Girls' Night Out!

" I saw fireworks from the freeway, and behind closed eyes I cannot make them go away..." -Jason Mraz

Me, myself, and I...and 4 of other beautiful japanese girls headed to Breezy Point on this Monday evening. Just to watch the mysterious night ocean. ha ha, girls just wanted have fun :) Nope, no boys, people. We rented out a sexy red Volvo for the night. Everyone left their own clutters ( work, laundry, assignments, emails...etc) at home and soaked up a blissful fun night. 

I had been wanting to see the night ocean so badly...then I asked a friend if she's interested. She immediately called me up and we ended up having our gathering at a beach. Fantastic :) Thank you Universe, thank you Mayumi!! My wish was granted :)  Yay!

Unfortunately, the sky was kinda cloudy. We expected to see the sunset at the beach though.. :( hmm...this is funny. Every time I decide to go to a beach, the sky is covered with thick clouds or fogs. June Gloom was hovering above the city of San Diego while I was there, too. I wonder I am Miss. Misty...? Tell me the truth, Universe? 

The weather cannot beat our girl's power! See? How happy we were???! The ocean breeze was pretty strong. ooops, a bad hair day! ah, are you looking for me? I'm there with a black shrug and a coffee. Ok, ready to hit a beach, girls! 

ahhh....so good to be at the beach...so good to hear the voice of ocean! I kinda liked this cloudy day in the end.  Off-white color of sky brings up the softness of the ocean and sandy beach. Love! The magical power of our lovely ocean helped us feel calm and peaceful.

We had a great supper : tuna sandwich, fruits, cheese, cookies, and red wine. The sky turned into deep dark grey color around 8:30pm or so, then we realized the tide was on the ebb. Seeing the ebb tide, I thought about letting go. Letting go of the things, letting go of my feelings, letting go of the flow of life. My mind became so clearer. I absorbed myself into the peaceful voice from the ocean. Felt so blissful. I wish I could share the happiness with you all...! The ocean was as gentle as a midnight summer breeze. She/the ocean sometimes....gets cranky though... ;) 

Here comes another weekend to create your lovely memory. Soak up with the sun if you want to, pig out your favorite dim sum if you want to, make out with your love if you love to...Carry out the things that make your heart bounce. Love your life :) Love yourself. You are worthy of all the LOVE is. 

Namaste,

Hana

PS. Monday, the 9th of July was a new moon. I've heard that your wish will be granted if you manifest what you want to create in your life on a new moon night. So, we, 5 of us did practiced the manifestation wording. Hopefully, each of us will see the good outcomes in the near future...Keeping our finger crossed!

and all the pictures (except the one with a red Volvo) was taken by Miss. Yumiko Furukawa, a superb Japanese artist. Check out her web site. Her work is beautiful.

Yumiko Furukawa

and my friend, Mayumi owns her petit art gallery in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and artsy web shop as well. You may find some cool arts and goodies out there! Check it out.

Mystudionyc

Being Happy, Being Me Part 2

Hey, hey, hey, what are you up to? Had a great weekend? Had a hot date with someone new?! Life is fresh. Just like those yummy & juicy peaches! Have fun, taste every bit of the flavor. oh, you haven't done anything you plan to do this summer yet? Then what are you waiting for? Get on it NOW! It's not too late to start. Just need to turn off the TV and kick your butt off from the couch ;) 

I'm back here again. Yes, I promised to you writing about what I've learned at Cafe Gratitude workshop with Matthew and Terces in SF.  Do you remember what my purpose is for this trip? Right. I wanted to know how I can leave scarcity in life and get an access to a world of plenty : a quest for an abundance in life. 

First, what is abundance? My idea is to have and experience the infinite supply from the universe in life. It sounds ok, but I guess it has to have more detail in it.  Matthew and Terces says abundance is the assurance and knowingness of being supplied. Meaning to say that abundance is always present and we have an access to it by being what we think, what we say, what we believe, the actions we take and the attitude we have. They explain we would be able to experience abundance if we keep our attentions on all the things we've already been given. 

As they started sharing all the good stories with the participants in the workshop, I was overwhelmed by curiosity and joy. I was so happy to be there listening, learning, sharing the experience with everyone. I deeply nodded when Matthew told us about how human beings easily see the world as something out there. We live as if life is happening to us. But in fact, we are the one sculpting our experience of life and projecting it to the present moment. Yes, there is no OUT THERE. 

It seems mastering of Beingness is the key to access to abundance. Beingness means what we think, what we say, what we believe, how we act, and what our attitude is. So, just look at what circumstances in your life you're in and want to change. I've tried this recently, and I'm making a change in life. I'll talk about it later, maybe next time.  You can experience a different circumstance only if you start shifting your thought to a new one. I love this quote from their book : " The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds, and words return to us sooner or later with astounding accuracy. -Florence Shinn " 

Aside from practicing of Being, knowing that we are always being provided is another lesson to master. Otherwise, we'll fall into the swirl of something is missing, something is wrong. Our ego starts to control our life, yes, scarcity begins to show up in life. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, open your eyes and see/think what you have right now. Having a place to sleep, having love that you can share with your family and friends, having an access to internet? wow, that's amazing!! See how lucky we are to be provided? Be grateful for what you have and who you are and be worthy of receiving and giving. Keep your attention on what has already been given, then you start to see a whole new experience of life. One more great quote from their book : " While you fear missing a meal, you aren't fully aware of the meals you do eat. - Dan Millman "

I still continue to learn the teaching by reading the book, " The Abounding River ". I've found some assignments to practice so far. What I wrote here is just a small piece of my learning. I'll talk about more of this issue through my experience from time to time. My quest has a bright future. I am happy, I am happy to have my life as I create. I am being happy, then I am being ME. 

My huge gratitude goes to Matthew and Terces, and Angi, Marta, and everyone at Cafe Gratitude community. Thank you! and special appreciations to my inspirational friends, jon and Marie-Eve :) 

Much love and gratitude to you all,

Hana

A Tiny Feather

Hola! I know, I know...I suppose to write about the second part of "Being Happy, Being Me ". But unfortunately, my mind is now experiencing a mood swing, therefore, today's blog is about my little thought on this tiny feather... ha! Take it.

A tiny feather flew from somewhere and rested on me in a park. I carefully held it with my finger, then tried to put it into my card case. Whoosh! A mischievous breeze swept it away from me! I was disappointed not being able to keep it. I know it's silly, but it looked like a tiny piece of "Happiness". I felt like I lost a gift from it... Oh well, anyways, I wish the feather a happy journey.

Guess what? It came back to me very next day while I was reading a book in the park! Yay, the tiny happiness returned to me!! I kept it safely in my card case this time. Is this a message from the universe? There has to be a time and place to receive things? What do you think, people? The clouds are hanging heavily. Having a slight headache. Let's go home.  I'm a bit tired. See ya tomorrow, my trees ;) 

Kisses from trees and ME,

Hana

Being Happy, Being Me Part 1

Hola, how are you? I've been away from writing for so loooooooooong. The month of July was just filled with fun fun and more fun! Yeah, it's summer!! Hope you guys are having a great summer as well ;) 

What I have been doing this summer....ok, I had a fun 4th of july celebration with my friends. Watched Toy Story III, had a yummy Korean dinner, clapped our hands for Macy's fireworks. Although the weather was extremely sticky and yucky...the celebration was excellent. Then I had a fantastic guest from San Diego, we strolled around Williamsberg, Brooklyn and he had a chance to sing his songs at an open mic at a bar. Later his friend joined us, we had a crazy dancing night...oy! and then...I flew to San Francisco for a spiritual workshop with Matthew & Terces at Cafe Gratitude. wow, that was a super nutritious experience ever!! oh, yes, I am absorbing their teaching now, slowly but surely. Thank you Cafe Gratitude community in SF. My gratitude and love goes out to every single person I met at the workshop. Thank you Angi, thank you Marta, thank you Naomi & her friend who kindly gave me a lift to SFO. Thank you, Matthew & Terces!! I'll definitely try to make another trip to " Sacred Commerce " workshop!! Keeping my finger crossed. Wait and see how the universe wants me to take an action ;)  and lastly...I had an amazing trip to San Diego!!! It was a BLAST :D  My friend & his GF provided me so much fun entire my stay in SD!!!!!!! Hiking, watching the night ocean, walking around a lake under Miss Moon's smile, awesome authentic Mexican food, yummy chinese noodle.....laughter after laughter...Man, my summer just let my heart and body bounce a lot! Thank you all of you, YOU! Yes, YOU=EVERYONE and EVERYTHING I met and experienced!! I've now charged up with tons of love fuel :) 

BTW, what I've learned at Cafe Gratitude workshop was very inspirational. Prior to my trip, I wanted to know how I can come out of a scarcity in life and access to a world of plenty. Their teaching gives me a great tip for that achievement....

I wanna write about Cafe Gratitude workshop, but I'm tired. Today's yoga was pretty good, and my body tells me to sleep now ;p Sorry, I'll write the rest sometime next week, ok? Gotta be a super early bird tomorrow...so I'm gonna crash! 

Namaste....

Hana

Love note

"I love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you. Yes, I do..." - Luc and The Lovingtons

Have you had a moment that you felt "love" so profoundly? It could be for someone particular or  someone in your imaginary world, or it could be just about general LOVE in the universe. For some reasons, I suddenly wanted to write a love note to whom/what I'm in love with the other day. Maybe the power from fresh green trees in a park whispered the magical words of love into my ear , maybe the spirit of yoga evoked the feeling in me, or music stirred up my emotion...? 

"Hello my love! Waking up this morning, I just thought about you. Your awesomeness feeds me at anytime, anywhere. I can see your face in my heart every minute, second, and every millisecond. I know you are very good at playing hide and seek, aren't you? Sometimes, you drive me nuts! But you know what? I'll find you wherever you go. Because...I know how you laugh and hum your favorite song, I know your hands are always looking for mine to hold, I know your warm stare tickles my heart. Oh, hear that? Birds are teasing me cuz I blush, blush...and blush when I look into your eyes...I'm a helpless cat in your arms....  <3 " 

Love is crazy, sweet, passionate...What would you do with it? Suppose you find it on your palm as a shape of those cute marbles or candy. Roll it? Crush it? Taste it? Whatever you do, it's your choice. Send a message of love to your special someone today. Talk about LOVE with your friends and family at a dinner table. You know, LOVE may play hide-and-seek with you tomorrow. So we might take an advantage of now to hold it, embrace it, caress it. 

May everyone smile with a shower of LOVE tonight. 

Nite, nite...

Love to you, you, and YOU! 

Hana

Freedom Song

Heyo, guys!! Having fun in the summer sun? I wanna share this special music with you today. Yup, I promise...these guys are great. Perfect for you to dance, smile, and sing out loud. Their tunes simply brings you joy and happiness and are made out of 100% Pure Love and Positivity. Here's the link to Luc and the lovingtons.

*The photo was borrowed from their Myspace photo album.

Whatcha think? Give a shout out to them! How I found them? Ok, everything starts from my favorite blog " Freshness Factor Five Thousand ". Yup, some of you already know that's Jason Mraz's bolg site. In his blog, he explained how he stumbled upon the song called " Freedom Song" : How I got to Ghana is a story that begins with a song. Last year I stumbled onto a radical project called Harmonic Humanity. The successful Seattle based organization that puts original music in the hands of the homeless, who then are given the opportunity to distribute the CD’s as they do with newspapers nationwide. Their first album included the standout “Freedom Song” written by Luc Reynaud and a group of extraordinary children. Understanding music to be a powerful healing tool, Luc and his guitar traveled from Seattle to Louisiana right after Katrina hit. There, he would compose The Freedom Song with displaced kids. It would become an instant hit for families in Baton Rouge.On Luc’s myspace page he asked the song and story be shared with the world. I immediately found myself playing it for my friends whenever they got in my car and soon I’d be covering it at gatherings. In no time, my whole community was hooked on it.

Freedom Song

Luc Reynaud | MySpace Music Videos

I simply love this song so much. It lifts your spirit up up up in the sky high! Feel the power of human love through this music. Well, if it's a beautiful thing....why not share it? right? Please pass this song to your friends and family. Let's spread the words of love, shall we? ...and you can order their CD through their Myspace page. I ordered a copy of it already :) Felipe (vocals and percussion ) is a sweet person to talk to. "I'm Awake" is another sweet song I love. Sing out loud, be happy :)

Speaking of love...why don't I tell you about Jason Mraz's extraordinary effort to bring happiness & freedom to the children who are imprisoned as child slaves in Ghana.  Jason traveled to Ghana lately to get involved himself into helping end child slavery with an organization called "Free The Slaves".  He's been enthusiastically involved himself into these humanitarian activisms. Every individual's small acts would change the world to a better place. His words are fresh and inspirational. Watch this video interview and think what we can do to bring more smiles on the children in our society.

Watch live streaming video from aplive at livestream.com

and...today, June 23rd is Jason Mraz's birthday!! Yeah, Mraz day everyone!!! Happy Birthday, Jason Mraz!!!

Much love and the power of music for everyone on this mother earth,

Hana

Weekend Fun

Howdy? I guess most of you are back at work already. How was the long weekend? I had a great one. Yes, I got a opportunity to be a flower elf this weekend!!! Yaaaaay! So sweet to be involved with what I love. I helped out an event designer, Jerry Sibal at Design Fusion NYC. 

The weather was nice but hot...then the designer required us to wear all black attire for his job. So, imagine...boy...it was the most appropriate day to wear a black T-shirt and a pair of black pants! All the designers were melting. The wedding was held at a country club in Long Island. I was too busy to take pics, but I have some to share my experience with you all. Here we go. 

Boys and girls are preparing the low centerpieces for the dining tables using wheat grass, white roses and some lemon leaves in a square box. You'll see the final product later. The front arrangement is a bride & groom table arrangement I worked on. 

Boys are constructing a frame for a place card table arrangement. Using the designer's signature material, wisteria vine. 

Jerry is working on a runner for a ceremony. He meticulously attaches small pieces of white fabrics shaped in rose petals onto it. Beautiful and romantic.

So, this is the tall centerpieces for a dining room. His style is always lush! Peonies, roses, and hydrangeas...." An Event To Remember ", his latest book reveals another gorgeous works of his company. Check it out! 

and the low centerpieces with candles and a mirror. The reflection on the mirror must be fantastic when you light  up the candles. They illuminate everything around it. 

A place card table. The bride looooooves this phalaenopsis orchid. 

Cocktail tables are situated outside with simple arrangements of white peonies. The glass vase were all covered with tropical leaves. It gives you a clean, crisp summer sensation. In this kinda weather, it's perfect!!

Here's the decoration of a ceremony. The boys set up these metal gates. Too heavy for me?! 

Two big entrance arrangements and a chuppah decoration at a back. 

Oy vey....building up this chuppah under the hot & steamy weather is hard...!!! We have to keep spraying on the flowers otherwise...they wilt quickly with the heat :(  

Lastly...this is a cake decoration we ( myself and another designer ) worked on in a refrigerator....brrrrrr...yeah, it was cold!!! Crazy day with the extreme temperature changes, you know? BTW, the cake looks delish, yes? I tasted a piece of white chocolate...yum! shhh....it was just a piece! 

So, this is the life of flower people. We are all here to make your event special and most importantly our mission is to make you happy :) I must say, flower people are all flower joyologists! We love to send you our love throughout the work! 

Recovering from the body exhaustion because of the intense job on the wedding, I visited Central Park again yesterday. Wanted to receive a healing energy from trees and flowers. Then I happened to encounter these people!!! 

Yup, they are hula dancers!!! I later figured out they are the students of  Halau Hula O Na Mele 'Aina O Hawai'i. The organization offers the hula dance lessons and gives some performances in the city. Surprisingly, among them...I found a girl I know of! A white shirt with a flower in her hair...she's the owner of a boutique, Saada on the 2nd Ave and 61st street. She was superb! This event provokes a strong interest on joining the class. Funny, one of my best friend in Japan is also crazy about this Hawaiian culture. hmm...universe suggests me to explore another possibility to expand my flower joyologist misssion. Interesting.

I can see myself in the group...I wanna join it!! 

Remember, life passes with a blink of eyes. Enjoy each moment of your life. Be happy, Be creative, Be who you are. LOVE WHO YOU ARE. 

Love and gratitude, 

Hana

PS. Ms Joyologist Tricia Hoffman is joining aids bike ride tour between 6/6-12 for 7days. Let's send her cheers and love!! Namaste...