03 Sep 2010
by irenein Creative Business
Genuine designers/artists can not survive with only one creative output.
I’ve worked closely with 5 other designers who were also friends. Each and everyone of them have other realms to expand their minds. When graphic or web design is work; making music, movie watching, painting and cooking becomes play. The infusion of audio, visual and various sensory experiences nourish and sharpen creativity and imaginations.
Cooking – my other creative output – allows me to experiment, to hone my skills and to experience the joy of making something from scratch. Sounds pretty much like the design process, doesn’t it?
01 Sep 2010
by irenein Jibber Jabber
Most students in the North Western hemisphere are back in schools. Boohoo, summer is over! Now the question to myself is, ‘what have I done these past 2 months?’.
- Completed Belgian Integration classes. Finally, after 2 years!
- My parents had a lovely time. They get to experience and understand my life here.
- Went to Paradisio (yippee, train rides!) and visited a few popular cities in West Flanders.
- Visited Amsterdam because we were in the area. Had fun at Gentse Feesten. But otherwise, this is what you call a staycation.
- Made full use of my library membership. Read 2 fantastic Steinbeck novels. From now on it will be children’s books in Dutch.
- Ate out less, cooked more. Had our first ‘lunch’ guests. Cooking is my other creative outlet. I shall explain this in a future post.
- We watched a lots of movies. Some great, some bad and many in-between. I finally watched Taken. Was good. Sci-Fi is my thing.
- Been cleaning the house like a mad woman! But these are not mundane activities because I create low impact processes along the way.
- Purchased and installed semi see through roller shades. Not only do the shades cut out direct sunlight, they also soften up the living room.
- Doing more in depth reading and research regarding foreign exchange, namely the Euro Dollar duo. It is to my advantage to forsee the trend. Yeah, I know, sounds like gambling. In a way it is!
Well, that’s it. A quiet relaxing summer.
31 Aug 2010
by irenein Malaysia
Cheers and Happy Malaysia Day to my multiracial, multi-religion, multi-language, multi-culture fellow citizens. Let’s celebrate peace, unity and merdeka.
Selamat Hari Kebangsaan!
30 Aug 2010
by irenein Simply Green
During these warm summer months, I have attempted to be friendlier to the environment in my own ways. It is also a process in making life a bit less complicated by not having to rely on too many modern day necessities. My main objective was to reduce consumption – specifically electricity.
I think D and I are already living a rather green lifestyle. We have a well insulated mid sized house, D drives a small car, he bikes, I take the public transportation to school, and most significantly we don’t have children or pets. Below are a few new processes that I acted on this summer:
- Try buying more seasonal and local produce.
- Going vegetarian as often as I can thus reducing weekly meat intake and food cost.
- Plant herbs and vegetables, making use of the land we have.
- Instead of vacuuming, I clean the floors with rainwater and tiny amount of soap.
- Changed the settings on the dishwasher to reduce wash time and temperature.
- I recycle, but my first attempt is always to reduce. The logic: if I do not buy, I do not have to recycle.
- Soak and hand wash small laundry items and air dry. This reduces laundry load in machine.
28 Aug 2010
by irenein Human Nature, Quotes
Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well. ~ Voltaire
Don’t get me wrong, I count my blessings. But I sincerely wish that I can be more appreciative of people and things around me. I hope to be intelligent enough to not blur the lines between appreciation and convenient contentment.
Vice versa, I also wish that I am more appreciated for who I am and what I do. That I am not just mere convenience for being here at the moment. I do not wish to be an invisible soul, or a fleeting sense of contentment…
26 Aug 2010
by irenein Health, Quotes
It’s important to be heroic, ambitious, productive, efficient, creative, and progressive, but these qualities don’t necessarily nurture the soul. The soul has different concerns, of equal value: downtime for reflection, conversation, and reverie; beauty that is captivating and pleasuring; relatedness to the environs and to people; and any animal’s rhythm of rest and activity. ~ Thomas Moore
24 Aug 2010
by irenein Belgium, Happenings
Today, I’ve registered for another 2 months of intensive Dutch. Because I paid in advance and not wait till the first day of school, I also got my text book earlier. Classes are only starting 2 weeks from now! 
For some weird reason, it feels like a fire has been lighted up. I am becoming eager and feeling all ambitious again.
Can you believe that I am going through my previous lesson notes and books? My desk is like a paper war zone right now. As if I have an upcoming exam…
Well, D is giving me the looks of disbelief. Haha!
23 Aug 2010
by irenein Quotes
Mediocrity is climbing molehills without sweating. ~ Icelandic Proverb
I refuse to live a life of comfortable mediocrity. I refuse to believe this is it for me. I refuse to just exist!
21 Aug 2010
by irenein Movies, Books & TV Shows
Just finished reading another John Steinbeck novel.
East of Eden is a complicated story. The main theme revolves around the famous tale of Cain and Abel. It is also part Steinbeck’s family story on his mother’s side, plus a healthy dose of fantasies and rumors. There is no shortage of characters for the readers to love, hate, pity or admire. It is a tale full of emotions and colorful personalities.
The story started out slow, which is typical Steinbeck. Then it gains momentum as you get caught up emotionally with the characters. Many times, I find myself thinking that the same things have happened in my life, the same thoughts have ran through my mind, and yet I have differ in actions. Now, why is that?
East of Eden made me examine my own life story. I also started pondering more about my life path. What’s in store in the next corner or my life journey? How much of that is self determined?
It was a really entertaining read. But I think the ending was weak compared to the rest of the book. Maybe it is too close to Steinbeck’s reality for him to conjure up a mind blowing conclusion? One tends to be gentle to one’s family’s tale…
19 Aug 2010
by irenein Jibber Jabber, Quotes
Getting your house in order and reducing the confusion gives you more control over your life. Personal organization some how releases or frees you to operate more effectively. ~ Larry King
Sounds logic no? And believe me when I say that I know the satisfaction of getting things in order. The feeling of accomplishment when stuff are tidied and cleaned. Nevertheless, I also have to admit that endless, boring, you-have-to-do-it-or-no-one-else-will kind of house works makes me cranky. 
Previous Older Entries
RSS