LAUGH IT ALL OFF

A couple of days ago, I watched a Dharma video on Youtube and the Vajra Master Samantha was sharing her experience with a cancer-stricken man. The man came to consult her on how he can prolong his life. The catch is he didn't want to do any of the usual homework that the Vajra Master gives, nor does he wish to make any donation to anywhere to accumulate merits.He said he didn't have the time or knowledge about this. He wanted to leave his money behind for his wife & children.

I wonder why he came to a Buddhist master seeking advice, when he didn't subscribe to the beliefs & ways of doing things.

Then the experienced and smart Vajra Master Samantha said alright, then make it a point to look into the mirror and laugh hard every morning. On top of that, he was to laugh heartily 3 times a day and countless smiles. Not the grin kind of laugh, but the laugh-very-hard kind.

No matter what he experienced, regardless of how people treat him. he had to be able to laugh about it. Laugh heartily about whatever that happens in life.

The man went home and thought about how to laugh so hard, when he was so frightened about having only 3 more months to live.

3 years later, he came to look for the Vajra Master Samantha and upon seeing her, he laughed very heartily, infecting everyone present with his contagious laughter. And the first thing Master Samantha said, "你好！你還在啊！" (You're still around!)

He made it through.

The subsequent days after the consultation, he went out to rent all kind of comedies in both English & Chinese. Everyday he would spent many hours watching the shows and read all kinds of funny things and laughed and laughed and laughed. And as the days started ticking by, his heart started opening up, he started to realise how silly and superficial humans can be chasing after things that didn't really matter in the face of death. He found it laughable and started laughing about life. He gained a new insight about himself and somehow managed to laugh his cancerous cells away.

That got me thinking abit. 對於人生的得失，我要多久才不會那麽計較？ 還有多少時間給我學？

I dread to think that I might just die unhappy and unfulfilled. And I probably would if I die now.

I am not a optimistic person by nature. And it shows, I think. People don't gravitate towards me as readily. 我人不坏啊。 I find myself very closed up when being around with people, especially people I am not familiar with. I fret about what they think of me. My pessimistic thinking has hindered much of my life, aspirations and interactions with people. I hope to be a person who is able to give out positive energy. Life is short, why should we spend too much energy being negative?

It's an irony that we spent the first 10-20 years preparing ourselves for working life & learning the best possible way to make money. But how come on the MRT, I still don't see many happy people, do you?

I woke up the next day, trying to laugh into the mirror. Oh man, it was hard. Strange leh, why is laughing with no one around still so hard? Something inside my brain and the way I behave need to be rewired.

“人生能夠向彌勒佛一樣笑口長開，這是值得去學習, 也是我們追求的。

每天，什麽事情都能夠淡化，都能夠看開，都能夠放下，都能夠大笑，不是微笑，是嘴巴張開大笑。 這樣子的笑，一生當中有幾次，一個禮拜有幾次，一天有幾次?

我們不敢講一個禮拜，幾個月有一次這樣子哈哈哈笑出來從内心笑出來，笑不停的，開懷的。 要什麽事情能夠讓你笑開懷。能這樣子大笑的有幾次？”

~ 蓮花麗惠上師

So today, I went on Youtube to find something to laugh about & I remembered Ellen Degeneres. I like her sense of humour.

 

One of the videos that crack me up and I hope it does for you too. If it doesn't, alright let's try this. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Metta, 欣雨 Xinyu

Staying positive

I have been feeling down recently, due to a whole lots of stuff. Been trying to sleep early, but somehow working at TFL has thrown my sleep cycle topsy turvy. Okay, not that I was an early sleeper pre-TFL.

I was a notorious late comer in school. From primary, to secondary to jc and of course Uni...I just CAN'T sleep & wake up early! I got so many dentention & warning letters I lost count. Even my mum gave up on me. If I had to do a 9-5job, you see how I die. During my flying days, I used to curse & swear when I have morning flight. The job was so not for me.

And tonight was one of those nights I feel obliged to work, but yet by the time I switched on my laptop, it was 330am. You know, at least settle some stuff before going to sleep. I have like 1001 things on my mind. Wanting to think abt TFL for 2014, wanting to do more translation for my Grand Master's Dharma sermons, wanting to set up a new site for my new venture (nothing to do with fashion, if you are wondering) and all these are things that take lots of time. Not a quick surf and I will get my answers kind.

The Husband says I always take on too many things but I would be like it's now or never, no? Maybe I need to be quicker in doing things. Maybe I need to be more decisive. And if I can't decide, go bug people who can help me and pay for their services if necessary. Like this setting up of a new site. I am so TERRIBLE at art and everything that needs a sense of creativity. Sometimes I think for TFL to have come so far, it's always very amazing. Thank Buddha thank Guan Yin thank all deities. Really.

Yes, I should just save up for it, sacrifice some things, and just pay for some pro service. So I can keep the whatever hair I have left on my head before I start pulling all out.

Anyway, so I turned on my laptop at 330am. Feeling torn between sleeping & doing some work. And somehow, I went to Blogilates website.

I like Cassey Ho alot. More than Amanda Russell, whom I previously blogged about. Cassey has full-length videos. Her moves are less complicated for me and I adore how colourful her videos are and how she's so energetic and positive. She has an inspiring story on how she became a fitness trainer & it's so amazing that her Youtube channel & website gives us all we need to have a fit lifestyle & a great body! It's SO COMPLETE! She even has monthly calendars of workouts for us to follow everyday!

 Natural Belly Slimming Detox Water Recipe on Blogilates.com

I have been following her on Instagram for sometime. Though I am very impressed with her dedication & energy, I have never made the effort to do her workout. Does playing it in the middle of the night & watching it to feel the infectious energy count? Haha.

For some strange reason, when I randomly visited her website today, I was attracted to the "The 5 Best Ab Exercises" videos in her latest post.

I clicked 'Play', lied on my Seahorse mattress bed (super hard enough to be double up as a yoga mat on the floor, but not that painful for my problematic back), used my Ikea alarm clock (it was the heaviest object within that close proximity) as the weight for one of the moves and I NEARLY DIED doing those moves. First 2 minutes was easy-peasy....then I start to feel my upper ab muscles cramping up...oh my tian! I have concealed upper abs!!

I couldn't follow all the moves at the same time, but like what Cassey says, "Even if you didn't get through the whole thing, it's ok. You got through the whole at your BEST level. And everyday, you are better than you were yesterday! And that's all I want from you. I want you to reach your BEST potential. It's in THERE!"

The best thing about this random 10-minute Ab exercise at 330am is I felt real good afterwards. Not that those worries are gone like magic but suddenly things seem more possible! There is this mysterious new-found energy to charge forward. Haven't look myself in the mirror, but hey I'm feeling this post-dying-ab-exercise glow on my face! Gosh, I must really make more effort to do Cassey's workouts! I am not the kind who like to cramp myself in a gym or studio & workout with many ladies. And I believe exercise at home is possible without forking out a sum of money to work out (save on all the gym clothes. I can wear the same outfit & no one would care.)

If you feel the need to lose some weight to feel better about yourself, the above video has great tips!

I think Lord Buddha really heard my prayers just now and this is the answer to my worries. WORKOUT to feel on top of the world & I will be able to see things & do things with new energy & zest!!!

If you harbour this secret dream of having a Victoria's Secret Angel's body, Cassey has the complete workouts for various body parts on her Youtube channel too!

You know...if I have a quarrel with the Husband & say, he wants to do something to show his apology, I think I will ask him to do this workout with me...and see how he survive...Muahahaha.

Train like a Beast, look like a Beauty.

My motto for 2014.

From Cassey's e-store. So lemming for this! I love hoodies!



Metta, 欣雨 Xinyu

EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY

If tonight never end. If tomorrow never come.

My love for instrumental music probably started from Yanni or Kitaro, when I was in my secondary school days and their music were all the rage for being revolutionary.

The other day in the Husband's car, I was surprised to hear a somewhat familiar piece of piano music playing. It has been so long since he played that CD that both of us forgot how much we used to love instrumental music. They are the kind of music that no matter how many years later you listen to them, they still sound so classic.

Asian pianist composers are different from the Caucasians, in that their music are a tad more delicate in their emotions.

My all-time favourite musical instrument is the piano. I think because I'm such a sucker for emo music.

I'm still not giving up hope that one day, I will have the chance to learn it.

It's really true, you know. When you think about something, send out a thought, somehow or rather, the Universe will send it your way. Sometimes it takes days, months and years. Depends on how much you want it. And if you really deserve what you want. 

The CD was from 6 years ago, at least. It was so deja vu to hear it all over again, raking up a lot of memories. Especially when we were on a long drive home and hearing the music soothed my heart and calmed my nerves.

Have you ever tried relaxing yourself? Like letting loose that grip on your hand, really slowing down the activity in your brain, relaxing your facial muscles (you would be surprised at how much you are frowning) and even stretching those toes of yours. Whenever I do that, I can't help but ask myself why.

Why am I so tensed up about?

What is bothering me?

為甚麽我過的不自在？我要怎麽樣才能夠自在？

It's not about the money. It's not about the possessions. It's not about the people.

If I ask this in those public forums, I can half imagine some of the cynics will blame it on the government. That's too convenient.

We can always live a life that's out of the mould. It's just whether we want to. I vouch for that because my adult life is nowhere near the standard Singapore mould.

And if you choose to live a cookie-cutter life, it's your choice. Don't whine.

Show you a pic of the CD we have next time! I forgot to snap a pic of it!

But I found her music on Youtube. Didn't know their titles (everything was in Japanese) so I had to scour through tens of it to find those that I like to share with you girls!

西村 由紀江  Yukie Nishimura is a Japanese pianist whose piano style is light and easy to listen to. I goggled for her details and wow, she's already 46!

手紙 Letter

This music was a inspiration for a Cantonese song by Eason Chan but I'm not sharing it here. Because I still prefer the piano music. Once such a beautiful piece of composition is made into a pop song, the sincerity behind seems to take a backseat.

鏡花水月

And while trying to look for Yukie Nishimura (I couldn't remember her name, typed Japanese pianist on Youtube search and this came out), I stumbled onto Yiruma 이루마, a popular Korean pianist and composer. Here's some of my favourites!

 

River Flows In You

If a video has 6.4 million Youtube views and counting, it got to be good.

Kiss in the Rain

I like this piece just as much. For being so delicate and that gentle tug on the heartstrings.

If I ever play the piano so well, I wonder if I will look so absorbed.

If you skip clicking on the previous videos, this video below, ladies, you must watch. It's gonna take your breath away.

Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence
 by 坂本龍一 Ryuichi Sakamoto

Piano with cello accompaniment. They did it in 1996, way before the piano guys. Like what the comments say, this is the kind of music that touch your soul.

I think to kickstart this pianist dream of mine, I can go buy a Ipad mini, no wait, make it a Ipad so I can see better, get a piano and put on those piano Youtube tutorials that teach how to play these songs. That will be my music score on the piano. And I must select those tutorials that say XXX music piano tutorial - SLOW version. Haha.

Metta,
欣雨 Xinyu

简单的幸福

Last week, I was reminded why I chose to left the working world for a more peaceful haven in running my own business. Running an online store is easier for me, as I do not have to interact with a lot of people. I meet my customers electronically, my suppliers are nice and easy-going people and so are my photographer & models. I want to do better, I can. I want to push up TFL name, I just to have to work harder. I want to boost TFL brand image, I got to be more innovative.

It's all about how hard the owner can work and how good she is at it. Fair and square.

It's a much simpler world to exist in, without the politics of the working world to climb higher or secure a position better. I do not have to go pulling strings in order to get business or supplies. Neither do I have to see the 'colours of the world'. I don't like to gossip and I don't like hearing them either. I don't even like talking much in the first place. If everyone do their jobs well, remember why they are in their jobs in the first place and be cordial towards one another without having improper thoughts , the world will be a better place, won't it? It's even worse when some people bring undesirable behaviour to charity or religious organisations and pollute the environment there, distorting the true meaning of such organizations, hampering work processes and preventing real talent from contributing to the organizations because they feel threatened.

Oh well, there are probably as many kinds of people in the world as there are the number of colours in the Pantone colour books.

I love the business environment that Singapore has for us. No corruption, no bribery. Everyone gets a fair chance, if you wanna set up a business.

I'm happy doing what I like at Tian Fen Lan. A simple world of existence. I'm too old for drama.

And now for more simple happiness! A HUG ME vending machine at at NUS LT14! How adorable!! Half a mind to go NUS just to hug it!

"The Coca-Cola Hug Machine. You hug it, it returns the favour with a Coke. 

Because vending machines have feelings too. #hugmecoke"

Metta,

欣雨 Xinyu


每天都要把自己简单化。

I think I never left school

 When I was a kid, there was Enid Blyton's The Naughtiest Girl series.

I liked the lead character so much that I signed off as Elizabeth in my friends' autograph books.

When I was in uni, there was JK Rowling's Harry Potter series.

I wish I have the brains of Hermonie.

Now that I'm all grown up and married, there's Ryan Murphy's GLEE series.

And there's Warblers.

Bashful schoolboys in ties & blazers, suave dance numbers, spontaneous breaking out into songs.

The Warblers are going to be classic TV history in years to come.

Randomly, the ties remind me of my schooling days.
I have to wear a striped school tie everyday from Sec 1 to JC2.

What they say about Taureans being stubborn faithful to the things they like must have some truth in it.

Life comes in a full circle. Again.

Metta,
欣雨 Xinyu

Singing lessons

 I really need some.

The other day, our Buddhist teacher told me and the Husband to teach some of his 

newer students a Buddhist song.

If I have a hidden performing streak, this should be thrilling.

Problem is, I can't sing.

I don't have enough 'air' to lift up my voice and belt out songs in a Whitney-Houston way.

Neither do I have the 'air' to stretch my voice over high notes, without my voice breaking.

Whatever that comes out is just wisps and wisps of my voice.

Like cotton candy. 

If it can sing.

The Husband is much better than me.

He took part in a company-organised karaoke competition before.

Never mind that he didn't win.

The point is, if you dare to compete, you must be of something, right?

Aiyah, for guys, they are naturally more thick-skinned than ladies.

I am horrified at the idea of embarrassing myself in front of 

 the newer students.

The Husband doesn't really care how he sounds anyway.

The last time I took part in a singing contest was at 10 years old. 

Under the forceful eyes of my mum.

I don't know what she saw in me.

Don't ask me what I sang. 

It was a nightmare. 

I usually do whatever homework I'm given. 

Obedient student, I am. 

But this time, I tried to whine/protest/reason/grumble my way through.

Didn't work. Not even a single bit

A strict teacher, I have.

*pulls hair*

I printed out sheets of the lyrics.

From the same laser printer that churns out all address labels of TFL customers.

Even enlarge the fonts so that everyone can read easily.

Do you know you can print 2 pages into one A4 sheet, like how I did?

By doing that, it saves paper and isn't it easier to hold on to a A5-sized lyrics sheet than A4?

I'm so smart!

All for the name of saving trees!

I bought this paper cutter from Popular a few years ago.

Almost donated it to Salvation Army, having not use it for almost 1 year plus.

So happy to dig it out to cut the lyrics sheets!

It doesn't just cut paper straight.

This paper cutter can make permanent fold lines, allowing you to do a handmade card/brochure.

And it can cut 'dashed' lines!

Like those ticket coupons, 'tear along this line' kind of function!

So cool right!

That's why this thing costs me S$30+, if I remember correctly.

By the way, gals, spot my veins-infused hand?

All those years of flying and doing manual labour onboard.

Nights before that fateful day, the Husband & I were voraciously practising.

We were to sing together but our voices were at different pitches and couldn't harmonise well. 

Been too long since we 'karaoked' for duets.

In a desperate attempt to hear how bad I sounded, I tried recording my singing with my ancient Nokia phone.

It was bad.

The recording quality, I mean.

I couldn't hear the flaws in my voice from a muffled playback.

So that night, I got the Husband to record our singing with his Iphone.

After some fumbling with the menu, we were greeted with a screen that looked something like this.

Boy, we were impressed!

Even a simple voice recording function in the Iphone has such a swanky feel!

I felt like I'm doing some recording in the studio with that big microphone!

With a VU (Volume Unit) meter to boot!

Iphone has a built-in microphone.

But that mike picture will give you the illusion that you are singing to it, instead of the phone's mike. 

We did like 10-15 recordings that night.

It was hilarious. 

Because they were all so terrible.

We could all hear our flaws in our voices.

I get so conscious about my singing that I exert too much effort in pronouncing the words.

And there's the lack of energy, the severe lack of 'air', the flat singing, the 走音, the 破音, the 沒音，the mis-pronunciation of words, the lack of control, the disharmony of our voices...my cotton candy singing and the Husband singing like a bull.
I think he got stage fright halfway.

If you need to find something silly to laugh about, here you are!
The best among the worst.
So you can imagine how lousy we sounded in the other 10 over recordings.
Pardon my laughter. It was so frustrating in a funny way.

 

I don't know how the new students are going to learn the song the right way.
From us, that is.

One day, I'm going to learn singing proper.

I love anonymity.

Metta,
欣雨 Xinyu

《懺悔歌》

作曲:淨思居士, 作詞:淨思居士
我們一起來懺悔, 遠離那世間是與非。
我們現在來懺悔, 放下煩惱與怨恨嗔恚。
我們用心來懺悔, 願彌陀擦乾我的淚。
我們真誠來懺悔, 願彌陀洗滌我心扉。

往昔所做諸惡罪, 皆因貪瞋癡所累。
我今皆懺悔, 不願再違背, 彌陀無怨無私的教誨。
不管身心有多疲憊, 求生淨土願不退。
我今皆懺悔, 念佛不怕累；
斷煩惱，彌陀永相隨。

I wanna play the guitar

 A pair of Korean twin sisters, Janice & Sonia, living in Australia.

Pretty, adorable & talented.

I love the way their voices blend and harmonise with one another.

Bumped into their Youtube video by accident.

This was the first song I heard last year.
It was uploaded in 2009.

The video that has clocked over 9 million views.

So happy to see their new videos this year!

They were in Singapore to play for City Harvest in July this year.
This video was recorded in their hotel room in Singapore.
Uploaded in July 2011.
Grown prettier & still as cheerful-looking, haven't they?
My new favourite from their covers!
So cute!

Almost all their YouTube song videos cross the 1 million mark easily.

They always look so jovial & sweet singing in their videos that it's really infectious!
A great pick-me-up on days when I'm feeling down and need some girl power boost!




A real quirky & hilarious video about themselves, for those who wish to know them more!

They must be really closely knitted in real life to be able to sing together so well.

I wish I can play the guitar and sing like them now.

But I haven't learn the piano yet.
Drats.

Metta,
欣雨 Xinyu

小姐，要買。。。嗎？

I was in the same lift as the Yakult lady.

You know, the ladies who peddles Yakult door-to-door weekly with their bicycles
and a little ice box for the tiny bottles of Lactobacillus casei.

Source: yakult.com.sg

 The Yakult lady looked just like one of them.

I was fascinated.
All these years, these ladies strike me as very hardworking and efficient people.

I always like Yakult over Vitagen.

The Meji cultured milk drink just doesn't hit the right spot.

I remembered visiting the Yakult plant at Senoko when I was a kid.

It was so awesome-ly bewildering!

Though I can't recall if it was a school excursion or a Community Centre educational trip.

Did you know touring the Yakult factory is free??

Mondays to Fridays : 10.00am – 11.30am
2.00pm – 3.30pm

T: 67561033 ext 77 / 79

Each tour takes about 1.5 hour and you will be escorted by their PR staff.

Plus you get a free bottle of Yakult to drink!!

#gianpengSingaporean
 I wonder if we get to choose flavour.
I only like Ace Light.
#gianpeng&mahuanSingaporean

Remember to call and check for slot availablilty before heading down to the Wonderland of Lactobacillus casei!

I think it's a such fun thing to do with your friends or kids!

Anyway, back to my first point, yes, I was intrigued by the Yakult auntie and sensing my interest, she started asking me if I drink Yakult.
See! I told you they are hardworking!
Working even in an elevator ride!

The conversation eventually morphed into me asking her how long she had been selling Yakult.
She said ever since she moved into the estate, which was 3 years ago.
“負擔重，沒辦法！”
In her words.

She offered me her name card to call if I wanted to buy Yakult and told me she delivers every Wednesday.
And sometimes, if most of her customers were not at home, she would come again on Thursday.
很賣命hor?

What I bought from the Yakult auntie.
It's the same price as buying from supermarkets. =)

And then another day, this teenager boy came up to me when I was about to unlock my house door.
There was another chubby boy with him.
They didn't look Ah Bengs.
They WERE Ah Bengs.



Turned out that they were from some Boys' Home (having committed some petty crime) and peddling Magnolia ice-cream in boxes
That kind that the ice-cream uncle cut out rectangles of it and sandwich it between 2 slices of wafer biscuits.

The boy showed a letter to prove that they were authentic and not some con men.
Selling ice-cream was part of their reform or something.

These 2 boys were really eloquent!

The chubby boy launched his sale pitch when my neighbour came to answer his door and was saying something like:


“先生，希望你不要看不起我們因爲我們曾經犯過法！”
  
Wah, 打同情牌！

While the teenager boy was pitching his sales talk, all I was thinking was:

This young chap might make a good Postboy. He looks strong.
Like an experienced street fighter.
Sure can carry the endless bags of parcels.
Woah, check out the big tattoo on his calf.
Can talk so well, pity mine is an online shop and not a physical shop.
If I can employ him, this reminds me of the Yellow Ribbon project.
Kinda great how Yellow Ribbon project has helped so many ex-inmates.
Wonder if he's going to impress me with his vocabulary of expletives if I don't buy.  
At least, he's earning money the legitimate way.
That's something worth encouraging him.

One box of chocolate chip ice-cream at S$20.

I bought. 

Though I know it's crap that a A5-sized box of Magnolia ice-cream is selling for that price.

No lah, not under threat.
Honestly, I couldn't be sure if their cause was authentic.
But selling ice-cream wasn't that illegal anyway.

I wonder how much he actually earn from it.

 My rule of thumb in life is no saleman will be turned away from my doorstep, if I can determine that he/she is not a conman. 

I know first hand how tough it is to be doing door-to-door sale.

And of course, must be something I generally can use/eat.

就當是結個善緣！

Afer he left, I had a nagging feeling that I should have said something motivating to him.

Like:

I think it's great that you are earning money legally now and not being a loanshark runner.

Amazing that you are willing to and can turn over a new leaf!
You're still so young & can talk so well! No fear of no proper job next time!

By the way, you wanna work for TFL when you are, erm, released?

Alright, I made up the loanshark runner part.

Neither am I that sure he will make a good candidate for TFL work. 

I don't know if saying something encouraging will make any difference to him.

He might just retort me with a "You think you're my mother ah? Pui! $#*#%$@!"

Then what do I say?

But as long as someone, be it the Yakult auntie or this teenage boy, is putting in the effort to make money the right way and not just sit there, complaining about life, the government and every other teeny-weeny thing, don't they all deserve a pat on the back, in one way or another?

I convince myself that everyone likes to hear good things about themselves.

Next time, I will pluck up the courage and say something nice.

If the teenage boy's cause is a hoax, he might just feel guilty and give me a discount.

Metta,
欣雨 Xinyu

TFL's very 1st model

 Do you still remember her?

My long-time customers might！

She's TFL very first model, 陳小藍!

Sort of in a way, because all these photos are done by the Taiwanese supplier, who kindly gave me the permission to use the photos.

So it's not like I headhunted for her or worked with her before.

But the point is, without her pretty face, I think TFL will not experience good sales.

Ever.

I mean, pretty faces help sell almost anything, right?

Even froyo.

Hehe.

女大十八變！

This bag is from TFL debut collection!

Before she started modelling in 2006 for 網拍 (online shops), 小藍 was just a student. 

After 5 years of modelling, look at how pro 小藍 is now!

Source: 小藍 Facebook Fan Page

And guess what, 小藍 is a petite model, standing at 1.6m.

Source: 小藍 Facebook Fan Page

A short intro for my readers who might not be familiar with Taiwan!

In Singapore, we have our blogshops started by locals and mainly modelled by locals too.

In Taiwan, it's the same!

They operate on Taiwan Yahoo auction sites, hence, also known as 網拍店.

Taiwan, with a longer history of online shopping, has a more efficient and professional shopping system & operates on a much larger scale.

And just like Singapore, the pretty popular models will often model for many online shops at any one time.

I remember I used to edit 小藍's photos for TFL site in awe. 

Such pretty eyes and versatility!

If she's in Singapore, I will definitely nab her to be TFL's model!

She probably will never know that her pretty photos have helped a blogshop in Singapore.
I count myself lucky that I get to use her photos on TFL's site. =))

 What inspired me to blog about 小藍 was when I watched an episode of Kang Xi Lai Le, a Taiwan variety show.

That episode invited the current popular online shop models to remove their makeup and the audience got to see the models' real looks. 

小藍 was one of the invited models, together with 5 other very popular online models! =D

They are part of the 網拍十三姬，the top 13 online models chosen by Taiwan Beauty magazine and Yahoo Auctions.
It is reported that any online shop that uses any one of the model will have very great sales!
Taiwan refers to them as 麻豆 (model).

It was so surreal watching her speak and move (haha!) because for 2 years, I only know her as a 平面模特兒.

That is, 2 dimensional.

It was like "Oh, she's not just a doll! She's real!".

Silly, I know.

Watching her on Youtube was kinda nostalgic.

It reminds me so much of the early days in starting TFL.

I find part 2 and part 4 most interesting. =D
小藍 looks so pretty even without makeup.

If you like 小藍 and can read Chinese, here's her blog!
She has been blogging on and off since 2007.
You can learn of how far she has come since her initial modelling days, and all the difficult times she went through to have the success she is having now.

And her Facebook Fan page!
She has more than 4200 likes now! =D

Metta,
欣雨 Xinyu

我真係好鍾意廣東話！

 During our dating time, the Husband & I had a random conversation about raising kids after marriage.

I said I would speak to our kids in Cantonese and get my family to do the same too.

Both my parents are Cantonese and so are my relatives.

I like my native dialect a lot (actually, I find all Chinese dialects amazing) with all its quirks & all
and want to pass it on to my children. 

It is a pity that very few children are able to speak beyond English & Mandarin.

Plus, it is always easy to learn a new language when one is a kid.

Not like they need to take exams anyway. =P

The then-boyfriend-now-Husband wasn't keen in the kids learning dialects.

He felt that English & Mandarin would suffice.

Well, coming from a grown man who doesn't know how to speak his Hock Chew or even Hokkien, kinda expected isn't it?

I told him it was snobbish to think that way.

After all, you never know when it might come in useful. No harm learning, right?
It's free teaching, you know!

He snorted at that idea.

Until one day, not long after our wedding, we went to Hong Kong to visit my aunt.

It was the Husband's first time there and he was totally floored by the locals.

At that time, Hong Kongers were not fluent in Mandarin and treated Mandarin-speaking tourists in a not so polite way.

I got better bargaining deals than him, being mistaken as a local because of my accent
(those were the days, sigh).

During the one week we were there, it was misery for the Husband because most of the time, he couldn't understand the conversations going on and needed my help in ordering/buying stuff.

I didn't mean to be mean, but it was really hilarious to see how quickly he changed his stance on learning dialects after the trip.

Not speaking & hearing Cantonese nowadays as often as I do in pre-marriage days, when I stumbled onto this video on Youtube, it was like reliving those TVB drama serial days all over again!

Such sweet happiness!

I like Chow Yun Fatt. He's my favourite actor since my secondary school days.

An actor who is in his own league and irreplacable.

 Cantonese humour is so quirky & funny!
I hope he will do some great comedy movies!

It will be such a blast!

Metta,
欣雨 Xinyu

How do you go up when everything is falling down?

I had this question in my Formspring a/c yesterday.

Think this is the first time a fellow blogshop owner asks me directly how I pull TFL up.

Yes, starting & maintaining a blogshop is not easy.

It's like going into a long-distance relationship.

The start was so exciting, the present feels shaky, the future...WHERE ON EARTH IS IT?? I CAN'T SEE YOU!!

You can't help but envy others who are having it all in their love lives (in this case, their blogshops).

You keep wondering if you should end it and why you put yourself through all these 'emo' moods. 

Your friends & family are not supportive anyway.

But you want to think you make a right decision by starting the relationship. 

After all the rain, you want to see the rainbow & grab that pot of gold.

You want to prove your detractors wrong.

And...you do love him (in this case, your own blogshop).

The rollercoaster of emotions can definitely get you insane.

Tammy of OhSoFickle wrote a post on Blog Shops in April.

It might be a useful reference for some of you out there, if you have not read it.

I typed fast & furiously to the question because I had yet to pack my luggage for the morning flight later.

Realised that when something is so close to your heart, expressing youself is only in a matter of 5 minutes.

When I saw the answer was that long, I thought of sharing with my readers (You! You! Yes, it's you!).

To the lady who asked this question, to all who are going through a rough patch in some area of your lives and to myself:  加油！

Formspring question no. 195: 

 

hello xinyu! how did you manage to get TFL going up when the start was so bad? I have a blogshop too and it makes me demoralised ):

Hi there! I only wrote, say, 10% of what I went through and it already look that bad? =P

1) Cry when I've no $ to fund my own living. After crying, bite my teeth, fight on, refuse to listen to anyone who ask me to give up.

2) Learn from the best. Scour thru the archives of the successful blogshops & the blogs of the owners. Read abt their happy & not so happy times. Tell myself, "See! Others are also like that!" And then, learn how they eventually mk it big - what they sell, how they sell etc.

3) Still continue reading the blogshop owners blogs. Have to be constantly in touch with what others are doing. When they are improving, I must also improve TFL, so that TFL won't seem obsolete/irrelevant. 知己知彼。

4) Get more in tune with customers. Most BS owners hv blogs, so I started my own too, at the grand age of 31. -___-  Realised that a personal blog is more engaging, let on to readers what go behind the scenes (reading blogs hv become a way of life for many) and ur readers, mostly customers, will open up to you in ways unimaginable, even if they are in their teens (that make them 10-15 yrs my junior, gasp!).

5) Non-stop advertising on famous bloggers' blogs. Shove my blogshop name into their readers' latent memories & pray hard that it stays stuck inside, when they think of buying bags.

6) What doesn't sell, slash price, throw into Sale section even at a loss. Swear to myself that I will never bring that lousy design again.

7) What sells, continue to bring variations in. Swear to myself that die die, also must have the money to bring the fantastic designs in.

8) Constantly improve TFL's site/layout/products quality & variety. NEVER think TFL is good enough. If people tell you your BS sucks, wholehearedly agree with them and harass them for constructive feedback whenever appropriate. =DD

9) Bring on the past 6 years of SQ training and apply it to TFL's customer service. Smile, smile, smile & smile, even if I get all heated up from a wrongful accusation. Never online fight with a customer. It's never worth it. Spend your time thinking about better sales & better products!

10) Pour out all my woes to my husband, and when finished, I feel recharged and ready to fight again. Never mind that he is playing his silly FB game all the while.

11) Pray hard, really very hard. Dedicate the merits of whatever sutra or mantra chanting/good deeds to the success of TFL, so that I have enough to feed myself.

12) Stick to upright business ethics. Don't take short cuts. Don't cheat customers. Don't bluff suppliers. Don't advertise with people who say they will review ur sponsored products yet tell others that they bought with their own money. Karma never forgets.

13) Don't get cocky when others start recognising your effort & tell you how much they love your products. I never think I'm good enough. I want to leave that bit of inadequacy in me, so that I will always want to better myself.

14) Don't just look at the best blogshops. Look at the ones who are not performing too. Get it inside your head that you will never do what they did.

15) And when all else fails (sometimes it takes a long time to see a teeny weeny bit of result), drown myself with Coca-cola in the middle of the night & mope over a large packet of potato chips.

Hey, I think I write long enough to cut & paste this as a blog entry! =D

I'm not having it good all the time. If you really want your BS to work, look at it inside out & thoroughly. Be your own BS worst critic. I'm sure you can sniff out ways to bring it up! Go, babe, go! =))

Metta,

欣雨 Xinyu

烏達木，加油！

 This is too good not to be shared.
China's version of 'America's Got Talent'.

China has so much talent waiting to be unveiled.

I know some of our countrymen do not like the foreign talent.
In my previous jobs, I have met so many talented and dilligent Chinese nationals.
There might be some with undesirable traits.
Just like there are such Singaporeans too.

 If you have met them, especially the educated and affulent ones, their drive & intellect are astounding.

Sadly we don't have so much talent of this calibre for such talent programmes.

Kids in Singapore are belting out pop songs complete with MTV-like dance moves, ennuciating the woes of love as if they have been through it umpteen times.

I very much prefer the sincere singing by 乌达木.
不造做﹑不虛僞 。
The song is dedicated to his deceased mother, whom he believe is in Heaven now.

Music transcends the barrier of language easily.
 
There is a version going around on Facebook, which is dubbed with another Mongolian boy's singing.
It's not 乌达木's voice, as apparently his singing was in a Mongolian dialect that is not approved by the Chinese government.
Strange, right?



I found this original version of his singing on Youtube.
This episode was aired on May 29 2011.
Here's the information I extracted from the video details:

中国达人秀
12岁的乌达木 唱 "梦 中的额吉" 给天上的妈妈
太感人了

在29日晚播出的《中国达人秀》中，内蒙古呼伦贝尔草原的小牧民乌达木上台。乌达木很可爱，评委问他的梦想是什么。乌达木说他希望发明一种墨水，随便在哪个地方滴一点，就­能让那里变成草原。这样纯真的梦想让评委们由衷地被感动。

乌达木来到达人秀的目的是为了给天堂里的母亲唱一首歌，《梦中的额吉》。乌达木说，他的父母都已经离开了他，他经常会做梦梦到他的母亲，他希望这首歌能被母亲听到。

歌声震撼 评委观众泪流满面

梦中的额吉 (Mother in my Dream)
用圣洁的花露当茶让您先享......
在您的眼中我找到了安祥的眼神......
您的儿子从梦中惊醒......
快来吧额吉......
您的儿子从梦中惊醒......
快来吧额吉......
乘着梦中的银鸟我飞翔在天边......
梦见您带来了瑞兆的幸福......
您的儿子这就来......
等着吧额吉......
您的儿子这就来......
等着吧额吉......

梦中的额吉......
让人哭泣的歌声......
广辽的呼伦贝尔草原......
也只有广辽的草原能有如此感人的声音......
让我们静享这份久违的感动吧......

歌曲蒙文发音, the song in Mongolian
1.sumeih zeregleend gegee anirlaad
susuglehiin erhend eej mini bodogdana
huugee irene geed suugee orgood
huslee chiltel alsiig shirtee dee
alsad suuga eej mini
amin hairtai shuteen mini bilee
2. zadgai tengerd uul ni zamharna
zalbirhiin erhend eej mini bodogdana
argaliin tsogond tsaigaa buliyeelj
anis'haa chiltel alsiig shirtee dee
alsad suuga eej mini
amin hairtai shuteen mini bilee
3.huhereh uuls'aas hoglerj haragdana
huugiin tani setgil gegelzeed baina
hunii zeregleend huu chini yavnaa
husliig tani nimgeleed yavaad ochina daa
alsad suuga eej mini
amin hairtai shuteen mini bilee.

 English version of 烏達木's story:

A 12-year-old Mongolian boy- Uudam (乌达木 Wudamu in Chinese) who lost his parents at the age of 8 in a road accident singing the song-"Mother in the Dream" (梦中的额吉) to his mother at heaven. He seldom talk about his story but when he misses his mother, he will sing this song. He always dream about his mother, sitting beside him. 

The song is in Mongolian, therefore, not everyone can understand the lyrics. However, his singing touched every judge and audience in the hall. He sang out all his love and thoughts to his mother. A touching song, performed by a boy who got a sad story behind, a voice from far Mongolia sending his thoughts to his mother in Heaven. A great performance by a 12-year-old boy! 

He has an interesting and beautiful dream to invent a kind of ink that with a drop of it on the ground, the whole world will be covered with green luscious grass. One more thing to add, his mother wished to see his singing on the stage when she was alive.

Metta,
欣雨 Xinyu

周傑倫

  was never a fan of Jay Chou. But there was this girlfriend of mine who had been his die-hard fan since uni days. She had this very cool  demeanour, but mention Jay Chou, you would never  believe how she will morph into this little starstruck girl, swooning and coddling about him. It was very hard for me to fathom how she found him to be of marriageable material.

Well, it was until my TFL days (because I played YouTube videos in the background, while replying emails), then I began to see the talent in this musician. A bit slow, I know. Even my teenage nieces were obsessed with him. Till now, I have yet to see any other singer who have sang on such myriad topics and hey, Jay Chou composed most his own songs.

How he composed a melody on the spot based on 2-3 random keys:

I like the 3rd melody most! It reminds me of Secret Garden.

 

Rekindles my dream of learning piano.

Jacky Wu is really funny to come up with such ridiculous lyrics.

After watching this:

and this:



Not many male, or even female, singers have MVs based on such themes.
I wonder if Jay Chou is a believer of reincarnation (前世今生).

Metta,

欣雨 Xinyu