Ar7 Studio

Sausage Vine Flowers

4.18.26 9:21 am

I had a jasmine plant for a few years and whenever it's blooming, I'll try to stay close to it to enjoy the fragrance. It was during covid lockdown so I was always around It brought me so much joy. So when I realized the sausage vine in the backyard produces flowers with similar smell, I couldn't help but to pick some for the house! I've also had this plant since covid but this is the first year I got to enjoy it's flowers. Sometimes the best things you want is already there, you just need to walk outside.

Sausage Vine Flowers

Slow Down
4.27.26 9:37am

This Oura Ring is telling me when I'm stressed and when I'm restored. I was quite surprised by how big of a difference being outside can be. It also reminds me to focus on recovery after 2 back-to-back classes. I was gonna go to the gym at 7:30 am but after seeing my stress level for the past 2 days, I decided to slow down: steam some leftovers, make myself a big glass of honey lemon ginger drink, and just sit down to draw and journal. Watercolour is also a great medium for me coz you have to slow down for it to dry btw layers.

My Non-Negotiables
3.31.26 12:14pm

I have not been very good at setting boundaries in my life so the idea of having my list of non-negotiables is fairly new to me. At least the vocabulary of it. But somehow, here and there, I would find or squeeze in what my body and mind need. I think I have a list of non-negotiables wannabes. I want to graduate them to the actual list. But one thing I can say that has been consistent in my life that I do for myself is my hot water bottle and kettle. Whenever I move, the last thing I pack and the first thing I unpack is always my kettle. Yes, I can always boil water in a pot or micro-wave in a mug. But it's something about drinking water from a kettle. The taste is cleaner. My little green hot water bottle was my main comfort item when I was traveling by myself during the 18 months. My journal is probably my 2nd most consistent non-negotiable. I would like to make daily "alone-time" and "working with my hands" to be my 3rd & 4th.

What Brings me Joy

3.27.26 11:49 am

"Gracie napping on the hammock"

My friend Mandy shared with me yesterday that when someone asks the question "Tell me about yourself", there are many ways to answer that. One of which is to share "What brings me joy". So many things bring me joy: cooking with Jean, playing Sudoku with my sister, quality time with friends, skating, being in nature, mahjong with Mama, journaling... But one of the most zen joy I feel is simply being with our cats. They can be napping or watching the birds and we are not even touching but just being near their energies brings me joy.

Spiritual Gifts
March 26, 2026 9:46am

I was once told that gifts are things you didn't ask for, but are given nevertheless out of love. Every year for the past 10-ish years, I will be given a Spiritual gift on Ephiphany Sunday by the Madonna House in Vancouver BC in the form of a word on a small piece of paper beautifully prepared by the sisters. I think the first time I learnt about this tradition, I was able to be there physically and pick out my word for the year. But since then, the sisters at the Madonna House will always remember me and ask my sister to pick one up for me. This is the first year I actually paste the gifts (for me & Jean) on my journal. The two words are somehow connected in my head and being able to draw it out makes it even more clear.