Beautiful Views

Belated Lent Post

Lent - is a time of sacrifice for Jesus, it is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calender. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter.
By observing the 40 days of Lent, we as Christians (and some none Christians) replicate Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Lent is marked by fasting, both from food and festivities.
Whereas Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus after His death on the cross, Lent recalls the events leading up to and including the crucifixion by Rome.
Only a small number of people today fast for the whole of Lent, although some maintain the practice on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. It is more common these days for believers to surrender a particular vice such as favourite foods or smoking. Whatever the sacrifice it is a reflection of Jesus' deprivation in the wilderness and a test of self-discipline.




How come 40 Days?

• In the Genesis flood which destroyed the earth was brought about by 40 days and nights of rain.
• The Hebrews spent 40 years in the wilderness before reaching the Promised Land brought to them by God.
• Moses fasted for 40 days before receiving the ten commandments on Mount Sinai.
• Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness in preparation for His ministry.

Moses on Mount Sinai by Jean-Léon Gérôme

Image sourced from Google



What am I giving up for Lent?

I shall adapt to living a more healthy lifestyle than I currently 'follow'.. I'm going to give up on Chocolate, Chippy food (except for the once in a blue moon small portion of chips), Confectionary, Biscuits & Soft Drinks.

I cry that I sin is an anagram for Christianity.

BRaIn fART

I haven't been back for a while now, having a brain fart isn't good..

Today's topic/discussion will be Origami.

 Image sourced from Google

I.. to be honest have stopped making origami for a month now.. due to personal reasons and I'm an 'ECO warrior' lol. 

I grew up making origami.. it became a part of my life as long as I could remember... I've never been this long without folding paper into a work of art.. I remember the feeling of accomplishment I used to experience after a minute swan or crane was complete.

I also remember the urge and amazement when I saw a new origami model.. how I'd search for ages on Google, desperate to find instructions.

Sitting here typing, I recall the time when I had self taught myself how to fold the tiny stars, despite the failures I didn't give up.. only had in mind to continue folding until each and everyone of them was perfect. 

Thinking back, this was a waste of paper and time.. I could of learnt another skill such as polishing up my chess 'tacktics' or go out and prduce endorphins (exercise).

The deepest thought embedded in me is the period of time when I had the commitment to make a jar of stars and construct a 3D Swan

Anyhow.. this is all history now, I know I can't get back into making origami anymore... I can't.

Valentines Day...

Yup, I'm aware that Valentines Day is over.. but at least I'm here for a uber short post even though it's late~ 
I hope you had a good day with.. a significant other, boyfriend, girlfriend, family or even just friends in general
What did you do 2 days ago then? Tell me below ^_^
...What did I do then?
I sort-of went shopping, bought 3 dvds and 2 cds.


At HMV Breakfast at Tiffany's was on offer at a price of £2.99 with any purchase.. 

So, in order to 'validate' this, I bought 2 dvds - The Notebook and Confessions of a Shopaholic through the 2 for £10 offer.

As for the CDs, I took a trip to the local charity shop and managed to find a brand new copy of the West Side Story CD and a Catherine Jenkins CD (forgot name >_<)

I Recommend: Monet at Giverny

Image sourced from Amazon

Monet at Giverny by Caroline Holmes

Recently I've been into reading art based books on impressionists.. the best one I've flicked through is Monet at Giverny - give it a try if you haven't read it ;)

Monet's quotes are printed every 2 pages or so, very inspiring ^___^

''I am chasing a dream, I want the unattainable. Other artists paint a bridge, a house, a boat; and that's the end. They've finished. I want to paint the air which surrounds the bridge, the house, the boat; the beauty of the air in which these objects are located; and that is nothing short of impossible. If only I could satisfy myself with what is possible!''
This quote for some reason brings me to tears everytime I read it.. yes, you guys may complain/whine to me that it's not normal for a typical teenager to be thinking and saying of these deep things..

This book contains over 140 illustrations, including paintings, engravings and garden views.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Hi all! Happy Chinese New Year- or alternatively, 新年快樂 =P
Run Rabbit Run! The tiger year is out and bunny hop's in.
I here wish you all the best - new year, new start. I pray that you all will have a healthy life, those studying will do well in exams, you'll all earn lots of money -- the typical Chinese phrases to say~

Image sourced from Google

Facebook Like d(^_^)b

I'm proud to say that.. 
Zephaniah's Collection is now on Facebook!~
Theres still a few bits and bobs need jingling about on the page.. e.g. upload a photo & other random stuff
I'll also soon get round to having links to my Twitter and Youtube for this ^^ meanwhile, got a spare minute? Click on the SocialVibe widget on the right and help charities! Thank you~ x

Happy Origami Rose Edition: A Review

‘Do you still remember the paper plane and origami crane in our childhood, which brought us a lot of good memories? The simple origami gave us endless happiness in our childhood. In our daily life, origami can still be seen everywhere. Each origami shows our deep affection, including a self-folded gift-packing for friends, a personally folded rose for sweetheart etc. Origami is a game without restriction of time and place. Only a common sheet of paper is required, then we can display our imagination and creativity. Let’s re-experience the simple happiness again through a sheet of paper.
Happy Origami Rose Edition will introduce the skills to fold a rose. Through video, it will show all the procedures briefly. You can follow our video and try yourself; you will work out a beautiful production. Using it as a daily decoration or a gift, it will shoe your kind-wished life attitude and your sincerity.’

Price: Free

File Size: 88.7 MB

In this edition of Happy Origami, it shows you how to fold a rose through video and soothing music (makes me fall asleep to be honest). The high quality video clearly presents the folding methods, but I did find that some steps were a little hard to understand.

Good Points:

High quality video

Shows ratings out of 5 (being the hardest)

It’s free!

Shows preparation work (e.g. what you need)

Downsides:

Too fast, particularly for a beginner… but then again that’s that the pause and rewind functions are for…


If you have this app or have tried it, what do you think?
P.S. This is perfect for Valentines Day! Make some to polish up your origami skills and give to your significant other~~ 

Update!

Hi all~~


As you may have noticed, this blog/website has a fresh new look! I'm now participating with Google and Amazon, hence the advertisements :) 
This means that I am earning a tiny amount per visit from you - University fees hehe


But on the plus side, I can manage the adverts (particularly with Amazon) to deliver genuine products I have tried and tested, to recommend to you all.


If you scroll down after reading this short message, I have a glimpse of the Amazon Associates aStore I constructed that has some products which I do like and would like to share with you~


Until next time, take care ^^

Sudden Thought: Black Swan

Black Swan was out last Friday in the UK.. saw it on Sunday~

Initial thoughts? It was a perfect ending for her as she was.. perfect ;) 

I've just had this crazy idea of making an actual black swan... Modular Origami :) 

Should I? 

Image sourced from here