What's in a name?

What's with the name - Olivia. It seems that most people I know with that name are lovely and successful. Does one's name indeed somehow affect who one would become? Well, in that case, why couldn't I have just been named Olivia? If I was, then I might have been a part of this list of women, who's names are Olivia, and somehow serves as living proof to this theory.

Olivia Hussey

 Olivia Palermo

Olivia Wilde

P.S. As for guys, having the name Manny (which is very close to "money"), seems to be a common factor in very rich and successful men.

Do you know anyone with such names?

Let your light shine

 
Time to reach for the stars. But first... I should become a star

The events of these past few days have been, in a word - surreal. If my feet have not been firmly grounded (by my past humbling experiences and my parents' ubiquitous reminders), I would have already floated into the sky like a balloon... and popped.

***

I was in front of the mirror watching myself being "painted" with make-up and being fit into an ensemble fit for a queen.

Who is this person?

I couldn't even recognize her.

Then, I was sitting on a high chair, in front of a camera.
Voices were telling me to look up, down, left, and right.
Excellent! Beautiful!
Words that my ears were never really used to hear

It seemed like a dream. Everything felt unreal. I paused to take it all in (if I had the chance to pinch myself, I would have)... and yes, all of it was actually really happening. I was in the limelight. I was a star.

From mossy stone on the grass - a girl who spent most of her time walking very fast, alone, and unnoticed. Now, all eyes were on me.

Next thing I knew, I was watching myself on TV. I was speaking very confidently (not a trace of the girl who provided the class with their daily dosage of laughter, with her either babbling or snail-paced speech, and her mispronounced Bug's Bunny "r").

I have become Somebody. When I speak, people listen. When I walk along the halls, they see me. Whenever I end a speech, they applaud for me. When I wear something, they admire it.

I have become a very different person. But I vow to use this new "weapon" for good.

I have gone through all of the belittling experiences in my past, so that I would always keep a foot on the ground (and so I could understand others with the same plight and give them advice).

Myself as a living example, in some way, I shall serve to bring about hope... That nothing is impossible.

Others dream to reach for the stars. But my dream is to be able to inspire as many people as the stars in the sky.

Let your light shine, and be a blessing

***

So much to be thankful for. Truly, when it rains, it pours

Must Love Glass

The moment I first laid eyes on Cinderella's glass slipper from my fairytale book, I immediately fell in love with it... and one day vow to have one. And my ardent desire for this particular glass slipper effused to other glass items which I now long for as well.

Alexander McQueen Corsage Sandals

ooh la la

Maison Martin Margiela Limited Edition Glass Heels - HK$9,899 (each) & HK$19,999 (1 pair)

Words into Reality

The beauty of my desktop wallpaper is essential. I am in front of the computer 6 times a week and 8 hours a day, so I really put a lot of effort and thought into choosing my desktop wallpapers. I also change it every so often, so that I won't get bored of staring at the same scenery over and again. This obsession of mine gave me this brilliant idea (well, at least for me) - I'd add some quotes into the pictures, and these quotes would serve to guide me and inspire me. Since I would be seeing a lot of it, those words would be implanted into my mind and I would unknowingly be living by those words. And the rest I leave to God and the Universe. They will conspire to turn this words into reality. So far... I think it's working!

Giovanni Boldini

Boldini's paintings captured fashion at it's finest. He did portraits of nobel and prominent women who wore such elegant and stylish frocks. The lacy, flowing, ethereal designs could have served as inspiration to a number of designers of our time - Valentino, Marchesa, Versace, Givenchy and Elie Saab, to name a few. See the similarities in the details.

Then...

And now...

Carolina Herrera

 Elie Saab

Versace

Valentino

Marchesa