m u s i n g s

Last Work Day of 2011

2011-12-30T22:11:00.003+08:00

Time check : 10.11pm

Still in office happily slogging away. It's the last working day for the year and the last quarter end for 2011.

I am happy with how things have turned out this Q. Glad to have nice colleagues and boss who drink and laugh together.

Looking forward to the new challenges in 2012.

Till next year ... *yawn*

Cant wait to get in bed and be ready to count down to the new year !

Tis the Season ... and an excitement ahead

2011-12-22T14:30:00.003+08:00

Gifts from my fellow workmates ( OPL nail polish set from Sephora , The Cocoa Spoon , Crabtree and Evelyn - rosewater hand therapy , The Body Shop room diffuser , Macaroons from TWG and Chocolates from everywhere ..)

And to top it off , this is the Xmas gift I bought for myself .. new pairs of heels from JWest :) Love it.

I am also intending to get myself a camera , a wallet and a bag ... OR maybe I shall not.

RE: Excitement

As I should be saving for MAY. Oh yes MAY !!!

Fingers crossed.

2011 - The Major Milestones

2011-12-20T10:45:00.005+08:00

2011 has been a year full of fulfillments.

I got married to my boyfriend of seven years and we have been married for five months now. Friends and families often asked how it feels like to be married. My answer is always the dreadful housework ! Truthfully it is more than that. It is a dream come true.

We finally have a home we call our own. We end the day together and start the day together. We still joke , laugh , piss each other off like we used to.

Staying together seems to drive us back to our times in Birmingham. I cook more now. Trying new dishes like what I did back in uni days.

This year I finally switched to a job that I feel more stable in. I hope and cross my fingers that I would be able to stay and grow here.

This year I have learn alot about friendship and family. I guess this will always be a non stop learning experience. As I believe as one ages, one turns wiser.

I never thought that I would go to the gym so obediently. This year is an exception. Thanks to my gym buddy cum gym rat ( Lainey !) for the motivation. I feel stronger during each session of combat and spin training. Though I still feel like fainting sometimes. Heh.

And to top it off , this year I feel more like an adult. Even though I should be feeling like one already. There is a sense of added responsibility ( in a good way ). I have more control and definately fiercer than before. It must be the combat training !! Haha.

Goodbye 2011 .. you will always be one of the best years of my life :) Muacks !

Wedding Last Night

2011-12-19T17:44:00.003+08:00

At Cindy and Danny's wedding dinner @ Mandarin Oriental

It's great to attend wedding dinners with close friends, no awkwardness , just pure joy

A beautiful wedding of a lovely couple. Very touching speeches by the groom and the bride which I almost teared. And no thanks to my husband who kept rubbing my back to tell me 'everything is ok . I felt slightly embarassed as there were other guests at our table. Heh.

Nonetheless , it was a really beautiful wedding.

I am looking forward to all the weddings of my buddies , there are so many to look forward to ! I guess I will be very touched and no 'back rubs ' can definately stop me. Note to husband - just prepare a BOX of tissue. I cannot wait for that day to come for all my besties. The thought of it is already so exciting !! Just can't wait.

The Best Sleep

2011-12-16T10:36:00.002+08:00

Is holding hub's hand and falling asleep.

The best sleep I had since days.

I found my remedy. :)

Alfie's Bday

2011-12-14T14:33:00.005+08:00

Ms Alfie , my sweet little friend
Twelve Cupcakes for her sweet tooth

Sexy pose ~ woo

With Tess and Alfie .. the goovy gang

Fighting for the spot for "Angelina Jolie's" lips

We are not drinking wine but healthy enzyme instead , yummylicious .. I can drink it all day

With Jasmine , the leader of the groovy gang - the craziest and sexiest one !

I love them they are much fun to be with :) Thanks to them for always bringing so much laughter in my life , be it at work or outside work , there is never a dull moment with them. It is hard to have great colleagues who turn into great pals. That is why I treasure this friendship of ours so very much.

The merry making people ... my people :)

almost brought the house ( @Honzen ) down ... I hope we didnt scare off the customers

never a dull moment

Thanks guys for the laughter filled evening and Happy Bday to my sweetest friend Alfie !! MUACKS !!

Next up : Xmas Celebration ... cant wait !

When things go wrong

2011-12-14T11:04:00.003+08:00

It goes wrong all at once.

The circle line went down. I took a long walk from cityhall to work. My phone apps does not work. Not even after rebooting. My sleep is still in debt. Head still goggy. Work assignment got stuck. Not sure how to resolve without making someone angry.

Everything seem to be so wrong and I have no idea why luck is so down. No support whatsoever.

Gift for Myself

2011-12-13T18:09:00.003+08:00

I am a sucker for all things nice. It is easy to guess what makes my heart ticks. But the one that really turns me on is a camera that takes amazing shot with a single click. It is NOT easy to find one that suits my criteria but this time I guess I have found the one.

I am more than convinced after coming across a series of travel photos taken by this 'baby'. The photos are AMAZING in my opinion. It is like finding the love of your life. But in this case - a camera. Am planning to go down to the store to touch and feel it. If everything feels right. I am _ _ _ _ _ _ this 'baby' home.

Explosion

2011-12-13T16:25:00.002+08:00

I am going to explode !

* pumps into a big ball , floats away and bursts into the air !*

Yeaaaaaaaaaa...................

Still A Sleepyhead

2011-12-12T14:09:00.002+08:00

Damn it !!

I am having serious sleep disorder , I had insomnia last night and woke up feeling like a zombie. I hate the fact that it is a Monday and it is making the blues seem really blue. If I have an energy bar , mine will be flicking around the 20% margin. I am so damn tired and it is really no joke. I need to seriously SLEEP.

But how ??

I have no idea what is causing my insomnia. It seem to be getting worse. Remember last week I had the same problem but last night was worse ! Insomnia I hate you.

This is Xmas

2011-12-09T15:28:00.004+08:00

Tis the season to be jolly ...

Santa's hat on our wedding portrait

Jazzing up Precious Thots , I love the collection so much esp the Vespa set
Typography in da house

Props for my husband to dress up as Santa , he promise he will do it :)

Fav candy canes meant only for Xmas

The almost invisible super mini tree , hope to get a bigger one by next yearThe pretty flower and our paintings

Not forgetting to jazz up my favourite space where I perform my 'magic'

Check out my chic apron.

Gifts for my babies .... I love stacking them up

My Xmas gift last year from the office gift exchange , it has finally 'see' the light. Acts as a great companion in the night.

I love my home. Thank you husband.

The Tale of the Sleepyhead

2011-12-09T14:09:00.002+08:00

I am in serious sleep debt. I overslept today and rush to work like a mad woman. BUT ... I was still the earliest at work ! Just because the rest got stuck on the highway due to road accidents which causes the huge jam. Phew boy was I lucky !

Anyway I am not. I almost slipped on my heels and even had to forgo my daily cup of coffee. My eyes can barely open. Seriously.

And I had the strangest dream last night. I dreamt of my brother's wedding. It was so bloody real and I was following him throughout the day and felt like it is all natural to be there. When I woke up I was still thinking about the wedding and wondering why I was in bed and NOT at the wedding. Strange. And weirdest of all , the bride that I saw in my dreams was his ex gf XJ - OMG.

Seriously , what is going on in my head ?

My brother will surely kill me if I tell him about my ridiculous dream.

Sidenote: Mr Rudd , the deep sleep potion has no more effect on me anymore , I need double dose of deep sleep and no more dreams potion. Period.

To be continued ....

No Right Mind

2011-12-08T14:21:00.002+08:00

It has been three nights of disturbed sleep. There are so much dreaming going on that I often woke up in a terrible exhausted state.

Today is no better.

Today is the worse of all days. I felt as if I did not sleep a wink. I kept tossing in bed. Dream more dreams. And even hurt my neck.

Really hate the feeling of having unexplainable sleepless nights.

Every morning , waking up became such a chore , the first thought that went through my mind : " Is it a Sat ? " When the realisation hits me I get disappointed right away. It sucks to drag yourself up. And that is why I love weekends so very much.

I am feeling so damn awful. I hope the clock will tick faster to my bedtime.

I can barely open my @_@

Happy Wedding Day

2011-12-06T15:21:00.005+08:00

Today is the wedding of one of the most amazing friend which I made during my early years of working life. She is not my co worker but we became friends by bumping into each other at the common toilet. The toilet was where our friendship blossomed.

I have left my first job for about three years now. I did not keep in touch with any of my ex colleagues. But only this friend of mine the one I always meet at the ladies.

We got engaged right about the same time. She got married in a yacht. I followed shortly after a year or so. We shared the same JP who solemnised both our weddings. And today she is going through her traditional ceremony. I am excited for her as how excited I was for my own. It reminded me of the adrenaline rush , how NOT sleepy at all I was.

It was an amazing feeling.

Congrats Gen , see you tonight !

Tori & Dean

2011-12-05T16:19:00.003+08:00

Due to the limited numbers of channel available at home I have been kinda stuck on WE Channel. My days and nights are glued to this channel and I have a serious crush over this 'newfound' family. I have no idea who Tori and Dean was and which shows they have acted in but their life as a family seems really cool to me. By far the coolest celebrity couple I have ever seen. I love their life , love the way they carried their life. Despite being a celebrity and all, they are able to withhold some form of normalcy in their life.

It's the perfect show to come home to.

And sad to say the WE channel only has outdated episodes , the latest this season is featuring the birth of their 3rd child ( which I googled to find out ).

They have become my newfound idols.

Sidenote: I am feeling 'very free' and thus resulting in many random posts.

My Desired Wishlist !

2011-12-05T14:18:00.003+08:00

1. Garment Steamer for my never-ending pleated to the core ! dresses ( P.L.E.A.T.S. are a pain in the ass )
2. Vaccum with turbo power , 2000 watt or more to suck up all my fallen hair and the never-ending cotton balls from the carpet

Phew! ... I could have just shouted out my wishlist.

Santa's list

2011-12-05T14:01:00.003+08:00

Gifts for the kiddos in my life ...
As much as I would like to give everyone in my life a Xmas gift , I have my limitations. Limited in time to shop , wrap and limited cash ( if only my hubby can start giving me shopping allowance haha ). I turn to streamlining my gift list BUT it never always work - I tend to give out more than I intended.

So this year the wonderful number of gifts I am giving out is a total of twenty. Oh yea TWENTY. Not even including my husband's.

Good thing I started the Xmas shopping earlier , all is settled except for three gifts. I love the idea of having a Secret Santa , its saves time for guessing. How ingenious.

The trickest gift I am trying to get is the one for the office exchange. No wishlist. Just a budget. For a person whom I am not very familiar with. Dang. Stuck.

New Shades

2011-12-05T13:53:00.004+08:00

It's the real thing this time :)

Thank you to my company I take that as my bonus.

Year End Break

2011-11-30T16:48:00.003+08:00

As I begin to see more and more of my workmates go on their year end break I start thinking of my own. Well not for this year.

In the new year , I will have a better plan of my work schedule. I have started to day dream of the places that I would want to explore.

I love travelling. The best part of travelling is the process of discovery. Discovering new food , new adventures. Taking in new sights. Breathing air that is supposedly fresher.

I have a few places in mind and I shall gather my travel khakis real soon.

Work Halt

2011-11-23T17:19:00.003+08:00

So the main system is down and we are all kinda stuck. I am staring blankly at the system while the inbox keep popping with new mail notifications. I checked FB , read my emails , read a bit of Yahoo news and it is still not yet time to knock off. I even went to the toilet to take a 5 secs snooze. I am terribly exhausted from my period. Period.

I am looking at my inbox , emails are still streaming in and it is kinda scary. Can imagine the mad rush that is going to come when the system is up.

Let's not think about it.

Let's think of what I am going to do when I get home.

Am suppose to go for a movie date with hubs but I am just too exhausted.

My plan is to finish up the leftover mustard soup , take a nice warm bath and laze for an hr or so , plonk my butt on the bed and SLEEP.

Sleeping makes me really happy.

The Names that Some Parents Give

2011-11-22T12:03:00.005+08:00

Read this article on Yahoo! Singapore. I find it so amusing. But I feel for the kids.

In most countries there is an authority that acts as the body to prevent parents from giving their child the most ridiculous names. Kudos to those parents who simply wants to give their kid a hard time.

Here's some of the highlights :

In Sweden , a parent named their kid " Brfxxccxxmnpccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb1116"

Poor kid , I won't want to be friend with him cos I wont want to send him birthday cards.

In China , a parent named their kid " @ "

WTF ?!!

In New Zealand , a pair of twins is called " Fish and Chips "

Kinda cute at first but not when they turn 20.

Read the article here.

Wacko Bday Week

2011-11-21T17:33:00.007+08:00

The Red Velvet Cupcake from Twelve Cupcakes .. the best red velvet so far

To satisfy the bday boy's cravings ...

Where's the hammer ? Found the nail instead.

This title was suppose to go on STOMP. ( we could have exploded this matter )

Can you imagine we found this horrid looking nail right in the middle of our dish ? Totally unacceptable.

Anyway bringing some smiles after all the URGHs.

Happy Bday Big Boy.

Bday treat #1 : Art Class

Rudd with his vespa. Me and my fugly mini coop. We got drenched on the way. But overall it was quite fun.

Bday treat #2 : Failed. Didnt happen. Still on waiting list.

Bday treat #3 : Buffet Dinner at Pan Pac's Global Kitchen

I am sorry to say but it sucks big time ! ( dun try )

So what's a bday without the HOO and the HAA ?

p.s. I am so sorry my dear , all my bday treats kinda sucks. I wanna laugh and cry at the same time. For better luck next year !

Quiet Friday

2011-11-18T10:53:00.002+08:00

There is only a few 'mice' in the office today. The rest are out for the conference.

I am not sure if I should say we are lucky or not to be in office. But time is passing very slowly .....

So slow that I had to go online and find things to perk me-self up and that is when I came across a page on cameras.

Slurps. Delicious looking semi pro cameras.

Creative photo filters - toy camera , hi key etc. Interchangeable zoom lens. No need to digitially enhance photos. Lighter than a DSLR. I am sold.

I am very very tempted by it.

By then I look into my pocket and found not a single dime in it.

Hubs turns 28

2011-11-17T18:01:00.002+08:00

17 is a very special date.

We got together on Feb 17.

Our wedding date is on July 16 but Rudd prefer to THINK that we got married on the 17th.

And Nov 17 is Rudd's bday.

We live on the 17th floor of TGV.

And we try hard to find and do things related to 17.

That pretty much explains the hoo-haa over the seventeenth of every month.

And we plan to have 17 kids.

Just Kidding !

Happy Bday Hubby !

Social Network

2011-11-17T17:45:00.003+08:00

Am not a fan of social network , I don't like tweeting ( for what ?!) , I don't like friendster and I am using FB for the sake of staying in contact but not without a good amount of 'blockage'.

It's becoming such a dangerous and irritating place to be in. Random photos , random quotes it all kinda irks me.

Of course there are two sides of the coin. One of which is the better side where I can get round to chatting with my friends and catch up on the latest happenings.

I guess I can explain myself better , the part which irks me the most is when I realise how 'irritating and nonsensical' some friends really are.

Am going to block them now. Haha. Goodbye.

The Bimb in Me ...

2011-11-14T15:54:00.003+08:00

Out of impulse I bought this SPARKLY nail polish from Metro yesterday while waiting for the hubs to finish his lesson. I really think he ought to pay for it, if not for him I would not be left out of the cage !

Anyhoooo I love the sparkly colour and its the latest from The Muppets Collection !!

Laine and Claud wanna borrow ?? Lets have a sparkly Xmas together ! woohoo

Hubs Bday Week

2011-11-14T11:22:00.004+08:00

It's hard to take a proper pic so here's the man and his beer , watch out for that beer belly !!

This is probably one of the most anticipated week in our household. It's the hubs 28th bday ( old boy !) and I have began planning for his bday months before.

No details have been leaked and I am going to make sure it stays that way. I love to keep him in suspense. I love to see his " oh please tell me what are we going to do " expression but I will not tell. Oh no way am I going to break the surprise.

Dinner for One

2011-11-11T14:32:00.002+08:00

This was my dinner on a spontaneous weekday.

Kailan checked. Salmon checked. Egg checked. Mushrooms ( leftovers) checked.

Note: Serving pax just for ME

It was absolutely divine.

Brum Xmas German Market

2011-11-09T17:07:00.009+08:00

One of the many little stalls that gets me excited with Xmas knick knacks

Birmingham City Council glows in the wintery night , it looks magical doesnt it ? That is exactly how I remembered it.

The annual Frankfurt Xmas Market where we get to nibble on Toffee Apples , sip on hot German cider and watch the world go by ...

Oh Brum I miss you so much. I promise to go back someday with my old mate in hand.

Ten years from now alright ?

Anytime earlier will be a bonus.

Photo credits : Google images

On Sunday Times

2011-11-09T09:46:00.001+08:00

Dated : 6th November 2011

Sick Fish

2011-11-08T13:04:00.002+08:00

Feeling like a sick fish today. Head been throbbing non stop but I just cannot stay away from work. No not today.

To stay cheery and to hang on till the end of the day , here's some goodies of the day:

1. Xmas deco are finally up at Suntec .. it reminded me of the Xmas market at Bham city which makes me really glad that there was a time in my life that I could really soak in the Xmas mood
2. Looking at wedding photos of others , happy event so it makes me happy and oh how I love that the couple had a VW van as their wedding car !
3. Lastly, half the work day is almost over , another 5 hours more to dong and I really hope I will get better when tomorrow comes .. it sucks to be sick on a TUES !

Bridal Mags

2011-11-04T10:16:00.004+08:00

I have a loadful of bridal magazines and flipping through the little notes it reminded me of how happy I was preparing for my big day. It is really true that this big event of your life may well be the biggest party you ever had and there is really no reason not to smile. I am giving these bridal magazines away, some of them have gone to new homes and if you would like I would be glad to share with you. PM me for more details.

Dinner and the houseman

2011-11-03T14:41:00.004+08:00

Rudd's 1st crab attempt , I peeked from the side

Big head beansprouts - a winner

Mr Potato Couch's fav he is looking more and more like a po-tae-toe

The crab dish - success !

But I guess we won't try it again , Rudd don't like killing the crabs

After dinner desserts , freshly cut starfruits by Rudd.

He is becoming more and more like a houseman.

Honzen

2011-11-01T11:49:00.005+08:00

healthy boiled soup for the soup lover like me

jade dumpling , taste yummy with ginger strips and vinegar I went back consecutively two days for this

check out the guy at the counter ... lol

Icy mint ! fav drink of the year I drank more than 10 cups of this !

Rich in collagen superb

If you are wondering where's this place

Visit Honzen at :

470 North Bridge Road

#01-01 North Bridge Commercial Complex

Pretty tea display , remember to check out the cute little tea cups. The tea cup that wont burn your fingers MAGIC !

HALLOweeeenn....

2011-10-28T16:58:00.002+08:00

It's a spooky day at work, here's introducing my teammates. We have travelled back in time to an era where we were all concubines. Here's a photo of us dated hundred years ago.

* happy halloween !*

From the renewals team.

Business Trip

2011-10-28T16:30:00.004+08:00

This is my second biz trip to Indo and this time round I am able to enjoy my surroundings better than the last trip.

The room is big enough to hold at least 10 pax.

The bed is huge enough for four.

The motif on the carpets. Just beautiful.

The huge tub which I managed to soak myself in and relax. Check out the tee-vee beside the tub. I was watching " The Walking Dead" and halfway through the tee-vee went blank. So much for Halloween.

The Kempinski , the hotel was formerly for diplomats and governors , after a revamp they open it up to public. Today it's a hotel mainly for business travellers.

This is me in the huge bathroom. The room is bigger than my master bedroom at home ! Not fair.

Automatic backside cleaner , hard or soft up to you.

Living area - I have got no chance to sit on it maybe on the next trip.

Till the next one ....

Three and Ninety Two

2011-10-17T09:58:00.003+08:00

So the hubs only recognise 17th as the date of our wedding anniversary and for all other anniversaries of ours.

Here's to 3 months of being husband and wife ... 92 months of being together ...

For next week !

2011-10-17T09:42:00.002+08:00

Hooray for the upcoming break next week. Been a little deprived of a holiday and even though the PH is only for a day that is really better than nothing.

This week is a week that I hope it will pass by swiftly and smoothly. I woke up with a red eye and red sore pimples this morning and this must be a sign. Stressed. Unwell.

To all the bad energy it must end by this week !

In the midst of all the chaos ..

2011-10-13T10:02:00.003+08:00

there is peace within if you look harder.

There has been quite a bit going on , new ventures discovered , new challenges posed.

This is the cocktail of life with its tinge of sweetness and bitterness.

I always believe it is good to surround myself with people I trust and love at almost all time. When I fall out of balance I always have them to push me back on track. Likewise there has to be some form of chaos in your life to achieve that balance.

I find peace whenever I am home. I check on the little bun to make sure she is still there hopping around. I make sure everything is in place though I cant make the dirt go away for good. Just as long as the hubs is around I am good.

On mum side she is gradually on the road to recovery I hope and pray she will get better soon. I am sure she will.

To my hubs and best friend who has embarked on their own new ventures I am really glad that you guys are making it through. It is a new adventure and one that only you yourself can truly experience.

To all the new experiences , big cheers !

Here we go

2011-10-05T10:41:00.004+08:00

So this is it the last few legs of 2011. It has been a tremenduous year thus far. Just a few words to sum it all up.

Busy. Happy. Married. Busy. Stressed. Feeling sane again. Tired. Happy.

My First Quarter End

2011-09-30T19:06:00.005+08:00

It's 7ish and I am still in office grooving to music , drinking wine, snackin on Cheezals , waiting for orders to be loaded. Sounds relaxing not. Oh boy.

I can't wait to hit the sack ! I miss my bed.

p.s. it's gonna be a long night ahead ... quarter end office party !! God Bless the party people !!

Edit: the night ended at 330am.

Hanging out with my favs

2011-09-30T18:57:00.000+08:00

Dinner Date with Mumsie

2011-09-30T18:52:00.001+08:00

Good frens

2011-09-30T18:40:00.004+08:00

Met up with Rou and Mel a few weeks ago. Can't believe its been almost 7 years since our poly days. I miss foodcourt 6 , the examination days , the don't-feel-like-going-to-school-so-skip-lecture-days, I miss everything about school days.

Waiting in anticipation

2011-09-30T15:38:00.002+08:00

.. for the weekend to begin !

It's been a whirlwind week. There are so much going on at every corner of my life.

So for the weekend I am going to ease myself. Sleep late. Drink soup. Company mumsie. And Sleep some more.

Can't wait !

2 months ago ...

2011-09-13T17:46:00.003+08:00

The post wedding party.

This was taken in our wedding suite. Look at my husband resting at the corner I wonder what was going through his mind. As for me I was a happy dove. It was a long day but it was nothing short of pure happiness. We even had the strength to go clubbing afterwards.

This photo makes me smile.

Mid Autumn with buds

2011-09-12T16:07:00.004+08:00

For the sake of good fun and tradition
Playing in the park with my best buds, holding lanterns together reminiscing the good old days as teenagers. They are like my sisters and brothers. We are one big family.

What I did last weekend

2011-09-12T15:57:00.004+08:00

Cooked a pot of soup
Riding around with my husband

Bday buffet

Hello Melody, look how big she has grown

Hari Raya celebration at Ja's

The countrystyle HDB flat ..how cool is that ?!

The country kitchen

* loves weekend *

What would your last words be ?

2011-09-09T11:38:00.003+08:00

In memory of Sept 11 attacks , the local paper did an article on what were the last moments like for some of the victims.

These words were from one of the victims on one of the hijacked plane , this was what he said to his wife :

'Listen, I'm on an airplane that's been hijacked,' he says. 'I just want you to know I absolutely love you. I want you to do good, go have a good time. Same to my parents and everybody. I totally love you.'

I feel for him and to many others trapped in that fateful situation on that fateful day.

It is true when they say treasure everyday as if it were your last. You would never ever know what is going to happen next.

So spread your wings , give love and do good.

TGIF.

The REAL Reason

2011-09-02T17:06:00.002+08:00

I finally knew what was wrong with myself for the past few not-so-perky days. The reason - PMS. I am glad I found the reason so 3 more days from now I should be as fine as a bee. But for now I feel like packing up leaving work and start my weekend right now !

Writing with flair

2011-09-02T10:39:00.002+08:00

I wish I could write like a breeze to convey what I really want to convey. I admire those who can write well it is something that amazes me so much that I wonder how many books and newspaper I must read before I can master the skill.

I have read many blogs and some bloggers are just bad writers. I consider myself as one. The ones that gets on my nerves are the ones who likes to plant in bombastic words in between their sentences. It is just so fake. Plastic. Period.

Ok maybe I am just a little too blunt.

So you know ..

2011-09-01T11:22:00.002+08:00

That when I am feeling listless I blog. Just because there is no one for me to talk to and the reason to take a short break from work.

I am still feeling queasy. My mind is wandering elsewhere. Come back to reality already.

I am wondering if that happens to me only or do all the working peeps out there feel the same anguish everytime they go to work. It is not like I hate my job it is just the routinised 9 to 6 thats makes me feel bored. I cannot imagine working at the same place for a decade. When is that ever possible ? Ok I am just lamenting on and on coz I am really kinda bored.

My Mister Chef

2011-09-01T00:00:00.003+08:00

The husband prepared the meal for our dinner date last night. We invited friends over.

I sat back and watched him do his magic.

The first attempt at Aglio Olio. I give it a 7 out of 10 stars. Because of this successful attempt we might just pig out more often at home. Bravo.

Comfort Foods

2011-08-31T23:53:00.004+08:00

My fav soup soup soup ....

My own concoction of a congee ..

dried scallops , broccoli , shredded carrots + a huge spoonful of MARMITE ..

D'OH Day

2011-08-31T16:02:00.002+08:00

Cheez. Today felt like any other yucky day. I am so damn moody and I have no idea what is wrong , maybe I do know.

I just hope this is just a phrase and I will feel pump again.

And I read an article that says so much about having sleep debt I felt like I own me-self big time. Blame it on not sleeping well, blame it on it is just so hard to sleep early. Thousands and one excuses and the end state is still the same. Having inadequate sleep and an interrupted one is as good as screwing your day up. I felt like my life has been screwed by sleep inadequacy.

Oh when can I ever sleep enough ? It's tiring to carry my eye-bags to work. ( Pun intended)

The Box of Worms

2011-08-25T13:58:00.003+08:00

The interactions I had these days had left me feeling very uneasy. There are just so much I can take of a person and the human mind is just hard to comprehend.
I must admit I am someone who cannot handle politics that well and if I can I will choose to keep myself away. It is an arduous task to pretend and be nice , if it is that easy I might as well be an actress. There is really no point.

Freeday

2011-08-19T17:36:00.002+08:00

Thank God its Friday !

The coveted day of the week !

I am sitting on my desk with my mind wandering off to far far away. Here's the lowdown of activities for the weekend but most importantly I NEED to catch back on sleep. It is so easy to feel lerthagic nowsadays.

Sat:
- Sleep till I wake up automatically ( so Mr Teo pls do not disturb me or sing the stupid song to annoy me )
- Go back to my mama's place and company her and gather my leftover barangs
- Drinking at night with my buds ! Get drunk together !

Sun:
- Sleep till I wake up automatically
- Dinner at the in-laws
- Do household chores
- Quiet night at home .. no nonsense after 11pm

1st Month Wedding Anniversary

2011-08-16T09:17:00.003+08:00

I have been asked how is married life so far for me. I say it in a heartbeat that it has been a lovely ride. To finally have our own home and to wake up every morning with my husband beside me. That is to me the greatest comfort. Although most mornings we will be fighting to get each other up on time.

I believe that it is fate that we are husband and wife and that in this lifetime we will always be binded. This is a path that we have longed to take and it is quite surreal to finally be living in it. Here's to a swiftly passed one month , one which is filled with many household chores and a little bunny in tow. Cheers to the Teos !

Life as it is

2011-08-12T09:20:00.003+08:00

This year has been exceptionally fast paced. We are coming almost to the end of it. It has been an eventful year and there is yet more to come before we say goodbye to 2011.

The first half of the year we busied ourselves with the wedding prep. I changed my job and moved on to a new role. New environment , new colleagues.

Mid of the year we finally married and settled in our new home. Took on our duties to take care of our new place and our little bun. There has been adjustments to make and that is all good. I am glad that from now we are a team and we will continue this race of life together.

End of the year I am looking forward to the new shop opening of my bestie. I know she has been working her ass off for this launch and I am rooting for her from all corners. Very glad that she is finally realising her dream. You go babe !

And also to my husband who is embarking on a new journey in his career, I will be rooting for you Rudd ! Whatever that comes we will all learn something good from it.

And at the end of the day I am very thankful that I have a close knitted group of family and friends whom I can reply on to. Year in year out they are always and forever there.

I am loving life as it is.

The Food Log

2011-08-11T17:59:00.003+08:00

Been a while since I cook up a storm in the kitchen. Literally. I have been trying to gain back my 'Junie Oliver' spirit. My very first dish for the husband in our new household - Spaghetti with shitake mushroom. The shitake did wonders to the dish. Did I say I am a huge fan of mushrooms ?

May I edit my very first dish was probably the corn and carrot soup which I made for Claudia. Sorry babe that was not a good try too much ikan billis !

The second attempt at cooking up another storm in the kitchen where I burnt my finger. Duh. But that's ok because that's what true chef will go through ! You burn yourself and cut yourself until your skin turn thick and you will not feel a single pinch.

This was more of a wholesome meal. Lotus root soup with pork ribs and an APPLE ! Oh yes grandma saved my day by throwing in an apple. Learning from the master chef. And there's the vegetable with leftover Shitake mushrooms.

More to come !

Mastering a skill

2011-08-11T11:14:00.003+08:00

This has probably been in my resolution list for god knows how long ! Before I kick a big fuss out of it I have to kick my own ass to start mastering it. There is this urge within me I felt it so strongly today. I am going to kick away the procrastinator in me and start doing what I ought to do. Still no idea what I am talking about right ? It will be revealed when the time is right.

It's probably way overdue by now.

Our little baby bun

2011-08-05T10:47:00.003+08:00

This is the new addition in our household, we are not too sure of the gender yet but somehow it felt like a female and so we are calling her Melody for now. Rudd said she resembled the bunny in ' My Little Melody'. We shall find out when she is in her 4th month or so. She might just turn out to be a HE. And that is when we will start scratching our heads for another name.

Anyhow here's our little bun I am getting used to her now. Note the point is I AM trying to get used to having a bunny at home. The poor bun scratched her right eye and we were so afraid it was some kind of infection but luckily so it was not. We tried to put the elizabeth collar on her to prevent the scratching but she looked so pathetic in it. Our poor little bun.

Yesterday

2011-08-03T09:20:00.002+08:00

Last night we had an impromptu gathering at our place we had two great friends who came to visit and oh boy how much laughters we shared ! We caught the wedding vid together and spotted the hidden and funny moments. The things that are caught on video are just so genuine. Thanks for coming over and bringing along so much laughters :)

More dinner dates to come !

Photo-less

2011-08-02T17:13:00.002+08:00

Have not been posting any photos lately and that is hugely because I am lazy and blame it on the lack of internet access at our new home over the past weeks. I am eager to share the photos and video of our wedding day. So bear with me while I deal with my laziness. I will be back for more.

The Cranberries

2011-08-01T11:00:00.003+08:00

The Cranberries has been the only group that has stayed in my favourite band list for as long as I have lived. I was influenced by Aunt Belinda who used to play the song ‘ Ode to My Family’ on repeat mode during my childhood. My taste for music was highly influenced by her. Back tracked 7 years ago I met my husband and one of the reason that made me attracted to him was the songs that we both enjoyed. He was a huge Cranberries fan and I was so fond of him. For our second wedding march in , the initial song that we chose had to be removed due to tech fault and Rudd picked ‘Linger’ instead. Imagine how surprised I was while standing outside the door. I was grinning from ear to ear. Listening carefully to the lyrics it was not exactly the type of song one will choose for a wedding but it was a song that we both love. To me this song meant so much more.

I cannot remember the last time the Cranberries was in Singapore. It must have been eons ago. When I saw the advert on TV I told the husband we should go catch it and so we are tonight. I cannot wait to see Dolores and the band perform ! And thank you hubby.

The happy wifey

2011-07-29T10:01:00.002+08:00

There are just so much that I want to say about our wedding but I guess the best way is through pictures. A picture speaks a thousand and one words and I couldn't agree more. I cant wait to reminisc the joys of the big day but for now we got to wait.

It is funny to think how much effort we put into our wedding and how stressed out I felt about the whole event. There is no better way to enjoy it but to loosen yourself up. I am glad my fever got away in time and I was all ready to be married and enjoy the day made for both of us. It was a happy day and I was grinning from ear to ear. If I could I would marry again and again to the same man.

Putting wedding aside , there is no better joy as compared to living everyday with your husband ( which I call him my ex-bf now ) and waking up to start the day together and ending it together. I am on cloud 9 and I can't seem to fall myself back to earth just yet :)

Here's to almost 2 weeks of marriage life and I am indeed one happy wifey :)

Day 11

2011-07-27T15:41:00.006+08:00

It's been 11 days since our wedding day I can't believe time has flown by so quickly.

It has been the most surreal 11 days of my life thus far. The feeling of being a 'Mrs' has not sunk in yet. I still feel very much the same maybe I was on auto pilot mode. The only difference is waking up everyday with my husband by my side. It felt like I am on a vacation everyday. The new environment and even the new chores makes everything feel so unreal. It has been very tough waking up everyday to go to work. I miss our home everytime I step out of it.

I want to go home now !

Making a wishlist

2011-07-01T14:44:00.002+08:00

I have been thinking about the wishlist for the house lately. In my mood board I see polkadots , patterns , teacups , cake trays , English rose .. very Cath Kidston.

I am so happy that it is a Friday today , this week has been awfully difficult to pass. I am just so glad that all the headache is finally easing off.

All I really want to do for the next two weeks or so is to stay sane , shake legs and get ready for marriage life :)

The first glimpse

2011-06-22T23:45:00.003+08:00

Our new home

Counting down : The last month of being Miss Chew

2011-06-16T12:23:00.002+08:00

So the day is gonna be here soon and everything is going to be pretty much the same except for the fact that I will move out of my childhood home and live on my own with Rudd. I will miss everything but I am also looking forward to the new challenges (i.e. doing the chores). I bet there would be days where I will not feel like doing anything and where all my clothes will come falling down like a humpty dumpty. So do not be surprised when you come visit.

The house is undergoing reno right now. Everything is happening at swift pace. Thanks to Aunt Irene for giving us the priority if not it would not be able to happen. We have bought the bulk of our furnitures , appliances and all. All within a month from the date of the key collection. It's just amazing.

Right at this very moment the workers are working at their best to knock the walls , get the grills up , do up the capentry and I am just so impressed.

So we are left with one month to settle our home. One month to get the wedding details sorted. One month to enjoy singlehood-dom. And then a lifetime of being together.

Happy Bday to Me

2011-06-10T00:07:00.002+08:00

I am another year older. So much have happened over these past 27 years , some are good some are bad but I guess we need bad eggs in our life to fully understand and appreciate the good. So for every experience I have been through I believe it is there for a reason.

I am sure I have changed a lot over these 27 human years. I hope I have become a better person I will continue to learn to improve my temper and be less sweaty about the small stuffs.

This year is a pretty important and memorable year for me. I am finally working in a good firm and getting the scope that I can forsee myself doing. It is going to be challenging and I just got to work harder at the gym to keep my stamina up. Keep that wheels spinning.

And 2011 marks the year that I will end my singlehood and move on to a new married life. In less than a month's time changes will take place. I am excited with the wedding day but I am even more excited to building a home with Rudy and forming our own family. I hope that both of us will be a great team together. I pray and hope that I will become a better partner and listener to Rudd. I hope the life we built together will be enriching and filled with love.

And that's all I ask for this birthday.

Happy Sweet 27th to myself.

The Survival Kit to becoming Mrs

2011-06-07T23:56:00.004+08:00

My girls did a surprise for me during our trip to Bali , they set me up hid me in the room and

brought props to jazz up the night and the best part -- we had fireworks right outside our villa. It was complimentary. We were super lucky.

For the surprise party the girls bought along special gifts for me , gifts that were meaningful , gifts to becoming Mrs.

They put in a lot of effort to arrange the trip. And I will never ever forget the beautiful villa we lived in and the wonderful time spent. Everything was absolutely amazing.

I wish that someday again we will travel together as five to another beautiful island together.

Thank you for the sweet memories babes:)

The ' sandwiched ' weekend

2011-06-02T11:31:00.002+08:00

This is gonna be a pretty packed weekend.

Here's a rundown of the activities:

Sat
( morning ) : Keys collection at HDB ( finally!)
( afternoon ) : Appt with Volans

Sun
(morning) : Open the door 'ceremony'
(evening) : Food tasting at Merchant Court

Had to reject a bday party I am sorry but things are pretty tight now !

It's all good

2011-05-30T22:04:00.001+08:00

Planning a wedding is never easy. There are so many people involved so many opinions to consider and so much nitty gritty stuffs to handle. At the end of the day all these does not really matter. Things will fall in place somehow or anyhow. I have been such a 'stressed ball' lately. There are already two white hair sprouting from my head.

As of present things are still on schedule and under control. The house keys is on its way. The timeline is sketched. We just have to move along with it.

I realise whenever I am about to fall off the balance Rudd is always there to save my day. I just have to whine and my balancing wheel will be there.

My besties to the rescue !!

2011-05-23T23:22:00.004+08:00

Due to the sudden surge in activities and addition of new workload I am overwhelmed. The wedding is approaching and there are lots of nitty gritty stuffs which one will not expect but you will know when you come to it.

That aside I am adjusting to my new worklife , new workload and trying to learn as much as possible. This is a teething period for me having to juggle the wedding , the work and of cos the reno which is coming soon.

I am cutting down on all my social activities and I am sorry my dear friends if I may seem to be 'missing'. I need to spend as much time as I possibly can to finish scanning photos , pasting invitiation cards, sorting guestlist , coordinating with the hotel , the bridal studio , reno for the house etc.

In the midst of all this craziness I have to try to keep my self really sane. The gym is the place I seek my solace for now. My besties are the ones who make sure I am still sane.

p.s. Thanks besties for offering your help I will not be shy but to take that extended hand of yours I know I owe u guys loads.

p.s. Thank you besties for sharing with me the wedding schedule and for the time to time reminders. Sometimes I do feel like I am the only one in this wedding preparation while I understand my dear Mr Rudd is very occupied at work. So I appreciate every little help along the way. I seriously do.

Todat while gymming Laine reminded me that the wedding is just less than 2months away. I get 'scared' when the alarm is raised like that it makes my heart skipped a beat.

Babes I am counting on you guys to make sure I get it all thru !

Ku De Ta - Bali

2011-05-10T20:04:00.001+08:00

The dowry, betrothal gifts and etc

2011-05-04T23:50:00.002+08:00

At the end of the day I am still very confused by the whole traditional thing. I guess it is good to keep the traditions going. Some practice should be preserved . I am trying to understand the significance of each item so that I will appreciate it.

My Gorgeous 5

2011-05-04T23:47:00.002+08:00

Presenting my bridesmaids , the perfect entourage

Tick Tock

2011-05-03T10:35:00.003+08:00

As I wait patiently (no anxiously) for my next challenge I got myself in a super 'gan cheong' state for the wedding. The to do list keeps on building and there's so much of the nitty gritty stuff that has to be taken into consideration. I believe now that the last 3 months is the most crucial. Enough said I need help !

STW peeps

2011-04-26T16:19:00.002+08:00

To the best co workers Jasmine and Alfie. Every work day is a joy with them around.

I am sad to leave them but it's something I had to do. There's a challenge awaiting me.

To my bosses. Thank you for believing in me and for supporting me on my decision.

My next chapter in life begins right here.

Here's a sneak preview !!

2011-04-25T16:58:00.001+08:00

Wedding Updates

2011-04-25T15:58:00.003+08:00

So most of my dear friends and relatives have been asking " How's the preparation so far?"

Here's a lowdown of what has been done/not done ( which I am very proud of !)
1. Wedding shoot by Volans ( done !)
2. Casual shoot by Faris ( done!)
3. Notice of marriage ( Filed !)
4. Design for invitation cards ( Chosen !)
5. Album layout ( almost there !)
6. Guest list ( headache! )
7. Actual Day Photographer ( Found !)
8. Actual gowns / suit ( not done ! )
9. My 5 gorgeous bridemaids' outfits ( not done !)
10. Hen's night in Bali ( coming soon !)
11. Car rental ( not done !)
12. Dowry / Bethrothal gifts ( what a hassle ! not done !)
13. Si Dian Jin ( Thanks to my in laws ! It's kept in a secure place !)
14. Wedding bands ( Bought !)
15. Hosts for the night ( Chosen ! they cannot back off now haa)
16. Wedding Singer ( by our dear friend !)
17. Mum's outfit ( cant find !)
.....etc

There's a sense of satisfaction everytime I check something off the list.

And today I finally confirm the Actual Day Photographer. Honestly I had a hard time convincing Rudd to hire another photographer. I went sourcing around for someone who is good and yet affordable. Someone I can trust on our big day. I went snooping around in Clubsnap. It wasn't an easy feat but boy am I glad I found it. Thanks to Su and Cat for helping me to screen.

Thank you to Rudd for giving me the go-ahead, thanks for granting my wish my dear ! Yeaaaaa

The registry knows now

2011-04-21T09:13:00.007+08:00

We are binded for life.

And for the record will I become Mrs Zhang or Mrs Teo ? Mrs Zhang Chew or Mrs Teo Chew ?

Pretty Things

2011-04-14T23:48:00.002+08:00

Gift from my SIL.

Note from HDB

2011-04-12T15:19:00.000+08:00

HDB will invite you to take possession (ie collect keys) of your new flat in due course.

Better be soon !!

For the thrifters

2011-04-06T09:55:00.003+08:00

The place where pre-loved items found home again.

Find out more at Thrifting Day.

Circa 1989

2011-03-17T23:49:00.003+08:00

Found this note written at the back of the photo dated 1989.

Seem to be Dad's writings I cannot be sure.

Digging through my childhood photos brought back lots of wonderful memories.

I was a cute kiddo. I love all my childhood outfits thanks to mum. During teenhood I turned kind of fugly, as if I am trying to find a balance within myself. I was a fashion victim. Things got a little better as I grew older. The fashion sense became less unique. Or so I say.

Under the Indo Sun

2011-03-11T23:29:00.012+08:00

Dancing our way to Indo

goofing around

not a moment without a big smile

How not to have fun with them around

The missing something

2011-03-10T11:35:00.002+08:00

There's an awful feeling inside me that is screaming to be let out. I do not know exactly what and how I can going to subdue this 'demon' within me.

Something is missing.

I need to find ME back.

If you could help.

Slow down

2011-03-04T22:32:00.001+08:00

For real this time

2011-02-28T10:53:00.002+08:00

My girlies and I have been talking on planning an overseas Hen's party for me. We have been playing around with the idea for a while. Emails have been exchanged and enquiries have been made. Getting everyone together pose the real challenge.

Alas, my dear girls Claud and Laine who fearlessly braved the crowd at Natas yesterday finally got it all settled.

Viola. Done deal.

We are so going to Bali for our first overseas GNO cum my hen's night.

I am really excited and thankful you guys make it come true.

I know it has kinda burnt our wallets so we got to really tighten our belts for now.

Am looking forward to lounging around in our private villa - yes we are staying in a junior suite , swimming the whole day , chatting and reminiscing the good times.

This is going down our memory lane. For many years to come I am sure.

Thank babes.

Claud , Laine , Cin and Ade you guys are the greatest.

Grey Clouds

2011-02-24T16:24:00.003+08:00

I have a thing for grey clouds and rain.

I like that it rains the whole bloody day.

I am daydreaming of having a cuppa tea on a tall building overlooking the rest of the skyscrapers. Such simple joy.

The joy of daydreaming whilst your boss is not around.

Happiness

2011-02-21T23:58:00.006+08:00

There are so much going on in my life right now. As I sat down and come up with my to-do list I was not even bothered.

For one of the rare times in my life I feel truly happy.

I know that with only patience and optimism can my goals be met.

I credit this to my buddy at work for she has taught me to lighten up. I am slowly learning the ropes from her.

Post CNY - Day 3 with budds

2011-02-21T00:16:00.002+08:00

the annual group shot at my place

the dollies

serious photography going on , arranging seats that is

thanks to the generous Lee family for the sumptuous dinner !

Thinking of the food I feel so hungry now.

Post CNY - Back to Good Ol' Day 2

2011-02-21T00:00:00.006+08:00

Felicia and I

here's my beloved gown which I found in a mag at Fel's place .. LURVE it

my aunts , my pillar of supports

Post CNY - Back to Day 1

2011-02-20T23:20:00.009+08:00

my papa with the big belly

the chewies

I insisted for the family to take a group shot on bright early morning on the first day of CNY. I won't be gone I will just be a few miles away from them next year on.

my left and right man

Do we really look alike ? But I do wish I look like my mum when I am at her age

Joie , Jane's baby

an old pic , how time flies

the Lees

my god family

the girls in the family , I like how Celeste is clinging onto her sis's thigh

my papa the pro drummer

my mama drumming

Fatherly instinct kicking in ..maybe

no matter what family is still the best

with grandma

with godma

The celebration brunch

2011-02-19T13:36:00.005+08:00

For him

for her....

To a wonderful man

2011-02-17T22:43:00.012+08:00

It has not been tough being in love for the past 7 years with a wonderful man. There are just so much about him that I am thankful for.

A girl like me is not easy to deal with. I cannot even stand myself. I get emo when my hormones go wild but I can always count on him to calm my nerves and make me back to sane again.

It is easy to find someone to laugh with and have a great time but finding someone to share your burden and making you feel protected is like digging for a needle in the haysack. You need great patience and love.

I thank my lucky stars for this man.

My funny valentine

2011-02-15T15:13:00.005+08:00

I went for dinner and drinks with my boyfriend ( funny how things will soon change) and spent a peaceful time chilling out at our fav pub. It is still a fav. The songs never fail. So Mr Rudd being himself dedicated a few of his fav tunes that does not seem very apt on a supposedly lovey dovey day. The kind singer sang out his requests and I swear I wanna hide under the table. Who fancy listening to " Apologise " and " Blind " on a day like this ?

Reunion at Aunt Mag's

2011-02-09T23:09:00.004+08:00