Not All Girls Like Pink

There was a time when i thought rest would never come to me. I was so physically and mentally worn out that a deep exhaustion had settled in my bones. Life was pretty much on autopilot - work, home, church, eat, sleep, repeat. No time for dreaming, no time to pause, no time for conversations or to mourn the days lost.  One October, as I settled in for the evening after a particularly long day, JT brought me my birthday present. To this day, it's still one of the best presents I have ever received. It didn't come neatly wrapped in a coloured wrapper or tied with a bow. It wasn't in a box I could jiggle to try and guess its contents, nor was it something from my list of "Things I need". Which by the way is just titles of books...books and more books.    It was instead a grey squarish chunk and it was HEAVY.  My tired arms dragged the parcel towards me and as I peeled back the packaging, my eyes darted to his face questioningly. His expression - amused with a boyish ...

This video is all kinds of happy! Should everyone's drive home from work be filled with music and singing and foot shuffles? Why, YES of course!  Brittany Howard  is the lead singer of Alabama Shakes , one of my favourite blues rock bands. Her debut solo album, Jaime, comes out in September this year and I can't wait!

This month, we experienced a tremendous loss with the passing of a family member. My uncle Allan was a fun, loving and remarkable man who was taken from us too soon but will be forever remembered. Before he passed, we visited him in hospital and he shared that he was writing a song. He only had a few lines but he sang what he had and it got him through the scary days of test after test. A couple of weeks later, his condition worsened. I came home after a particularly tough hospital visit and sat in my living room praying. I had a feeling that this song needed to be written. It was to be our song which triumphed over death. New Life Written by Allan Alexander Ignatius & Melisa Ann Music by Jason Teoh Verse 1 When I am troubled and greatly weighed My heart pants and my words they fail In Jesus I will hope and put my trust For You O Lord, strengthen my heart Chorus Pin it on the cross Your sickness and pain Pin it on the cross Your troubles and your shame...

Bible.com When I was in my twenties, I had a huge meltdown over this verse from Jeremiah 29:13.   "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." I was at a point in life where I had lost all hope and I hadn't even the strength to get out of bed. I did still flip through my bible every now and again hoping for a verse or maybe even just a word that would get me through another day.  So when I came across the word SEEK, I felt doomed. I thought to myself, "You mean I've got to get out of bed, and seek YOU? Like go out and FIND you? Aren't you like here already seeing me through this?  I worked myself into a right frenzy at the thought that God was going to pass me by or that He'd be hidden from me, His plans hidden from me because I didn't have the strength to seek. Didn't have the energy to sit and talk to Him. I laugh about this now as I finish hearing four back-to-back sermons from my pastor about...

This band reminds me of something out of the 90s riot grrrl era! They are a relatively new punk rock band and some of their tracks have an edgy alternative rock or surf rock feel to. Their lyrics are pretty genius too and the lead singer Lydia Night's only 16!!

A great new find, I'm glad I stumbled into this river!

him: i'm sorry... pls forgive me.... her: ... i forgive you. him: why? her: because you're my friend. him: ...but, I'm your boyfriend. her: no, you're my best friend. him: Can i be your husband one day? her: maybe. him: Can i use that to propose to you? her: not today. :)

My playlist for the past few weeks has been looping tracks from Australian singer-songwriter Matt Corby. I've always loved his cover of The Black Keys - Lonely Boy but his 2016 releases are definitely levels up. Since it's a Monday, check out this track called Monday. :D

Far far from the world of Gossip Girl, Penn Badgley's band MOTHXR (pronounced Mother, like obvsly) has got all the feels. Their chill vibe is sorta indie-alternative-sexy-electro-- I don't think I can label this but I'd definitely recommend a listen.

Such a beautiful score from the movie Like Sunday, Like Rain. I loved how the director let music take over a lot of the scenes carrying the emotional weight of  the characters and moments. With people who live and breathe music, I think having a sort of sad yet sweet melody lingering in the air throughout the film was really brilliant. I sorta wish my life had its own score too. Have you ever wondered what sort of music would accompany your waking moments?

It's always lovely to chance upon a little gem of a read and this is beginning to be my go-to poem when I need to find rest and peace in the midst of a busy world. The Peace of Wild Things BY  WENDELL BERRY When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

I try not to talk too much about my dark night moments here in this blog cause I never wanted this to turn into the rantings of a 30 year old. I've captured the rantings of my 20 year old life in the old blog and felt like this new space should be filled with fun stuff and all things wise. But this experience with dark nights seem to be a constant shadow that follows me through the various seasons of life. However you might describe it, be it a black dog, a dark night of the soul, cancer of the soul, a fog, trying to keep your head above water, numbness, or a ten tonne ball of lead in your gut, I've come to see it for what it is - a war raging in the depths of my being. Some days it's hard to live in my own skin. I often feel like the same insecure teenager, though a decade and a half has passed since then. Other days, it feels like  wave after wave of grief. It's like living in a constant shadow when all you want is a little bit of sunshine. I know I've ...

We were in London two years ago and chanced upon this little band busking at Trafalgar Square in Central London. They were so animated and drew quite a crowd as they sang this exact song! We loved what we heard so we bought a cd they were selling. I didn't get to listen to it till recently when I was cleaning out my cupboard and found it amidst the chaos that is my nightstand.  I don't know much about the band but I remember our trip to London was one of the best vacations Jason and I have had. Here's hoping for more vacations coupled with great music in the years to come! Happy Birthday luv! 

Ásgeir's version of Nirvana's 'Heart-Shaped Box'is pretty darn cool. Hailing from Iceland, this solo singer-songwriter's music is described as melodic folk and is just my cup of tea on these rainy evenings at work. :)

I started listening to this track before the weekend rolled round and it's sorta been on repeat since. 'Drifting' really just captivates with its guitars, sustained piano chords and lyrics. It's sort of a sad song but I mean good music is just good music no matter what the tone. It's so dreamy and sad ... much of what my weekend has been like so maybe my husband has a point... I should definitely stop listening to so many sad songs. This song was written along other music composers as a contribution to the compilation Red Brick Songs which features 15 songwriters from all across north America. If you're up for it, check out Nate Eiesland's band ON AN ON

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” - CS Lewis On a particularly rough moment in my life, I sought a counselor whose one advise helped me climb out of the pit of depression. She said that I should, renew my thoughts daily. "Start with positive affirmations," she said. "It doesn't have to be big and grand, maybe just that you will have Joy today." And so I began my day with a short prayer that I would have Joy. It seemed simple enough but on days when it was hard to pull myself out of bed I thought - fake it till you make it! And so I prayed, "Fill me with Joy, Lord." And I pushed through another day. Every day I prayed for Joy, I felt tensions releasing. Another day I survived a destructing habit, was a victory which filled me with hope. The Lord's word says in Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by ...

I discovered Ben Abraham after my friend Felicia's giddy Whatsapp message about waiting on his table at the Hyatt in Melbourne. After listening to a few songs I was already hooked. I love this particular one and the story of how it came about. I love it when songs are borne out of desperation and despair but yet speak of hope. Read about it here .

I watched the perfect movie to kickstart the new year. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty . The soundtrack for it felt like it was right out of my college playlist with songs by Jose Gonzales, Jack Johnson, Rogue Wave... well my playlist hasn't strayed very far but gosh, I was one excited cinema-goer. I just soooo connected with Walter Mitty's character in a way. Well sorta. I zone out. A lot. My daydreams don't happen like Walter's do but they kinda revolve around the coulda woulda shoulda scenario. Things I should have said. Things I could have done. Things I would do. should I? Could I? Thinking bout all these at once brought such a heavy feeling as I retreated on new years and this led to writing my first post of this year. I've been blogging since 2004 and boy has it been marvelous to look back and see how much I've grown. In thoughts and words and deeds. As I welcome in 2014, I think about words. Well I always think about words. But I was thinki...

Come October, I always think about life (more than usual) and begin to reassess and evaluate the year I've had. I also have my medical checks in October, doing my bit to take care of this life God has blessed me with. I also look forward to posting an epic and memorable blog post which I've been doing every birthday since 2004. This year however, I decided to do something a little different. I wanted to appreciate the people who have made an impact in my life and who have really helped shape me. I decided to write 30 letter to 30 individuals whom I've had a life-changing experience with. The catch was, I had to hand-write these letters. It was no easy task as I've developed carpel tunnel over the years and I feel like I'm beginning to lose the ability to do the everyday things like turn on a tap, or open a bottle of water, and even to take notes at church has become quite agonizing. The more I thought about it, the more I knew I had to do this last bit of l...

This song first caught me offguard as I was sitting in my car driving home from work. The radio station I had on generally play pop songs on repeat so this was a pleasant surprise. Of course when you hear something this awesome you just have to Shazam it and I found Brooke Waggoner ! Her lyrics are simple and yet, just beautiful. Fresh Pair Of Eyes 'Cause I want to be seen With a fresh pair of eyes The single white tree In a black hood of disguise I want, I want to be seen With a fresh pair of eyes The single, the single white tree In a black hood of disguise I miss God, I miss God I miss God, I miss God