& No, a pile of dirty clothes on the floor of a messy room is not art nor is it artistic (your mom would definitely agree with me).

I’m talking about a room completely taken over and repackaged as an art exhibit. No bed, no cupboard, nothing in its proper place, nothing that is usually found  in a HDB flat. What if you step into the corridor and realize that that too has been art-ified and revamped into something way cooler than just grey cement?

While that would be a pretty cool sight,  you don’t need to just imagine – you can actually go around walking into other people’s (actual!) houses and see the transformation & artworks for yourself!

OH! Open House (OH!) returns for the 3^rd time this year! Pretty exciting because this year, they feature one of the oldest housing estates in Singapore – Tiong Bahru!

If the only Open House you know is during the festive time when people invite you to their house and you have no idea what OH! Open House is all about then here’s some information to keep you in the loop (so no one can call you swakoo): OH! is the only art walkabout in Singapore and have been bringing people and art fans into real homes that have been turned into art for the past 2 years.

Yes, real homes.

This year, 15 artists will take over 6 real homes (+ 1 temple) and make it their own (art).

These artists re-imagine the homes and turn it into some pretty spectacular art. Spanning over 4 days, OH! will delight 1,200 people as they take these strangers around to explore the 6 homes & 1 temple around Tiong Bahru.

Talk about stoking the kaypoh streak in us! Walking around in another person’s home is definitely a secret desire of Singaporeans (I admit, I’m mighty curious too).

Some of the works that you will see include a reconstruction of a bedroom using only plastic tape; an interactive light display that explores the life and structure of a house; an installation in a bathroom that mimics a scientific lab dealing in (you guessed it), waste management, just to name a few.

I think this is the best opportunity for us to experience art & explore Tiong Bahru! It’s probably going to be the only time you’ll get to be invited into a stranger’s (or many strangers’) house.

Have fun occupying!

——–

OH! OPEN HOUSE is an annual art walkabout usually held in various neighbourhoods and “put art in people’s houses”. OH! OPEN HOUSE: OCCUPY TIONG BAHRU is happening from 18, 19, 25 & 26 February from 4.00pm – 9.00pm. Tickets cost $15 & can be bought at the door (Tiong Bahru Community Centre, 67A Eu Chin Street). Sales start from 3.30pm, last tour leaves at 8.00pm. Check out their website or FB page!

Borders & its books, have accompanied me through many sad moons, countless ‘me’ times and many happy ‘oh-I-can’t-believe-they-have-this-title-here-this-is-awesome!’ moments.

It was (and I use this word with a heavy heart, still) one of the places that you can go to to get just a breather or a moment to yourself or a semi-geek moment with your date or just some reading time with your friends or just to get inspired by the ambience and the cool stuffs they carry.

I  used to imagine myself still going there when I have kids to let them experience the joys of being & reading in a big relaxing bookstore.

Oh Well.

The next best alternative (to me at least) is PageOne (because have you seen their other non-books stuffs? It’s pretty awesome). Their book collection is also pretty browse-long worthy.

So imagine my shock when I found out PageOne is closing due to (guess what) high rental costs.

And if that’s not a shocker, this will be – Harris Bookstores, another very laid back bookstore with quirky stuffs will also be shutting their doors & throwing away the keys (or in this instant, pass it over to the rich landlord).

Harris Bookstores also cite high rental costs (big surprise).

Sigh I may sound angry but I’m really just sad that the number of bookstores we get to experience is pretty limited. You don’t just to go bookstores for the books the carry or the stuffs they sell, you also go there for the experience and relaxing atmosphere they have.

The only thing we can do now is to support them in their last few awakening days (read: sales!).

And whilst I’m happy that there’s still a chance for me to go visit them & get some good bargains (both of them will close on 19 February 2012), I am less thrilled at the fact that the space will just be another memory of moments.

(again) Oh Well.

On the upside,  we still have Times, Kinokuniya, {prologue} & MPH.

And of course, thank God we have these other awesome offbeat booksy places that have their own special & quirky touch to help us forget the lack of bookstores & help us remember the joy of books, literature & other book-related stuffs!

They have a certain magical homey quality that you cannot find in normal bookstores.  Here’s 6 bookstores you should know (& will love)!

1. BooksActually

They’ve been around since 2005 and (I believe it to be) the Godfather of quirky shops.  Go inside this charming bookstore and you’ll find lots of literature (including obscure works) and literary stuffs in stationery form. They’ve also branched out to publishing & distributing (Math Paper Press) & make beautiful hand-stitch notebooks and produce cool stationery stuffs (Birds & Co.). You’ll leave the shop feeling inspired!

Where: No. 9 Yong Siak Street, Tiong Bahru
Find Out More: https://www.facebook.com/BooksActually & http://booksactually.com

2. Littered With Books

This shop is littered with carefully selected books ranging from crime to travel narratives to children books. An independent bookseller, they have plenty of reading spaces and exudes a really welcoming and cosy feeling – like you’re stepping into a friend’s huge library!

Where: 20 Duxton Road (near Tanjong Pagar, opposite Maxwell Market)
Find Out More: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Littered-with-Books

3. Books Cellar – Bookstore Cafe & Bistro

It’s a bookstore cafe by day & a bar/bistro by night! It also looks totally comfortable, like you can just immerse yourself in the smell of sandwiches and books. Just looking at the picture is inviting enough!

Where: 19 Bukit Pasoh Road
Find out more: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Books-Cellar-Bookstore-Cafe-Bistro

4. Cat Socrates

From books to music cds to a quaint cafe – Cat Socrates has it.  Its tucked away neatly in Bras Basah and its collection of stuffs is pretty eclectic and quirky (and colourful!). You can also shop online if in case you’re too busy to go down to the shop. Here’s a preview!

Where: #03-39B Bras Basah Complex, 231 Bain Street
Find out more: http://home.catsocrates.com.sg & http://catsocrates.blogspot.com/

5. Woods In The Books

This is pretty interesting – woods in the books is an independent picture bookstore with toys and drawings created by the owner. What’s great is that the combination of classic and new awesome books are hand-picked and caters to all ages.

Where: 58 Club Street / 9,Raffles Boulevard, Millenia Walk, #02-32 (opposite Parco)
Find out more: http://www.woodsinthebooks.sg & https://www.facebook.com/WoodsintheBooks

6. The Pigeonhole – Book Cafe + Arts

They curate second-hand and rare books from all over the region, make awesome coffee, accompanying desserts and a really great arts programmes that showcases films, music, readings and more. Perfect place to chill out with a good book.

Where: 52/53 Duxton Road
Find out more: http://thepigeonhole.com.sg  & https://www.facebook.com/the.pigeonhole

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After looking through the whole listing & choices of book-sy places we have in Singapore, I think I finally can let Borders (& the other bookstores that left us) go. (Yes I am sentimental like that).

So it’s another month of last-minute salvaging of good stuffs & bookstore mourning but this whole searching for book places to chill out at is a reminder that Singapore has many other alternative places (6 at that + more that I might have missed out) that we can always look forward to to brighten up our days, literarily!

… What we usually do outside is:

1. Walk. Walk. And…oh wait, walk!

2. See people rushing to go to work then rush through their lunch wondering what they’re talking as they breeze through their lunch hour.

3. Meet other similar folks, who like us, don’t have a specific work time.

4. Get inspired by the outdoors and the sights we see along the way.

5. Sit down and do some actual work sans cubicle or 4 walls. The world is our office!

About Sidekicks’ Adventures: Everyday is an adventure! And with that in mind, we’re chronicling (or trying to) all our adventures, ideas, inspirations & stuffs we learnt /found out inspirations from these experiences!

Are you the vigilante STOMP-er who goes around snapping any sign of moral misconduct on your fine shores?  Are you the super kiasu Singaporean who’s always on top of every fad, every new interest and every new product that has just arrived in Singapore?

Or are you the laidback chilled out Singaporean who secretly feels pride for the country but don’t show it?

Now you can find out what type of Singaporean you are!

A tongue-in-cheek look at the little quirks of Singapore that makes us…Singaporeans, It’s My Turn is a quiz that contains different aspects of our lives. The questions are asked at random. In fact, each time you try the quiz, it’ll ask you new questions.

I took the quiz recently and here are my results!

Pretty interesting eh? Of course, the results is by no way scientific or accurate (maybe some of it) & of course, the test is merely for fun.

If you’d like to know what kind of Singaporean you are, click here (& have a laugh while you’re at it!).

It was my first ever Vans shoe and the thing was, because it was so cheap, I saw a lot of people buying the same shoe as I did. Of course, it meant that we all had the same good taste (shameless but true, haha). It also means that there would be a lot of other people who would have the same shoe design as mine (Vans Classic Slip-ons in Light Blue).

Anyway, my hands were itching to just modify the shoe a tad bit & after much contemplation, I finally did! To be specific, I highlighted the trimmings and stitching in a darker blue and added a ribbon.

And voila! Meet Mr. Cheery!

The best part of this design that I really love is that I can inter-change the ribbons to any colour that I feel like.

———–

In case you too would want to jazz up your shoe, here’s what you need!

1. A basic idea of what you want to add on.
2. Acrylic / fabric paint  (can be found at Artfriend or Popular)
3. Paintbrushes (think or thin one will do)
4. Masking tape (to tape off the sole and sides)
5. Rag (in case of any errors)
6. Ribbons or gems or iron-ons (completely up to you)

If you’re wondering how much it’ll cost you well, here’s how much I spent:

1. Vans shoes – $19
2. Paints – $ 6 – $8.00 (small pack of fabric paint)
3. Roll of ribbon / paintbrushes – $2 each (from Daiso)

Total amount spent: $29.00

Not a bad amount yeah? (considering that you get the shoe exactly as how you want it!)

Remember that you don’t exactly want to totally revamp it – just ‘funkify’ it up to make it more you!

Be as creative as possible and add on anything else if you want to (brooches, lace, cloth, streaks…anything!). Also, if you’re not confident of your painting try it on paper first. Practise before you start on your shoes.

Here’s to more thrift-things!

Notes To Self:

1. The weather is temperamental like a woman on her cycle.

2. When it rains, it really pours.

3. When one’s umbrella is too small for two, find an alternative.

4. Sometimes it’s just common sense to bring both umbrellas & ponchos – because hey, then you can share it with others too.

5. Plus, ponchos are just really fun! It brings back childhood memories of playing in the rain.

6. Where to get adult raincoats / ponchos – Daiso (for just $2.00 too!).

About Sidekicks’ Adventures: Everyday is an adventure! And with that in mind, we’re chronicling (or trying to) all our adventures, ideas, inspirations & stuffs we learnt /found out inspirations from these experiences!

Here are some of the (normal + not so normal) things you can do this wonderful (& certainly much needed break)!

1. On CNY Day 1, go to town & Have an URBAN PICNIC!
(read: Orchard Road, Somerset, Raffles Place)!

Usually almost all shops will be closed and the whole town will almost seem like a scene out of a horror movie sans zombies (or rather, in this case, the only zombies you’ll see are other aimless people enjoying the peace).

(you can check out the opening hours of the shopping centres and what’s open here!)

Grab a bunch of your friends, have a themed picnic in the middle of the road or in a shopping centre or any other open space you might see (like the old youth park, or open space in front of Takashimaya or beside the SG River). Bring picnic mats; potluck food, and maybe your theme can be…Funny Hats – or any other crazy theme!

2. Play HIDE & SEEK!  (v.2.0). Bring this old-school childhood game to somewhere outside of your comfort zone – like Botanic Gardens or Orchard Road (I’m pretty inclined to town because it’s probably quiet & closed!) or City Hall.

It’s simple – Set some rules, playing time & a playing boundary then break up into two teams, ‘Hiders’ & ‘Seekers’. Well, you know the rest (‘Hiders’ hide & ‘Seekers’ hunt them down).

3. OUTRAGEOUS Sports Day. Have you ever heard of Faceball? No? Well, that’s one of the outrageous sports out there!

Google ‘Outrageous sports’. Pick an outrageous sport (or a couple if you’re feeling adventurous). Then decide your playing area (open area, void deck) and start playing. This is really fun especially if you have a big group of friends.

4. MUSEUM-HOPPING! I think SGTTDT has always been pro-museums so it would be no surprise that we list them here too!

National Museum, Singapore Art Museum and Asian Civilisations Museum are all having Open Houses – you can enter for FREE! All 3 museums have some pretty interesting activities & exhibitions lined up. If you can’t decide which one to go for, Museum-hop! You’d probably have time to go all 3 (and slip in some chow time in the middle).

5. Bring Some CHEER (to anyone!). I’m sure when you’re walking out or around your neighbourhood or town, you’ll notice people who should be celebrating CNY not celebrating it at all. I usually see elderly aunties gathered under the void deck, just chilling. Won’t it be nice to do something for random people on this fine holiday? Like go around distributing CNY goodies, cookies, oranges or even chocolates?

Walk around, wish random people (or the elderly) and give them whatever you have.

Think about it – if you have 30 such goodies, you would’ve already put a smile on 30 people’s faces. (if you have 5 friends who did the same thing as you, you would’ve helped 150 people!) Sure, it might cost you a bit of $$ but I think it’ll be worth it.

6. Grab your best Camera & EXPLORE THE HEARTLANDS. With easy access to any place in Singapore these days, how about heading to the opposite end of where you live & just get lost.

I’ve been staying in the west and I can practically count the number of times I’ve gone to the Eastside (say, Tampines) in my 25 years of living!

Some places that might seem boring but actually have a lot of pretty quirky stuffs & structures – Hougang, Katong (quirky shophouses), Lakeside (there’s Chinese & Japanese Garden), Eunos… Just pick a place that you’ve never alighted at before.

7. TAKE A HIKE at new places – Labrador Nature Reserve, Punggol Waterfront, The Green Corridor, Sungei Buloh, Park Connectors, Tampines Eco Green… (you get the drift). If you’ve been slogging at work all this month, some green will do you good!

Nature has a way of calming a person (and I’m paraphrasing from some scientific study out there). Take a slow (or doubly slow if you’re not used to walking) walk around these new areas. Don’t do anything (no handphones, except to take pictures, no games, no hailing a cab). Just soak in all that green and enjoy the breeze.

(Check out NParks’s website for a list of places you can go!)

8. UNPLUG - Take a 24Hr Break from Technology. Yes, that includes the TV, the Internet & the Iphone. (I can almost hear your cries of ‘WHAT?! Siao ah!’, ‘Nooooooo!’, ‘SUPER DISLIKE!’ & other cries of anguish and proclamations of love & your supposed death should you be separated from the phone / net.)

Why? Well, because sometimes a break should really mean a break! Take the time to go back to the old school – call people instead of whatsapp /  texting. Really sit down and have a conversation with your friends without having to update your Facebook status or playing on your Iphone or tweet about something smart your friend said.

Just Unplug. Listen to the crowd & refrain from plugging in your Ipods or playing on your Iphone (even if it gets a little bit annoying). Read a book or magazine or comics. Switch off your computer – whatever’s on the Internet will still be there when you get back.

Admit it, how many times have you wished you could just get the full attention of some of your friends? Or wish that you didn’t have the irresistible urge to just tweet something or check Facebook even if you just did like, 10 seconds ago?

Just take a 6 – 8 hour break if you really feel you cannot abandon your tech stuffs for a day. Also, this will somehow prepare you should there be a technological blackout endemic one day (Choy!).

9. MAKE NEW MEMORIES at Old (about to be demolished / re-developed) Places. There’s a few places that’s already announced for re-development– Bukit brown Cemetery, the colourful buildings at Rochor Road, Old School @ Mt. Sophia.

Before they are really gone and their existence only found in history (boo hoo), go and visit these places and take pictures, have a photoshoot, take a video – anything really, to remember them by.

10. Say Hello to the Guards at the ISTANA OPEN HOUSE. (CNY 2^nd Day) The Istana is one of those places that is charming & quaint, especially with the green pastures all around the compound.

It’s only open to the public 5 times this 2012 and it’s a great opportunity to go. The programmes change almost every time, but usually there’ll be a performance and animals (from the zoo or JBP) for you to interact with. You can also go into the Istana or shake hands with the President (who would usually be roaming around too).

The thing I like to do the most is to disturb the guards. Say Hello or smile or give a little funny joke (of course, the fact that they have to remain in position is just too amusing).

(For more details: http://www.istana.gov.sg/content/istana/istana/istanaopenhouse.html)

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So there you go! 10 kooky things that will definitely keep you occupied this CNY Holiday. Whatever it is that you do, we hope you have an adventure!

To those celebrating, Have a blessed Chinese New Year. Happy Long Weekend everyone!

[ Editor's Note: Whilst some activities are pretty wacky, do make sure you carry them out without breaking any laws & without inconveniencing others. Have fun!]

Called ‘A Little Light Magic’, these monuments will have huge light installations done up by artists, art collectives and art students’ around the area.

Do you know that the Bras Basah + Bugis precinct has some of the oldest buildings in Singapore?

What ‘A Little Light Magic‘ does is highlight the structure or the beauty of these buildings itself through cleverly positioned lights that accentuate these buildings that you probably won’t notice in the day.

Some of the buildings that will be lighted up includes the Singapore Art Museum, SAM 8Q, National Museum of Singapore, The Peranakan Museum and a couple more.

I’m pretty excited because I like looking at lights & installations (it’s the first thing I look out for during Night festival too)! It also going to give the buildings a refreshing look don’t you think? (- think of how lovely the pictures will turn out).

When you’re in the area, slow down and take a chilled-out walk – you can’t miss it!

A Little Light Magic: Bras Basah + Bugis Monuments Light – Up invites you to get to know more about these buildings through light installations. Why? To quote from their website, “these buildings aren’t just architectural monuments, but are vessels of rich histories, untold stories and forgotten memories, inextricably linked to their contextual surroundings”.

Date: now – 29 January 2012
Days: Friday – Sunday
Time: 7.30pm – 9.30pm.

For more information, visit their website here.

This project is presented by the National Heritage Board.

I mean, if you go on a holiday you too would walk the streets of that country to explore the place & see what other little quirks it has. So why not do it in your own country?

The Singapore Footprints Project has a couple of guided tours for anyone who loves to walk or are looking for fun activities to do during the weekends!

It’s fuss-free, educational, FREE (!) and most importantly, fun!

Supported by NHB (that’s the National Heritage Board), the Singapore Footprints Walking Tours is formed by a bunch of tourism and hospitality undergraduates from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) who are passionate and enthusiastic about sharing Singapore’s heritage with the public.

Their main tours focuses on the Singapore River, the Civic District & the Bras Basah + Bugis precinct.

Usually when we walk or go to Bugis, we just head straight to the shopping centres or to grab some food. We’ve had the opportunity to go on the preview tour and we discovered plenty of other interesting stuff about Singapore right along the same area!

Think about it – you can go on a walk with the Singapore Footprints (their t-shirts are aptly name Walkaholics) & get your dose of heritage, then when the walk is over, you’ll still have time to shop!

The thing about going on these walks is that you can see how the tour guides are brimming with information & how enthusiastic they are in sharing all that information with us (& you).

The students, who will be your tour guides, are obviously not doing it for the money (all the tours are absolutely free) but they do appreciate any tips or monetary contributions. Not for pay of course, but just to sustain all the good work they’re doing.

You don’t have to sign up either. You just need to show up (preferably with a good pair of shoes, water & a whole bunch of friends) on the timings stated. You can even go on all the tours in that 1 day – no one’ going to stop you.

& I’ve got a feeling the enthusiastic guides will be really thrilled to see you again! We’re definitely dropping by one of these days to join in (yes, again!). Have fun walking!

———————–

Tours are happening everyday Saturday & Sunday. Here are 2 tours that you can go for:

1. SINGAPORE RIVER ROUTE
Time: 4.15PM @ Raffles Place MRT Exit B, Street Level
Tour starts: 4.30PM
In case of wet weather, meet at: Raffles Place MRT Exit G, UOB Plaza Foyer, Street Level

2. BRAS BASAH-BUGIS ROUTE
Time: 5.45pm @ Bras Basah MRT Exit E, Street Level, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Tour starts: 6.00PM
In case of wet weather, meet at: Bras Basah MRT Control Station

For more information, follow the Singapore Footprints on their Facebook Page for updates or visit their website.

It’s been a week & everyone’s busy settling into (or groaning into) the usual routine of the year after all the holiday revelry.  That also means almost everyone is or would be talking  & Facebooking about their new year’s resolutions and how they’ve been keeping or not keeping it (yes, already).

As I scrolled through the statuses of my friends on New Year’s Eve & the whole of last week,  the collective theme that’s really obvious, (all partying aside) was change.

I mean, that’s technically what resolutions are about aren’t they? Improving one’s self. Curtailing the bad & working on the good.

While I do believe that change is a constant and self-reflection & resolutions shouldn’t just be specific to New Year’s, I applaud anyone who are up for improving their own lives.

So last week I was being all kay-poh (read: nosy) with what’s happening all around Singapore (& checking up on what my friends are doing of course), when I came across a couple of interesting websites that were posted on various profiles on Facebook.  These ‘life lessons’ are pretty darn good,  realistic  & very useful to know.

And of course, all of these are meant to motivate, bring enlightenment & invoke change. (I hope it does for you too).

——
1.     16 HARSH TRUTHS THAT MAKE US STRONGER

“The only person who can make you happy is you. – The root of your happiness comes from your relationship with yourself.  Sure external entities can have fleeting effects on your mood, but in the long run nothing matters more than how you feel about who you are on the inside.”

(from: http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/04/11/16-harsh-truths-that-make-us-stronger)

2.    STEVE JOBS’ 2005 STANFORD COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

“Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love.

And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers.

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.  If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.

As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.” - Steve Jobs

(from: http://news.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html)

3.     STEVE STOUTE’S SECRET TO SUCCESS

(read full text: http://www.selfdiscipline.com/2011/09/secrets-to-success)
(image from: http://xxrhian.tumblr.com/post/6557716690/steve-stoute)

4.    A FATHER’S RULES FOR FINDING FULFILLMENT (MESSAGE FROM THE GRAVE)

• Show humility. Stand your ground but pause to reflect on what the other side are saying, and back off when you know you are wrong. Never worry about losing face. That only happens when you are pig-headed.

• Learn from your mistakes. You will make plenty so use them as a learning tool. If you keep making the same mistake or run into a problem, you’re doing something wrong.

• Avoid disparaging someone to a third party; it is only you who will look bad. If you have a problem with someone, tell them face to face.

• Hold fire! If someone crosses you, don’t react immediately. Once you say something it can never be taken back, and most people deserve a second chance.

(from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2017876/A-fathers-message-grave-My-darling-children-heres-live-lives-Daddys-gone.html)

5.     DALLAS CLAYTON

(So this is totally not a list of things  but Dallas Clayton has a really fun way of looking at things & telling it. And I really think all of us could use a little bit of childlike fun & colour!)

(from: http://dallasclayton.com)

6.    NEIL GAIMAN’S NEW YEAR WISH

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.” - Neil Gaiman

(from: http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2011/12/my-new-year-wish.html)

7.    11 THINGS TO KNOW AT 25 (ish)

(Even if it says at 25-ish, I think it’s applicable to anyone – older or younger! )

“Don’t be like that. Don’t get stuck. Move, travel, take a class, take a risk. There is a season for wildness and a season for settledness, and this is neither. This season is about becoming. Don’t lose yourself at happy hour, but don’t lose yourself on the corporate ladder either. Stop every once in a while and go out to coffee or climb in bed with your journal.

Ask yourself some good questions like: “Am I proud of the life I’m living? What have I tried this month? … Do the people I’m spending time with give me life, or make me feel small? Is there any brokenness in my life that’s keeping me from moving forward?””

(from: http://m.relevantmagazine.com/life/whole-life/features/25956-11-things-to-know-at-25ish)

8.    30 THINGS TO STOP DOING TO YOURSELF

• Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway.  Just do what you know in your heart is right.

• Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it.  If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.  Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.

• Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things.  The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.

(from: http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/12/11/30-things-to-stop-doing-to-yourself)

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Here’s wishing you plenty of fun, exciting moments & a meaningful 2012. Personally, I cannot wait for the exciting adventures we’re going to have this year!