I'm A Geek. I Know.

I’ve come up with a, what I call, super die hard luxurious to-buy list. It won’t be a wish list because it’ll remain just a “wish” if it’s so, however a “to-buy list” means there are chances I’ll get it, either as a present *hint* or I’ll save up enough for the items, in a matter of time. It's all in the mind, ya know.

Yay! Just the thought of it gives me orgasmic shivers! Heh.

In no specific order, I present to you: Leishia’s 2007 Super Die Hard Luxurious To Buy List! *cue Superman theme music* Together with the justifications of why I need these babies.

Numero uno: SONY PLAYSTATION PORTABLE (PSP)

Why I need it? Because when it comes to punctuality, no one can beat me. In another word, I’m always made to wait. Now with my job I get to travel a fair bit, I always ended up being early, (as early as 1 and a half hour before the events start; why so early, you ask? Well I have a reason for that too, that’s because I live so far away from the town, so being early is the only way to make sure I’m not late. Another reason being, I’m a punctual freak, I can’t stand being late.) So being early means I need something to occupy my time; no, having breakfast and reading newspaper won’t cut it, because I eat and read pretty darn fast, and I don’t want to lug a book around. So OBVIOUSLY, playing games are the bestest past time :D

P/S: If PSP is really, really out of reach, Nintendo Gameboy Advance is good enough too.

Numero dos: A Canon digital camera. I haven’t done my rounds of research, but so far, my heart is for the Powershot and Ixus series: for its reputation and shape.

Why I need it? Because I am a *ahem* writer. It only makes sense that I have a camera with me to do my write up and couple them with photos from my point of view. OK lah, I lied. The real reason is being I got fed up with my current RICOH camera, because it’s just so… not nice to use? The picture quality totally sucks too! So it’s sitting in the drawer at home now. I haven’t even download my pictures from our honeymoon trip 3 months back!

Numero tres: A laptop. I don’t know much about brands and their models, but so far, just judging by the appearance and woah factors, I’m salivating over a wide screen Sony VAIO and a Toshiba Satellite, in black or chrome, can act as a mirror too! Mwahahaha!

Why I need it? Because I am a *ahem* writer. It only makes sense that I have a laptop at my convenience to capture *ahem* my inspirations and that I’ll be able to *ahem* work from everywhere. Me professional onot? ;)






Numero quatro: Fergie’s Dutchess album.

Why I need it? Because I love Fergie’s husky-but-sweet-and-almost-sultry-full-of-attitude voice. I love her attitude. I love London Bridge. I love the beat. I love how the music puts me in a party mood. I love how it makes me feel I’m full of attitude too. Hohoho. Never mind the fact that she is loud, and she can be vulgar, beyond this I see an entertainer in her and she doesn’t pretend or find the need to prove that she is a good, nice, girl next door. The rawness. I like.




Numero cinqo: An iPod MP3 player. In white, or black… or silver, fuchsia pink is OK too. Nah, I think I’ll stick to white…. Or black… argh.

Why I need it? Recently I find myself listening to loads of hip hop and R&B stuff, with some alternative and rock thrown in, besides some numbers I grew up with too. OK, that’s basically everything. Urgh, never mind. Bottom line, I’m getting back into listening to music, and I find myself strangely having cravings for a hitz fm morning crew dose every morning, and frankly, I can’t get enough of them. Hmm.

So yeah anyway, if my PSP tak jadi, then I’ll love myself an MP3 player. The reason for an iPod is because I like the colours and I like the shape. It’s all about appearance, I know, very shallow. But I want!

So there you have it! That’s basically all that I want, and that basically I’ll need a whole life to work for these babies. Oh well, no pain, no gain! :) Happy New Year y’all!

P/S: While I’m at it, I’ll also need a big ass, stylish bag, preferably in white synthethic leather, to carry all my babies everywhere I go! Yay! *Orgasmic shivers* again. Ooooh!

Throwing In Some Updates & A Recipe Too

The past weekend had been a glutty one! Starting with Friday night, the 21st of December, where Chinese normally celebrates the “arrival of winter”, or dong zhì. My mom asked us to go back home to have dinner; my grandma cooked so much of beautiful food which I haven’t eaten for like, ages! OK, I know what you’re going to say, that I should learn from my folks and cook at home. Go on, hit me.

But the point is, my grandma is the best cook on earth! She brewed one of my favourite soups! Onion chicken soup! It’s awfully easy to make, just boil a handful of onions till its soft and almost mushed and dissolved, taking care not to overcook and burn them, then put in some cubed carrots if you will and chicken parts, and some pounded pepper, (pepper powder is fine if you don’t have the grounds). Bring to boil and simmer over low heat for a couple of hours and add just a little salt to taste before serving; then dish out with more pepper powder if you like, and a dash of soy sauce. It’ll be finger licking good! I especially love the chicken breast when dipped in soy sauce (I love soy sauce in my soups! No need for salt, soy sauce is the way to go!)! Yummo!

So after dinner, we went straight on to join our home-life for another round of food! Not many turned up, but it was a good, quiet fellowship; until Jason brought up my creepy story in Mid Valley, then all hell broke loose and everyone shared their creepy, ghost stories! -_- I cannot sleep after that lah!

So with all the food to digest, and ghost stories to stomach, I couldn’t sleep till pretty late, and ended up waking up late the following day, the day which we were supposed to wake up early, clean up the house, and balik kampung to Melaka. Jason was a sweetie; he didn’t wake me up but cleaned up the whole house himself (which is what he does almost all weekends. Oops! :). Piggy me slept through the whole time what with his splashing of water to wash the toilet, and moving of furniture to sweep and mop. Heh. Tired mah.

Flash floods hit our southern states with Johor being the worst hit state during the pre-Christmas week. Melaka wasn’t spared either but thank God my in law’s place wasn’t affected. Scenes of submerged houses, floating cars, and rising death tolls bombarded the news and we half expected to see a ghostly Melaka town, but Jason (not me ah!) was rather disappointed to see all things were rather normal, and life goes on like any other day; but if we look closely, of course we see the terrible aftermath of the flood. Every family threw out minimum one set of their furniture, and all things were taken out from the house to be sunned, the houses were muddied, and evoked terrible fishy stench. And most victims are like any one of us, an average income earner with a family of youngs to support. It was sad.

We put up the weekend over at Sis. Chye Hong’s and we had a wonderful time fellowshipping. Her son, Zeph and Jason joined the church members and went on cleaning rounds to help flood victims to wash their houses on Christmas Eve. Jason loved it and said this should be the way to spend Christmas day - helping peeps in need instead of spending money for luxuries and jollies. The guy’s got a point.

I, the lazy bum, spent the day at David Bong’s cyber café to clear up my pending write ups; I still have 5 more articles to cover and it’s like what? 5 days more before New Year’s Day! But I’m so proud of myself because yesterday saw me churning up 3 magazine-page full of articles and by these 2 days I shall be good for the New Year countdown.

We’ve also met up Jason’s boss who’s spending the weekend holidays in Melaka, and we had thosai and Masala thosai! (I’m now officially a Masala Thosai fan!); spent Christmas Eve night having home cooked dinner prepared by Sis. Chye Hong before we headed out to the lovely Catherine and Say Wee and their daughter, Rachel’s place, where we had more food, Christmas carols, root beer float, Mr. Poo’s witty banters, and loads of laughing. The couple is one of the best house decorators in town; Christmas house decoration is an annually custom. And the home is a cosy whimsical land every year, without fail. We bought a Christmas cake and spend the quiet Christmas night with Sis’ Chye Hong and her children. It was nice. Too bad Chei Keat can’t be home for Christmas, but we all look forward to his home coming for New Year though! Oh, and Sis Chye Hong blessed us with Christmas lunch organized by the church, and we had scrumptious, village-style Chinese dishes!

You tell me, how not to get fat ah? Oh, and for Christmas, Jason bought me Starbuck's Coffee Frappucino and a box of chocolate! Bliss.

Lai Det Sure Kena Wan!

OK, I’m not complaining and I don’t want to complain, but I just find it extremely mind boggling every time I chew over it… what just happened this morning.

My company is having this little pre-Christmas party gathering thing, you know, with food, can drinks, and lucky draws. So the hype was building up since the beginning of the month about the lucky draw’s prizes: DVD and CD players, an expensive watch, thermos flasks, luggage bags, and oven. Every one in the office was eyeing the DVD player, of course. And its exciting for me too considering the prizes up for grab during the lucky draws at my previous company were, well can foods from the hampers presented by the suppliers.

So as the morning party started, food was shared and can drinks were popped, the time came for lucky draw too. Employee’s name was called one by one to pick their destiny. I thought I didn’t want to be an anti social so I joined the crowd, only to go back to my desk when I waited forever and got bored waiting. Many minutes later, some body called my name from across the room signalling me to “come draw your lucky number!”

I went over, and I saw only 2 numbers left, which were meant for me and the other new comer guy. And then I realized, hey, the container that housed the numbers was different. It was a pink Tupperware earlier, and now, it’s yellow. And hey there’s still quite a bit of nice items left, so how come both the new comer guy and I got the same item from a different but smaller box? We both got a ball point pen in an aged plastic box; obviously kept for many months, if not years.

And then it dawned on me, they actually categorised the numbers into 2 or 3 sets. One set of numbers was meant for the management / office execs, and the other set was for the so called lower ranking peeps, like the promoters, despatch, and new comers like me and the guy.

So naturally, all the good stuffs were for the first set of people, and the pariah things were for the latter. You tell me, got like that one or not ah? Where got lucky draw like that wan? They already predestined what we get. Cis! That's cheenaman company for you! :)

P/S The big boss got the expensive watch. Surprise!

Night At The Museum: History's Never Tis Real

Ben Stiller rocks my world! Totally!!! And “Night At The Museum” is the proof. I just came back from the media screening and it’s a beautiful world all over again after all the chuckling and laughing!

Stiller plays Larry Daley, a dreamy, almost geeky father who’s divorced with a son. Even though he’s perpetually down on luck, he believes he is destined for something big. The “big break” came when he accepted a job as a graveyard shift night watchman at a museum of natural history. What seemed to be a quiet night turned out to be a circus when the exhibits in the museum magically came to life after sun set.

As things spiral wildly out of control, Larry must find a way to control the magic to stop a nefarious plot and save the museum.

There are too many scenes that I love, love so much, and IMHO, I really think this flick is a good de-stress-er. With Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Robin Williams, Patrick Gallagher, and Brad Dumb-Dumb-wants-Gum-Gum Garrett, the movie sure came to life and sparks off many funny, heart warming scenes.

A sure way to go if your looking for a good time out laughing with your friends and family this coming Christmas! Night At The Museum will be released on the 28th of December 2006. I want to watch again!!!

On a very different note, I arrived at Mid Valley rather early this morning, at a little before 9, and I desperately need the toilet but all of them were locked and the mall was eerily quiet and dark. I managed to find one 1 floor down from the cinema and in I went. On my way out, there’s this kiddy-ride machine with a life sized boy figurine on it, “looking” at my direction; when I was nearing it, the figurine uttered “Hello! Would you like to have a go?” and I instinctively answered “No, thank you,”

O_o

After I said it, there was an explosion in my mind, like those when a rocket takes off, boom! And I was like, what the heck?! I answered a talking statue who was… talking to me?! And why is the machine turned on at that ungodly hour for a mall?!

Hey Mr. Shawn Levy, I think “Night At The Mall” will make a good sequel.

S.P.O.O.K.Y I tell ya!!!

Of Inhumanity & Strays

Last night we were out having dinner at one of those dirty chinese food court, and I met this most beautiful dog, well after my Polly! Hehe.

She has a coat of almost shiny short black fur; a pair of most striking, dark grape-like eyes, but she was kind of limping on her hind leg when she runs; it breaks my heart when I saw the fear in her eyes whenever she came across any on coming pedestrian, and she’d jogged away, with her limp tail tucked between her legs. Jason would call me paranoid (so you won’t be the first lah) but I really did feel what she felt!!!

You know how people cast you “puppy eyes” look? When they tilt their heads down and look up slightly with a subtle hint of plead and fear? That’s exactly how she looked at me when I fed her my stick of satay. So I begged and pleaded my way to Jason and got him to buy 2 pieces of duck… uhh… body part where it houses the brain to feed her (well they don’t sell chicken bones!) and went around searching for her. And finally she emerged from the crowd, and was wagging her tail when we motioned her to come over.

Came over she did, rather cautiously, and when she knew there’s no hostility, she went on to indulge her dinner. I was so happy! Well, at least if tomorrow those evil, worm-infested municipal council homo sapiens were to come for her, she’d at least die with a full stomach.


Edit: I took out my previous post full of uhm, bad words, on what I saw those brainless murderers did to harmless stray dogs near my office to keep you from getting shock with my beautiful vocabulary and language competency. If I’ve astonished you in any way (which I’ve already did to some, hehe, I was really very angry mah!), my apologies, however I reserve my right in free speech in my own personal blog. So unless we seriously strive to make this country a more humane place for all (stray dogs exclusively included), there’ll be lots more for me to bitch about.

The Beauty In Me: We're All Born With It

An invitation to Maybelline’s The Beauty In Me finale came to our office last week, and I was asked to go along. The dreading part? It’s down in KL, at the Espanda Club and I’m expected to drive there myself! (And the parking cost me $6.30! Gah!) Blah. But thank God! I braced the traffic and the whole idea of driving down to KL, and back! All. By. Myself.

I got first hand view by having a seat right beside the catwalk aisle and it was all cool. You can see the models’ facial scars and uneven skin tons! They are human after all! And the whole time I was wondering how they can stay so stick thin! Gosh! It’s like the slightest force will break them into 2. But they’ve got this attitude thing oozing from every part of them, and I likey! The only down side was I didn’t bring my camera. Ish! Speaking of which, I’d really like me a Canon or Sony. Fingers crossed I can save enough for one! You can really see the difference between a, oh I don’t know, say Sony and a… Ricoh? Heh.

Oh yeah, what’s the contest’s all about huh? Well Maybelline’s gone to all colleges to hand pick the girls to be groomed to the next top make up artist. About 400 girls from all over applied and it was down to 10, and along the way, 1 girl dropped out because she couldn’t cope up with the pressure and hence, last night we saw 9 young, college girls at work, vying each other for the grand prize of a paid trip to New York to learn make up from Maybelline’s top make up honcho, Troy Surratt. They are all so cutesy and small in size, and nervous too! The hosts were 3R’s girls: Rafidah and Celina. And the theme to which the girls have to work their magic on was “New York”.

The girl that I rooted for didn’t win, I love her model! First she looks like Lucy Liu, and then, she’s all smileys besides being cool, at one time she was wearing this huge ass white rimmed sunnies on her head, and the next she was wearing a camel coloured newsboys cap, with her hair all tied up to a pony tail and then plaited, and then I love I LOVE the way she interprets New York! She looked so fun, so autumn-y, so happy, so… New York! But alas, she didn’t win. Blah.

The show ended literally, with a bang, which scared the heck outta me with its boom of confetti, I hope no cameras captured that picture of me jumping off my seat. Hehe.

Oh hail Lucy Liu! How I love you!

Chic Est Mon Nom, Chéri

OK I know my wedding was 3 and a half months ago, and I'm practically got tired of arranging my wedding photo albums (alsthough I still feel very pretty every time I look at those pictures hehe). But here's a quiz no girls can resist, so I had to act all teenage-y and take the quiz and walk out being a "Monique Lhuillier Bride". Me happy! Je suis très chic et stylo, sais toi? :)

Which Beautiful Wedding Gown Are You?

You're a Monique Lhuillier gown! Tres chic and stylish!
Take this quiz!








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Gimme 11!

What tunes do you loop on your mp3 player while lunging for breath in the gym or out exercising?

On another note.

I’m a little cheesed. I was actually, supposedly, essentially, matter of fact-ly, get to go watch GIFA’s football match today, but my bigger boss wanted us to cover another event because the organizer’s our advertising partner, and hence making it important. But heck, what is more important than watching hunky, sweaty bollywood stars chase balls?! *sulks*

I mean… not that I so die-hard like hunky, sweaty bollywood actors lah…. No lah, not at all! *die-die also won’t admit!*

A Phone Of Our Own

The Telekom man finally came late last evening after much postponement! Today the line will be activated and we’ll have our internet connection and a, get this, house phone number to call our own soon! Yay to that!

Just a little before that, I covered an event of a newly opened karaoke joint; I even did it interview-style! LoL. Well it was funny. Uh… anyho! I guess I’ll be doing more reviewing jobs now on, which I kinda enjoy it, I mean I get to go places, and meet people instead of sitting in the office processing paper work to make OTHERS’ life easier. Plus I can punch out on time without bosses making noise of me “not staying 15 minutes more to socialize”, man I couldn’t get over that one! Ha!

After This Our Exile

Just came back from the screening of After This Our Exile (Fù zi in Chinese, meaning father and son) starring pop singer/actor Aaron Kwok, Charlie Young, and the lovable Ian Gouw Iskandar. The movie will be opening in Malaysia on Dec 7, so be forewarned that spoilers are ahead, hehe.

The story takes place in a small town up north of Malaysia about a man past his prime whose unwedded partner left him for his incapability of taking care of the family both financially and emotionally, leaving behind a young, innocent son, caught in a messed up adult world. The movie saw Kwok taking on a challenging role as a husband and father with a streak of abusiveness in him, trying desperately to be loving in order to keep the family together, only failing miserably due to his addiction to gambling and a proud attitude.

After this Our Exile won the Best Asian Film and Best Artistic Contribution at the recently concluded Tokyo International Film Festival, and has also garnered 3 wins at the Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan for Best Film, Best Actor (Kwok), and Best Supporting Actor (Iskandar).

Well, I don’t know if it’s just me or well, me. I feel both the lead actor and actress are trying really hard to speak with the Malaysian Cantonese accent which makes it a little awkward, for me at least, to totally immerse myself in the story and feel “Malaysian”.

But having said that, the movie brought a refreshing touch of reality which reminded me that how blessed most of us are to be surrounded by supportive loved ones, have education, a job, and basically a whole life in front of us to live! So what is it about a quarrel with parents, squabble with siblings, calculative boss, and bank loans to repay when tragic family dramas are taking place every day in some corners, away from societal help, resulting in irreparable endings?

It’s been awhile since I last saw this genre of movie, I enjoyed the slow pace set through out the film; it’s like a walk down a quiet kampung lane in the hot, humid afternoon: enthralling yet, disturbing.

If you have the time, catch the movie, and ponder, what’s the world like outside of your comfort zone? Think about it.

Staying Sweet

I think I’ve developed a sweet tooth lately. I’m all for cakes, muffins, pastries, and now, I’d give anything for a huge piece of warm chocolate (or apple crumble!) pie drizzled with some yummy chocolate or vanila sauce and a steaming hot cup of frothed coffee, like really now!

Oh boy, it must be the air con that blows directly to my face, I’m trying to keep warm with layers of clothes and cardigan topping it off with my shawl yet I still feel miserably cold.

Ah… I dream of pies and something hot to drink…

A Come Back Note

I’m at work! Well that sure sounds good. Hehe.

Life’s great, it’s getting back to how it used to albeit changes and adaptations got to be made, of course. At least I’m getting back on the job market. It’s a small company but I think I’ll enjoy it, especially with my job scope! I mean, hello, no administrative work!!!! Bring it on any time!!!

My write up on a restaurant last week will come in print this week, I’m excited. I mean, after all, it’s my first article gone public ;) I shan’t be complaining too much, despite for the fact that my computer has no UBS slots for me to stick my pen drive into. Heh.

So anyway, here’s just a little update, saying I’m alive!

Last weekend we went back to Melaka because Jason’s mom wasn’t feeling too well and got hospitalised, thank God she’s doing fine now. We attended a wedding too, one of Jason’s old church member’s daughter. It was simple and nice. How weird, just a couple of months ago, it was ours and it was practically madhouse. Hah. Anyway, no pictures, because need I remind myself? My computer has no UBS slots! Gah!

Oh yeah, a happy belated birthday wish to Michelle who celebrated her birthday on the Nov 30th. We totally forgotten it was her birthday and just went about having breakfast with her and David until the clock struck 12 midnight that day. Hehe. Good thing we had dim sum and we paid. So consider the meal was specially for you lah! :)

Counting Blessings

I haven’t been getting a lot of chance to come online and blog, and over the past one month, so many blessings have bestowed upon us, and we are truly grateful!

Well for one, I got a job! And I’m actually excited about starting on the 1st of December. I’ll be a writer with a publishing house. Well after taking off from the job market for 3 months, now just the thought of having a job and am able to earn makes me want to kiss the ground, let alone being titled a “writer”, something I’ve been dreaming of becoming! Praise God! Oh, I know I shouldn’t be boasting, but I can’t contain my excitement, because, I’ll be working 5 days week, leaving me with the weekend to serve in church and spend time with my loved ones, plus, I’ll get to tag along a for a food review next week! Whoo hoo! Praise You Lord! Your little bonuses are truly wonderful! Anyway, the way I got this job was a testimony on its own; I’ll share with you over teh tarik? :)

I’ve started my book project too, thanks to Jason’s constant bugging. Hehe. He’s been a good source of inspirations. I tend to lose my point when I got engrossed in typing and that’s where he comes in handy!

Jason brought me out for movies last Saturday (and that’s when the publisher called on our way to the cinema and offered me the job which I’ve given up hope on!), he knew how I love Happy Feet, those singing and dancing penguins full of attitude! I can’t tell you how cute they were, and talented too for that matter! You should catch it soon; it leaves you all swooned and giggly for the rest of the day!

Oh yes! We’ve finally registered for a phone line AND streamyx! That means, loads of up time at home! Oh I can’t wait! I hope the telekom people will be fixing the line soon before I start work next week. I can then go online until the cows come home! Hahahahah! OK, Jason doesn’t need this piece of info. Hehe.

I’ve joined the church caroling team too, although we won’t be going from house to house, only performing for the Christmas service, but it’s still all very exciting to me. I tried joining 2 years back, but pulled out half way through. This time around, Jason encouraged me to join again and enjoy, we have had only one practice, but I’m liking it already! Stage fright, out you go!


When you let go and let God, trusting not yourself but Him, He will make all things beautiful. In His perfect time.

Let 'Em Eat Cake! Loads Of 'Em!

And the dinner that my parents called for.

The guests are mainly my parents’ friends and relatives and the whole event was rather… cool. You know how I shun wedding dinners held in Chinese restaurants, but this one was well, actually cool.

The restaurant captain forbade us to have our own programs and songs and what not reason being they’ve their in-house emcee and stuff, and apparently they came up with a new intro thing they’d do during the couple’s entrance. So, fine with us.

On that evening, all things were running late due to the heavy down pour and my cousin who made-up me were well, a little slow, so anyway, when I arrived at the restaurant and managed to dashed into the changing room to change, the emcee later came in and said this that gave my nerves no rest:

“Ah, you don’t worry ok, nothing to be worried about. We are going to do something new, you guys are the first couple we are going to try the thing on, but no worries wan ok?”

Gee, thanks dude, what a privilege!

But it was all good. The emcee led me to the outside of the restaurant entrance, brought Jason to the back of the restaurant, and the emcee actually started singing, a Sir Elton Jonh’s number, Can You Feel The Love Tonight, Chinese version, uhm hmm. LOL it was so mind boggling!

And then he went to the back while crooning, and led Jason down the aisle, handed him a bouquet of flowers (which we initially bought to be given to my mom because we’re going to celebrate her birthday too!) and motioned me to walk in, and got Jason walked towards me with the flowers, and just as Jason got down on his knee, someone fired a party popper thing and confetti were raining on us both, we walked up the stage, and the emcee was just in time in wrapping up his song.

There you go. LOL Anyway, everything went well, my parents were high in spirit, we both were treated like King and Queen. And yeah, we had a little birthday celebration for my mom in the middle of the dinner, and yes, the same bouquet given to me was presented to her too. Hehe.

I’ll leave you with some pictures.






















































































And someone's trying to be goofy...

I Pronounce You, Man, And Wife

The wedding ceremony was perfect, I couldn’t ask for anything more… although, you get the usual bouts of hiccups, like: I forgot to bring down the veil as my dad walked me down the aisle (this was a classic one!); my “appointed” photographer didn’t turn up due to some urgent, last minute emergencies (thank God for Wen Shen, a church member’s son who came equipped with his professional looking camera and skill!); I kept tripping on my hemline, because I didn’t figure holding the bouquet with my right hand (the one in my dad’s) would actually enabled me to hold my gown with my left, and hence, no clumsy walks! And the list goes on. In any case, I must make note that my dad looked awesome and super striking in his suit (he’s Jason’s and his own tailor!).

But I love every second of the ceremony! It was beautiful! I had my Lauren Hill’s version of Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You as my recessional (although that choice got some frowns from some peeps) and also a rock and roll version of Canon in D as the entrance-to-the-reception-hall-music, but it was so darn romantic, classy, energetic and fresh!

The reception was a little bit of a disappointment, because guests left earlier than they ought to, maybe due to wrong cues. I didn’t get to change into my much raved about lengha, in fact, I had to take out the can-cans, and carry my train everywhere I went, rather ungracefully, and my heels had to fail me by making some clucking noise on the left heel because the rubber piece decided to break on my way down to the ceremony foyer, and thus, causing me to want to change into my bling-bling sandals, although it could hardly be seen, but somehow it just made me feel much less glamorous!

Oh, my lovely colleagues (all Chinese dance troop) performed this Indian dance but you guessed it, I missed it, the whole performance! I was so sad! But anyhow, I managed to catch it on video, and they were terrific! Still, I wish I could have the whole reception replayed again. We missed out so much when the guests were filing out so quickly. I guess that’s the down side to having a buffet reception: you just can’t keep your guests!

I didn’t get any pictures of my cupcake towers either, let alone taste them. And yes, I heard my lollipops favors were a hit among the kids, and I’m happy about that! I just wish I could see them displayed out on the tables before everything started.

If you are organizing a wedding, and if possible, don’t stinge too much but dish out a little bit budget to hire professional vendors and suppliers, it’ll save you all the heartaches and headaches, really. Somehow, now I feel it’d worth the pennies.

Jason was disappointed with his speech as he was looking into everything from A-Z (the last 3 hours were madhouse for him, he had to juggle phone calls, drinking coffee, and shower all at one go!), to the extend he didn’t have the time and peace of mind to prepare for his speech, though I thought he’s done pretty well, recited a poem for me for that matter! And the proudest lifetime achievement on my part was that I actually spoke, on stage, into the mic, while staying composed. Gah!!! Congratulate me please, someone!!!! LOL

The pictures I’m displaying here are, of course, not all of it (some of my friends take wonderful pictures!), if you like, we can always go out for yum cha and I’d show you all the pics, gladly! (Because I know I looked good in the pictures! Hehehe and I was commented as being photogenic. Whoo hooo!!!)

:) I’m signing out till the next posting. Stay safe!

Back With Pics

Alrighty, I think I’m taking way too long to just post pictures. Hehe. Jason and I are both surviving married life, that’s how we both like to fondly refer our life together now. Making room for each other in one living space, rather annoyingly; stepping on each others’ toes, both literally and theoretically; understanding each others’ lingo; serving each other; making sure each other is comfortable; it’s hard work, oh yes, but I guess, we both are enjoying it to say the least, or at least we would like to believe. LOL

Anyway, I’ll just post some pictures for your viewing pleasure. I’ll start with the actual wedding morning itself, on the 17th of September 2006. Basically we had 3 major events: one was on 16th of September, where my dad called for dinner mainly for his friends and relatives, one was on the 17th morning when the groom and his party came to the bride’s house to fetch the bride, and that’s where the groom “paid” some prices to “earn” the bride, and one is of course, on the 17th afternoon, where we had our wedding ceremony at the hotel followed by the reception.

We’ll share the pictures, and later do a review on our suppliers. I hope they’ll be helpful to you if you ever need it. Again, we had the most beautiful wedding and a great time, thanks to all of you who helped made it happened for us. Thank you y’all!

Quickie

Just a quick note of hullo buhbye :) We are back from our honeymoon and the whole crazy weekend wedding celeberation! We are so touched with all your kind gestures and presence, really, what else can we ask for? Anyway, I'm so out of internet connection living in my now new home in Bangi. I'll try to get on the net soonest to post pictures and updates. Do send us the pictures you captured on our wedding day, should you have any, for our compilation and developing. Man, I'm so deprived of the net! Alright, I gotta get moving. So keep in touch y'all! Hugs and muaks!

We Are This Close

Last week Wednesday was my last in the office. Yup, I’ve resigned. Tendered 2 months notice, in a blink of an eye, it was time to say good bye (hey it rhymes!). I was totally busy off my head packing and handing over my jobs to my colleagues that I didn’t have time to be happy or sad over the whole “it’s my last day!” sentiment; until by 6pm, after much packing and running around, it dawned on me that, “hey, seriously, this cubicle is no longer yours, there’ll be no more laughing over stupid things with your colleagues-now-turned-really-cool-friends, no more lunch breaks with them, no more petty talks over coffee breaks, no more chatting in the wash room, no more crying in the toilet cubicles…” wow… and then I felt tears trickling down, I had to hold back, silly bambi!

I never expected to be this… gray over resigning. I mean this has been what I wanted all the while but then when the time came to leave, I couldn’t do it! Super duh! Haha.

Anyway! Another heart attack is this: my wedding is next weekend! (like, it's news to you. hehe) This gory truth always makes me want to stick two chopsticks up my nostrils and bend them around up the eyes and stick ‘em back down from the top of the brain all the way down to the liver, you know, just to make sure, I’m not dreaming. It is that… surreal! Like heck, I should have another half a year, where has all the time gone to?! Gahhh!!!!

The “MRS degree”. The new chapter to come… in a week’s time. Someone pass me the chopsticks please.

So yeah, anyway, 1 week has gone by since my last day at work, and in a way, I’m glad to have more time at hand to get things done. I’ve sent out my invitation cards, I’ve, more or less, secured a make up artist (yay!!!) and I’ll get my trial this Saturday evening, just in time for my hen’s night! (so money won’t go a-waste!), I’ve gone for a facial this morning, and a second one to come next week on Thursday. Oh remember the veil? The one that my friends bought for me, and I dreamed that it wasn’t dry cleaned on my wedding day? Well, I sent to the dobby on Monday! *beams*

I also went for my dress fitting last Sunday, and the horror when I saw my wedding gown for the first time after 6 months, instead of falling in love all over again, I just felt that wasn’t the dress I chose 6 months ago! And the girl insisted it was my choice. But it’s a slight sweetheart cut! Mine was an empire cut! Due to it wasn’t in my size and one of the bra cups was out, I couldn’t feel anything bridal about it but I do looked the part of a swollen prego woman. Oh man!!!!

And the unhelpfulness of that snobbish looking sales girl made the whole experience even worse. I don’t like shopping for bridal gowns in Malaysia! Before you sign up their services, they are all sunshine and rainbows, but after you do! Hoho, say adios to your money and wedding dreams and hello to rotten cheese! (Uhm, actually, I have no idea why rotten cheese, but just for the effect lah)

So anyway, I went back there again yesterday, and took my longest time to search for *that* perfect gown. I couldn’t find it (that’s because its non-existent, according to those money suckers) but thankfully, the girl’s attitude was not as bad as before on that day. So I was able to make my decisions without being rushed and forced. I just hope when I go back for my final fitting next week, I’ll taste the “sweetness of falling in love again”, as how other brides would describe when they see their dresses. Hehe.

Oh and we bought the lo…. Uhm, favors! We bought our favors!!!! I’m so excited!!!!! And Jason found his perfectest pair of shoes!!!! And we’ve got our birdcage!

Oh boy, it’s a crazy ride, this whole wedding preparation! One year’s work just for one day’s event. I think crazy is really an understatement! But I thank God to be able to experience all these things with my loved ones and friends. As how Jason would put it, all the craziness, the irritations, the arguments, definitely are bringing all of us much closer! :)

What about you? How’ve your week been?

Pictured Week In Progress

The hands at work... kung-fu style












The cheap, but hard working labour...













No prize for guessing who's being non-productive...














The results... I think the satiny ribbons are gorgeous!
























The brains behind the genius production...

Point Of No Return

Our invitations are ready, and I’m very nervous how they turned out. Jason has gone back to Melaka to pick them up from the printer, and it took him some time to “like” it, but then again, we have different tastes.

The thing is, one of Jason’s friend helped printed the cards at an unimaginable low price and we are grateful for that (he even printed 50 pieces extra for us!); on the other hand, due to the cost and distance, the printer said mocking up a sample was not feasible and hence, the template was sent to print without us exactly knowing how it’ll turn out physically. I guess one really can’t have it all!

In any case, 50 cards had been given out to Jason’s family (before the bride gets to stamp approval, haiks). Fingers crossed I won’t faint when I see him (he had a hair cut AND color) AND the cards this evening! (and you asked me why I gain the title “*Sapede Queen” instead of weight? )

My brain is in full force now on how to dress up the plain (white) envelope that came together with the cards. Not easy being a bride, I tell you! Nah uhn! :p

On a very different note, guess what? I’m invited to a hens’ night.

MY.HENS.NIGHT.

I’m really excited about it! (Do I look the part?!) More like a nervous excited! My “lovely” colleagues, who are more excited thab me, are organizing one for me, and all I know is that this is happening on the 9th of September. I’m practicing my “Go Invisible” trick now. As soon as I know the (hidden) agenda, I’ll put the trick to good use!

Now who says watching David Copperfield is lame?

*Sapede – tamil for eating

Sure Onot?

That’s it! We are exactly 1 month before the big day comes! Loads of butterflies in tummy. Argh. OK, this is really embarrassing, but I had to share this because it’s the cutest thing!

So a few nights back, my system shut down and I had a nervous breakdown, enough said. So along came Polly, studied me for awhile by tilting her little goofy, furry head, and up she jumped to the bed, and started licking me as if she understood and that she’s consoling me. Man, ain’t she the sweetest, cutest, sweetest thing?! How I wish she can come with me after the wedding. She can’t even come to my wedding because the hotel doesn’t allow animals in their premise!

Anyway, we sent in our registration form last night to the church. 3 days before our wedding we’ll have our fate sealed with a felt tip pen and voilà! Un homme, une femme, une vie! Let the game begins!

Positive Updates

It has been a long but exciting week! Things are moving really fast, finally, and the pressures are easing off pretty quickly too! Thank God!

Invitations are expected to be ready this mid week. But we are beginning our second round of pre-invitation-RSVP. So do drop us a note at jasonaish@yahoo.com or give us a buzz to confirm your attendance if you’re interested :)

We’ve wasted 2 days of our time in running around JPN PJ/Putrajaya to get our info on Mykad updated (that’s another pain-induced story altogether!), so now what’s left is to get ready to submit our marriage registration form.

On Wednesday we met Kelly and briefed her about our wedding and the areas we would like her to look into… that’s basically everything! Hehe oops!

On Thursday we met Sis Mary Anne and Nancy from our cell group, they and the rest of our cell group members will be our ushers on the day (together with Jason’s ex-cell group members back in Melaka, and a few of our colleagues).

Friday we met Bro. Lam during home life and got him to assist in arranging transport for the Subang church members. And confirmed with my colleagues to do, get this... a Bhangra dance presentation during reception! LOL so cool!!! Chong, you are so in!!! No running away!!!!

Saturday we brought our friends, Lyn and Jamie to our wedding venue, and brainstormed on the deco and setting; had a scrumptious buffet lunch and loads of laughing; and then met the favor lady (she’s really nice!), and a sample is expected to be ready this Tuesday or Wednesday. At night we went to my dad’s place, and had Jason’s measurement taken to tailor make his suits. Dad is also in the midst of making his own suit. It is all very exciting! Hehe! Now we gotta thing of something for my mom and my grandmas. (If you gentlemen want to tailor make any suits or shirts or pants, my dad is a terrific tailor! OK, I know I'm pretty shameless when it comes to advertising my dad, heck I love him! :)

Sunday we shopped for our rings and found a couple reasonably priced rings because they are on sale! (Don’t you just love sales?!) We “booked” ourselves a lovely mini birdcage from a stall selling knick knacks. The owners were very reluctant to sell us the cage because it’s their display item, but then later they were saying they have this other same new one at home, we’ll have to pay for it. Jason was the sweetest groom to name a willing price and decided to get it because the bride is sooo interested in the cage (I know! Really doh of me!)! Anyway, we’ll have to call them back 2 weeks later to declare ownership (We still have time to regret). The cage will be used in replacement of a ring pillow :)

Oh, we’ve got ourselves a wonderful guitarist too! Jared will be playing at our wedding and we now have a complete, talented, and smart looking band. I can’t wait to see them on stage!

And On Sunday itself too, we’ve sent in a chosen song to our bridal shop for the VCD slide show which they’ll make for us, and decided on the color of the ribbons/deco used for our handsome car – a spanking gorgeous black Nissan Murano! (I can’t stop bragging about it!!!!!! hahahahahaahhaha) Now since Jason is going to wear tailor made suits by my dad, we have to decide to exchange his groom’s suit from the bridal shop with something else. Any suggestions what items we can suck from this money minded people? :p

Anyway, I really like how things are moving now. We are looking forward to accomplishing more things this week!

When The Opposite Plans

I was soaking up this funny topic off a bridal related forum on the topic of “What if your future husband planned the whole wedding?” I gave it a serious thought, and this is what I came up with.

If my future husband planned the whole wedding, it would be held in his home church located on the first floor of a row of shop lot (uhm hmm). It would be done in a very traditional way. Bridal march on piano, flower girls, ball gown and tuxedo; all the male attendants will be in black jacket and be equipped with Playboy black sun shades, they will have to look mafia because only then the word “cool” is defined.

Now the bride must have the veil covering her face to signify the pureness of a virgin; her ball gown is obligated to have a long train, and her hair mustn’t be side swept with flat bangs. He says it's too "chinese" (uh ok)

The music selection should include the likes of Michael Bolton, Celine Dion, Air Supply, Diana Ross, Phil Colin, Michael Learns To Rock, etc. Not that they are terrible, no, I love them all, but they are just a little too sappy for my taste.

The reception venue would either be in the large backyard of his friend’s house or church’s fellowship hall, and it’ll be pot luck. The food selection will be Asian, with unlimited supply of rice, of course :)

The invitation cards and program sheets will be bought off the book shops’ racks. (Do I hear an eek from you girls now? haha :) They should also bear gold or silver lettering with bells and doves embellishing the card (a double eek perhaps? hehe)

Oh boy, it’s funny we both are so opposite of each other (opposite attracts?!). He’s totally a traditional dude while I, I’m such a casual, laid back dudette. He obsesses about making lists which, I have to agree, is really useful to help you in remembering things and getting them done; while I go by memory (and blonde moments happen all the time!). He’s the brain while I’m the heart!

As much as guys have the same way of thinking as far as how a wedding should be is concerned, I’m so glad he’s not the type who wants to football-ize the whole thing!!! Gah! I’ve read about guys idea of getting married is to “elope”, during “half time of a Man U and Arsenal game”, in “Hooter’s bar with greasy chicken wings and beers”, or worse, to “have Carmen Electra as the officiant” (?!)

Anyway! What about you? How will it be if your future husband planned the whole wedding? Or if you are the guy, how would your wedding be if you were to plan it?

Picking Up From Where We Left

Praise the Lord! Finally we’ve booked our honeymoon package, with Air Asia, and a hundred dollars cheaper compare with the earlier quoted price! How exciting is that huh huh huh? :)

We’ll be going to Phuket for a week right after the wedding day. Sun, sand, sea, and me!!!! Whoo hoo!!!! :D

I’ve also received the 1st draft from our printer, there were a few things to look into though, really hope we can have all things finalized before Friday, so that the invites can go straight for printing!

Our marriage registration form has been affirmed by the commissioner for oaths, and then we found another mistake: that the address column should match the one stated on the IC. Great. But no matter, a call to the church, the ever so helpful pastor advised that we should make a trip down to JPN to amend our IC, because besides the address problem, there’s a bit of a mistake in our religion status too. So, I guess the trip is imminent to avoid any more problems that we are foreseeing to happen during the registration.

Although with Jason’s “commando management” approach, a lot more things are being done up positively, but at the same time, he’s getting a little too stressed out due to work overload, wedding preparations, lots of late nights because of our distance, and nursing a flu :( Do remember him in your prayer please…

Well last night was, I would say a breakthrough; both of us chatted with my dad till 1-ish in the AM. Gah! I’m actually spacing out every other minute now. Anyway, we were able to communicate positively with him though at one point the conversation was quite heated, but after the air was cleared, it went rather smooth there on, even enjoyable, I’d say! Learning to communicate with my parents is going to be a life long process because our family are not the mushy-wooshy sort from the beginning of time. So I guess this first major event (i.e. the wedding & a non-chinese newbie in the family) happening in the family is going to give all of us loads to learn and experience! Praise God!

Alright, seriously, my mind are not focusing here, I’m gonna need to go to the washroom for a nap. I mean, wash my face. Later!

Relationships Manager

It's a little long but worth the time reading it. Some of you might know this already; but it’s a good read and we can always use a little reminder as far as managing relationship with our own partner is concerned. And for the singles, read this up and have your criteria in looking for a partner set straight before getting yourself entangled in unwanted and emotionally draining relationships.

With the divorce rate over 50 percent, too many are apparently making a serious
mistake in deciding who to spend the rest of their life with. To avoid becoming
a "statistic", try to internalize these 10 insights.

No.1 You pick the wrong person because you expect him/her to change after you're married.

The classic mistake. Never marry potential. The golden rule is, if you can't be happy with the person the way he or she is now, don't get married. As a colleague of mine so wisely put it, "You actually can expect people to change after their married... for the worst!" So when it comes to the other person's spirituality, character, personal hygiene, communication skills, and personal habits, make sure you can live with these as they are now.

No.2 You pick the wrong person because you focus more on chemistry than on character.

Chemistry ignites the fire, but good character keeps it burning. Beware of the "I'm in love" syndrome. "I'm in love" often means, "I'm in lust." Attraction is there, but have you carefully checked out this person's character? Here are four character traits to definitely check for: Humility: Does this person believe that "doing the right thing" is more important than personal comfort? Do I want to be more like this person? Would I like my child to turn out like him or her? Kindness: Does this person enjoy giving pleasure to other people? How does s/he treat people s/he doesn't have to be nice to? Does s/he do volunteer work? Give charity? Responsibility: Can I depend on this person to do what s/he says s/he's going to do? Happiness: Does this person like himself? Does s/he enjoy life? Is s/he emotionally stable? Ask yourself: Do I want to be more like this person? Do I want to have a child with this person? Would I like my child to turn out like him or her?

No.3 You pick the wrong person because one doesn't understand what the other needs most.

Men and women have unique emotional needs. Couples need to give consistent, quality attention to each other. Men are goal-oriented, especially when it comes to this area. As a woman once pointed out, "Men have two speeds: on and off". Women are experience-oriented. When both the woman and the man are able to accommodate and understand each other’s needs, they will discover what makes her/his spouse happy.

No.4 You choose the wrong person because you do not share a common life goals and priorities.

There are three basic ways we connect with another person: 1. chemistry and compatibility 2. share common interests 3. share common life goals.

Make sure you share the deeper level of connection that sharing life goals provide. After marriage, the two of you will either grow together or grow apart. To avoid growing apart, you must figure out what you're "living for", while you're single - and then find someone who has come to the same conclusion as you. This is the true definition of a " soul mate". A soul mate is a goal mate - two people who ultimately share the same understanding of life's purpose and therefore share the same priorities, values and goals.

No.5 You choose the wrong person because you get involved sexually too quickly.

Sexual involvement before the commitment of marriage can be a big problem because it often precludes a fully honest exploration of important issues. Sexual involvement tends to cloud one's mind. And a clouded mind is not inclined to make good decisions. Of all the studies done on divorce, sexual incompatibility is never cited as a main factor. It is not necessary to take a "test drive" in order to find out if a couple is sexually compatible. If you do your homework and make sure you are intellectually and emotionally compatible, you don't have to worry about sexual compatibility. Of all the studies done on divorce, sexual incompatibility is never cited as a main reason why people divorce.

No.6 You pick the wrong person because you do not have a deeper emotional connection with this person.

To evaluate whether you have a deeper emotional connection or not, ask: "Do I respect and admire this person?" This does not mean, "Am I impressed by this person?" We are impressed by a Mercedes. We do not respect someone because they own a Mercedes. You should be impressed by qualities of creativity, loyalty, determination, etc. Also ask: "Do I trust this person?" This also means, "Is he/she emotionally stable? Do I feel I can rely on him/her?

No.7 You pick the wrong person because you choose someone with whom you don't feel emotionally safe.

Ask yourself the following questions: Do I feel calm, peaceful and relaxed with this person? Can I fully be myself and express myself with this person? Does this person make me feel good about myself? Do you have a really close friend who does make you feel this way? Make sure the person you marry makes you feel the same way! Are you afraid of this person in any way? You should not feel you need to monitor what you say because you are afraid of how the other person will view it. If you're afraid to express your feelings and opinions openly, there's a problem with the relationship. Be on the look out for someone who is always trying to change you. Another aspect of feeling safe is that you don't feel the other person is trying to control you. Controlling behaviors are a sign of an abusive person. Be on the look out for someone who is always trying to change you. There's a big difference between "controlling" and "making suggestions." A suggestion is made for your benefit; a control statement is made for their benefit.

No.8 You pick the wrong person because you don't put everything on the table.

Anything that bothers you about the relationship must be brought up for discussion. Bringing up the uncomfortable stuff is the only way to evaluate how well the two of you communicate, negotiate, and work together. Over the course of a lifetime, difficulties will inevitably arise. You need to know now, before making a commitment: Can you resolve your differences and find compromises that work for both of you? Never be afraid to let the person know what bothers you. This is also a way for you to test how vulnerable you can be with this person. If you can't be vulnerable, then you can't be intimate. The two go hand in hand.

No.9 You pick the wrong person because you use the relationship to escape from personal problems and unhappiness.

If you are unhappy and single, you'll probably be unhappy and married, too. Marriage does not fix personal, psychological and emotional problems. If anything, marriage will exacerbate them. If you are not happy with yourself and your life, take responsibility to fix it now while you are single. You'll feel better, and your future spouse will thank you.

No.10 You pick the wrong person because he/she is involved in a triangle.

To be "triangulated" means a person is emotionally dependent on someone or something else while trying to develop another relationship. A person who hasn't separated from his or her parents is the classic example of triangulation. People can also be triangulated with things as well, such as work, drugs, Internet, hobbies, sports or money. Be careful that you and your partner are free of triangles. The person caught in the triangle cannot be fully emotionally available to you. You will not be their number one priority. And that's no basis for a marriage.

Buckling Up

The pressure is brewing at this point of wedding preparations. I’ve been getting more nightmares and it’s totally draining. So many what ifs of all sorts of situations, it’s really driving us mad! What more when you have an extreme perfectionist in the team (oops, not me! :x hehe)

The invitation template has been sent to the printer and we couldn’t get him on the phone the whole of the weekend! Argh! But he did promise to have the artwork done up by this Thursday and will have it couriered to us. So I’m foreseeing to send out the invitations by mid August, and email the soft copy to overseas friends. That will leave the guests with exactly 1 month to decide their attendance, and they can all RSVP by phone or email.

*yeah, I know, the invites should be out way long ago, but play along with me, will ya? You see, if I sent them out earlier you guys would actually misplace the darn card, right?! Right?! I know I’m right*

We’ll be working out the name lists concurrently, so at the end of it (I’d say this week), we’ll have a concrete number to advise the printer and the hotel, and we can decide how many buses to book for Melaka guests, and whether or not we need to arrange transports for guests from our Subang church.

At the same time, I’ll need to fine tune writing our vows, and come out with more thank you/ name cards for favors. Call up suppliers for favors. Call Kelly, my last-minute-much-needed coordinator. I’m touched, Kelly, thanks for your willingness to help!

And our friend is helping us in getting our marriage registration form endorsed by the commissioner of oath, which we can have it back by this evening and have it sent to church for processing.

Oh, I’ll need to start designing the layout of our programs too! And finish up the photo presentation for reception, start making petal toss cones, and… eek! Book honeymoon.

Whoo hoo! Don't cha love roller coaster rides?! Ha! It can't get any crazier than this.

* * *
Edit
* * *

OK, our to-be-endorsed marriage registration form is a no go, because Jason and I didn’t sign the form! Dang! And apparently, the officer wasn’t too pleased with the hiccup.

Ah well. Mistakes happen. It’s fine. We’ll take it back from our friend tonight and we’ll find our own commissioner of oath. I think they are a dime a dozen… I mean, we can just walk in wherever there’s one, right? It’s just a chop sign for goodness’s sake!

Note to ourselves, in times like this, BREATH. It’s not that bad, really. We’ll pull this through, dear. Let’s do it ourselves, and with a smile for that matter. A Big one!

Oh, here’s something to smile about. I just called the favor supplier, I think we are getting quite a good price, and we’ll go and view the samples this weekend. I just hope the supplier has the shape that I want!

*If I’m not being obvious enough for you to notice, yes, I’m not letting you know what favor is that! Bleeuuhhhh* :)

I Heart NY

When I say I like New York, this is what I meant:



Weddingbee featured this sweet dress, Rita, which I totally, totally adore! If the train is altered out, I believe it makes a beautiful evening gown for all functions.

Gone & Back

I’m back! Singapore was great! JB was greater! I spent my whole time sleeping! LOL Hey, it rained everyday, and suddenly shopping didn’t sound too appealing with the traffic and crowds everywhere.

I had hearty breakfast everyday, like, really hearty! Which lasted me the whole day, I can go without lunches and dinners! That’s how “hearty” it was :) And then, I’d do some walking and shopping around town, and then head back to the hotel and SLEEP! It was GRR-EAT, uhm hmm!

And then, there were a few surprises in between thrown in by Jason, you know, just to spruce up my stay with the Hyatt Regency. Cough*brag*cough. Hehe. I mean, he was sweet. He’d sent mini fruit tarts and chocolate croissants to me in between breaks, and got someone to send me this gigantic fruit tart at the end! I was stuffed! I mean, of course I was touched but I was so stuffed, I swear I’ve gained 5 kilos more. Dear, is postponing D Day an option? :)

We visited Singapore and we were… uh, mainly me lah, so excited to be on the island. It’s been ages since the last. I called Stew and wow, long time neber hear your voice lah! Hiak hiak!

It was all cool! Orchard Road was cool too, too many cool clothing which I cannot afford. So, it’s cool that I didn’t spend money!

En route back home, we dropped by at Melaka, and went to the printers our dear friend, Cath, recommended (Uh… yeah, we haven't print our invitations yet. Hehe Oops…). Apparently one of the printers happened to be Jason’s old church friend, and thank God, he’s quoting us good prices. I think we might head back to Melaka again this weekend to finalize the artwork.

Well, in any case, no worries, I’m sure you guys will definitely receive the card before the wedding day comes, and then goes. :D

Bare Necessity

We were at The Curve on Saturday night, and the minute we came up from the basement parking lot, we both set our eyes on a few pieces of evening gowns in flirty fabrics. They are perfect for our bridesmaids! I picked 1 halter in pastel butter and aqua green, one baby doll in aqua green. The halter one resembles the pic on the right to which you can dress it up or down, extremely versatile! I’m going to steal it from my sis after the wedding for my honeymoon! Hehe As usual, Jason took up the role as negotiator and we got 2 pieces in a very, very reasonable price *I’m proud of you dear*

So, bridesmaids’ dresses, check! Getting these dresses made me feel as though I've accomplished a heck lot! Hohohoho!

And then over at Ikea, 2 queen size bed frames for $245 each, one wrought iron bed frame for $499. I kinda like the iron one; it conjures up a very romantic setting for a room. Alas, it’s not Jason’s taste. But I like! I like! I like! Besides, I do actually think the prices are pretty reasonable, no?

Currently our apartment is bare, like seriously B.A.R.E! Hehe. We thought since we’re going to be staying here only temporarily, like for a year, we’ll keep the furniture to its simplest form. Thus, furnishing the master bed room is the only project we have in hand.

I’ll be off to JB and Singapore this coming end of week! Uhha! I do really need a little time off, too much of reality, i.e. current office job, really drain you off. I’ve been reading so much about the variety of good food in Singapore and the SALE! Oorgh, I can’t wait! I can’t wait! I can’t wait!

Free, Fun, Talent Noon!

We had a photo shoot yesterday afternoon at the studio for yet another ad for our company. We had so much fun! Like, shhhooo much! :)

It was one of those moments where our marketing colleague came in from a meeting and went like, “hey leishia, steph, we’re going for a photo shoot later, and we’ll have lunch there” to which we both went like, “oh ok, let’s go”. And automatically we started packing our stuff and got moving. Uhm hmm, we were THAT professional hehe. Oh, and this “Leishia, bring along your Domino’s coupons, we’re buying you guys pizza.” Yeah, sure, free talent, and lunch off my coupons. LOL

One colleague were to be the father, another one a mother, and steph and I to be the children. We kept making fun of everything but the father was a weenie bit uptight, so we kept mocking him. Steph was particularly mischievous and funny. We laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed till the cows came home!

Oh boy, I did really have that much fun and laughs. When the ads are out and if I do look ok in there (read: child role in the form of an auntie/maid), I’ll post the pics. Hehe.

Oh you know what?! I’ve become one of those brides where they get nightmares about her wedding! I dreamt that suddenly it’s September 17th, and it seemed everyone (as in my mom and I) just realized its 17th! And horror of all horrors, I didn’t have a make up and hair artist! So I kept calling Judy, our bridal shop assistant, to ask for help, but she said she’s not free. So I put down the phone, just when I did so, I also realized, dramatically no less, that the veil given by my colleague wasn’t sent for dry cleaning yet! I panicked and I fell off the bed.

No lah, I didn’t fall off the bed, but I did panic and woke up. There you have it, the first manifestation of wedding stress. Haiks.

But I guess it’s quite normal, because almost all of the brides I met seem to be having one level of stress or another. Even Jason gets this sort of dreams! So bring it on! September 17th! Hah!

Letter Box

Here, you can find me here: leishia26 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Quoted

A peep into John M Gottman’s The 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work (taken from my favorite website):

What can make a marriage work is surprisingly simple. Happily married couples aren’t smarter, richer, or more psychologically astute than others. But in their day to-day lives, they have hit upon a dynamic that keeps their negative thoughts and feelings about each other (which all couples have) from overwhelming their positive ones.

Couples simply have different styles of conflict. Some avoid fights at all costs, some fight a lot, and some are able to “talk out” their differences and find a compromise without ever raising their voices. No one style is necessarily better than the other- as long as the style works for both people. Couples can run into trouble if one partner
always wants to talk about the conflict while the other just wants to watch the playoffs.

… one of the most surprising truths about marriage: Most marital arguments cannot be resolved.

The key to reviving or divorce-proofing a relationship is not in how you handle disagreements but in how you are with each other when you’re not fighting. So although my Seven Principles will also guide you in coping with conflict, the foundations of my approach is to strengthen the friendship that is at the heart of any marriage.

Bad Shaped Skirt & Talking Orang Hutan

I went for my lengha fitting last night, and boy was it disappointing. The skirt was out of shape with the fabric hugging my hip and the waist, oversized. What I wanted was a simple rest-below-belly gypsy sort of flare skirt.

It didn’t feel right, heck, it didn’t look right to begin with! :(

The tailor was on leave, the lady boss wasn’t around. So we called her up and expressed our disappointment. She asked us to return to her shop for a second fitting today and assured to rectify the wrongs. You better be right!

Fingers crossed and double crossed they’ll be room for alteration. From what it seems, there’s not much fabric left at the seams for altering work. Man, we paid so much for that! Gah!!!

On a different note, Jason was back from his work trip to East Malaysia! I was presented with a basket full of random goodies last night (each with a story of its own!)! Yay! I know, I should be snapping pictures but the batteries died on me, so… heh :)

I’ve got a pair of wrap around pants, 4 mini bottles of sold-in-Sarawak-only sodas in different flavors, a pair of pearls earrings, 2 cookies & 1 chocolate (which he gotten on board and wanted to eat but kept for me instead! Awww), and a cutesy orang hutan soft toy which giggles “I Love Yous” when you press her belly! It was cuteness overload! And I did something that I swore I would never do 5 years ago: hang the monkey in my car’s back seat! Guilty! :)

Heartache

Dear all,

It is official, though I’m not giving up as yet, that all my email boxes are (almost) defunct. Irretrievable. Ever since the other day I mass-sent out our save-the-date email, I couldn’t log in anymore till today. Heck, I even typed and compiled A.L.L the email addresses ONE by ONE a day before. It must be a conspired sabotage! It must be!!! @#$$%%#$ >:(

To those who replied to our save-the-date mail to congratulate and to wish us well, my zillions apologies. You have no idea how eager I am to receive those email from you guys!

I’ll get a new email addy soon. Do drop me a line along with your email add so that I can keep you in my mailing list. Thanks so much!

Brewing Point

Thanks to Cath, we’ve gotten some quotations from the printers and busses for out of town guests. I’m seeing some light here.

We’ve also contacted a few travel agencies for travel packages. Oh did I mention? Air Asia’s goHoliday packages that we were so excited about couple of weeks ago? Yeah, we couldn’t, for the life of us, make any bookings through their website; so we emailed them stating our problem with our booking, but an automated email was all we got insisting it’s our credit card’s fault with no follow up whatsoever. So much for “now, everyone can fly”!

And the lengha lady called up and told us my lengha shall be ready by end of this week. Oh boy, the end of the tunnel is getting reeeally near!

Well I’m leaving you with some eye candies to feast on (I'm diggin the first, second, and fourth gown!!!)...

Missing Link

I did it again.

I think I forgot my password to my email. But then how can you forget something when you know you remembered it? It doesn't make sense!

It’s just so scary. You wake up one day, happily trolling along, and the next thing you know, one part of your memory, liken to a piece of puzzle, apparently is lost! Just like that! Irretrievable. All you get from yahoo is, “your ID and password is invalid”. No matter how you beg them, they just refused to let you through.

What if another day, I wake up to another piece of lost puzzle? Or the whole set of it?! Is that all to me?

Urgh, I’m so trembling with anger and confusion now!

But if I make myself distracted with, oh I don’t know, say, food, shopping, and dogs, I do see a lighter note to my weekend.

My weekend was spent in Melaka. My husband-to-be’s hometown. Gee, that sure gives a weird ring to it… Anyway, he brought me back to his old church, and met up people from his past. It was all good and funny. After the service, we went for Cendol with Cath, her husband; Rach, their daughter, and Mr. Poo, the funny bone of the group.

The small cendol stall was manned by this petite aunty alone, and it seems the stall’s always full house. The minute we hit the place, Cath’s husband and Mr. Poo started to help the aunty in making the cendols for us, and for the rest of the customers! It was ticklish to see them getting all serious in mixing just the right bowl of cendol for the thirsty visitors. Mid way, the petite aunty asked us to look after the stall, because Cath’s husband was going to fetch her to get more cendol. Like, huh? I tell you, it was funny!

So with that, production line was stopped temporarily, with Mr. Poo washing the bowls and Jason cleaning the tables and arranging the chairs, while Cath repeats to customers who streamed in to wait while aunty resumes her business later, and to take a seat first.

It poured in the morning just before, but there at that moment, the stall was beaming in warmth, seeing how much of trust the aunty bestowed upon her customers to help themselves with her food stocks, leaving the cash box behind when she stepped out; and the customers were so patient in waiting for their creamy, cold bowl of cendol; no complains, no frowns. They even helped aunty to make the cendols for other customers! I was loving my moment there yesterday afternoon.

To make my day even warmer, the gang volunteered assistance for our wedding planning without hesitation, something we really appreciate. For the past 1 to 2 years through out our planning, we were all by ourselves in everything. We are truly blessed whenever friends came by and offer help and actually mean it.

So now, we have a few things off our mind, thank God! Cath is helping us to contact printers for our invitations, and also sourcing for buses to charter our Malaccan guests to the hotel on the wedding day. Jason and I’ve also been desiring to make a simple cross to be placed behind the pulpit in the hotel’s glassed foyer for the longest time, and you guessed it, the 2 guys were actually saying it’s feasible to make one! Ecstatic is an understatement!

So there you have my blessed weekend! And yeah, back to cracking my brain to dig out the password. I know it’s there, somewhere!

P/S: a while ago I blogged about this little dog who’s up for adoption, well, thank God, we found him a home. My dad’s staff is actually interested in adopting him. I was so happy! We brought the dog back yesterday from Malacca. He’s just simply a sweetheart! I really hope he’ll have a wonderful owner to call master!

STD!

We came up with this simple save-the-date wallpaper for our guests. As I don’t have soft copies of our bridal pictures, so I scanned the pic and added wording over it with Arcsoft Photo Studio 2000. It doesn’t look too refine, but oh well, we’ve gotten the message through. Heh!

My Weekend Was Awesome Because...

I had my ears pierced!!!

Argghh! Never mind I’m still walking like a robot, so afraid to move my head one bit lest I inflict more pain on my thick earlobes, earrings are now officially an obligated piece in my wardrobe!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

I got my cheongsam!!! Never mind it’s not really a cheongsam, rather just a wannabe. But bottom line is, I exchanged one of my evening gown with a 2 piece cheongsam-collared gown with the bridal shop, hence saving me big bucks if I were to buy it or even tailor make it! PLUS, I look great in it!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I also got my lengha!!! Never mind it’s not a traditional full, heavy, expensive lengha. On the contrary, the skirt is flowy and simply grand with all the blings. And it comes in the color of my choice: greenish aquamarine blue! The gown was left at the shop for alteration. The strap of the top is to be cut off, making it a one shoulder, asymmetrical piece. Jason has given a very tasteful suggestion as far as fashion is concerned! That is to have the back tailored bare, and have the piece pulled back with a string. And yes, we are going with that idea. AND, I look great in it too!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

And finally, I got my curls chopped off!!! Never mind I’m no longer sexily curly; I’m walking with one lighter head on my shoulder, thus making my robotic walk to cope with the thick, pierced earlobes much easier. I’m planning to straighten it after the wedding! In fact, I look much younger now!!! HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHA

Oooh, la vida e dolce!

It's All In Order

I received an email in my mailbox yesterday, and was I touched! It reminded me how faithful God is, and how magnificent He is.

At many stages of our wedding planning, Jason and I got very frustrated. We’d have our individuals opinions and tastes, we’d argued, we’d pull our long faces, we’d cry… ok, I’d cry, and hence winning the crown of being a bridezilla hands down, but anyway! It’s just, difficult! Planning a solo wedding is easy, but planning a wedding with and for so many other people spells disaster louder than anything else. OK, I think I’m over exaggerating here. Heh. Anyway!

So two nights ago, our appointed coordinator dropped us a bomb, saying he might be posted overseas in September and that he might not be able to join the wedding. We were freaking out silently.

Yesterday, Jason was on leave, and he went over to our wedding venue: Equatorial, to run things over with the new sales rep as the earlier girl who handles us has resigned, which to us, was another bomb.

With the previous girl, we had to bargain, we had to argue, we had to be stern, we had to press, to the extent I refused to join the meetings with her and let Jason be the middle man and do all the bargaining. But with this lady, who’s in the business for the past 4 years, she’s speaking on our behalf, as a consumer who’s going to put the kachings into the vendors' pockets! She’s getting us all the things that the previous girl refused to give into. She’s even giving us the chocolate pudding that I requested instead of rice pudding! Yay! I can’t wait to meet her to get down with all the details!

I know it’s petty; but do you know how important it is to have total control over all the decisions, just to make sure every thing runs perfectly, and every one would have a good time to remember by? All these little, little things add up to mean a heck lot. Trust me. But then again, I guess you gotta be a girl to understand. Heh!

Jason has been a sweet heart though. Most of the time he was the one who’d pushed me to get things done and give in to my liking :)

I just know, it’ll go fine. All things will fall into its places specifically, not one hair out of place. I just know; because...

“Before they call, I will answer” Isaiah 65:24

Tis What I Really Want!

Tis what I call a real cheongsam. See how it exudes beauty and elegance? When it makes you look good and vintage, THAT's when it's a cheongsam. Not those that make people call out to you in a chinese restaurant for tea refill. Geddit?

Wedding Etiquette 101

This makes a good summary of wedding guest etiquette! Here’s what Mrs. Bee gotta say:

Because wedding season is upon us, I thought this would be a good time to
discuss how to be a great wedding guest. When you’re invited to a wedding, the couple has asked you to be part of a day they’ve put so much time, love, and effort into planning. Observing some basic wedding guest etiquette can make the big day just a little bit easier for the bride and groom (in fact, and everyone else!)


1) RSVP. The bride and groom are usually paying per person (often hundreds of dollars) so they need to have an accurate headcount of all guests. If your plans change and you can no longer attend, or have RSVP’d for a guest who can no longer attend, notify the couple.

2) Send gifts to the couple’s home. This way the couple doesn’t have to worry about collecting, watching, losing, cards separating and taking gifts home on an already hectic day.

3) Don’t bring anyone who is not named on the invitation. Do not bring a date or children that are not specifically named on the invitation, and do not write in names on the RSVP card. The couple has put a lot of thought into who they’re inviting, they’re paying per person, and have probably created seating arrangements for each individual guest.

4) Show up on time. This seems like a no-brainer, but I don’t think I’ve ever attended a wedding that started on the actual time indicated on the invitation, due to late guest arrivals. A wedding is a carefully orchestrated once-in-a-lifetime event…
so please be on time.

Now that you’re a great guest, it’s time to enjoy the celebration and share the day with the happy couple. What else would you add to this list?

Exotic Blooms

Frangipanis, gardenias, orchids are awesomely simple, exotic, romantic, and sexy! Don't you think? I'm considering having one of them buds as my hair accesories instead of tiaras and all. You say?

Stressed Out

There will be some changes in my work scope, like, right about now. And I’m going crazy, getting nightmares after another. Argh. I love me some holiday!!! Oh, by the way, no more taking leave on Mondays: because that’s the day all my weekly reports should go out. Lovely, isn’t it?

Last night Jason and I surfed through www.airasia.com.my and I think we’ve got ourselves a honeymoon package. Just need to wait for Jason to renew his passport and we’ll book ‘em right after. At least something’s moving.

Marry Me!

I thought this cake topper is pretty darn neat, at least all men would share the same sentiment (even though they were the ones who proposed first)! Heh

Loving My Sweets & Swirls

This week, I'm loving my lollipops, a pressie from Jason; and this mug mat given by my friend. The lollies gave me a sweet idea for my wedding, and the circles gave me delightful swirls of colors on my otherwise boring desk!

The colors are so loudly retro yet subtly modern. I have them placed at my work desk and I like how they give me a tingly excitement every time I turn to see them happily cheering me on!

Happy Times

If only Polly can be my ring pillow on my wedding day...

I Heart Lip Tints

During emergencies, red-tinted lip balms make a great blusher (and the clear ones make a great emergency-moisturizer!). Just smear a small amount onto cheeks for that blushing-bride look and you’re good to go! I’m using Stila’s Lip Pot in Cerise. It makes your lips moist and supple minus the gooey feeling, and your cheeks a healthy cherry pink. Love it!

Say KLIMS & Wha?!

To sum it up, I had fun over the two back-to-back weekends. First there was the KLIMS where we all grumbled about having to be on shift work from Monday to Sunday; meaning straight to the motor show right after your day job in the office and work well into the night, and now that the show is over, there’s still no concrete info about how much allowance we’ll be getting. Chinese company, I tell you! But having said that, I still had quite a bit of fun there, especially during the last day of my duty. We took heaps of pictures with our concept car and made our dorky salesmen do the Saturday Night Fever moves! Heh.

And then there was an impromptu one day trip back to Melaka, to which we were introduced to a doggie, named Doggie (uhm hmm). Well according to Jason’s sis, Doggie’s a stray dog that decided to call her home, a home. And being pregnant and due, and with 2 uber mischievous sons in tow (the sis, not the dog), Doggie is not going to get any attention from her any sooner. But he’s one cool, obedient dog! I’m only sorry he’d come back again and again to be tortured by the kids. Poor thing. So if any kind souls out there who’d like to have a pet dog, let us know? I think he’s trained and very alert! He looks like a mixed Pomeranian and the size of my Polly a.k.a Poppin, and his eyes are a sea of blue!

Ooh, Jason bought me this really cool skirt! It makes me an instant Saree Party Girl! Whoo hoo! And we found 2 shops that we may go back again with my maids for their gowns. Can’t wait!

On the wedding preparation front, well, with our down payment to the hotel made last month, the preparation pretty much comes to a standstill. The only major things to look into now are invitations, the bridesmaids’ gowns, and honey moon. You simply have no idea how difficult it is to get these done, oh no you don’t! Well I look forward to having some time off from work and design the invitations next week maybe, and this time around, HAVE the final say. Heh.