Moon Cake Update

Obviously my first thought was not taking this picture!

photos: L Lanneau

Parents are awesome! In spirit of Moon Festival last week, my dear parents gave me some really beautiful and no-preserved-egg-in-the-center moon cakes. Here's to family!

Chinese Moon Festival

Chinese lanterns seen during the moon festival

photo: southeastasia.org

Although the weather is still pretty steamy in New York, it's hard to believe that fall is already here. At least according to the western calendar. I know that most of us are bummed that the warm and carefree days of summer are soon no more, but there are many things to welcome about the fall - leaves transforming into gorgeous colors, a slight chill in the air and the hint of the holiday festivities on the way.

For the Chinese, this entry into the fall is honored by a Mid-Autumn Moon Festival or the Festival of Lanterns. It marks the end of the Harvest season and family and friends usually gather and celebrate together to eat moon cakes like the beautiful ones shown below and light incense as offerings to the gods. I personally am not a fan of moon cakes as there is a really salty preserved egg in the center! Instead, I usually eat around it, enjoying the sweetness of the red bean paste and reflecting upon what I enjoyed about the summer and what I have to look forward to in the fall. Happy Moon Festival everyone!

Beautiful moon cakes at the Hilton Beijing

photo: southeastasia.org

What are you doing this weekend?

This weekend is going to be perfect beach weather! 
image: vimooz.com

I hate to announce it, but the last weekend of the summer is upon us. Kids go back to school, days get shorter and we need to start unearthing sweaters (gasp). But hold on, we still have one weekend left and it's going to be a beautiful one! At least in New York. What are your plans to take advantage of this last summer hoorah?

Ice cream lifts my chi when I need it most!

image: susan chan

I am heading over to the U.S. Open. Oh and having some ice cream. It's free kid's day on Saturday at the U.S. Open and what better way to indulge my inner child during these last days of summer? If you plan to have a quieter weekend you can prep yourself by starting to bring some of the outdoors indoors in anticipation of the cooler months. Maybe that means bringing your herbs like mint and basil from outside and putting them on your window sill. Or making jam with the fresh peaches from the farmer's market. Whatever it is, do it slowly and consciously so you can be sure to make it an endless summer memory to lift your chi when you need it most.

Sabbath Manifesto

After posting this blog, this is what my plugs will look like

 photo: www.squidoo.com

I came across a site this week that has me hopeful that I can unplug from the computer more often than not. It's called Sabbath Manifesto and they explain: 

"The Sabbath Manifesto was developed in the same spirit as the Slow Movement, slow food, slow living, by a small group of artists, writers, filmmakers and media professionals who, while not particularly religious, felt a collective need to fight back against our increasingly fast-paced way of living. The idea is to take time off, deadlines and paperwork be damned....the ten principles are to be observed one day per week, from sunset to sunset."

My iphone will be sad but I'm sure it needs a rest too

 photo: www.pcworld.com

I love it and can't wait to get started. In case you want to turn your gadgets off sooner than later, I have outlined their 10 fundamental guidelines below to help us frazzled folk heal our overloaded circuits.

1) Avoid technology

2) Connect with loved ones

3) Nurture your health

4) Get outside

5) Avoid commerce

6) Light candles

7) Drink wine

8) Eat bread

9) Find silence

10) Give back 

As you see, they are mostly Feng Shui principles that help cultivate our Chi. Being a francophile, I really love numbers 7 and 8. See you again once I'm rested and frenchified!

The Art of Networking

An excellent Networking 101 tool by Lovely Design

What kind of networker are you?

a. Net-wah?

b. I sign up for everything but somehow always end up on my couch

c. I can be convincingly sociable when dragged to an event

d. I have 1 million contacts combined in Facebook and LinkedIn

The "Opportunities" section which is located on the bottom center of the Bagua is dedicated to everything that involves career, social connections, work and personal opportunities. Its color is black which in Feng Shui is represented by water, the kind of water that is deep and profound. Think for a moment where you stand in this department. Are you employed at a company and you're feeling stuck or overlooked for promotions? Are you a freelancer and find business prospects bleak? Well it sounds like your Opportunities section needs a bit paying attention to! Whether you are a brilliant networker or networking challenged, you need to literally start "stirring up the waters!"

There are many ways to do this in Feng Shui but an easy start would be to get your contacts in order. Gather and prune what you already have and create a system of how you will organize future contact information that comes in. Will you compile names in an old-fashioned rolodex like the lovely one above? Or you a tech genius and organize your your life on your computer? Whichever way you choose, be sure to make your contacts and calendar are synced to ensure that your calendar of events are flowing as effortlessly as the "ocean of people in which you swim." And most importantly, you must actually use the numbers and contact information. Open up doors for yourself, imagine the limitless horizon of opportunities. Once you've gotten this far, set your intention that this new attention you are giving to your networking will bring in innumerable opportunities that you would never have imagined!

Childhood memories

A familiar yet sometimes embarrassing sight for me growing up.  

photo: homechineserecipes.com

I had a conversation with a colleague last week that I keeps me chuckling so I guess it's worth mentioning. I was telling him that I remember when I was growing up that my mom used to keep dried orange peels all over the house. Normal for a traditional Chinese family right? Since I grew up in the States, the "different" things my parents did caused me some embarrassment. I know, not a big deal now these days when foodies are experimenting with things like grasshopper tacos and would think nothing of throwing those dried peels in some quadruple latte concoction.

As a teen though, you can imagine my horrific reaction on the morning of Chinese New Year when I was about to wash my hair and my mom informed me, "No wash your hair today. Bad luck! Wash away good things" ....."but, but Mom! I have to wash my hair!" Chinese or not Chinese, you know the scenario. Just insert whatever you want in the "wash my hair" bit.

So fast forward a couple of decades. Here I am a Feng Shui Consultant and now my best friends are you guessed it, dried orange peels and Chi adjustments. Adjustments that help cultivate one's Chi or life force/energy - exactly the thing my mom didn't want me to wash out of my hair that dreaded teen morning. I'm still chuckling.

Organizing and Helpful Organizations

Container Store employees who gave us great organizing tips and tricks!

Last night, I went to a great event at the Container Store. Yes folks, an event at the Container Store. I know that it was Thursday night and there are tons of other fun things to do in NY. But I can't help it, I just love that store!! Besides it being the mecca for complete home and office organization, it supported a great cause last night. They joined forces with Step Up Women's Network, a national non-profit women's organization whose mission is 

strengthening community resources for women and girls. Through teen empowerment programs, professional mentorship, women’s health activities and social networking opportunities, we educate and activate our members to ensure that women and girls have the tools they need to create a better future.

What I loved most about their organization is some stats that they gave us last night - someone please correct me if I got this off a bit but this is the gist - in New York, 60% of kids graduate from high school. Through the Step Up program, 100% of the girls graduate from high school! Wow!!

Overall, a beautiful and well-organized networking event that reminded me of the some of the things I believe in and the multiple opportunities available to participate and contribute to these causes. In Feng Shui, there is a section on the Bagua that is for bringing in Helpful People (bottom right hand corner) into your life. Let's not forget that we can be a Helpful Person for someone else too. Check here for more information on Step Up Women's Network. Or find an organization that speaks to you and contribute back. Volunteering to help others is really one of the best way to move your own personal chi.