A Taste for Good Life 生活的艺术

An evening of music, poetry, and prayer

2008-08-03T13:02:00.000-07:00

Starting this month, we are hosting an evening for music, poetry, and prayer at our home on every first Saturday of the month. It’s a time for us to pause in our busy lives and reflect on things that are the most important to us, such as love, peace, unity, etc.

Last night, our theme was “joy.” Here are a few selections from the readings and music. For people who cannot join us physically, please join us virtually.

~ ~ ~

He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy.
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sun rise.

- William Blake

~ ~ ~

Be happy and joyous because the bestowals of God are intended for you and the life of the Ho Spirit is breathing upon you."

-Bahá'í Writings

~ ~ ~

Listen, o fortunate ones, to my joyful song,
That all my desires have been fulfilled.
I have obtained God, the Supreme Being,
And all my griefs have disappeared.
My sorrows, afflictions, and sufferings have departed
By listening to the true Word.

The saints and the holy are filled with joy,
When they hear the Word from the perfect Preceptor.
He who hears the Word is made pure,
He who speaks is made holy,
The Eternal Preceptor will fill their hearts.
I proclaim, for those who attach themselves to the Enlightener’s feet,
The heavenly music plays.

- Japji (Sikh Scripture)

~ ~`~

Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

- The Bible

~ ~ ~

Let your joy
Be the joy
Born of My Most Great Name,
A Name that bringeth rapture
To the heart,
And filleth with ecstasy
The minds
Of all who have
Drawn nigh unto God.

- Baha’u’llah

~ ~ ~

We create a sacred space with beautiful flowers and candle lights, listen soothing and spiritually enchanted music, and read poems and holy writings from different religions. It’s an oasis of well-being for the body, mind and soul.

The Obligatory Prayer

2008-07-08T14:47:00.000-07:00

Sitting on the rock of Eagle Falls at the Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe, when my heart was closest to the nature, I said the obligatory prayer:

"I bear witness, O my God,
that Thou hast created me
to know Thee and to worship Thee.

"I testify, at this moment,
to my powerlessness and to Thy might,
to my poverty and to Thy wealth.

"There is none other God but Thee,
the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting."

So powerful that my mind's eye
Sees the light of eternity.

So dim, and so bright, that I know
The pass is narrow and long.

So blissful that I am shown the way,
And my heart throbs with joy.

Life and Death of A Tree

2008-07-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

This Independence Day weekend, we went to Lake Tahoe. A hike to Eagle Falls gave me unexpected inspiration....

At the bridge of Eagle Falls,
A dying tree
Stands, strikingly,
Against the vitals of green.

A few inches below its roots,
The life-giving water creek
runs, ceaselessly,
toward the valley.

To the sky above,
The lifeless branch,
Stretches, desperately,
As if asking for its life back.

Alas, a narrow distance,
A thin line
Separates, eternally,
Life and death.

Nearby, beside it,
A young tree
Martyrs, peacefully,
To be in the arms of the eternal.

The Pearl River

2008-05-11T03:22:00.000-07:00

The Pearl River flows 1,500 miles from the south China plateau eastward to the South China Sea. It is one of the most beautiful rivers in China, with foliage flourishing on its banks all year round.

In the evening, the lights on both sides of the river glow so splendidly that they brighten half the night sky. Legend has it that over two thousand years ago a celestial pearl was lost in the river and, since then, the river has been shining with radiant lights at night. People named it the “Pearl River.”

At its bank stands one of China’s most dazzling cities – Guangzhou, like a brilliant pearl shining on the river.

Courage

2008-04-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

Courage is to speak the truth
when the truth is hard to tell;

Courage is to stand up for what's right
even if it's unpopular;

Courage is to go beyond the convention
and challenge the unchallengeable;

Courage is daring to be hopeful
while there seems no hope.

Surrender

2008-04-04T14:18:00.001-07:00

Copyright 2004 Helen Wang

Surrendering, I let go my ego,
Surrendering, I am in no fear,
And surrendering, I am set to be free,
- I turn to Thee.

Let my pen be Thy Pen,
Let my words be Thy Words,
And let my wonder be Thy Wonder,
- I turn to Thee.

The Light in Thy Love

2008-03-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

A lovely gift from my friend Elika Mahony for Naw Ruz:

Please see more of her music here.

In Solitude

2008-03-03T11:43:00.000-08:00

In solitude, I pause to freeze the moment
so that I can be;

In solitude, I journey far in distance
so that I can feel;

In solitude, I stand in the shadow of the moon
so that I can see the sun;

In solitude, I create eternity from transients
so that they can last.

I Am Grateful

2008-01-21T20:54:00.000-08:00

I am grateful that the sky is blue, trees green, and life peaceful;
I am grateful that the tea is brewing, music chanting, and home beautiful.

I am grateful that the right books were given to me at the right times;
And I am grateful that I heeded the beckoning signs.

I am grateful that I am walking in my childhood’s dream,
and that dream is not lost;
I am grateful that I have kept my sanity in this insane world,
and the world is spinning.

I am grateful for the faith that has sustained me through the darkest nights;
I am grateful for a love that has endeared me at crimson morns.

I am grateful that all the pains, although still hurting, are healing;
I am grateful that all the hopes, however far reaching, are coming.

I am grateful for the bounty of God that is boundless,
and I am grateful that I pray -
I am grateful for little things in life – the rose petal, sweet peach and cherry
blossoms, for only I know how grateful I am!

The Age of Innocence

2008-01-20T20:45:00.001-08:00

I have always been a trusting person. I always believe that people are inherently good, I tend to look at the bright side of a story, and I see the glass half full. Even though I know not everything is trustworthy, I am still naively trusting. For that, my parents were worried that I would get myself in trouble, and my husband is concerned that I am living in such obliviousness. But it’s just part of my nature and I can’t help it.

Recently, something happened to me that is rather frightful: someone used my photo and information from my blogs to post on her profile in Yahoo! Personals. Here is a screenshot of that profile:

I was shocked to see my picture on someone else’ profile, and furious to learn someone stole my identity to advertise for men. Mostly, I was gravely distressed by such a fraud and its consequential effects. I have heard on the radio that “every three minutes, someone’s identity is stolen.” I thought it would never happen to me. But look, here it is!

What I don’t understand is if this person really wants to meet men, wouldn’t they find out eventually? Or perhaps she never intends to meet them in person? This reminded me of a cartoon of two dogs at a PC terminal in the New Yorker magazine that says: “On the Internet, nobody knows you are a dog.” I guess on the Internet, nobody knows I am Helen anyway :-(.

Thanks to Yahoo! Personals Customer Care, the profile was removed after I reported this identity theft case. I am sure there are hundreds and thousands of victims out there who are like me. I hope the appropriate actions will be taken to prevent such things from happening again.

We are not living in an “age of innocence.” I will never look at the Internet the same way I did before, and I will be much more discrete about putting things online. However, I will still be a trusting person. I will always believe that people are inherently good, I will still look at the bright side of a story, and I will see the glass half full!

The Crying Colossus

2007-12-22T12:50:00.000-08:00

If the pyramids in Cairo reflect the majestic power of ancient Egypt during its Old Kingdom (3100 - 2180 BC), the temples and colossi in Luxor are the signs of its splendor in the New Kingdom (1550 - 1070 BC).

The magnificent Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the east bank of the Nile River are just a few examples of Egypt’s impeccable ancient glory. Karnak Temple was built between 11^th to 19^th dynasties by pharaohs after pharaohs as a holy place to worship the king of the gods. It has grand structures with halls, courts, and colossi. The huge pylons and colonnades make any modern buildings seem small.

Luxor Temple was built for similar purpose but in much smaller scale. It is approached by an avenue of sphinxes, which once stretched 1.2 miles all the way to Karnak. In the evening, Luxor Temple looks particularly beautiful when it’s illuminated by lights.

On the West Bank of the Nile is the famous Valley of the Kings. Instead of building pyramids, pharaohs in the New Kingdom started digging their tombs deep into the natural pyramid-shaped Theban Mountain. Total sixty-two tombs have been found in the Valley of the Kings, although countless burial treasures are lost. We visited the tombs of Ramses III, Ramses IV and Ramses IX – all of them have dramatic corridors and burial chambers with stunning wall paintings that illustrate soul’s journey to the afterlife.

An interesting spot in the West Bank is the Colossi of Memnon – two gigantic statues 60 feet tall standing in the middle of nowhere. Legend has it that one of them broke down in an earthquake. The wind blew through the broken pieces of the statue, making sounds like a sobbing melody as in an opera.

Since then, stories were told generation after generation that the crying colossus was mourning Egypt’s lost civilization.

Egypt Highlights

2007-12-20T13:42:00.000-08:00

There are many things to see in Cairo – the pyramids, the museums, the mosques, etc. Here are a few highlights that mark the classics of Cairo:

The Egyptian Museum is a must-see for anyone who visits Egypt for the first time. It exhibits more than 120,000 artifacts throughout history. The most impressive exhibition is the items from King Tut’s tomb, which is the most complete pharaonic tomb ever found. Through viewing the burial treasures, I got a glimpse of Egypt’s glorious ancient civilization.

About thirty miles south of Cairo is Memphis – the first capital of Egypt established in 3100 BC, when the North and South Egypt was first united as one country. Today, not much is left of this once “prosperous city and cosmopolitan center” except a small museum where a broken statue of Ramses II is laid to rest.

Not too far from Memphis is Saqqara, also known as “city of the dead.” It was a burial site for the kings and queens of Egypt for over 3,000 years. An important monument in Saqqara is the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the prototype for the Great Pyramid and other pyramids in Egypt. The knowledge of building pyramids was developed by the architect Imhotep almost five thousand years ago. Not before, nor since, have such structures been created.

Another monument of Cairo is The Citadel – home to Egypt’s rulers for 700 years. The centerpiece of The Citadel is a Turkish style mosque dedicated to Mohammed Ali, an Albanian who ruled Egypt in the 19^th century. Unfortunately, Egypt’s glorious civilization was followed by waves of foreign invasions. In the past two thousand years, Egypt has been ruled by many foreigners such as Persians, Greeks, Romans, Turks, etc., until 1952 when it finally declared its sovereignty again.

I really like Alexandria – a city 200 kilometers north of Cairo on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It was founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. The city has many historic sites and legendary stories, such as Queen Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt, her marriage to the most powerful man of the Roman Empire Julius Caesar, and her Romeo-and-Juliet-type love story with Mark Antony. I am fascinated and intrigued to learn more….

In Awe of the Pyramids

2007-12-15T09:39:00.000-08:00

Before the time of time immemorial, the pharaohs of ancient Egypt built Pyramids as the tombs for their afterlife and the symbols of their majesty. After five thousand years, dynasties rise and fall, rulers come and go, but the Pyramids at Giza are still standing as the Nile forever flows.

Standing in front of The Great Pyramid, I am completely in awe. It is 455 feet tall, and was the highest building in the world until 19^th century. It was built with more than 3 million blocks of stone, with the heaviest ones weighing 15 tons. It took more than 100,000 laborers for twenty years to finish. It is literally a manmade mountain.

Local Egyptians are very friendly. Sometimes they are too "friendly" - they try to trick you to buy souvenirs or ask for baksheesh (tipping). The children I met at the Great Pyramid flocked to me to say “hello,” and want their photos taken.

Riding a camel in the desert was absolutely a thrill and a lot of fun! It costs $4 for ten minute camel ride. Someone told me that it could be risky if you let the camel go too far into the desert, because the Egyptian guides could ask for as much as $100 (and if you don’t agree, they would threaten not to let the camel return).

In front of the second Pyramid is The Sphinx with a royal headdress and human face, faithfully guarding the Pyramids. Standing sixty-six feet tall, it’s tiny compared with the mighty pyramids around it. This is the oldest sphinx found in Egypt, dating back 2,500 BC.

Although I have seen the picture of the Sphinx many times, I was still astonished by its eminence. It was a beautiful sunny day and I was in a playful mood. So, with the right angle, I kissed the Sphinx!

The evening’s Sound and Light show was really amazing. In about an hour, the five thousand years of Egypt’s history and ancient civilization were revealed as a grandstand play in front of my eyes, leaving me with much to wonder and ponder for the following days….

Amsterdam – A City of Canals

2007-12-12T07:19:00.000-08:00

We arrived in Amsterdam around noon of December. 10^th. Since Netherland is so high in latitude, the sun was hanging low in the sky, shining powerlessly through clouds, making me feel it was 3 or 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

I didn’t realize that Amsterdam is fifty feet below sea level. Back in the early thirteen century, the Dutch people started to build the dams on Amstel River to hold back waters from the North Sea. Hence, its name “Amsterdam,” meaning the dam built on the Amstel River, was born. Since then, canals after canals were built in the shape of a spider web spreading out from the center of the city – Dam Square, making Amsterdam a fascinating city of canals.

The Dutch people are at the front line of fighting global warming. Obvious, if Greenland melts, Amsterdam is the most vulnerable place on earth. Therefore, there are a lot of researches and projects that are already underway to address the water issues.

We stayed at Hotel Pulitzer on the bank of canal with a room of canal view. I was a little shocked to see the water in the canals was a dark brown color – so dark that it’s almost black. The Hotel concierge told me that it’s because of stagnation of the streams and lack of oxygen in the water. I guess it is also because of centuries of the dirt at the bottom of the canals. However, I saw swans and ducks swimming in the canals!

There so many things to write about for Amsterdam – its architecture, history, art and industry, etc. The things that struck me the most are the canals and art. Here are some really nice paintings displayed at the hotel:

The first day in Amsterdam, we strolled around the Jordaan – the neighborhood characterized with art galleries and boutique shops, and visited Anne Frank’s house – the thirteen-year-old girl who documented her experience hiding from the Nazis in her diary during the Second World War.

The next day, we went for a canal tour, which is a great way to see the city. And even better, the canal tour took us to Van Gogh Museum, which has the largest collection of works by Van Gogh with more than two hundred paintings including many famous masterpieces. Although I am not that big a Van Gogh fan, I discovered some paintings that I had not seen before that I really like.

Moon Dance by Liping Yang

2007-11-06T11:25:00.000-08:00

小桥流水

2007-09-19T23:01:00.000-07:00

The photo reminds me of a famous Chinese poem: "A little bridge over brimming water, and there is a hidden home...." Since the "home" is not seen in the picture, I named it "A Little Bridge over Brimming Water."

这张照片使我想起一首词： “小桥流水人家” 。而这里，“人家” 却不所见。所以，且命名为“小桥流水” 。我忘了和它对的一句，有谁能知道，望告！

My Hometown Hangzhou

2007-04-02T14:04:00.000-07:00

My hometown Hangzhou is known as "paradise on earth." An ancient Chinese saying says: “Above there is heaven; below there is Hangzhou.”

Anyone who has visited Hangzhou is impressed by its scenic beauty. A mirror-like lake, called West Lake, is nested in lush hills, like jade carved into green velvet. Along the lake are peach and willow trees, wavering and whispering in gentle breeze.

In the springtime, when the peach trees are blossoming with pink and white flowers in between the green willows, West Lake looks like a cheerful bride ready to wed. A pagoda, named Precious Stone Pagoda, stands on the top of the hills at the north side of the lake, as if a faithful guard watching out for his bride.

Hangzhou is also a historical city. It served as the capital of China in Song Dynasty (960-1279). In the 13th century, Marco Polo traveled to Hangzhou – the center of trade and culture during that time, and wrote elaborately in his journals about West Lake. He considered Hangzhou as “the most beautiful and splendid city in the world.”

Throughout history, Hangzhou has inspired poets, artists, philosophers and politicians. Many of them had left mesmerizing poems about West Lake. A classical poem by Su Shi, a renowned poet in Song Dynasty, says it all:

The brimming waves delight the eyes on sunny days;
The dimming hills present rare views in raining haze.
If comparing The West Lake to the Beauty of West Shi,
It becomes her to be adorned in either ways.

Today, Hangzhou has renewed itself into a center for technology and entrepreneurship. With a population of seven million, Hangzhou accounted for 20 percent of the province’s GDP, 30 percent of its imports and 17 percent of foreign investment.

A recent survey by Forbes reveals that Hangzhou scored the highest on the list of “the top ten best places for business,” before Shanghai and Beijing.

It is a base for global manufacturers such as Motorola, Siemens, and Toshiba. It has several of the most successful homegrown companies – the biggest auto parts maker Wan-Xiang, soft drinks group Wahaha, and Internet company Alibaba.

Cancun Renewal

2006-12-30T15:58:00.000-08:00

Who can imagine that Cancun was a former fishing village thirty years ago?

Surrounded by Caribbean sea, Cancun today has renewed its natural wonder with beautiful white sand beaches and crystalline turquoise waters. Walking barefoot in the sand awakens all my senses.

The beach is not the only attraction for Cancun. The ancient Mayan civilization and the promise of the return of Kukulcan invite me to explore its endless wonders and mysteries.

A parasail over the Cancun sky gives a bird-eye view of its unprecedented beauty. Feeling like a bird flying into the infinite blueness, my heart sings with ultimate joy!

Looking back, a year has passed with much to be grateful; and looking ahead, another year is coming with more to be hopeful!

Celebrating the True Spirit of Christmas

2006-12-11T23:01:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, my husband and I went to China to visit my parents. It was in early November, Hangzhou just began to get chilly, and the beautiful West Lake was covered with heavy clouds as if wearing a grey veil.

As we checked in to Shangri-la Hotel, my husband was surprised to see a huge Christmas tree, decorated with dazzling lights and sparkling adornments, in the mid of the lobby. He looked around quickly to make sure we were actually in China, and then murmured to me jokingly: “Isn’t this the ‘communist China’?”

For westerners, it may seem bizarre that celebrating Christmas has become so popular in China while most Chinese don’t believe in Christianity. In the West, even though Christmas has grown out of its original purpose as a Christian holiday to honor the birth of Christ, it still has its religious connotation. For example, my Jewish friends don’t celebrate Christmas. I believe most Muslins don’t celebrate Christmas either.

However, for Chinese, particularly among young people, celebrating Christmas is considered a fashionable thing to do rather than anything that has to do with religion. They see it as a sign of “being modern,” which struck me as an irony for a two thousand years old tradition. For them, Christmas is a time to have colorful decoration, to exchange gifts, and to relax and have fun with friends. As my mother put it: “oh, those foreign holidays – they are for the young people!”

The commercial part of Christmas may have played a big role in China too. Few children can resist the story of Santa Claus who is riding with reindeers in a sleigh to deliver their presents from the sky! My little niece, who was 7 years old at the time, was very excited about Christmas: “I want to have my stockings ready so that Santa can leave me gifts!” I noticed she didn’t say Santa would come in from the chimney since Chinese live in condominiums where there are no chimneys.

This reminded me of my American nephew. In the United States, most kids start to figure out that there is no Santa Claus by the age of 7, either being told by older kids or from their own logic thinking. However, for children who have grown up with their hopes and dreams in the fantasy of Santa Claus, it’s hard for them to come to this realization. My nephew, for example, refused to believe what other kids had told him and relentlessly held on to the idea that Santa actually came down from the chimney of his house and brought him all the wonderful presents. Imagine how sad and confused he was when he finally realized all these were not true. Some kids may even feel deceived and wonder why their parents are part of the game.

Although Chinese adopt Christmas for a very different reason, it is an indication that Chinese people, especially the young people who represent the future, are embracing different cultures and traditions. The question is how long is too long before people start to reflect on the deeper meaning of Christmas. We don’t have to be Christian to appreciate Jesus Christ’s teaching. Even after two thousand years, His teaching on “love thy neighbors” still has the significance: today, we are living in a global village, and “thy neighbors” may be across the globe.

It is my hope that one day children like my Chinese niece and my American nephew, although oceans apart, will celebrate the true spirit of Christmas together!

Online Shopping Made Fun

2006-11-29T21:57:00.000-08:00

Apparently, I am in a shopping mood lately. How can I not be? The holidays are in the air! In this Internet age, shopping can be at our fingertips. If you are like me who like online shopping, here are a few online stores that I would recommend:

Horchow.com is a site that carries classy and high quality furniture and home accessories. I find products there exquisite with unique style. Browsing through its “online showrooms” is like indulging in art galleries. It’s educational and fun.

I particularly like its accent pieces: the lattice console with hand-applied gold leaf make a bold statement of luxury, and the wraparound chaise lounge with tassels feels cozy and romantic.

Although Horchow.com is affiliated with Neiman Marcus, the prices are not necessarily “needless markup.” In fact, you can get better deals there than elsewhere for the same thing.

If you are more price conscious, Touch of Class is a site worth looking into. It carries nice home products with reasonable prices. The good thing about Touch of Class is that it has products in different styles, such as Victorian, Southwest, Safari, Tuscan, and Asian. So it has something for everyone.

I found its artwork and wall sculptures gorgeous. The tapestries are beautiful and yet affordable. The rugs are well-made with many selections. One of the rugs – the round imperial palace area rug caught my eyes. I bought one for our new home – it turned out to be a glamorous display!

I have been shopping from these two sites for quite a while. Beside the fact that Horchow’s products could take as long as three months to deliver, my experience with both sites is pretty positive.

In this holiday season, if you want to avoid squeezing into crowded shopping malls, why not make online shopping fun?

What A Wonderful World

2006-10-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

I see trees of green, red roses too

I see them bloom for me and you

And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white

The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night

And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky

Are also on the faces of people going by

I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do

They're really saying I love you.

I hear babies crying, I watch them grow

They'll learn much more than I'll never know

And I think to myself what a wonderful world

Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.

- Louis Armstrong

I came across this song by Louis Armstrong. What a treat to read something like this. I particularly like "The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky, Are also on the faces of people going by." I can't help posting it here to remind myself and everyone: what a wonderful world we have!

lifestyle, life, poetry, song, wonderful world

Furnishing A Beautiful Home

2006-10-15T23:16:00.000-07:00

Furnishing a new home can be a very challenging project. There are so many things that need to be taken into consideration: the quality, the style, the comfort, and the price, etc. Most of all, how we furnish our homes tells a lot about who we are and what we value.

Despite my strong interest in home design, getting the right furniture for my new home is still quite an overwhelming task. After some intense research and numerous visits to furniture stores, I found the fine furniture by Amini Innovation Corp. (AICO) a shining crown jewel that clearly stands out among its rivals.

Designed in the United States with an exquisite European touch, AICO furniture featuring Michael Amini Signature Series are impressive collections of distinctive style and fine quality. Each carefully designed piece is marked with superior craftsmanship. Thanks to globalization, AICO furniture is handcrafted and manufactured in China, making this high-end luxury home furniture relatively affordable.

Among its many selections, Cortina bedroom set caught my attention. Inspired by the beautiful resort Cortina d'Ampezzo in northern Italy, the Cortina bedroom furniture is a stunning example of combining classic sleigh bed with modern elegance. Its unique Oval Marble Medallion accent in the center of the headboard gives a feel and look of majesty; and the gentle curves and subtle texture set the tone for romance. Indeed, each collection of AICO furniture is characterized with a cultrural and cosmopolitan flair.

When it comes to home furnishing, I see it more than a project to furnish a beautiful and comfortable home. It is also a chance to go deeper inside ourselves and understand who we are and how we want to express ourselves. As we know, after traveling all over the world, the greatest trip is returning home – that’s where our families and friends are.

Please also see my previous post Home, Sweet Home

lifestyle, home design, furniture, home, quality life

Li River

2006-09-21T22:25:00.000-07:00

Chinese saying says, “桂林山水甲天下." - that means "Guilin's mountains and waters are the best under the heaven." See for yourself!

lifestyle, travel, nature, China, Lijiang

Fashion Show in Santana Row

2006-08-22T00:13:00.000-07:00

If you think Silicon Valley is a place for “geeks” who only wear jeans and t-shirts, not any more! Last weekend, the Annual Fall Fashion Show in Santana Row flashed the runway with the season’s latest style and high fashion – right on the street of Santana Row in a lush garden park setting.

With world beat music and impressive chic models, the fashion show featured the world’s top brands, from leading British designer label Ted Baker, to cross-cultural fashions of Anthropologie, to world-wide renowned fine leather Furla purses and high-end luxury shoes designed by orthopedic surgeon Taryn Rose – all are picked from the neighborhood’s retailers.

The elegant black and white outfits are still the high point of this year’s fashion. Additionally, the combination of vibrant brown and blue color has become my newest fancy for the Fall.

After the fashion show, I cruised into the designers’ shops featured in the show. Among them, I found Anne Fontaine a timeless class. A French designer drawing her creativity from her Brazilian roots, Anne Fontaine’s collection captures the purity and simplicity of white with a touch of feminine and elegance. In her boutique, “each shirt has a story and a meaning, and with each new creation, a new woman emerges.”

Another fun boutique is Pink Stripes – a unique retail concept combining clothes and sweets. Here, you can shop while sampling truffles, chocolates and other sweet treats. It even has a live model in the window! The shop carries the lesser-known lines from Nanette Lepore, Tracy Reese, Rachel Pally, etc. The price is quite affordable ranging from $50 - $150. The place is hip, hot and entertaining!

The Fall Fashion Weekend, highlighting six fashion shows over Saturday and Sunday, is one of Santana Row’s signature events. A must-visit place in Silicon Valley, Santana Row represents a high quality lifestyle that “blends a distinctive mix of living, shopping and dining experiences.”

Please also see my previous post about Santana Row.

Photo source: http://www.dailycandy.com

lifestyle, fashion, style, Santana Row, beauty, shopping, trendy

The Moon Is Reaching for Me

2006-08-12T16:51:00.000-07:00

A landmark attraction in Palo Alto, the Stanford Theater is a cinema treasure by all accounts. Its splendid Greek/Assyrian style interior is dazzling enough; the mighty Wurlitzer theater organ, played during the intermissions, gives an added feeling for nostalgic refreshment.

If you are bombarded by the violence and sex in today’s films, the Stanford Theater is a perfect place to retreat on weekends and enjoy the classic movies from Hollywood’s Golden Age. It showed many of my most favorite movies, from Casablanca, to Roman Holiday, to Gone with the Wind.

Last weekend, we went back to the Stanford Theater for Billy Wilder’s Sabrina (1954), featuring Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart. The movie itself is an age-old fairy tale story about a chauffeur’s daughter (Sabrina) falling in love with the estate family’s son. It is Audrey Hepburn’s timeless charm and beauty that still catches the fancy of millions of men and women.

When I first saw the movie years ago, in addition of being charmed by Audrey’s adorable grace, I was struck by one line in the movie that uttered an epiphany to me:

When her father Fairchild told Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn) that she was trying to reach for the moon, Sabrina responded with such a confidence and demeanor:

“The moon is reaching for me.” *

It was like a ray of gleaming sunlight that enlightened my entire world. I found this line incredibly empowering. Like Sabrina, so often, we are looking for things from outside to fulfill ourselves. We want to find that perfect man, the ideal job, etc., but we neglect the importance of nurturing the light from within. Like Sabrina, when we strive to be the best of ourselves, instead of reaching for the moon, we are letting the moon reach for us.

It was my epiphany then, and still is today. I dream the impossible dreams, and reach for things that are seemingly beyond my reach. I will always remember this line: the moon is reaching for me!

* For those who don’t remember the detail or who haven’t had a chance to see this movie, here is a little background: Sabrina, the daughter of a chauffeur who live in a large estate of a wealthy family, was hopelessly in love with the family’s playboy son – David, who hardly noticed her existence. After her return from Paris, Sabrina evolved into a beautiful and sophisticated young lady and finally won the attention from David. Her father, very much concerned of daughter’s unrealistic infatuation for David, said to her: “You are trying to reach for the moon.” Sabrina replied: “The moon is reaching for me."

lifestyle, movie, Audrey Hepburn, Sabrina, Stanford Theater, epiphany