I love catalogues. I used to collect them as a kid for all the pretty, glossy photos but eventually have to give it up because it took too much space.

Thank goodness for the Internet! You can read the NY Times on line, read the latest Marie Claire from my iPad (which I’m still manifesting, so it’s on it’s way!) and best of all, view catalogues from a screen – totally paperless and, no doubt, very environmentally friendly.

I am so in love with Lovely Clusters’ Fall/Winter 2011/12 Catalogue! Everything is beautifully curated and grouped together. It’s such a beauty to look at! As a bonus, some of my photographs are featured in the catalogue. Hooray!

It is such an honour to be featured alongside very talented and skilled artists from all over the world. It’s inspiring to look at, and it makes me appreciate the beauty that surrounds us all.

Thank you Lovely Cluster for this amazing opportunity! Do drop by their wonderful blog and if you’re on Pinterest, you can follow them here >> Lovely Cluster Pinterest. Have a great weekend everybody and see you next week!

xoxo,
Mabs

God morgon everybody!

It’s a beautiful day in Linköping today – wonderful especially after the wet, gloomy morning yesterday. To celebrate the wonderful start of summer (I can’t believe how long it’s taken me to embrace & be grateful for summer – I come from Malaysia and it’s eternally summer), I’m partnering up with the super-talented Sonya of Kanelstrand on a Happee Monkee giveaway.

I have some fantastic new photos I’ve taken while I was in beautiful Norway in my Etsy shop… I’m still working on the fjords ones because I feel that I need to do justice to the gorgeousness of it all.  Coincidentally, Sonya lives in Norway, which I think is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Expensive but beautiful

The giveaway entails a $30 gift certificate to one of you happy people. You can pick and choose any of the current photographs or postcards in store equivalent to the value of the gift voucher. For more details, hop on to Kanelstrand blog and find out how you can be a lucky winner!

The deadline to enter is Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 23:00 CET and is open Worldwide! Don’t wait!

1. Vanilla Pear / Felted Slipper by onstail
2. Sprouts – Mungzuki Organic Sprout Seeds by MoonlightMicroFarm
3. Dryer Pillow Sheets (SET of 3) 100% upcycled by zJayne
4. Soft & Light Hand Woven Turkish Cotton Bath Towel by Turkishtowel
5. I love peas organic cotton t-shirt by mypipsqueak
6. Organic Baby Quilt/Blanket Set by PipSqueaksBaby
7. Handmade All Natural Organic Lavender Cocoa Butter Sugar Scrub by jenzenorganics (40% off)
8. Single Large Happy Reusable Vegetable Bag by wonderthunder
9. Mason Jars Tea Towel-Organic Linen by madderroot

This is my Etsy gift-guide and favourites post for the week.

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I’m all in favour of eco-friendly, chemical-free, organic products. We’ve been hearing these words for quite a while and sometimes it can be a blur to what it means. Growing up in Malaysia, there’s little education about recycling or organic living. There is a lack of social awareness that we, as consumers, have the responsibility to do what’s right to create a cleaner, healthier environment to live in.

Having lived in Melbourne and the privilege to travel to Japan and Sweden, I’ve seen how easy it is to be more eco-friendly and conscious. We sort our rubbish, use recycling bags (instead of plastic), buy fresh produce from the farmer markets as much as possible, and have water tanks in our backyard.

I once spoke to eco-friendly Swedish designers  and they all say, every thing changes from a single decision. When we choose to invest in clothes that do not reek of chemicals; or when we buy fair trade coffee/ chocolate – we change the world and save lives. It is that powerful.

Last Sunday, Mr. G and I traveled along the canals of Linköping and I saw firsthand how people benefited from an eco-conscious way of life. Waterlilies were growing in the river; children played and swam care-freely in the water, people were painting by the shore — it was incredibly serene and relaxed. Here in Linköping, food waste are incinerated to produce 1) hot water for homes and 2) bio-fuel for the public transportation. The city is almost self-sustainable in terms of energy and most people travel by bike. It’s so obvious that people and nature can work together to produce an ideal environment to live in.

It is said that we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. We can all make a difference in our choices of today. It’s time to take a step backwards and think about what we can do to move forward with mindful consumption.

1. umbu 2. hamamhouse 3. SVillenaveArt 4. AgJoyas

Mood Inspiration: This week, I’m in the mood for a little passion. So bring out those dancing shoes, add a little spice to the bedroom and bring on for some fiery red lipstick.

Check out other European Street Team Moodboards on Star of the East’s blog.

We finally had a non-traveling weekend and it was just sooooo nice to be able to sleep in instead of chasing after the train to get to the airport. It was also Mr. G’s 30th birthday! To make it a spectacular birthday celebration, his dad came up to Sweden on Saturday as he was in the neighbourhood (Paris is close enough) for work. On Sunday, we took a little cruise along the canal that served a great Swedish smörgåsbord.

There were a few Australians on the ship and some of their friends had little kiddies waving us off with Australian flags in their hands. It was too funny! I think Mr. G got more than a little homesick there and then.

Hope you had a great weekend. The sun is shining and the birds are chirping on this hemisphere. If you’re having a chilly day, know that I’m sending you sunshiny happy thoughts as you read this. Bonjour!

Wow, I can’t believe it’s almost four months since we’ve arrived in Sweden. Time is really flying by. Now that the days are warmer, Mr. G and I are taking our bikes around town and we’re seeing beautiful sights of Linköping we weren’t able to see before. Blue skies, puffy white clouds, fields of yellow flowers, Swedish farmhouses… it is just beautiful.

Of course you must be wondering, why the gray after the sunny description? Well, I love gray for it’s simple elegance. The silver tone has a sophisticated touch to it that when put on, adds a certain warmth (ironic, isn’t it?) to a home or person.

This Monday’s moodboard, I’m featuring talented Etsy sellers from my treasury High & Silver:

1. MDcollection
2. JKphotography
3. MarysWorks
4. StarBags

Happy Monday!
Mabs

1. StarOfTheEast 2. Handz 3. mayagencic 4. TheYarnKitchen

One of my favourite colours has to be Yellow. It’s such a happy, happy colour. It says, “Hullo! Are you smiling? The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, the flowers are dancing in the breeze. Go on, have a laugh.”

These are some of the amazing stuff that’s on the Etsy European Street Team. They’re an amazing, talented bunch of people, with plenty of warmth and friendly advices. Have a great time checking them out!

Have a Happee Monday!

xoxo,
Mabs

I turned off the TV and my Facebook this morning to focus on positive reading materials. I started of with the Etsy Success reading list and then progressed to watching TED.com. The more I read and saw, the more I liked. And at times, got goosebumps all over because it was THAT GOOD. (By the way, I discovered TED. com through the reading list which has really, really good recommendations, not just on how to grow our businesses, but also on how to grow ourselves.)

I had a few pop and whizzes when I read  ZenHabits: The Small-Scale Approach to Achieving Great Things and 38 Habits Life Lessons I’ve Learned in 38 Years. Fascinating stuff.

Words. Words are great you know? I’ve built my life around words. At 7, my mom would sit me down while she peeled the potatoes and I read the newspaper to her. It was a great way for me to learn how to read and her to catch up on the news. Winning deal. At 8, I decided to master the English language so I could become a writer. That same year, I wrote my first book and scored a couple of fans. Even if it meant I had their attention span for 10 minutes. At 11, I did my first poetry recital and heartbreakingly, lost.

Then a couple years ago, I learnt that words had power. How we choose to use a word, written or spoken, has amazing magic over our lives. If you heard of Dr. Emoto Masaru and his book The Hidden Messages in Water then you know what I mean. So yes, I am constantly fascinated with words.

If you are someone who writes – a journalist, a blogger, somebody who have an ability to express themselves through words which is just about anybody, I hope you take the time to consider the sort of impact you create on others. The power of the pen (or keyboard) is truly understated.

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling like dew, upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.”
~George Gordon Byron

Even words in our day-to-day lives can impact us. What sort of words do you use to express yourself? What books do you read? What kind of music to you listen to? What thoughts do you have?

I hope, no matter what or where, when and how, that you will constantly be surrounded by words of positive energy. Words that make you laugh, words that make you feel good, words that will comfort you and words that make you feel loved. May we always be blessed by its powers.

Thank you and I love you,
Mabs

P.S.: All these photos are available for sale on my Etsy.

Are there days you mentally beat yourself up?

I have those days.

“Why didn’t I think of that?”, “Why didn’t I do that?” “Why did I do that?”… blah, blah, blah. Damn incriminating thoughts that leaves me feeling like there’s a dark cloud over my head. I don’t know if it’s being human or being a Capricorn but I constantly guilt-tripping myself with thoughts that says, ‘I’m not enough.’

Dr. Wayne Dyer says we constantly act in the habit of lack. Let’s say for example, I think I could be thinner or more successful … it may push me to take actions to compensate on my limitations. It’s like how we constantly make New Year resolutions year after year e.g. ‘I’ll lose 5 pounds. I’ll stop smoking. I’ll work less. I’ll work more… etc.’

Question is how long does it usually last?

When we act from the state of love, we start playing from a whole different level. (Stay with me on this.)

Instead of saying, ‘I’m not good enough, I should do more…” I say to myself, “I love myself, and I am worthy enough to receive.”

I am worthy enough to be successful. I am worthy enough to be wealthy. I am worthy enough to be creative. I am worthy enough to be in a good, wholesome relationship. I am worthy enough to be healthy. I am worthy enough to be loved.

When I am in that mindset (of abundance instead of limitations) I feel powerful. I don’t feel like poor-little-old-me. I feel like I can do all these amazing things for myself and receive good things. If a problem comes along, I say, I can do this. I know I can. If I don’t succeed in it, I say, ‘Hey, that’s okay, we’ll learn from that‘, and try again.

Life then becomes something quite spectacular. Life becomes a party.

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”  — Oprah Winfrey

Talking about celebrations, we have one special date coming up. Come Sunday it will be G’s and my first year ‘paper’ wedding anniversary. It doesn’t feel like a year. It doesn’t feel dated, in fact. Personally, I feel that every day since meeting G. has been a wonderful journey, like a book with stories and chapters, constantly unfolding. And I know we’ll be blessed with many more lovely stories waiting to be written.

Have a brilliant life. And expect nothing less.

xoxo,
Mabs

Note: By the way, drop by my Etsy store and say Hi. I’m having a Mother’s Day Sale at the moment until 08.05.11 and my lovely food postcards set are now 20% off! It makes a beautiful present for moms to write to their friends & family. All these photos are available for sale on Etsy.

My routine in the morning is catch up on status updates on Twitter & Facebook. It’s my way of being connected to my friends and see what they’re up to. This morning, I woke up to a bunch of grumpies. I read complains after complains e.g. not enough money, problematic country, new skills to learn etc. and it drove me nuts!

Complaining. Is that the only thing we are really good at? And what’s worst are the people agreeing. Why do we follow the consensus? Daren’t we, the ones with a brain, challenge a thought and change the way we think to shift it to something more positive?

Yes, I do admit there are days I fall into the blame trap. I have fears and doubts, worries and self-limiting beliefs. I was in a hole of self-pity for four years because I left my family and a career I loved to start a new, scary life in Melbourne. It was my choice and yet, I victimized myself with small thoughts. So, I can understand fully well why we complain and blame. Because it’s easier to do than to do take responsibility of our actions.

Taking responsibility is one of the hardest things to do for ourselves. Being the one who start the ball rolling is tough. There was this quote I read and love from a picture on the wall, Jesus said: “I never said it would be easy. I only said it would be worth it.” By the way, I’m Buddhist but I think all religions are beautiful.

My goal for this year is to lose 10 kilos. So far, I’ve managed to lose 5 kilos. I’ve been struggling to lose the remaining weight for a few months now and recently when I stepped on the scales, it barely budged. Also, I’ve recently started an Etsy shop, and after two months of working at it, still no sale.

What should I do? I could complain. I could say, there’s a recession. I could say, the scales are wrong. I could blame, whine and whinge but I’m choosing not to. Because if I’m not getting the results I want, there’s something I’m not doing right. The blame bucket stops here. Now.

After some self-reflection, I have decided to up my gym sessions and improve my portion control.  On the Etsy front, I’m increasing my store listing on Etsy to 2 – 4 new listings daily. Read sellers’ success, study the market, what works and what doesn’t. Sooner or later, something’s got to give. And it won’t be me.

I love this quote by T. Harv Eker: “Complaining becomes a habit. Focusing on the negative also becomes a habit. It’s one of the most detrimental habits you can possibly have. It can negatively impact you socially, affecting your personal happiness, but it can also subconsciously sabotage your money and success.“

By the way, I’m a huge fan of T. Harv Eker. He makes sense. I won’t ramble about him but if you have the chance to read his book or buy his audio, do it. So…

If you’re not happy about how much you earn, quit. And then learn a new skill. Start a business and provide a service.

If you’re not happy with the country. Ask yourself, what can you do for the country. What can I do to make a difference? What can I do to BE the difference?

If you’re not happy about your weight. Be health. I do healthy things for my body so that I feel better about myself.

If you’re not happy with the price you pay for a table in IKEA. Then buy a cheaper one or better, learn how to make your own. Not only will it be your creation but you discover, ‘Hey, I can make a table! Let’s see what else I can do?’

If you’re not happy about your life. The brush is in your hands and the world is your canvas. Paint a better picture.

But most important of all, stop complaining. Because the action of complaining only attracts more crap in your life giving you more things to complain about. That one I, too, learn from T. Harv Eker.

And in the unlikely event that my brother is reading this, yes, I’m taking actions to doing what I need to do to play bigger games. Thank you, you are an inspiration to me and thousands of people. You are my star. I love you.

Don’t you wish there was a yummier way to send postcards? Forget travel pictures, why not send some delicious cards to your loved ones instead?

Does your kitchen need some lovin? Hang some food-inspired 5×5″ photos to get the juices flowing.

We’re giving away a set of postcards to a lucky winner OR if you prefer a set of 5×5 food photos you can see at our Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/happeemonkee. Just let us know which is your favourite photo sets – choose from: Finnish Bread Delight, Lemony Tarty and Chewy Caramel.

For further details, go to Etsy Strut Current Giveaways.

In order to get a free set of postcards you have to do a bit of work. Hey, no free lunches okay?

Here’s How You Can Win
———————————————————————

1. Visit Happee Monkee’s website at http://www.mabletan.com and leave a comment on the Happee Monkee’s Giveaway post
2. Visit Happee Monkee on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/happeemonkee and favorite an item and the shop
3. Tweet about the giveaway and follow Happee Monkee on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/happeemonkee then leave one additional comment @happeemonkee
4. Share on Facebook and like Happee Monkee’s Facebook fanpage at http://on.fb.me/hnrUEz then leave one additional comment @happeemonkee

Reminder: You must leave your name and your e-mail address and/or website on Happee Monkee’s Blog Giveaway post so they can contact you if you win!

Contest ends April 1, 2011 * * * CLOSED * * *

Good Luck!

xoxo,
Mabs