Finally Finding the Glitter

Join me on my new blog, findingtheglitter, where I will be sharing posts about all that glitters in my life after finally finding what I so longed to see during the time I spent in Hong Kong. It took my heart being broken, and battling many personal demons before meeting the right person to help me bring out the glitter that has been within me, and all around me, all along -- I just needed some help seeing it. 

Closing a Chapter

{My engagement ring in 2012}

Two years and two days ago, I got engaged. At the time, I was feeling over the moon to be starting the dream that I'd always had for myself - to be happily married to a man that I love, with a home and white picket fence, and one day, children to love and nurture. Unfortunately, I was too blinded by my "dream" to see that the relationship was toxic, and that it was taking away a little piece of who I was, day by day. I had become a shadow of who my family and friends knew me to be, and for this, I knew that I could never be happy, "dream" fulfilled or not. 

After that relationship ended, and not on amicable terms, I returned home to Canada, leaving Hong Kong, and him, for good. I was embarrassed to admit to the heartache and pain that I felt when it ended, but today, after having the opportunity to share my faith journey in my Religious Education course with the Toronto Catholic District School Board (I was hired as a permanent teacher upon my return in March 2013), I felt the need to close this chapter. I chose to do it here, on the blog that I had started with the intention of documenting my journey to Hong Kong, and my experiences adjusting to life there. 

What I went through when my relationship ended, I believe, had to happen so that I could finally see and understand what it means to truly be happy. This part of my life is now over, and I am overjoyed to be sharing a new and much happier beginning with someone that I was blessed to have met after a difficult time in my life. As we celebrate 1 year together, tomorrow, I can only look back and believe that things happen for a reason, as cliché as that may sound, because I have never been more content and at peace in my life, and for this, I will never have any regrets. 

{A much happier me with David, my boyfriend - 2014}

Sneak Peek: Ocean Park

I got to spend a day at Ocean Park with some colleagues/good friends earlier this week. Here is a sneak peek at one of the many pictures I snapped while there! This little guy was just hanging out in the tank with his fellow octopodes. More pictures to come in a future post. My sister is visiting me in Hong Kong all the way from Canada over the next couple of weeks, so I apologise in advance for what will be sporadic updates on my blog. Have a great day! xo

-- Ivy 

Chinese New Year

I took a well-deserved break during Chinese New Year, not only from work, but from blogging as well! For my return post, here are some pictures that I have snapped around Hong Kong of all the CNY decorations. Hope you all have a happy and prosperous Year of the Snake! 

To my Vietnamese family and friends: Chúc mừng năm mới/Happy Vietnamese New Year! May you all: live a long life of 100 years (sống lâu trăm tuổi), have security, health and prosperity (an khang thịnh vượng), have everything go to your will (vạn sự như ý), have plenty of good health (sức khỏe dồi dào), and have money flow in like water (tiền vô như nước).

New Scarf

Spent the day in one of my favourite Hong Kong spots: the Stanley promenade on the south side of the island. Since it was a particularly chilly (by HK standards) day, I picked up a new, "100% cashmere" scarf in Stanley Market which cost me $59 HKD, or about $8 CDN. A steal for "cashmere"... Whether it is truly made out of the material advertised or not, I am still happy with my purchase since not only is it soft to the touch, but it kept me warm, too!