Is it My B-day AGAIN, already?!!

I cannot believe my birthday has come around once again!  Next week will be the official celebration... but pre-birthday gifts give me lots of joy and excitement too!

"Pre"-Birthday gift number one:
I'm loving my newest addition to my bag collection, the Kate Spade New York "Macdougal Alley" - Small Terrance Metallic Leather tote (boy, that was a mouthful!).

It really isn't that big, not really a tote, but instead is a cute little purse which suits my petite size.  I love it and am very excited about it. =)

"Pre"-Birthday gift number two:
 I've been into closed toe clogs late, although warm weather's rolled around, I still love what I love without regard what the season is.  Winter will come around eventually. =)

I'm  loving these, Ed Hardy Portland Heel - Dark Grey clogs that I got recently.  They go great with gray tights!  I just realized that I'm also very into gray pieces lately.  It seems that I have enough shoes in my shoe closet, but I always tend to have new favorites... So,  I better continue with the purging project that I've been putting off!  Space is running out!

I do love new things, gifts and presents for my birthday.  However, I think the greatest gift this year is knowing and recognizing that I am so blessed... to have my miserable situation reversed (sort of) within one year's time and to have a job in this horrible economy.  I'm thankful that my family and fur babies are safe and in good health.  I cannot nor dare to ask for any much more.  =)

How do I begin to purge... my beloved shoes?!!!

They say, "Thing don't matter".  I refuse to agree.  Simply because they do matter!  I'd be the first to admit that ALL my things matter a great deal to me.  But of course, that is just my opinion... and my opinion is what matters here.  =)

Years after I moved out of my parents' house, my sister who still lives with them decided to box up all my stuff that was taking up space and tossed them (needless to say, not carefully but carelessly) into the garage.  Over time, more stuff got stacked on top of those flimsy boxes and my prized possessions got crushed and damaged from moisture, dust and mainly filth.  When I saw what had happened, I was furious!  I felt a part of my childhood was destroyed...  Yes!  That's how serious it was.  I screamed so loud and got so very angry all because anything I had ever acquired, I respected it.  No matter what the item is, I cherish it.  Perhaps it is the process of acquiring what I own that makes it that much more important for me to also take very good care of these "things".  Either that, or I might have OCD.  Haha.  So, bottom line is that I respect my belongings and I often have a difficult time parting with them.  (No, I'm not a hoarder).  I just really love my things (not clutter)!

Back to how "things matter" to me... Well, shoes matter a lot to me.  I don't know why would a new pair of shoes make me so happy.  This high doesn't last for a long time, I understand.  But making myself smile just for a brief moment is quite enough.  It's sort of like giving a little girl a piece of candy to brighten up her mood.  Just like every other girl, there have been times that I've purchased a pair of heels on impulse, quite a few times as a matter of fact and later regretted it.  Instead of returning them though, I kept them.  I suppose that is how I ended up with over 200 pairs of shoes.  BUT, yet I still find it a bit difficult to part with them... thinking, eventually I'll find somewhere to wear them to.  I've become a shoe collector, I realize!  So, perhaps it's time to suck it up and purge what I won't be wearing now or ever!  After all, how many pair of heels does a girl need??  Don't answer that.

Ok, so I've finally decided to purge at least 50% of my shoes, clothes and handbags since I'm running out of storage space.  So far, little process has come from the "shoe" side but I've been working on it mentally~ trying to convince myself that I've owned the item, enjoyed it and now I can let it go.  These are the words from an ex-boyfriend... and somehow I tend to still remember them...hmmm.  I do wish I had an incentive to part with things that do matter!

These brand new pairs are the newest in my collection and naturally I will not part with them just yet.  I just need to find an occasion to break them in. =)  I love them!  They made me very happy on a very sad day.

(Steve Madden P-Woww in Pewter) so pretty!

(Enzo Angiolini Eastarlite in Gold Multi) Gorgeous!

I think I feel the same way about nice shoes as some gals feel about jewelry.  I love jewelry too... but I think I adore shoes much more.

Part of the "shoe closet"

I must make a point in saying that I do take extra care with my things, especially my beloved shoes.  The way I look at it is if I decide to take something home and own it, I should respect it and continue to love it.  These are of course the material things that some say do not bring the satisfaction of happiness (and I do not beg to differ) but for me, if something I love brings a smile to my face... even if it's just for a few short moments, they then of course make a whole world of difference to me.  If I didn't love what I own, I wouldn't be having such a difficult time purging. Having said all that... I still have to PURGE, and remind myself how I owned and "enjoyed it" so I can feel good about letting it (whatever it is) go. Maybe someone else will enjoy owning it too.

Make Up Memories- Pied Nus from Shiseido

I've been trying to clean out my stuff for the past several months.  Though progress is slow, I'm finally getting some things done.  The next thing to tackle is to sort out all my clothes, bag, and shoes.  Oh the thought of sorting is already overwhelming!  The truth of the matter is, I have way too many pairs of shoes, too many handbags and definitely have too much clothes lurking in my closets that I'll never wear ever again!  I keep asking myself, how much clothes does one need?? After all, there is just 365 days in a year and there are tons of stuff I've not touched in the last year... anyway.... I go back and forth with this, trying to convince myself to get rid of at least 50% of all my "stuff".  Still working on it.

Well, while going through things... and my makeup collection.  This little box presented itself.  OMG, it's just been sitting in my closet unused for at least... umm... about 10 years!  It's the "Cherub Veil" powder from the Pied Nus line from Shiseido (in Lavender).  Pied Nus is now discontinued and was the predecessor to Shiseido's current Maquillage line.  Looking at this cute package brings back a whole lot of memories for me.  I remember I purchased it at Strawberry Store in Hong Kong on a short trip.  I guess I must have brought it back and decided it was too cute to open up to use and stored it away.  I'm sure it's still good, since it's powder and no bacteria can grow in an unopened dry product.  However, I'm debating if I should even open it or just to keep it the way it is for old times sake.

Not only that the Pied Nus line is now defunct, this little container does give me quite a lot of old memories not to mention, reminders.  Ten years ago, I had a certain drive about life that I think I've now lost.  I certainly did not think I'd be in the situation I am currently in.  Not that I didn't not have stress or problems back then, but things were just simpler and more carefree then.  Perhaps I had not experienced so much downfall yet.   I don't think I've ever been happy with myself, what ever the situation or place in time I was at.  Well, I'm here at another juncture in my unstable life and I'm trying to change my outlook and attitude of life.  It's so very difficult and I'm not even sure that I'll succeed at it.  But I'd say taking the first step to move forward is a good sign... it's a positive thing.

Time sure flies, whether if you are having a good time or not.  Naturally when times are good, it's never long enough.  Looking back, this past ten years just flew by in a heart beat.  I really don't know where all the time went.  It is like I fell asleep on day and woke up the next day and everything has changed.  Surely, there are memories to reminisce about, but the more I remember them... it seems the more sadness it takes me back of how much time has past and yet I could be doing a whole lot better in life.  *Sigh*

Well, nothing stays the same forever...AND, nothing IS forever.  (Now I kind of understand why organization experts often suggest to get rid of old things.) Ha ha.

(I think I'm going to leave it "unopen".  The packaging is quite cute.)

Teru Teru Bozu

It started to rain again here in Southern Cal.  Although we need the rain here, it's just been really chilly too.  Hopefully this storm won't cause too many tragic incidents on the road.

I had knitted these Teru Teru Bozu prayer dolls last year just for fun.  The inspiration also came when it was raining terribly hard.  They turned out kind of cute if I may say it myself.  If it continues to pour  past this weekend, I just might have to hang them high up to hope for sunshine again!

It'd be great if there's all the time in the world to knit fun thing... and to learn how to knit fun things.  But, the rain does not stop time and there is still much left to do, other than to just knit.

Seeing David Garrett- finally!

Last night was like a dream. Well, at least for 2 hours or so. I finally got to see David Garrett in person! It was surreal. I've never been starstruck, until now.

I just cannot believe it when he came out on stage... it's really him! I've been listening to his music for a long while now and it's just so unreal that he was right in front of me! Listening to David play in person is a very moving experience. For me at least. He told a few stories in between his pieces as he usually does in his shows and from them, I felt kind of sorry that he is so tired! He did not say that... but, he told a story about how he used the wrong key card to try to open his hotel room one night in Boston because he had been traveling so much and got confused. He also mentioned he had just broken up with his girlfriend 2 weeks ago ( I take that as the truth)! How terribly sad... and who would break up with David Garrett!! Anyhow, I just felt that he must be so tired. It must be really straining with all the back to back traveling.

We had pretty decent Orchestra seats, 9th row and almost dead center, but it was simply a pity that I did not have a decent enough camera for low light photography. Flash photography was not allowed, which wouldn't have made much difference any way. I should have borrowed a professional camera from my friend... oh well, at least I got some images of the show for great memories to savor for a long time to come.

At the end of the show, I bumped into Franck, one of David's guitarist who also co-wrote "80's Anthem" in the parking lot before they all were getting back on their tour bus. He was smoking a cigarette and though I hated the smell of it, I just had to see if I can talk to him! Well, it turns out Franck is a very nice guy. I told him how much I enjoyed his show and he said it was a lot of fun for him too. They were heading to dinner (how I wanted to say, can I come too?) and then to San Diego next, then fly off to Little Rock. They have such a tight schedule... no wonder half the time, David doesn't know where he is at. Franck was nice enough to have a photo taken with me. =) For the rest of February, they are playing at a different location almost every day!

Just as we were getting ready to leave the parking lot from the theater (the Wilshire Ebell), David walks towards me... well, not exactly towards me, but towards his bus... and I was standing right by his bus talking to Franck. When he was just 2 feet away from me, all I managed to say to him was "Do you mind a photo with me?"... I wanted to tell David how much I loved his music and HIM! But, being star-struck... I suppose, became speechless! He said, "Sure, common!" held out his arm and gestured for me to stand next to him. He is pretty tall! I think at least 6'2"! My pic did not come out good and the lighting from the parking lot was just awfully BAD... but... nonetheless, it's a photo with David Garrett! Who knows when I'll get to see him again! I got to touch his violin "case", the case that holds the amazing Stradivarius that's worth millions... only because it was on his back and I hooked on to it when we had the picture taken. =) Funny thing is... before the show, I had an odd feeling I'd be able to get a photo with David! Strong 6th sense I guess.

How I wish I can follow him to San Diego and watch him play all over again!!

David's tour bus.

The lounge at Wilshire Ebell... kind of creepy... and the smell was unpleasant.

People starting to trickle in before the show.


David enters playing "Kashmir".

The red backdrop was really distracting... not good for photos either.
























At the theater lobby, when almost everyone's cleared out.




Franck Van Der Heijden. He is super nice!!


David looking really tired... poor thing.

Thanks for a great show, David! Hope to see you again real soon.

(Sorry David... about the bright ugly parking lot lamp above your head!)