{ On The List } Take Me Away

Well, guys, I am taking next week off to Phuket for holiday, and this is my first holiday this year so I am freegin' excited! Why said "first"? Because it sounds more exciting to me!! (But I do have other 2 coming up, yeah!) 

I am sure any girl like me would overthink before the vacation, and might "accidentally" make some purchases before the actually holiday, like new bikini, new hat, well, basically new everything. (If you didn't do it, then it's not really a holiday, it's more like an escape in my standard...) So for me, this time is kinda an escape since I haven't done any irrational shopping yet and we are flying this Sunday, so I can say the goal is to be relax and enjoy the humidity and infinity pools in tropical heaven. Life is good, isn't it? Even coming up, still lots challenges await us, but we have to recharge our souls in some ways, at least that's what I think. Don't you think?

Secondly, there are also some tips from my experiences about traveling:

1. Do not pack up too many accessories, only if you are sponsored(?!), otherwise you will end up being too cautious or losing them. That's not a very good memory.

2. Enjoy the actual moment, it's good to have beautiful images to tell the story but the most important part is sharing good times with your beloved companies.

3. Be kind, even you are not sure what is the local food content on the table, don't make a scene. You can calmly say no.

4. Don't be afraid of being lost, we love lost, that's how we found super tasty Udon in Osaka last year. 

5. Make sure you have different levels of restaurants, so then you can criticise about the food fairly. 

Lastly, although I didn't do the shopping, that doesn't mean any of you couldn't have some inspirations from my current favs, for you who are about to embrace the summer, lucky you as well!!

Have a dry week!! Heheheh

xxx Aka

Girl image here  | Bikini Pintest | Hat Seafolly | Sunglass Beach Riot | Beach bag Seafolly | Sandals Shop Bop

{ Inspiration } Shakoor Bukhuth

Hello guys, how's your day so far? Some of you might already know I have certain obsessions in image collages and here comes this graphic designer, Shakoor Bukhuth with absolutely awesome style. 

I love his style with heavy amount of mirror effect and geometry shapes, I also love the way he used one of my favourite element - feather for his project, Altern-Natives. His style is so versatile and looks fashionable. I believe his work will look good on every thing like snowboard, iphone case, dress...you name it. The colour scheme is timeless yet trendy, he is definitely very gifted!!! Anyways, I hope you all keep being inspired and have a lovely week. 

xxx Aka

Check out more about Shakoor Bukhuth here. 

{ Inspiration } David Woodward

I always love collages, especially the kind of styles with a bit retro or rustic touch. And I am so jealous because I really wan't to scoop the technique into my creative factory in my brain and produce it like crazy. Look at these great pieces of David Woodward, I love his colour scheme (fan of smoky salmon colour ) and grainy images. Hopefully one day I can step up to that level, I really hope so. 

Anyways, hope you have a great week so far and pardon my slackness this week. I really tried to have some pieces this week and I didn't like it so I rather share you with the goodness not my horrible rushed works.

It's pouring rain now and stay dry everybody!!

xxx Aka 

{ Little Talk } Pain

Photo found Flickr, edited by me.

How's your weekend guys? Just like I mentioned before I went for a 30k ride last Sunday and I took so much muscle pain as souvenir!!! This unpleasant feeling also inspires me to post about "pain" today.

There are so many different kinds of pain around. Some hurt you, some changes you and made you a different/better person. It can be really petty and trivial and still made you rather hang yourself, like my big fat curly hair in traditional Asian eyes while I was a kid. It can be very heavy and tragic but you learnt so much about it and appreciate what you already have in life. Pain normally also comes along with un-acceptance which we human always dream for. but I leant to accept it. I always try to keep this in mind:" Without pain, there's nothing comparative happiness." And I want to taste this world, and I want to experience as much as I can, so I open my arms to it, with a shout ( with a smile would be a lie because I still hate the pain) and maybe I did swear a little bit.
But I am really proud of myself this morning when I woke up, then I sang the "happy" of Pharrell Williams with my moves. I feel like I am on the top of the world. That's the pain we want to embrace and that's the sensation we need.

I said that to myself in the gym today when I couldn't move my arms anymore. Also, todays is the Academy Award, Dallas Buyers Club is another good example about pain. It's not just as simple as no pain no gain. We have all kind of strength to do anything, it's more about commitment and determination. I still have a lot to learn but I will keep it in mind. Matthew Mcconaughey and Jared Leto have shared such inspiring story and mental strength and I believe that they definitely deserve to win.

Hope you all fight your pain with an awesome attitude


xxx Aka


p.s: Original photo from here.

{ Moody Moodboard } Bitter Sweet

Images// internet, design//me

I have been thinking about making a moodboard for a while, so I started to search around then I found blush is such a beautiful colour and the resources are easy to find. Most girls secretly or officially love this dreamy colour so might not be too hard to deal with since I have never done anything like this. Honestly, I struggled massively trying to put all the pieces together and make sure the gaps are consistent, heaps redos and undos and finally I got it done. The time I spent probably can let me make a tableful of feast if nothing goes wrong. It was really a challenge making things nicely together because the more I stared at the photos I wanted to use, the more urges come up to my head. Or just I am too messy? Unlike some of girls growing up as a scrapbooking expert( which I wish I could be one) I was the tv kid watching non-stop cartoons and I still am that kid today. Oops, that just leaked out..

Anyway, I believe it is a very good training to maintain a nice balance, leave the unnecessaries and stay simple. Another lesson from the mundane today.

Nearly weekend, hang on guys!!


xxxAka


p.s. If you like my image collections, why not check out my Pinterest, it could be on your moodboards as well!

{ Little talks } The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Original image// Unsplash, graphic//me

I know it's a bit late to talk about this move, I am sure that the related articles might be everywhere already but I still want to talk about this because my love to this move was crazy enough to make me dream about those quotes and images since I sat on the cinema chair with tons inspirations few weeks back. Not to mention the humongous screen dragged me into the ocean, the mountains and the air with Walter Mitty and his fear. I guess you might know what I actually want to talk about. I would like to talk about my own fear.

 I grew up in a small city packed with concrete jungles and horrible traffic and I viewed the world from the bottom of the well because that's what every one think around me. Then I firstly walked up to somewhere near top of  Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, the pathetic me firstly realised that I seriously am afraid of height and I was totally crushed. No matter how much Andrew was trying to comfort me, I felt injured like something smacked out my soul of me, no kidding. If I have not been to that lookout, I wouldn't know how scary it is but same if I've never been there then I wouldn't know my view of the world still very naive. I hate that feeling of thinking about how high it was and I did some research, the best ways to overcome this problem is go back and face it. Really?

The other fear of mine is I couldn't really focus on what I really want. I've always hoped that I can do something more true to myself and live to the fullest and I did make changes like trying to learn scuba diving or different languages. I did feel better when I am motivated to do something different and here comes those days I was stuck with heaps so-called inspirations and still achieved nothing. Sometimes I couldn't help thinking about maybe dreams are cursed when you open eyes and they only appear when you close your eyes. Or they are just very naughty? I guess It is not just about being bold and taking risks, for me, it's about not to overthink. That's one of the reasons to create this blog and I also believe this is a good way to connect my inner self with others.

 Anyways, these are my fears and how about you? Do you have any fear to overcome?

p.s. I played around some photos with the quote in the move'' To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw close, to find each other and to feel. That is the purpose of life". I find it absolutely beautiful and the original photos you can find it from COFFEE IN THE MOUNTAINS and Unsplash.


xxx Aka

{ Inspiration } Oh, Blue Monday....again.

Monday, what else can I say? After glorious weekend and now piles of work awaiting ahead, there's no such thing can stop my itchy hands jumping between random site from another. Apart from lunch menu, nothing really caught my attention, and then,  a little quote within cute typos came across my screen(Don't ask, you know it's procrastination), somehow it did light me up a bit.

Of course, inspiring quotes sound a bit tacky, a bit...well, too healthy. But just to know the fact that quotes are from smart and great people, so bare with me, my friend. I want to share a few nice quotes with you all, to kill blue Monday this witch. And hopefully everyone will have a wonderful monday as well!

{ Inspiration } Landscape Art Porn

I seriously have an issue with height. The wild and wide bird-view angles freaked me out and it extremely make me burst into tears every single time. But you know what? I still can't resist my affections toward the bloody intriguing nature. I love the ocean and it's stubbornness, I love the mountains and they keep reminding me how fragile I actually am. I love the silence of nature cause I can't handle those awkward pauses in life, and most importantly, I got to get lost in the real world a little bit.

I wish I can tell you where I found these pictures but I collected them quite some time ago. If you recognise where the resource from, please let me know so that I can share the links for every one.

Last image you can find here.

xxx Aka

{ Inspiration } OMG! She Is Right!

Just like the title, I can't agree more with the artistic image that Swoon posted on her fantastic blog. It's the calling to rediscover the nature and promise that we will fall in love with it over and over again...It's a mysterious voice upon your ears, you know it when you standing among skyscrapers and chill wind suddenly brushing your back, and when you look and squint your eyes through the branches, you know that urge is the nature calling you and make your stomach flipped up and down... Oh well, I might go too far, but the truth is it's a bad feeling to be called up...

To see more her works and ideas, head over here.

Answer the call, my dear friends.


xxx Aka

{ Inspiration } A Year Review in 2012

When I saw these cute designs of Christmas card ideas, I felt really stressful. Why???!! Because this is absolutely brilliant and I don't know how to make it as terrific as theirs!! Honestly, I am not really a scrapbook savvy( which I wish I have that talent, damn it!) and this came across the best idea for relive the special moments. Just imagine that all the friends and family see this and have smiles on their faces.....So, I've been staring at these cards and trying to figure out an easier way to make my very own......Guess it's not gonna be easy, itsn't it?

Oh dear! The pressure is on, isn't it??!!!



xxx Aka