M.I.A.

Has it really been over 3 months since my last post?!

That’s gotta change. 

As soon as I find the time, I’ll do another post

the soundtrack of my life

Recently, a group of us from work decided to put together the soundtracks of our lives. We then posted them on on our shared iTunes network. It was interesting how much one’s taste in music can say about him/her. After listening to some of my co-workers’ soundtracks, I felt like I knew them better.

I put together my shared soundtrack quite hastily one morning, so it probably didn’t capture all I wanted it to. But here’s my revised one. Since it is a life soundtrack, some of the songs are reminiscent of my “youth”. While most others are a reflection of how I get through the day (let alone my entire life!) and also what I try to live by.

I also added a link to song clips on Amazon.com, in case you’re not familiar with the songs and would like to listen to a clip or download the full version. I hope you enjoy!

So Young – The Corrs

Brown-Eyed Girl – Van Morrison

Dreams – The Cranberries

Under Pressure – Queen & David Bowie

Independent Women – Destiny’s Child

Life is a Highway – Rascal Flatts

Waiting on the World to Change – John Mayer

A Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin

Unwritten – Natasha Beddingfield

Extraordinary – Mandy Moore

The Warrior is a Child – Twila Paris

How You Live – Point of Grace

Voice of Truth – Casting Crowns

Redeemer – Nicole C. Mullen

Great is Thy Faithfulness – Avalon

What’s on your life soundtrack? Do share!

the bug is back

Now that I’m settling into our new home, I’m starting to pick old hobbies again. I’ve dusted off my Nikon and am taking pictures again.

Last weekend, I spent an hour just taking pictures in our backyard. This one was one of my favorites just because it seems so fresh and clean.

Daisy, Nikon D40

I also started to press buttons and turn all the fancy knobs on my camera. Here are examples of some of the shots I got. The first shot is one where I focused on two pots in the background. I shot at 1/40 sec and f5.6.

Pots on the bench, Nikon D40

For the second shot, I focused on the flower at 1/60 sec and also f5.6.

Purple flower, Nikon D40

These were taken at dusk, so there was no direct sunlight, but it also wasn’t dark just yet.

she is clothed with strength and dignity

“She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.” – Proverbs 31:25

___________________________________________________

Today is my Lola’s birthday. She is 77.

My Lola (grandmother) is one of the strongest women I know.

She was widowed when she was in her 30s and raised 7 children on her own.
And she did it in a place and time where there was no such thing as food stamps or welfare. She buried 2 of her own children (4 if you count the twins she miscarried when my grandfather died).

She found odd jobs doing laundry and ironing for people. She also tried her hand at several businesses.

Japanese paper balloons

For a long time she made Japanese paper balloons and sold them in bulk at the market or to people for fiestas and parties. She actually continued making the paper balloons well into my childhood — I remember helping her make the rice glue used to stick the paper pieces together. She said it was a way she made money for herself, even when her children were willing and able to support her.

When her kids were older, Lola opened up a little canteen that catered to sailors (she and my aunts are fabulous cooks!) It’s actually how my mom met my dad.

My Lola helped raise Sister and me, along with several other cousins. She lived with us when I was a young child, caring for us like only a grandmother could. And when she returned to live with us during our teenage years, she endured our teen angst.

I love many things about my grandma. She’s taught me many things, and I am thankful for all she’s done for me.

But the one thing that I will be forever grateful for is her fervent prayers for me to know and have a relationship with the One True God.

It was she who gave me Bible stories to read and songs to listen to as a child.
It was she who encouraged me as a moody teenager to always have faith in the God Who Is Able.
Even now, it is she who shows me what it is like to truly trust in God for all that we may ever need.

Happy birthday, Inay.

a makeover again.

Hi Readers.

No you haven’t stumbled upon a new blog. It’s still the home of Creative Peeps, but I’m once again experimenting with a new layout. I like the look and feel of this one so much better. What do you think? I’d love some feedback!

Also, I’ve got a customizable banner so I’ll be updating that semi-regularly with new designs and photos.

Thanks for stopping by,

mellie

pink velvety goodness

Today is BGP’s dad’s birthday and we celebrated with him. Instead of the traditional birthday cake, BGP got him cupcakes from Teacake Bakeshop. They have absolutely the best cupcakes in the San Francisco Bay Area! And why not? As they say on their website:

“We use only the finest ingredients — imported Belgian Chocolate and Dutch Cocoa, Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla, locally sourced farm fresh dairy and eggs, and of course, sweet cream butter for the most delectable taste and quality.”

Now how can you beat that? My personal favorite, the pink velvet with cream cheese frosting. So if you’re ever in the area, be sure to check them out!

Teacake Bakeshop’s pink velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting, Nikon D40

hello kitty?

Have you heard of cats bringing their owners their prey as a show of their love and appreciation? Well if that’s true, then I know BGP’s cat really loves me.

Although he’s technically BGP’s, I’m Cat’s favorite aunt/pet-godmother. I am usually the one who feeds him and cleans his litter box. I also play feathers with him.

Cat "helping" me make my bed

Best of all, I am his sleeping buddy. We have a routine going, too. At about 5am each day, he’ll wake me up so I can pull up the blinds for him and he can sit on the window sill, or open the bedroom door so he can go do his thing or take in an early breakfast.

A few weeks ago, I was just soooo tired that I decided to call it a night really early. I think I was in bed by 8pm. At that hour, Cat is usually not in any mood to sleep. Plus, I wanted to sleep in as long as I could. So wanting to avoid a 5am wake-up call, I purposely left Cat out of the room.

I woke up at about 6am the next morning to go the the restroom. I was greeted by a very eager and especially affectionate kitty who was probably wondering why he was left out in the ‘cold’ living room by himself the night before. After a few obligatory pets on the head, I went back to bed but decided to leave my bedroom door ajar so Cat can go in and out.

I must have dozed off for another couple of hours, because the next thing I heard was my two roommates, BGP and Mun, sneaking quietly into my room to see if I was up yet. But their attempt at being quiet was short-lived when I heard BGP gasp and exclaim, albeit in a whispery voice, “Oh my gosh! What’s that on her bed?!”

Now before I continue with my story, there are two things to keep in mind here:
(1) My bed linens are all white. White pillows. White sheets. White duvet. Anything un-white would immediately stand out against it.
(2) Cat is an indoor-only cat. He doesn’t have prey.

The gasp and exclamation were then followed by BGP, in her controlled yet task-ready voice, telling Mun, “Quick! Go get some wipies!!” As drunk with sleep as I still was, my curiosity had understandably been piqued at this point. So I raised my head, squinted at my roommates who, even without my glasses, I can tell were trying to stifle laughs, and asked groggily “What’s going on?”

“There’s poop on your bed!”

And the stifled giggles from BGP and Mun suddenly erupted.

Sure enough, once I put my glasses on, I witnessed the 2 pieces of dried poo in the middle of my bed.

Once we recovered from laughing (and cleaning up the poop), we deduced that Cat had been upset about being left out of my room the night before that he had raided his litter box for a peace and love offering to me, if you will. I have to admit, it was better than finding a dead rodent on my bed.

Now I have to ask you, what can be better than being loved like that?

what’s wrong with this picture?

Isn’t the use of cell phones while driving now illegal in California?

So what’s this dude doing?

“Driving” in L.A., July 2008, Nikon D40

see, I can be crafty

This is a bracelet I made that will be going to my April trivia winner, Erin, in addition to the stickers I’m sending her way. Yes, as you can see I’m still a little behind. I have yet to give Jenn, my May trivia winner, her prize. Sorry gals.

So as you can see, there are a few crafty bones in me.

jasper and black onyx bracelet, Nikon D40

thou shalt not lie

Especially to little 5-year old girls.

First of all, let me start by putting this disclaimer out there: I don’t ordinarily hang out with little kids. My friends with children live hundreds, if not thousands, of miles from me. So it’s not often that I spend a Saturday morning with tykes around. That said, my sense of humor has evolved so that it’s understood (and appreciated) by mostly those beyond the Barney generation.

So here’s my story: back in October, my long-time friend, Jo, came up for a visit from southern Cal with her husband and daughter P. Her brother called me and said they were staying with him and he was hosting a small dinner/birthday party for Jo on a Saturday night. Of course, I jumped at the chance to see my friend once again. And it was quite a reunion! We had fun catching up and shooting the breeze as most friends do. The grown-ups were sitting in one area, while the two kids in the party — both cute little girls under the age of 6 — were playing just a few feet from us. I’m not sure what we were talking about, but Jo mentioned that her daughter P loves Hannah Montana! And as any logical, thinking, semi-sane woman in her late 20s (back then) would say, I replied, “Oh! Hannah Montana, she’s my neighbor.” Matter-of-factly. Just like that.

Now what on God’s good earth possessed me to say that, I don’t know. But I said it. How could I have known that little P has the audio sensors of a bat?! The little darling immediately ran to me and began to interrogate me on Hannah Montana and her house, which in P’s mind was just a few feet from my own front door.

Now at this point, I could have said, “Oh sorry, honey. I just blurted that out. She’s not really my neighbor.” P’s a very bright young girl. She would have understood. But again, my tongue=out of control. I went on to perpetuate some fabricated story about how I couldn’t call Hannah at home because she was on tour at that moment.

Well that night ended without me fessing up to my lie. Of course every other friend I’ve told this story to thinks I’m just horrible for telling a little girl this fib. And maybe it was. So last weekend, when I went to visit Jo in L.A., my friends BGP and Mun made me promise to tell P the truth.

P and me, Los Angeles

And I did. I told her Hannah Montana wasn’t my neighbor. That she was probably closer to being her neighbor since I was pretty sure Miley Cyrus had a house in Beverly Hills. (Of course, that started a whole session of little P asking Jo to drive around Beverly Hills to find Miley’s house. Hey, I tried.) To be on the safe side, I told her Miley was probably in Nashville most often since her dad was a country singer. (”His name’s Billy Ray Cyrus,” she informed me.)

So yes. I told the truth. Even though it would’ve been easier to say “Forgetaboutit, she’s just a kid.”

Oh and yes, we did drive around Beverly Hills the next day in search of a black limo that just might belong to Hannah Montana. We didn’t see any. Although even if we did, it wouldn’t have mattered because little P was sound asleep in the back seat with her head on my lap. Auntie Mel had been forgiven.