LIVE Your Life!!!

Life was not meant for you to just exist and wander without intention. You were created so you could LIVE!!! LIVING is an ACTION!!! Fear was meant to warn you to stop for a brief moment, and what I like to call a humble tremble from God, to keep you in check or to push you forward for the right reason. It can be powerful when it is used for what it was supposed to, and NOT to paralyze you to keep you from moving forward in your life. Healthy fear is a wise alert where it is quite humbling to the soul, and it pushes you to move forward in your life in the right direction. Not one that causes you to be stagnant, where you get in your way, and you end up making excuses every way you turn in not achieving or rising to your true potential that you were blessed to be. You were chosen and blessed to be on this earth with talents and gifts to serve others (and, my personal belief, whether you share it or not I understand, this is my belief, is I personally believe God gave me whatever gift I have, and I am supposed to do what He wants me to do with it).

You are unique. There is NO other person like you on this planet. Even if you are a twin, while similar, that twin is STILL unique. Healthy fear allows you to be ALERT so you ACT!! And then you ACT and MOVE and DO - NOT for you to stay still. Sometimes, you can even just analyze things forever due to fear, and that is called "analysis paralysis". It gets you nowhere. It does NOTHING. It all means nothing until you ACTUALLY DO something!!! Do NOT fear!! Just DO!! It is great to think things through. Once you have thought things through, JUST DO IT!!! GO OUT THERE and LIVE YOUR LIFE!!!

Know you are blessed. Know you are loved. Know you were created and chosen to be here on this earth. Life is a gift. Don't waste the time you have been blessed to be given. Don't just "exist". Don't just go through the motions in your life. Choose to REALLY LIVE YOUR LIFE!!!

Love you Guys!!!! I am grateful for you! God bless you on this 4th of July! May the Good Lord watch over you and your families! :)

Hey, It's Just a Miracle That ANYBODY Knows My Name! :)

I'm not amazed that people don't know my name. I am amazed that ANYBODY knows my name!

Every time I get just one "Follow" on Twitter, or one "Like" on my Facebook page, or one "Friend Request" on my Facebook profile, or one "Subscriber" on my youtube, or one reader on my blog, I am amazed...and humbled. I am amazed when someone I haven't seen in years reconnects with me, and I amazed when someone I have never met before in my life wants to connect with me by "following", "liking", "subscribing" or "reading" what I have to say, do and especially sing. I am amazed and humbled that there are people in all parts of the world, and in all different cultures, backgrounds, economic circumstances, regardless of whether or not they speak the same language that I do want to connect with me. It shows how the arts can be a universal language. It shows how through the arts, different cultures, that even though we don't necessarily speak the same language fluently, can still form a bond and can still understand each other. We can still communicate, and we can still genuinely show love, acceptance, and respect for one another. 

I know in terms of social media standards, nobody knows my name, but, in all honesty, to this day, I am still amazed that ANYBODY, besides the people I personally know, knows my name.

LOVE YOU GUYS!!! Thank you ALL so much for your support and encouragement! God bless!

Cindy and Isaac Practicing Before Singing for Husband's Birthday :)

I know it has been a while since I have blogged.  I have been away from home for a few weeks now.  I had a couple of interesting things happen during my roadtrip to Chicago, and things have been a bit busy with settling in at one sister's house and then the other sister's house, and then back to the other sister's house; and, of course, I had to and I am still getting used to the crazy Chicago weather again after being away from it for a couple of years.  The cold and snow seem to be never-ending. It is interesting how fast you become accustomed to NOT becoming accustomed to the crazy weather even though you lived in it for most of your life.  Yup, I have become as my Chicago friends would say...a wimp, or one of "those" people. :)  Obviously, I saw my agent and went on a few auditions in the city, and I also saw my parents, so I guess things have been fairly busy.

Plus, if you have been on facebook or following me on twitter, you may have seen my posts and tweets about my dog, Isaac, and you may have seen a video I have posted of him and my other dogs (my other dogs in that video have sadly passed on since that video and I miss them everyday obviously) "singing".  Whenever I sing at home or vocalize at home, Isaac looks at me, perks up and "sings".  Okay, he howls.  I know he is probably telling me to "be quiet!", but I must say that he looks extremely cute saying it! :)  You may have also seen my posts and tweets that because I was going to be away from home on my husband's birthday, I was going to call my husband and sing for my husband on his birthday.

So, since I needed to practice and since Isaac tends to join in whenever I practice, here is a video I posted on my facebook.  I know this may make me a "stage mom", but I will admit I think my baby is adorable so I am a proud mom. :)

To see more videos of me and Isaac, you can follow us on Twitter and Facebook!  Tell all your friends!  :)

Essentially Amazing!!!

A couple of days ago I misplaced my doTERRA Lemon Essential Oil!!!  I was so sad!!  I went back and forth for hours trying to find it!  I was determined to find it because I LOVE my Lemon Essential Oil!  Do you know why I love it so much?!!!  There is actually a REAL reason for it!!!  

Watch this news report from a Vanderbilt Hospital study that just by diffusing doTERRA essential oils in their ER, look what happened! 

Hey, with Christmas just around the corner, if you still need a GREAT Christmas gift idea,  doTERRA Essential Oils make an EXCELLENT gift!!!  It's the kind of gift that can really help change a person's life for the better!!! And their family's lives, including their pets' lives!  FOR REAL!!! In so many different ways!!!  I'm not kidding!!!

I know I am not a doctor in real life or anything like that even though I have played a nurse in a Cadence/Delnor Hospital TV commercial :).  However, I am someone who has struggled with an auto-immune disease for over 30 years, and whether I'd like to admit it or not, I have had and continue to have my share of various health issues unfortunately, especially as I get older - just like many people as they age, whether or not they want to or like to admit it.

Well, a few weeks ago, I went to my friends' Essential Oil party (see I always said I did normal housewives things! :)) and I've been hooked ever since!  I personally started to use these doTERRA essential oils, and I still cannot believe how amazing these oils have worked for me and my life!  Again, I know I'm not a doctor like the people in the video, but as someone who has had my own personal health struggles, (this is just my personal opinion so take it for what it is worth - it's free) - but in my personal opinion, I personally believe these essential oils are truly a gift and an empowerment for you to help you and your family, including your pets! Yes, there have been people who have successfully used these doTERRA essential oils with much success on their pets!!  This is, of course, not meant to abandon or to replace your hospital/medical needs and your doctor (or vet); or other healthy lifestyle habits obviously, but like they say in the video, to help and/or supplement. 

Since these oils can be used aromatically, topically and most can be ingested, in addition to, using them for helping with medical issues or health related issues, these oils can also be used for cooking, cleaning, for making them into other products, such as, skin care/hair care products, hand sanitizers, lip balms, furniture polish, insect repellents, etc. 

These oils are also 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG).

For more information on these doTERRA essential oils and to check out all the other products doTERRA has to offer, you can go to my website at:

www.mydoterra.com/therealcindychang/

 
For more information on essential oils in general, as well as doTERRA oils, there is a book called Modern Essentials: A Contemporary Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils available on Amazon.com.  It is like an encyclopedia of essential oils.  There is also a website called Aromaticscience.com that is basically a library of essential oil information with articles and research done on essential oils. There are also a lot of good information on the internet from fellow doTERRA Essential Oils users sharing their experiences and testimonials from using these oils.  

And of course, I concur with this video, just smelling the doTERRA Lemon essential oil makes me really, really happy!!
 

Thank you and hope EVERYONE has a healthy and safe MERRY CHRISTMAS and JOYFUL HOLIDAY!!

My Fan Shout Out to YOU!!!

You know, since this blog is about sharing my favorite "whatevers" with my fans, and I wouldn't have even thought to share a blog like this if it wasn't for my awesome fans, today, I am going to do a shout out to my FAVORITE of FAVORITES.... my AWESOME group of FANS!!! (I still feel so strange saying that..."my fans"...I still have to pinch myself and am in disbelief that I have ANY besides my husband and my dog! :))

I just love you guys soooo much!!!  I can't tell you enough!!! I am so grateful to this day and everyday, and on days like today, (especially, when I get such heartfelt emails from people giving me their support; encouraging me not to give up my dream to perform; telling me how much watching me on tv touched their hearts and lifted their spirits - omg, are you kidding?  In truth, it is actually the reverse because you guys actually lift mine! - defending me against any senseless negativity on the internet; and pouring out their hearts about their own dreams, and sharing a little about their own lives with me), I am reminded about how blessed and fortunate I am to have such a wonderful group of people in this world to reach out to somebody like me - a nobody - but for some reason, a few, wonderful group of people from different parts of the US and also from all over the world feel comfortable enough with me to want to connect with me.  That is such an amazing honor, and I am so humbled and so, so grateful.  You guys remind me and help me feel like I am not alone.  I thank God for you!

So, I just had to say a BIG THANK YOU to you guys!!! I just want you to know how much I appreciate the support you have given me. Your support means more than I will ever be able to express.

In addition, since some of you have shared with me that you wish you could spread the word out about what you do or what your dreams are with others, I want to give some of my fans an opportunity to do just that. That is what blogs do right?  Help spread the word?  So, once a month or periodically - since this will really depend on you guys if you want me to help spread the word about what you do - I will dedicate a post in my blog to one of you to help spread the word out about what you do or what your dreams are with others. Just submit a link of your video sharing what you do or what your dreams are, and I will be happy to post the selected video to help spread the word!  However, I suggest to keep the videos and the messages in the videos CLEAN!!! since this is family-oriented, remember! :)  It is really wonderful to share things, such as, the song you wrote for the first girl you ever had a crush on; or the gymnastics routine you won at regionals; or your dream of being a teacher; or the beautiful, original, handmade dresses you design; or the beautiful baskets you arrange that make people so happy to receive in the mail, etc) - those are all amazing, positive stories and things to share with others that has made me smile and touched my heart and can touch other people too.

Now, please keep in mind that if we do this, this will still be a learning curve for me since this is THE first time I would be doing something like this and have no idea what I am doing.  I will totally admit that. So, please be patient with me, and I will apologize in advance for any future errors I make. However, because of some of the emails I have gotten, I can hear a similar theme, and that is that people have a voice (and I don't mean a singing voice in this case - although I know some of the people that wrote me are obviously singers). I am talking about "a" voice, "their" voice, and they just want a chance to be heard. I am just trying to find a way to give you guys a chance to be heard. If there is a way I can do that. I want to try. This is my way to try to do that for you even if it is only in just a little way.  It will still be a way for you to be heard.

Maybe someday, I will be a "somebody", but right now, I am just little me. :) Thank you so much for supporting little me, this nobody, but somebody who deeply thanks you from the bottom of my heart!

Have a wonderful day!

Loving Planks

I never thought I would say this, but I actually love doing....PLANKS!!!  Yes, people, I never would have ever imagined myself ever saying that...EVER!!!

Do you know how long I have avoided doing planks? Oh, let's say at least...20 years!!! And you know what? It showed!!! YUP! I admit it! That is no secret. Remember when the world first saw me on America's Got Talent? Do you remember that chunky, middle-aged woman? While I did work out believe it or not, I avoided planks like the plague for YEARS as you could probably tell. However, after losing some weight and wanting to work on my core, I asked my awesome fitness blogging friend, Nancy Kim, (who is also a certified fitness instructor) what I could do. She recommended planks. I dreaded them, and told her I dreaded them but that I was willing to give them a try since I saw what they did for her core.

From the moment I tried doing planks after decades of avoiding them, I could feel them working EXACTLY where I wanted them to work, and I instantly fell in love with planks. I was in serious agony from the get go, and I had no idea how I was going to get through even just one minute at first, but it was great because I could feel them working, and I like it when I think something is working for me. I could see results very quickly! I want to say I saw results even within a couple of days.

Of course, I still have a long way to go (ok, I admit that my abs do not look like Nancy's :)), but Nancy said she has suggestions of variations of planks to keep things challenging so that my body doesn't get used to things since your body adapts rather quickly and that exercises get less effective as your body adapts to them. Oh my, did she say MORE challenging? Uh oh. Well, ok..I guess she knows what she is talking about. I will have to give her a call when I'm ready. But for right now, I think the 3-5 sets of 1 minute each or 1 minute and 10 seconds each is about all I can handle at the moment. When that gets "too easy",or if I don't see as much results after that, then I will see what more challenging planks to take on. Until then, the normal "less challenging" planks are plenty challenging enough for me right now! :)

Wait!...No Weight!

Hope everyone had a good Father's Day!

People have told me recently, especially those who have not seen me in a while, that they have noticed I have lost quite a bit of weight. It has been really nice to get compliments on how I have been looking healthier and better. I have gotten more compliments now in my mid 40's than I have ever gotten in my early 20's! HA HA!! :) So THANK YOU for lifting this old gal's spirits! :)

I know some of you have asked me what I have been doing to lose weight. Well, to put it briefly, I have been working with my wonderful endocrinologist and am finally getting my thyroid regulated which has gotten me started off on the right track. I also continue to lead a healthy lifestyle, as I have always done by eating healthy and exercising, which, luckily, I enjoy doing. I do core exercises I got from faceyogamethod.com that I LOVE!!! (I am actually getting abs for the first time in my life! I still have a long way to go, but even when I was skinny years ago, I never had abs before so I will give myself more time. hee hee :)); AND the BEST thing I have done for myself fairly recently that has helped me and has made the biggest difference for me personally is I started taking Shakeology! I love this stuff and cannot imagine life without this baby!

I saw this video and just had to laugh because yes, I admit I have done this too many times! Tony Horton is really funny in this!

Enjoy! :)

Thank You My First Music Teachers

This Thanksgiving Day, I want to thank my very first music teachers...my parents.

I am...

...Thankful to my parents for always having classical music playing at home or in the car. We got to listen to some of the greatest composers that ever lived and to some of the greatest pieces of music ever composed (even though I did not know who or what I was listening to at the time).

...Thankful to my parents for taking us to church and making me sing in my father's church choir. I got to see my father in his element, and not just as the strict father but also as the strict and talented choir director. He could take a group of normal, everyday people who were doctors, teachers, housewives, dry cleaning business owners, senior citizens, college students, etc., who were not trained musicians by profession but just had a love for music; and he would be able to create really beautiful music of high caliber with us.

...Thankful to my parents for making us go to all their Korean Oratorio Society of Chicago concerts that my father conducted and where my mom sang every Christmas at church over the years. I got to listen to beautiful music like the Handel’s Messiah and see my parents share their love for music with the Chicago Korean community.

I may not have been able to study or major in music and voice in school (my parents meant well. I know they just wanted me to have a better life than they did), and while I can't lie and say it wasn't heartbreaking and extremely painful not being able to and not having the support to pursue my dream to sing professionally for so long; I must say that I owe my childhood of being exposed to beautiful music to my parents. Because I grew up in a house surrounded by music and was able to listen to classical music growing up, I was able to absorb music.

So thank you my parents for being my first music teachers. That exposure to music you gave me will always be a part of me and still helps me to this day.





     

Shout out: Shear Catastrophe Leads to Shear Talent!

Some of you may have already heard by now about the worst haircut experience I have ever had at a salon, so I will apologize in advance if this post is somewhat of a repeat. Now, I will admit that I don't go to the salon all that often compared to the average person since I tend to go about only a couple of times a year. I know, not very healthy for my hair. I need to do better in that area, but I admit it is hard for me to allow myself to get regular trims since I am pretty frugal. Hey, I used to even cut my own hair! :)

But I just wanted to share this experience with you guys to show you how sometimes you may have to go through a not so good experience to lead you to a better one; and I also wanted to share this story because it is important for me to say thank you and acknowledge people, businesses, or even products whenever they make a difference in my day!

So here's my shout out for today:

A couple of weeks ago, I got the worst haircut I have ever gotten at a salon that I can remember. In the past, even if I didn't get the best haircut, I would usually just say "oh well" & I would just work with it until my hair grew back. But for the first time ever, this was something I really could not work with at all; and it was the first time that I was so desperate to find another stylist so immediately after a haircut to try to fix that haircut somehow asap. (I couldn't get myself to tell the guy who cut my hair how unhappy I was because he seemed really sweet & he was really proud of the haircut he gave me, so I didn't want to hurt his feelings & tell him how horrible it really was so I just said thank you & tipped him 20% instead of a normal 15% because I felt so sorry for him.)

But you know you got a bad haircut when even your husband who is not picky about haircuts looks at you and his face is saying, "!?#@&?!"!

I desperately did a search on the internet for the best hair stylists in the area. I came across some very nice customer reviews for a salon called Shear Talent. I called and thankfully, they were able to fit me in that day!

Jennifer, the saving stylist who was nice enough to fit me in at Shear Talent, described my hair exactly right. The first thing she said when she saw my hair after I took out the hairband I was using to try to cover my horrible haircut was, "OMG! He gave her China bangs!"

Yup, that was it! I was trying to figure out what the horrible haircut he gave me reminded me of & it was exactly that  - CHINA BANGS!!! But it wasn't just that he gave me China bangs but that he gave me the most horrible, dreadful, choppy, butchered, unblended China bangs (keep in mind, I have NEVER had China bangs in my life, and I NEVER said I wanted to have China bangs. NONE of the pictures I showed him of the style/cut I wanted before he started cutting had China bangs. Plus, I have naturally wavy hair, so call me crazy, but I don't think China bangs work very well with naturally wavy hair. Besides, I know I told the poor guy...I'm KOREAN!!! :) yes, I can joke about it now even though it wasn't too funny at the time & still isn't whenever I look at my hair in the mirror. sniff sniff :))

While I knew there was nothing that even awesome Jennifer could do about the horribly, hopeless China bangs, awesome Jennifer in all her awesomeness was still somehow able to cut my hair in a way that made the worst haircut into something I could work with enough until my hair grows out.

Obviously, I can't wait until my hair grows out, but it is nice to know I won't feel like crying as much every time I look in the mirror while I am waiting for my hair to grow out!

I wish I knew about Shear Talent before, but at least I'm glad I know about them now. And I'll just take this whole experience as a blessing since it eventually led me to Shear Talent and the great group of girls that work there! (Besides, I know there are a lot of other things worse to go through in life than a horrible haircut so I just try to keep things in perspective.)

I would be happy to go to Shear Talent again! Thank you Shear Talent & thank you Jennifer C., the owner/stylist, for making a nervous, new customer feel extremely welcome and at ease, & thank you Jennifer E., the awesome stylist who recut my hair, for being so nice fitting me in on such short notice and for helping me feel better than I did when I came in!

So, a shout out to Shear Talent because that is exactly what they are! Thank you Ladies at Shear Talent! Hope to see you again sometime!

Shear Talent is located at 1155 Commerce Suite H, Las Cruces, NM 88011 (575) 532-5555.

What IS that?!!

A couple of weeks ago, I saw what I thought looked like THE BIGGEST & strangest looking spider I had ever seen, but it didn't look like any of the spiders I had seen before back in the midwest & with all the strange new creatures I am finding out here, I wasn't exactly sure if what I saw was actually some kind of spider or some other kind of new creature. But it looked really weird. It was so strange looking that I found myself talking to it & asking it, "What the heck are you?" It never answered.

But it walked like a spider, had legs that looked like a spider's legs & I swear it had THE LONGEST legs I had ever seen on a spider - at least on the ones I've seen in Chicago anyway. The legs on this were REALLY long & thick. They looked like thick, long black wires & the body was HUGE!!! It wasn't fuzzy so I didn't think it was a tarantula.

I found out today that what I saw was a black widow. I had never seen a black widow in real life before - only in pictures. And I never knew a black widow could be THAT HUGE!!! I could swear the body was as big as my fist (I may have small hands, but I have never seen a spider with a body as big as my fist before!)

I never thought I would ever say this, but ....I really miss the small, boring spiders in Chicago! 

Yup, I now have a new appreciation for the small Chicago spiders! :) 

Another new discovery in a new place.