Birthdays...

Almost every close friend I have is a friggin' Libra, it's madness. Right off the bat I can name a few: C, K, M, A, J, G... Though I shan't complain cause this just means more parties during the month of Oct in addition to the all-time favorite Halloween and Oktoberfest.

As with most celebrations, the bf's 30th was made a little more special with friends and loved ones. Here are photos from I ♥ CHRIS Day as promised:

Party kit: color pencils in Chris' favorite shades (green, brown and other army-like colors), fake plastic glasses, picture frames, notebook, little toy soldiers and his childhood pound puppy


First guests to arrive, Neil and Sha :)


The birthday boy in his new Puma shirt from the sis


McDs for everyone along with Boon Tong Kee chicken rice, Old Chang Kee curry puffs and Coke Zeros!


Polaroids with Chris


Birthday candles on Sara Lee pound cakes because he loves them so. Perhaps not so much anymore now that we have 5 loaves in the fridge :D


Proud winners of the Chris lookalike competition: Doreen with her stripey golf top, berms and flip flops and Lilian with her checkered berms and cutout glasses


The party ended pretty early and the morning lasted with cigars and chilled beer...

We ♥ you Chris!

Twenty-something non the wiser

I didn't put much thought to my birthday this year and half expected it to whiz by without satiation, much like the long weekend.

But of course, the darling bf did.

First he suggested spending Sunday out looking for anything and everything I ever wanted. Turns out, what I really wanted was to spend time with him :) So we created a wishlist and added a few things to it: a Miu Miu bag, Car Shoe riding boots, ruby red Kate Spade pumps, french toasts and waffles (I ♥ wishlists!). Then decided to settle with waffles. Yum!

When Monday came, a delivery of the silliest, like seriously SILLIEST, looking bouquet I've ever seen arrived bearing the note:

Zuk lei seng yat fai loh. hoi sum hoi sum
Ting yat sek Jaan, ye kar sek dim sum fah :)

From: Sei Bart Gong

In English, translated from fairly broken Cantonese, it read:

Wishing you a happy birthday. Happy. Happy.
Tomorrow eat Jaan. Right now eat dim sum flowers :)

From: Nosy person/more accurately, bastard (in so few words)

It made me laugh so hard, especially knowing that he went through much trouble drafting it. All this, followed by dinner at Jaan and a heart-shaped chocolate cake from one of my favorite bakeries in SG. The smallest gesture, yet sweetest ending to a lovely day.

When I asked the bf later why he chose the dim sum flowers, he said, "Dim sum was always our thing" and I had flashbacks of our SF days. Yes, dim sum was our thing.

Thanks love ♥

And a BIG thank you to everyone who called, texted, posted messages on my FB wall, pinged, wished, sang or shared a slice of cake with me. I'm so lucky to have had the chance to celebrate with you in some form or another :)

Love y'all to bits!

What I feel like

...right this moment

More than I could ask for

Sitting on a plane, holding hands.

Our iPods playing different tunes.

Better than Ezra's "A Lifetime" came on.

I remember this song.

When did I hear it last?

It was for a TVC script.

For COM201?

One of my favorites.

Soundtrack for a Fight Against Teenage Suicide Awareness script.

Don't remember much of what I wrote but...

The scene began at a dining table of fighting parents.

Zoom in to a teenage boy's jaded face.

The sounds melt away slowly, presumably drowned by his thoughts.

Cut to football field.

Teen wanders aimlessly along the side.

Football hits him in the head.

Hard.

Laughter is heard.

Cut to scene of teen carrying his baby sister, a small smile on his face.

Sunlight on their cheeks.

He whispered quietly in her ear, "Goodbye little one."

Scene blacks out.

CTA message appears.

VO goes: Don't be too late.

Boy did I love that class.

It was the same class where I met Livie.

Livie, my partner in crime during late night talks and dining hall meals.

Boba tea and outlet shopping.

Heels and miniskirts.

In the snow.

Dear Livie who introduced me to the bf then.

The bf who is now the love of my life.

I have a lot to thank for.

Family. Friends. Love. Career. Travels. Life.

Love.

It's all very real.

A heavenly silver themed event

After almost 15 years of being an item, 3 years since the first proposal in Maldives, 2 weeks of preparation, probably 6 hours of shopping for the right dress(es), 1 ROM and 1 glittery cocktail reception, it finally dawned on us that the long-awaited union of my big sister Vivienne and Danny is for real. Like for real.

I'm not one for toasts and super affectionate speeches during major events (I'm usually the one giggling inappropriately in the background) but it's important this time because it's the first in our family of 4 (giggly) sisters.

So here's a big congratulations to my dear sis and Danny: I wish you both a happy new beginning full of love and excitement, of joy and understanding, and of much togetherness forever after. Love you both!

The beautiful couple at the ROM

Rings, bouquet and pens in hand

Both dads as witnesses

All signed and good, and MARRIED!


I love this photo. My dad was beaming all day long, it was contagious

Family shot. Though because the bf took this one, he wasn't it it :( We'll have to wait for the photos from Viv's friend Kid @his Studio

The Hilton Catering crew and wedding planner Lan doing their thing


A garbage bin full of roses is like art to me :)


There were creamy white roses, hydrangeas, cala lilies and more white flowers that bloom in the night


Mom, sis and me


It rained when we arrived at the reception...


We helped set up the favors


Dad putting his shorthand to good use


The guest book


...and scented candle favors


The spread


The bubbly


The cake


The floral arrangements


The bride


The moms

The Addam's Family (??!)

The party. Can you spot the bride and groom?


Viv and Danny entertaining guests who were all dressed in white and silver

Cousin Fay doing Viv's hair

Chris playing with the lil' munchkin from Monster's Inc.


Isn't the resemblance uncanny? She even sounds like the cartoon

Cousin Fay, who is due for a Leo baby next month

Cousin Vilmos bringing out the homemade treats: lavender and vanilla bean macarons

The best man's speech


Money shot


Money shot II


Proud dads


Cake slicing ceremony! Yum

Silly billies whom I adore

Dad and the bf having a heart-to-heart

A fallen star

Love you sis! Hope you have a good rest after all that wedding craziness :)

I heart "The Lover's Pocketbook"

by Raymond Peynet, published 1954.

This year, Valentine's day was overshadowed by the rambunctious more festive Chinese New Year. And while the bf and I hardly ever took this date seriously, I've always loved it for its pinks, reds and all things sweet. The only pink and reds we saw were lai sees and hong baos filled with $$$ - not that I'm complaining - but they were hardly Valentines.

So when I saw this lovely set on Flickr I got all giddy with excitement. What lovely illustrations! *swoon* Each carefully drawn piece says so much without having to say anything.

And my all time favorite drawing is rightly placed on the cover

So a very belated Valentine's wish to all with this, thanks to the generous folks on Flickr and dear Mr. Peynet.

PS: doesn't Peynet sound like penyet from ayam penyet? Just another one of my favorite things :)