for ONCE

A movie that was said inspired Steven Spielberg for an entire year?

While we are constantly bombarded with fluffy romance greatly played up by movies, books and to certain extent advertising. We may say we are victim or we can say we are emotional lots.

Being out with bf watching the usual blockbusters like Indy Jones, Ironman (which was great by the way), I need to satisfy my basic urge to have a real decent movie that will actually make me believe in it, touch my 5 senses and make me feel that amidst all my chaos, a movie can actually make me feel alive.

Well, well, I was greeted by my expectation with this movie. Spoilt by two Asian love movies ,I was waiting for another love movie that requires no sex, hardly any kisses or even hugging. ONCE a small budget Irish movie is something I found that connect tear jerking movies such as my favourites "The Love Letter" (Jap) &
"The Road Home "(A zhang Ziyi debut movie).

Go find and watch it and let it taunt you with inexperience leads that ended up together after the filming. Moreover, the musics make it a worthwhile trip to the cinema as the two leads write them and won an Oscar for the main song "Falling Slowly".

"Amazon.com
Winner of the World Audience Award at Sundance, Once starts out as a small-scale romance, like Before Sunrise, before arriving somewhere unexpected. An Irish busker (Glen Hansard, the Frames and The Commitments) meets a Czech flower seller (Markéta Irglová) while singing on the streets of Dublin. (In the credits, they're listed as Guy and Girl.) She likes what she hears and lets him know. Turns out she's a musician, too. They work on a few songs together and a friendship is forged. She lives with her widowed mother, who doesn't speak English. He lives with his widowed father, who owns a repair shop. Since he broke up with his girlfriend, the guy has been drifting, unable and unwilling to get his life in order. The girl encourages him to pursue a record deal, and the guy emerges from his funk. Then he makes a move on the girl, who rejects his advances. He's confused, but as he comes to find, there's a reason she’s keeping her distance. Though Once is filled with appealing folk-pop by Hansard and Irglová (released on CD as The Swell Season), the movie isn't a traditional musical, but rather a more optimistic Brief Encounter. Filmmaker John Carney, Hansard's former bandmate, captures the real city--in all its affluence and poverty--rather than the picture postcard version. His beautifully shot film serves as a heartfelt ballad about all the underclass Guys and Girls swept aside amidst Ireland's economic miracle. --Kathleen C. Fennessy "

soap for the soul

When a friend told me, while pointing to blocks of natural soaps, that we will pick the soap (smell of course) that is the most soothing for us at that particular moment. It should be the one that will soothe you most . What can you expect more than a soap that claims that it will also clean your consciences.

Its sounds absurd; soap?! But its different with soaps which was made everyday, using hands (in organic & LOHAS we believe in energy)that channels good vibrations, tree barks and wild herbs extracts that bring us closer to nature amidst our rat race.

I did not choose the Sishen Chinese herbs immediately. But felt in love with it after using it several time, mostly spent time smelling it. I felt I was in a forest where wild herbs grow in abundance.

My friend rely on the cypress soap. As he is native to the place that grows cypress trees in abundance- Taiwan, he had seen the greatness of the tree which would take 10 to 15 people to circle the tree. Insects leave this tree undisturbed due to its antiseptic properties thus cypress tree can live as long as 4000 years. Whenever he bathes, he felt as his worries are shared and supported by the great tree.

These soaps are made without prejudices and are left for its own colours to form, assimilate other ingredients to form its own character. Many have claims the soap its a living soap where the herbs still continue to work its purpose on us.

I think I overdid myself when I ended up with 3 bars of different soaps in bathroom. Sometimes even rinsing twice to try different soaps.....hahaha...

While many may regards that Yuan soap is just another soap that cleans. To some its may be a tool to remind us to reflect ourselves once in a while.

my favourite soap at the moment "sishen"...could not stop smelling....

A lilttle colour in my life

Sometimes, simple things in life are all you need to cheer up your day!

I always have a knack of buying myself flowers or to give flowers to my girl friends. Unlike my guys friends who always consider fresh flowers are a waste of money for they will wilt within a week, I always feel the "moment" when someone receive the flowers is priceless.

If guys know these "moments" are so easily conjured, it will save them less confusion when facing the female many roller coaster emotions.

My wednesday's Daisy

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Yummy 'chicken' (beancurd rice)

Menu for the day

So happy when I made this and see all the rainbow colours. Couldn't resist to snap some pics.

Mia Palencia

Was in Borders today and was caught by surprise when an artiste performed live in the store. Mia Palencia's smooth and smoky voice perforated my senses when she started singing in clear acoustic manner. Made my browsing lovelier and I did not want to leave the area!

I was not the only one who enjoy the silky voice, others stopped and listen to the performance. I wanted a copy of her album after her 3rd song!. As there was a lucky draw if you fill up your details, I decided to drop one and left for MPH in search for another book.

After 15minutes as I made my way back to Borders, I was VISUALIZING that I won the CD. Guess what, my name was called as I just strolled in. Check out Mia's voice on this website, sounds delicious; http://www.brabonsentertainment.com/pages/.

Caught her talking to Pak Samad our sasterawan negara when it was my turn for a picture. Didn't blame her, who wouldn't be in awe talking to him?!

'Up all night' by Carmen Reid.

While I do read some serious literary books, I could not help but check out some "chick lits" where they always have funny but believable protagonists in situations that you can always relate to.

I read a few books by Carmen Reid, but her latest book "Up all night" had a green reporter as the lead, trying to break a cough vaccination story. While the book can be entertaining, the issue of green subjects mentioned can clearly stimulate thoughts amongst us especially when her ex husband who is a medical doctor shouted to her over the phone citing her claims on vaccinations as some printout from the internet.

I understand the doctor/ex husband frustrations, but I could not help but agree that what Jo the protagonist is looking at might be out there.

ps: I also like it that Carmen Reid made green issue sounds as serious as any daily news. Since it is serious. Oh, she also had a male character in her previous book who turned to organic strawberry farming.....

Rent a bag?!

As I was complaining to my Violet the other day about the lack of awareness on the usage of recycled bags, she suggested that I should to rent the bags out instead.

A particular organic shop has been practicing this concept and apparently it worked rather well (also the fact they have not been giving out any plastic bags as well....I seriously like this radical move)

sites to look out for

Think I am going to advocate going eco friendly on baby products since friends my age are either getting married or planning to have children.

These are some siets I found that sell these items:

1. www.thebabyloft.com
2. www.babysashanmom.com

My beginner yoga class

Started yoga classes last week, and now just returned from one. Being never properly taught on the fundamental basics, today my whole body was strained and tortured. Kinda like the way, they strained "kain" after washing it.

But it was good, feeling muscle you never had before, and the best thing is there was only 3 students including me in class today.

Worst things are:

1. Getting up earlier than usual (discipline)
2. My arms are numb now as I am typing
3. Just realised how ugly my toes look having bending most of the time (pedicure urgently needed! or pumice stone anyone?!)

The balance

Trying to find the right equilibrium is not easy as cliche as it is. Sometimes the right answer is starring right back to you and you realize the unbalances are always from within.

From time to time, I always search for the answers to the little holes in myself. I have done it all, from colour therapy, bach flowers remedy, classes on family etc. Each therapy or classes I take unearthed more about myself or I prefer to put as peeling off each layer that I have to put on to face the world or to hide my feelings.

Each time the feeling is liberating. Each time you will find out, the answer is always love and acceptance. Love and accept you, yourself, your inner child and your body. Then you will realize how easy to love the world and take everything with a pinch of salt.

WELL SAID!

The controversy about the cost of healthy and organic foods is on-going. To all people who say they can't afford to eat a healthy organic diet, Patrick Holford who founded Institute of Optimum Nutrition has this response: "We are spending a fraction of the percentage of our income that we used to spend on food back in the 1930s and 40s. We've just got our priorities wrong. On the whole good food is cheaper things like lentils, beans and grains are not expensive foods. I totally 100% support organic because it's simply the food we're evolved to eat and I think there should be no compromise on that at all.

"One of the big issues is that food is grown for profit not for nutrition and so farmers are motivated to grow the biggest carrots in the smallest amounts of time, rather than the healthiest carrots. But if you artificially force the growth of the carrot, what you end up with is a carrot full of a lot of more water, so there's actually less 'carrot' in your 'carrot' for your money. Generally speaking, non organic produce is about 25% less dry weight, So if the price is differential 25%, you're actually still getting the same amount of carrot and then of course the nutrient content is higher," derived from OrganicLife(UK), January 2008 issue.

OUR 11TH HOUR

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Was in KLPAC today to catch the 11th hour a movie/documentary produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio.

The movie speaks about global warming and the amount of ignorance human race has despite the enormous findings and evidences scientists uncovered.

I mean it does not take a genius (if the person is in Planet Earth) to figure out that weather changes are the most obvious signs lately.

However, in spite of all the grim outlook the film projected, instead of many privileged few that actually championed this cause, now millions and hundred thousands of people have joined this 11th hour mission.

Its no longer weird to bring along plastic bags or unbleached bags to pack your groceries however some still stare if you choose to unfold your pair of chopstick or bring your own containers when you eat outside.

In the shop, I try to be polite or discreet in my message whenever my customers pay and show no evidence of bringing their own shopping bags. I simply asked them whether they have brought their own. Now I want to bring in a range of unbleached cotton shopping bags to ensure that my customers have the option of purchasing one when they need it.

While many think that the option to go vegetarian, to go organic, to go eco friendly....we might be outcast or labeled as weird or too staunch with this idea. No one is comfortable in "change" thus its normal for your friends and acquaintances to feel uncomfortable at least in Malaysia still.

However, this is a grave issue and we are living on borrowed time, and sometimes ignorance isn't bliss especially if it happens at your backyard.

The lui cha paste



The plum paste





Organic veggies: fumak and nai pak



With kitchen closed, I have to think creatively to prepare my own lunch.
Even though I enjoy the usual fare I would usually have when I cook, I hate being repetitive, so I chopped some veggies, took up my ever ready lui cha paste, and throw in some noodles adding a bit of plum sauce like mum.


Results: Not as heavy as the usual lui cha with rice but a nice light fare for a change. However, nothing beats the usual woth the rice and everything with it!

Apple enzymes

(27/04/08)

My current pride and joy. Had some 20 to 30 bruised organic red fuji apples.

The first solution on my mind, baking some nice warm apple pies. However this solutions lead to more problems such as whose oven should I borrow? Or how to bake apple pies anyway?

Easiest solution, cut and throw into a jar, mixed some sugar/oligo and voila in 3 months I will have a jar of nutritious and tasty apple enzymes.


(05/05/08) As you can see more water now. I rolled the whole jar around to "bath" the apples with the juices ensuring sugars coated around the jars get dissolved in the juices. Oh and I threw in some grapes too.


Today, after seeing more juices secreted from my precious apples, I threw in some organic red seedless grapes....and calculated the date my enzymes due. It will be ready right before my birthday....heehee.

Zhen Ni, my sis even planted a world peace message on it. It would taste fantastic with all the great wishes and healthy energy.Hahahaah.

Rise of prices

While everyone has been mulling about the rise of prices of EVERYTHING lately from rice, oil, to flour, I came across this article on yahoo that probably an act of public relations from the US government to ensure its citizens that they should be grateful that they are not paying the highest price for their gas, Bosnians are the ones who have to endure the burden. Check out the link for the complete list, no worries, we Malaysians are not even on the top 10 list.

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/104996/Why-Gas-in-the-U.S.-Is-So-Cheap

Breakfast: Starbucks

I am a faithful Starbucks caffeine addict so when they came up with the breakfast ciabatta sandwich,I simply had to try. Since they have 2 varieties for vegetarians (but with cheese) suit me perfectly. Chose the one with mushroom.

Verdict: Could not bear to finish it. Packed it away though....later finished it when driving...taste better.