Valentino

These Valentinos got my heart fluttering! Oh how pretty are these peep toes! The bronzy finish, the single bow that seem to dance above each shoe, the soft intricate multiple folds that make the bow, the pointy platform to elongate the legs...


These are made for wedding days, glamorous days, I-feel-beautiful days! Love love love 'em!!

Thirties Is The New Twenties

Thirties is the new twenties. Or so they said. I've always brush it off as the sort of patronising quote one uses to comfort themselves as they add another candle on the birthday cake. I'm turning 29 in July -- at the exact cross road of the roaring twenties and the fabulous thirties. One last year in the twenties, and one more year to the thirties. I admit I haven't quite accepted the fact that soon I'll be checking a different box for age range when filling application forms.

Being 29 and looking back at the last decade, I'm excited about entering the big 3-0! I am, I promise you. Here's why.

Beauty
There is life beyond the aesthetic side of life, you learnt.
Yes, there is little I can do to change my appearance now. I can't blame my wobbly arms on baby fats anymore. Neither do I want to eat only an apple all day just to lose just another pound so I can look thinner on prom night. At 29, my metabolism is slowing down. That's a fact. I've learnt to be comfortable in my own skin.

Wear Your Style
After more than a decade of trial-and-error, I know better how to wear my makeup to enhance my best features, and learn the kind of clothes that should never make it my wardrobe ever again.

Trends
No more following fashion trends blindly, just because Vogue or Lagerfeld commands so. I have no time or interest in being like everyone else on the street, wearing the latest feathers or brightest sequins. I know what works for my body, and what doesn't. Stay updated to trends, but also only pick up trends to adapt.

Fitting In
Goodbye please-let-me-fit-in. Your confidence is no longer based on how accepted you are by others.You are not afraid of not fitting in. You have three decades of life experience that teaches you that fitting in is nothing desirable.

No
You learn to say no to things that you don't agree on / bad for you / you don't want.

Peer Pressure
Peer pressure is childish and overrated. We've finally understood it and quit playing the game. Feel like curling up with a good read on a Saturday night instead of hitting the club with your partying mates? Buying one less It-bag than your bestie because you are saving that money to start an entrepreneurial business? You no longer feel guilty for not succumbing to what others would do.

Yummy or Mummy?
Partying on a Saturday night in that yummy short dress? Or dressing up your toddler and taking her for a play date alongside other mommies and their kids? You have the option. And either side of the decision is fun.

Discipline
I don't need horrible pictures of charred lungs on cigarette boxes to teach me smoking is bad for health. I love good fun but horrible binge drinking nights are days of the past. I have the discipline to do the best for my body, mind and soul. And I make the decision to be discipline.

Finer Taste
I appreciate the finer things in life more. Not to be showy to others, but simply celebrating life in grandeur. Be it owning a limited edition handmade watch, decking the apartment with designer furnitures, or purchasing collectible art pieces, only you know the true value of these indulgence. Finer taste in life is priceless, not learnt but earned through life experience.

Money
The days of climbing the corporate ladder in cheap shoes are over. A stable career established over the years of 20-something rewards us with holiday trips, regular spas and even exclusive jewellery pieces. Enjoy the disposable income now, before starting a family. Your little treats in life will then be channelled into the baby funds.

Relationships
Because you have failed at some relationships, you have also learnt much. You know what you want in a relationship, and what you would not tolerate. You may find that special someone soon. But you are also totally comfortable remaining status quo. The most important thing is, no more "trying too hard".

Friends
We stop "collecting friendships". We keep the precious few who never turn their back on us, who always understand us, who never fails to make time and effort for us. By the time you enter the third decade of your life, you would have already sieve out these inner circle friends.

Time
You still have time. For what? For everything!
To learn to drive, to bungee jump, to make a baby, to wear a bikini, to be a better daughter, to be reckless, to have faith, to relocate permanently, to date younger men, to dress like a 20s, 30s or even 40s, to inspire, to dance in the rain, to be sophisticated, to leave a legacy, to start a new career, to do ordinary things in extraordinary ways, to be fabulous, to believe in the impossibles! You are in the best years of your life! You have collected a lifetime of experience thus far, you have much to contribute in future. You are in the best period of life!

Thirties is the new twenties. I'm celebrating life.

A Call

Waiting is a nervous process.

I'm holding my breath.

Call.

Suiting Up

Suiting up never look as glamourously sharp as Olivia Palermo's style.
And I'm lusting after that Victorian ruffle blouse. Check this out too. One blouse, two styles. Both effortlessly stylish and good for all ocassion from Gram's 98th birthday dinner to the uber-chic new club launch downtown.

Oh, and that Hermès Birkin too. Who doesn't need one?

Wheel of Fortune

I know I must have drawn the Wheel of Fortune card from the deck of Life. The Wheel is turning, and there is no stopping.

I feel it ever so subtly. And I see signs of it everywhere lately. I'm watching the mysterious hand of Destiny move before my own eyes.

Turn Fortune, turn! Spin Wheel, spin! I'm excited about the changes that awaits me.

Bridesmaid

My best friend is getting married! And guess who has been asked to be the bridesmaid?

I'm overjoyed!!!

Pollen Boo Boo

I love receiving flowers. Never mind they are impractical gifts and wither away quickly. I love beautiful things and why should life always be about practicality? I enjoy indulgence and appreciate the beauty of everything under the sun.


So I receive some oh-so-beautiful trumpet lilies on Sunday. I have spent more than a few hours watching them bloom. (Yes, I idle my days away in the simplest pleasure like this.) Lilies however have the dreaded problem of staining everything in their way with their pollen. These yellow-orangey stains are little mean acts of nature! And I have unfortunately just got some lily pollens on my light pink t-shirt! Gasp!

Well, these stains are tricky to remove because water doesn't work on them. (I mean, if something can be removed by just water, it won't be considered tough stains, would it?) So here are some unconventional ways to get rid of the pollen stains.

Firstly thing first. Do NOT try to rub the stain off. This will only serve to push the pigment deeper into the fabric, making it harder to remove it! If you use your finger to rub it, the natural oil produced by our skin will impound the pigmentation further! Not wise.

Do NOT rub it off with a wet cloth either. This also only serves to spread the stain and set it in.

Instead, the best way is to shake it out. Once you realise your fabric has been stained, try to shake the fabric so the loose pollen powder will fall off. I find this awfully useful as much of the stain really does release itself from the fabric!

Next, use a sticky tape to gently lift up any remaining pollen. I have just tried this on my tshirt. It works like magic! Now the stain on my tshirt is but a light yellowish patch! Who would've thought a simple sticky tape has such powerful capability in times like that? Love it!

The last unconventional method to remove pollen is to put your stained fabric in the sun for a while. Not just an old wives' tale, the sunlight will bleach out the pollen! Amazing eh? (Personally I haven't tried this method since it's 2am now as I blog this. But ask mom or grams and they'll tell you this works!

If all else fails, buy new clothes use enzymatic detergent.

Macaroons, Oh Macaroons

Oh how I love French macaroons!!! The pretty rainbow shades, the airy egg shell-like crust, the sweet ganache that fills your senses with euphoria at first bite! Ahh...

My favourite is the rose-flavoured ones. They remind me of the purity of simple love everytime the powdery scent reaches my nose. I love the pistachio ones too cos they are the yummiest. Oh and the rainbow colours! Dusty lavender, summery yellow, powder pink, baby blue, pastel green, earthy brown, even ashy black. I love all the delightful colours that makes the pâtisserie such an resplendent manifestation of life's goodness!

Laduree or Fauchon, Canelé or TWG. How I crave for some of you now! Macaroons, oh macaroons, how do I love thee!

Bathroom Fun

I love this picture! Sexy and fun! Just the way bathroom affairs oughtta be!

Men Of Few Words

Do you believe in the crap research that women speaks more words than men on a daily basis? I've just Googled the statistics and found two things. Firstly, the "researched" figures are random. Some articles that claim that word usage ratio between the genders is 15,000:25,000. But I've read others that say it is only 2,000:7,000. I've even read results that identify no real significant difference between the genders at all! So what is the real ratio for the number of words spoken by each gender? Secondly, where is the supporting evidence? No reliable statistics could be sourced -- all have claimed to have counted the number of words from their sample population but no actual supporting evidence found anywhere.

So, do men really use less words than women? I'd say yes. Women can behave like best of friends even if they only met for the first time! How? They find a common topic to chat about! Whereas for men, they can have beer all night at a pub without more than a few backslap and a some friendly "Cheers!".

But how about in a relationship? Do you find endless things to talk to your partner about? Or do you find yourself running out of conversation topics if you have spoken for more than a certain period of time? I'd like to think that there would be a world of things to be discussed, to raise opinions to, to laugh over. Because even the smallest event would be important enough to be shared, even the most mundane dailies would be cute, even the most boring topic could be an avenue to start a cheeky banter.

I do not subscribe to the belief that a comfortable silence between two persons is the best conversation ever. I'm with the school of thought that propagates how-would-I-know-unless-you-say-it-dammit! Can't blame a girl for feeling bored -- or worse, boring -- if the guy chooses to stick to his 2,000 words quota. Can't help it if one party doesn't read other non-verbal cues well. Can't force it if conversations don't flow, interests don't get piqued, things don't get said. Or heard.


So talk, boys! Expand your vocabulary beyond the regular "uh-huh..." and "really?". Ask what happened next, fake your enthusiasm, behave as if it was the best piece of news you've heard all day even if we were talking about tampon brands, or the injured kitty we saved, or the price of broccoli in the market.

Even if you are tired, or seriously running out of steam to pretend, don't stay silent. No, and looking lovingly at us does not help. Instead, tell us how much you miss us. Or how adorable we are. We'll may just be distracted enough to overlook the fact that you are just not quite interested in the on-going topic. And at least there won't be defening silence on the phone.

You know what they say. Men fall in love through their eyes, women their ears.

So whisper sweet nothings to me. Serenade me. Declare your love constantly. "Men of few words" is totally overrated.

Flowchart

This puts a smile on my face this dreadful Monday after an awesome getaway at the most beautiful beach resort ever. Hope it has the same effect on you too. :)

Fawn Over Me

Allure me with sincerity, captivate me with beauty, enchant me with knowledge, charm me with generosity. But fawn over me with beautiful words, and I am forever yours.


Perhaps I mean it when I say flattery totally -- and always -- works with me.

A man falls in love through his eyes, a woman through her ears.
~ Woodrow Wyatt

Simplicity

Let the sea breeze run through my hair, let the warm ray beat down on my pale skin, let my worries be carried away by the silence at the beach, let me breathe in Life, and soak up its goodness, and revel in its simplicity again.

There's nothing I'd love to do now more than this. And I could do this all day. I would.

Happy

Happiness is paramount in my life.
For you... if understands what it means to be truly happy too.

Uncertainty

I'm paralysed by uncertainties. The road ahead is long and treacherous. I'm burdened and lonely.


I need time out to recharge and rejuvenate. I need to restructure my battle plan.
I need to find myself again in these times of uncertainty.

Passion

I have a problem with mediocrity.
I have a problem with people who settle -- people who choose the safe, unadventurous, don't-ask-don't-know way of life. I have a problem with people who don't challenge their limits, who don't get out of their comfort zone, who settle for a mediocre lives. We have only ONE shot in life. Just one. So why don't do you something good with it? Within or beyond your capability, achieve something good that you can be proud of, leave a legacy, proved you have lived a good life.

I can't settle of ordariness. I can't be just-another-one-out-there. I can't do anything that does not bring me joy. In fact, I say I function on fun, on happiness, on passion, on love! Everything that I have done hitherto has made me happy. I have been passionate about everything I do.

In school, I love physics and mathematics. So I completed a Bachelor of Engineering degree, despite all the disbeliefs (yes, lots of it!) and hardwork that came with it. (But boy, it was really tough!) Then I decided that I love to travel. So I got me a job that pays me to travel.

So while most of my peers slogged away in their offices, caught in a intangible society-imposed rat race and wasting away the best years of our 20s, I was a happy traveller! Four good years of travelling and life experience! I saw a lot, learnt a lot, lived a lot. I was very very happy with life, very very in love with life, very very passionate about life.

Then I decided it was time to come home. I also knew that I wouldn't be happy being stuck in front of a computer 8 hours a day, exchanging my time for cash at the end of the month. I knew I wanted more. I wanted to challenge my threshold, my goals, my capability. So here I am, working for myself -- setting long and short term goals for myself, motivating my entrepreneurial soul, trudging forward slowly but surely. Some days I do feel beaten too. But when I think about being another souless person who-hates-her-job-but-must-do-it, I'm glad I dare to do the things I do. I dare to be different, be myself, be happy and passionate.

And I am happy. I have been happy with every decision I made in life. If I had to choose life all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. I'm serious. So pardon me if I despise people who have no passion in life. I have no tolerance for people who are "happy" just getting by. I hate boring people who don't do anything exciting in their lives. (Or on weekends. And weekdays. Oh heck, everyday!) I thrive on passion, on fun, on love, on happiness. How about you?

Are you happy to just get by? Are you a "one of them"? When you examine your life, have you done well? Have you been happy, passionate, lived well? Are you still hungry for life everyday?

We pass this life only once. One life, live it.

What is your passion in life?

Getting Over A Relationship

I just love Sex and the City (SATC. Acroymns are supposed to be cooler, I was told). I was having one of those boring Saturday evenings -- friends and myself are all recovering from the wild clubbing the previous evening, just for the record -- so I decided to watch a random episode of SATC. In this episode, Carrie just ended her relationship with Mr Big and was having a hard time with the break up. Her girl friends suggested various ways to get over him. Some wanted her to jump right back into the dating scene, others allowed her to grieve. And I quote Charlotte:

It takes half the total time you went out with someone to get over them.

I've heard this from my girl friends too. You know, whenever a sista breaks up, we'll take them out for a male-bashing session, dishing out wise advices from our Breakup 101 Manual... until one hits home with her. Uh-huh, the typical "You deserves someone better" or "Keep yourself busy". You know what I'm talking about. What do you think about Charlotte's mathematical solution to relationships? Half the relationship period to get over them?

I guess it's not so much of the exact time frame. But it allows you a period to grieve, to eat tubs of Ben & Jerry's guiltlessly, to have free access to anyone's shoulder to cry on, to use retail therapy as a valid clinical assistance to your condition. And you do know that once that period deadline is over, you'll have to try to recover, to move on, to get over it.

If it is any comfort, I've learnt lately that with each relationship passed, we learn more and more about ourselves. We learn what we want from our partner, and what we don't need. What we would tolerate, and what is non-negotiable. We become clear about what kind of relationship we desire. We do not try to change what the other person is so as to fit into our idea of the "perfect relationship". I have been guilty of doing that too! Through the many tears shed, I've (finally!) learnt the best approach is to know what factors truly matter in your relationship. If you can accept the shortcomings, go ahead and be in it. One must truly be able to accept those blotches. But if the flaw is as big as Sarah Jessica Parker's (now-removed) mole a plank in your eye, then leave it -- don't even attempt to change anyone to fit your world, I beg you. It never would.

Accept, if you can.
Leave, if you can't.

It can be that simple. It ought to be. And this time round, I'm keeping it that simple. I have finally figured it out. :)

Plenty Of Fishes

Conversation with my best friend, on the topic of "plenty of fishes in the sea".

ME: When you said "other fishes in the sea", you are referring to X, right?
BEST FRIEND: X is a great white SHARK! He is not a fish! Please!

My best friend always manage to crack me up! She's the best!

And I Love You So

And I love you so
The people ask me how
How I've lived till now
I tell them I don't know

I guess they understand
How lonely life
has been
But life began again
The day you took my hand

And yes I
know how lonely life can be
The shadows follow me
And the night won't
set me free
But I don't let the evening get me down
Now that you're
around me

And you love me too
Your thoughts are just for me
You set my spirit free
I'm happy that you do
The book of life is brief
And once a page is read
All but love is dead
That is my belief

And yes I know how loveless life can be
The shadows follow me
And the night won't set me free
But I don't let the evening get me down
Now that you're around me

And I love you so
The people ask me how
How I've lived till now
I tell them I don't know

I fell in love. With Harry Connick Jr's latest album Your Songs. I fell even deeper in love with his rendition of And I Love You So. What an album! I only knew him as an actor, but boy his muscial talent far surpasses his acting skills. You have to get this album because all the songs in this album is perfect for any time of the day! You'll fall in love with his deep soulful voice too!

I'm not one of those girls who dream about their wedding day since they were 12, or "already know" what their future wedding dress looks like. I've never understood why this day is known as "the big day" of one's life (it's could very well be "the end of the good days" too! :P). I've never fantasize about the man standing at the end of the aisle, or wish I'm a Mrs-something soon. I'm just not that kinda girl.

But when I heard And I Love You So, I literally saw a first dance - in my mind! Yep, that wedding first dance. (Disclaimer: Not my wedding dance. Just "a" wedding first dance.) Every single time I hear it, that first dance image would play in my mind -- again and again. It's a strange feeling. It's all dreamy and sweet.
In this vision, everyone else disappears.
Dark background.
Flowers and sash drape a white canopy.
A newly-wedded couple dances in the middle.
Sharp black suit for groom.
The bride adorned in a cream satin gown, with intricate design of beads and pearls.
They are moving slowly, cheek-to-cheek. In love and in tuned with each other's paces. I don't see their faces but joy overflows them. The brides smiles with blush radiance, the groom holds her close to his heart... treasuredly. Love and happiness is evident and overwhelming. What a vision!

Besides And I Love You So, I have only ever remotely thought about another song as (my?) ideal wedding songs. Officially Yours by Craig David. I know, it's an entirely different genre song. But its speaks to me, every time I hear it too! Sing to me, baby, and I'm yours!

I'm officially going on the record
To say I'm in love with you
I'm officially everything you hope that I would be
This time I'll tell the truth

So there you go, Miss Say's wedding songs review. Now, let me go find the Husband. ;)

'That's Her'

Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot,
who calls you back when you hang up on him,
who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat,
or will stay awake just to watch you sleep...
wait for the boy who kisses your forehead,
who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats,
who holds your hand in front of his friends,
who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on.
One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky his is to have you....
The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her.'

This just took my breath away when I read it!

A sweet kiss on the forehead is the most endearing thing in the world! I love it! I always feel loved, protected, treasured.

'That's her', that's just impossibly incredibly sweet! Do boys like that even exist? Oh love, oh love, you are so complex as you are essential! I love to love. I love love.

Waking Up To These

Waking up to these.

I know I said this before but I'd just like to say it again. I love flowers. When I opened my eyes this morning, the scarlet roses were the first things I saw. I could get used to waking up this way! Any woman could. Bliss.

Rotten Apple

There are some days which you know are not your day. Everything goes wrong, you wake up feeling grumpy, even the most trivial normal things you see everyday can and will made you mad. Well, today is one of those days. Heck the whole week has been one of those weeks! Nothing is working out alright, delays in my work project, pimple threatening to pop, waiting in queue for half an hour at some service centre just to be told they can't retrieve my file, new laptop not working, rude technical support personals, making purchases and then immediately regretting it, etc. Yes, you get the picture. This is one of those weeks.

I have been counting down to the minute my new Apple MacBook Pro gets delivered this week. Yesterday I even postponed my appointment just to wait for the DHL man. When the lappy arrives, I took pictures of the unboxing process and held my nervous breath in anticipation as the Mac laptop sprung to life instantly with colours and sounds! What a joy to finally feel the weight of it in my hands.

But alas, Apple failed me faster than I could say Microsoft. The browser refuses to load the internet pages properly, and that led to a few hours of troubleshooting among several Mac users and I. By the time the third person told me to try this or click that, I was already ready to repent from turning my back on Windows!

This morning was even worse. I spent more than three hours on the phone with AppleCare, who then pushed the problem to my router technical support, who then threw me back to AppleCare, who then compelled me to make the router guys change the radio channels, who then shoved me back to AppleCare after insisting they can't do a thing more, who then transferred me to Apple Sales department eventually. On top of that, I have little patience with speaking to foreign-accented technical support personals who didn't understand what I was saying . And I was done with my so-called Apple experience.

I'm sending my MacBook Pro back. Tonight.

I'm giving them Apple one last chance to redeem themselves by sending me a working machine. The next option would be a full refund and a blog-ful of angry anti-Apple ferocity! Till then, I'll be playing with my other new toy, BlackBerry. I don't know why it took me this long to get a BlackBerry. I always thought I would say this about Apple too.

Boo you, Apple.

Choose Happiness

2010. It's gonna be good year. I feel it. Bye bye, turbulent 2009. I had enough of sadness. This year, it will be Choose Happiness year! Just watch me, I'm gonna have fun, embrace happiness, reach the pinnacle of life!

I choose happiness.

Watched (500) Days of Summer this afternoon. It was highly recommended by a friend. And I say the same to you now. Watch it! It's good, it's surprisingly good! I didn't quite know what to expect from the movie when I watched it. But it struck a chord with me -- in so many scenes in the movie! The uncertainty in love, the blind belief in fate, the unsuspecting turn of events, the pains and despair life brings. I love love love this movie!

Summer: I woke up one morning and I just knew.
Tom: Knew what?
Summer: What I was never sure of with you.

This is my favourite scene in the movie. I woke up the other day, and I knew. I knew I was done with the dark period of my life. I'm choosing happiness. Now.


p.s. Believe me when I say I woke up hearing birds chirping and butterflies fluttering around make-believe daisies in my mind that morning! It's good to wake up happy, everyday.