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

Gonna Bake A Pie?

Oooops, it's already 1am. Well...I tell ya. I enjoyed watching this chick flick movie tonight! I read a blog (After The Harvest) about this movie today and became curious about it..Yes, as Heather mentioned in the blog, Keri Russel's southern drawl is superb!! Oh, boy...and those scrumptious pies....this movie makes your tummy really hungry and gives you a motivation to bake a pie. Seriously. I don't have any baking tools at home, but it really moved me to feel like going to the kitchen, then bake a pie or two! BTW, a song Keri sang in the film, " Baby Don't You Cry " is very sweet. 

The story is about this young waitress, Jenna, struggling with her life, making a wrong choice, being stuck with it kinda thing. Also, you'll see how she learns about what would love do for her. It's a mix of drama + comedy, I guess. I'll save you all the detail of the story till you watch it. If you just wanna feel happy or if you're trying to make a change in your life, then watch this. It gives you a certain positivity to kick your butt off and keep you staying on the most courageous path in your life. I think our spontaneity gives a chance to start a new day / life. I mean, too much of thinking and planning would cause us to feel anxiety. Follow your heart, start a new day, and enjoy adding more flavors to your life. 

Looove what the owner of a diner said to Jenna : Start fresh.  Neat. We are all capable of starting a new life as fresh as a " Freshman keylime pie "...

Thank you, Heather! Your blog made my day!!

Listening to " Baby Don't You Cry " as a lullaby tonight.

Good night.

Love & Pies...

Hana

Howdy Sunshine, It's Sunday!

Breathe in through your nose....breathe out through your nose....Once again, in....and out. One more time altogether, breathe in through your nose.....and out from your mouth and say haaaaaaa...... Ahhh.....Feels good, no? How are you spending your weekend, everyone? I'm still in a deeeeeeeeep freeze in NYC. Yesh, the winter in NY is awfully cold, freaking cold. I'm not fond of it at all. Not at all.  Despite of the cold weather yesterday, I attended my favorite yoga class at Kula Yoga Project, trying to get a kick out of it. The class was packed with many yoga enthusiasts! My yogi Steph was still a bit sick, but she gave us an awesome lesson! Thank you, and feel better, Stephanie :)

As I was walking towards my favorite pastry shop " Once Upon A Tart " after yoga, I saw these crazy guys working on a street. It's on Canal Street and Broadway. Here's what they were doing in the frigid weather!

Yup, they were painting a mural for an advertisement of some sort! They must be the ninjas? Whoever they are, their work is super! Hope they get a bowl of yummy & warm chicken noodle soup at a chinese kitchen near by ;) 

I encountered another creative people on my way back home. This happened in a subway station. I was waiting for a train at the Union Sq station, then...I started smell yucky smoke coming out of somewhere all the way inside of a tunnel. I immediately turned around and tried to get out the station. Then...here comes a cheery music...! Aha! Yes, it must be them, " Baby Soda Jazz Band ".  I was right. Haven't seen them quite some time, but I looove their music. It makes your feet tap and dance. 

They have a pretty big family in the band, so I see the different faces always. This time, I bought their latest album! whoo hoo! Baby Soda rock!! They are on Myspace, check them out ;)

Baby Soda

Today, I had a craving for beets! Sí, one of my friend's comment makes me think of this root veggie. I know, it's out of season right now, who cares? I just wanna EAT them!! Thank you, those fantastic farmers in California, Florida, and Mexico and elsewhere. We need you badly! Anyways...I made a yummy balsamic vinegared beets ♥ 

Wash and clean the surface of them...

and slice them...what? who said I killed them?!

Place them on a tray and put it into an oven until the surface is slightly cooked. This way, you can lock the yummy juice inside! cool?

Now, it's ready to do the rest of cooking. 

Put them into a pan, and add some extra virgin (me?) olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.  Add water till it covers the surface of beets. Cover the pan and heat to boil off any excess water.

When the water is almost gone and the beets get tender, taste for salt, season with a little lemon juice and balsamic vinegar. Toss with a sprinkle of dill. ( or tarragon, parsley )

Yay! My yummy beets! Mangi, mangi... :D

This was a part of my lunch menu aside from a butter milk scorn and a super green drink. oh, this super green drink is so easy to make. I got it in Japan. It's a barley powder. The taste is like Macha-tea. 

Add a tea spoonful of  the power into a container and shake it with some water. That's it. 

ahh...so good to spend a weekend like this. Wish tomorrow is Saturday again... ha...! I think I'm gonna go for this as my dinner...raw raw raw your boat, gently down the stream...♬ ha ha ha. Go Raw!

A bowl of colorful veggie salad! The ingredients are... baby spinach, celery, carrot, watermelon radish (cute? Got them at a local farmer's market), zucchini, and fennel. Maybe...I make some soup, too. 

Hope everyone had a great weekend. 

Be well, 

Love, love, and love...

-Hana

Yummy Nummy Once Upon A Tart

Had a awesome yoga lesson this week! Feeling so fantabulous! How are you? Life is good and yummy?Mine is so far so good. Yummy as well. Speaking of food...it was so so soooo good to have this yummy nummy Irish soda scorn at lunch last Sunday! ahhh...love it!! Well,  I wanted to enjoy my favorite food that day since it was a sort of special occasion. Yeah, yeah, yeah...my 42nd birthday! ha, ha  :)  Due to my persistent jet lag, I didn't do any crazy things at all. Postpone those fun gatherings with my friends later in February. I just wanna celebrate my B-day for a month long or so. Strange? No, not all. I adapt the idea from my friend. I believe it's a sweet thing to do, Sí? oh, but I already had a couple of birthday sweets. Here's one. 

My favorite apple tart ♥ Got it from a bakery down in Soho, called " Once Upon A Tart ". Believe me, their baked stuff are so delish! ...and my boss got me this fruit tart at Citarella. Sweet?

Yup, my B-day is very very sugary. Another sugar laden feasts are coming soon...Stay tuned for an updated news of my growing muffin top. ha!

Today, I'm thinking of making a photo blog. I'll show you some photos and tell you what's in it, or what my thoughts are. Ready? ok, then... let's start it!

I just turned around now. My kitty, Seesaw was sound asleep. so sweet to see her face like this. Sweet dream, baby...chasing a butterfly in a flower field?

I saw this Miss Moon and an airplane the other day. They said hello to each, then the airplane was busy carrying people to where they can share LOVE...♥

The weather was grayish. Light showers give a life to all the living creatures. What about you, Mr? Are you happily singing in the rain?

Love is mysterious. It comes to us without any warning and suddenly... put a blindfold in our hearts! How can we get there? The place I can see you clearly? Guide me please, wanna see your smile.

Come out, come out wherever you are...It's only in your mind. There's nothing to keep you inside of the wall. You are free to go anywhere... I'm waiting for you. 

           

It was snowing when I got out of my bed on Thursday. My lovely spring flower, mimosa gave me such a delightful comfort with its sweet aroma in entire my bedroom. The yellow colored flowers were giggling. They told me that the spring is on its way. I hope so. I realy do!

Here's another adorable smile of mimosa. I tell you, boys. The Valentine's day is near. I strongly recommend you to send some spring flowers like this. A bundle of mimosa would be so charming in your love's bedroom. They are so fragrant, so sweet. I promise. This brings a smile on your love's face :) This is a tip from a flower child. Ok? 

and...my blog will be ending with this video. I love this song. " The Rainbow Connection ". This is done by my fav musician, Jason Mraz and Paul Williams. Promise. It's worth listening to it. The slideshow is only for a huge fan of Jason or Paul ;) Listen to the lyrics. Beautiful...

Have a happy weekend!

Love and Peas....

-Hana