AndreaLiew.com

The best things in life aren’t things – but things still make me/us happy.

Ice cream from Marble Slab with good friends drove my happiness level up today.

Peanut Butter Crunch (swiss chocolate ice cream, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup & Nestle Crunch) combined with Coffee Crisp in a waffle bowl hit the spot.

Can you tell I’m a chocoholic? :)

I’m also one of those people that read packaging (e.g. Starbucks cups).
I love Marble Slab’s simple words.

Know what else is awesome?
He’s a speaker at TEDxToronto 2010.

Neil Pasricha started his blog, 1000 Awesome Things, to cheer himself up during a bleak period in his life. His blog was a small reminder of the free, easy little joys that make life sweet. He never imagined that writing about the simple pleasures of life would amount to anything – especially not a book deal.

His site has gained a readership of millions of people (over 19 million at the time of this post), won two Webby Awards (“the Internet’s highest honor” according to The New York Times), was named one of PC Magazine’s Top 100 Sites On the Internet, and has become a place where people from around the world would come to celebrate the simple pleasures of daily life.

Neil’s first book, The Book of Awesome, has become a #1 International Bestseller since it hit the stands in April 2010. The Book of Awesome 2 comes out in Spring, 2011.

Can’t wait for Book 2? You can read the countdown to Awesome thing #1 on 1000 Awesome Things. It was launched June, 2008 and is updated every weekday.

Side note: When my book was purchased, I found out that it was already signed by Neil. The salesperson at Indigo (on John St.) said that the author had come into the store when the book was put on the shelves and asked to sign a couple – just because! A surprise autograph – awesome.

View Neil Pasricha’s TEDxToronto speaker profile here.
Follow @1000awesome

Last week, I was a delegate wannabe.

On Thursday, August 19, 2010, I found out that I am no longer a wannabe.

“Congratulations! You have been accepted to attend the 2nd annual TEDxToronto conference!”

One email CAN make your day.

‘Nuff said.

Exciting news! TEDxToronto recently announced Sol Guy as a speaker on September 30, 2010.

Who is Sol Guy?

He is a Music Visionary.
He is an Artist.
He is a Social Entrepreneur & Change-Maker.
He is a Producer.
He is Canadian.

Oh, and he is K’naan’s Manager.

But wait! He also managed the Rascalz. Remember them?

Sol has also worked closely with some of the highest profile artists of our time, such as Lauryn Hill, P Diddy, India Arie, k-os, The Roots, Outkast, Kardinal Offishall, Dead Prez, B.I.G. and The Wu-Tang Clan.

That’s an impressive resume in the music industry – but that’s not all he’s involved in.

Using the power of speech, video, and music, Sol Guy educates, inspires, and empowers young people to make a difference and improve the world around them.

Guy is co-creator and co-producer of a TV series called 4REAL, which follows celebrity guests on adventures around the world to connect with young leaders who, under extreme circumstances, are affecting REAL change. The show highlights local heroes and how they are making a difference within their communities by doing such things as providing health education, empowering youth through music, or running medical clinics.

Episodes include Joaquin Phoenix in the Amazon Rainforest, M.I.A. in Liberia, K’naan in Kenya’s Kibera, Flea (from Red Hot Chili Peppers) in Haiti, Cameron Diaz in the Andes Mountains in Peru, and Mos Def in the City of God, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

4REAL strives to inform, inspire and engage people passionate about art, culture and change.

Is it any surprise that Guy is also co-founder of an entertainment company specializing in music management and media production? Direct Current Media (DCM), combines socially relevant and commercially viable content to progress economic and social change. Mutually beneficial partnerships are built with artists and community leaders and DCM works directly with them to creatively share their stories, spread their messages and inspire movement towards a just and sustainable society.

TEDxTO released this teaser video featuring Sol Guy and his Call to Action – check it out!

View Sol Guy’s TEDxToronto speaker profile here.
Follow @solguy

I can’t wait to hear what this man has to say!

That’s right – I’m a wannabe.

I’ve never attended a TED conference, and I think the TEDxToronto one is a good place to start.

I absolutely LOVE the videos I’ve seen on TED.com (which is where this TEDx conference springs from).

TED talks are – among other things – inspiring, thought-provoking, funny, and even mind-blowing. Talks can even bring tears to your eyes if you find that special one that tugs at your heartstrings.

I have a lot of “favourites” on TED.com, but the one that really spoke to me was one by Isabel Allende (author of Daughter of Fortune) and her Tales of Passion .

The theme of the second annual conference is A Call to Action.”

Announced speakers include Trey Anthony, Creator of ‘Da Kink in My Hair; Bruce Poon Tip, Founder of Gap Adventures; Tonya Surman, Founding Executive Director of the Centre for Social Innovation; and Dr. Catherine Zahn, President and CEO of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Plus, there are more speakers to be announced!
More on the speakers here.

There are only 200 spots for delegates – the rest of the interested world will have to settle to join via satellite location or live video stream.

You can apply to attend here, but you only have until August 6, 2010 to do so.

I opted for the video application option to try to convince TEDxToronto judges to pick me as a delegate.
In the spirit of sharing, here is my vid.

Big thanks to Jon Lim for helping me – without him, my video application would not exist.

There are days when you don’t want to get out of bed.
There are days when you don’t want to talk to anyone.
There are days when you don’t want to smile.
There are days when you don’t want to laugh.

And that’s okay.

Because there will be other days when you feel like jumping out of bed, excited for the day.
There will be days when you feel like you can’t stop talking.
There will be days when you feel like you can’t stop smiling.
There will be days when you feel like you can’t stop laughing.

And there will always be someone there to talk, smile, and laugh with.

Really!

So wallow in those bad days all you want, because they probably won’t last very long.

Remember: Every new day is another chance to change your life.

Cheers to you. :)

I needed this song today.
There’s just something about it that lifts me up.
Maybe it’s because I believe in [most of] the lyrics. Or maybe it’s because I love Savage Garden – maybe because it’s catchy.

There is no official video for it, but the audio is more important: