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.

Show Time!

Very simply put, my absence is due to the KL International Motor Show, to which my company is involved with, and naturally, my colleagues and I are expected to be on duty, till end of this week.

I’m not much of an automobile fan, give me a Murano any day and I’ll be happy as a bumble bee; so I’ve got nothing much to say about the show except its tiring from all the standing (yup, in heels!) and smiling. Oh, hint: our concept car will be featured on Channel V!

Jason didn’t pay visits due to his work commitment and the distance, except for one night where he came to fetch me from work. He was quick to announce that he managed to pick up a few show girls in boots (which one of ‘em is not anyway?), while other guys watched on green eyed. Yeah, bravo!

I’ll try to post up some pictures soon, promise. Yo Jason, I need the camera back!

Weekender Quickie

My weekend was… pretty… normal. Well Polly was sent for grooming and came back with a new hairdo. She now spots 2 mini pigtails with mini blue ribbons just behind her ears; she definitely looks more girlish albeit still very tomboy at heart. It's ticklish to see her plays like a rough boy with those ribbons on her head. Heh.

And then we bummed into a Cuti-cuti Malaysia travel fair at 1U and collected many brochures for our honeymoon reference. We like the much-needed vacation to be on an island, away from the craziness of a city, to have lots of sun, sand, sea, and rest! I guess we both do love island that much more to choose any other places.

Jason is picking up weightlifting again. He used to do taekwando, badminton, and gym. And then things take a sharp turn after meeting a girl whose hobbies are eat, sleep, shop, and more eating, no less.

Its coming good, can you see that bump over his arm? Yup, that’s my big guy’s mus-cle!

Feeling Gold

I think tis’ season is all about spring and summer colors, bright tropical petals, and feminine fabrics, I love them all! But at the same time, I’m loving this gold tone too. Check out the hand clutch!

In Point Form

> Had a sumptuous breakfast this morning: vegetable soup, corn, peas, coffee, and bread. Yum.

> Bathed Polly and she’s all fluffy and smells of Johnson & Johnson’s baby talcum now.

> I adopted a pot of dying basil and vowed to revive it till it’s bushy before returning it to its rightful owner. OK, actually my grandma is the one who’s doing the revival job, but hey, I had the vision!

Dangling Beauties

It's a shame my mom never brought me to pierce my ears when I was a mere babe. Now that I'm all grown up, piercing my flesh seems to be an extreme activity for my heart to take. These danglers look gorgeous nonetheless. I love the necklace and the earrings in the middle. Lovely.

Shoes, Dresses, Blizzards, & Hot Dog

We happened to chance upon a bridal fair at the mall yesterday. It was impressive, not the gowns though, rather the stage designs with the balloons and lighting, and the music selection: very chic, very Parisian. Awesome! And these, made the gowns look good. Hehe.

Remember the greenish bridesmaid’s dress I posted awhile back? Well, I found a dress almost the same as that one at Warehouse; even the color is very, very similar! I would’ve taken a picture of it if I wasn’t too lazy to get a piece in my size. Heh. I was so excited about it, until I saw the price though. At a whopping $429, I’d say forget about it. Blah.

I saw another A-line dress perfect for a bridesmaid too; it’s pale satin pink in color with a little bustier and netting lining the hem of the skirt, it’s beautiful. I tried that on and I wished someone would make me a bridesmaid, pronto! And as usual, all things exciting comes with a blah factor; and this happened to be all other sizes had been wiped out and I don’t think my maids can fit in to a size 8 given their petite frames, oh and it’s priced at $489 :)

Oh well, no matter. I spotted and tried on 2 different pairs of heels in satin cream with diamante and pretty bows and that made it up. Plus, I had a cup of banana split ice cream blizzard and a hot dog, now that, really made the day!

Album Of Joy II

Did you notice the tip of my sport shoes underneath the gown? I'm so proud of the fact that I was wearing sport shoes instead of heels during my shoot. Heh.

Hello Spring!

Thursday was a girls’ night-out. We went to the Curve after work and decided to have dinner at Vivo’s. After the chicken chop and baked fish and choco mallo drink, it was time for some serious shopping (without the guys! Whoo hoo!). There were so many pretty things to look at! Oh, I was also on a search for my little black dress.

I’ve found some really cool vintage clothes in Tribeca. The girl in me wished I could buy them all! The patterns and colors combo were awesome. Argh! I should’ve brought my camera along… and then maybe some cash too. Hehe. But refrain was the resounding word of the day.

I managed to find my cocktail dress for tonight’s wedding dinner. This dress has finally put a stop to my search for that little black dress all these years, which suits all events and occasions! Joy!

After the clothing department, we headed over to Borders and found some really yummy books. Ah… life is so good.

I began to find (window) shopping to be therapeutic. And I began to find myself getting girlier each day…

Anyway, we headed over to Laundry bar for some live band performance after the book surfing. The first guy was good with his guitar and voice, but lacked presence; and then things went downhill thereon. We had fun people-watching though! There were so many shapes of people dressed in so many types of clothing with so many sets of attitude, it’s amazing!

The late night saw me waking up with a hang-over feel-alike the next morning, not that I drank, but the headache was annoying. Age catching up maybe? Oh dear. But I really wouldn’t mind doing this again! I’ve begun to appreciate the colors and textures in everyday things more and more. And I’m happy about that. I’m happy I’m not walking around oblivious about the cacophonies of life anymore. And the mission? To capture them all.

Designing Monogram

I’m looking for a True Type font file to create a monogram of Jason’s and my initials. I've found a few really good ones on the net, but they also cost really a heck lot! So if you have any good ones, be nice and share?

Euphoria Of Love

I'm in love with cupcakes. I love how they are so humble and simple, almost ignorable. I also love how a few strokes of icing and squeezes of whipped cream can turn them into a picture of glamour instantly! I love it!

Gems Don't Come Shining In Your Face

It’s amazing how some people come in to your life, make the heck of noise and irritation out of you, and then become one of those most intimate and closest friends and touch your heart all the time, through little, little gestures.

Such is the case of my colleagues. She’s one noisy brat (uhm, mature… brat. Hehehe), and cusses like there’s no tomorrow; and then there’s another colleague, she’s petite but loud, clumsy but detailed, and then yet another, the fairest of them all, we’ve had some… silent friction during the first part of our becoming colleagues, but thank God, things worked out for the better, and now all four of us has become one pack, hehe, we literally stick up for each other, although... all 4 of us are very much in 4 different worlds, but I guess, we are there, just for each other.

The participation level of these girls in my wedding preparation is well, commendable! Haha! These girls are more excited than the bride! They’d collect articles on bridal matters for me, collect advertisement cut-outs and photos of brides with beautiful gowns and styling, go with me to source for florists and fabrics for my gowns, buy me magazines, and guess what, last evening was the most indescribable moment; they’ve done the most unthinkable.

I was presented with a silver gift box with a nice tulle bow over it, exactly like a Christmas gift, only it’s May. It was exciting as I unfolded the gift; I haven’t been receiving gifts for such long time! And there it laid a piece of chiffon like fabric in there, with silk trimmings and comb at the crown. It’s a veil to go with my wedding gown! I was beyond words, utterly speechless. Oh the best part was? They made our DGM to chip in too, and I gave word to with-hold his petty cash reimbursements if he doesn’t pay up. LOL ah well, it’s an inside joke but it was all very… warm and touching. I was really touched. Not because of the gifts and the money spent; but the effort and thoughtfulness. They needn’t do all these things for a colleague, but they’ve gone beyond the boundaries to make the life of a girl that much easier… I thank God for them. And now I know why He insisted me to stay here for this long, just so that I’ll find my gem in the seemingly dark and empty mine; and in this case, I found 3.

Dresses & Samfoos

What do you think about this dress for the maids? Lovely isn't it? Well I know I'd like to wear it myself! Speaking of which, anyone here has a cheongsam to loan? (Or better still, sponsor me!) I'm looking for one to wear during the tea ceremony. I'm going to chinesified the whole ceremony; yup, meaning Jason would have to wear those tong sam too. Hehehe.

Celebrate With Choco Bath

My colleague and I planned for a noon-out shopping for florist and tailors for my wedding day today. We went to this huge warehouse florist in Bangsar by the name Floristika, where they sell fresh flowers in a refrigerated room. And I’ve decided on the type of flowers for my maids. Yay! They’d be beautiful! :)

Next on, we were supposed to go down to town to shop for something Indian (shh, it’s a surprise!), but stop over at an organic eatery. I was rather hesitant about organic food; carrots, bean sprouts, soy and wheat germ were all I can taste on my imaginary taste buds. Bleurgh. So I was of course, quite pleased to see that they actually serve chicken! Not that I can’t live without meat, I just can’t live with green bean sprouts, that’s all. I ordered a country free range chicken goulash. To my surprise it was really good with its toasted organic wheat bread! So yeah, worth a try, this organic eating lifestyle, but pricey to maintain though.

It was disappointing though that the minute we hit KL roads, it started to rain and the jam began. So we detoured to KLCC for me to take LRT home. What bummer. But the historic moment was this: I went over to Equatorial Hotel at Bangi-Putrajaya instead with my brother, met up with Jason, and we made down payment. The place is officially ours on the wedding day! So to celebrate such significant moment, we treated ourselves to their buffet dinner. Hehe.

It was fantastic as we sat there, and watch the chocolate fountain cascaded in a pot. Yes! They serve chocolate fondue!!! Oh boy! I could stuck and bath my tongue under those flowing chocolate and be there forever! I was seated right in front of the fondue, and that’s all I remember seeing the whole evening :D Ooo, I love their desserts, the bitter chocolate mousse was incredible! Darn, I should’ve started my meal with the dessert first!

Gym. Gym. Gym! I’ve been eating as if I’ll be wearing jeans and t-shirt to my wedding, got to work on the gym darn it! =_=``

Being Woman

I've never appreciated fabrics as much as I do now. Look at those colours and the lines, so lively, so soft. Every flip of the skirt seems to be yelling "feminity" at the top of their voice! Simply fabulous!

Gowns are from Jim Hjelm, Watters & Watters, Melissa Sweet, Alvina Valenta, Amsale, Lazaro

Let's Play Dolls

I'm now looking for cocktail dresses for my bridesmaids. They've got to be practical and easy to move around in for them. I like 'em apple or olive green, I'd consider soft butter yellow too, but at the moment I'm quite settled with greenish-aqua blue, to freshen up the otherwise hot afternoon.

Ooo, I love yummy, edible colours, they just make you melt a thousand times!

Did Some Window Ogling

I found some really gorgeous gowns after hours of net crawling. The one on the far left is my favourite, for its ethereal, silky, classy, doll-like look; the third one is my favourite too, for the ribbon/sash plus its lacey body; oh and the fourth gown is also a favourite, the tube-like top really set my heart a-thumping; and the chiffon train on the far right, oh my, I could wear that everyday!


I've chosen my gown from the boutique, in a way too bad for that, else I'd have it tailor made! Mine has an empire-cut tube like the first gown, except it has nice beading on and under the bustline, and the skirt is of chiffon and trails off like the gown on the far right. Can't wait to bring her home and sleep in it. Hehe.

Lost & Happily Found

We both did something good yesterday. Hehe. In fact, I feel so good now I’m fluttering on my imaginary cloud! Praise God!

Well, see, Jason spotted a wallet off the street last night, and we found cash, IDs, credit and bank cards in there, belonging to a girl, with no trace of phone numbers. But thanks to her meal card, I was able to track her at the company where she’s working for, found her colleague, and then got her number. Yeah, it was all very thrilling! :) I wouldn’t mind doing this again. Maybe I should consider a Lost & Found business (which come to think about it, ironically, we all are in This business, if you get my flow ;) Praise God!)! Heh.

Paving Silk Road

Don't you just love these shoes? I know I do! The colours are so rich and smooth, I could almost feel 'em on my bare fingers. My wedding pump's gonna be the same colour as the one on the left, champagne gold, nice. Did I tell you how much I like these shoes? Oh man! I love 'em!

One Kind Heart, Two Helping Hands, Many Happy Shots

Photography can be ticked off the list! Thanks to a photography freak cum long distance colleague cum friend of mine. Jason and I “will have the privilege of being photographed with easily a RM30k camera kit (together with the lenses). Don't play play ah!” How blessed! :)

Yo, Mr. Photie Shotie, many merci beaucoups!

For The Record

The bestest comment by far: you still look like you in your bridal shots (as compare to MOST people who look like a different person after the make-ups). Kekekeke!

Ok anyway, I like it for a compliment so beat it.

Last evening saw us driving from Melaka to PJ in the rain and traffic jam. Jason and I had a nice long chat albeit the intermittent you-ass-I’m-pissed-you-suck-I-pout tantrums (don’t ask!). The conversation was steered to the direction of parenting, and we’ve got a few things straightened, namely our preferred style and… well, stuff like that.

On the subject of ways to bring up boys, I had this coming from Jason:

You know what is the beauty of a man? The beauty of a man comes not from his muscles, nor how strong he is, nor how tough he is; rather, the true beauty of a man is shone when he willingly does what normally is classified as women’s job, i.e house hold chores; when he is not ashamed to cry; when he admits his wrong-doings, repent, and change for the better; when he takes up the leadership roles with a humble heart, if he can not humble himself and go down to the lowest ground, he doesn’t fit to be a real leader; and a real man is also protective of the weaker folks and stands up for them and for the truth.

At this point you’d expect to see me going all mushy limbs and starry eyes looking into the man who just spoke those manly words, ooh-ing and ahh-ing away. Alright, that’s a lil drama, BUT! I am glad and proud too, to say the least, to see that coming from the man who is going to father my children (I still get a lil twinge in the stomach every time I remembered that I’m going to be a wife and later, mom! Yikes!). I’ve met enough guys who “prefer sons to daughters, and have the whole works of plans and visions for sons, and basically eat, sleep, dream about having sons, and daughters are, well, yeah daughters, we love ‘em too, they are important you know, without them, no one’s gonna do our dishes!”

So seeing Jason speaks like that, I was, pretty amazed, not to mention relieved! I thank God for His match, really, He knows better what type of partner suits us best; this applies to our everyday life too. I’m sure glad I’m walking on the road carved by Him! It may not be one smooth sailing journey, but at least I know I’m in good hands and His grace sustains. Thank you Lord!

It Is Also Confirmed That...

The venue is at EQUATORIAL HOTEL, BANGI.

They have this lovely glassed foyer, that’s where our wedding ceremony’s gonna be :)

It Is Confirmed That The...

Seventeenth of the Ninth Month, Year Two Thousand and Six is the date to block.

It’s going to be a day where the sun shines coolly, birds chirp happily, angels sing joyfully, and basically, everything will be something-something-ly. So block your calendar and come join us for a memorable afternoon – Jason & Leishia’s wedding.

The Whole Vrooming & Zooming Business

Alright, the long awaited, non-relevant post is here finally (was there anyone waited in the first place? Hehe). I’ve got the pass to go on a F1 pit tour on the 16th of March 2006. Although I’m not much of a F1 fan, but it all was pretty cool.

We toured the Renault team’s garage; chatted with Heikki Kovalainen, one of the Renault team’s driver which reminded me of a friend from the past; and then we spotted Alonso in the tiny cafeteria; found Jensen Button doing a press interview; snapped pictures of Fisichella and Alonso’s helmets and tires; generally doing all the touristy things, oh and we were given a goodie bag with lots of, well… goodies! There’s this super cool miniature F1 race car to which every one of my colleague was hopeful to buy it from me. I’ve got one of them who’d offer a couple of hundreds for it. Nah, I’d keep it for myself, so that I can brag about it to my grand children later. Hehe.

In His Times, All's Perfect

Perfection 101

By Jill Baer Illustrations by Brina Schenk
Vol. 4, Issue 1, No. 6 May 2004

ON THE MORNING OF MY WEDDING, I DISCOVERED A TINY HOLE NEAR THE BOTTOM OF my ivory, cathedral-length veil. The sighting threatened to steal my vision of being the perfect bride.

All I wanted was a perfect wedding. And who could blame me? I had dreamed about it since I was old enough to make my Ken doll kiss my Barbie. And promises of perfection seduced me everywhere I turned. From bridal web sites to every five-pound bridal magazine, they all guaranteed me the perfect dress, the perfect hairstyle, the perfect cake. No other life event lures a woman into the expectation of flawlessness like a wedding.

My dear and spiritual bridesmaid, Cheryl, compared the hole to the purposefully woven flaw in every Persian rug—a talisman of humility and a reminder that only God is perfect. But I am neither Persian nor humble. Just purposeful.

So there were things that nagged at me for months before the wedding. We couldn’t afford all the flowers I had hoped for, including the elaborate chuppah I’d had in mind. And the magical butterfly release I’d pictured to cap off the ceremony wasn’t in the budget either. Then there was my sister, the maid of honour, who complained she’d look tubby in the champagne silk dress I’d so carefully chosen for her. My then-fiancé (who loves the mountains) and I (who love the sea) squabbled over our honeymoon plans, and I fretted about our differences.

And now there was this hole in my veil. Suddenly I recalled the lithograph created by John Lennon that hangs above my stereo. It depicts the artist staring at a whirling black vortex with a bemused smile, and bears the inscription, “The hole of my life flashed before my eyes.” My hole was perfectionism. Cheryl helped me don my veil, and what came next was totally unexpected.

For all the years I had imagined this moment, I was unprepared for the world seen through a sheer swath of tulle wafting in the summer breeze. Everything took on a mysterious, ethereal glow as I started down the aisle to our guitarist’s moving rendition of “Fields of Gold,” the song that played the first time my future husband and I declared our love. The veil gave me a new sense of vision—and just in time to see that face, brimming with emotion, beaming at me as I approached. This man named Ken, like the plastic icon of my childhood ideals—but of flesh and blood—stood before me as a revelation. And soon our love and commitment would be sealed with a real-life kiss.

I had a “perfect” vision of my wedding—and it ‘s good to have a vision. But the “perfect” part isn’t up to us. Always, there is a greater Artist at work. And weddings, like marriage, and like life, are a collaborative effort. What I never anticipated during all my efforts to control every little detail, were these strokes by the Master…

Just before the ceremony, I ventured into the building’s courtyard for a moment of meditation. Out of nowhere, a pair of butterflies encircled me as they fluttered in a bewitching mating dance.
The florist surprised us with a surplus of my beloved Leonida roses, which my bosom-buddy bridesmaid Leesanne used to festoon our chuppah. Since I had decorated the canopy at her wedding, this favor reflected the history and symmetry of our lifelong friendship.

As my favorite nephew and I posed for pictures, the guitarist serendipitously played the very song I used to sing to comfort him when he was just newborn.

My sister Ellie borrowed back a magnificent shawl she once gave me and draped it over her fitted dress. We have shared so much magnificence as sisters that sharing that shawl with her felt exactly right. She looked ravishing and slim, though she still believes she looked too fat. Some people are such perfectionists!

On the last morning of our honeymoon my new husband received the news that his elderly Aunt June, who had traveled thousands of miles to be at our wedding, had passed away. No one in the family had known the gravity of her illness. Through their grief, her family expressed their gratitude to us for creating an opportunity to see her again and enjoy a wonderful final memory. The last photograph ever taken of her, blowing bubbles from a wand during our first dance, captures her joy.

Shortly after receiving the sad call, we headed out to a scenic restaurant called “Nepenthe” (Native American for “No Worries”) before we started for home. The famous view we expected to see was totally obscured by mysterious veils of fog. We were advised that the route we intended to take south to L.A. was socked in, and that we would need to make an alternate plan.

As we drove north into our future, the sun suddenly burst through the mist to reveal a glorious mile of yellow flowers on a mountain cliff above the sea. We pulled over to the roadside and got out of the car… and we walked in fields of gold.

Jill Baer began her career as the youngest staff writer on TV’s "The Love Boat," and has penned over 200 hours of prime time television and several screenplays. She also writes fiction and contributes to various magazines.

Over The Weekend

I’ve been keeping my posting low for the past 1 week even with my coming up with incredible wedding ideas lest it’d be just another “you-say-only-lah” thing. But then do you know how difficult it is to contain genius ideas, do you?! So I was very glad after the sun set last evening, because I’m going to pour it all out! Hahaha!

So the genius idea was this: I found a photo studio operating in a cottage somewhere in Ampang from a magazine, and I thought, this’d be cool, we can rent the studio and have our ceremony and reception there, and we just need to bring in our own caterer. But seemingly, Jason wasn’t too impressed with the idea but nonetheless complied with the idea with an open heart. So I looked it up on the net, found the address, and finally waited for Sunday to come, and off we went to check that place out.

Now being a very excitable girl with her own *ahem* genuinely genius ideas, Jason knows I’m all for the idea, as in ALL, I couldn’t stop yakking about it the whole time through out the journey; to a certain point Jason had to prepare me for the worst case scenario. “Dear, we don’t need to be disappointed IF we can’t have our wedding there, okay?”

So much for support.

So we arrived at the quaint little cottage house set right smack in the bustling city. And yeah, it was nice, like, really nice, except for some part of the ceilings were holed, the wallpaper comes in 3 different patterns in the same living room, the piping of the central A/C was naked and rusty, the garden was not so accommodating, and the glass house was run down, but hey I can take it all! I can do some decorating job and the place will be revamped; as I say it best: “all those imperfections make it perfect!” Oh how I say it best!

But deep down, I know, it’s not going to work. If my I’m expecting a 200 pax crowd.

So still high in spirit, we went off and drove along the city aimlessly, and then I called a colleague-friend of mine, who’s so kindly came out from her house on a lazy Sunday afternoon to show us around the city.

First she brought us to Tamarind Hill. A very… interesting place, what with the pebbled filled stair cases from the main entrance, and big leafy tropical plants, and mosquitoes; I can only imagine aunties and ah mahs cursing us from the first step all the way up the hill.

And then we went to some Japanese restaurant which was closed and undoubtedly a no for us too.

And then we went to this Italian restaurant which, get this, Jason fell in love with! So madly in love with! All because the garden was so quaint and comfy, and beyond the garden was a few acres of jungles and monkeys roaming around. Jason felt very at home. :) hehe In any case, it motivates me a lot to see his dampened enthusiasm was revived after those tiring months we went through in getting a place which suit our date and requirements.

So after laying down all 3 of our obvious choices: the above restaurant, or KLGCC, or our church. We are pretty much set. A few calls shall be in order today, and then the rest, like they say, will be history.

a la Bollywood

So a handful of people have been giving me some very constructive feedbacks. Basically it’s about the bride (that’s definitely an over-statement lah) posts pictures of herself only, specifically pictures that show off the good side of her and not the other(s) *ahem*

OK lah, I’m a weeny bit selfish loh, but I’m a girl mah! Girls are vain mah *giggles*giggles*. Anyway, to prove that I’m quite a team player in these things, here you are, I’m posting one of my partner’s favorite pictures! Tada! :D

A little special effect technic has been used. Just a tiny bit :)

Baby Steps Always Go Very Far

Not much of updates these days as we are still stuck with you-know-what. That sure sucks, to be indecisive and torn between wants, figures, and those unworthy expenditures; but all is well whenever we recall and recount God’s blessings upon us and it helps in refocusing, and I’m sure He’ll continue to see us through.

This weekend we are going to check out this beautiful cottage studio, and see if we can strike a deal in renting the place for the event and bring in our own caterer, that’ll help in saving chunks.

I have this idea of making my own ring pillow, and I have conceptualized it. Will start collecting the materials and do some sewing this week (or worse come to worse get my dad to sew it! Hehe. BTW, he’s a wonderful tailor!). Wish me all the very, very best :)

If you have any inkling for that matter, do give us some ideas on premises/ locations to be rented for our wedding instead of going to a hotel. Mucho gracias.

Professional Assistance Appreciated

Are there any kind souls out there who are good in graphics and arts and all things creative (and have a little time to spare)?

I’m looking for help in designing our wedding card! Drop me a note pretty please! Going to the printers and choosing my wedding card from their templates is the last of all last things I’d want to do. So, pretty pie please? (Yes, I’m working my cutesy girly charm on you. Yes, you. So you actually do not remember how un-cutesy I am.)

HARI INI DALAM SEJARAH

YOU WON’T BELIEVE ME. YOU.SO.WON’T.BELIEVE.ME! I FOUND THIS HUNK TO GIVE ME A RIDE IN HIM ON MY WEDDING DAY… (except he's a black hunk instead of an orange hunk hehehe... anyway!)

The owner is willing to lend it to us. Dear, do you hear me?!!! We’re gonna have a Murano for our wedding day!!!!!!! ARGHHHHHHH!!!!!! I'm going to have many, many sleepless nights...

PRAISE GOD! Oh Lord, You're such a wonderful, prayer answer God (ok, even if I didn't dare to really pray and ask for such a luxurious item, You answered me!). I CAN’T STOP LAUGHING! DARN!

Album Of Joy

My Heart Thumps

Our albums are done up, and are ready for collection, finally! I can’t wait to pick 'em up! It’s been a really long month :)

Lets Try All!

Honey Cleansing Scrub
 1 Tablespoon honey
 2 Tablespoon finely ground almonds
 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Mix together and rub gently onto your face. The honey helps to moisturize, the almonds help exfoliate, and the lemon helps to diminish redness and blotches. How sweet is that?

Strawberries & Cream Toner
 2 ounces ripe strawberries
 1/2 pint low fat milk

Mix ingredients in a blender and strain through a paper towel. With a cotton ball, smooth the liquid onto your face, and wipe clean with a dry towel. The acids in both the milk and the strawberries brighten dull-looking skin. (It leaves you smelling berry good, too!)

Avocado Glow Mask
 1 whole soft avocado, peeled and chopped
 A squeeze of lemon

Mash the avocado in a bowl with a fork until smooth, and mix in lemon juice. Apply the paste to your face and let sit for 20 minutes. (Avocado has natural moisturizing properties to make skin supersoft.) Rinse with warm water and watch your friends get green with envy.

Salty Body Glow
 1 cup fine sea salt
 1/2 cup grape-seed, olive, or almond oil
Stir ingredients thoroughly in a small bowl. Spread the mixture onto damp skin and massage in -- the grainy salt whisks away dead skin cells while the oil seals in moisture. Concentrate on the rough spots like elbows and heels. Rinse well, and check out that smooth bod!

Sweet Vanilla Soak
 1 cup sweet almond oil (light olive oil may be substituted)
 1/2 cup honey
 1/2 cup liquid soap (plain or flower-scented)
 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

Measure the oil into a medium bowl, and then carefully stir in remaining ingredients until mixture is fully blended. Pour into a squeeze bottle and add about a quarter of the mix to a warm bathtub (this recipe will make enough for four baths). Steep -- and soak your cares away.

© 2006 The Knot Inc. All rights reserved.

Grooms Gotta Be Groomed

Three to six months before

Gym'll fix

ItIt's time to hit the gym if you want to look dapper in your suit. Working out at least three months before your wedding will help you look and feel great.

Cut that out!

Lose extra pounds by cutting back on fatty foods such as fry-ups, red meat and cheese. Doing this, as well as cutting back on your alcohol intake, will help inches disappear from your waist.

Facial Awareness

Believe it or not many men have facials these days - and your impending nuptials is a good excuse to give it a whirl. A facial once a month from now until your wedding will help make dull skin glow and become firmer and smoother. Plus it's relaxing.

One month before

Feet fit

When the time comes to break out the flip-flops, make sure your feet look fantastic by having a couple of foot treatments a month or so before the wedding. After a conditioning foot-bath, nail trimming, removal of hard skin, callouses and corns your feet will look - and feel - like new.

Scrub up nicely

It may sound a bit girly, but exfoliating is the quickest way to get smooth skin and by doing it once a week, you'll get rid of all that dead skin and reveal fresh skin underneath.

Soap swap

Exchange your usual soap for a cleanser or soap-free bar. Soap is alkaline and will destroy the acid balance which protects against chemicals and funghi and can lead to dry, red, irritated skin. You should also be moisturising morning and night to re-hydrate the skin and help to retain moisture

On the day

Don't sweat it

Perspiration can be a big problem for nervous grooms, especially during summer weddings. Use a fragrance free anti perspirant to keep you sweat-free all day.

A close shave

Poor shaving techniques can lead to spots, redness and cuts. If you're nervous about shaving on the big day, why not book yourself a traditional wet shave with a barber?

Man hands

There's a good reason why a manicure isn't called a wo-manicure, given the number of men reluctant to look after their nails, yet manicures are becoming increasingly popular with guys. So why not indulge yourself on the morning of your wedding in preparation for the moment you show off that ring. Just make sure your best man isn't around when you're having it done. We can just hear the speech now...

Article ripped from You & Your Wedding

Having Millions

We caught a movie last night, a Hollywood-shows-are-out-so-lets-do-a-mini-mani-mini-mo sort of movie, aptly titled Millions. And there’s always surprises in store for me whenever I opt for the international screens (that is, anything but Hollywood).

I was transported back to my school days when I’d bust all my pocket money just to go for foreign movies (RM 12 per tix, and that is RM 2 more compare to the normal screens!) on a quiet afternoon, hardly any crowds. And it’s always interesting to see things from a non-mainstream movie’s eyes. I enjoy how words of different languages slip ever so casually from the actors’ mouth with all kinds of accents, it has got some kind of magic that behold your attention for eternity…

And I relived those quiet afternoons last night.

I was a bit apprehensive though if Jason would enjoy the show, being a guy that he is, any testosterone-driven elements in a movie is always better welcomed than watching an 8 year old talking about seeing Saints and helping the poor with a quarter of million pounds.

But all is well. At the end of it, the show reminded us that little bit more about the value of money, and how we should spend for our wedding; with that we narrowed our options, and I believe we both are much more at peace to decide in a day or two’s time.

And the cutest thing? My big guy actually trickled a few drops of tears watching the ending of the show, and that’s a yay for me!

A Site To Remember

I found this awesome place to share.
It's gonna be helpful.

Defining Perfection

I think the whole wedding thing has taken a toll on both of us. Besides feeling the pressure over deciding the location, the question of whether it’s worthy to spend so much on the locations has led to a silent quarrel between us.

After a moment of tug-of-war within myself (practicality VS my down-to-earth dream), practicality won. He’s right, no point spending in organizing a wedding when we have a rented house to furnish, a new home that is yet to buy, a honeymoon to make, and technically, a whole life to work on!

I guess by me giving up the idea of having the event done in anywhere ideal but a less-than-ideal church, I’d have a bigger budget to work on the deco, yes dear? :) So I’d go without the ceiling windows and sun rays and all, and it’ll be a little warmer and a little crampier, but we can always be creative, no?

Imagine strings of mini Christmas lights, yards of fluffy chiffon, acres of apple green ribbons, and cottony chair covers with pretty gold bows, baskets and baskets of confetti, and rose petals, lighted pedestals, and most importantly, presence of family and friends who care, and who can forget our Big Guy up there? :)

It’s going to be just, perfect.

Preciousss (a la Gollum)

We’d need to think about the wedding rings too! Yikes!

Note to self, no. Note to Jason: buy.wedding.rings.TWO of 'em :)

A Snippet Of Memory

Between You & Me Now

We are still stuck at the head counts and venue… although we’ve cut down the locations list to KLGCC and Eastin Hotel.



Help.

Between Cottage & Urban

We visited a couple of sites over the weekend – Tropicana Club House and KLGCC.

Initially I thought holding an event in clubhouses is definitely going to be much cheaper, and then I found out by cheaper, it actually means I’ll have to look into many other major aspects on my own, namely getting my own florist, setting up my own deco, baking my own wedding cakes, sewing my own chair covers, and plus plus. So it was a tiny bit of disappointment, because I’m beginning to buy the idea of holding my wedding at a clubhouse (I’m more for hotels for their all in 1 package with ready assistance as oppose to Jason).

Now between Tropicana and KLGCC, I prefer KLGCC hands down. KLGCC has this beautiful room with a touch of cottage feel, for a casual yet elegantly lazy afternoon event with a row of ceiling windows (triple yay!) overlooking acres of green golf course. It was simply beautiful. The sales lady even offers us the free use of a secluded lobby (with a 2 storey high ceiling window!!! Hallelujah!!!!) for our wedding ceremony, and on top of that, all chairs come with chair covers and ribbons, and we get to choose the color!!!

Tropicana is a lovely place too, just a little well… I shouldn’t be mentioning anything here lest I’d stir up some racial sentiments; let’s just say it’s not so to my liking, though Jason likes the place better. Comparatively, Tropicana comes with a bigger ballroom with a small dance floor before the stage. But I don’t like also the fact that we ought to pay for extras, like the use of the lobby for our wedding ceremony, and the uhm… ugly banquet chairs that come naked in chili red or royal yellow :/

Miss sales girl says: but I include so many things for you adeeeee. And there goes the melting heart.

Now revising my guest list, I’m getting a sinking heart instead because our guests may easily exceed 200 pax. Man! When I expect things to be hold in a hotel, the hotels say we have too little head count to meet their banquet quota and besides the quotations do look pricey (I agree on that dear); but when I finally found a lovely clubhouse and jiving rather comfortably with the whole clubhouse idea, my guest list is growing a little too big for the ideal ball room!

How lah?

Setting Up A Home Needs Tis

Lovely furniture, salivating is the only thing I can do.

Venue & Date

Setting dates and venues is always an uphill task. You’ve got people’s calendar to please, your own preferences to please, and on top of that, your partner’s. Whenever Jason and I came to this topic, one of us would ended up sulking (OK, I would end up sulking.).

So last evening, we sat down, and listed down all the options we have on a piece of paper: locations to hold the ceremonies; the flow of the ceremonies; what ceremony to have it where, my state or his state. And at the end of each section, we’d signed and shook hand as a sign of agreement. Hehe. Nice doing business with you dear.

Praise God, we were able to come to a mutual agreement, and were reassured with our own decisions. The date is now set on September 17th, 2006.

It tends to be a bias situation when it comes to “your place or my place?” but somehow the gentlemen normally is the party who’d give in. (thanks dear :> it really means a lot to me!). We are going to have the tea and wedding ceremony over here at my side, follow by a reception; while over at Jason’s side, we’d have a dinner for his friends, ex-colleagues, and church members, relatives who’s Malacca based and can’t make the trip to KL. Earlier we were thinking of only one place to cater to every thing and everyone, but we’d lose out in the numbers, which at the end, doesn’t serve the purpose of having a wedding, which is celebrating your union with the world!

Now the next course of action: call up our prospective clubhouses and hotels for a site visit.

Packaged Brides

We’ve had our bridal pictures taken on the 2nd of January 2006; and I thank God for that. When we signed up for the package (which includes everything from all the gowns that I need, Jason’s suits, photography session, albums, framed pictures, bridal car deco for 1 + 10 cars, to hand bouquets), we paid the down payment, and then during the day we took our photos, we paid another one third, and then finally, on the day we went to choose the pictures, we paid the final one third, meaning, by now, our payment with the bridal boutique is off the list, yay! One payment less to worry about!

I kinda dread dealing with local bridal boutiques. They all have but one intention in mind: profits. I mean, OK, profit is important, you are after all, doing a business here, but hey, whatever happens to the good old “your happiness is our priority”?

Good thing we did our home work by visiting about 10 boutiques before we settled with the one where the gowns I like best. And then, we both sat down and designed our own package and budget instead of taking the packages the boutiques shoved to us. When we went to choose our pictures, they purposely scheduled it in the evening near to closing time so that we can just close our eyes and quickly choose; and then the best part was while choosing, the sales girl started introducing different layout for the albums, when we agreed with the layouts, she’d casually mentioned that’ll be another couple of hundreds. Oh was I pissed. I kept mum and refused to talk to them for the rest of the evening, Jason and I discussed a lot and finally we prodded them to give us another 21 different poses for the 5R album, without touch ups for RM 380 (we didn’t look so bad without touch ups lah! In fact, it was natural and pretty!), which is a rather good deal.

And now, for 2.8k, we got 6 gowns and suits for photography session, 1 different wedding gown and suit for our wedding ceremony, 2 evening gowns for the reception / dinners, 1 large framed photo, 3 framed table-top photos, 1 large album and 1 5R sized album with a total of 46 damn different poses (as oppose to just the standard 25 poses for all 2 albums), and of course, the package includes the standard stuff like the corsages, bouquets, car deco, and… stuff.

So our advise is, always do your home work before hand, and then do a summary of what you both really want, set your budget and create your own package instead of letting them package you (and remember to press for a discount!), and when its show time, be firm and stick to your own decisions and never ever be swayed by their half hearted sweet talks, because really, they couldn’t care less about your happiness. Oh and finally, communication, always, always communicate with your spouse to be; even if it means you both have to quarrel to get the point over, do so! Its better you both fight over it and come to a mutual ground rather than letting others dot you guys around.

You’d appreciate the quarrels a couple of years down the road after the wedding day…

Of Locations And Restlessness

It has been a crazy half a month since Valentine’s day – the day my dad gave his blessing to our proposal to get married.

The month is set on September, while the date depends on availability of the locations. We are now sourcing for suitable sites to hold all the ceremonies and reception in one place. And it’s no joke! Serious! Jason and I would get so uptight; he’d want it simple and most importantly, cut cost, while I agree with the cutting cost part, I’d want something elegant and different from everybody else’s wedding too, better still to get the whole thing done and over with in just one place so that we can dive right into honeymoon! Hehe

And it has only been less than three weeks. Yikes!

Any suggestions for a casual affair for around 200 pax max?