g jewelry @ Culture Fresh 04/17/12

Culture Fresh is located at the Arizona Center on 3rd Street & VanBuren
Downtown Phoenix baby

random story: comfort in the constellations

when i was a kid me an my brother used to do the paper route on our street
it was pretty hard in the winter, it was cold, there was snow, the papers were heavy and i was like 10. i remember it was kind of scary not knowing what could be lurking out there in the freezing cold darkness. i didnt want to think about that and we didnt even go far, it was 3 blocks. hahah. but to distract myself from my own menacing thoughts i remember what i used to do was look up and try to recognize constellations. because we used to watch the star hustler guy on pbs all the time

always had mad love for Polaris, the north star. being able to recognize her makes me feel like i'll always be able to find my way

its a good time to start new habits

Take time to breathe and breathe deeply.
Drink lots of pure clean water
Smile whenever you are on the phone. It will lift both your spirits and those of the person on the other end of the line.
Stretch with intention. Whenever you catch yourself feeling tight or stiff, take a few minutes to focus on the area of your body talking to you and stretch in anyway that feels yummy.
Pick flowers or greenery to adorn your home from your own yard, from a friend’s who might love to share, or perhaps from a nearby woods or park.
Curl up in a comfy chair and read something wonderful.
Take some quiet time during the day just for you.
Put on your favorite music and open up your ears and heart.
Go for a stroll, a jog, or a run.
Clean out a closet or a drawer. It feels great!
Get complete about one thing you have left undone and that is tugging at your attention.
Call up a friend to join you on a walk.
Slip into a bubble bath and stay there as long as you like
Speak with complete honesty.
Engage in learning something fun and new.
Tell someone just how much they mean to you.
Create a special room or corner in your home as a “getaway spot” – your self-care sanctuary.
Make a “Do not disturb” sign for your door to hang up when you want time just for you.
Make a Self-Care Calendar and mark out times just for you.
Write a “Let it go” letter about something it is time to let go of.
Explore ways to really relax and become a master of relaxation.
Write a list of 50 things that make you smile and post it where you can see it daily.
Create a self-care network that supports you as you learn how to take better care of you. It could be a friend that becomes a “self-care buddy”, family members that understand your commitment to self-care, a support group, a book club, etc.
Sit outdoors and tune into the natural world around you.
Make a date with a star-filled sky. By yourself or with others spend an evening star gazing.
Update your wardrobe by taking the first step - clear out any and all clothes that no longer work for you and pass them along.
Turn off the TV for a whole week.
Stop doing one thing that you know is not in your best self interest. Perhaps it is taking that second helping of food, talking about others behind their backs, complaining to no end, pushing too hard to reach a goal, etc.
Upgrade your language by catching your disempowering words. Choose one word or phrase (Ex: “I should”) and notice it every time you say it. Write it down. Build awareness around the words that lift your spirits and the ones that drag you down.
Smile at yourself in the mirror and extend an “I love you.”
Plan your next vacation.
A gratitude a day keeps the doctor away. Come up with one thing you can do each and everyday to practice gratitude
Lighten up by being willing to laugh at yourself more often.
Exercise several times a week in a way that gets your heart pumping, your blood flowing, and fills up your tank with renewed energy.
Straight talking. Start getting really good at saying yes when you mean yes and no when you mean no.
Go on a picnic. Simple fare and a simple setting can turn an ordinary meal into a memory moment.
Invite your creativity out to play – draw, paint, dance, sing, write, weave, stitch, whittle …
Be willing to receive. We are so often masters at giving and yet find it hard to ask for help and to receive.
Ramp up your self-care awareness by making a list of all the things that get in the way of you taking great care of you.
Tend to your body with loving care. What ways can you take better care of your body? Start with the simple things like flossing your teeth, taking time to use a lotion you love, getting to know your body and the messages it is sending you.
Nurture your nose with simple aromatherapy … pluck some rosemary, bake something wonderful and tune into the wonderful smells filling your kitchen.
Develop a meditation practice.
Take steps to ensure you are getting good sleep.
Look for sources of inspiration like a beautiful sunset, talking with someone you admire, or reading poetry.
Practice forgiveness, both forgiveness towards yourself and others.
Clean out your kitchen pantry to make room for lots of whole, healthy foods.
Laugh out loud at every chance you get.
Do something out of your ordinary routine to keep things fresh.
Eat whole, healthy foods and choose them wisely one bite at a time.
Embrace the understanding that practicing fabulous self-care is a lifetime journey and one that rewards you every step of the way!

Happy Thai New Year

Songkran is thai new year literally translated: astrological passage based on the astrological event of the sun beginning its northward journey.

The most obvious celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water. Thais roam the streets with containers of water or water guns (sometimes mixed with mentholated talc), or post themselves at the side of roads with a garden hose and drench each other and passersby. This, however, was not always the main activity of this festival. Songkran was traditionally a time to visit and pay respects to elders, including family members, friends, neighbors, and monks.



Besides the throwing of water, people celebrating Songkran as a Buddhist festival may also go to a wat (Buddhist monastery) to pray and give food to monks. They may also cleanse Buddha images from household shrines as well as Buddha images at monasteries by gently pouring water mixed with a Thai fragrance over them. It is believed that doing this will bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year.

Songkran is a time for cleaning and renewal. Besides washing household Buddha images, many Thais also take this opportunity to give their home a thorough cleaning.

The water is meant as a symbol of washing all of the bad away and is sometimes filled with fragrant herbs when celebrated in the traditional manner.



Thailand and its amazing people will always inspire me.

hike AZ

i don't know i'm ALL obsessed with hiking & camping now
i guess just because all i been doing is watching out of the wild

whatever mother nature is calling my soul
i'm following an overwhelming urge be connected
going with it. slowly collecting gear....
i think the accessories is the reason why i love it
and it makes me feel secure knowing i've got survival skills
collectng credentials & stacking my skillset has always been a super hobby of mine.
psh damn over-acheiver. i know. its the asian in me, can't stop the hustle.

So here is my list of awesome areas in AZ i want to hike/camp/conquer:

-all 4 vortex sites in Sedona, AZ

(this guys blog: http://dirtanddogs.blogspot.com has got me MAD inspired)

-Lake Havaupai falls at the Grand Canyon, AZ


-4 Peaks wilderness area

(holy crap check out http://www.fatpacking.com, i'm so into this
i got to stack a few more skills & become a guide, wtf dreamjob!)

-Hopi Village ruins (have to find a guide for this one tho)


also close by there are a few other spots i want to check
-Mount Zion National Park in Utah


-Chacho Canyon Ruins in New Mexico


then my international destinations are
-Machu Picchu, Peru

i first seen this pic when i was in 4th grade and i knew i had to go there

-the great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt


all these places are sacred. they provide connections w/ the universe and everything else. i'm literally dying to know what our ancestors knew they were so much more observant w/ nature. all i want to do with my existance is go back and remember. i have the empathic skills to absorb the energy i know it just getting my physical body to these places is hard, not impossible just hard there are so many distractions and it would be so much more fun & easy with a partner. but if this is my journey to embark upon alone i'm also very happy for that.
and so the list will never end....the journey will continue....
look at this website there are SO many amazing and awesome spots nearby
http://www.squidoo.com/grand-circle
they call it the "grand circle" and for good reason.....damn nature is awesome

damn http://www.fatpacking.com, now i'm all obsessed about becoming a FatPack guide
sweet new goal to work towards, here are the requirements:
[and my commentary]

•Current Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness EMT Certification (SOLO, WMA, WMI, NOLS)
[hah ok how many hours will this take? whatever i can do it wildnerness first responder sounds cool as fuck anyway)
•Current CPR / Basic Life Support Certification [damn i expired last year on this, good thing it only takes a day of training to renew]
•Versed in Leave No Trace principles, preferably certified as LNT Trainer or Master Educator [isnt this just common sense? i just call it ninja vanish]
•Thorough knowledge of backpacking equipment [working on it!]
•At least 100 "bag nights" of backpacking / camping experience. [holy crap 100 nights? this is gonna take me awhile i would have to camp out every weekend all year shit]
•Experience leading groups in an outdoor setting (preferably, but not necessarily backpacking). Leading NOLS, Ropes, Sea Kayaking, or summer camp is OK, but leading a project development team in releasing an operating system isn't.
[shoot my muay thai teaching expierence applies here right, i mean teaching kids isnt easy man, and teaching kids self control while keeping it fun talk about challenging!]
•Can backpack a minimum of 15 miles per day carrying 60 pounds [no problemo! hahah fuck i gotta practice carrying 60 pounds]
•Map & Compass Skills [working on it, need to buy a better compass]
•GPS Skills [computer stuffs is easy man]
•Valid driver's license [got that!]
•An ability to relate to a wide variety of individuals [done]
•Patience. Know how to listen. [aw shiz i'm hella good at thaaaaat]
•Certified Food Handler [damn i expired like 5 years ago but this is easy to renew also]
•Excellent Cooking Skills [hellz yeah man]
•Versed in nutrition and weight loss [oh HELL yeah man]
•Difficult to upset [lolololololol mf'ers EVERYTHING is funny]
•MacGyver-like improvisational Skills [fuck yeah]
•Great sense of humor [aren't you laughing at me now?]
•Good Videographer / Photographer [ooooooh shit have u seen my facebook page?]
•Firebuilding Skills [hell yeah been working on that]
•Knows some campfire activities [i can tell stories like a mofo]
•Good Phone Skills [yes i still LOVE talking on the phone]
•Enthusiasm [LOVE life]

they should so hire me ugh!