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October 2009 had been a month of shocks, stress and sadness. A few of my closest friends had undergone some traumatic experiences that not only greatly impacted their lives but mine as well, as these individuals mean a great deal to me. After a long period of digging out and analyzing emotions, solution-finding, reflecting and consoling, I have come to realize that there is really no such thing as a bad experience. Sure, it may hurt you at the very beginning, making you feel like it will scar you for life, but time always heals things up. An experience, no matter how bad it is, increases the depth of your knowledge, strengthens you, makes you grow, as well as reminds you of all of the people in your life that really care and will always love you for who you are.
A friend has once asked me, "How can you be so optimistic about everything all the time? And why does it seem like nothing can ever knock you down?" Fact is, I had been hugely pessimistic and had definitely been knocked down numerous times in the past. Like everyone else, I have plenty of problems to deal with on a day-to-day basis, problems that are too personal to discuss but I can safely tell you here that these are not minor problems. However, in the past few years, I have come up with 3 little (but really not little) rules through the help of my professors as well as my beautiful family and friends that have kept me going and caused me to wake up with a smile everyday, no matter how bad my day is. These rules have not only made my heart leap to a new level of happiness, they have also helped my friends up at some of the worst times in their lives...
Just Knock the "t" off the "Can't"
1. There is a solution to absolutely everything in life. If you look and try hard enough, your problems can be solved. However, death should NEVER be considered a solution. You have to realize that suicide is an extremely immature and selfish act. Just think about those who love you dearly and how they would feel. And yes, there are people who love you and care about you a whole lot - much more than you could ever know.
2. Why dream when you can be? Have you ever caught yourself admiring successful, well-off or good-looking people and then saying to yourself, "Damn, I wish I could be like them"? You know what, you can be them or even better than they are. Determination, persistence and hard work will take you there... but the first most important thing is to know that you have all the potential to become your dream. Remember - If you can dream it, you can do it!
3. Just think about the times when you have told yourself that you can't do something before you have even attempted to do it, or times when you walk into an exam or interview with negativity and end up failing? Many times, just simply thinking negatively is enough to produce negative results in situations. Think more on the positive side of things, be confident about your strengths and abilities, and respect yourself for all that you know. Note that I am not saying that you should be overly self-confident and to carry a big ego because these are drastically different things. Just try switching your mind-set to the optimistic mode, and you will be surprised about the good things that will begin happening in your life. Sometimes the mere difference between a good and a bad outcome is your attitude and whether you see the glass as half full or half empty.
HALLOWEEN
is a time to throw away all of our troubles
and just partayy.
"In life, we do things.
Some, we wish that we had never done,
and some, we wish we could replay a million times,
but they make us who we are and,
in the end, they shape and detail us.
If we were to reserve them,
we wouldn't be the person we are today.
So, just live."
Apparently some people weren't sure what I was dressed up as!
I thought it was quite obvious...
Well if you're wondering, I was a pirate this year.
We were the first people who got into the club, hence the emptiness!
Greaser & The Ultimate Nerd
lol ain't he a lucky nerd?
me & half-drunk boyfriend
Happy 3rd Anniversary to my favorite couple!
5 years
with my Montessori classmate, Freda COUGAR
Yep. This is what we teachers do at nightime ;)
Snow White
Can you believe that she made this lovely costume?
looking quite messed up but definitely having fun
[tired]
reason why I do not go clubbing more than a few times per year
- getting old -
apparently they were exhausted from dancing as well.
 
.pirate.girl.
Hope you all had
a fun-filled Halloween this year!
So you might be wondering what I have been doing
and why I barely even update now...I have just completed my first teaching practicum last week. All I have to say is that it was one of the best and most rewarding experiences I have ever had. I enjoyed my practicum way more than I had expected, which made me even more sure that this is what I want to do for life. The kids were adorable - just the mere sight of them is enough to make my heart melt and to keep me going on days when I was most sick/tired.
*P.S. I look entirely different when I am teaching. I wear my glasses, I put on barely any makeup at all, my hair is usually all gathered up in a bun, and the clothing that I wear is loose and conservative. So don't you worry that the kids will ever be exposed to the "me" above.*
Some of the most random/cutest things
that happened in the past week:
1) 4-year-old who was learning the parts of a frog suddenly pointed at its face, looked up at me, and said, "Miss Mimi, you look like this." When I responded, "Reaaaally?" Child said, "I like your face."
2) I was wearing pleathery, shinyish black leggings under a long shirt, child came up to me and asked, "Did you just polish your pants?" (I have shown him how to polish shoes earlier.)
3) Child: "Do you have a boyfriend?" Me: "Yes, I do!" Child: "Is he big like you?" Me: (trying hard not to laugh) "Yes. Actually, my boyfriend is a lot bigger than me!" Child: (eyes widened) "Ohhh, so he can't fit into the aprons here?"
4) Child: "Are you 15 years old yet?"
5) It was my last day and after I said my goodbyes, one of the boys came up to me and said, "I am going to miss you on my birthday!" I asked, "Only on your birthday?" Boy responded, "Yes." Then he gave me the most suffocating and heart-warming hug ever.
I am going to miss those little monkeys so much!
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|  I got sick, AGAIN!
I don't know what happened but I managed to get sick yet again! Just when I thought that I have gotten my immune system pumped from getting sick earlier this month, I caught something else from the classroom yesterday. I really don't understand why I am always the first to catch the illness when someone around me is sick. I wash my hands once almost every hour, never touch my eyes or mouth with my fingers and get all the nutrients that I need to be healthy everyday, so WHY DO VIRUSES ALWAYS FIND A WAY IN? My boyfriend never even gets sick from me even though we are so close, it's so unfair! Right now, my throat is super sore and I have lost any kind of appetite. I seriously hope that my beloved NeoCitran will knock me out quick and give me a good night's sleep so that I won't have to miss tomorrow's class...ARGH. I am so mad at myself.       _________Some of the things that happened before I got sick: Painting party at Raw Canvas in Yaletown for Vanessa's Birthday         "Your friend is the person who knows all about you,
and still likes you."
-- Elbert Hubbard   
        Rose and I met just a little bit more than a month ago but it feels like I've known her all my life.
We laugh at the EXACT same things and are both quite "guyish" in terms of our personality.
We are just similar in too many ways, and we always have so much fun when we're together!
This girl never fails to make me laugh till I cry.love her.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VANESSA!  and this is our present for you...!    picking my favorite colors    my shameful piece of work
looks like something drawn by a 5-year-old    Lylia the hottie   love this girl too!   almost done!        Dinner at Glowbal Grill  Sangria   Spicy Ahi-tuna Tartare as my appetizer  my 16 oz. Kansas City Strip Steak
That's right. I eat like a man... when I am not sick.  Rose: "This meat looks so sweaty and succulent......"
sooo dirty. lol  yummy birthday cake  i heart my Montessori girls!  Shangri-La
went there after dinner for coffee and more dessert  with the birthday girl   mmm... cheesecakenature.pics___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________        8:00am morning fog        Alright. It's time to go back to my bed.
Have a great week, everyone!   | | |
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Pin-up girl inspired CAT EYE tutorial  I've always been very vintage/pin-up/doll inspired when it comes to fashion, makeup, hair, etc. I think that women from the 40's are sexy, classy and fabulous. They embraced their natural beauty, and the self-confidence that they carried themselves with often emits a kind of sexiness that is hard to resist. Some classic examples are Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. They are both my definition of beauty, femininity and class.   Since many people have asked me how I apply my eye makeup, I have decided to share with you girls my way of doing a cat eye makeup look. It is my attempt to mimic the kind of eye makeup that women in the 40's were often seen sporting. Keep in mind that this look is not for everybody because it is quite dramatic. However, if you are planning to do something crazy or look a little bit sexier for occasions like Halloween, this cat eye look might be for you! Hope you guys like it. TUTORIAL  1. Apply your makeup base and eye shadow as usual.
Since the liner should be the focus of your eye makeup,
you do not want to put too much dark eye shadow on your eyes
or else the liner will not show up clearly. 2. Look straight into the mirror.
Using a liquid eyeliner, draw a line
extending your lower lash line upwards.
The length of this line should be approximately
the distance between your upper lash line and your crease.  3. Starting from the end of the line that you have just drawn,
create a scalene triangle by drawing a line
downwards towards the middle of your upper lash line.
This does not have to look perfect as you still have
plenty of chances to fix the shape later.
This is what a scalene triangle looks like
if you don't remember what it is from your elementary school years.
 4. Fill in the empty space within the scalene triangle
with your liquid liner.  5. Starting from the inner corner of your eye,
draw a line on your upper lash line
merging the scalene triangle that you just created.  6. You may extend the tip of the scalene triangle a little further
to make the cat eye look more dramatic.  7. Outline your lower lash line with a pencil eyeliner.
I use a pencil liner because it is easier to smudge
and to create a little bit of that smoky eye look.  8. To further dramatize the cat eye,
follow along your upper lash line
and draw a line extending the inner corner of your eye downwards.  9. Remove any harsh lines or "mistakes" with a Q-tip, and
TADA your cat eye is done!
Don't forget the other eye though.   You may apply false lashes if you wish. I simply put on mascara here, because I want the shape of the liner to be the center of attention. I hope you girls find this useful and do let me know if you have learned other better ways of creating the cat eye look. Have fun!   ________________________RANDOM PICTURES AS USUAL
  
 Greek dinner at Vasili's Tavern with my bestieIt is such a cute place. I love all the unique decor. For some reason, it made me feel like I was in Disney or something.     Calamari  My grilled salmon with pasta  My friend's chicken souvlaki dinner
  Dinner at Salade de Fruits with my boyfriend    Cream of Broccoli and Foie Gras as usual  My Steak Frites   HUGE sushi from Samurai
       
      I LOVE THE NEW CANADA LINE!      Am I starting to look like my cat
or is my cat starting to look like me??? 
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
to those who are living in Canada.
I hope that all of you have enjoyed
a delicious turkey dinner with your loved ones!
Till next time~   | | |
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Love is a decision,
and not merely an emotion.
For those who have been in a serious relationship for years, it is not uncommon to sometimes wonder... Where have all those butterflies in your stomach whenever you saw your S.O. flown to? Where has all that excitement or "heat" gone? Do I really want to spend the rest of my life in this dullness? Do I truly love him/her? What the heck is LOVE anyway?
According to "The Art of Loving" by Eric Fromm, there are basically
4 INGREDIENTS OF LOVE:
1) Responsibility - You feel a strong sense of responsibility toward your S.O. Now, everyone knows what responsibility means, but do you know that it is actually stemmed from the word "respond"? By being responsible, Fromm suggests that we, as lovers, should always try to respond and not react. Reaction is based on emotions and is not clearly thought out before being expressed. On the other hand, responding to a situation or a particular emotion of your S.O. requires careful consideration and thinking. Learning how to respond and not react will help you develop a sense of self-awareness over time, which is good for both you and your S.O.
2) Care - Sacrificing part of yourself is always a requirement in caring. To care for your S.O., you ought to give up some of yourself, to spend time with him/her and to learn to compromise.
3) Respect - Consider the rights and needs of your S.O. like you consider your own. To respect, you should minimize your preconceived ideas and to accept. It is important to understand that accepting is not equivalent to agreeing. You may not agree with everything that your S.O. does or says, but you have to respect his/her ideas, personality and person as a whole.
4) Knowledge - You must know what you love. How can you do the above things if you don't know your S.O. - i.e. what he/she actually NEEDS. For example, many people claim to love their pets, but you see all these poor little puppies being dressed up in bulky, fancy clothing on the streets all the time. That really is not an act of loving, as the owners should realize how uncomfortable it is for their pets to be restrained in clothing that they were never meant to wear. They are not really giving their pets what they need. Instead, they are giving themselves what they need - cute, little polished pets which they can show off to their friends and to attract attention. They aren't really doing what they should to truly love their pet. This also applies to relationships. It is important for us to consider our S.O.'s needs and not be so self-centered all the time if we want our relationships to last.
I find Fromm's "4 Ingredients of Love" very interesting and inspirational, because it makes me think about my own relationship with my boyfriend (5 years in less than a month!). My professor also said something that opened my eyes the other day. He said...
"You don't always have to like the person that you are with,
that would be impossible, but you have to always love him/her."
This, to me, is the key to success in long-term relationships or marriage.
almost 5 years and still going strong
  Random pics & Quotes          "True friendship is what brings out the REAL you."         "When you love someone,
all your saved-up wishes start coming out."
~ Elizabeth Bowen     F O O D       yummy creme brulee!  my deep-fried ice cream with chocolate sauce... it's sooo good.  spicy pig ears
sounds gross, but trust me, it's delicious.   
The reason why I haven't been updating much is because I have been super busy with Montessori teacher training lately. That's right, I didn't actually start working as an assistant - I jumped right into the teacher training (which lasts till next July including a few months of practicum), because I am this sure that this is what I want to do as a career. I have always had a strong passion for young children, and I believe that Montessori education can change and improve the future generations if it becomes prevalent enough. You would not believe your eyes if you saw how these 3-year-olds behaved in a Montessori classroom. They are capable of so much more than most people think. Can you imagine experiencing almost complete silence when you close your eyes in a class of twenty 3 to 6-year-old children? The Montessori Method works to help children maximize their potentials and to guide them to constructive work that is of interest to them according to their individual developmental needs. It is almost mind-blowing to witness how motivated and happy these children are to be in the Montessori environment, in oppose to the rebellion and noise that you can often expect in a traditional classroom. I am so happy that I got accepted even though I applied so last minute, and I can't wait to start my practicums where I will be able to get hands-on experience with the children!p.s. Don't worry - I do not dress crazy like how I normally do when I am working with children! Loose clothing and long pants are all I wear.     
See you next time! | | |
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