we're not ready!!!

Where has the time gone???   it felt like DEC just started and now already the 15th and I have not even been able to put up a Christmas tree!!!  Boo Hoo....

Well actually, I have had a Tree for the last 3 days now... yes, I finally broke down and got a tree for a change... not just the bare white branches I have been using the last few years... not that am tired of it, I actually LOVE it and still have it set aside....  But for a change, I opted for a real tree - one that I could put lights and decorations - something I have not really done in a long time.... 

 

Am mainly doing it for Juju and some other kiddies that will be coming around for the Holidays....  always great to see their eyes light up when they see the XMas tree for the first time... and the eyes lite up, as the tree lights are lit....  sooooooo worth it.....   not even done yet and you can already hear JUJU saying: "WOW"!

 

Okay now for why am I not done yet....  it isn't because I am working slowly here...  I actually have all I need since Friday... ornaments, garland, ribbons, tree topper,  etc... all except for XMas lights...  something as ordinary as a regular strand of clear lights that twinkles, on a white cord...   simple request - you would think...  but three days in a row...  run around all over Taipei and I have not had any luck getting any....  mostly green corded lights and the ones on white cords are just way too advance - hence, too expensive....  even did another run in a couple of places with Juju today on the hint for the said lights....  NO SUCH LUCK....  not even IKEA had them........waaaah....

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Just waiting for those darn lights!!!  Grrrrrr......

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Lyn came to the rescue - she got online and searched for just what I wanted and found them...  Luckily enough they have a next day delivery service so they should come in tomorrow and I should have my Tree done by the end of the evening ....  WOO HOO!!!

 

 

"It's that Time Again!"

The time to be festive and merry.... to see family, friends, love ones and wish them all the BEST for the Holiday Season and for the year to come.... to get Sentimental for those XMasses past, but also Hope for more Great Times to come in XMasses future....  But we MUST ALSO REMEMBER to HONOUR our dearly departed and to share in not just  the Season has to offer - but to actually share to those in need.

As you all know, it is also my MOST FAVORITE HOLIDAY....   not just for the presents, but those are welcomed, too...   but I just feel that this time of the year becomes extra Magical as people tend to be more caring, giving, and genuinely nice to one another.   It is a time when one can be a KID once more....   relieve the Joys of XMas pasts.... and as we get older, see the Joys through the eyes of the younger generation.

This time last year, I spent one of my loneliest XMas' ever - seeing my Mom go through pain from Cancer.... now she is gone.... and with my Nieces and Nephew all giving their own lives in Manila and the US - I decided to stay in Taiwan, instead....  Not really a place where XMas is much celebrated - except in Malls and Restaurants and mostly for appearances sakes - not by tradition or anything more....  So far, Juju and I have visited a few places just to catch their Holiday Decorations....  nothing too outstanding so far - like the window displays of Macys, or Saks Fifth Ave or Bloomingdales, the ones I grew up on -  but none-the-less, FESTIVE.

Still, it matters not - as I know that one can FEEL THE SPIRIT OF XMAS - anywhere and everywhere....   and I am one  to see to it that I have a JOYOUS one with what I happen to have, who am with, and where ever I happen to be..

Starting with hunting for  a TREE!!!

Movies - Take Me Away!!!

Today was somewhat of a FRUSTRATING DAY....  I mean it did not start of so - did my work, cleaned up a bit, then got ready for a Lite Lunch with Juliana....   Had our lunch - nice and tasty... and great chats, of course.....  then we both hack to work for 3 PM appointments...  Her's for interviews she has to do at work, and I to accept a delivery from CHINA I had been waiting for since last week....    my way to lunch, the Courier company called and set the delivery time....

 

Anyway, was home about 10 minutes before 3PM....  even called the courier company to tell them am home and waiting - and to this they just said OK....   an hour had passed andcome, so I called....  then I wast ready and cannot give me an exact time they were coming - but that they will come....  not wanting to miss the delivery opportunity, as the weekend is approaching too - and would have had to wait till MONDAY again if this was missed - I hung on and waited and waited and waited....  it was finally delivered - after 6:30PM....  3 and 1/2 hours late - with no advisory whatsoever....  and as you all know - WAITING IS NOT A VIRTUE OF MINE - so this left me frustrated...

 

I totally missed the showing of a movie I have a PASS for....   it was too late to GYM and already too dark to go for a run...  was going to meet Juju and her Mom for dinner but instead they had to meet up with some friends - other Moms with kiddies....    I was left with nothing but feeling a lot of frustrations.....  So I walked and walked and walked... and decided THE MOVIES....  it is always a GREAT ESCAPISM for me....  so why not go to the movies....   with not much playing here right now....  already saw 007 and Magic Mike - and I was too tired to be reading subtitles - I opted for Breaking Dawn Part 2....   Not really a follower... and a couple of entries I did get to see, I was neither awed or moved... just OK...  but sometimes, just OK is better than NOTHING....   and I was glad I went...  this, SUPPOSEDLY, last installment to the SAGA was not too bad...  though it borders on predictability, boredom and hokeyness - I just went with it... let it take me away - and my frustrations away... 

 

and so  that makes my THANKFUL ENTRY #16: THE MOVIES!!!

-whether in the Big Screen or in the privacy of your own home... With a group of people or alone... Be it Drama, Comedy, Animation, Science Fiction, Love Story, Action or Foreign... Big Budget Hollywood style or Indie... ...

The Movies are still one of the Best form of Escapism...

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THANKFUL 15. THE WARM FUZZY FEELINGS WE GET! And that is just what I got watching the Please MeiMei Tree Lighting Event... 

Brought back Sweet Memories of those I witnessed in the Bay Area growing up.... 

Truly makes the Heart Sparks - just when one needs it the most!!!  

COMPLETE PHOTOS HERE: Please MeiMei Tree Lighting Event

 

Holiday Season Officially Starts

...and leading the way it this Uber Cute, Uber Stylish collaboration between Barney's New York and Disney...  Introducing, Barneys Holiday theme campaign - taking a Cute to Walt Disney's world famous, Electrical Parade : "Electric Holiday" to be unveiled to the public come Nov. 14th....  But o course, tidbits, info and even some photos have been surfacing all over the web... and even causing a few to stress (over the characters' - Minnie, Daisy & Co - new found lankiness/skinniness - to don the Designer Duds, of course!!!

 

This festive season, Barneys’ Madison Avenue flagship will feature a three-dimensional electric light show; a moving art short film in the window displays that will turn Disney’s most favorite heroes into runway supermodels and fashion regulars into Disney types, and an original score by Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino.

It has been stated that: "Barneys worked closely with Disney to make sure the concept was as true to the real fashion world as possible.   The world of the Paris fashion shows, of fashion, of people in fashion, of the rituals, all of the idiosyncrasies. Everything had to be authentic. It really had to hit the nail on the head in every detail.”

The short film centers around Minnie Mouse’s fantasy to be at the Paris shows. There she comes across key Disney characters — Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Daisy Duck, Cruella de Vil, Princess Tiana and Snow White — all decked out in unique designer clothes as they make their way down the runway.   For the occasion, as seen in the Press Released photos so far,  Minnie is all decked out in Alber Elbaz for Lanvin, Goofy by Olivier Rousteing for Balmain, & Daisy by Dolce & Gabbana.  Other charcters already confirmed to be all decked out for the Holidays are  Cruella De Ville by Rick Owens, Princess Tiana by Proenza Schouler and Snow White by Peter Copping for Nina Ricci.

 

In collaboration with this Holiday Campaign, Barneys will be offering  an exclusive, limited collection of holiday items at Chelsea Passage, select Barneys stores and barneys.com, including several collectible Vinylmation figures designed by Paul Smith and Diane von Furstenberg, and Mickey Mouse ears from Rag & Bone and L’Wren Scott. And so much more....  Barneys will donate 25 percent of sales from Electric Holiday products to a charity, undisclosed yet.

 

It seems that FASHION is high on Disney’s agenda these days. It has been said that, for a different project, the company  tapped several London designers, including Giles Deacon, Michael van der Ham and Richard Nicoll, to celebrate Minnie Mouse’s status as a cartoon fashion plate, and Meadham Kirchhoff will unveil a Minnie Mouse collaboration during its spring 2013 show. Proceeds of sales of the project’s items will go to the British Fashion Council/Bazaar Fashion Arts Foundation.

I, for one, cannot wait to see this project take center stage....  I only wish that I will be LUCKY person.  Or even just on the net will suffice, just as long as I get to see it all...  and of course, the VINYL offerings in collaboration with various designers are total MUST HAVEs!!!