:: long overdue ::

More layouts that I did some weeks back.
Unfortunately the mojo is not going as strong as I would have like it to be currently but at least I managed to finish 1 layout this week. So ain't complaining as I'm halfway through my Aussie album!! yippee!!!

[ art ]
ok trying to be artistic...
anyway... seriously, the photo was taken in fremantle market perth, where there is a stall that sells mosaic items & when I saw this lovely mirror I can't resist not taking a photo rite???
Yes! I was still eating the oh-so-delicious crepes

[ what do you do in a bus]
bored people playing around with the camera in the bus while travelling around melbourne.
if you look closely expressions are FUNNY!! hehe

AND finally some layouts from the wedding in Perth

[ the morning events]

[ the dinner]

[Jie-mei ]

I can hardly believe 1 more weekend is over & there are only going to be 16 weekends left for this year!

Most of the time, my weekends are quite "fully booked" in advance as I am usually left with 1 & a quarter of the weekends, with a good part of my saturdays taken up by my weekly commitments. Usually it's a family gathering or catching up with old friends, or I at least make it a point to take some time off to relax.

Today as I parted with a friend as we headed home in our separate ways... I felt sad, with a heavy stone nestled deep in my heart wondering how often we actually managed to catch up with one another & to sit down and really talk. This, afterall, having been friends for more than 10 years, we seldom get to just sit down over a meal to just talk about how's life, how's work, how we are? In retrospect, I guess my sadness comes from not being able to have such a day as often as I would like it, to just purely enjoy each other's company not having to worry about work, to rush off to another appointment, and to just make time for a good friendship to bloom.

oh well.... The precious weekend is over again in XXX hours... now to simply enjoy the homecooked dinner mom is preparing consisting of delicious blue flower crab congee, roasted goose that was lovingly handcarried from HK to SG and young asparagus & finally to get an early rest to face another week at work...

:: give up ::

tried to change the skin for my blog...
did some searching & found some really nice ones but Blogger is not reading the XML / HTML of it...

so I give up...

Simple is still the best :D

Time to get ready & darn the sky still looks dark... looks like it is contingency plan B for today's event?

:: month end ::

Yup 31st of August... time sure flies! it's finally month end & the company event is today.

1)

Renovations at my division is over. I've a new chair & new workspace. Tables are old ones, & I have my own hand me down steel cabinet to keep my 'tools of the trade'. I'm happy though as the new tables look smaller than usual, something that's peeving my boss (one day she took out a measuring tape & measured the new tables /cubicles vs the old ones & complained to the execu who was handling the renovation).

2)

As my colleague walked over to my *spanking new* cubicle on Friday and asked,
"So how? Everything done? Prepared?"

I was in the midst of preparing the certs & tickets so I told her showed her what I've done & will be bringing, I asked,
"Enough? Anything else I missed out?"

She just has to add that somehow something feels missing / odd? WOW! thanks for the vote of confidence. Anyway, I prepared what I can do & ran through in my head what happened last year, to the best of my knowledge, as I helped out in a different area last year. So fingers crossed that everything run smoothly today! & that includes the weather!!

3)

It's been a productive month on the scrapping end too! So real happy about that.

Some of the layouts :D Enjoy & thanks for looking & to my dearest friends who leave comments thank you so much! I love receiving them & thanks for making the effort to visit my & leave me a note :D

[ Doing Candid ]

morning of wedding, while waiting for the groom to arrive...
Being trigger happy!

* Finally used the sewing element in layouts

[ Be Silly ]

just having fun while waiting for the rest of the gals finish their shopping

[ Need I say more? ]
just expressing my love for Kookai...

closeup I used all the variations of the word "shop" here :D Yes yes I am an shopaholic..

[ Going Gaga over Shoes ]

hey very envious rite????

[ Autumn in Perth ]

picture taken in from of Hay Street

closeup

It's been 1 month since I handed in my application & it's going to be another 2 more months before I get any reply... arghhh... really don't like the waiting game...
Or should i say, I DON'T LIKE WAITING... PERIOD!

:: it's midweek ::

*reminders to self*

thou shall keep all comments to myself

thou shall just do it & be done with it

thou shall have a smile on my face irregardless of how I feel

so forgive me... it's mid week & I am swamped

:: in 2s::

sorry for the lack of posting... friends have been complaining -_+

As usual all I can say is work has been busy... August is a busy month for me in office with lots of events lined up
1) National Day event to the Parliment House
2) Team building workshop
3) Renovation at my department & trying to co-ordinate the removal of some furniture
4) Another National Day observance event
5) Family day at the end of the month, in which I am involved since may???

Luckily new staff is coming in Sept.. but by then bulk of the work for the year has been completed so to date I've helped with admin work, on top of my own job scope, for 5 months!!! gosh!

&!!!

I managed to scrapped finally!!
Mojo going pretty strong as I managed to complete at least 1 layouts every night! so that's like almost 8 layouts the past week!!
I also did some 2 page layouts! ;p

Sorry for the poor picture... computer is cranking up so it's just a quick edit & posting here!

{ Melbourne, Australia }

Page 1Page 2

{ Crepe Luv }

Page 1
Page 2

more layouts to come!! yippeee...

oh! Hope you had a great National Day.. I did.. it was rest time :D

:: signed, seal & to be delivered ::

Yes!!! finally the forms have been filled in.

The essays were read at least 3 times by me and I asked a dear colleague to vet through.

Boss has signed...

Additional information printed out & attached to the form.

Everything is in the envelope to be delivered on Thursday as I am not going to trust the post system in Singapore for this important mission.

& so after years of me saying how I wanted to do it... I've finally gone ahead and got it done! yeah!

Everything looks bright and beautiful... with the financial part & the application...

so do not burst my bubble!

now I just have to wait patiently & unfortunately patience is not my middle name!!

*fingers crossed with nightly prayers to add*

Hoping & wishing I receive good news SOON!!!

heh.. I need to sleep!

:: missing ::

king st in perth

Reading this made my throat feel kinda funny & I realised that reading someone write about a place that you know so well really brings back the memories... gosh I miss Perth alot!

I've been asked many times, why I didn't stay there after Uni... there were many reasons but I've never regretted my decision. I am glad that I'm back in Singapore with my family, being close to the extended family too, although I certainly miss my friends there. Somehow it's very different knowing someone (i.e a pri / sec school friend) to knowing another friend because for 3-4 years you lived, study, played, shopped, or cried together...

Well, as long as my dear friends are still in Perth, they better expect me as their, i hope, yearly house guest!!

On a happier note, I'm almost done with my application. Now just for the last application essay to write... & even that I'm one-third through.. yippee!! Gotta be fast only 13 more days till application closes! & I've to get my boss to sign too!

Oh yes.. very random I know... I told a lady off today for stealing my cab!!! I was there 1st! I am so proud of myself!! haha....

:: ... ::

I've spent the last 2 hours on the computer with the intention to start filling in the application form.

Instead, I've:

1) check my email (only 1 of 3 account though)

2) surfed through all 38 pages of a taiwan online clothes shop, i believe twice

3) made a list of my purchases.. not much only 3

4) sent out a quick email of my purchases

5) checked bloglines & read the updated blogs (something I did this afternoon!!)

6) read more blogs linked to the usual blogs that I read, specifically on bags & fashion

7) surfed a bit for a bag that I thought is really gorgeous

8) ate 3 OOIISHI machi filled with azuki that E.Bro & SIL brought back from Japan last night...

9) downloaded the online application form

10) checked out more blogs (?!?!?!)

11) started filling in parts of the application form especially the part that just need me to type in name/IC/boss's name/designation... you get the drift.. the brainless part of the application form, wrote several lines each for 2 out of 3 of the short essays needed..

& maybe 10 minutes later or more or less???

12) FINALLY here blogging....

*note.. #5 to #10 might happen concurrently -_-

gosh I really need to write that essays.. they're not difficult just don't know where to start. Arghhh... Can't I just write standard reports?? why is it so hard to say what I do, why I like what I do, and something about myself????

does this ever happen to anyone else or is it just ME????

now... I am sleepy *faint*

:: mystery solved? ::

After living for more than a decade with my skin condition, I finally went back to the National Skin Centre for a check. The last time was in 1997!

I did not have "high" hopes as the last time I went, the dermatologist just concluded that I should stay out of sunlight & wear long sleeve tops to cover my arms! Then, I thought it was ridiculous to do such a thing as Singapore is so hot!!!!

Anyway, I started sneezing like crazy since March this year and I thought I should really do something... whether to find out if I am allergic to anything *other than the sun!!*, maybe I can make a conscious effort to avoid?

So there I was last friday at the NSC and the dermatologist *Snr Consultant* (I always pray & hope I don't see inexperienced docs.. keke) gave a name to my particular ezcema condition!

It is called .... .... keratosis pilaris!!

Miraculosly my sneezing has stopped.. it's so embarassing as I can be sneezing anywhere anytime!!! (especially so when there is food around! imagine the glares that I get!) but i still get runny nose :( oh well.. one thing at a time??

At least I know what & why about my ezcema.

:: adding to the album ::

Yup I scrapped the past 2 weekends and I must say I'm pretty happy with the result..

something very simple with little embellishing... I must say this is something quite different from my usual designs but I guess trying to start the mojo 'engine' this is still forgivable??

So it gets better along the way.... as the engine starts warming up
Thanx to L who passed me lotsa ink! I played with the distressed look...

and ta-da!!!

*apologises for the bright lighting, took the picture at nite*

I must say I really like this layout!
I experimented with colours (?!?!) purple being no where in the pattern papers I chose
I also made the ribbons look curly-wurly (as with the last layout too)

Woo hoo... I hope my mojo engine continues to chug on as the weekend is coming & it's time for some scrapping again :P

Looking forward???

:: wow ::

While doing some surfing on Etsy.com , found this cute wallet by dearsukie...






I was thinking "Hey! this pattern looks really familiar! Hmmm... like the Jenni Bowlin pattern paper that I loved & scrapped with!"



& when I read on... I realised that this wallet was indeed made with paper that has been covered in a very heavy, clear vinyl and sewn together.
I spotted BG, sassafraslass, MM, AC papers too!!!!

I'm not doing any advert but I just find this really amazing!! I mean this is really taking the word "altered scrapbooking" to the next level! I really wish I was as innovative/creative as this.

However, I must say I've been in the crafty mood.. scrapping every weekend with a layout or two & also with ideas to sew some nifty bags/pouches... I even went Chinatown with my Mom & Dad yesterday hoping to find some fabrics. Although I didn't I managed to get a nice top! very executive looking one nonetheless. Very 'unexpected' in People's Park with all the clothes there very un-me! haha...

Hope your weekend was fun & filled with unexpected finds too!

:: celebrations ::

Happy Father's Day to all fathers out there! including my own dad...

As much as dads go... here are some weird facts about mine

#1: As he was watching TV yesterday, he commented that M1 & Starhub have good commercials while he hates THAT "mocca.com" one...

#2 He "informs" you about the weirdest things at the most inappropriate time... i.e. where your food is from or what it eats before it was laid on your table... I SO DON'T NEED THAT INFORMATION!!!

#3 He comments "time to iron clothes" every other week...

The family decided to celebrate yesterday as my elder bro & his wife are flying off today for their much belated *not quite* honeymoon (as she's on a working trip too). We also celebrated my younger bro's birthday which is next week in advance!

We went to a Japanese restaurant... can't remember the name though. Japanese being our family favourite cuisine.

(yes! there's quite a few of us here & I'm glad I'm not adding to the numbers! keke...)

The "celebration" boys...

Younger man celebrating his birthday *in advance*, while the older man celebrating father's day *in advance too!*

The cake:
green tea & chestnut concoction that ended the meal very nicely... it was light & not too overly rich...

From:
Yes! one of my few faves
I am very VERY particular about my cakes!


That aside... I did a couple of 1st the past few days!
- first Primary 6 gathering
- going to a car showroom to look at a possible MY VERY OWN car

Also I completed 2 layouts to add to my Travel album! woo-hoo! yippee...

now just to get over my stuffed nose & slight temperature I'll feel even happier -_-

:: at long last ::

It has been more than a month since I came back from my Australia trip and only this weekend did I finally managed to scrap! I am so happy to get started on the photos from my trip! I have such grand plans for it!

- I want to do an album! Yes 1 whole album on all my travel photos - the very 1st for me
- I want to do a layout of tiny photos from the trip like a 'content' page feel!

So I really need to get started real soon, so that my ideas don't die on me and I still have inspiration to complete it!

So finally this is what I did for my very 1st layout for the travel album! Very different from my 'usual' style but I guess I was after a simple layout



... after...

completing 3 thank you albums & 1 card to friends for their wonderful hospitality in Australia... hope they like it! :)


& my new fascination...

stamping my name onto my 'finished' work!
It's actually a hand-carved stamp from China that Mom bought for me. She made 2 - my name in English and Chinese.

& a 'cool' discovery that I made with my 'not-so-intelligent' camera...
It did some auto-focus thingy & I ended up having 2 photos with background & foreground focus! Weird eh?



& at long last! I am finally statisfied by:

1) watching SATC on sat... Loved the movie.. definitely going to catch it again in the theatres & definitely going to buy the DVD set!

2) shopping! I know i know very frivolous... but I was in such bad mood after I went shopping 2 weeks ago. I had purposely taken 1 day leave, arranged with a GF to shop on a weekday during GSS but both of us did not manage to get as many things as we thought we would have! We did not see much stuff that were greatly discounted or nice stuff for that matter! We even went to the extent of mentally ticking off the 'trusted' places that we usually go to - which we did! but nothing spent there too!

Anyway finally bought a nice something for myself last week. It was slightly over my budget but still something($) I was very comfortable with. So my mood's back to happy!

keke... It is just weird how a shopping trip makes or break one's day!

Does this happen to anyone else?? or is it just me???

Hope you have fabulous shopping trips too! I wish I have more to come as well! lol

Happy mid week!! :D

:: observations in the morning ::

It is 7.46am.. yup.. you heard me correctly. I am in office.

I had to pick mom up from the airport just now at 5.40am, so I figured, why not get ready to for office too? Anyway I had to be in by 8am as my team's organising a seminar this morning. So off my y-bro and myself to the airport, picked her, uncle & aunt up, went for breakfast nearby and started to wait outside my office for about 45mins?? It's not that crazy doing all that waiting, afterall it would have taken me longer just to get home and take a bus all the way back to office. While the distance is only like 10 mins ride from airport to office... Go figure??

Anyway, I was prepared to wait so I took a book to read. So as I sat down on the bench, flipping the pages of my book, I noticed several ladies congregating & talking away. Slowly they started moving off finding a nice spot at a corner of the part and started exercising! They were doing quite interesting moves - 1 looked like a bow & arrow action, while another was doing a 'horse-stand' as they did some odd hand movements. I was pretty amazed by that group of ladies, when I noticed another group had started exercising. Similarly they were doing some pretty unusual exercise actions.. hmmm.. so this is what happens early in the morning in HDB parks?
Pretty interesting sight! But to be honest, I've never experience HBD like until say 5 years ago? But I can say I only truly witness how living in HDB is until the demands of my jobs brings me to the 'heartlands' of Singapore..

Having lived overseas for a period of time, I can appreciate the consideration taken when the Singapore towns were built. The convenience of nearby markets, eateries, parks, playground for communual living. It really is such a breeze! Everything is within walking distance!

I must say I am really glad to be living in Singapore, so if anyone (esp cab drivers!) grib to me about how unhappy they are living in Singapore I can get quite upset... LOL I know it's a weird reaction but then I feel that the statements made are biased, unfair and totally uninformed!

In fact there have been times when I sarcastically remarked to the cab driver to migrate to China or Thailand, they say Yeah I will do so! -_-.. ya go ahead.. compare apple to apple please!!

Oh I had a fun weekend.. I shall update that later when there's more time.. gotta go!

have a great week everyone!

:: breathe ::

Gosh! Can't believe it's been 1.5 months since I came back from Australia... I am missing:

1)

the glorious cool weather!! WHY is Singapore so HOT????

The moment after I step out of shower... I have another shower of the 'other kind' - perspiration!! It's such a horrid feeling!!

2)

Missing the 'ability' to sit leisurely by a cafe in a market with an aromatic cuppa to start the day...
It's been "grab and go" these days!!

Work has been busy! Frustrating as it is, these work were not mine to complete but other's which I needed to help out with in order to get it completed! Talk about life! Nonetheless, glad that it's almost to the tail end of of that and to my own busy work period as there are less going out and more staying in office. At least I can clear up my paperwork - not looking forward to it but at least I should be able to BREATHE!!!

Although, I am certainly looking forward to:

1) Sex and the City movie that is opening next week! I've seen all the seasons and have been loving it! This movie proves to be one of my faves so far... love the soundtrack and the plot!! If you like the character! & yes I do love the Manolo Blahniks , and the quirky dressing of Carrie, the prim-ness of Charlotte, swelt-ness of Miranda, & of cos the sultry Sam - who doesn't!

*thanx to a wonderful babe who has ALREADY reserved her timing & arranged to go watch the movie with me!!- luv u lots!!*

2) GSS aka Great Singapore Sale
Haven't manage to check anything out.. but don't you just love a sale??

3) the June holidays!!
the kids (whom I teach are on their most-deserving break!) are away... I get free time during the weekends to scrap!! - finally!!

4) a holiday... yes another one!!... hopefully with massages too.. nothing planned but it's in the mind!! keke...

5) there are couple of other BIG things that I'm looking forward to as well! It's under wraps at the moment.... it's only at later part of the year when it can 'formally' materialise.. but right now I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that they'll all happen!!

=)

:: late ::

Yupz... Late in wishing all mums, including those I do not know, hope you had a wonderful

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!

Thank you for your incredible patience to teach us all about the ABCs of life...
Thank you for always offering a ride home no matter where you are...
Thank you for all the wonderful homecooked meals that you prepare every weekend...




My mom received her Mother's Day gifts in advance.. being the practical person that she is.. she asked for a sewing machine from my brothers. And me?ger loot of a dozen of hair dyes from Australia (which cost me almost 1-tenth of my shopping money!!) ...

For such occasions, Dad always believe that prices in restaurants are exorbitant and hence prefers to stay home to eat... & I guess we're pretty glad as mom does enjoy the cooking... after all her kids do help with the cooking...

Menu for last night's dinner...

For appetizers:
Rojak

For main:
1) Crab Bee Hoon Soup
2) Korean deep fried chicken
3) Blanched broccoli drizzled with Oyster Sauce & a sprinkling of garlic flakes
3) Oven grilled aubergine with miso topping

For dessert:
Almond pudding

Yes it was a feast, just looking at all the food on the lazy suzy (you know the round turning thingy on the table in Chinese restaurants? - yes I have that at home!!) I was full!!

Have a great week everyone!!

:: backie ::

*beware... long post with pictures!!*

Yes!! I'm back in Singapore and melting from the smattering heat!!

I so miss the nice cold weather in Australia.. of course not the part that my fingers almost froze off from the unearthly hour of 6am (Melbourne time), which was 4 am in Singapore.

My trip was GREAT!!! FANTASTIC!!! FABULOUS!!! I even wanted to extend!! *sigh*
Most days were spend just waking up and getting ready to go out.... chill out, walk around and to meet up with friends. This is what LIFE is meant to be, right??

The main reason for the trip is to attend a dear friend's wedding & to be 1 of her jie-mei's.
So here we are, the jie-mei's taking a group photo before the whole door haggling thing happened!

the lovely wedded couple!

*see Melbourne is cold.. wearing turtlenecks, scarves & jackets!!*

best-est pals in Perth :D Can't believe I've known them for 8 years!!!

luv these gals!!!

In Melbourne where there are lots of alley ways with lots of cafes...
&
aromatic wakeup calls ...

Cappuccino

latte

*luv how the little boy is holding a bouquet of flowers for his mom!*

another thing I love about Australia is how florists are at ever *almost* corner or along the street... and the flowers are just so vibrant!! This happens to be in Melbourne and right in front of the General Post Office!! Can you imagine Singapore doing that?? the flowers would have wiltered!!

&

of course...

There was lots of eating!!!

glorious chocolate!!

quaint little cupcake shop

cute little cupcake :D

wonderful breakfast... eggs benedict...
don't be jealous.. but breakfast was like this almost every other day!!

&

NOT FORGETTING!!!

SHOPPING!!!!

shoe shops in Australia are FILLED with shoes!!

LOTS & LOTS of shoes to make you wanna die.. oppz BUY!!
& when it is sales, it really is a SALE!! prices are usually 60% off!!

oh so wonderful.....

one of my favourite shops in Australia...
I so had to control myself when I was there!!

bought stuff from here, here, here, here, and here... & of course at lots of other cool places.. ;D
Love the factory outlets too... Bought 2 pairs of levi's jeans for A$75. They were already discounted & it was 50% off marked prices!! I can so faint!!

Yes.. saving up again & planning my next trip... kekeke.. hopefully soon!!

More photos to come.. but hang in there... need to edit & upload..

TFL!

:: chilly ::

Hey-ya!

I love being back in perth... chilling out with friends and taking a relaxing loooonnnngggg lunch at one of the cafes...

Today is Day 3 & i've been to Kookai 3 times & walked out with a purchase... walked into Sportgirl twice... & going gaga over shoes load and loads of shoes!!!
I am totally controlling my spending now... 'cos I'm going Melbourne!! Shopping haven with all the factory outlets!!

Am totally doing the touristy thingy here.. taking picts of food & places!!

It's a bit chilly here... wearing a nice wooly cardigan as I walked around the City today! I totally love being on holiday.. who doesn't?? Waking up to a relaxing day.. taking a bus to city, walking around... and finally going back at 3 plus 4 waiting for my friend to get back from work before heading out for dinner.. this is call LIFE!! keke...

update soon!! going to yummy pizzas :D

:: g'day mate ::

Yes!
Finally flying off today to Perth... It's been 5 years since I last went back there... and I am finally fulfilling my promise to my friends for a long over-due visit. This time it's even more special as I'm attending a friend's wedding & helping out as Jie-mei too!

It's looks like it's going to be another round of busy-ness there meeting up with friends....

Lots of things lined up!
Tmr - meeting up with bride + rest of jie-mei's for lunch and to discuss wedding day schedule
Fri - free & easy
Sat - THE wedding... I love how W's dh-to-be wants to follow the chinese customs of 'haggling at the door'... but being westernised.. he wanted something 'fair' that the gals gotta do too... have to find out more tmr!!

Flying off to Melbourne next Tuesday.. where I HOPE to be shopping like a CRAZED woman...
Can't wait to go here, here and here.... and of course meeting up I'm meeting up with more friends!

Going back to Australia is really like going home... I know where to go, how to get around myself and where I wanna eat! Oh yes and the shops that I MUST visit!!

Finally only coming back to SG on the 28th..

Work had been crazy.. so much to do.. but finally I've cleared everything that I need and * shd need not * do... so I totally feel that I deserve this trip!!

don't miss me too much.. i'll try to post if I can!

See you next month!! *i love saying that*