Dear Sam, I’m afraid I must let you know that your singing makes me weak. How can you be so talented and barely even able to legally drink? And just when I thought I’d heard your best...
Dear Sam, I’m afraid I must let you know that your singing makes me weak. How can you be so talented and barely even able to legally drink? And just when I thought I’d heard your best...
Hello my wonderful blog readers. Â Sarah here. Â Lately I’ve been craving more online interaction with my peeps. Â In fact, on Facebook I actually got rid of 200 friends that I wasn’t...
but we’ll always have this FAB Shakira video to cherish. Â I swear, the way that woman moves her hips is mesmerizing… it should be illegal! If you’re more into live performances...
Since it’s become obvious that I can’t stop time and prevent the one year mark from happening, I’ve decided that for today’s 1 Year Commemorative Post we’ll take a more...
In celebration of being back in Manila, I thought we’d all enjoy a little Sam to start our day off right! Â It’s been at least two weeks since I shared something of his with you, so I...
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Can’t get enough of this new song by Sara Bareilles! Â It’s on continuous play in our house at the moment…. enjoy!
I thought we needed a good laugh after the heaviness of the typhoon yesterday. Â Watch this – it will crack you up! Â People are so funny…
Greetings Blog Readers – I am THRILLED to unveil our new souped-up blog, NOVAKISTAN! Â I’ve been craving a fancy blog like this for quite some time and finally had the guts to go for it...
Can’t think of a much better combo than this: Seize the Day from Newsies set to Bad Romance by Lady Gaga. It has a very old-school cool kind of feel to it… enjoy!
WAHOO! Â I’m thrilled to announce the the INSANELY ADORABLE couple are finally making it official. Â Yup, that’s right. Â Emily Miller (#2 in the long line of Miller gals) will be tying...
With nearly 1,000,000 hits on Youtube, Maggie and Lucas Thompson’s video “Minnesota Gurls” is a bonafide viral success. Nothing makes me happier than to see the next generation of...
I’ve long been a fan of these flash mob scenes that started popping up on Youtube a year or so ago.  I think you’ll really enjoy this one in Grand Central Station when  200+ individuals...
A little down-tempo number for this rainy Manila day.
Each year Beloit College publishes a list that “provides a look at the cultural touchstones that shape the lives of students entering college this fall”. Â I found it really fascinating...
This is mind-blowing! Â I’ve never seen anything like it! Â Give it 30 seconds, you’ll be hooked…
Friends in India, have you seen this done live?
On Wednesday night Jenna and I went to our very first Twins Game in the new stadium. Â To be honest, I was pretty sick of hearing all the hype about this stadium and didn’t expect the...
Minnesotans still proudly rock the ‘socks and sandals’ look (picture above of our friend Don sporting his combo at the cabin) Everyone has a fancy phone and no one knows how to use them...
Hello All- I am well aware of the fact that I’ve been a very bad blogger lately. You’ll be happy to know that I am thoroughly enjoying my time here and in classic Sarah Miller...
For those who complain that Sam Tsui does none of his own stuff, I am pleased to present his first original song! Now there’s no reason left not to become a fan… Happy...
Cebu Pacific is the exclusive Philippines airline of Novakistan. Remember when they won our hearts after the dramatic”Kindle Episode” in Shanghai?  Keep the singing, dancing and in...
I don’t usually post videos two days in a row but this parody is so hilarious that it merits some rule-breaking. Nick and I couldn’t stop laughing – highlights of the video...
Oh man, it doesn’t get much better than this. Sam doing a cover of Sara Bareilles’ King of Anything… be still, my heart!
One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice– though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your...
In coaching, one of the fundamental beliefs we hold about our clients is that they are naturally creative, resourceful and whole – meaning that they have the wisdom and ability to create...
This is definitely not my favorite of Sam’s work, but it’s a bit different than his other stuff, so I’m sure some of you will appreciate it. I’m crossing my fingers for...
Finally, a little something acoustic. Now this is much more up my alley. Hope you enjoy Paramore’s “The Only Exception.”
Seriously, this is too good not to share. In case you missed it, on Thursday Oprah reunited the family Von Trapp for the 45th Anniversary of the movie’s release. I was amazed to...
Warning: This is not a standard Novakistan post! Â I’m hoping you won’t mind though, as I’d really love to get your initial impressions. Over the past few weeks I’ve been...
This is one of the first Sam Tsui songs that got steady play on my IPOD. It’s called “Down” by Jay Sean. I think you’re going to love it as much as I do… did...
My crazy travel schedule got me off my usual Thursday Sam postings. Since I’ve been missing him, I assume you have been too! Hope you enjoy this new duet “Just a Dream.”
I’m confident that if Sam knew about Presents for Pinoys, he’d support it too! :) Enjoy this week’s mashup.
If you paid close attention, you may have noticed that Sam Tsui is frequently shown in videos with his friend Kurt, who plays every instrument known to man. I came across this amusing video...
I thought we’d deviate a bit from the norm today (being Sam Tsui’s AMAZING work) and enjoy a little vintage Mariah. I’m pretty sure this song will never get old! Come on, push...
It seems fitting that a monstrous snowstorm took out the Metrodome’s roof. Â I wonder if that’ll be the end of the Vikings playing there?? Seriously, watch this clip, it is mind-blowing...
I am well aware of the fact that I talk about my undergrad Alma Maters frequently. Â And some of you may even be thinking, jeez, why doesn’t she just move on from college and embrace her adult...
So as you all know if you read my REVERB post, INSPIRED ACTION is my theme for 2011. I’m done doing things because I should and am doing what moves me instead. Here’s a little tune...
Amazing Grace + Light Show + Techno Music = A Fun Time for All
My expat friend Naomi over at DelhiBound wrote a fantastic post that caught my eye this week. Â It captured the Expat experience so brilliantly that I thought I’d share an excerpt from it...
Hi All- One of my favorite annual traditions is to reflect on the year I’m finishing and set some intentions for the year ahead.  This year I happened to stumble across a really great tool that is...
Love, love, loving this story about the power of social media when used for good. This man had been a road-side beggar for a year in Columbus, Ohio when this youtube clip went viral, generating...
OK – I’ve had change of heart and am switching my 2011 theme song to “No Day but Today” from RENT, also sung by the fabulous Idina Menzel. While I love “Defying...
It’s been a long wait for a new release but this remake of John Lennon’s “Imagine” was worth it. I think you’ll enjoy this beautiful tribute to the victims of the...
This Monday morning inspiration is dedicated to all the AMAZING women in my life who ROCK MY WORLD on a daily basis! XOXO, Sarah
I was first introduced to the concept of FLOW during my Master’s program while taking a class on Creativity. Â We were asked to read Mihaly Csikszentmihaly’s book Creativity: Flow and the...
Got really nostalgic watching this love fest about my beloved Minneapolis/St. Paul (although may I just say that it doesn’t look like any of it was filmed in St. Paul). Makes me excited...
Am stuck in bed with my umpteenth attack of the “Manila Crud” (will NOT MISS that aspect of living in Manila – pollution really impacts your health!) Doing everything I can to...
Sam Tsui hasn’t been posting much so I was delighted to see this brand new original come through. Too bad he has to be a student too… :) Hope you enjoy it!
Dearest blog readers – This story is way too heartwarming NOT to pass along. Allow me to introduce you to Maria Aragon, YouTube’s newest singing sensation. Her version of Lady...
Awhile back I wrote about Chris Medina, whose story I fell in love with on Idol Season 10. I was instantly captivated by the unconditional love that radiates from him and the message he so...