:: abandon all ::

reading the latest post from here makes me just want to abandon all and go into baking, crafting and all things crafty & pretty, that my dad will say is frivolous = don't make $$$ kind of work.

Just look at these butteflies and dragonfly cookies!!! aren't they beautiful?? oh yum!! I am full from my miserable packed rice lunch with tofu, veg n chicken, but I can still squeeze in one of these beauties!!

photo taken from: Kuidaore

I really am interested to go for one of the classes at Shermay's! Not cheap but I guess looking at what the classes are like, I'm sure it'll be great fun!! any takers with me??

CNY gathering also brought interesting titbits... one that really interest me was a family friend's 16 yr old daughter's interest in baking and she's gone to the extent of having her very own kitchenaid, red of course! She also went to 2cm @ Holland V for an internship during her school hols and from what i heard makes a wicked tiramisu & warm chocolate cake *with top-notch ingredients - courtesy of her parents* She even sells her cakes online to close friends...

*a note to self*
Maybe, maybe in future...
That 1 day I would like to open a small cafe with homemade cookies/pastries/cookies that alsoo does crafts or flower arrangement.
while i know there are places as such that exists, it's more for self-fulfillment than anything else...

may my dream come true?!?!

:: it's over ::

Yes, 2008 Chinese New Year is officially over... sigh...

It's been a busy new year for me....*haha* as I was diligently collecting as many angbaos as I can, given that soon ppl won't want to give me due to my *a-hem* age... of course it was also great to receive more angbaos this year from newly married cousins & my bro.

It was fun eating yu-sheng, tossing shredded veg and fish, while at the same time increasing my repertoire of 'auspicious' idioms.

Not many photos to show from my visiting although I brought my camera around.. must have been too busy stuffing my face with all the new year goodies!! But luckily cousin J managed to take some and has given us the picts! Thank u!!!

There was one round in office last week and here I am with the bosses & department colleagues.


Didn't manage to do any scrapping this time , compared to last year. Although I managed to complete a few birthday presents.. Managed to only take pictures of 2 that I made - totally forgot about the other presents!!! Anyway... as usual my fave alter project, framed mirrors:


One each for the birthday sisters, whose birthdays are 5 days apart! As both names starts with "N", I decided to just put a simple "N" on the frame for them to choose which frame mirror they like.


Really glad they like them.. and as expected, older sis took the 1st (black & white colour theme frame), while younger sis had the more funky looking one :P

********

another 5 days to March...
*hemmm* I seem to be doing lots of counting down....

and I will be doing another celebration of different kind. keke...
nonetheless, I'll be receiving angbaos & pressies too!! yippee yeah yeah...

:: squeak ::

2 more days till it's officially Chinese New Year and a brand new cycle of the 12 chinese zodics.

The checklist:

1) Spring-Cleaning... is coming along slowly!!! I started with my room *such an obedient gal* and wait till the eve to clean up the living room as it tends to get messed up easily!

2) Decoration.. have been put up. We bought some really cheap ones from Toa Payoh Hub. $1 each for a pair of 'rats' holding couplets and a 'chun' (those felt kind) such a great bargain.

3) Flowers... are usually bought on the eve where there is a great bargain at Chinatown. However, we will buy pussy willow earlier for decoration :D So the Nursery it was where Mom & I went last night. There were loads more different species of flowers that were brought in this year. AWWWW so pwetty :D

4) the GOODIES... have been given by friends and we bought some too :D they are neatly arranged and other than pineapple tarts, my family is not a big snack muncher kind-of ppl! poor mom has to slowly eat them so as not to waste it all!!

I really can't believe it's almost CNY! I've not been to Chinatown for the walk-walk, will usually do so on the eve to get great bargains and to 'immerse' myself in the CNY atmosphere. It's quite a *ecentric* (for the lack of a better word) thing for me as I really DISLIKE crowd but will still go to Chinatown to get jostled with/at... >_<

Good news my cough is getting better. Went to see a Chinese sin-seh on the recommendation of IG. The diagnosis? Weak lungs - can't take cooling food like cold water, radish, 'chai -po', but at the same time, I must avoid certain 'heaty' herbs! What a contradiction, but it's nothing new to me as other Chinese doctors and from my own observation, I will start coughing once I take a certain herb. He gave me 5 different kind of medicines and I've been taking it RELIGIOUSLY despite the liquid/syrup that tastes really awful!

Hence, I enjoyed myself when the paternal side of the family had our Reunion lunch yesterday at Zi Yean. We were stuffed as there were far too much food for a table of 9 each (there were 3 tables - yes I've a BIG family :D) and too many small eaters around. But oh... I do love Yu-Sheng and I had my very 1st one for the year! :D yippee...

Decided to do some last minute shopping at Vivo City after lunch, while my brothers opted for the more 'upmarket' Paragon to do theirs! I have new clothes *several in fact* but not all are meant for CNY visiting. Currently I have 1 and a half new clothes - a shirt (to be paired with my jeans) and a dress. I was hoping to get something for maybe the 3rd and 4th day but all the stores were packed!!! Queues to the fitting room and cashier were long, the stores were packed! I just walked in, took a turn and came out. It really did not help when people were jostling away and oblivious of others who were trying to move in the store. They just stood at the middle of the pathway expecting others to squeeze through them????? I GAVE UP!!! Mom, on the other hand, managed to get a few tops *lucky her*. Leaving the shopping centre kinda disappointed but then I guess I saved some $$ for my trip :) Think positive, Fiona!

:: hello ::

taken from Decor 8

february...

I am officially, still unwell...

Starting coughing & my blocked nose persisted to block my other nostril!! I am literally gasping for air with my mouth and that is BAD as that dries out my throat and causes it to itch due to it being so ulterly DRY!

So is it my latest obsession??

I seriously believe that I am on the verge of having OCD - obsessive complusive disorder

- When I like something or if something catches my eye, I obsess about it and until I get my hands on it I will not let up!! well, at least until I really exhaust all avenues of getting it.. i.e IT IS SOLD OUT ISLANDWIDE!!

- I obsess about shoes / bags / being a neat freak / or getting; doing things IMMEDIATELY *other than official work..keke * or maybe I am just being a typical controlling female??
- and now... am I obsessed about being SICK?? it's been a month!! oh why!! it's CNY next week! Let me eat all the goodies >_<

I've not been crafting :(

Ms Mojo is with me I have loads of ideas that I want to use... but energy level has been pretty low.. *sigh*

on a more postive note,

I have been diligently writing down all my expenses since mid Dec.. it's been more than a month already, but I am still doing it! way to go!! So now, in my bag, I have a few booklets - my diary, my expenses book, observation of children/ *offical* work booklet

Woohoo to new year resolution?? at least 1st month into the year and I did something consistently...

TGIF!!

Have you bought your new year clothes?

:: mid + end ::

it's mid week and ain't i glad! it has been quite a crazy week and it's barely half way!!

Can also hardly belief that the 1st month of 2008 is only tomorrow!

As much as I would like to say how great it has been, I must also add that it has certain had it downs (and it's really down)

Started the new year with horrible cramps,
& with totally no connection
I had a bout of bad cough... the kind that leaves a resounding pain in your tummy when the cough gets so bad+phlegm! It did not go away for almost 2 - 3 weeks and now that it's finally gone...

my nose gets stuffed.. to be precise it's my right nostril and to save the the 'glory' details it's so darn hard to breathe!!!

what plagues me next??

a twisted right ankle...

as if my luck can't get any worse

i missed a step and twisted my ankle in the process, let alone bruising my ego in front of the queue of people at the ATM. It still hurts horribly now and I'm hobbling away in office!

not to mention my run in (+very 1st accident!!) with a nasty lady who reversed her car and I was parking and *we* knocked into each other.. who demanded compensation from me. of course I did not pay her... but still had to fork out good $$ to do repairs to the bumper and paintwork.. GOSH!!!

SERIOUSLY!! what next??

and forecast for the New Year is a good year for the Rooster! does that mean I still have another week of 'gritting my teeth' and keeping my fingers cross that I will be SAFE??

A question that has been on the tip of my tongue -

WHY ME?? WHY ME???

gifts from the heart...

Just completed my commissioned frame :D

Really happy with the results.. lots of layering and dimensions in it.
Altered the frame as well...

above - I used hamly overlay to "hold" the picture in & allow inter-changeability of photos.
below - close up of the the layering + embellishments

A gift to a teacher that I've been mentoring during my course of work. An amazing teacher -- I really admire the way she takes everything in her stride and is never without a smile on her face whenever I see her. Heard from her boss that she faces some family problems, but somehow she still manages to be strong and support her son + giving all of her during lesson times. She has been really kind too - always giving me thank you card, and recently a really cool portable desktop calendar from here.

hope she likes what I made!

3 D effect of the flowers again...

I've another 2 more gifts to make... hang in there it's almost done, will post asap

Another week gone from the new year and another week to go & CNY is approaching...
arghhh... spring cleaning... sigh

hello...

... from my new desk.

I've moved from the open-ness of my original desk that I occupied for a year to the direct opposite of that - a quiet corner at the end of a row of cubicles.

took some time to clear up and sort out / organise my things / files / intervention resources - they are scattered in 3 different places now! hehe but all neat and organised so I am glad.

Hoping to settle into the new area soon and get work done! :D

Happy thursday & TGIF tmr!! can't wait

day 3.. of 2008

is looking slightly brighter than the day before??

Completed 3 layouts during the long weekend break... so I guess good start on the crafting front!

Took me a long long while to decide how to use the Tinkering Ink papers!
Really pretty but the patterns really baffled me!
So I decided to keep it simple and not add too much embellishments, in case it looks too crowded?!?!

finally scrapped photos from my Chiangmai trip! This time elephants 1st.
(see above & below)
used the Love Elsie's range of papers.. so much fun!!
I printed out more pictures but yet to scrap them! coming soon!

& also! I had my very 1st commission... a good friend asked me to do a framed layout for her MIL & FIL. Am so happy!!! She was telling me how her in-laws were admiring what I did for her ROM present.

she can't decide what to give so she thought something handmade would be good!

So nice to know that my work is being admired! every crafter's joy :D

day 2... of 2008

ok ok.. bad start!!! SOBZZZZZ
down the drain goes 1 of my New Year resolutions... not to take cab so often with exception of work related transport of course!!

As I was walking to the bus stop... I watch my bus go past... waited paitently for another 10 minutes or so.. and the next bus was still not here!! In the end...

I took a cab to work.. and it cost me a freaking $16 just to reach office... $10.40 actual cab fare, $2 ERP, $3.65 for the surcharges... it used to cost me only $10, $11 max for the trip! ok, so the route was slightly different but still!! $5 difference!! It used to be a flat rat for the surcharge now... as the amt goes up, so does my heart rate!!

Sigh... but then I was early for work... by 15 minutes...

Here goes Day 1 of 2008 work!

Have a great one!

hello 2008

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

2008 has descended upon us!
to all my family and friends near and far! Wishing you all a blessed New Year.

Have you made your NEW YEAR resolutions?

Mine?

I have a few... but better not say here! in the event that it doesn't happen!!
as a wise cousin of mine said, i don't make resolutions so as not to disappoint myself!

But I definitely do have couple of things that I DIE DIE also most do... so it does look like 2008 is going to be a promising year for me! Hope it's good for everyone too!! I'm sure it will be :D

Hello 2008!!!!

In odds and ends...

2007 certainly flew by for me...

Lots to be grateful for this year.

1) Great family - i.e. everyone's hail and healthy + happy
of course there were the quarrels and the squabbles but as a family we stood together and held each other hands, esp in the times of my brother's house renovation + wedding prep.
also including extended family members - the joy that a big family has during every occasion is indescribable.

2) Friends - new and old, near and afar -
I treasure every thoughts that they have for me and the kindness and concern shown towards me. Also can't wait to meet up with more friends soon! :) *yippee*

3) Fantastic Job -
This year has been a totally humbling and eye-opening experience for me. The people / family / children that I have met this year felt like from another world to me. *i beg to differ - but I am NOT a spoilt brat* From the day I have been born, I have lived a life of relative comfort, experiencing 1st hand the lives of the less fortunate has really taught me to value life / be contented and being down to earth. I am glad I am staying on with my current company *despite the initial headache of deciding which offer to take up*. Hope to be learning more and contributing more in 2008 and more years to come! * bit corny right? but TRUE!!*

4) My hobby(s)
- baking - was revived this year :D especially during the end of the year when i baked brownies for my aunt's xmas party

- sewing - finally conquered my mom's grandmother of all sewing machine! and whipping up a few pretty good creations. hope to do more next year!

- scrapbook - wow! it's been slightly over a year since i starting scrapping. Certainly not a cheap hobby but a very rewarding one! All birthday gifts / farewell / thank you / Xmas gifts were handmade especially for the recipients! & slow but steadily working into my 3rd album :D


&

Finally! I walked down orchard road last night - post x'mas! (kudos to late night shopping - although we were so unsure I kept asking salesgirls what time do you close?) It was really impromptu decision and ended with rounding up aunts & cousins for a spot of sale shopping!

aunts / cousins / nephews

SB wise - i've been slacking a bit with all the festive family gatherings but I managed to complete a very simple and quick layout. Not my usual style but i like it though - and the feel good factor that I finally finished using a full 12x12 pattern paper!

"zam cha" = serving tea to your elders, especially during CNY / their birthdays
here, mom's serving tea to my paternal grandparents in her traditional kua

&

being the totally vain me.. and one of the little indulgence that i need every month or so...

my festive nails :D

2 more days to the New Year's!
Have you made your new year resolution??

[ gathering at the boss' ]

Early X'mas gathering and belated Boss' Day was celebrated at my boss's place on Tuesday...


Despite the horrible ride that I had there... the blind trying to lead the blind to the location and proudly saying "I know the way!" , it was all good fun.

Can you guess who THE boss is?

The only male colleauge in my department who was the LUCKY recipient of my gift exchange!

glad he likes it! He was telling me he brought home and the kids love it :D yippee

&

My ex-students! Who totally adored their gifts *phew*
They were so cute.. touching and feeling the flocked stickers and flowers.

M & G

the altered mirror that I forgot to take a picture of before wrapping it up! *duh*

and 10 more days to X'mas?
Done your shopping yet??
keke

[ NO planning ]

totally bored in the morning and to get my 'engines moving' and before I start a day at work writting lessons plans... i took some time to relieve some morning stress??

Your Nail Polish Color is Red

How you're unique: You have an incredible eye for style and art Why your style rocks: You are classic and classy - and that's hot! What this color says about you: "I'm smart, sassy, and sexy. And I know it."

What Color Nail Polish Best Fits You?

by doing some online quizzes! haha

TGIF!!! seriously

weekend of frenzy scrapping...

1st of from my crafting weekend is an layout of me pigging out! haha.. it's been really long since i scrapped as the whole of Nov was crazy and busy. Finally a breather....

Thanx IG for the photo :D

2)
a dear dear friend will be going over to Japan from Feb next year, so to thank her for all the help she has given me, I made a flower for her. I didn't glue on the photo as I thought she might want to change the photos when newer ones come along - so I made a little pocket for photographs.



3)
a colleague left the company in preparation of her 3rd child's arrival within the month. A little token that I did for her:

an album which she can put her 3 children's photographs. I put '08 as she hopes the little one in her tummy comes out only in JAN.. she doesn't want a year-end baby :D. I name #1, #2 and #3 as I am not sure of the spelling of her kid's name, but am very sure of the order of gender.. haha.. so i don't make mistakes this way!





She want to keep the gender of her 3rd a surprise so I can't put boy or girl! :P
I wish her all the best as she stays home to be a full time mom chauffeuring her kids to and from school / enrichment lessons / swimming lessons and to the arrival of her little one..

4)
Tomorrow's a little department gathering at my boss' place. As X'mas is around the corner, it was suggested that we all do a gift exchange, but with the stipulated amount, I can't think of something nice that I wanted to give.. so therefore... me made THIS!!!

a hanging wooden album displaying family photos :D hope the person who picks my name likes his/her present...

5)
Altered wooden mirror (part 1)

also it happens that my boss' 2 daughters are my ex-students long ago (I shall not say how long ago, but my age still had a '1' with it), so I thought I make something for them too. Silly me wrapped up one of the wooden framed mirrors so I couldn't take a picture, but I'll remember tomorrow when I pass the gift to her! Hope both gals like it!!

6)
another scrapping frenzy that I was up to was dressing up BERRI juice glass bottles. This year's YEAR END company party is organised by my department. The theme naturally is X'mas. While digging through some stuff that a colleague of mine kept, there were several bottles within the 'reusable junk' so she asked me if I could do anything about the bottles so that we could use them as vases.


glass bottles all dressed up for the festive season!

illusion of snowflakes on the bottle...
- Nice??

so productive and so happy! can't wait to have more time to scrap more!!
& I can't complain that I don't have photos to scrap :D

Have a great week everyone!!

15 days to CHRISTMAS!!!

[ happenings ]

Celebrated a couple of birthdays... my 2nd Aunt Alice's 60th birthday.
A wonderful dinner treat by her boys at Tien Court, Copthorne Kings Hotel

the birthday girl with the elder nephew...

the generous sons...

more cousins pictures...

eldest cousin, May

Serene & Alvin

We celebrated Dad's birthday in advance before younger bro left for States last Tuesday. Dad's birthday is not till this week, but luckily I remembered so we had a quick dinner at Soup Restaurant at T2, Changi Airport in between bro checking in and entering the gate...

a family portrait taken by a kind customer who was sitting next to us...
he was rewarded by a piece of nice yummy coffee cake :D

Company trip on the 15th - 18th November to Chiangmai. It was pretty interesting to go travelling with a whole new group colleagues after knowing some for a year and some barely hi and byes in the office. But it was all good fun... the ladies shopped like crazy, the few guys who were with us also shopped like crazy or ideal hubby, carrying wife's purchases or making helpful suggestions on their choices.

Temple @ Chiangmai, had to walk up 100 over steps!!

elephant tricks

feeding elephant...

The elephant we sat on... and my colleague who was with me :D

children and lady at Karen village, Chiangrai.

They start putting rings around their necks and legs from approximately 5 years old
and can roughly put aroudn12 rings on their necks (yucks!).
it weighs approx 4-5kg!!!

illegal immigrant at Laos ...
part of the trip was a boat ride to either Myanmar or Laos, which is of course additional cost
Myanmar is out of the question as the country is unstable at the moment with riots
So we all choose Laos... it was said initially that we will have to bring our passports along, but subsequently the tour guide say, no need.
ended up? being illegal immigrant to Laos for approx 1.2 hr... the boat alighted us at this area that is cover with trees and sanded ground.. with lots of makeshift shops ... dun even need to chop passport despite going to another country!!!??!!!! huh??
wasted my 450B... i could've done for 2 excellent massages!!!

At the Golden Triangle...

Map of the countries
for more photos, go here.

now i can't complain no pictures to scrap!