Wednesday, February 11, 2015

{Wednesday wisdom} with the help of Desperate Housewives

 
I actually remembered this quote from a Desperate Housewives episode. For those who don't know, there's always a bit of wisdom from Mary-Alice at the end of each episode which leaves you with food for thoughts.
 
Those words resonated deeply with me and I have been thinking about my online presence a lot. I am the type of woman who always want deep connections. I am not a fan of socialising for the mere fact that I don't do small talk very well and I'm afraid to appear uninterested. I see each encounter as the beginning of a true relationship (even if the other person doesn't or it's not what always happens). That sentiment of abandonment doesn't sit right with me at all. That said, I don't think it's a bad thing at all and I do believe that as human beings we are perfectly imperfect creatures and that, too often, we choose to settle for the surface rather than go deeper into one another. I'm not going to ruminate on the impact that social media has on our interactive abilities, but it's worth pointing out that 'likes' have replaced hugs and we are OK about it.
 
This is the condition that draws us apart in my opinion and I am trying to work on staying away from the tech when I'm surrounded with people. My life has taken a sharp turn recently due to obsessing over what people say or do on social media rather than focusing on the important things outside of that context. Below is a quote of what I really wanted but could not express:


We need to learn how to connect again. Live our lives and talk about it with our peers first before our followers. When I lost my bank card just before Christmas I didn't reach out to my Tweeps, my girlfriend helped me out. When I had my operation and was bed-ridden I didn't ask my Instagram followers to bring me food or help me to the bathroom. When I received the news of a new job, I toasted the occasion with my best friend. When I moved houses I didn't take it to Facebook to announce it.
 
I love sharing my work online and be appreciated by fellow artists and creatives, some of my best conversations were even sparked from tweets I have posted. I love reading new things or looking at beautiful pictures of people doing their thing, but I'm struggling to find the right balance and not be sucked in by the virtual world.
 
It's time to switch off now. Understand that the person sitting in front of you is probably your biggest fan. Bask in each other's words. Gaze in each other's eyes. I have gained a lot from socialising online and I can never deny the fact that it has helped me feel more confident and open relationships, business opportunities and collabos. It has connected me to people I enjoy interacting with regularly. But it has also made me miss crucial moments and people that I can never get back.
 
I wouldn't disappear off of the radar for it has been a wonderful and interesting journey, and I'm thankful for all the connections I have made so far! Let's swap online convos for chats over hot cocoas, shall we?

Monday, February 9, 2015

{MONDAY MOJO} Catching up on my blogging + chocolate macarons!


It's been a while since I last put words on Blogger! Life gets her way sometimes and the best you can do is live it. I have been taking care of a few things in the meantime, got a new job, a new home, turned 30 (!) and also been through a lot personally. I have missed writing despite not being your typical regular blogger, and sharing my thoughts and work is very cathartic to me... let's get the ball rolling!

We have entered a brand new year and I have concocted a few things to keep me afloat and let my creative juices do the work. To start off, I was really excited to jump on a train and get to my favourite city in the world to spend some quality family time for a few days -Paris has my heart the way no other cities does!

 
After a day of catching up with my beautiful nieces and keeping up with my sister's stories, we decided to get in the kitchen and do what we love doing most: get creative. She's herself an amazing artist and baker and it was our first time trying to make macarons, in fact baking altogether! We had seen a few recipes online and we decided to go for the one we already had all the ingredients for, a simple way to avoid going out in the freezing cold! The issue with our delicious treats is that there are so many recipes out there that it's very difficult pointing at the one that will give you smooth biscuits with a rich ganache in the middle. We clearly failed at our attempt but it was really fun working together, and it actually tasted really yummy! Neither of us were really bothered about the way they looked in the end, it was all about making the most out of the little time we had together. And to be fair, they still tasted delish.
Disclaimer: this, by no means, reflects our talents as bakers! There's always a time when things just don't work out and you have to be OK with that. And also, if you have a recipe that works, holla!
 
... and on to the next recipe! (or the nearest boulangerie?)

 

 
 
Family time is SO important. I haven't been lucky to start off with but I have managed to build my own and so fortunate for the people who make it. I have basking in my baby niece's smile for 3 days straight and it was a pure delight -the overload of selfies can prove it! I really look forward to my family getting bigger, hopefully soon!


Until the next time, friends...