Merry Christmas from Hong Kong!

I hope that wherever life finds you this holiday season that you are embracing the decor, and season changes that are going on all around.  It seems that everywhere I go in Hong Kong I see new decorations...some of which are quite out of place in the subtropics.  For instance, the snow that I found in the IFC mall surrounding the giant reindeer.  I've read that they are also going to make it snow inside the mall a few times a day starting this weekend.  Snow in the subtropics, that will be worth the ding-ding (aka the tram) ride to Central.  

I love this time of year.  I miss the seasonal changes that living in a four seasons climate bring but at least the randomly placed poinsettias finally make sense.  Hong Kong gets all dolled up to celebrate in style with lights, trees and music everywhere you go.  

Wishing you a very merry Christmas!!!!

Angie

Thanksgiving

Fall has arrived quite nicely in Hong Kong.  With the slightly lower temps & much needed lower humidity levels, this makes for one happy girl.  It's difficult for a girl who grew up with four seasons to think about things like decorating & dressing for fall & even Christmas when the weather still calls for flip flops in November.  

Though I will be missing my family and friends this year for Thanksgiving Stateside, I have been enjoying the little posts about being grateful that I've seen on FB.  This year I decided to join the masses in giving thanks for the 30 days of November.  And I have to say it is easier said than done to stop and focus in on the little & big things that I am appreciative of in my life.  It is much easier to complain than stop to reflect on the good things in life.  But it is much calmer and gratifying to take a moment each day to be thankful.  

So as we look forward to the yummy treats that the holidays bring our way, I hope that you too take a moment each day to be thankful for the good things in your life.

Blessings,
Angie

Happy Friday!

So the end of summer, or at least the official end of summer is here.  The temps in HK haven't yet convinced me that autumn is right around the corner but I'm sure my friends and family in the US, Canada and Europe will agree that it is.  For those of us in HK or an even warmer climate we'll have to wait a bit to unpack our boots & sweaters but the signs of the mid-autumn festival are all around to remind us of the yummy treats to come.

Change of seasons are difficult at times but always good for us.  As we leave the lazy days of summer behind and turn our focus back to a more normal schedule, whether it be back to school or back from holiday, let's prepare for all that the new season is bringing our way.  Personally and professionally I am ready for the seasons of change that are coming.  I am anticipating great things to come.  And as I wait, I am going to read, practice being patient and study so that I am prepared for whatever comes next.  I am pretty sure that waiting is one of the toughest things we do in life.  But experience and history tell us that waiting is necessary in order to be prepared for the next season.  So to quote a favorite movie of mine, "I'm preparing for rain."--Facing the Giants

Have a great weekend!  And happy Labor Day to my Stateside peeps!!!

Blessings,

Angie

Past the two year mark...

A little over two years ago I moved to Hong Kong with my husband.  It seems like just yesterday that I was stuffing things into my suitcases...and yet at times it seems like we've been here longer than two years.  I have been told that it is significant to reach the two year mark...or at least that it takes two years to get use to living in Hong Kong.  I'd say that I'm probably on the five year plan when it comes to acclimating.  I have days when I'm in love with this city, the culture, the food & the people...And I have days when I'm dying to board a plane heading away from the chaos, stress & city life.

I know that there is no perfect place to live but I am sure that it isn't easy to re-adjust your entire life in a new culture, very far from home.  I am hopeful though of the things to come in this city.  HK is an every changing, growing and vibrant city.

How about you guys?  Any advice for acclimating in a new place, new culture, new city?

Blessings,
Angie

 

Repositioning

Recently I picked up a book that was given to me as a huge trial was unraveling my world.  I started but never finished reading the book as life got busy & the book ended up on collecting dust on a bookshelf.  I must have known that 2 years into my Asian adventures that I would need to read it as I packed it up w/ a few belongs that I had shipped to Hong Kong.  The book is all about repositioning yourself to live an abundant life, not just a run of the mill, average life.  I'm about half way through "Reposition Yourself, Living Life Without Limits" by T. D. Jakes.  Even if life seems to be going okay, I fully believe that life without limits is achievable.  Attaining said life however requires some out of the box thinking and putting yourself out there.  And opening yourself up to the possibility that life really does have more to it than this.

All this being said, I am learning allot from T. D. Jakes' book.  I am hopeful that the next two years will be more prosperous, blessed and full of new adventures than I can even begin to dream about right now.  I am also hopeful that the real estate, relocation and design business that I own with my husband and our partner will grow into a full time, consistent income business.  And that my Mary Kay business will also grow.

So on that note, I will leave you with this quote from the book.  "If you don't like the way your life is going, redesign it."--T. D. Jakes

Blessings,
Angie
www.xpatlogistics.com

Summer has more than arrived here in Hong Kong.  Yesterday my husband and I celebrated Independence Day with some fellow American's at Deep Water Bay beach.  Based on the lobster-like look that all of us are sporting today I'd say that summer is here!  Not quite the same festivities that we might have enjoyed if we were still living in the US but Thai food by the gorgeous South China Sea is a good way to spend an afternoon.

So no matter what part of the globe you call home, enjoy the trips to the beach, BBQ's and fireworks of summer!

Xx,
Angie

Happy Easter!!!

Easter is always a wonderful time to celebrate!  New life, resurrection and new beginnings....are ya sensing my theme for 2012?  New!!!!  I fully believe in new beginnings, new blessings and new paths.  And I trust that the Creator of Heaven & earth has good things in store for me, and for you.  

I hope that your Easter celebration was blessed.  It was a bit cloudy and a bit cooler than I had hoped but that is okay.  The past two days of sun shine have made up for it.  

On the business side of things, a few prospects in our real estate business have given me new hope.  I am still looking to start some design projects but until then I will throw myself fully into our real estate business.  And continue to seek out the best route to grow our business in all directions.  

Blessings,

Angie

E-Design

I am now accepting new clients.  Near or far, I can provide a designer's detailed eye to help you create the perfect room.  Whether it is your office, living room or bedroom, I can help you pull together a creative, personalized space.  E-Design is a wonderful way to keep costs down as we work together via email to blend your existing pieces with a a new layout or a few new items.  Shoot me an email for more details!

Happy Monday!!!!
Angie

Happy weekend!

It's Friday night in Hong Kong and I'm ready to go for a busy weekend.  I have two appointments lined up for tomorrow morning and lots to catch up on with my online course that I started earlier this week.  I hope that you have a fun filled weekend planned ahead of you!

New beginnings and grand adventures...

Today starts the first week of my new adventure.  I have heard that confidence comes in your 30s...guess that it true.  I've finally taken the leap to focus full time on my own business.  Growing our company, Xpat Logistics, Ltd. will be my primary focus this year.  We handle all forms of orientation, relocation, real estate investment and interior design services to our clientele.  I will also be launching E-Design via this blog and our website soon.  So if you hear of anyone looking for a good designer, give me a buzz.  Much of the design process can be completed via emailing of photos, story boards and resource information.

So here's to new beginnings as I set off into deep waters of a grand adventure!

Year of the dragon

I can't believe that it is already half way through January.  Here in HK we are all getting ready to ring in the new year...Lunar New Year that is.  I can't tell you that I completely understand this holiday, 15 day long holiday, but I like it.  A week off from work, decorations, lion dances, food & candy abound.  And if I were single it would be a very profitable holiday.  As I am married, instead it will hit the pocketbook a little...as tradition is the hand out "red pockets" to single co-workers, family and children in your life as a blessing of new money for year to come.

I admit that there are many traditions that I miss from America but I am embracing some new ones along the way...so bring on the parades, fireworks and crazy lion dances!

Happy year of the dragon!  Or as they say here, Gong He Fat Choy!  (which loosely translates into wishing you good health & good fortune for the new year)

Blessings,
Angie

Lessons learned from life in HK

Happy Monday!  In Hong Kong today is still a holiday, which means no going into the office!  First lesson of working at a local firm in HK, learn to love "red days"...aka Government declared holidays.  There are many "red days" as the locals call them throughout the year, celebrating anything from the Western holidays of Christmas, Boxing Day and New Years to the local holidays like Lunar New Year & a variety of buddahist holidays.  It is normal for workers, from the least paid to the highest paid employee or boss to work over 60 hours per week in Hong Kong.  So the red days are much appreciated when they come around.


The second lesson I've learned, quite painfully at moments I must admit, is to de-clutter your world.  Moving from over 3,000 sq. ft in the US to slightly over 600sq. ft. in HK has greatly influenced the way I shop, store items and question "do I really need this item?".  Even in my mass amount of square footage in America I am sure that I could have used this lesson earlier in life.  We truly do not need as much stuff as our consumer lifestyles have made us believe.  That being said though, I am making it my goal in 2012 to find a little bit more square footage to call home in HK.


As I enjoy my "red day", I will leave you with a wish of living more fully with less stuff.  Enjoy your family, friends & furry loved ones!  


Xx Angie

Happy New Year!!!!!

Welcome to the first day of 2012!  As I looked back over the past year, well actually year and a half, I decided that it is time to try a few new things in 2012.  First new thing, start a design blog.  So welcome to my design inspiration blog.  This is where I will post things/people that inspire me to be a better person, more creative designer and healthier member of society.  I will also soon be offering E-Design services from my blog as well.  More details on that later.  For now, bring on the new adventures, inspirations and activities of the new year!