My Shout Out: Trevor Zhou and His New Film The Waltz

As an immigrant and as an Asian American, I was very intrigued when I saw this video about a new film from Trevor Zhou. However, I don't think you have to be Asian American or an immigrant to be able to appreciate or relate to Trevor's new film.

Take a look at Trevor's campaign for his new film called The Waltz.  This film is inspired from Trevor's personal life and is told from an immigrant mother's perspective.

Our house was not the neatest house either when we were growing up; but while my parents were not and are not "as bad" as the photos about Trevor's mom's hoarding in his campaign video when it comes to hoarding, I (and I am sure many immigrants, as well as, many people, in general) can relate to Trevor's story and about his mom's hoarding. Many immigrants come from NOTHING, and leave EVERYTHING behind to start a new life in a new country for whatever reason - whether it is so that they could have a better life than they had before; or if it is because of job relocating reasons, for instance. Most immigrants around during the time I came to the US was because they wanted a better life for their family, which means, we had NOTHING and had to start from scratch. Sometimes coming from nothing teaches you to waste nothing, and that can sometimes be the very start of hoarding.

It is hard to know what reasons or motivations people who hoard have exactly, but there are probably many mental, emotional, as well as, physical reasons and repercussions of hoarding - not just for the person, but also for those around them.

I think we can all have a tendency to "hoard" something. We may all have a little "hoard" pile somewhere in our house even if it just a desk with a pile of mail or even a pile of junk food stashed somewhere for when we get the munchies. So, just because we may not be "as bad" as Trevor's mom in these photos when it comes to hoarding, I think this film can resonate with many.

I am looking forward to seeing this film! Good job Trevor and good luck with your film! :)

Click below and check out Trevor's video! Have a great day Everyone! :)

Happy Friday!: Seoul Food

Happy Friday Everyone!!

On this Friday, I felt like talking food for some reason. This Seoul born, Korean-American loves Korean food!  I think Korean food is my favorite, but I admit I don't actually eat it all that often anymore.  My husband doesn't usually like a lot of the Korean food. He isn't a big fan of kimchi, and kimchi is a MUST for Koreans, especially when it comes to Korean food. Korean food is also kind of hard to make for just one serving, so if I make Korean food, I have to make it for when I have company come over who like Korean food.  Korean food is also something that has to be eaten pretty quickly because the ingredients tend to have a lot of fresh vegetables in it, or sometimes eggs, and cannot be left over for very long periods of time once cooked.

Korean soups are among some of my favorite foods to eat, but I, unfortunately did not take any photos at the time I made them. However, here are some of the foods I did remember to take some photos of after I made them to share with you. These are from when I was having a friend over my house to eat lunch with me. See what you could have when you come over for lunch! :)  Psst! Here's a hint or tip about Koreans: Many Koreans say "Thank you" with food!! i.e., They will cook Korean food for you! wink! wink!;) So, you may want to be nice to Korean people! hee hee :)  (well, you should be nice to EVERYBODY!!!)

This is kimbop. I prefer to stuff my kimbop with a lot of "stuff" and not put as much rice in it since I actually don't eat a lot of rice. Rice actually makes me fat, so I try to avoid it even though I like rice. Kimbop is a popular dish for Koreans when going on a picnic, as well as, for packing a lunch! :)

This is dukkbokki. Dukkbokki is made with rice cake. The red chili paste makes it a spicy dish. I LOVE spicy!!! I make my dukkbokki a little different than my Koreans friends make it.  I make it more similar to the way my mom makes it. I kind of stir fry it instead of boiling it. That is all I will say of my "secret". The rest you will have to figure out. ;)

Rolled eggs (gaeran mari) is a great side dish but can also be a main dish if you want. It also makes a great snack! :) You can cut them into many different shapes, and you can also create many different variations of gaeran mari. This is just a plain one.  I have made vegetable ones with carrots and spinach, and one with seaweed for instance. They are like little, mini-omlettes. My husband actually likes rolled eggs and will eat these. He didn't like the seaweed one though. :) Hey, an Asian wife had to try you know? hee hee :)

One of the unique things about Korean cuisine is the side dishes. Spinach is one of my favorite side dishes. It is healthy, fresh and tastes sooooo good!!! :) Spinach is very easy and a must on a Korean table in my personal opinion, besides the kimchi. :)  

The thing I found about Korean cooking so far is, there are basic ways to make something, but basically, I just season and tailor to taste based on my taste and needs, so now I understand what my mom meant by "I don't have a recipe. I just do."  :)

Now, I'm craving Korean food! Well, I guess it's time to eat! Until next time! :)

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!!

Confessions of an Atypical Asian

A few days ago, my friend, Rob, sent me this photo.  Apparently, his goddaughter, Danielle, LOVES Confessions of an Atypical Asian, a little book I wrote several years ago meant to take a humorous perspective on stereotypes based on my own personal experiences.  She loved it so much that it even inspired her to start writing her own experiences!  How awesome is that?!!!  This photo just made my day!!  I was so grateful to receive such a photo, especially considering it is Thanksgiving Week!!!  What great timing!! :)

My friend said his goddaughter, who is 7 years old, takes my book wherever she goes! Seeing how my book, Confessions of an Atypical Asian, makes her so happy makes me so happy! I would love to meet her someday so I can give her a big hug to personally thank her for bringing a smile to my face! I am VERY grateful!!  I cannot begin to tell you!

I guess many of you did not know I wrote this book, or any book for that matter - well, except for maybe training manuals during my technical writing days at Lucent Technologies in Naperville, IL - so I will do a shameless little plug just in case you guys are interested. As I mentioned, this is just a simple, little book I wrote several years ago taking a humorous perspective on stereotypes, in particular, Asian stereotypes (well, because you know, I am Asian/Asian-American obviously). It is from my perspective based on my personal experiences - things that I have personally experienced either directly or indirectly (i.e, witnessed/seen).

I know adults that have read this book have really enjoyed it that they have even read it out loud to their guests at their parties and had a good time; but I also know every youngster that has read it, has really, really LOVED it, as you can see with Danielle, my friend's goddaughter. I also remember my former doctor in IL had two daughters that were about Danielle's age at the time, and they would crack up reading my book. Another person enjoys reading the book to her students.  My book really seems to be a hit with the youngsters.  You can read what others had to say of my book on my website, as well, if you would like.

You can still get this book online somewhere, but it is probably going to be cheaper to get it from my website (and if you get it from my website, then I can personally autograph it for you if you want, as well, although keep in mind that it is only me,... you know, the little Cindy you all know and love :)).  Anyway, if you want, you are welcome to get my book at:

http://www.cindy-chang.com/store

If for some strange reason the link doesn't work correctly, please let me know. You can message me here, and I will be happy to contact technical support to get it fixed. (Yes, that is the same page where you can still download my single "O Holy Night")

Happy Thanksgiving Week Everyone!  Love you Guys and thank you always so much for all your support!!!  God bless you!!!

My Facebook Profile and My Facebook Page

I just wanted to take a moment to explain my facebook profile and my facebook page since there may be some questions regarding that.

Yes, I have do have a personal facebook profile and I also a facebook page. I started the facebook page a while back because at the time, there were several pages of me other people created of me (which is perfectly fine. I didn't mind at all. I thought it was very nice of people to create positive pages of me - whoever it was.  I appreciated it and it was flattering to know people wanted to do that). I just decided to start my own page since I realized people were writing to me, and I wasn't responding, well, because I never got their emails since they were writing to me on pages that weren't pages I created.  Therefore, in order to have a place where people could actually write to me where I can actually receive their emails and where I can actually respond back to them, I created my own facebook page - place geared for people to actually be able to contact the real me and for me to respond back to them; and also provide a place that focuses more on the performing aspects of my life. (Plus, at the time I created this facebook page, people really could not find my personal facebook profile very well since I kept everything very private and primarily for personal use. My personal profile has become more public since then however. More on that below.)

My facebook profile was, as I said, very private and while still is personal and is geared more towards personal stuff (personal posts, photos, thoughts, etc), people are able to find me more easily now on facebook since I have become more familiar with how facebook works than before when I first started using facebook.  However, since my personal profile is still geared more towards personal topics, this may not really be what people are interested in reading - maybe other than people who actually know me.  I don't want to assume that people want to really know about my personal topics all that much.  Some people may want to know more about what is going on performing-wise, if any, rather than what is going on personal-wise so to speak. 

You are, of course, more than welcome to join me on my profile or just on my page, or both or neither. People can choose to join me on whichever page or profile or both, whatever works for them.  It is up to you. Some just want to know what is going on with me on my professional level (which is what the page is more geared towards, with maybe a hint of some personal at times). Some just want to join me on my profile. Some want to join me on both because there are times when I just post something on one or the other and not on both even though I try to be equal on some topics but can't always, so one audience does get left out. Again, it's not because I play favorites or anything. It is just sometimes it can work out that way.

Just wanted to clarify what and why the differences are. (Now these are the ONLY two places on facebook I am on though. The other ones are the ones other people created. Again, thank you to those people of course, but just to let you know, I only have my page and my profile on facebook besides being on twitter and youtube.)

Hope that helps clarify any confusion as to which pages or profiles are mine on facebook and why. And again, you are welcome to join me on my profile that is perfectly fine, as well as, my page if you want to. It is up to you!

Have a great day!!! God bless!!!