the sunny side of me!!!

moving

2010-11-30T20:21:00.000+08:00

Dear all, I will be moving to a new blog with effect from 1 December 2010.

Please FB me if you wish to know the new blog as I will be keeping the blog as private as possible.

Thanks for your many years of support.

Cheers,
Nadyne

registered!!

2010-11-29T20:04:00.000+08:00

REGISTERED!!!

20 March 2010

21km Half marathon

this shall be the birthday present for myself :)))

so inspired!!

thanks Andrea darling for the inspiration

she's one girlfriend that I look up to

for her perseverance and sheer will

to do the impossible!

i can do it too!

YAY!!!

need for change

2010-11-23T20:06:00.003+08:00

for so long, i've been telling myself I want to do this and that but somehow I never got around doing it.

Yes i've finally gotten a driving licence and on my way to complete my CA qualification, but something is still missing.

I miss being sporty. I miss playing badminton, tennis, swimming, jogging, cycling and blading..

and I kept telling myself I want to join a marathon and triathlon but those were just words.

I'm really inspired by Andrea for her determination to jog, cycle and gym every week and that tough girl has signed up for 7 marathons/aquathlon/duathlon each month next year!!! *sweats*

it's time I do something....

i want this bike....

the little girls in my life :))))

2010-11-23T19:46:00.004+08:00

From left: Charlee, Hannah, Le Xi

These are the lovely little babies in my life now :)))
it's just so much joy watching them grow
every smile and every cry just warms my heart
and make me feel so proud of the mums who
went through pregnancy and labour pains
to bring their precious one to this world

and it's just so amazing to find resemblance of their parents
on each of their little angelic faces
makes me wonder how our kids will turn out next time
:))))))

our time will come
when we are both ready to be parents
ready to welcome the little ones into our lives

as for now
i'm just so thankful and blessed
for such an understanding and loving husband
:*)

tis' the season

2010-11-13T17:08:00.003+08:00

to be jolly!!! Falalalalala~~~ :D

Realised I haven't been blogging since I return from SG.

Work has been light but slowly picking up as we gear towards the end of the year and my favourite holiday Christmas! I've attended 3 networking functions so far, my highest record ever since I worked here. (i think i'm beginning to get used to chatting up with strangers, sometimes they just want to know what you have been doing outside of work instead of talking about work. Hmm...)

I met a Singaporean girl who has been studying here and just joined the department next to ours. Invited her over to bake pandan cake since we volunteered to bring a Singapore specialty to our firm's cultural diversity morning tea next week.

It's good to see more Singaporeans at work and it makes me feel more comfortable at work after almost 2.5years.

I also took part in a volunteer work as part of our firm's programme and had the opportunity to socialise with seniors at a newly established retirement village. I must say my impression of retirement villages changed significantly after yesterday because I always thought retirement village is, in the bad sense, is waiting to pass on. But the place we visited called Tall Trees was a pleasantly constructed compound, with plenty of facilities and amenities for the seniors to enjoy a very happy and fulfilling retirement.

I thought about the concept of old folks home back in SG and I think we should take reference from the retirement villages in Brissy. Putting your aged parents in the village is not that you don't care for them. On the contrary, you are trying to provide them with the best care from the experienced nurses, caretakers and having people of the same age to hang around with you to give more positive outlook to the remaining years.

I guess if I were to do that to my parents, people will say that I'm unfillial. But in reality, i'd rather have my folks spending time with people of the same age, having games and chit chatting while we as children visiting them as often as we can. Hmmm...

on another note, i passed my Management Accounting CA module!! i'm so close to the finishing line on this long journey of full-time working/part-time studying and now i'm finally left with the final module and i will be a Chartered Accountant next April!! woohoo!!

I'm counting down to Christmas and our year-end road trip up to Cairns! It will be the most adventurous and longest drive ever for the both of us but I'm sure it'll be heaps of fun! We're going with the "whereever the roads may lead us" mindset and stopping by towns as we like it and check in to motels if we are tired. I'll definitely take lots of pictures and blog on this amazing road trip! stay tune!

have a happy fantastic weekend!

happy birthday tiffy!

2010-11-04T06:29:00.002+08:00

Happy birthday dearest coussie!
(i can't believe i can't find any recent photo of us!)

Thanks for being there when I needed
and growing up together definitely is a perk!

Have fun on your birthday!!
muacks! :*)))

7 reasons why I'm so blessed and loved

2010-10-25T13:27:00.012+08:00

2 weeks of holidays flew past just like this. I know I was very thankful everyday for the love I received from family and friends and the quality spent with every one.

As Eug said the only thing I do is "MSN, Facebook, upload photos and blog" :D I shall write up something of my awesome 2 week back home.

First, it was meant to be a surprise for my family. It was intended to be for my mum-in-law too but things took a slight turn so she was kept in the loop of my return :P

and so you would've read in my previous post that the surprise was a huge success! I can genuinely feel my parents really happy that I'm home.

I met up with my close group of friends (which i realised there are alot! thank God for all these great pals :))) and spent alot of time with both of my family. It really made me appreciate all the things they have done (taking their time off to bring me around to eat and giving me real gourmet treats!) and I'm really very very blessed! :D

The highlights of my trip:

1. I love my family!!!

Part of my surprise worked beautifully was because I skyped with mum and dad every week and I managed to find out what they had planned to do during the 2 weeks I'm back!

So knowing that Mum took leave for her birthday, I planned my time to go shopping with her (which I know she misses), booked a nice birthday dinner at Shangri-La (thanks to bestie!) and a weekend stayover at Marina Bay Sands (thanks to Chewie!).

I went to Sunday service with mum-in-law and kevin & ser (can I say Ps Prince is awesome??!) and knowing that I missed durians so much, they bought me Mao Shan Wang to satiate my taste buds! I literally gulped down the flesh and almost wanted to swallow the seeds! HAHA

Had yum-cha twice with MIL too and I know she enjoys my company and dotes on me alot. I am veryv blessed to have such a generous and loving MIL :)))

I love my family!!

2. I love my SN Sistas!

What can I say? They're the bunch of girlfriends that I knew the longest and despite some of us being away overseas at different points in our lives, we always make an effort to catch up with one another. These are really the friends for life :)))))

3. I love my pals!

During my 2 weeks stay, I, :
- Met up with XP for PS Cafe truffle fries before she flew off to China for work
- Met up with hOi and B and had dinner with Andrea (Mellben crabs!)
- Juice and baby talk with Huimin at Starbucks
- Attended Yvonne's wedding and caught up with the Pw gang
- 4-hour chat/drink session with Eug's bestman, Shawn
- All day food hunting with Sin and dinner with NTU gang
- Had lunch with Geok at her work place
- Breakfast with cousin Tiffy

WOOHOO! i'm so happy I get to meet everyone! But there's still a couple I didn't get to meet due to their work schedule. but I'm more than thankful already :)))))

4. 20th Friendship anniversary with Bestie!

it's the 20th year since we knew each other (back in prep sch when were 6 yrs old!) so we decided to set a date to commemorate this special event in our lives and 20.10.2010 is the most apt! (lots of couples get married this day too :P)

so we had a sleepover at bestie's place, and transformed to 16 years old students the next day and went out to Orchard like some students playing truant! HAH! oops :P nobody caught us but we did get occasional stares from 'fellow students' but who cares! :P

We had brunch at Wild Honey (most ex brunch ever! but nice :P) and went to take silly photos at Kinokuniya (acting studious) and met our sec school chinese teacher! What are the odds to find someone from St. Nicks that day? Heh :P

and I suggested to take neoprints too! We can't even remember where to find those machines and had to call up for help! Turns out the ones at Heeren were closed and we managed to find it at Cineleisure for $12! Geez! But we had great fun!! it was so stressful trying to decorate our neoprints within the set time but it was really hilarious! :P

ta-daaa~~ our souvenir for the day :P

5. stuffed myself silly!!

I still salivate when i see the pictures of these food!!

From top left: Truffle Fries from PS Cafe @ Palais Renaissance, Coffee @Papa Palheta, (3 pics from top row) Tonkotsu ramen & side dishes from Ippudo @ Mandarin Gallery, Mixed berries pancakes @ Food For Thought Queen St, Mao Shan Wang ice cream @ Udders Bt Timah, Cheese steak sliders @ Over Easy One Fullerton

From bottom left: Tunisian breakfast @ Wild Honey, Sweet desserts @ Honeymoon Dessert 313 Somerset, Mao Shan Wang durian @ random stall at Clementi and Baked eggs @ Hatched Evans Lodge

of course, there are the normal hawker food I missed so much such as chwee kway, chee cheong fun, prata, mee chiang kueh, goreng pisang, tau huey, vegeterian beehoon and many more!!!

6. my furry friends!

I missed Kenji so much!! boy has he grown!!! Still one big cuddly doggie and all I had to do was to rub his tummy and he likes me already! :P Pls don't forget me!!!

I met up with Sin's new puppy Colby too, a very handsome 5 month old schnauzer. He was very friendly and playful but is still learning how to listen to commands.

I'm still wondering when I had curbed my fears of dogs. I still remember being chased after by a maltese when I was in primary school and didn't dare to go near to dogs.

I guess I'm a dog lover now! Heh :P can't wait to have our own too :P

Oh did u know there's a new breed called Groodles? Golden retriever crossed with Poodle! Ahh love it already!! :P

7. baby of the year - Le Xi!

Can i just say she's the most adorable baby ever!!! (ok my future kids will be the CUTEST :P hahaha!)

I'm so proud of Hoi for delivering B in 1hour and really inspired me to be a great mum next time. She breastfeeds her up to 6 times a day, bathe her, cuddles her, changes her diapers and did this with very little help.

and i'm sure she's very proud of herself too, for carrying B in her womb for 10months and finally holding a little baby in her arms. I can really feel all the bliss and happiness as a new mum. Jiayou hoi!!! muacks!

I'm really thankful for this trip home which God made it possible in every way: promo SQ airtix, all the love from family and friends, spending below budget even thought I bought 15 pieces of clothing (!!) and being able to sleep for almost 4 hours because there were empty seats beside me. Praise God! :)))))))

now it's less than 2 months to end of 2010 and Christmas, my favourite holiday :))))

Good luck everyone and let's make the remaining 2010 a fantastic one!

Cheers! ;)

perfect 10 :))))

2010-10-11T15:24:00.001+08:00

i have a sister-in-law!!! :))))))

Gor and Pam joined the rest of the 829 couples in Singapore to register their marriage on 10 October 2010.

I love to see the blissful grin on my brother's face and i'm very happy that he's found someone so endearing as my sis-in-law. Can't wait for their wedding reception next June :)))

Here's some pictures taken during the day (was distracted with Kenji *hehe*)

nice touch ;)

gorgeous bride! :)
(am so fat! :S)

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Seow
*muacks*
:))))))))))))))

I was reminded of our ROM & wedding day some 9 months ago and I can really feel the love in my brother and sis-in-law. YAY!!! so happy for them :)))))))

home is where the heart is :))))))

2010-10-09T10:42:00.003+08:00

i'm HOME :))))))

It was a surprise meant for my family and boy were they stoked to know I'm home :)

I had to suppress all urge to tell them about my homecoming trip whenever I Skype with them each week but I kept it a tight lipped secret, except for all my close friends who knew about my trip.

I was literally grinning from ear to ear when the plane made a landing and i could see luscious greens and vast landscape, the coast was lined with HDB flats (ahh HDB flats :P).

I smiled when the flight attendant made the announcement "To all Singaporeans and residents, a warm welcome home :)))" one of the many reasons why I love travelling home with SQ :)

Had to made some changes as mum got off work early and was going for dinner with my aunt so I called her at the airport. She was very surprised and thought it was a prank call and i could hear her all her excitement of having her precious daughter home. She had to call me again on my mobile to confirm. HAH my mum is too cute.

I took a cab home, a comfortable 10minutes ride to the familiar Punggol field. I rang the door bell and shouted "SURPRISE" to my daddy and he was pleasantly surprised too! :) What a success!!

I concussed early last night and overheard my Gor coming home and the first thing was "Where's Meimei?" and i sneaked a peek through my tired lids and saw him coming into mum's bedroom to confirm I was indeed home. HEH :)

The feeling of being home is really good. I really thank God for such smooth journey home and bringing me back to people whom I love dearly. :))))))

Exciting day tomorrow as we welcome a new member into our family, my sister-in-law!

I love being home :)))

for andrea :)))))

2010-09-27T11:30:00.002+08:00

via Quote Book:

Good luck dear for the upcoming triathlon! :)
You can DO IT!!!

相遇，不是用来生气的

2010-09-24T06:48:00.001+08:00

有一天，我坐在回家的公车上，乘客很多。一对上班族男女恰巧站在我身边，吸引了我的目光。

　　可能因为人多，男孩将手臂围挡在女孩的腰上，怕后面的人挤到了她，并轻声地问“累不累？待会想吃些什么？”

　　只见女孩不耐烦地回答：“我已经够烦了，吃什么都还不先决定好，每次都要问我。”

　　男孩一脸无辜的低下头，而后说了一段令我印象深刻的话：“让你决定是因为希望能够陪你吃你喜欢的东西，然后看着你拥有满足的笑容，把今天工作中的不愉快暂时忘掉。你工作上所受的委屈我没法帮你，我所能做的也只有这样。”

　　女孩听了后，满怀愧疚地说声对不起。男孩这才似乎重燃信心般说：“没关系，和你相遇不是用来生气的，只要你开心就好。”而后亲吻了女孩头发。

　　公车到站，男孩牵着女孩的手下了车，汽车开动，我再回头看看这对情侣，男孩依旧小心翼翼地保护着女孩。

　　说得多好呀，“和你相遇，不是用来生气的。”两个人相恋，多么来之不易的缘分，何苦要用生气来抹杀所有的幸福。即使当爱情面临小小的险阻，我们也要心平气和地的对待对方，然后用爱和勇敢去化解，而不是用生气的方式来鲁莽对待。

　　机息心清，月到风来。有缘千里来相会，无缘对面不相逢。烟雨红尘，茫茫人海，人与人之间，因缘际会，相牵相知。一个缘字，便把远在天涯海角的两个人，紧紧地连接在了一起，从此，绵绵情思，沉沉爱意。人与人在世间的相遇、相恋已是不易，将此看作一场美丽的缘分，用真心来对待，共同叙写一段爱的乐章。

　　有一段时间，我经常在半夜接到一个朋友的电话，他总是抱怨睡不着，因为有件事一直在纠缠着他：前段时间他认识了一个女朋友，他挺喜欢她，可是随着交往的深入，他心里反而不痛快了，原来他了解到女朋友在认识他之前，曾与另一个男孩子相处了六年。他本来考虑与她结婚，但越想越觉得生气，越想越感到委屈：她曾和别人有过六年啊……

　　我知道这家伙把自己的思维逼进了一个死角，他也明知道是个死角，可还是一鼓作气、不依不饶地要往里面撞，就像一只扑火的可怜飞蛾，拼了命要在灯光那儿折腾。他知道这是自我折磨，但是他控制不了自己。他每天被这样的念头纠缠，不发疯才怪。

　　而我能做的就只有倾听，并引导他往积极的一面去想，但要摆脱这种痛苦，还得取决于他自己的意识。

　　曾看了一本好书，书名叫《生命意味着什么》，是杰出的心理学家阿尔弗雷德•阿德勒所写。他说，我们的烦恼和痛苦都不是因为事情本身，而是因为我们加在这些事情上面的观念。他随后引用了弥尔顿《失乐园》中的一句名言：“意识本身可以把地狱造成天堂，也能把天堂折腾成地狱。”

　　的确如此，那个深夜打电话给我的朋友，就是在自己意识的作怪之下，用狭隘的思想把美丽的相遇变成了地狱。本来，他找到了一个自己非常喜欢的女朋友，应该很快乐才对，他本该感谢命运给他的恩赐，但他偏不这样想，而是念念不忘她的过去。这无异于给自己的命运打了一个死结。如果他不解脱开来，他永远得不到幸福。

　　生命本是一场奇异的旅行，遇见谁都是一个美丽的意外，应该珍惜着旅途上每一个与我们同行的有缘人，因为，那是可以让漂泊的心驻足的地方。

　　古人云：“缘，源自圆，乃命中注定，即缘分。”在亿万年的时光长河中相逢于今生今世，在众生芸芸的红尘人海中际会于此地此处，无论男女老幼，无论贫富美丑，尘缘弥足珍贵，际会足堪珍惜。

　　台湾作家林清玄也曾说：“有愿才会有缘，如果无愿，即使有缘的人也会擦身错过。缘是天意，份在人为”。无论缘深缘浅，缘长缘短，得到即是造化。人生苦短，缘来不易，我们都应该好好珍惜，并应用宽容与豁达去对待生命的每一个人，每一件事。

　　有一位禅师就深知其中道理。他非常喜爱兰花，在平日弘法讲经之余，花费了许多的时间栽种兰花。

　　有一天，他要外去云游一段时间，临行前交代弟子要好好照顾寺里的兰花。

　　在这段期间，弟子们都很细心照顾着兰花，但有一天在浇水时却不小心将兰花架碰倒了，所有的兰花盆都跌碎了，兰花洒了满地。弟子们都因此非常恐慌，打算等师父回来后，向师傅赔罪领罚。

　　禅师回来后，闻知此事，便召集弟子们，不但没有责怪，反而说道：“我种兰花，一是希望用来供佛，二也是为了美化寺庙环境，不是为了生气而种兰花的。”

　　禅师之所以看得开，是因为他虽然喜欢兰花，但心中却无兰花这个碍。因此，兰花的得失，并不影响他心中的喜怒。况且，已然这样，生气也没用，何必还要用生气乱了心情，怀了情绪。

　　在日常生活中，我们也许就是太在意对方，太在意情感得失，我们害怕失去，而产生情绪高低起伏。仔细想想，生气真的能解决问题吗？还是只能让矛盾更尖锐，更伤害彼此的感情？不如放开心胸，看花开花落。

　　在和亲爱的人生气之际，我们如能多想想“我不是为了生气而和你相遇的，而是为了一场美丽的相约”，那么就能为我们烦恼的心情辟出另一番安详。当自己快抓不住情绪时，想想这句话，或许会让幸福中多增加一些甜蜜的因子吧！

a weekend of love

2010-09-21T08:51:00.004+08:00

it was a weekend filled with so much love: love for the wedding couple (Paul and Paula), love for a newborn (Charlee) and love for a fellow brother (Dougie's birthday)!! I thank God for showing me just how much love we have and will continue to have for everyone around us and His loving kindness. :)))))

Shall let the pictures do the talking:

18 Sept 2010
Paul & Paula's wedding
Flaxton Gardens, Maleny Sunshine Coast

it's our first wedding in Brisbane and we were most honoured to be invited
to grace this big day of the couple and the chance to dress up! :P
Everyone looked so beautiful that day and praise God for the weather!

Charlee Wong
Born 17 Sep 2010
Weighing at a healthy 3.68kg!
Congrats to Maria and Henry!!

18 Sep 2010
Dougie's 25th birthday
The brudders joined us for a feast!

now it's back to the books *bah!*

such is life....

2010-09-13T17:59:00.002+08:00

we set out to mount cotton on a beautiful Saturday morning to Sirromet Winery and i totally heart the lush greenery and vast land that greeted us.

the weather wasn't too hot, with occasional coastal breeze from the coast. We went around taking photos, chilling out with a nice hot flat white and went on an interesting winery tour and wine tasting.

i think the thing I'll miss most when I go back SG for good are these trips to wineries, hinterlands and beautiful mountains. You can't find anything like these in SG and I will appreciate the beautiful nature that I'm surrounded with for now :)))))

On another note, L&R brought us to this chinese restaurant that served such good Hainanese chicken rice that I almost shed a tear!! It reminded me so much of home and while we had a good chat with the chef (who used to worked at Goodwood Park hotel and making those durian puffs *swoons*), I secretly made a pact to come back frequently to savour other home-cooked goodies...

the weekend ended off with an entertaining movie, Sorceror's Apprentice and we had a bit of laugh with the geeky apprentice and not forgetting Nicholas Cage (who seems to be doing alot of teenage movies) and his unkempt frock. :P

Such is life.....really enjoy these kind of weekends spent with friends :)

隆重介绍.....

2010-09-09T19:02:00.003+08:00

黄乐曦！

I don't know why i'm so excited since I'm not the mum or dad but I do feel very happy for both Hoi and Pei Tong coz I've seen how Hoi from the time she knew her pregnancy, the times in Melbourne with her belly and until now, finally B is born (still not used to calling her name :P), it's such an amazing journey of love :)))))

Hoi's delivery was the fastest I've ever heard! She emailed us (via iPhone) at around 12+pm Singapore time to let us know it will be today as her gynae advised her to admit to hospital to wait. so the rest of us were really excited (ok think it's only me) coz B will be arriving any minute!

And believe it or not, 2 hours later Hoi delivered! WOW! And I'm so proud that she endured all the labour pains during delivery :)))) I'm very impressed!!

Congratulations to Hoi and Pei Tong for the arrival of their baby girl! I'm really happy for your new family!! :P

:'(

2010-09-02T19:43:00.001+08:00

Rachel's Birthday Video from Kristian Anderson on Vimeo.

this make me tear
I always loved the scene in Love Actually
where the guy told Kiera Knightley that
he always had loved her
even though she married his best friend

Love the background music too...

haha!

2010-09-02T11:21:00.002+08:00

YES! this is me.

I miss my long hair...
If only i don't have face as big and round as a doughnut! :/

shopping is a girl's best friend

2010-08-29T14:22:00.003+08:00

it was a singaporean outing yesterday to Harbortown and boy did we have great fun!! haha :D

I must say shopping is really a girl's thing: we love to browse, touch and feel before we make the purchase whereas Eug just went in, try and buy. All in 5min! haha :P but thanks to the dearest hubby to drive us there patiently waiting for us for almost 6 hours to satisfy our retail therapy :P

Here are my buys:

Top L-R:
Keds wedges (this is super comfy!)
Tops and dress from Temt (one for mum and one for SIL)
my Novo flats for the gladiator look

my leather bag (in my favourite green!) from fossil!
love the smell of leather and the weaving design
Looks expensive but it's still too painful on the wallet :P

Love them all!!!

smile and others will smile at you :))))

2010-08-24T19:22:00.004+08:00

it's been a tough week so far... new assignments, new colleague to train and no one is around in my team! they're either working offsite or on leave and I'm left alone to hold the fort :/

It was not easy handling so many tasks at one time but I let myself do things one at a time and I know eventually it will be done.

And i find myself smiling while I do my work, despite the load and tight deadlines because I feel good doing them. It's a good opportunity for me to work along with the partner (at the back of my mind i know it's good for him to see my performance) and I know i just have to do what I usually do.

and I believe having a positive attitude to new challenges will only make things easier and much more bearable.

so smile even when it seems tough and it will get you through every single task! :)))))))))))))

btw, i love this pic:

how true...

i want a Valentino dress

2010-08-21T19:27:00.002+08:00

we finally caught the much-awaited Valentino haute couture exhibition at GoMA today and I was blown away by the many intricate designs hand-made by Valentino's team of seamstress!

My favourite was this piece worn by Cate Blanchett to the Oscars where she won Best Supporting Female in the Aviator. I would've worn this for my wedding if i can afford it!

another statement piece that I like is this pink gown:

The flow and layering just spell so much femininity and class.... Ahh I would LOVE to try it on!!

I thought the collection really showed how talented Valentino was and how he spearheaded the Paris fashion and shaped today's industry.

It would've been better if there were actual models parading in those wonderful pieces at the exhibition! One day, I shall attend the Milan fashion show... :P

He is my strength

2010-08-14T17:16:00.005+08:00

it has been a very long week.

work has been long and physically demanding but i relish with the satisfaction that I made it through the week with His strength.

thinking back, i regret not studying as diligently and doing my project earlier. Instead i left it to the week prior to do which was also the week I'm the busiest in recent months.

But i made it through :)))))

Sometimes i can't help but be amazed at how much mental strength I can garner from deep within. I may be exhausted, physically and mentally, but there's always the tiny bit of remnant left in me that bounces me back. Just like how Super Mario gets an extra life each time it gets eaten up by poisonous flowers. hehe :P

i'm most thankful to hubby's support this week: he cooked all my meals and gave me big squishy hugs to welcome me home. it really gave me the much needed encouragement to wake up early each morning and go to work. love you hubs! :*)

and of course there are good things to be happy about: the long chats hubby and I had while driving down the coast, good chat with workmate on our trips to client's place, knowing a dear gf is expecting (!!), seeing happy family shots of hoi (you can feel so much love in the family!), chatting with dear gfs on msn and catching up with my 'daughter' in the city over a cup of bubble tea.

Another week ahead but I know I have Him who gives me strength :)))))

i love my husband :)))))

2010-08-12T17:53:00.000+08:00

........

2010-08-12T17:48:00.000+08:00

i'm exhausted beyond words...

gdnite world.

cooking therapy

2010-08-01T18:12:00.002+08:00

as i was feeling abit homesick yesterday, i decided to cook and bake something that reminds me of home (+ trying out a new recipe for a fundraiser which i'm organising in office)

Had a lazy Sunday with Hubby (we missed church :/) and went for haircut and my facial session. Turns out the salon was closed and we spent 1.5hours in the supermarket and bubble tea shop before heading to my beautician's house.

we came back at 4pm and I started prepping up for dinner - Claypot Chicken Rice sans Claypot *LOL*

I wanted to get a claypot to make claypot chicken rice or claypot mixed vege (lo han zhai) but thought it'll be rather under-utilised anyway so we gave up the idea.

Prep the chicken, chopped garlic & ginger with extra ingredients such as lup cheong and shiitake mushroom and it was ready to go :) Oh i boiled corn and carrot soup too! Ahhh i love home-boiled soups, makes me feel so comfy on a Sunday night and makes me feel like home (reminds me of my mum whenever she boils soups on Sunday *aww*)

Mine was cooked in the rice cooker *haha!*
but taste as good :P

Then i began prepping for my dessert: Macademia Fudge Slice.

It's been ages since I last baked - i think Eug was the one who baked previously with his trials of Pandan Chiffon cake and when CA started, i just stopped altogether. Too much to do in such little time, weekends are so precious *nods vigorously*

So i got Eug to mixed some of the ingredients for me while i beat the egg, sugar and fold in the flour. Baked the base and went to the macadamia topping. Thankfully I decided to half the portion of roughly chopped macadamia because to be honest, I was going abit berserk of chopping all the nuts up! haha :P

Mixed in with 200g of melted butter and brown sugar + 2tbsp of golden syrup, I got a beautiful caramel topping to go onto the base to bake a further 12min.

and the end result is:

ok this isn't exactly my one coz i forgot to take photos :P

The slice was really good - didn't expect the base to be so crumbly but we agreed the butter in the caramel could be reduced coz it was so oily when i cut through and i think i still can smell butter in the kitchen! :S

So yes, i felt better after cooking up a storm for 4hours straight. I guess cooking is really therapeutic for me :)))))) (but it doesn't go easy on that waistline i'm desperately trying to lose!)

I hope your Sunday was good.

movie junkie july

2010-07-24T18:22:00.002+08:00

because nightlife over here is pretty much restricted to rowdy pubs which we don't fancy, we've spent every Saturday night in july catching movies!

even jiesi commented that catching movies seems to be the favourite past time for couples! well if we in SG i'm pretty sure there'll be more skating along ECP and shopping for me! Oohhh how i miss....

Let's not digress shall we? Of the 4 movies/blockbusters (i'd say) we've watched, we have decided on our favourite film and blah-wasting-our-time-yawns-movie.

Here they are:

1. Inception

This was the one we just caught but we both agreed that this IS THE BEST film we've watched for so long.

the whole plot was original and refreshing, a standout from blockbusters that are really commercial and CGI-fied.

Alot of our friends caught in SG and highly recommended it - obviously I've Google-d and Facebook-ed to see almost one-sided good reviews. Some critics have said it was "all but a dream". I was concerned it maybe like Shutter Island (we watched it mid-week at home and got me rather confused) given it's Leo DiCap again, but I wasn't disappointed.

The movie kept me wanting to know more as it progressed and within each layer of dream lies something that is exciting and thrilling, something like 4 mini movies squeezed into one but they were all intricately woven together to form a masterpiece.

to be honest i watched it largely because of Leo and Ellen Page (i heart her!). The former has shown such maturity in his acting since Titanic and Romeo & Juliet (my all-time favourite teen romance flick - Twilight? Nah!) and Ellen Page - who doesn't like her after Juno and Whip It?

Although I was trying hard to figure out what Ken Watanabe was saying most of the time, I loved the scenes where Ellen's character, Ariadne was showcasing her creativity with multi-dimensional roads, mirror-turned long walkways in Paris and of course, her digging deep into Leo's character, Cobb's real reason behind the Inception.

Oh not forgeting Cillian Murphy - I always remembered him as that scary poison guy in The Dark Knight (think he acted some eery villain in another thriller) but in the movie, he's actually very charming :P

The other lead female character was Mal, Cobb's ex-wife played by Marion Cotillard (she was gorgeous in that evening gown in the hotel room scene). Her looks with the knife, toying with the idea of killing herself to end her 'dream' and how she cries, her mascara will run and show her huge eyebags -_- She does instill some chill to a certain point because she was, let's just say, rather insane.

Overall: i'd give 5/5 rating for this film. Go watch it if u haven't!

2. Knight & Day

I miss Tom Cruise & Cameron Diaz!! Tom Cruise has always been great to watch with his Mission Impossible franchise & Minority Report and Cameron in Charlie's Angels. Just when I thought i'll only be able to read about them in gossip magazines, they collaborated in this movie!

It's highly entertaining to be honest, with the usual stunts, love interest between both of them and some quirky Cameron moments (especially the last climax when she was injected with 'happy' drugs and kept asking if Tom Cruise loved her! HAHA!)

The movie leaves you feeling good - it hits the buttons for entertainment, laughter, action-packed sequences and romance.

One down-side was both Tom and Cameron have really aged! :P Could really see her crow's feet whenever she smiles.

Oooh! my favourite line from Tom was when he explains she has to stick to him to be safe, he said "With me (points higher to show safety level), without me (points lower to show dangerous) x3" HAHAHAHA! I kept using that on Eug it was so funny :P

Rating: 4/5 - entertaining

4. Karate Kid

This was the first movie we caught this month and it left me applauding like crazy at the climax of the movie! HAHA i think the rest of the audience started applauding as well when the Karate Kid beat the snobbish china boy in the kungfu tournament! :D

ok so we watched it because we both grew up with the original Karate Kid and Mr Miyagi, only now the role is reprised by a black kid relocating to China to learn Kungfu instead!

Nonetheless, it was entertaining and Jaden Smith is so cute!! HAHA Although the love/kiss scene with his china schoolmate was abit urmms (he was only 12!) but the fighting scenes at the end was AWESOME! oh not forgetting when he was learning kungfu from Jackie Chan (man oh man he's SO OLD in the movie).

Will Smith and his wife really brought up the kid well - i'm sure he'll follow in his father's footsteps when he grows older :D

Rating: 4/5 - Especially when he kicked the china boy's arse! :D

4. Twilight Saga - Eclipse

SERIOUSLY, we watched it just because we've caught the first 2 and somehow it must continue with the next (Breaking Dawn - it's suppose to be the BEST) one as well.

To be honest, it's wayyy better than the 2nd one but still, i guess with so much teen hype over here in Aussie, I'm kinda jaded or feared going to the movies, because where's there's a scene of lovey-dovey kiss/hug/stare between Edward Cullen and Bella or Bella with Jacob, there'll by quiet squeals which just sends goose pimples down my spine! -_-"

ok i must admit, i did went gaga over Edward in the first movie, which eventually saw me reading ALL of the 4 original novels (the novels are WAYYY better than the movie) but it sort of died down, especially when EVERYONE in Aussie is talking/reading/chatting/twitting/FB about it - like hello? Give me some air please???

So I think you should know the rating I'd give: 2/5 - only watch it if you got time to kill and when all other great movies have sold out. Yes it's that BAD. HAH!

So that sums up our movie junkie july!!! I love watching movies because for $8.50, I get such sensory treats to the eyes, ears and mind. and i love Wikipedia all the movie facts and "10 things you must know about the movie" so that i can understand what went behind the scenes. :P

So what's next? Seems like Salt by Angelina Jolie is pretty interesting (although i think it'd be something like Wanted) and Eat Pray Love by Julia Roberts (I heart her!!).

YAY to more movies coming ahead :P

this beautiful thing

2010-07-18T14:07:00.002+08:00

almost became MINE yesterday.

My trusty old PC breathed its last on Thurs night after an apparent electric shock. Hubby managed to revive it briefly only to find a warning for the OS to be rendered unstable.

So we went to the mall to check out the Apple store and i was this CLOSE on whipping out my credit card and pay for it there and then. (Apparently any customer who purchases any Apple product will be applauded! We witnessed an embarrassing guy who got a iPod walking out the store with everyone cheering. HAH)

But we decided to walk away and give it a serious thought - after all it's my FIRST laptop i'm buying from my own money and it's not something that you will just walk in and pay after 5min of browsing.

And so the trusty old PC seemed to be jealous that I'm about to abandon him and gave his all to come back to life! *touch*

So yes, i'm still a PC user :P

But i will own a Mac some day. Oh yeahhhh :P

happy birthday daddy!

2010-07-09T06:25:00.000+08:00

爸爸
谢谢你给了我
大鼻子和大脚板

谢谢你传授了我
对电脑和美术的热爱

谢谢你给了我
健康快乐的成长过程

现在到我给你
充实快乐的黄金岁月！

祝你天天知足
生日快乐！！

~美鼠~

that is why

2010-07-04T13:29:00.003+08:00

this just sums up everything!!
Whenever I prayed for strength, wisdom, courage and patience,
everything just seemed harder than before
but when i eventually got over it
i realised God had His reasons for making it more difficult
because in those challenges and difficulties
will we then be able to rise up in faith and perseverance
and be someone better that He wants us to become.

that is why
He is our Lord
because He only wants the best for us

And yes I am stronger
each and ever day because
He reigns in me

:))))))))))))))

happy day!

2010-07-01T20:49:00.003+08:00

today is 1st July and a brand new start of the year for me! (our financial year is 30 June).

It marks the start of a brand new page for me to work hard and continue to thank God for His abundance and placing faith in every situation believing that He will always guide me there and having the comfort to know that He is always there for me :))))))

I am thankful for today (yes it all happened today just when i've told myself today shall be a brand new day for me, i think He heard it too :) because i changed a new counsellor at work (spared of all the awkwardness of switching and office politics) and i found out that i can resume my living away from home allowance and pay less tax!! YAY!

I am so thankful that despite the patchy half year that has gone past, i still have the Lord to rejoice and be thankful. AMEN!

~The courage comes from the faith and perseverance knowing that at the end of it all, He is there to catch you whenever you fall~

my precioussss

2010-06-28T19:30:00.001+08:00

the boy smiles even in his sleep
how can you not
Awwwww~~~

Kenji I miss you loads!!!

my DSLR went to Sydney!

2010-06-27T19:16:00.003+08:00

This is a long overdue post of our Sydney trip 2 weeks ago. I've been wanting to take up photography and Hubs kindly taught me with his old Olympus e500 DSLR and these are some of my favourite shots!

Didn't take much though because most of the time was spent eating and shopping! We visited Luna Park on the day of our arrival and caught the most beautiful sights of Sydney and colourful amusement park!

Enjoy~~

Hubs has blue moustache!

Quaint little Irish cafe that served up lovely scones and tea!

We had this exact same picture when we went to Syd last year.
That was before we were married :)

Love the big mouth that spells out FUN!

and my FAVOURITE shot!!!
Just love those colourful carriages on the ferris wheel
Brings such happy vibes whenever i see this!

lazy sunday arvo

2010-06-27T15:13:00.002+08:00

Ahhh how true..

It's a lazy sunday today: Sunday church service, quick pizza lunch at UQ with Hubs and Cheryl, ASOS-surfing at Cheryl's while waiting to pick up Hubs from UQ, watched some tv, more blog-surfing and now studying (because there's nothing to do till dinner time :/)

I like a 'nothing' weekend - no plans to do anything big, just chilling out and relaxing, enjoying the blessed rest (and really resting).

It's been a tough week at work but I'm glad I ended it with a restful weekend, de-clutter my mind and all ready for another week ahead.

Like the quote above, I'm thankful for what I have and I'm glad I've overcome the disappointment. I'm feeling at peace and happy :)))) Happy with the little things I already have and will have in the future.

I shall find something to be happy about every day :)

I hope your weekend was as good as mine :)

I am loved :)

2010-06-24T18:57:00.002+08:00

AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!
Love these that Ser took
Apparently they're bible verses on postcards
that are sold at the Drom Store at K Ki @ Ann Siang

I want to visit Ann Siang Hill and eat all the nice food
and see all the nice things!!

:)(

2010-06-23T20:34:00.003+08:00

I don't know what I'm feeling now because I feel rather deflated and disappointed, but on the other hand, I should be thankful for the unexpected bonus is going to come in next month.

I was at a downhil this morning when i saw that i wasn't on the promotion list (somehow I knew i won't get it because there were no pre-talks with the partners about a pending promotion but yet, somewhere in my heart i wished for a miracle). I can't say I'm not disappointed. That's a lie.

The truth is I wanted it so badly but yet i didn't want to hold such high expectations only to be crushed when served the bad news. So i'm stuck in the middle. I can't find the tears to cry but I can't find the strength to trudge on no matter how many times I tell myself "Try harder next time"

The fact is I've been trying hard since Day 1 - yes, I realised it really takes alot to 'up-sell' yourself to gain recognition. And slowly I'm building it up and like the Aussies who love to tell you - "You're just not good enough" and all the air you've built up inside just get let out in that instant.

On the 'small' upside - I got news that in our annual salary review, i got a small increment and an additional bonus (note: this is very seldom as it's only given to those who had an 'exceed expectations' rating for performance review).

So I'm confused - all the boxes have been ticked for the criteria to get promoted but I'm just not there yet.

It's like running a marathon and no matter how hard you convince yourself and your legs that the ending is near, it's just not there yet. Another 30km, 20km? I don't know.

Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate the exposure I get in my job and working with some very talented people. But I feel 'old' and jaded already. I want to make full use of my purpose to work hard for God and for myself.

I know I must trust in Him in all things. Something better is definitely going to be coming my way (in fact it already did in my increment and bonus) and He definitely has better plans for me, I'm just not looking far enough that's all.

I believe I can do it. YES I must believe so.

For now, just let me indulge in a little self-pity and let me climb onto my bed and coax myself to sleep.

It will be a better day tomorrow.

Thanks for reading.

:'(

2010-06-20T13:08:00.002+08:00

Days with my Father
by Philip Toledano

It is so sweet and sad that I cried buckets :'(

I miss my dad...

happy father's day!

2010-06-20T12:15:00.001+08:00

Because my dad is very savvy in Photoshop
I decided to make one for him for Father's Day too!
(of course not as nice as his! :P)

父亲节快乐!
我爱你!

happy birthday chewie!

2010-06-19T13:53:00.004+08:00

Ok i have to post this photo first

because it's so hilarious!! HAHA
This was taken while we were on our way
to Philip Island and Miss Chew happily fell
asleep so soundly that she didn't realise
i was taking a photo of her! HAH!

Anyway, here's a better picture of us :)

Happy Birthday to my 'daughter' (as she calls me her 老娘)
(more of that story in another time :P)

Thanks for being so funny that I laughed till i cry sometimes
and always being around to spread the joy and laughter!

I'm glad you had fun in Sydney (and splurging like mad)
coz it's only this once that you turn 24!!
next year when you're 25, i think your status will change already!
*hint hint* HAHAHA :D

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHEWIE!!
Love ya loads!
:*))))))

i hate winter

2010-06-17T08:04:00.002+08:00

because i hate the cold outdoors and
warm indoors that will make me catch
a cold so easily like how the toad
catches the flies for dinner :((((

I guess i really need to exercise more regularly
to build up my immune system because i hate being sick
and feeling so needy :(

Good thing i managed to take my meds and doused
the dry cracked throat with lots of H2O and honey lemon
and now i need SLEEP!!!
Lots of them!

Here's something to share what I think
it's the ART OF PROCRASTINATION:

Good night~~

happy birthday bestie!

2010-06-16T20:04:00.002+08:00

To my bestie of 20 years (yes!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!

You know me longer than my husband
and almost as long as my parents
You know my thoughts and
all my strengths and weaknesses

as we celebrate this special day
and mark the 20th year of our
sterling friendship together

i wish for all the best to come into your life
a fulfilling year ahead
with abundant blessings!!

Love ya loads!!!!
*muacks*

lunchtime thoughts 4

2010-06-07T11:11:00.000+08:00

oops sorry i didn't keep to my word and blog everyday during lunch :P

Here's something to start off your Monday :)

Lunch: mexican winglets with apple prawn salad by Hubby *bliss* :))))))

“Everyone of us is losing something precious to us. Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back again. That’s part of what it means to be alive. But inside our heads—at least that’s where I imagine it—there’s a little room where we store those memories. A room like the stacks in this library. And to understand the workings of our own heart we have to keep on making new reference cards. We have to dust things off every once in a while, let in fresh air, change the water in the flower vases. In other words, you’ll live forever in your own little private library.”

— Haruki Murakami

I love the song by Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind"
Makes me want to go NYC
NOW.

take me to somewhere and surprise me

Did I tell you my current faves are
babies and doggies?
I miss Kenji :/

jam doughnuts with cinnamon sugar

2010-06-06T15:11:00.002+08:00

Finally tried one of the Masterchef recipe: Jam doughnuts with cinnamon sugar!

Original recipe used lavendar flowers to infuse the caster sugar but i couldnt' find any in the supermarkets. But it still taste as good!

Was a messy and tedious process because we didn't have deep fryer so Hubby had to monitor the oil temperature constantly so it'll be nice and golden brown.

Next, i had to pipe jam into the doughnuts and just when I'm halfway through, my piping bag gave way and out came my jam :( thankfully Hubby managed to improvise and save the day!

Yay for my doughnuts!! They're yummylicious (but super oily and sweet!! :P)

Recipe can be found here.

P/S: I used 3.5 cups of plain flour and 0.5 cups of self-raising flour and proofed the dough mixture for 1.5hours so that it's fluffy! :D

I love baking!!! :P

sunday

2010-06-06T13:00:00.002+08:00

some people say it's the end of the week, but some say it's the start of the week, I say is the day we rest and worship Him :)

I love singing and swaying to the worship songs because sometimes I really feel the Holy Spirit near me: the goose pimples, the tears of joy and the deep thoughts when I'm immersed in the music.

Music is the expression of our love for Jesus and I thank Him for that :)

Been a not-too-busy week and yes, challenging mentally because I have to deal with some delicate HR issues but thank God it came out ok (i'd like to always think of the worst :/)

i think because work takes up 70% of everyone's lives, it's the area where we have most issues/concerns of. But i like to constantly remind myself that I'm just working out God's plans for me, it doesn't matter what the results are because I already know God will only reserve the best for me :)

Had my regular Sundays calls with my parents and I miss them :( My mum always say i'm the only one she can really chat to so naturally although we have been sms-ing almost everyday, we can still speak for at least an hour.

my mum sounds tired from work; the constant struggle of work-life balance and money. i guess everyone is like this, it's pretty hard to work for passion when money is needed for everything (food, house, clothes and transport).

But i want her to know that beneath it all, what matters most is that you're HAPPY. How many years have we spent slogging hard but we have not been happy? I guess i have to learn that too myself because I've been reminded constantly that money is needed for everything.

and that brings me to tithe. Christians tithe 10% of their income for the House of the Lord, whilst not many people are able to do that because they think that that's too much and they need it for other expenses, we fail to put our FAITH first before ourselves.

Pastors have always preached that we're stocking up for home in heaven, if you sow sparingly, you'll reap sparingly. Do you regret when you're only staying a little hut in heaven because you've not been able to part with earthly treasures? Sometimes I do. I reflect how i have to justify if i have enough for lunch the next day BEFORE i think of tithe.

this month, i shall put my FAITH first and tithe the 10% of my monthly income and just trust in Him to provide. For if we do not make the attempt to do so, we'll never know if things will turn out just like what He has promised.

and that's not all, putting Him first in all things else and letting Him take care of everything is something so simple, yet difficult for many of us. Sometimes it's so easy to believe in your partner, your friends or even a complete stranger but we forget to believe in Him first.

what a thoughtful day..... :)

lunchtime thoughts 3

2010-06-02T11:13:00.002+08:00

and so today I had indo-mee and broccoli. last night, Hubby made crumbed chicken with stuffed cheese! It was so good that we didn't have leftovers for lunch. :P

2nd day of June! time flies~~ Going to Sydney in 2 weeks' time (thank God for the long weekend again!), plans for hilarious Youtube night with cell mates this Fri, paintball and wagyu beef dinner planned for the next few weekends too! :D:D

thought I'd share this:

Funny!! :D

P/S: Have you ever had to speak to your superior (for the sake of it) even though you don't like him (just the vibe you know?). I did and was real awkward this morning but i had to because he's my counselling partner. :/ I dread it everytime we have catch up because sometimes i just don't understand him and seems like he is always rather condescending towards me. Hmm...

Have a good lunch everyone!

lunchtime thoughts 2

2010-06-01T11:26:00.002+08:00

It's the lunch time series again! Duno if i can keep it up but as long as i still have abit of lunch break i'll post nice pics!

Lunch today: Chicken with mushroom broth + Gay choy with beef strips

Lovely pictures to share:

i love the heart-shaped eggs! Lovely!

via heislove

AMEN!
via heislove

You're AWESOME!!!

So what did you have for lunch today?

Lunchtime thoughts 1

2010-05-31T11:13:00.003+08:00

I shall post an entry every lunchtime on food I had, pictures I've came across and interesting quotes :)

Lunch today: Home-made chicken curry with roti bread *yums*

Interesting pictures today:

this will be a series of ad to be featured
in NYC subways by Times Square Church.
what an awesome way of evangelising!

I miss my girls...
thanks hoi for sending me an email at 2.30am.
pleasant surprise to see it when I step in to work
on a Monday. :))))

Do not be too quick to judge or critique.
Forgive and forget.

For my husband. :)

So what are you having for lunch? Post it on my tagboard so we can share!! :P

P/S: Friend of mine recently took a photo of the famous delicious fish soup from Amoy Hawker Centre and tagged a bunch of us who are overseas. Man I miss that fish soup!!! And that photo generated a lot of interest amongst our group of friends. Weird! HAH

happy birthday Kenji boy!

2010-05-25T20:21:00.002+08:00

last day this year, the happiest thing that happened to our Wee family is the birth of this beautiful baby boy!

Kenji, cross breed of labrador and poodle = labradoodle, is the cutest, fluffiest, most intelligent and manja dog ever!!

He has brought such great joy to our family especially for Mommy and it's amazing how he can touch everyone's lives by being that cute furry 'moving carpet'.

He only eats raw chicken meat (advised by the breeder), he doesn't shed much fur nor bark and he's just as playful as other dogs but he's really friendly to everyone.

A definite crowd pleaser and centre of attention, Kenji never fail to make anyone go "oohh so cute!!" "awwww i wanna squeeze him" (ok maybe that's only me, oh and ser :P).

We all love this 'little brother' of ours (as Mommy endearingly calls) and we are so happy that he's turning 1 today!

Kenji we love you and miss you loads!!! We'll be back soon to play catch, paw-paw, bang! and many more with you!!! *MUACKS* (Kenji's signature wet kiss :P)

Love,
Your gorgor and sis-in-law :P

多苦都愿意

2010-05-23T14:54:00.003+08:00

i had the honour to have Eug to accompany me to KTV last night and he sang his one and only Mandarin song by Takeshi Kaneshiro!!!!

Haha this song is very apt because he first sang it to me when we first dated and now we're married, it's just like the last verse of the song "从男女朋友到老公老婆，你是否依然爱我，愿陪你度过青春，直到满脸皱纹..."

Awwww thanks hubby wee!! *muacks* :*)

exams is overrrr!!!

2010-05-18T18:49:00.002+08:00

Am so glad i finally did away with Audit exam!! :D

The paper was manageable although i did some silly mistakes (like not reading the required answer format and wrote half a page only to realise :S) but in all i managed to finished 15min ahead of time and checked through the answers.

Sometimes I wonder how I managed to work and study at the same time but then again, I will always pull through whenever I began to lament about the studies or doubt if I can go on.

I guess it's Him, who has always been there right from the very start.

From bringing me here, encouraging me and guiding me to walk the path He has planned for me.

Knowing that God has already walked the path you're going to walk on, gives you comfort that you're never alone.

:))))))))))

bless the man who can bake!

2010-05-16T16:15:00.002+08:00

You feel all the love
when your dearest husband
goes through a green mess
to bake for you the
pandan chiffon cake
which you dearly miss
from home!

It was a success!! i love the lightness
of the cake. really reminded me of the comforts of home.
Great for breakfast and snacks!

thanks hubby!!

Now does anyone wants to place an order??
:P:P:P

did I tell you i love melbourne??

2010-05-15T19:51:00.004+08:00

I bet i did for the 1001 time!! :P

I had a lovely break, from work, from busy but boring Brisbane to fly myself to Melbourne to catch up again with my dearest darlings hoi, lala and andrea!!!

6 days weren't enough to be honest coz I was being a diligent and did my studies (which was the main purpose of the visit anyway). thank goodness for the great comfort of hoi's apartment and company of my favourite girls, i managed to finish on the 2nd last day and had a great time shopping and hanging out with them! :)

it was an eventful trip nonetheless: went car shopping with the group for lala and yh (white yaris!), had awesome roast meat for lunch at Box Hill + marketing, visit to Sovereign Hills, great home-cooked dinners (hoi's a great and organised cook!), watching masterchef on tv together, playing real-time WWF w hoi and lala, mattress-mate with andrea, chilly morning jog around yarra river, Pancake Parlour delicious short-stack pancakes, 9-5 shopping spree at Spencer St and Doncaster, going all crazy over Pumpkin Patch and Mothercare (think i'm obsessed too!), awesome dinner at Barbarinos + Wong (B 黄!) and lovely lovely girly time and chats.

Ahhhh I miss Melbourne already!!! Booooo

Enjoy the pics! (not that many as I wasn't exactly a tourist! :P)

Breakfast @ Brunetti's before
our trip to Sovereign Hills, Ballarat

Sovereign Hills, Ballarat

City shopping and eat!

for you :))))

2010-05-15T12:31:00.001+08:00

so that you know how i feel
when i'm angry with you
sometimes.
:))))

love you!

awesome!

2010-05-11T16:22:00.001+08:00

now you know,
treat women with respect!
HAH!

we are His friends

2010-05-10T15:49:00.001+08:00

"We are called to understand the revelation of God. If we do not know who He is, we will be like the people in Jeremiah’s time. Jeremiah’s generation was on the brink of judgment because they did not know God. They had become deceived. They had experienced a time of prosperity and peace in their land, and had misinterpreted God’s mercy, thinking God was winking at their wrongdoings and blessing them anyway. God, in His great mercy and compassion, was actually giving them time to repent, rather than being indifferent to their sin.“

A similar deception marks many of our lives and our congregations today. The heart question in this generation is the same heart question as in the days of Jeremiah. What are you confident in? Are you confident in your gifting, your ability, your resources, your contacts, your affiliations and your finances? Or are you confident in your God? Are you confident that you understand what is going on in the heart of God for your generation?

“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth, for in these I delight,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

God is crying out, “Who understands Me? Who knows what is going on in My heart? Who feels what I feel as I prepare to send judgment? Who has a clue about the tenderness in My heart?”

We are called not only to know God, but to teach others to know God. Jeremiah prophesied that God would give His people shepherds who would feed them with the knowledge and understanding of Him (Jeremiah 3:15). I believe God is in the process of raising up friends who know Him deeply and intimately, who will walk with Him and carry His heart, and who will share His heart with others. I really believe that God is causing the body of Christ to transition from having a servant mentality to having a friendship mentality. Jesus said, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go out and bear fruit, and that your fruit shall remain” (John 15:15-16).

Knowing God is about more than having information. It is about who can and who cannot be trusted with the deep things of God’s heart. The Lord rocked my paradigm about four years ago concerning what it means to be a friend of God. I have always longed to be one of those intercessors who stayed up all day and all night in intercession, like David Brainerd. The problem was that I never could wake up in the middle of the night. A burglar could have come in and robbed the whole house, and I would have slept through it.

My big night eventually came, though. The Lord woke me up supernaturally at 3am. My eyes popped open and I heard the Lord say, “Get up. I want you to be with Me.” I wanted to get up, but I told Him I was tired and went back to sleep. Five minutes later, He woke me up again, and I responded the same way. Five minutes after that, the Lord spoke to me a third time and asked, “Can you not tarry with me on hour?”

I said, “Okay, I’ll get up! I’ll get up!” You can’t go back to sleep after hearing that verse (Mark 14:37).

I went into another room and waited. I was sure I was going to hear some supernatural revelation that would impact the nations. It seemed to me that if God had awakened me, the intercessor, He must have something important to say. There must be something big going on. I sat in that room for fifteen minutes, waiting with my notepad in hand, but nothing happened. I began to doze. In time I went back to sleep.

I woke up the next morning frustrated and angry. My big chance had come and I had messed up. I went to the International House of Prayer and spent the first hour in the prayer room being upset with myself. Eventually I decided to share what had happened with one of my good friends and asked if she had any advice.

After I told my friend what happened, she looked at me and said, “Don’t you know what He wanted from you, Corey? All He wanted was for you to be with Him. He didn’t need you to do anything or to pray anything. He wanted you to be with Him because He counts you as His friend.”

Those few phrases shook my whole concept of God and of how He sees me. I realized that I have value to Him and that I bring comfort to His heart. That realization is massive. And it’s a hammer blow to the spirit of religion that defines us by what we do, rather than by who we are. That encounter led me into the understanding that God wants me, not because of what I do for Him, but because of who I am to Him. He who inhabits eternity values us because we are His friends.

— Corey Russell, Pursuit of the Holy

via The Way He loves her and her smile

amen!

2010-05-08T20:05:00.001+08:00

the sun is shining

2010-05-08T17:39:00.002+08:00

i love it when can see and spent time with my dear girlfriends again
a very welcoming change from
my stressed week and this is the much needed break
albeit it's for me to mug for exams in a week's time

thanks to chewie for the sweet christian song
she whatsapp'd me to cheer me up
*muacks*

I will feel better soon!
just need the me and girly time.

:)))

happy life

2010-05-06T19:25:00.002+08:00

Be happy.
Live life.
:))))))

joy to the Lord

2010-05-02T14:36:00.004+08:00

Our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outward circumstances. In other words, we cannot always find joy in our circumstances but we can always find joy in the Lord of the circumstances.

— Mary Southerland

i love love love this quote! thanks to ser for posting it because it was so apt and timely of how I feel and it gives me comfort to be reminded that I have all the joy in the world because of Him. *AMEN!*

i've been having alot of thoughts lately. thoughts of escaping back home, back to comfort and familiarity, back to the warmth of family and friends. i want to FLY away and not handle difficult tasks at work and studies and the drone of life and EXCUSES.

seriously i think i've been making excuses for myself that things happen this way. no matter how much i want to just let go and let Him take control, it's physically and emotionally challenging to do that. But i'm trying hard.

i'm grateful to dear gfs like ser and jiesi who listens and give me timely advice that really strengthen my faith when i'm down.

I will be better
because of
YOU
:)

:((((

2010-05-01T17:30:00.001+08:00

"i'm okay"
"i'm fine"
"i can do this"
"just do it"
"suck it up and it'll be done"
"you're not alone"

:((((((((((((((

it's a girl!!!

2010-04-30T15:08:00.003+08:00

just a quick shoutout of "CONGRATS"
to Mr and Mrs Ng
for the baby girl!

I think when i posted this photo previously
i must have incredible FORESIGHT
because somehow i know
it will be a girl.
RIGHT hoi???
*winkz*

Sorry for the stealing the mum-to-be limelight
by posting on FB first thing when i heard the news! :P
but i'm sure ALL the limelight will be on you
for the next 5months! HAH
don't be jealous ok??

Muacks and hugs!

Welcome my beautiful god-daugher (ah BB for now :P)

omgosh!!!

2010-04-26T13:48:00.002+08:00

via they draw and cook

Can THIS get any NICER????

I'd love to cook and bake EVERYDAY
if i have such lovely recipe cards to follow!!

they're AMAZING i tell you
creative use of illustrations and colours
such a wonderful joy to be reading it
to cook and bake!!!

thanks andrea for the good recommendation!

i love it!!

birthdays for my sistas

2010-04-26T12:54:00.004+08:00

I missed all their birthdays since last year :(
but i'm really thankful that they're still so close-knit
and spending every birthdays together
and of coz sending birthday presents to me :P

these sistas of mine have seen each other through
sec school in St. Nicks
to different junior colleges
to universities
and work

Jie Si used to be always the one overseas at work
while the 4 of us were in Singapore
and now it's my turn
but our friendship never changes

so thankful for
Jie Si, Su Jun, Winne and Leng Lee
for forming a big part of my memories

these are the sistas you will keep for life!

Happy Birthday to
Winne (16 Feb)
Su Jun (23 March)
Leng Lee (27 April)
&
Jie Si (16 June)

I LOVE YOU GIRLS!!!!

*muacks*

our wedding video

2010-04-20T20:31:00.002+08:00

it feels as if we JUST got married yesterday!! Love love love the video done by Moomedia, totally worth our money! :)))))))

Enjoy ;)

i wish you enough

2010-04-16T11:02:00.002+08:00

sometimes we think that more is better, but read the following story and you'll know that sometimes having enough is better than having more :)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Recently I overheard a father and daughter in their last moment together at the airport. They had announced the departure.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the father said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough.'

The daughter replied, 'Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, dad.' They kissed and the daughter left. The father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry.

I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'

'Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'.

'I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' he said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?' He began to smile.

'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone...' He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more.

'When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we want the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.' Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

He then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.

TAKE TIME TO LIVE....

To all my friends and loved ones: I WISH YOU ENOUGH.

for you :))))

2010-04-15T18:01:00.001+08:00

thoughts

2010-04-14T09:46:00.000+08:00

"Laugh, even when you feel too sick or too worn out or tired.
Smile, even when you’re trying not to cry and the tears are blurring your vision.
Sing, even when people stare at you and tell you your voice is crappy.
Trust, even when your heart begs you not to.
Twirl, even when your mind makes no sense of what you see.
Frolick, even when you are made fun of.
Kiss, even when others are watching.
Sleep, even when you’re afraid of what the dreams might bring.
Run, even when it feels like you can’t run any more.

And, always, remember, even when the memories pinch your heart. Because the pain of all your experience is what makes you the person you are now. And without your experience—-you are an empty page, a blank notebook, a missing lyric. What makes you brave is your willingness to live through your terrible life and hold your head up high the next day. So don’t live life in fear. Because you are stronger now, after all the crap has happened, than you ever were back before it started."

Alysha Speer

to my husband

2010-04-13T00:01:00.000+08:00

after so many years
I've gotten know what he likes and dislikes most

he can spend hours on his RPG games:
Assassin Creed (still fighting), Metal Gear Solid,
God of War, The Last Remnant

and he can also entertain himself watching
pages and pages of
Bleach and One Piece anime comic.

He hates gooey food like brinjal, ladies' finger
papaya and TOFU (huh???)

He can survive on triple cheeseburger, KFC,
pizza, sandwich, hotdog and coke

He once ate tau sau bao for 1 month to save money!

He loves photography and diving
and expensive toys

He can wear his socks until they have holes before he change them

He doesn't like to iron his clothes because he said no one would notice

He loves to have me pluck his stubbies (^_^)

He drinks ALOT of water (a few litres everyday)

He loves me. A lot.

For all of the above and the rest which are too embarrassing to list down,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
to my soul mate
and my husband

Love,
your wife

for andrea

2010-04-11T00:01:00.000+08:00

3months probation over!

2010-04-10T15:02:00.001+08:00

HAHA!
yesterday's our 3 months' wedding monthsary.
Congrats Mr and Mrs Wee!
We've successfully passed the probation
*LOL*
^_^

bleahhhhhh

2010-04-09T08:36:00.001+08:00

via cosmic

we love melbourne

2010-04-08T13:20:00.004+08:00

and yessss, we had so much fun that we almost didn't want to come back!!

we missed our flight on monday night (20min past check-in time) and stayed another night to catch next morning's flight out.

but it was fun fun fun! i really love melbourne, for it's wide roads (sans parking which was a bitch!), nice scenery, good weather and FOOD!

had alot of fun with hoi&tong, lala&yeehong, Eug and Cheryl! I think everyone was exhausted during the long Easter break but it was really good spending such quality time together :))))

we did all the touristy things:

Philip Island, Great Ocean Road,
12 Apostles, St Kilda Beach
*beams*

and i love spending time w hoi and lala
even though we've only just met up back in SG
for my wedding in Jan.
Love you girlies
More soon in May with Andrea :))))

and i love the hubby
*muacks*
we spent our 7th year anniversary in Melbourne
taking cheeky shots at the colourful huts
at Brighton Beach. Love that place!

I LOVE MELBOURNE!!!!

P/S: Both Eug and I got really sick after we came back. Nursing our health at home at the moment. Guess we're really old~~ no more late nights and less than 8hrs of sleep! *bah*

back in brissy

2010-04-07T13:37:00.001+08:00

hello! I'm back!! still suffering from jetlag (actually it's the ungodly flight hours, more on that in the next post on our trip to Melb) though.

had an absolute FANTASTIC trip to Melbourne over Easter! Must've been the best i've been to since we came here! Love love love Melbourne! Was asking Eug why he didn't choose to study there instead?? haha!

Thanks to hoi & tong, lala & yeehong for the great company and many photos and laughter together! Can't wait for Melb in May and I can see Andrea too! *beams*

thanks hoi and lala for the birthday presents!
hope u girls like yours too :)

7 years

2010-04-05T15:40:00.000+08:00

7 years of love, laugh and hugs
and a whole life time
together.

Happy Anniversary!
*muacks*

2010-03-31T12:15:00.002+08:00

thank you for sending these to brighten up my day :)))))))
but the last one seems abit scarrryyyy *lol*

TOMORROW IS THE DAY!!!!

Update:
on the monster photo that hoi sent, this is what we said:

me: The bedmonsters one sounds scarryyyy.. we have a monster inside us! O_o

hoi: hahaa. but it's true isnt it? :) maybe you should just go sleep under your bed tonight! haha. :) :) :)

me: But shouldn’t that picture be scary because we all have a monster inside us. Makes me feel like I’m a secret psychopath/serial killer lidat. HAH
I know what monster u have inside u (not referring to B – literally!) – ZZZ MONSTER!!!

hoi: and i know yours too! COOKING MONSTER! hahaha

me: WAHAHAHA!!! Yessss
Andrea is GYM MONSTER and LALA is LALA MONSTER!!!! Hahaha she’s a monster herself :P Shhhhhhh

me: hahahahahha I DARE YOU TO BLOG THIS DOWN NOW NOW NOW!

Sorry Lala!! u know we love you the most!!! you're still the cutest monster to us! :P

my sources of sanity :)))))))

2010-03-31T11:18:00.002+08:00

and yes, the crazy shu has booked her airtix to Melbourne in May!
twice in 2 months
all for hoiandrealala!!!!

These girls are the sources of my sanity at work
keeping me company
and making me laugh at my laptop occasionally!

looking forward to Yarra River jogs, picnics,
museum visits, cooking/baking
doing fun and silly stuff (lots of camwhoring)
pyjamas party
and of course
STUDY!!!
(yes i'm going during my study leave!)
am going to be so motivated with the company of my dearest girls
beautiful apartment
and wonderful winter
:)))))

OH HAPPY DAY!

thanks girls!
muacks!

birthday SURPRISE(S)

2010-03-29T19:19:00.002+08:00

i love birthday surprises, you don't know what to expect and you are just so pleasantly surprised and blown away when you receive them :))))))

lovely lovely pink lilies from hubby wee!
he finally gave me flowers after 6 years! heh :P
muacks!

More birthday gifts from Huixin (Kikki.K receipe folder);
tunic dress from Joanne & Dougie (perfect for winter);
baking supplies from Ser and Kev!

Home-made breakfast from Joanne!
the dear girl woke up early to prepare!
Awww~~

and the finale:
personal delivery from Cheryl!!
awesome green tea cake

and...

Lululemon gym bag!!
Now i have the motivation to go gym frequently so i can use it!
*hearts*

Thanks to all my dearies who made my birthday
so S.P.E.C.I.A.L

love you all!!!!

2010-03-29T06:07:00.002+08:00

thanks hoihoi!!!
i love the green background (my fave color)
and the splash of colours
and of course our photo!!!
muacks!

of being old(er)

2010-03-29T00:01:00.002+08:00

wouldn't it be nice to have such a lovely birthday party?
colourful balloons fill the room
with all your special and dear friends blowing the candles with you
singing "Happy Birthday" song.

this year is a quiet one for me.
but I like it this way.
It's a good time for me to reflect on the things I've done for the past 1 year
and the things I look forward to till my next birthday.

thanks to mum and dad for their birthday cards.
thanks to Maria and Zoe for the birthday cake.
which i happily shared with my dearest cell group.
thanks to the lovely gerberas from Myra (my first bouquet of flowers since ages!)
thanks to Veron for the lovely earrings.
thanks to Theresa for the birthday card (all the way from UK!)
and many of you who have wished and prayed for me.
Thank You :)

I realised I've grown a lot in the past year as a 25-year old.
Mainly because i'm now a Mrs :)
I don't feel like i have to have big celebrations and presents.
I just need people I really love and care.
I just need YOU.

thank you for giving me the best birthday present: being a Mrs :)
thank you for the trip to Melbourne to see my dearest girlfriends.
thank you for accompanying me to shop and carry my bags.
thank you for giving me the kisses, cuddles and back rubs.
thank you for loving me.

Happy Birthday to me.
and now
i'm officially
26.

Looking forward to
ageing gracefully and beautifully
each and every year.

:)))))))))))

you are my refuge

2010-03-27T17:15:00.003+08:00

I've been feeling very discouraged at work and struggling to make myself feel better.

I prayed hard and tried v hard not to think about it and let God take control, but the human nature took the better of me and I was gripping hard on my little self-worth and vulnerability.

last night at cell was really awesome. I don't know how to put it into words but it's just AMAZING.

I had wanted to skip cell coz I was feeling really down and out but I know I had to. And i didn't regret it.

We had special guests: our church leaders who came to visit us and speak to us His words. The worship was heavenly. I can literally feel as if i'm floating.

and then before we ended cell, one of the church leaders prophesied. He said "there's someone here who has been praying v hard for some time but has not had his/her prayers answered; he/she's very depressed, discouraged. If there's someone we would like to pray for u"

I stared across the room, no one moved but I knew it was me. I felt the tug in my heart and a little push to raise my hand. What he said really spoke of how I've been feeling for the past 2 weeks.

I cried and cried when they lay their hands to pray for me. and I remember what the church leader said:

Psalm 91

" I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

³ Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day

If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

¹⁰ then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

so yes, I'm ok now and so thankful for the timely prayers. Thank You and you.

so true

2010-03-26T10:41:00.000+08:00

SO TRUE.
:(

tiny

2010-03-25T11:29:00.000+08:00

i'm feeling very small at work
useless
under-utilised
unmotivated
un-challenged
SMALL.

I wish things will change
but i can't control
and it sucks not knowing.

I just have to pray
coz God has already given us
abundant grace.
I just have to keep on

BELIEVING

serene-dipity

2010-03-22T13:29:00.002+08:00

my dear,

i've seen you grown so much in the past few years
and i'm really thankful for your passion
and earnest knowledge for Christ
You are the flower
that brings smile to people's face
and I'm so blessed to have you
as a sister-in-Christ
May this special day be filled with
abundant grace and love
from Him, your family and friends,
special K (:P)
and me!

Love you loads dear!
Happy birthday :)))

to my darling hoi

2010-03-21T13:11:00.002+08:00

i remember how i like to force you to share one sleeve of your Nike
windbreaker with me during lectures in HC

I remember how we sat at the canteen table or class bench talking about life a
few years down the road

I remember how we always celebrate birthdays together coz we're all March babies

I remember how you told me that despite the distance, you still love me
because we knew each other for so long

On this special day
I celebrate your life
as my closest link to anything Hong Kong
as my sunshine that always shines into my life
as an excited mummy-to-be
as my very dear friend

Happy Birthday!!!!
mucks!
:))))))))))))))))))))))))

beauty

2010-03-14T12:16:00.002+08:00

hahaha!

2010-03-14T12:13:00.000+08:00

the hurt locker

2010-03-14T11:52:00.003+08:00

we finally watched this movie last night after all the attention at the Oscars piqued my interest. I thought it was yet another Iraq war movie, except it won a lot of awards and it's directed by a female.

when you watch a movie with no expectations, you get blown away. This is what the movie did.

There isn't alot of blow up scenes but just a very real account of a team of soldiers who are very good at diffusing bombs. The movie gripped you and you don't know what to expect (i was covering my ears most of the time coz I scared any moment the bomb will just explode and people will die) but yet you want to watch and see what happens.

I guess a war movie from the female perspective gives more flesh to the characters and you feel for them and as if you know what they are going through.

I particularly like this quote when Sgt William James told his boy when he went home after a rotation of duty

"And then you forget the few things you really love. And by the time you get to my age, maybe it's only one or two things. With me, I think it's one"

Go watch it if you haven't, I assure you it's not one of those typical war flicks that detonates bombs throughout the movie as if it was popping popcorn.

alice in wonderland

2010-03-14T11:45:00.000+08:00

I must say the 3D movies in Brisbane is better than SG's coz you get to keep the glasses at $1 each and it's not as bulky!

Alice in Wonderland is a nice movie if you like Tim Burton and the wacky costumes he have for his characters. Half the time i was staring at Red Queen's larger than normal heart-shaped head, blue eye shadow and heart-shaped red lips and Mad Hatter's orange frazzled hair and really thick eye shadow. *lol*

Alice by Australian Mia Wasikowska was okay though I thought at one point, her eye bags could use some good quality concealer :P

and did you know the adjective "cheshire grin" came from the Cheshire cat in the story?? hahah i love the cat and how he just 'poofed' in and out of scenes. Brilliant!

Besides the fact that I can't quite figure out what Mad Hatter said most of the time (it's usually jibberish) and why White Queen (Anne Hathaway) has to swing her arms whenever she talks and seems kind of bimbotic, the show is good if you watch with friends and young kids. :))

I love watching movies!!

i dream a dream

2010-03-11T11:27:00.000+08:00

welcoming the new one!

2010-03-07T10:38:00.002+08:00

it was Mei's baby shower and my first at such occasions (i'm sure there's more to come!). I love how women-folk bond and share their love for the lovely mum-2-be and the food! omg the food was awesome! God gave women the best of everything: the ability to produce the next generation, the hands that made yummylicious food, and the BIG hear to love everyone in her life :)))

Mei and Jon put in alot of effort to set up the baby room; from the little wooden cot, blankets, wall stickers, clothes and frames. You feel LOVE spelled everywhere when you stepped in. It's amazing :)

I pray to God that Mei will have a smooth and least painful delivery and a healthy and strong Hannah Chia :D

jap cheesecake recipe (for hoi :)

2010-03-07T10:18:00.002+08:00

our jap cheesecake was AWESOME! thanks to Zoe who was doing most of the work while I document the process so hOi can learn! :D

1 hour | 5 min prep
Serves 6-8

Ingredients:
7 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature (~210g)
1/4 cup whole milk
1/2 cup caster sugar
3 eggs, separated
1/4 cup corn starch
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
21/2 cups boiling water

Beat cream cheese with milk to soften.
Add half of the sugar, egg yolks, cornstarch and lemon juice.
Beat until smooth.

Separate egg white from yolks.

Beat egg whites in a separate bowl until foamy.

Gradually add remaining sugar and cream of tartar,
beating on high speed until soft peaks form.

Gradually fold beaten egg whites into the cream cheese mixture,
stirring gently

Pour into greased cake pan and smooth the surface

Place cake pan into a larger roasting pan and pour enough water into the

roasting pan to come half way up the side of the cake pan.

Place in lower rack of oven.
Bake 35-40 minutes at 180deg (preheat oven first) until a pick inserted in the middle of the centre comes out clean. If using fan-forced option, lower to 160deg.

If you want the surface to be brownish, put in another 5min in the oven at 200deg.

ok hoi, now u can ask tong bake for you for your anniversary!! haha
let me know how it goes! :)))

6 yrs 11 months

2010-03-05T11:08:00.002+08:00

via iPhone app Tuzki Snap

1 more month to 7 years! *wootz*
stupid hoi asked if i'm sure this is my hubby coz can't see his face -_-
which other guy's photo would i have in my iPhone my dear?? haha

and yes, i still count down to each monthiversary (coined by hoi)
and let's hope i'll be able to do that each month/year!

rainy days

2010-03-03T11:03:00.002+08:00

i hate rainy days :((((

it doesn't smell nice, it's wet and slippery and spells GLOOM everywhere.

i don't like stepping out of the office or house into puddles of water, i don't like my feet to get wet and smelly.

I sure hope this rain will stop soon coz I really miss having sun-kissed laundry, bright green trees and SUNSHINE.

what a coincidence!

2010-03-02T11:36:00.003+08:00

Eug said his friends made fun of him and spelled his name as "Ugin" back in sec sch, but look what i found on Aunty Yochana's blog!!

Parents are trying to be innovative these days. HAH! they got foresight! I'm sure the boy will grow up to be v smart *lolx*

march

2010-03-01T11:14:00.004+08:00

is my favourite month just because 1) it is the birthday month for most of my girlfriends (hoi, ser, sujun, veron) and 2) MY BIRTHDAY!!!! :D

Since it's the first day of March, i shall put together my birthday wish list! :P

In order of likeness:

1) Chanel No. 5 Parfum

2) Quirky kitchen apron

3) Vintage bicycle

4) Coach wallet

5) Ticket to go home :P

haha some how, i think i won't be getting much of the above except
for the apron and maybe chanel?? :P

We'll see!

Shall post pics of my presents end of this month :)))))

i love pretty food pics!

2010-02-25T18:36:00.002+08:00

these pretty pictures make me salivate!
the perfect macarons, marshmallows, cookies,
cupcakes and
FANCY JEMS!!
all my favourite!! :P

i wonder if someone will buy me everything to eat??
hmmm :D

awwww

2010-02-23T11:11:00.001+08:00

from heislove via suchaprettysmile

new me!

2010-02-20T18:34:00.001+08:00

Inspired from Katie Holmes!

except that i probably have to work on the big face x_x

Love!

love is...

2010-02-20T15:29:00.003+08:00

spending a quiet evening by the park,
having a little picnic and enjoying the breeze with him.

leaning on his shoulders and cuddling up in front of the tv
watching a movie with him.

waking up and stealing kisses and hugs.

sneak out of the house and get him breakfast.

experimenting recipes and spending the afternoon cooking.

saying "I love you" a dozen times and thinks
he is the sweetest man.

Thanks for being my soul mate :*)

新年快乐！

2010-02-13T12:28:00.003+08:00

pic courtesy of my ever talented Daddy :P

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!!!

Despite being in a non-chinese country, I still endeavour to enjoy this festive period!

Cleaned the house, scrub the toilet, change the sheets and made another attempt to make my nian gao *sweat* and having reunion dinner with fellow Singaporeans/Malaysians for steamboat!

May this lunar new year of the Tiger bring vigor, tenacity and courage to overcome all kinds of challenges!

新年快乐，万事如意，身体健康！:D:D:D:D

年糕 :)))))

2010-02-10T21:01:00.002+08:00

想不到我第一次试做年糕，
就这么成功！！

香味，色泽都和家里的一模一样，
但还是不够甜。

下次再放多点椰糖！

新年的脚步迫近，
好想念家人和美味的新年食品，
想让他们常常我亲手做的年糕。

好像你们喔...

1st monthsary

2010-02-09T18:13:00.002+08:00

this is how we spent the eve of our monthsary:
jogging along the river banks
holding hands
telling him how i fell in love all over again
:)))))))

I love my husband.

Happy Monthsary!!

baker/chef's delight

2010-02-06T15:18:00.005+08:00

I'm glad i picked up baking again because the feeling it's wonderful!

It's therapeutic when you spoon sugarful of delight and whip the butter, cocoa, eggs, milk altogether to form something that will turn out so beautiful :))

it's gratifying to see it slowly baking in the oven,
the cake rising,
and VOILA! become something so delicious :P

I watched the movie "Julie and Julia" on the plane back to SG last year
it was such a delight watching Amy Adams whipping up dishes after dishes
from Julia's recipe book and
how she got so exasperated when it turned out the way it was described.

Baking/cooking is like life.
You experience the bitter, the sweetness & savoury bits throughout the journey
and you made effort to make it just the way you like it.
it need not be perfect,
it just need to be satisfying.

I like being a baker/chef.
It brings me joy to see how my food
makes my loved ones smile
:))))))