Wrapping the year nicely

I promised myself to write something before new years.

It has been a wonderful year 2010.

I started working in a new institution in January.

I organised student activities, and my dear students surprised me with a wonderful birthday surprise party (also my first).

My group of students took this picture before surprising me in class with this HUGE card!

My girlfriends and I on my birthday (23.04.10)

Also my first year when Darling was away for work, so I spent a wonderful birthday with my girlfriends. But Darling, being Darling as always, surprised me at work with a very beautiful bouquet of Lilies. :)

I love Lilies

As a birthday present, Darling brought me to Shanghai to visit the Shanghai World Expo. It was an eye opener as it was my first trip to China (Hong Kong is definitely not typical China).

In front of the Malaysia Exhibit

At Hangzhou

Both of us went to Maldives, somewhere we always long to go, where we got engaged.

When I said "yes!"

And my sister told Darling, "Thank God she said YES". Because she kept the secret for months!

Then we went to Hong Kong where we both visited the prestigious TVB office for the first time (and maybe the only time we could get in), saw many Hong Kong artists and watched a show live at the TVB studio.

watched a show live in TVB studios

At TVB studio

Hired a wonderful wedding planner to help us along the way.


And then I got promoted after only working for 10 months in the organisation. I have so many people to thank for recognising my work and contributions. I felt so honoured to now be able to be part of the Murdoch University family.

My boss gave me this, also motivating me to push myself further. Yes, boss!

I also had lobster for the first time in my life. Darling brought my parents and his parents, when they met for the first time for dinner at this wonderful seafood restaurant at Kayu Ara.

Yummu!

Started renovation of the family home for the wedding, when Darling's sister asked the contractor to do a special parking place for my car. Awww.... :)

My future home sweet home

Saw sooooo many teddies in Midvalley! Did you?


And the other day, we were so hungry after gym that we bought donuts! A bit wrong, I know ... but so delicious!



For the first time in our lives (and also the last), Darling signed off our wedding band while my sister and I sipped orange juice on the sofa.


And my sister and I tried on this ridiculously expensive dress in Miu Miu. We were so excited that the dress was so cute until we saw the price tag: SGD1800.

Crazy.

Then, for the first time in my life, I literally shouted at the store assistant at Apple Store for giving me the wrong information. I guess I wanted to buy the gift for Darling so much that I couldn't take the news of being cheated. But anyway, the Apple store assistant also gave me more wrong information, being that the product was indeed available. He didn't know that it was available. -_____-

I felt a bit guilty for shouting at someone, thinking that I would give the person a bad day, so I apologised to him for being so loud earlier on. He smiled at me and also apologised for giving wrong information. :/



THEN, I went home, was so excited to show Darling his New Year gift. THEN, he told me he already bought a wireless one with separate docking. -________-!!!!!!


So there you go, that's how 2010 has been for me.


This year has been wonderful. I guess some things happened that sucked but I forgot. It's ok, I would only want to remember the beautiful ones. :)

How was 2010 to you? :)

Happy New Year 2011, peeps!

XOXO,
theRascal

Blogging on the iPad!!!

... Yes, a little excited to be able to update a post using Darling's iPad. Ok I tell you an inside joke that you might not laugh but I still feel like giving it a try. Darling said the iPad is his pad because women has sanitary pads...geddit? Geddit? -___-

I am typing from my sister's place in Singapore. I spend most of my Christmas away from home ... because it doesn't feel like Christmas in KL as much as in Singapore. Again, their decorationsat Orchard blew me away. I love the broad walkways and also clean from people irresponsibly littering, spitting, pick-pocketing.

Complains a side, we bought our wedding band! :D These atas stores really treat you well, especially when you really are purchasing something. For the first time, I was sipping away fresh orange juice, chatting to my sister on the sofa while trying on the different designs. Never thought I could do these all at once in a jewelry store. The combination of situations just didn't... Ok I just never thought I could have the chance to do that today. :)

I had a really superb steamboat (yes, again and I love it!) at Bugis/opposite Capital Mall followed by dessert with my bestie Kai Pei and DY. Will be meeting them again tomorrow for another dose of shopping before heading to the airport. See, i told you my trip to Singapore this round is for some really serious dose of shopping. Although it seems that the fiancé is buying more amount of apparels than me! How is that possible? I just never thought i should spend more than RM100 for a dress that I would find boring after a year. Besides, the little boutiques back home in Telawi has better/unique designs which comes at a cheaper price.

Oh, this reminds me that I need to clear my wardrobes (yes, I own 2 huge cupboards) for some "garage sale". Something I do almost every year. Only that I don't sell them, I give them away to close friends, relatives and my sisters who dont mind wearing my clothing.

Merry Christmas!!


XOXO,
theRascal

The Girls

I'll be away for the rest of the week until Saturday to do some serious shopping. Yes, serious!



What do you think? When we tried on the ring, it felt so much better than Tiffany. It felt so right. Finger-crossed that it is still in stock and then we're able to get one. :)

My dad's in Guangzhou right now for a business trip, leaving only the girls at home now. The girls had a simple dinner in front of the TV in the living room and watched Friends throughout the night. Awesome :)

It'd been some time since all of us gathered at one place. It's quite an occasion which only happens a few times in a year. It's funny how every time when my family arrives, I feel that I miss them more. Maybe because I knew the next time we gather again, it'll only be in the next few months for Chinese New Year, a school holiday week or maybe, when there's a celebration party. It saddened me when I told my mom that it striked me that this coming Chinese New Year would be the last year I receive red packets from the elder ones and most importantly, not being able to be with them and my lovely cousins ... when it's going to be so chaotic, laughters, endless food at my grandmother's place.

But this is all part and parcel of growing up, isn't it?


Here's to the next chapter! *Happy New Year*


XOXO,
theRascal

In The Making of The Portrait

Sorry for the lack of updates!

Here's another quick one.

I took 3 days of annual leave to do something I see as enjoying, exciting and very important in my life - The Pre-Wedding Photos!

All photo credits to iPhone 3GS *wtf* and of course my beloved fiance, Mr D.



It was a very rainy and gloomy day on our 2nd day of photoshoot. The photographer insisted that we postpone, but I persisted to continue taking the shots and photoshop the clouds later!



I need to get on going with the delayed work piling up on my shoulders and also the handover to the new position :) Wish me luck!


I'll be going over to The Lion City on Wednesday night :) Hopefully I get to update again before I fly.


If not, Merry Christmas, peeps!


XOXO,
the Rascal

Restaurant Stadium Negara

What a typical name for a restaurant in the heart of KL, eh?


Darling (as usual) asked what I would like to have for dinner. People who knows us well know that both of us love to eat balls and stuff in a boiling hot bowl in the middle of a table. Yes lah, the Malaysians call that steamboat.

The one that we always go to is a little far from my place. Thus, I told Darling that we could settle for other food. Being him, he said "since you said you want steamboat, then I'll have to bring you there".

Awww ... puts a smile on my face. Bliss. 感恩.

I'm learning/reminding myself to count my blessings everyday. Not only I have a very supportive and loving family, I'm now looking forward to start another chapter of my life with someone who always accepts me for who I am, try to do the best for me, who effortlessly always put a smile on my face ...

We've never done couple photoshoots before. This one happening next week, would be something we keep for the rest of our lives. :)


XOXO,
theRascal

It's Never Just About You

Sometimes, we just have to understand that everything is not about you, yourself and maybe, oh! You again.

After seeing many of my friends in a relationship, and myself getting married, I've learned (am still learning) more about balancing life, job and handling the family (including the in-laws-to-be). There are so many times when it is not always about you, but about expectations put upon you as a woman, a wife, friend, best friend, mother, colleague, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, sister ... anymore roles should a woman uphold that I've missed out listing here?

Sometimes things can be so crazy that it drives a woman to breakdown for no reason. Some men would understand, the others would just send you to the psychiatric ward (if you're lucky). Worst scenario? They tell you off, saying you've changed into a bizarre weird person you've never used to be.

I talked about expectations of a woman in my Sociology class last semester. Students, finally, agreed that it is far harder to be a perfect woman, because in the end, no one is perfect. We're just working towards sustaining a happy family.

So, most of the time, it's not about you. I would like to think that it is never about you. When someone says he/she would like to have Korean food today, don't try to change it to Japanese, just because you like it. Because it is never just about you. Think for the rest of the people around you.

And so when the husband gives you the moment of bliss, you cherish it and think back on the days where you could just lie down on the beach sipping away a cocktail, don't forget to smile. On other days when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, it's okay, tell yourself that it's going to get better.

I'm still learning to handle 2 families at a time. I (think) I'm slowly picking up over time. I wonder how I would handle situations when I have little feet running around in future?

I'll just continue learning.


XOXO,
theRascal

Cool Blog

Recently, both Darling and I are addicted with this Cool Blog thing.

No, it's not a blog as in this online thing.

It's this:


Oh they serve really good pearl tea/flavoured juices with the option of adding flavoured jellies!

It's available in Low Yat. So whenever we're there, we'll definitely buy one for each of us!


Knowing the Pei is also addicted to pearl tea, almost immediately, I sms'ed her about it as it is also available in Singapore!

But anyway, what is better than KOI Pearl Milk Tea?


Anyone know if they are up for a franchise? :)


XOXO,
theRascal

Dressing Up

It was really fun playing dress up with mom at the boutique at Sri Hartamas.

Daphne from IVORE was definitely very helpful (and patient) by slowly recommending dresses, materials and different colours to suit my mom.


My mom is one special person. She could handle a full class of children with special disabilities every single day at school, but when it comes to traffic and shopping (especially fashion), she has the least amount of patience. Really!

I wonder how is mommy loving Japan? I hope to visit that part of the world one day. The Japanese people and culture really captivates the heart of many in the world.


XOXO,
theRascal