A simple little place called home
Living room. *heart*
With only 3 months to go until the end of the year, I think I may safely declare that the best thing I did this year was to move into my own place.
This is actually a long overdue post as I physically moved a couple of months ago but honestly, I have only really settled in the past week or so when finally, the last touch ups and renovations were complete and I finally got my high-speed Internet up and running. I'm still missing tables (I don't have a single table, be it writing, dining, coffee or ornamental) and some other furniture, curtains and knicks and knacks for the rooms but more or less the place is comfortably habitable.
My T&Co inspired blue shoe cabinet. This photo does not do it justice! :) Yes these are ALL MY SHOES! Finally I have enough space to store them all.
It hasn't been an easy process and it has tested every ounce of my strength physically, mentally and emotionally throughout these past 5 months or so. Groping in the dark on things alien to me, fear of being cheated and trying to create a place that was very me and that I would really look forward coming home to every day but at the same time not cost me an arm, a leg and a heart in the process certainly took its toll on me and there were occasions I felt very streched, overwhelmed and spent.
Was it the most difficult thing I did this year? Honestly, among the hardest and I've had to do many difficult things this year.
Was it worth the trouble? Certainly yes. Nothing worth it is ever easy I think. And as I sit here in my living room on my couch, writing this post on my laptop in the quietly cool atmosphere with soft, muted lighting, I feel incredibly at peace. This is truly a place to call my own. I personally chose every single piece of furnishing, tile, colour of paint, cabinet material and colour, placement of electrical & lighting points & electrical appliance in my home. It is not perfect but I think I captured the essence of what I wanted.
And in my little haven, I am my own person. It is all about me and what I need and want.
Joyously, I find my serenity.
Master bathroom with lotsa space for my beauty & personal care odds and ends and my kitchen, still not used to it's fullest potential yet thus far ;)
Labels: Events, Me myself and I
Flecks of colour in shades of grey
Said the little ducky to his hippy friend, "You add colour to my life. Muchos gracias!" Labels: Events, Me myself and I
Laden with Prosperity and Abundance
I just thought I'd share some photos of the wholesome homecooked meals I've been having for the past two weeks of Chinese New Year. Somehow, lots of (porky) food is always synonymous with this festive period. Everyone chips in and prepares heaps of food because having leftovers, signifies there's more than you can eat for the whole family which, I think, is supposed to be auspicious.
Though my poor stomach is cranky from working overtime, I must admit, it has been wonderful to not have to think what and where to eat your next meal.
Since today is the last day of CNY, here's wishing everyone Happy Chap Goh Meh and a Prosperous and Healthy Ox Year ahead!
As for me, I'm back in KL, back to traffic-jammed reality, back to overpriced, less than spectacular KL food.
Reality: tastes like Wonderland.
Labels: Events, Family
Christmas Choc Chip and Pecan cookies
I made some chewy chocolate chip cookies last weekend when I was home in Ipoh as some Christmas gifts for family, friends and colleagues. I used the recipe on Mabel's blog and cut down the sugar by 1/3. The cookies turned out sweet enough and almost everyone seemed to like them. *happy* Even my dad liked it which is saying a lot because he's the person with the least sweet tooth I know. :D I haven't baked anything for some time and I really had fun.
I'd definitely make them again, though I would be smarter and use the electric mixer rather than a hand mixer the next time to mix the butter and sugar cause it took really long and my arm was really tired at the end...but the product was well worth the effort!
Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year in advance!p/s If you're a reader of my blog and recieved cookies from me (I know there are a lot of you!) and since it's also the Christmas season, why not do something nice for someone in return in the spirit of Paying it Forward?Labels: Events, Me myself and I, Random Stuff
An engagement, A newborn baby and Happily ever afters
There've been a flurry of happy events recently in the lifes of some wonderful people whom I hold very dear and close to heart.
My ex-roommate in college got engaged to my ex-boss! He proposed to her in Florence, Italy! And check out the gorgeous engagement ring below. Very fairytale like ,eh? But for me, most fabulously of all is that, they met each other in Sydney, through ME when I visited! I wasn't even originally supposed to share a room with my roommate if it weren't for the fact that her original roommate had dropped out of the course at the last minute! It's a marvel that everything turned out just the way it should be. So happy for the both of you RG & CL!
Isn't that a huge rock?!!! Haven't managed to ask her how many carats it is! Hehe.
Another close friend of mine delivered her baby today (technically, it should be yesterday since it's already after 12 midnight)! Isn't he so pink and cute all bundled up in the blanket? Geo and TV, I hope you don't mind me posting this picture of your son online to share with the world even before the both of you! I'm just too excited and happy after all the anticipation, more so for the both of you I'm sure. CONGRATS to the both of you!
Freshly-minted one day old face! Ahh..the wonders of MMS!
So, today is a happy, happy day. Riding on the hope and happiness of my friends, I might even be willing to concede that personal happily ever afters, exist.
Labels: Events
My first ABCs
To me, the relationship between mother and daugher is an intricate, complicated, multi-layered one that is often barely understood by the people around them and sometimes, not even by themselves.
The relationship that I have with my mother is a guardedly love-hate one. No mushy "I love yous" on every other phone call for us and she's never been the one I turn automatically to for advice or comfort when I needed some badly.
Instead, my mother will be the first person to tell me that I've put on weight and could stand to shed a few pounds. Or that my new hair colour makes me look totally trashy. Or that a girl should not be "samseng" and do things like travel alone, drive long-distance alone or do high-risk sports like white water rafting. Or nag at me that "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach," because she despairs that cooking is not exactly something I adore.
She believes in telling the painful truth as it is, you see, because in her words verbatim- that she has repeated to me a million times over, "Your parents (mum) are the only people who will ever tell you truly what they think. Other people, hmppphh...they tell you only what you want to hear!" Sometimes, in a moment of hurt, I often try to convince myself that I've read more meaning into her words than she intended there to be.
But, my mother is also the first person who is game for a shopping trip. Her patience is boundless and she's forever suggesting I try out new trends like bubble skirts or long tops with belts, to which some suggestions I accept and others I beseechingly reply, "Mum, that's just not me!"
She's also the person who painstakingly made sure that we always had a wholesome, home-cooked dinner together as a family (no TV!) every night of the year, minus holidays and dinners outside, when my brother and I were still staying at home in Ipoh. After almost a decade of staying away from home, I truly appreciate her effort.
From my mother, I learnt the meaning of perseverance, discipline, self-restrain and composure and loving yourself enough to make time for taking care of your body and appearance.
But most of all, I am thankful that she taught me my first ABCs from a Ladybird hardboard book that she bought me for my first birthday, that I have a photograph of little one-year old me biting the apple (A is for Apple!) on the cover.
Without her, I couldn't have written this.
Happy Mother's Day, Mum!
Labels: Events, Personal
Lazy girl's blogging: Pictures speak a thousand words
Can you guess what I did last night?
The cute, pint-sized doll's name is 'Dion.'
Oooh...what's Dion holding? A bag?
This bag, perhaps? ;)
Labels: Events
Chocolate mudcake, daisies and forget-me-nots
Blow the candle and make a wish?
Birthday bouquet
Heartfelt thanks to everyone for all the birthday SMS-es, emails, MSN messages, cards, phone calls and hugs. Also to all four (!!) people (LL, LR, PL, GK) who were involved directly or indirectly, voluntarily or involuntarily in the planning and co-ordination of the surprise bouquet delivered all the way to my extremely surprised self in Sabah, thanks a million- I'm really touched to bits.
I think I should have no room for doubt if anybody in this world really cares for me (which in my darkest emo-moments, I often find myself wondering) because evidently a lot of people who matter a whole lot to me, do.
My sincerest thanks!
Labels: Events, Me myself and I
Election day!
According to the 100% accurate kennysia.com Who-To-Vote-This-Election Decision Generator™, I am voting for...
PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT!
Who Should You Vote For This Election?
Haha...If I were registered to vote, that is which ashamedly, I'm not. I will make sure I register for the next election within this year, that's a promise to myself!
Because every vote counts!
Labels: Events, Me myself and I
Valentines Day= SAD day
Happy Single Awareness Day everyone! Don't know what it's all about?
Well, the name basically says it all- a day of celebrating being single, (since Valentine's Day is mostly about couples) that is being publicized locally by HitzFm radio station. I think it's a great effort on the part of the radio station to celebrate singledom.
And there's gonna be a free party at Retro Bar@ Modestos to celebrate SAD day with the theme of "Single and Ready to Mingle."
Date: 15th February 2008
Dress Code: Single men to come with TIES and Single Ladies to come with BOWS. If you think you've found someone interesting, then just exchange your BOWS and TIES.
My favourite DJs, Rudy and JJ (that I listen to every morning on the way to work) are going to be there! Just for the chance to meet them in person, maybe I should attend! :) Any singles interested in coming along with me? *teehee*
OK, I should go get my beauty sleep now. On an ending note, I received a Valentine's SMS today that I thought was very meaningful and would like to share with everyone: "The heart remembers all special moments when goodness made a difference. May the love you share with others return to you in countless ways!"
Happy Valentines Day everyone!
Labels: Events
Gong Xi Fatt Cai!
My mom's beautiful rhododendrons- I could't believe they were real, live plants at first!
I'm back in Ipoh for CNY. So far, it's been fairly quiet and modest, what with my bro in US and all.
But the entourage of aunts, uncles and small cousins arrive tomorrow! I think things are gonna liven up a bit and I look forward to enjoying some festive cheer before my holiday ends.
Here's wishing everyone Joy, Prosperity and Good Health in the Year of the Rat!
Labels: Events, Me myself and I
Happy 2008!
And so, a new year has begun. I think "2008" has a nice ring to it and so far for me, it's off to a good start. My New Year's Eve was quiet- no all-night par-tayyyyy at some hip and happening KL club or countdown at a trendy downtown bistro. It was one of those nights where I didn't feel the need to be surrounded by a group of people and was happy just to be comfortably ensconed at home having a nice take-away dinner after work and relaxing with close friends over a cup of tea. Peaceful and serene without the frenatic pace and stress of the usual New Year's crowd, traffic jam and noise. Perhaps I'm past the age of all-night partying (getting old!) or on a self-consoling note, it was never really my thing in the first place!
New Year's day itself was also quiet- woke up nice and late, showered, checked my emails, played some Scrabulous moves on Facebook, headed out to Cheras to check out the Esprit and MNG factory outlets, took a swim and then dinner at home. A simple and nice day, spent doing what I want and choosing whom I want to spent it with.
Of late, I think I've forgotten the best part of being financially independent and living on your own. The freedom and infinite possibilities that comes with earning and living off your own salary -without having to share it with anybody or having any hungry mouths depending on you to feed them- and the glorious power that comes hand in hand with the responsibility of having to make your own choices (and live with the consequences) in even the simplest and most basic of things eg, what to wear/not to wear, what to eat/not to eat, who to spend/not to spend time with. I should really appreciate my independent life more!
Honestly, although I actually no longer really believe in making resolutions (because most of the time I never, ever keep them! For example, sleeping earlier!;)) but here are a few things I'd like to do in 2008 just off the top of my head:
1. Re-enroll in a Yoga class.
2. Visit Hong Kong, Macau or Japan.
3. Believe in my capabilities and positive attributes more.
I'd like to end this post by thanking each and every person who has made 2007 wonderful for me and wishing all of you only the very best for 2008!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Labels: Events, Me, Me myself and I, Personal
Merry Christmas!
Some wrapped Xmas pressies on my bedroom floor. Wrapping is quite a time-consuming affair and especially tiring when you do it in the middle of the night as I did! ;)
One of my colleagues casually asked me the other day, "Do you celebrate Christmas?"
I said, "Yeah, do you?"
He replied, "Yeah!"
"Are you Christian?" we both asked simultaneously and laughed when we both said "No."
I guess nowadays, Christmas is no longer only celebrated soley by Christians, especially in multi-cultural Malaysia. There is something magical about the Christmas season that infects me with the spirit of sharing, caring and forgiving, of wiping the slate clean and starting afresh and anew. Especially so this year where I was fortunate enough to be part of the Christmas festivities and lights in both London and Paris. I hope all of you had a blessed Christmas with good times spent with your loved ones.MERRY CHRISTMAS AND SEASON'S GREETINGS!xoxoLabels: Events
