What was, What is, What will be....

Be a photojournalist!

This is a promotional game for Superman Returns. In it, you are Jimmy Olsen, trying to get a good shot of Superman for the Daily Planet's front page. The picture's my best shot so far.. It's fun.. try it here.

The Picnic, the Sprain and a Whole lots of cakes...

The first weekend after the wedding was blissfully relaxing.. we lazed around till rather late in the morning, had our breakfast and Aaron headed off to his bi-monthly football with his pals. He sprained his knee that day, more on that later...

I was at home getting ready the ingredients for the garden salad pasta we planned to bring for the picnic. The picnic was a last minute plan after we came across the advertisment SRT's 'Shakespeare in the Park' - A MidsummerNight's Dream. We went to Ballet under the Stars sometime back and had a wonderful time.. so, we gathered some close friends and bought the tickets for the play.

By the time Aaron was back, Anna was also on her way back from work. A phone call from her asking if we wanted lunch, Aaron replied, "I'm still quite full lehz.. maybe a munchy.. One BIG MAC MEAL.. UPSIZE PLEASE!"... lol...

Hubby, tanned from fishing the previous day..

By early evening we made our way to Fort Canning. It was a warm evening.. You can't even feel a little wind.. The spotlights around the area didn't help either..
We chose a spot rather near to the stage, thinking that it would be a good spot to watch the play.. how wrong we were.. the play revolves around you.. walkways were built right till the end. The best place to be seated would be right in the middle.. in front of the mini stage..
It was still a great show though.. I've not came in contact with Shakespeare ever since secondary school. A MidsummerNight's Dream was one of the play I remembered reading but have little memory of...
Check out hubby's review on the evening here and Josephine's here.
All in all it was an enjoyable evening.. something we would definitely like to do more often..

Pretty rainbow in the park

I was talking about the sprain earlier on.. Aaron got a nasty kick from someone he played football with and sprained his knee.. I didn't know about it, he probably thought it was not a big deal... boy was he wrong, by late evening, after the play, he couldn't even stretch his leg! He had to limp all the way to the car park and from our apartment's carpark to the house... The best thing was, he didn't see the doctor until tuesday.. because he was too busy at work on monday.. It was probably he couldn't bear the pain any longer, by then, you can see the swell around the knee area and when you touch the area it was tout and hot. The doctor said there's some damage on the ligaments, nothing that rest won't cure.. Some painkillers and a week's mc in his hands, he limped back home.. The next few days, he was the King of the House.. nahh... he'd pretty much took care of himself.. as he always does.. It was great having him around more often though.. The week came and went in a blink.. and he's back to work today..

After the success of the cupcakes we had.. me and Anna decided to take on something a little harder.. since Mother's Day was around the corner, we had these made..

The cake I decorated for my Mum.

This was done by Aaron.. not bad for a first timer huh..

Aaron helped around in the kitchen. Now, he's a professional in making chocolate ganache, the topping for the cake. Needless to say, both our mums were impressed with our decorating skills..

My sis, Jo, drew this of my mum on her Mother's Day card.. pretty decent actually..

I'm so psyched with baking right now, that I've decided to bake cakes for the rest of the year for every special occasions.. hur hur... people beware..

Here's more cakes.. done by Nana:

For Mother's Day..

Dave's Birthday Cake

Sarah

Pearl, my best-est buddy back from secondary school, came for a visit to Singapore with her hubby, Daniel, her sister, Ruby and her daughter, Sarah recently.
We've not seen each other for nearly 10years and this was the first time I met Daniel and little Sarah.

Now.. Sarah's a product from outer space.. She's sooooooo cute and adorable.. it'll leave you utterly speechless.. This ever smiling little girl, whose vocabulary consists of Wow! and Awesome! had every human being in contact with her at the palm of her hands! At 1 and a half years old, she have already mastered the sexy eyes wink.. Don't believe me? Watch this..

This girl's a natural! She belongs in front of the camera! What are you scouting agents doing!?!?
"Mai-tu liao!"

Suprisingly, she was rather attached to me despite this was the first time she met me. She was quite reserve with Aaron initially, but quickly warmed up to him, before you know it, she was doing the sexy eyes thingy on him!

Aaron didn't dare to carry her though.. Aiyoh.. like that how to be a father? I plopped her on his lap and quickly took a picture of them just before she, mummy and daddy boarded the plane back to KL.

Well, Pearl, it was great seeing you after all these years.. Daniel, a pleasure to meet you too.. You both make a great pair! And little Sarah is simply wonderful! I'm missing her now! You guys take good care of yourselves.. Me and Aaron will be coming to KL to visit you guys soon!

Cupcakes Galore!

Jolene's birthday's coming soon.. and she made me promised her some pretty cupcakes.. well since it's her 21st birthday and she had been such a wonderful and helpful sister lately.. I'd gladly oblige..
Here's some test runs me and Anna made last night.. We're going to the Midsummer's Nights Dream in Fort Canning this Sunday.. These will be dessert!

6 Days Since..

It's been 6 days since the wedding.. and I'm so relieved that it's all over! No more stress and worries.. heavenly!

The wedding went rather well despite glitches here and there.. I didn't get much sleep nor able to walk and breath normally till the 30th, on monday. Thanks to all the family members and close friends, we had a long lasting wonderful memories of the ceremony and the two dinners..

I would really like to convey my deepest gratitude to a few people over here, who'd selflessly lend a helping hand during, before and after the wedding:

My mum and my dad: Thanks to the both of you, we had a wonderful wedding dinner in Johor. I know how strung up and stressed you both were settling everything over there by yourselves. Thanks also for your understanding, that we both couldn't help much financially and in person as we both were trying to get things done over here!

My two wonderful bridesmaids - My sis Jolene and my sis Anna: Jo- Thanks for the helping hand on both the days.. you were wonderfully attentive and noisily fun to be around.. I'm really grateful to have such a wonderful mei in you!
Anna - Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!!! A million thanks couldn't convey my gratitude. You've taken sooooo many days off just to help me settle all the nitty gritty stuffs.. I'm so blessed to have another sister in you.. Know that you'll have all the help you need when it's your turn okie!

My wonderful cousins: YiQi, JingJing, YiWen, IRing, ILee, Ming, MeiLing, WeiShiong, JiaHer - without you guys, the wedding would never be so much fun. Thanks for all your supports. You guys travelled so far and wide just to accomodate me.. On top of that, you guys turned into impromptu emcees, photographer, videographer, usherer, and driver without as much as a grumble. Both me and Aaron are so extremely touched!

Aaron's wonderful band of brothers : 9 - Thanks for all the help on the montages! Because of us, you have to rush up and down, in and out... and as if that's not enough... you didn't get much sleep either.. *HuGz* (from Aaron)..
Faye, Rayson - Thanks for helping with the photographs and video.. *HuGz* from me.. :)
Noel, Chris S, Chris T, ShiXing, Dave, Vincent - You guys have to down cups of chilli juice, lemon juice, bittergourd juice and pure ribena just to help Aaron into my mum's house. Thanks also for being there during the dinner to help usher, being the emcees, settling the AVA, and helped Aaron downing more liquor. You guys are the greatest! HuGz!
Ah Beng and Marcus - You both have a wonderful looking Fits! And Marcus, your horn Rawks!! Lol..

To all of Aaron's and my relatives... who'd helped financially and spiritually. We have so many wonderful aunties and uncles.. who cares so so much for us.. Thanks and We Love You guys!!

And last but not the least... My Wonderful Hubby: I know how stressed you were the last few days befor the wedding. Having to settle all the montages and video well wishes from friends, and also the seatings and list of attendees for the dinner. I know I didn't help much as the days draws nearer and I grew more and more uptight.. but I really do want you to know that I do appreciate all that you've done and that I am really really happy with you.. you're right sweetie.. at the end of the day.. even if we don't have anybody else.. we still have each other.. and my wonderful family!!! LOL..

We didn't manage to break even over here in Singapore (we were not even close!) but both Aaron and I agreed we had the greatest time of our lives that night! Thanks everybody.. for making an appearance and lending your support on our special day!

We made a profit on the other hand over in Johor.. unfortunately.. we didn't pay for the dinner.. Lol.. money's all my dad's and my mum's. Of the 15 tables.. both Aaron and me only knew our relatives there.. All others were my mum's and dad's friends.. but their support and warm greetings were so sincere that you'd feel that you've known them all your life.. Thanks again.. we had a wonderful time..

I cried on both nights.. if anybody notice.. they were tears of joy.. On the 2nd night of the wedding, I met again my wonderful aunt who'd moved to Kelantan some years ago.. I missed her so much..
There, I met again my shushu and shenshen.. whom I've lost contact for ten over years and have just recently got back in touch..
My cousins and uncle and auntie travelled all the way from Penang just to witness our joy.. It's a wonder I didn't cry throughout the wedding.. LOL..
How wonderful the feeling is, to know that it was your wedding that draws your family ties so much closer..

All in all.. how do i rate my wedding? A 10/10.. simply because it's MY wedding.. I love everything.. from the chinois settings to the old fashion YUM SENG! It's a once in a lifetime thing.. call me old fashion.. but I would never miss it for the world..

So it's now back into reality.. me and Hubby's bent on settling all our debts before this years out.. To those of you who wanted to know when's Jr coming along.. well.. no plans for him/her so far.. we want to be in a better financial position first.. unless.. well.. accidents do happen.. LOL..

10 more days to go..

Here's the lists of the things we've done so far:

Made plans and arrangements with the wedding entourage.

Guo Da Li.

Chose our wedding attires.

Send out all the invitations.

Planned the menu.

Made arrangement for the make up artists, confirmed the wedding bouquet, decorations for the wedding car, and completed all the diy stuff for the wedding.

Here's the list of things that still needs to be done:

Confirm the attendance list and the number of tables for the dinner(s).

Complete our montage to be shown during the dinner.

Choose our walk in songs.

Pack the house!!! - We're having our tea ceremony here.. so it must be clean!

Make a trip down to Chef Chan's to test out the projector and sound system.

Collect our wedding attires, the wedding photo album, the wedding bouquet, the car decor..

All the other nifty things like getting my nails done, my trail make-up and hairstyles, choosing my jewellery and so on..

Ok, the list of to do is way longer than the list of things we've done!! Lol..

Of Birthdays and Weddings...

OF BIRTHDAYS..

Today's my dad's birthday! Happy Birthday Daddy!

Mine came and went a week or so ago.. Aaron invited his Xiongdi's over to our house to discuss the wedding details.. and celebrated my birthday as well! Everyone came with a gift.. Thanks a lot guys!

I received 3 handbags this year! And I love each of them. Aaron bought me a Benetton bag, Mummy and Daddy gave me a Guess! handbag, and ShiXing, Chris T, and Ninja gave me a Puma bag. I received two sets of perfumes, one from Aaron's Aunt Lucy (it's a birthday cum wedding gift) and the other from Faye and MeiYi. Both these darlings (Faye and MeiYi, not Aaron's aunt) also gave me a super cute and pretty Tomy Nohohon ShuangXi figure! I'm going to put it in Toshi before the wedding..

Got a very lovely picture frame from Anna and Dave, a box of chocolate from Chris S, a bottle of white wine from Noel and... a Stitch Kiki Ippatsu from 9 and Josephine!!! I love it! Hubby blogged about how everybody enjoyed playing with it... do check it out..

That's not all.. Hubby told me I still have a present from my in-laws whome just came back from their trip from Taiwan.. and Jo! You still owe me my birthday gift!..

OF WEDDINGS...

The wedding's in less than 3 weeks.. I'm getting very nervous..

There's a lot to do, but I'm not that busy until I had to stop to catch my breath.. I do still have time to go to work, I still have time for hubby, and I still have time for myself.. but the free time I have, is just a blur.. I'll grow very lethargic.. a little lost, and feel completely clueless! Maybe it's the nerves..

Have I got everything ready? That's what everybody's been asking me.. I don't know.. I'm just doing everything that comes to mind.. keeping my fingers crossed that no last minute things will crop up..

I made some wrist corsages for my sisters (jie-meis) for that day.. Oh.. did I mentioned our theme colour is blue? So my jie-meis and Aaron's xiong-dis (brothers) will be wearing blue that day.. there's gonna be a whole lot of blues! Hur Hur..

I love the shade of blue! It's really bright and cheery, but as Nana commented that it might clash with other shades of blue! Well, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.. as I do everything else.. Check out the butterfly... cute huh...

17 more days! Arghh...!!!

Attention Family and Friends..

We started a wedding site in mywedding.com

Do check out the website! I've uploaded the photos of our ROM back in 2005, as well as some information of the upcoming wedding.. Check it out ya.. and remember, to sign the guestbook before you leave okie..

Aaron and I will keep updating the site, so do visit more often!

P/s: To all that's involved in the wedding party, I've actually lifted your photos from friendster (hur hur.. hope you guys don't mind!).. If you want us to post a better picture of yourself, just let us know.. okie!

Memories..

These were taken when Hubby and I were first together.. back in 2003.. I thought all was lost when hubby's old laptop crashed, but clever me saved them in an online album and forgot all about it.. Lucky hubby remembers..

Care Bears... Shine!!!

Some pictures of my Care Bears collection I took a couple of years ago.. Since then, I've gave up the 10" ones (the biggest ones) and have add a number of 8" (medium ones). Stopped buying them about a year plus already. Still love them of course, but since we bought the house and the upcoming wedding, we learned to prioritize. They're all still in the boxes in the study. Really need to get a cabinet soon..

Wedding Preparation Step 3...

We initially agreed on not taking any of those pre-wedding photos.. Not that I didn't want to.. just that we wanted to save some money.. So until last weekend, our plans were to go ala-carte.. look for the gowns, suits, car decorations, hand-bouquet, etc separately.
Suprise suprise.. it could actually cost a lot more.. doing ala-carte.. I mean, when you get to choose.. of course you would want to have the best of everything..
Taking a package from a bridal shop could save you a lot more.. if you know where to look, that is..
Our main concern was to look for a shop that takes quality photos and provides nice gowns at a reasonable price.. we are after all on a tight budget..
So on sunday, we found the bridal shop that meets to our requirements.. I chose my gowns for the photoshoot, and yesterday, we had our photoshoot and chose the photos! We'll be getting the montage for the album 10 days later.. now.. who says you have to get the package 6 months beforehand? LOL.. one word of advice though.. it's stressful.. don't follow our footsteps..
So, Step 3.. take your pre-wedding pictures, get your wedding and evening gown, confirm on your make up artist, photographer, videographer is partially done..
Updates soon!

He Loves You.. Not..

A good friend recently got dumped, and the reason cited was because she was unreasonable, stubbornly stubborn and always refuse to give in. This got me very bothered, not only because the girl's my friend.. but there's this feeling, a something restless that kept bugging me.. and I didn't know what was it, until I woked up this morning, and I realised... I've been in her shoes!

My last relationship before hubby have been exactly like that.. and when it ended, I was left bewildered, wondering where did I go wrong.. for when he ended the relationship, his reason was ME! I'm stubborn, I'm selfish, I won't give in, I'm... well he obviously just can't stand me.. The thing is, I've been like that since the day he knew me... I did not think that I hid that from him.. When in the beginning I'm independent, it turned to stubborn later. I was carefree and embrace life, that turned into me being very selfish and want things only my way.. How did all the good and positive things about me turned into negatives in just a matter of months?

It wasn't until I knew Hubby and being together with him that I realised that I was not wrong, it was probably the wrong person in the wrong time in the wrong place? I'm still the same person I was years ago, I'm still as stubborn as I was before, as hot headed, as unreasonable (yepz, I do admit it) at times and I'm happily with Hubby for 4 years. Our temperaments and characters are as different as night and day, and we've learned over the years to admit and accept each other's shortcomings. With my temper, there's no denying that we probably fought and argued more than most couples do, but at the same time, I felt, the arguments does bring the relationship to a higher level, everytime we had an argument, after sorting things out, we learned something new in each other. Hubby had never sought to change me, to bend me into his ideal 'Stepford Wife', but instead embrace who I am, and from there, together, we learned to meet each other halfway... ok, maybe he comes 3 quarter way.. lol.. That's what relationships are all about..

I'm not condoning that being a girl gives you the right to be stubborn or temperamental. Even I, am learning to change my bad habits and temper.. but one could not turn into a mild tempered person overnight! And honestly, doesn't most guys have tempers themselves? Or as stubborn?
I think both parties should seriously reflect on their own characters before judging the other. Leaving a person because they couldn't stand the other's character is not a reason.. not to me anyway..

What I'm trying to say is, my dear dear friend, if the guy could give this kind of reason for the breakup, I really don't think he loved you as much anyway.. Hubby would have probably left me a thousand times given this reason.. You'll meet the right one.. the one that can really accept you for who you are.. it's just the matter of time... In the mean time, pick yourself up.. don't follow my footsteps and drown misery.. till now I still regret the months I've lost and the weight I've gained dwelling in my own misery back then..

Wedding Preparation Step 2...

Step 2 is to print the wedding invites and it's nearly done and most of you will be getting the invitation by next week..
The invitation is created by Hubby from scratch.. and we're really proud of it. We've send it out for printing (Hubby's friend Heng is doing it, and he's really impressive.. contact me should you need his service!). Aaron made me promise not to post out any pictures of the card until all of you have received the invitation, but I can't resist it... so, here's a little glimpse of it.. I took it with our wedding rings.

We set out with the intention to make something that is different from all other invitations. Something that is chic and fun yet still oriental and chinois. I think we did it, well, you guys can judge it for yourselves soon.
Oh well... on to Step 3.. I've about a month left and there's still ton of stuff for me to do.. wish me luck people! Lol!

Toshi

Some pics of Toshi..

Beautiful

This song's in Jim Brickman's The Disney SongBook album. Wayne Brady from Whose Line Is It Anyway? is the singer. Hubby and I are totally crazy over the show.. when it was still showing on channel 5. Wayne's not only a great singer.. he's a natural comedian, so talented.
Read from somewhere All 4 One sang this song first, only the lyric's a little different.. I'm not too sure..
Anyway, I plan to slot this song somewhere during the wedding dinner.. When it's a nice song, should share with everybody..