*Akeelah & The Bee*

Im actually in a rush now..
It's 10m to 6pm and the family & I are going to Encik Perempuan's (yes, that's what I call my grandma.. it's a Muar/Johor thing) place in Bandar Utama for buka puasa..
Mama's gonna scream my name anytime now so I'll make this brief..

After sahur (morning meal b4 fasting) this morning.. around 5am, while papa, mama & I were having tea in front of the tv (the others went straight to bed after eating..lol), we came across this interesting & inspirational movie on one of the movie channels, entitled "Akeelah & The Bee"..
It's about a black girl from the hood who was really good with spelling..
Lawrence Fishburne (the guy from the Matrix) was in it too..
It had quite a simple storyline.. at times predictable :p.. but there was something about the movie that got my parents and I hooked on it.. cant figure out what.. lol..

Anyhoo.. there was one part in the movie where Akeelah was questioning herself.. whether she was good enough etc.. and Lawrence F told her to read the following quote..


Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?'
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

~The interesting thing is that although the quotation is attributed in the film to Nelson Mandela, it was actually written by inspirational guru Marianne Williamson


That part moved me.. or I think the quote did..
Maybe coz I guess I have been in that situation for quite awhile now.. hmm~

Ok.. mama's calling.. gtg..
Definitely gonna write more tonight.. there's something on my mind..
Toodles~

xoxo
Elina

*The Girl Behind The Blog*

The following was what I originally wrote for my “About Me” section for the blog..

Only to realize it later that I was blabbering a lot of nonsense and to top it of.. they had a word limit to it.. LOL!
So, thinking to myself that I’ve wasted some time writing all of these, I might as well repost it as a blog post instead.. haha..

So here’s my first blog post (which was supposed to be under the ‘About Me’ section):

Come paint a picture of me with these:~

• Elina Effendi
• Daughter of Effendi & Zawiyah
• 2nd out of 4: Noreen, Me, Shirin & Norman
• Recently graduated from University of Kent, UK with BSc in Actuarial Science (Hons)
• Known as Bree Van De Kamp @ Perfectionist
• A 'girly-girl' who loves pink, flowers, dresses & handbags
• Coffee addict.. juz making cappuccino with her espresso machine in the morning can make her happy!
• Has an old-soul
• Loves musical theaters so much that it sometimes makes her heart ache..!
• Loves theaters, museums, ballets & traditional Malay dances
• Head over heels in love with Josh Groban
• Always in awe and fascinated with the history, lifestyle, architecture & fashion of the Victorian days.. the 19^th century
• Loves everything Italian.. the country, the coffee, the history, the language, the gelatos.. & even the men :p (ps: if u're Italian r at least a quarter Italian.. please do leave me a note..)
• Loves creating memories that last a long time.. hence, love scrap-booking, journal-writing, & taking pictures: behind & in front of the camera :p
• Loves interior decorating & architecture
• White & old furnitures
• Passionate & ambitious

So, like I mentioned before, my best friends said that Im a lot like Bree Van De Kamp from Desperate Housewives.. does that sums it up?? haha..
I guess maybe I am like her in a way..

Im a lil bit old fashioned I must say..
I appreciate all the finer things in life..
I like the theater, museums, the music pieces being played on the piano, the smell of coffee in the morning, the grass after the rain & the smell of a new book..

I love organizing get-togethers where love ones or friends can spend some quality time together..
with good conversations, food & good company..
It may be dinner parties, picnics, luncheons, movie marathons, vacations & road trips, or juz a plain night of board games..

I love creating memories that last a long time..
That's why I love taking pictures, scrap-booking & ultimately these cause me to become a hoarder..
My friends & family tell me that I tend to collect rubbish all the time.. but what they don't understand is that every single one of those things remind me of different memories from different points in my life..

Well I guess these leads to me confessing that I have a sensitive soul..
I appreciate every little thing so much that it is often hard to let go..
This is why Im never good with goodbyes.. and worse deaths..
Both my grandfathers past away in the year that I was sitting for my SPM exams..
Both happened in the same month..

But what happened the next year was the most heartbreaking thing I've ever experience in my life so far..

Losing Uncle Kris~
Papa's best friend..
Afiq's daddy..
My 2nd Dad..

Uncle Kris had always been there since I can remember..
He came over to the house all the time!
And I was always looking forward to him coming over with snacks & sweets..

My first-times were always with him..
The 1st time I ate sushi, the 1st time I went on a roller-coaster, the 1st time I had ice blended, the 1st time I went clubbing..
And at 14.. he was the one who thought me how to drive.. using his Mercedes.. :)
I remember when I was small, he used to ask me all the time whether I want to be his daughter.. and the funny thing was, I was seriously considering that! haha..
That was how much I loved my Uncle Kris..
Still do.. very much so~

Look at me.. just writing this makes me cry.. haha..
I guess I miss him dearly..
I didnt handle his death very well.. and I dont think I can ever get over it.. ever..
He was taken away from us just 2 days before my 18th birthday & Aunty Mashitah said that the last thing he talked about was what to buy me for my bday.. :'(
Well he was always the one with the best presents.. haha.. maybe it was just because he knows me so well..
Sigh.. I miss him so much!

OMG.. I just realised Im dedicating a huge part of this 'About Me' section to my late uncle.. lol..
See.. told you Im very sensitive! :p

Hmmm.. what else.. what else..

Well.. I believe in true love, love at 1st sight, happily ever after, and that there's a special someone for everyone.. its just a matter of finding the right person at the right place & time.. cliche but that's juz me..

And I kept telling my friends that I think I was born in the wrong decade/century..!

I love those Victorian days..
the 19th century..
where the houses and the furnitures were magnificent, the piano & orchestral pieces were out of this world, & the dresses were simply elegant & stunning!

I love the 50s too..
the style, the simplicity, and the fact that the women were so ladylike & they always dressed up whether they're just going to the shop next door or jetting off on an airplane.. :)

Owh.. on a different note.. Im a perfectionist.. which can be very tiring..
trust me~

So I guess the above is just a taste of what you'll get from reading my blog..
I tend to pour my heart out when I write..
Which can be detrimental to me.. haha..
Owh.. and I do welcome any comments from anyone..
So do drop an ink or two ya!

Cheers~ !

xoxo

Elina Effendi