactmusic.com/pics/ld/inspirational_women_231110/katie_piper_5576662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
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</div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-34286610883531047222011-01-28T14:14:00.006+10:002012-02-16T18:16:09.740+10:00The Philosophy of Roller Coaster riding with Nadal<div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eIFOxwscckc/TWbupmF9KQI/AAAAAAAAALs/-xZm8npsoRw/s1600/7921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eIFOxwscckc/TWbupmF9KQI/AAAAAAAAALs/-xZm8npsoRw/s320/7921.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The highs and lows, they make the ride worthwile.</span></i></span></td></tr>
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</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like surprises, the plotted twists in a drama series and anything out of the ordinary that makes me wonder or doubt. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When everything is always calm, predictable and constant it leaves me bored and cold.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perfection is what I've always aim for but that doesn't mean I don't push myself way too hard. I'm not afraid to crash and burn as long as I know that what I am doing is life changing, thus what is the point for setting goals if it's too achievable?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reaching from point A to B to start with is fine but afterwards one would feel that reaching point C from B has become mediocre because it has been done before. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Probably aiming to reach point G would take a grueling effort, but its worth the shot even if you don't reach that far because along the way you learn from mistakes and become tougher to dwell in difficult situations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me, <i>becoming the best in anything means you have to take risks</i>. It's always inevitable to fail in life because without it you will never appreciate the sweetness that victory brings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Roller coaster rides are designed to have high and low points so that the adrenalin rush remains pounding all the way through the ride</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the ride goes in a linear fashion and way too close on the ground- where you feel safe and comfortable, there's no sense in riding it- better yet, sleep and conquer your fears while dreaming, it would be more exciting and be a better learning experience. </span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TescwCbS6X8/TWiEKq7dcHI/AAAAAAAAAL4/kWSA79fKSI4/s1600/b--9--600x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TescwCbS6X8/TWiEKq7dcHI/AAAAAAAAAL4/kWSA79fKSI4/s320/b--9--600x400.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Nadal, wiping the tears away on the side court.</i></span></td></tr>
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<div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week so far was a hell of a roller coaster ride in the perspective of my <i>favourite </i>Rafael Nadal. Of all contenders in the Australian Open he's got the biggest motivation to win the title. 4th Grand Slam in row would put him in Tennis history along with Rod Laver.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Losing a match with an injury that was only acquired in just the early minutes first set is totally devastating. The hamstring injury was not the sole reason why he lost in three straight sets. David Ferrer despite being no. 7 was rock solid and amazing that even if Rafa (being the no.1 player) was healthy, it would have been a very gritty close fight. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With that loss, I cannot help but feel sad as if the world has been torn into pieces and thrown in the fire. I was mourning, trying to fathom how can I lift my spirits then I thought carefully about what<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYQ0OOweqwc&feature=player_embedded"> Rafa said</a> after the match: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <i> </i></span><br />
<blockquote><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>"Last year I had a fantastic year. This year the year just start. Last year in the beginning I had problems, too, and finally was the best season of my career. I think is almost impossible to repeat that. But remain a lot, and remain a lot to have hopefully really good moments, and at the same time, too, really negative moments."</b></i></span></blockquote></div></div><blockquote><div> </div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xYQ0OOweqwc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<blockquote><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>"So this is one of bad ones, one of negative moments. That’s part of the sport. I think I am very, very lucky sportsman about what happened in my career. And I have to accept the fantastic moments that I had during a lot of years with the same calm that when I have problems. And if I am ready to accept both things with I think let’s say everything the same, I going to be able to come back and play my best tennis another time." </b></i></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Rafa remains humble in accepting his defeat and says it is just part of any sports career. He remains even grateful for what he has achieved so far and did not see this defeat as the end of his dream. For last year, he had faced a similar problem as early as January but afer that everything went <i>boom- boom- boom</i>: 3 grand slams in a row. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He knows that the physical, emotional and mental conditions are never going to be perfect for anyone to win all the time- just the same that he knows how to keep his foot on the ground. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After every successful battle, his hard work never stops from there. For him life goes on, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/top_20_men/default.stm">being on top</a> is continuous work, not just a result of overnight success. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His staying power will be there for a long time because accepts everything, good or bad, just the same- that his accomplishments never gets stuck in his head where others would have been so over confident; and that this deafeated moment will not hinder him from rising up again where others would have chosen to quit or sulk all the time. <i> </i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>This is why I love Rafael Nadal.</i> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the court he is fierce, bold and agressive. He always play to win, make shots that are seemingly impossible and pound the ball with enormous strength.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its like watching a matador run for his life in a bull fight. <i>Passion and excitement</i> is the flavour he brings on the court, that even a non tennis fan like me converted got to the tennis bandwagon last year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's nothing wrong in playing with so much<i> gusto</i>, although I must say, with the way he plays <i>I'm also worried</i> that he will attract injuries along the way. Not all bodies, as we all know, are perfectly designed to suit agressive play. Good thing he keeps coping with the one he has.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He's taking accountability and not using it as a primary excuse for his losses. I like that he is stubborn- willing to move in top speed mentally, even if at times his body does not follow through. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He risks with everything he's got not withstanding the toll on his body. But unlike ordinary folks, he's not afraid to play even if the chances of losing is close to 90% and that's the courage I've seen in his match vs. Ferrer. He didn't quit even if he knows he will lose from the time his thigh muscle was injured.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yeah, he takes us on roller coaster rides but beneath that strong persona lies a <i>calm and humble soul </i>with a wisdom that speaks volumes, that even his less than perfect English is enough to make his point across. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-81835195440882126442011-01-25T16:00:00.006+10:002012-02-16T18:30:01.085+10:00Rafael Nadal, My Inspiration<div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JpDpm8ug1Lc/TWiFSwjGiJI/AAAAAAAAAL8/dYdoHIejK_8/s1600/rafael-nadal-500x375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JpDpm8ug1Lc/TWiFSwjGiJI/AAAAAAAAAL8/dYdoHIejK_8/s320/rafael-nadal-500x375.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i>Nadal, the new <strike>ass </strike></i><i>body</i><i> of</i></span> <a href="http://www.armanijeans.com/armani_jeans_index.html" style="font-style: italic;">Armani </a></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Artists create art from inspiration.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And although I am not an artist I seek for inspiration from the world that is above and around me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only difference that I have from a painter or a photographer is that I don't imitate on a canvass or capture through the lens the beauty that is in front of me. Rather, I look in depth, seek what makes them amazing and try to learn from them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Nadal">Rafael Nadal</a> was one of those few people that made my jaw draw drop when I first saw him playing on hard court.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He possesses an intensity so engaging to watch. If he was playing against me I would be intimidated by this graceful court mover but at the same time admire him too for making me play my best or worse. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>A year ago I did not at all fancy tennis,</i> but when I saw him damage his opponent, I cannot help but root for this Spaniard Stallion who refuses to give up. It's like I had an epiphany. After seeing Rafael Nadal's short stint in the Australian Open 2010, I had a sudden spark of interest in tennis. My friends and I tried playing it on court occasionally. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Playing is fun but quite a struggle for an inexperienced body that I have. The important thing is I was able to built that respect for professional tennis players after trying it out for myself. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-18QvxJwDv_g/TWiF235XU4I/AAAAAAAAAMA/y-_QBw5ycTQ/s1600/f_rafaelnadal_20_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-18QvxJwDv_g/TWiF235XU4I/AAAAAAAAAMA/y-_QBw5ycTQ/s320/f_rafaelnadal_20_01.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr style="color: #444444;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <i>2nd round last January 20 at the Australian Open</i></span></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If not for <a href="http://www.rafaelnadal.com/">Rafael Nadal</a> tennis would forever look like a dry sport, to my eyes.I believe that it is the <i>great players</i> that bring the life and passion out of any sport. Remove the players and the court is cold and flat, very one dimensional. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The world's no. 1 tennis player is here on Australian soil with hopes still alive of winning a 4 straight grandslam. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He has everything at stake but he remains a humble soul. I find it amazing that his demeanor changes everytime he steps outside the court and talks about his success.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fierce on the court but very poised out of it. He doesn't boast about how good he is, instead he is generous on praises he gives to his defeated opponents. For Nadal, every match is like the last one, he plays as if he has everything to lose. He is <i>always in the moment</i>, never missing a beat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, sometimes I worry that he gives too much and it may have a drawback on him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I was wrong, he is a firing machine that never runs out of bullets. Yesterday in the 4th round against Marin Cilic, Rafael Nadal chased a ball so near to the net that seems so impossible to recover but he hit it suavely back to the opponent's side and outwitted Cilic.That was just in the first set and yet he dived for the ball as much as he could.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wuDsAiUuLoE/TWiGhThmfWI/AAAAAAAAAME/8JoTVBh4PeU/s1600/f_rafaelnadal_20_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wuDsAiUuLoE/TWiGhThmfWI/AAAAAAAAAME/8JoTVBh4PeU/s320/f_rafaelnadal_20_03.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr style="color: #444444;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i> Every ball is an opportunity</i></span></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Physicality is his strongest asset but more than that, his mentality is also in best shape. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nothing can bring him down for that long, even if down by 4 games last Saturday with a match against Bernard Tomic, Rafael Nadal used his frustration to climb back and win that set. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His mind never rests on his record breaking successes. He goes on, play, analyse his mistakes and works on them to overcome his weaknesses and improve his game. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no secret to Rafael Nadal's success, you can easily see why he is one of the best sportsman to date, he always stays hungry and that's what I want to apply in my life. </span><br />
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</div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-49537132633755748902011-01-19T13:29:00.004+10:002012-02-16T18:30:41.390+10:00Golden Globe Glamour<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do we get out from award shows? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me it’s like I am star gazing. I know this is not Project Runaway or America’s Next Top Model just because these ridiculously beautiful stars strut on the red carpet and judged on who or what they are wearing. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the most part I am just curious on seeing ‘stars wear themselves’ and not impersonate a character’s fashion sense in the movies. There are lots of people that work, from personal trainers to makeup artists just to make them look beautiful and glamorous, and so seeing the finished product is fascinating. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">O-k-a-y it is an awards show for filmakers and actors and not for designers and stylists. Who cares? We can't watch all the movies right now to criticise, so for the meantime I want to feast my eyes on what's eating up the Golden Globe red carpet.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the fun part,here are the things I've learned so far: </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">1. If you have it, flaunt it. </span></b> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.wonderwall.com/photos/Original/44391_Original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://static.wonderwall.com/photos/Original/44391_Original.jpg" width="282" /></span></a></div></div><div class="separator"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Tacky Berry.</i></b> If you have a knock out body like Harry Berry there’s no need cover up yourself, or the need to find the best jewellery or hair extensions. Her arms, legs and cleavage are enough to make men drool and women get jealous.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Red Hot.</i> </b>Either you love it or you hate it. I just love the boldness this dress brings which is the opposite of what January Jones is commonly mistaken for, the ice queen. Might look like she came from Vagas but this girl is on fire.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. Wear your best accessory.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.wonderwall.com/photos/Original/44345_Original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://static.wonderwall.com/photos/Original/44345_Original.jpg" width="267" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Bring your best man.</b> </i>The only thing I love about this dress is the colour (emerald green) and her accessory of the night- Brad Pitt. This is just so matronly and I am not surprised if this came from Barbara Walter's closet. Angelina's frame is so tiny and seems fragile, and probably underneath the long sleeves are skeletons she's hiding?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-biau7VVU6WY/TV_DPn5UO1I/AAAAAAAAAI8/AxAfJja7e5I/s1600/g43-600x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-biau7VVU6WY/TV_DPn5UO1I/AAAAAAAAAI8/AxAfJja7e5I/s320/g43-600x400.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></span></m:smallfrac></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>A rose among the thorns</i>.</b>This is my favourite among the pale coloured gowns that night because there are two focal points: her baby bump and the rose holding it all together. Natalie Portman's face is a classic, the makeup compliments it perfectly. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3. Let it shine! </b></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.wonderwall.com/photos/Original/44290_Original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://static.wonderwall.com/photos/Original/44290_Original.jpg" width="282" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></span></m:smallfrac></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b><i>The Prom Queen.</i> </b>Olivia Wilde's expression says it all, happy as can be. Who wouldn't be when you're sparkly ball gown with golen shoes to match it. By the way where did her crown go?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.wonderwall.com/photos/Original/44394_Original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://static.wonderwall.com/photos/Original/44394_Original.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></span></m:smallfrac></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Best on my list.</i> </b>Anne Hathaway's long sleeved gown is quite similar with Angelina Jolie's Emerald piece but this one came with a bit of revealing surprise. Shoulder pads with glitz can go retro but this one is an exception. </span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mtv.com/movies/photos/g/golden_globes/11/promo/amber_riley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.mtv.com/movies/photos/g/golden_globes/11/promo/amber_riley.jpg" width="213" /> </span></a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>Shiny. Shimmery. Splendid</i>.</b> Amber Riley of Glee maybe singing to that tune in her head as she walked down the red carpet. </span></div></td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">4. Never use the curtain!</span> </span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></span></m:smallfrac><br />
<div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.luxist.com/media/2011/01/gyi0063074336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.luxist.com/media/2011/01/gyi0063074336.jpg" width="270" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <i> </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Blast from the (ugh) past.</i> </b>I don't know what this dress is made for but certainly it's not for the glam red carpet. Probably she was shooting a horror film in 18th century. Oh yeah, it is couture but I don't care- it looks hideous! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b><i>What-a-drag! </i></b>Who stole Sandra Bullock's spark?<i> </i>I love her personality but this dress drags her inner bulb to light. The bangs are edgy but it doesn't suit the outdated look. </span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.wonderwall.com/photos/Original/44322_Original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://static.wonderwall.com/photos/Original/44322_Original.jpg" width="276" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></span></m:smallfrac></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Vintage can add Age</i></b><b>. </b>The paleness of this dress is very haunting and sucked the life out of Scarlett Johansson. She looks less than a bombshell that she used to be. Perhaps she's fishing for motherly roles? Hope not.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5. Monochromatic is cool. </b></span><br />
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<m:smallfrac m:val="off"><m:dispdef><m:lmargin m:val="0"><m:rmargin m:val="0"><m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.wonderwall.com/photos/Original/44354_Original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://static.wonderwall.com/photos/Original/44354_Original.jpg" width="260" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></span></m:smallfrac></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Pretty in Pink</i>.</b> Claire Danes has just the right amount of sweetness. A little more sugar would have been a oversweetened cupcake like what <a href="http://www.stylebistro.com/Best+and+Worst+Dressed+at+the+2011+Golden+Globes/articles/5IARH1qJceQ/Lea+Michele">Lea Michele</a> wore. </span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn03.cdn.gofugyourself.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/108078460-419x632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://cdn03.cdn.gofugyourself.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/108078460-419x632.jpg" width="265" /></span></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.luxist.com/media/2011/01/gyi0063073769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.luxist.com/media/2011/01/gyi0063073769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.luxist.com/media/2011/01/gyi0063073769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> </b><b><m:smallfrac m:val="off"><m:dispdef><m:lmargin m:val="0"><m:rmargin m:val="0"><m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"><m:wrapindent m:val="1440"><m:intlim m:val="subSup"><m:narylim m:val="undOvr"></m:narylim></m:intlim></m:wrapindent></m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></b><i><b>Sleek Chic.</b> </i>This is a trendy dress and I haven’t seen something like this before. Emma Stone's hair is new too- platinum blonde. The dress is not a sore to the eyes and the longer I look at it the more I adore it. This is a statement piece and I wonder if the trend now going minimalistic? </span></div></div><div><m:smallfrac m:val="off"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></span></m:smallfrac></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>6. Black is beautiful and still a classic.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>The Black Widow. </i></b>I'm not used to seeing Eva Longoria in full black and without her accessory on the red carpet- Tony Parker. She looks elegant and makes me not think she's still crying over that jerk. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www2.pictures.stylebistro.com/gi/Kelly+Osbourne+Clothes+YyZ5m-vbK5Cl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www2.pictures.stylebistro.com/gi/Kelly+Osbourne+Clothes+YyZ5m-vbK5Cl.jpg" width="272" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Holy <strike>Moly </strike>Kelly.</b> </i>Black but not boring- looks like a thunder of fabulosity hit her in the right spot creating this elgant number. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>7. Wear the right dress for the right occassion. </b></span><br />
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</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Summer Fling.</b> </i>I'm expecting a lot from Heidi Klum because she's the host of Project Runway and howcome she comes up with this carefree (I'm going shopping, etc ) look which makes me assume that she just got off from a cruise in Caribbean! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.wonderwall.com/photos/Original/44425_Original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://static.wonderwall.com/photos/Original/44425_Original.jpg" width="263" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>All-around-cloth. </i></b>You can find it hanging on the window or on top of the table. The form is unflattering in so many ways. Michelle Williams looks more pregnant than Natalie Portman in this maternity gown made from the 60's. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www2.pictures.stylebistro.com/gi/68th+Annual+Golden+Globe+Awards+Arrivals+pwd9WwCvBCXl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></a></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> </i><i> </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></span></div></div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-3529683310564789552011-01-17T21:52:00.004+10:002012-02-16T18:36:56.796+10:00Floods in Queensland<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2rJZutMpIE/TWbvTh47T2I/AAAAAAAAALw/oFp4bYp-Rzk/s1600/600air1-600x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2rJZutMpIE/TWbvTh47T2I/AAAAAAAAALw/oFp4bYp-Rzk/s320/600air1-600x400.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monday, the 10th of January started like an ordinary day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The grass is wet, the weather is cool: a perfect time to grab a cup of coffee.Here in the country, cloudy days seem to be the perfect time to gaze upon the window and look at the pastures of never ending green.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Noon came and the sun is still behind those angry clouds. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It rained so hard. </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a few hours it remained that way. It was the perfect recipe for a flood I suppose, but I never suspected anything tragic to happen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However in my mind was the Toowoomba CBD: I just sent an application to one of the offices there. I was wondering if perhaps during those times someone was browsing through my cover letter- only to realise that those were in fact the times where the ‘inland tsunami’ hit the city streets! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I somewhat knew it was coming.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is raining all summer; we had a very wet Christmas. There was flooding mostly here in southern Queensland, but not the kind that’s deadly and turbulent: capable to take lives, homes and dreams.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know what it’s like to have ones house inundated by flood water. It happened to us- twice at our home that’s nearby a creek in Manila.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The aftermath was chaotic: mud and rubbish from I don’t know where, scattered around the neighbourhood. Inside our house there was foul smell loitering for several days even if we washed our floors and walls mightily.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because I’m a flood survivor, there are two things I’ve learned so far:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, moderate rain for a couple of days or just few hours of heavy rain- both can cause serious flooding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And second, a home built near an inland body of water is dangerous. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I watched the news and saw horror. </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/c-BEMTwh4hI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-BEMTwh4hI"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEBIZ2KLsPA&feature=related"></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEBIZ2KLsPA&feature=related"></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2011/01/11/1225985/286872-flash-floods-toowoomba.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> These are familiar streets. I’ve passed by them. Never did it come to me that such horrendous torrent of water can terrorize the lovely garden city! For a place situated 2,300 feet above sea level this seems close to impossible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What disturbed me the most and made me realise how tragic this is the fact that lives were lost and people became missing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Toowoomba always made headlines every time the annual flower festival comes, this time however, I don’t know if this tragic event will overshadow what this city is best known for</i>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The horror train went on without stopping. </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At first, I was relieved that none of the people we knew went missing, or lost a car- just a very few whose house was inundated by flood water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soon afterwards, the authorities alerted that the massive pool of water will be making stops at Ipswich and Brisbane: like a train reaching its destination. Soon enough there there was chaos.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/aDip6a9kfB0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've seen much worse that this but something about everything I've seen, heard and read tells me that this one is not just a story dramatising mother nature's wrath but rather a story showing human nature at its finest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After water floods have subsided many volunteers, as many as 3,000 from all arond Brisbane to help clean the streets and properties engulfed in mud. Everyone who came brought their best cleaning equipments with sympathy in their hearts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To them no one is a stranger, everyone's seems like a family. I wish I could have lend a hand too but roads may have been still damaged going to Brisbane.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has exactly been a week since this tragedy happened. The mess that this flood left is not yet totally cleaned up.Full recovery can take place for months or even years.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZVexs-AdIfY/TTQnYgYMNFI/AAAAAAAAAHs/rKkxFYeW7Xo/s1600/IMG_0509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZVexs-AdIfY/TTQnYgYMNFI/AAAAAAAAAHs/rKkxFYeW7Xo/s320/IMG_0509.JPG" width="236" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are still unresolved problems like denied insurance claims for properties, non-stop mortgage payments for damaged houses and missing people.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Businesses which premises were wrecked may have to close temporarily and others permanently, which means job losses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Toowoomba, a 40 minute drive from where I live seems to be pretty much cleaned up compared to other places however when we went to grocery shopping at Coles, the veggie, egg, meat and milk section is so underwhelming. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZVexs-AdIfY/TTQnYgYMNFI/AAAAAAAAAHs/rKkxFYeW7Xo/s1600/IMG_0509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Queensland flooding has been in my thoughts all week long. It came unexpected so here I am drowning in my own thoughts, wondering how fellow Queenslanders are coping and wondering what's ahead of us.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is painful but life must go on. Queensland Motorways made that reminder to me just now: an email saying that tolls will be reinstated in Gateway and Logan motorway starting midnight. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-56721118024216046992011-01-13T19:10:00.003+10:002012-02-16T18:38:23.048+10:00Learning Spanish. ¿Por que?<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kfB3auj_noI/TV_AuITs7zI/AAAAAAAAAIw/x3dIc4eONiE/s1600/more-than-words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kfB3auj_noI/TV_AuITs7zI/AAAAAAAAAIw/x3dIc4eONiE/s320/more-than-words.jpg" width="242" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">More than words? </span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> “The more you repeat a material, the more you’ll remember it.” </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a borrowed line from my ‘Spanish instructor’ and my imagination just ran wild immediately after reading that line.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I know for sure I am not the only girl in the world who has a fascination for Spanish men. To prove this, I found a facebook group named: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5802186715">Spanish men are HOT</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I couldn’t help myself but agree and click join. It will be easier if I can learn the language through a face-to –face conversation with a <a href="http://spanish-translation-blog.spanishtranslation.us/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/more-than-words.jpg">Spanish hearthrob.</a> That would be like hitting 2 birds at one stone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But realistically all I have now are resources ample enough to get myself a <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Time-Spanish-All-Audio-Courses/dp/1400021812">Drive Time Spanish CD.</a> </i>And the Spanish instructor I earlier quoted comes from this audio material. <i> </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My intent to learn Spanish has nothing to do with practical use. I am neither joining the Amazing Race nor moving to Spain this summer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Falling in love with this language is inevitable knowing that my heritage has Spanish influences. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But putting biases out of the picture, I know I’d still fall in love with a Spanish lullaby the first time I hear it. Beginner and intermediate Spanish has been part of the curriculum back in College. It’s like a blessing and curse. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No one can force me to study on my own because I was interested like a 7 year old, however the professors were stiff and quick tempered<i> Se</i><i>ñ</i><i>oras</i>.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I also had the opportunity to enrol in an intermediate Spanish course in the US under the instruction of a native speaker. He knows better than my previous professors nonetheless but he did not act like he was the King of the hill, patient and kind in fact. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got good marks but after I finished the course I did not practice and increase my vocabulary. Time ran its course and my Spanish got brittle. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some people think that it’s already too late to learn a language as an adult because our tongues have become unbendable and our minds too stubborn. This is untrue especially for those with an open mind and willing to grasp everything like a sponge. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only way of retaining an acquired skill is to apply it consistently. This is the part where I stumbled. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learning Spanish or any other language is not the same with learning how to bike, that when you learn once you’re going to remember it forever. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-85122259167090140292011-01-08T14:06:00.003+10:002012-02-16T18:39:22.847+10:00The 7 day itch<div><m:smallfrac m:val="off"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim></m:wrapindent></m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></span></m:smallfrac><br />
<m:smallfrac m:val="off"><m:dispdef><m:lmargin m:val="0"><m:rmargin m:val="0"><m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><m:wrapindent m:val="1440"><m:intlim m:val="subSup"><m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </span></m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lT0__bzbtwM/TV_CS7EXPWI/AAAAAAAAAI4/mm2in_Wg5uU/s1600/funny-pictures-this-cat-enjoys-a-scratch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lT0__bzbtwM/TV_CS7EXPWI/AAAAAAAAAI4/mm2in_Wg5uU/s320/funny-pictures-this-cat-enjoys-a-scratch.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Should you always give in to the itch?</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZVexs-AdIfY/TSfg0h-TS-I/AAAAAAAAAHk/yCDOLJDlaRM/s1600/hulk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It’s official. The first week of 2011 has passed by.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It’s so fast that couldn’t believe I’m saying this right now. Is it time to assess my progress this year? It would be premature, but because I can, I will. [Insert Evil laugh]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No but seriously, a week’s time is not enough to make something like ‘reading a book’ a hardcore habit- most likely if what you have as a starter is a vintage baby that smells exactly the way it looks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This book was worth £0.67 back in 1974 and I bought it for $1 three decades after. I would have wanted to read a non-fiction book that written within the last 5 years but I was already aching to read asap therefore I made the most convenient choice. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘The One’, as I would like to call this chosen book-of-the-month, has been sitting right beside my bed and piling up dust these past few months. Guilty as charged, I gave it a chance and picked it up with a just flicker of interest. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be honest, I am not really into fiction books but since this book has become one of my favourite movies of all time, hence there is no need for hard selling. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Few days have gone and I am still stuck at the prologue. Wow- that’s new I suppose. Usually, I will read as many pages as I could on the first sitting so I could trick my mind to cooperate. Therefore reading the rest of the chapters in the forthcoming days would be easy breezy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As an occasional book reader, it’s no surprise that the root of my falling-in-and-out-of-love with reading is because of my little attention span.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In order for me to bring forth that passion I try to immerse myself in several pages, find something interesting about it to hang onto, that I may have an assurance that it is worth my time and I wouldn't just quit the next day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nevertheless, I am doing the exact opposite. I don’t know if I should feel good knowing that my start has been a bit sluggish. Probably this means that I really enjoyed what I read, so I am taking my time while I linger on this feeling of awe caused by my new found literary adventure.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It’s not so hard to figure out where this guilt is coming from. The control freakishness in me wants to scratch the itch so bad. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Giving in would give an instant sooth but it would be for all the wrong reasons. I choose to love slowly but surely. I want a relationship with J.R.R Tolkien, not just a love affair.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-68265232371684968362011-01-05T17:13:00.004+10:002012-02-16T18:40:06.519+10:00Life is a box of chocolates<m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Oh0Gp2JksI/TV-_1lQnaFI/AAAAAAAAAIs/K8Bi3AOONbw/s1600/bakerella_cake_heart_Choc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Oh0Gp2JksI/TV-_1lQnaFI/AAAAAAAAAIs/K8Bi3AOONbw/s320/bakerella_cake_heart_Choc.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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</tbody></table></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">We enter this world clueless about everything</span></b>: </i>having no idea who our parents are going to be and what the colour of our skin is. And once we come out from our mother's womb- that's it; life begins with everybody's permission, but us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some people were born at time of desperation and grief, a time when the world is at war and everyone is on their knees, waiting for rations of food. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wonder what it's like for child growing up in a facade where soldiers, trucks and guns were a staggering reality, and not a set of imitation toys that come from a box with G.I Joe in it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A childhood clouded in instability and grounded in fear brings out a set of qualities far from those children born with a silver spoon in their mouth: a utensil used by filthy rich parents in creating spoiled brats- spooning caviars and luxurious excesses. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>We are more the same than we think we are not</i></b>. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How I express my emotions, what I prefer to eat in the morning or whom I choose to go out with is just a result of life’s concoctions or nature's accident. In the beginning, we barely have any choice; we are forced to accept what we are born with: a protruding forehead, a competitive sibling, or a traditional society. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A combination of different traits, family background and environmental factors can produce many archetypes: the black sheep, damsel in distress or a knight in shining armour, just to name a popular few. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though no individual is a carbon copy of each other in all aspects, friendships can still blossom even from outside one's circle, because out of the many things to like and dislike, chances are high that there might be somebody out there who also appreciates, for example: the serenading charm of the Backstreet Boys, as you do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think if you strip out all of mankind's inherent and acquired qualities, we are one and the same, just like plants that will nevertheless grow and contribute to the ecosystem may it rooted be in a garden pot or in the rich soil of the Amazon wild. </span><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>We experience and interpret life in various degrees</i></b><b>.</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">History as we know it is accounted by the best of the best. Top notch skills inclined with accuracy and organisation are capitalised to produce a story to be read by future generations- all with the purpose of capturing a valuable point in time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His ‘story’ or an author’s point of view- on how man discovered fire, what triggered the 9/11 tragedy, or how Michael Jackson turned white, is more likely a universal fact for having been based on evidences and testimonies that fits like a glove, but I believe that narrations, no matter how agreeable and compelling it seems, will always be just a speck of the truth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I’m not questioning the reliability of history books and investigative reports. Facts are facts but it will always be subject to human error; and to what degree it has pulled away from what really happened- only God knows. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As limitless beings, we’re always in search of sanity and purpose. We look at another person’s experience to make logical conclusions and subjective interpretations. Neither is right or wrong- except on what we choose to believe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We easily make judgments that life is unfair for good natured people living on less than a dollar a day, but who knows- they might actually be more contented and at peace with who they are, than those people with so much money but become slaves to it, thus having suicidal tendencies or end up on rehab centres. </span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600227743707855951.post-2480058276504363612011-01-03T16:19:00.003+10:002012-02-16T18:40:40.383+10:00Why do I always love the beginning of things?<div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZVexs-AdIfY/TSFtveyIXvI/AAAAAAAAACQ/ET6WliQQdW8/s1600/IMG_4020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZVexs-AdIfY/TSFtveyIXvI/AAAAAAAAACQ/ET6WliQQdW8/s400/IMG_4020.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #666666;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Starting over, again and again. It does get tiring.</span></i></td></tr>
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</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They say that it takes 10,000 hours to be an <a href="http://abundance-blog.marelisa-online.com/2008/11/17/outliers-10000-hours-for-success/">expert</a> at anything. Since it’s the start of the New Year, this promising thought gave me a glimmer of hope! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It fuelled something in me to finally commit at pursuing my lifelong goals and one of which is to have my own blog. My first post had long been overdue because I never really prioritised it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To confess, I am a recovering cluttered mess who easily gets distracted and forgets what she must prioritise. And so I make it a point that I write my to-do-list someplace where I can always see them. That is from the vast space of my wall, to google docs and down to my 100 leaf notebook.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The incessant need to remind myself that my life is supposed to have goals is because I can easily get lost and be eaten by a thought that says: </span></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b>“You can't do it. Why waste time at something you’re not good at?”</b></span></i></span></div></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am one of those people who would candidly describe themselves as a little bit of this and a little bit of that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I can act well but not the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqmms2sj404">Meryl Streep</a> calibre, sketch women fashion wear but it’s too one dimensional, or dance gracefully but will not even make the cut off in So You Think You Can Dance. It’s frustrating to know that I didn't pushed myself harder to turn these little talents into cash, passion or as means where I can help people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thing is I heartily enjoy planning and good at getting things started. Writing a list about what I want in my organiser is like daydreaming - only that I can see it in words. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also cut pretty pictures from magazines of <a href="http://placestovisitinitaly.com/pictures-of-places-to-visit-in-italy.php">places I want to go</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjYMqRS6fqE">things I want to have</a> and stick it on my bedroom wall. This gives me an adrenalin rush I used to have as a grade schooler doing her collage project.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The problem is that in the middle of any self imposed project, may it be getting lean in 6 months or reading a book on a regular basis, moments do come where I feel like asking myself- what the hell am I doing? Doubts about everything I have signed into start to creep in because I either get bored, uninspired or feel like I am not progressing and will not go anywhere. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being a perfectionist also adds fire to these<span style="color: blue;"> <span style="color: black;">chicken out</span> </span>moments. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frustration with details, sequences or with how I pictured things are supposed to happen usually comes as a VIP guest. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am an escape artist that teleports from one thing to another, right before I mess up the current one. When I hit the plateau I find that it’s easier to change directions so I can rethink whether or not something is really worth my time and effort. However, by changing directions every time I encounter a bump in the road, chances become higher that I will never reach any destination. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pay off of being an all rounder or devoting your energy in all directions is that you are never going to master a skill. The truth that I hate admitting is that the reason why I never get to do anything significant in my life is because I'm afraid to commit mistakes, fail and in return be unloved by people who are expecting a lot from me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have made countless of resolutions all year round because for me every day is a fresh start. However, I have failed to appreciate the essence of waking up every single day with 24 hours at my expense. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I couldn’t care less that my happy days on earth is just limited by an expiry date- invisibly marked deep down my skin, which of course can surface anytime, to think accidents happen not only on Friday the 13th. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The recurring thought in my head goes like: I am in my prime years to even think about what I might be losing, when after all I am still building my ideal life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there lies in me a false sense of hope every time the New Year unfolds because I see a perfect opportunity to redeem myself, when in fact I am just attracted to how ideal the situation seems to be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/1/11 is such a perfect date. It’s like a beginning of everything- going back to square one. Yes, the New Year is promising, much more if we keep our promises as promised! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, starting this blog was one of things I wanted to do, not because I'm narcissistic but I want to organise the chaos in my head and lay them down in less than 700 words. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now is one of those rare chances that I have tricked myself. What better way to start the year right than launch a blog. But of all the lousy promises I’ve ever made, I hope this one will prove otherwise. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This blog is a working project- the one I intend to keep. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a serious commitment to write on regular basis and make it something more, aside from being readable. I am doing this to save myself and as I go further, let this be a wonderful waste of space especially for people like me who are struggling to channel their weaknesses and eccentricities in a good way. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy New Year! Let this be a new beginning with a happy ending. Cheers. </span></div>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12649733486787029778noreply@blogger.com0