Christmas Greeting

To all my friends and relatives and of course to all,

A warm Chrirstmas greeting from me. Just a few hours from now, we will once again welcome in our hearts the 2nd Person of the Blessed Trinity. May this Christmas be a an occasion for us to reflect with depth the real meaning of the birth of Jesus Christ. The beauty of this feast does not really lies on the value of the gifts one will receives. Instead, it is an invitation for us to imitate His life: generous self giving (loving us without measure) and detachment (although He is the King he allowed Himself to be born in a manger). May our joy during this season be measured not by the amount of gifts we receive but rather by the way we give ourselves to the others and most specially, the way we respond to the love that Jesus continues to shower us.

Merry Christmas and Happy to all.

Cristy

Seminar

Hello! I am attending a seminar right now. The schedule is not as hectic as I was imagining it. A lot of time is available to reflect on the events that are happening now in our country and in the entire world. I was following the election in United States and praying as well. What can you say about the results? Well, I continue to pray that everything will turn into something good. Coming back soon again.

Cristy

Just Checking

It has been so long before I am able to write again. I have been quite busy with urgent and more pressing things to attend to. I am quite honoured that the author of the book “Dressing with Dignity”, Colleen Hammond, visited this blog. I checked her blog as she included the link in the comment. Her blog is quite interesting. For those who would like to get ideas on clothing styles, you can definitely get them from her blog. I visited it a few times and I was impressed with the styles from various designers that she placed in the blog. Do check them out to have good ideas about what is fashionable these days.

Something Worth Reading

For quite sometime now, I have been trying to post what I read from Dressing with Dignity. Unfortunately, the system was not cooperating and there was always a failure in posting.

"And I think it's pretty obvious that the women's fashions of today are often geared toward destroying a woman's sensitivity for her femininity. When did femininity become such an undesirable characteristic?
Dr. Alice Hildebrand says that when women no longer know how to blush, it is an indication that a society is on the verge of moral collapse. If this is true, it sounds like we're in a lot of trouble" (page 8).

Sad to say, it is becoming more evident that we are indeed going to that direction. Just look around your environment and observe television shows, movies, ooncerts, etc. and surely one would get theat vibe. Can we do something about it? Of course, each one in her own little way will be able to do something. And we have to start now.

Cristy

Hello to Everyone

I have been going over some books related to fashion. There is one that I really like. I will write here some bits and pieces that I found useful so that I can share with you. Coming back soon.

Just Checking

I am now checking my blog. I did try to post several times but they were not published neither saved every time I tried to post them. Anayway, if this one works definitely I am going back to post longer.

See you.

Bella Tape

Remember in one of my posts I mentioned about Eduardo Verastegui of Bella. I managed to borrow a DVD of the said film. I have heard a lot of praises about this film and I am so excited now to see it. I will try to post my insights about the film once I saw it. I am pretty sure that there is so much to talk about it takig into account the beautiful life of the actor and the mission of the producers behind this film. I have not forgotten about the book "Dresing with Dignity". Hopefully, I will be able to share some interesting things about it soon.

See you!

Month of May

The month of May is almost ending. I hope that you made the most out of it. Ths month, I started reading a book. It is "Dressing with Dignity". I really do not know if you have heard of this book. It is quite interesting. Surely, I will post here some things from that book which I think will be of help for all of us.
Before I end, just ot remind you that the month of May is associated with The Virgin Mary. Isn't she the most perfect creation of God. She is what beauty is all about.

Coming back soon.

I am back

Sorry for my failure to post here for more than a month (I think). Hopefully, I can write more these coming weeks.

Cristy

What a week

Hi everyone,

What a week! That's right. Was I in vacation mode? Not really. It was a time for reflection. Honestly, it gave the opportunity to once again see the beauty of the Holy Week services that I attended. I was very impressed to see through these services the truths about the faith. I was greatly helped to appreciate more the liturgical services that our Mother the Church entrusted to us. They keep you grounded and help you decide and act according to our real purpose and end. Life guided by faith is further enriched to make living more beautiful. Happy to Easter to all. Sorry for the late greeting.

Cristy

Holy Week

Last Sunday was Palm Sunday. It marks the start of Holy Week. Allow me to take advantage of this post to remind you of the need to beautify our soul. Previous post, I did mention something about it. Now, is the time for us to do so taking advantage of various events to reflect on how much God has suffered for our salvation. Another thing, beautify our soul even more with the sacrament of penance (for Catholics), sacrifices and moments of prayer and reflection. How about these ways that are not costly but so much effective. Spend holy week well.

Cristy

Beauty by St. Thomas Aquinas

After posting about beauty from Audrey Hepburn, etc., I think it is now time to see what the angelic doctor said about beauty. I found something worth reading. Just part of what I saw as guide for us. Credit goes to christendom-awake.org.
"St. Thomas, in his exposition of Dionysius, holds that both God and creatures are beautiful. Since God, the supreme Beauty, is his own existence, ipsum esse subsistens, and all things have being by participating in his existence, beauty can be found in all existing beings. He [Dionysius] shows how God is the Cause of brilliance, when he adds that God with a flash sends down to all creatures a share of His luminous ray, and it is the source of all light. These glittering communications of the divine ray should be understood according to the participation of likeness. And these communications are "pulchrifying," that is, producing beauty in things."
"St. Thomas continues his exposition:

"Brilliance pertains to the consideration of beauty.... Every form, by which a thing has being [esse], is a participation in the divine brilliance. This is why he [Dionysius] adds that 'individual things' are 'beautiful according to a character of their own,' that is, in accord with a proper form. Hence it is clear that the being [esse] of all things is derived from the divine Beauty. In his Summa Theologiae St. Thomas gives three distinguishing characteristics of beauty: wholeness or integrity, proportion or harmony, and claritas which can be translated splendor, radiance, light, brilliance. The chief characteristic is claritas, 'radiance' ... beautiful things shine. The beautiful illuminates our intellectus with the intuition of understanding. The eyes and ears of our soul enable our vision to see the transcendent beauty present ontologically in all being.".

Now, let us stop here and ponder on the distinguishing characteristics of beauty: wholeness or integrity, proportion or harmony and clarity. Let us apply these charactristics on assessing the beauty of the person. It is not just the face or te\he body. It is the whole person. Think about it.

By the way, before I end, let me point out what was mentioned earlier: "beauty can be found in all existing beings". Aren't you happy that you have been created by God. Let us welcome life as life brings beauty with it.

Cristy

More Quotes

For several days now I have been trying to post but could not get through. There must be something wrong with my computer. Anyway, now it is ok. A few days ago, I found some quotes from someone who possesses classic beauty. I am referring to Audrey Hepburn. What were said are quite interesting.

Audrey Hepburn’s favorite beauty tips that she often quoted in public were actually written by the humorist Sam Levenson. Contrary to email passalongs, they were not read at her funeral. She lived them in her life.

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode, but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives and the passion that she shows.

The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.
When asked in January 1992 if she had any personal beauty secrets besides Levinson's philosophical tips, she said, "If I had them, I'd make a fortune. But I know what helps — health, lots of sleep, lots of fresh air, and a lot of help from Estee Lauder."

What do you think?

Cristy

Quotes on Beauty

I am delighted for the comments I received in my previous post. I share their opinions that indeed reading and hearing about truths that lead one to discover his path is quite inspiring. Anyway, I found some quotes on beauty which I invite you to ponder on:

"The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched but are felt in the heart". Helen Keller

"Beauty without grace is the hook without the bait" Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Beauty is the gift of God" Aristotle

It is clear beauty is not simply physical. It is deeper than that. I hope you get to understand better what beautiful is through the quotes presented above.

Cristy

Interesting Quote

I got hold of an article last year and i find it quite interesting. It has nothing to do directly with beauty but there is so much beauty on how the actor expressed his new found conviction. Remember, there is so much beauty in truth. Once you discovered the truth, in the process you discover authentic beauty in life. I am referring to the interview of Eduardo Verastegui.He was born Catholic but as he grew older he became distant from God. The conversion came at the right time when asked the following questions which made him ponder:What's the purpose of life? Why are you doing what you're doing? Why do you want to be an actor? Why are you doing these films? If you're promoting all these lies'... She started asking me all these questions, and knocked me off my horse, and I saw everything." The upshot was that Verástegui stayed in Hollywood place>—but went years without accepting any work. "I wanted to tell stories," he said, "and those stories need to have the potential not only to entertain but also to make a difference and touch people's hearts and to light a candle in the audience." Such stories, though, were few and far between. "Literally I didn't even have money to pay my rent the next month, because for three years I couldn't work at the things that were offered me... Now if I'm being faithful to God, and the other success comes, then it's a blessing. Thanks be to God. But if it doesn't come, you can never compromise your faith to obtain what the world thinks success is, because it doesn't come from God."
WE can learn so much from him. When you discovered the truth, adhere to it. It should guide your decisions in life. Hope you will also get something.

Cristy

Another aspect of beauty

Last Wednesday was Ash Wednesday. Hey, do you still know what it is all about? What am I talking about? What has it to do with my blog which is aimed to talk about beauty? Well, I should not forget that woman is not just body, she is body and soul. So there you are, I am referring to a more essential beauty. The beauty of one's soul. This season provides us a lot of opportunities to beautify our souls. So, what are we waiting for. Grab the chance of obtaining that inner beauty which in reality also leads to external beauty. Take advantage of this once a year season to grow in interior beauty which is costless and harmless.

Cristy

Short Note

Hi Everyone!

I know it should stop offering excuses for my failure to update my blog. Do bear with me. I am doino some research works so that I can post something worth reading in my blog. Soon, I will be giving you more updates.

Cristy

Sorry

It was such a hectic month of 2007. So many things happened that it was difficult for me to post something. But promise, I am back and hopefully 2008 will be a better one. I promise to go bck soon!

Cristy