my favourite things

27 Dec

I'm simply thrilled by lucky breaks. So you can imagine my audible delight when I chanced upon a winter cap at 50% off on my way to yoga. It was adorned with a cute knitted fleur, no less. I grabbed it on the spot and thanked God, my lucky stars, my angels ... beaming.

Well, just a note on fashion, I am happy to come across a precious nugget of wisdom by Nina Garcia - "Style is a deeply personal expression of who you are, and every time you dress, you are asserting part of yourself …" And in her book, she listed 100 of her favourite things which made her feel fabulous. That set me off to do some wardrobe editing of my own.

Thank heavens for her style tip. Maybe I'll be on my way to enjoy a less cluttered wardrobe and my very own list of 100 fabulous faves.
kate

fete with friends

26 Dec

After a whole afternoon of housework, I met Mr BF to buy some finger food and joined our friends at an X’mas gathering.

Was nice to meet up with my ex-colleagues ... eating and alternating chitchat with our movie critiques of whatever the HBO channel was showing. There was much food and got to taste some turkey and ice-cream paired with bread pudding. Yummers!

And well, the party ended with ... the ... gift exchange. Bien sûr. How could we miss that huh? :)

Today I gave thanks for X’mas parties. Christmas wouldn’t be the same without the annual meet-ups and the spirit of giving, plus getting queer gifts hmm ...

* merry christmas *

25 Dec

Christmas started when midnight came. Excitedly I opened my first pressie for the day and it was a bright cheery pink gift. Nice. Sure blends well with one of my goals for next year – which is to experience more cheer and joy.

Popped by the cinema to catch “Avatar”. Was reminded by the movie to appreciate nature more instead of indulging in consumerism constantly. Took a moment to give thanks for nature, for the air and earth which feed our bodies. Sounds mushy, but very true. We need to treasure Mother Earth more.

Dinner was at home with the family. Ours was a simple meal of McDonald’s nuggets and Korean instant noodles (one of my faves!). Well I gave thanks that Mr BF cooked it cos the noodle thing is his specialty and it was yummy. Had a warm fuzzy feeling as I gave out the presents to Mom, Dad and Bro. It feels good to be able to give.

The night ended quietly ... and I gave thanks for the spirit of giving at Christmas.
kate

Christmas Eve’s thanksgiving

24 Dec

ONE more day to Christmas!! Started the day with a run, literally. I was running a bit late for the mani and pedi session and the manicurists were worried I wouldn’t have enough time as they were fully booked today. When I arrived, they swiftly started and coloured my nails a rosy pinkish-red. In the mood for the festive season!

Well I gave thanks for the meticulous young ladies who snipped and clipped away the dry and chapped skin with precision. Also thankful for the invention of nail colour and for these ladies who make our nails pretty, putting a bounce in our steps.

Caught a glimpse of this lovely Christmas tree on the way to the cafe.

Teabreak was another adventure with Mr BF and me trying a new X’mas dessert called Cherry-Go-Round. Always nice to try something new. For this one, I like how the cold ice-cream tasted when eaten together with the warm pastry. We kinda gobbled it up in 10 minutes.

At night, we went to a friend’s BBQ party that ended with a gift exchange. I didn’t know most of the folks there but they were friendly and a few kept barbecuing the food for us all. Very kind of them.

Gave thanks for Christmas time gatherings where new and old friends meet to just chitchat over food and oh yeah, the gift exchange of course. (By the way, I still find it tough to buy pressies when I don’t know if the recipient is a lady or gentleman *grin*. This year I tried something new giving cook books.)

kate

back on the yoga mat

23 Dec

Finally .... finally after two weeks, I was back to yoga again. The past two weeks were the worst this year for me, health-wise. Very seldom do I fall that ill, so it was way out of my comfort zone for me this month.

Slowly I got back my energy after resting and started with the Gentle Yoga class tonight. Didn’t want to over-tax the body since I had difficulties breathing just two weeks ago.

Somehow after a period of deep illness which forces you to rest in bed, your body seems to go through a detox. And then you feel this surge of energy after recovering.

Today I gave thanks that my body has a natural healing ability, and that I am well enough to exercise again. Good health is a great blessing and I appreciate it lots.

kate

grace

22 Dec

Met the babes Steph and Audrey for an X’mas lunch today. Lunch was courtesy of Ms Aud, at our favourite cafe hangout.

Maybe it was their charm, or the pure kindness of the manager there. After our main course and mouthfuls of laughter, the manager walked by and whispered that he’d bless us with a slice of cake. How sweet. Here's the surprise we got. Today I gave thanks for the graciousness of strangers.



At night, Mr BF and I went to the petrol station to beef up the two plastic Santas using the air pumps there. It was truly kinda weird to be at a petrol station filling Santas with air. But it was good fun. And I gave thanks for new experiences, no matter big or small ones.
kate

at home

Another busy Monday flashed past. Kinda like Groundhog Day with the familiar flooding of the email inbox. What's new right?

As I'll be on a longer business trip soon, I thought to spend more time with my family after work. Dad scooped my dinner on a plate for me, same for Bro. Mom smiled at us, then back to eating her food. Pet hamster Rufus was running around conducting his own business.

Very ordinary stuff. But very family.

Today I gave thanks that after busy and tough days at work, there is a home and family to return to.
kate

beside one another

20 Dec

Sundays are truly precious. Because the rest of the week just seem to scurry by so quickly.

Today I was strolling through the day mostly ... and spent some time just being with loved ones. In the late afternoon, Mr BF and I enjoyed our cheesy nachos during an action-packed movie (lots of blood and gore too ... yeeks).

We made it a point to head home straight after that to spend some time with my family. Though we were eating packed dinner sitting in the living room on the floor, it was nice to just be around family and friends. Mom was like the queen bee sitting in her own chair and watching us eat and yak.

Today I gave thanks for the presence of loved ones.
kate

pocket-friendly fashion

19 Dec

The rain was a bummer today. The weather was clearly not on my side when I was lugging bags of stuff plus holding an umbrella, and rushing home to take over from Bro to eldersit Mom.

But ... I had a little rainbow moment when I bumped into an unexpected surprise today in the mall - a fun girly pink top made of lace with 'puff' sleeves. What a delight!

Today I gave thanks for the creativity of designers and the sensibility of businesses who price some nice apparel at reasonable prices. Cool.
kate

sit and slurp

18 Dec

Finally Friday!!! So really glad that I could have more rest this morning and didn’t need to be a slave to the alarm clock’s call. But I still made it in time for a McDonald’s hotcakes breakfast. Yummy.

It was my errands day today. Less than a month later, I would be in a totally different climate (frosty winter) instead of the sunny and wet days that we are used to in Singapore. The business trip will last slightly more than a month, so I had to start getting the winter gear ready.

We went to some sales (very very crowded) before getting Mr BF’s pressie. Bought a scarf, a pair of long socks, shampoo and collected the stationery and mini postcards I ordered online. We hunted for a pair of sandals for Mr BF as well but couldn’t find them. Poor him! He had to drag his feet along the stretch of Orchard Road that whole afternoon.

Amidst all that busy activity, I gave thanks for the nice little tea break we had, enjoying our very own Ice Earl’s Vanilla drink. It was nice to be slurping something so delicious, and getting a feet rest from all that walking. Love feeling a touch of heaven on earth.

kate

month of sales

17 Dec

I was hoping that today would be terrific Thursday with me working chirpily at my desk without a trace of being attacked by the flu bug. But that was not so.

I was still feeling awful so I dragged myself to the doctor’s to get some medicine to stop all this nonsense. Am really not a fan of medication, but I gave in today.

Though feeling the strain, still I had something to feel grateful for today. I gave thanks for the sales going on in December. Managed to get some cosier clothing for winter during a sale today. It was like $100 for 3 items. Definitely wallet-friendly.

kate

chomp & chat

16 Dec

It was finally mid-week! I was especially happy that the days were moving along because I was so looking forward to resting this weekend. The big bad flu was a tougher nemesis than I thought, and I was struggling with painful on and off headaches whilst trying to resolve work tasks.

I relished the timeouts (lunch breaks!!) more as it meant I had a rest away from staring and typing at the computer. Today was special cos I met an ex-colleague for lunch. We had both moved on from the workplace where we first met and were facing different work issues at our respective jobs now.

We had a good time of updating each other on the current happenings in our lives now. And we found out that some of the tough challenges we faced at work ain’t so dissimilar across different companies anyways. (Ok, that helped us to feel a little bit better about our own mountains to overcome.)

Today I gave thanks for good old pals who can still chat and connect with me, offer me advice and insights, and at the end of it all truly hoping better outcomes will pop up for each other. Now that’s what I call all-weather kind of friends :).

kate

feeling Christmasy

15 Dec

Steph and I had a brief but nice catch-up over lunch today. It was my first day back to work this week, after falling ill from Saturday night which cumulated to a fever on Sunday. So it felt extra great to be having some outside air today.

I brought some red hot roses for her and we had a healthy meal of soup and bread ... after which we saw this Christmas tree nearby. Couldn’t resist taking a pic!

I gave thanks today for the lovely X’mas trees and decorations dotting the malls. Sure brightened up any humdrum December days.



(courtesy of Steph)

kate

care to share

Today when I read the email newsletter from Conversation Pieces, I was touched by the story that the lady shared. She was at a supermarket when the elderly man in front of her swiped different credit cards but still could not pay for his purchases, even after he asked the cashier to exclude a bunch of bananas.

In the end, the lady blessed him and paid for his purchases. The total was about $15, including the bananas.

When I read this poignant account, I gave thanks that there are people in this world who care enough to touch others' lives, even strangers. I am also thankful that I have sufficient and do not need to worry about my daily basic needs.

This Christmas, perhaps you can think of a small way to touch someone else's life. Maybe with a gift, money or your time. Spread some cheer!
kate

clowning around

13 Dec

An extremely tiring day today with throbbing headaches, clogged nostrils and an itchy throat. Not a pretty situation at all.

The bed was my best buddy today and I was thankful for the sparks of cheer from a bubbly toddler laughing happily cos he had a worm in a container.

Mr BF's baby nephew was chasing his older cousin around, trying to show him his new-found fun toy (aka the worm). It was mayhem in the living hall, but sounded like good fun!

Too bad I couldn't join them in their horseplay. Still, I was thankful to hear the kids having fun at home.

kate

the special day

Today was chosen by Mr BF to be the special day.

And to my amazement, he gave me the biggest pretty bouquet I’ve ever received in my life.



It wasn’t one of my glamorous days as I was still bogged down by the big bad flu and sans makeup. But how wonderful that even when you are in one of your ‘down’ days, someone still finds you special, tells you so and takes care of you.

I give thanks for the gifts of generous doses of care and of course, the garden of roses!
kate

snug and tucked

It was one of those days when I felt so under the weather.

The inbox at work was more than flooded. To make things worse, a small migraine started troubling me after lunch. I finally gave in and popped a pill because there was still a lot of calculation to do at work. Later today, the runny nose crept in together with a sore throat.

My thanks for today are for the basic but comforting things when I feel unwell.

I gave thanks for the cardigan and the blanket that kept me warm. How soothing ...

kate

carpe diem !

10 Dec

Tonight I had a fabulous dinner with two gal pals. The wafer, ice-cream and oozing warm chocolate were undoubtedly heavenly. But what was even better was the heart-to-heart chat with the gals that was peppered with much laughter, downloads of work frustrations and plans for the brand new year.

One of the gals shared that her hubby suggested that they create three goals for each other, to be fulfilled in 2010. Her hubby already had one in mind, which was for her to have her own photo exhibition. How apt, since my friend does take good pictures and is blessed to be able to travel much and have more subjects and places to photograph.

We started asking each other what goals we want to take on as challenges next year. The plans have to be infused with excitement and be a bit scary, so that we’ll grow out of our comfort zone. As we talked on, we became more inspired ...

Today’s thanks are for good friends who motivate and challenge us to grow more and be happy at the same time. With them around, who needs shrinks? :)


p/s: Merci beaucoup for the X’mas pressies too!

the delicious and the divine

9 Dec

First thanks for the day was for this delicious and simply tasty donut. The look of it already melted my heart. I was totally satisfied with my dessert!



Then the night started with a nice surprise with this picturesque sketch by Mother nature at Marina Barrage. Took my breath away right away ... And I gave thanks for the wonder of nature which never fails to amaze me.


kate

sweet treats

8 Dec

As I chatted with a nice lady over email, she brightened my day with this nifty calendar that she emailed over.



Her sweet hubby will be putting in a new gift each day till Christmas Eve. Yesterday she found candy in the pocket of the day. Perhaps one day she may find some gorgeous bling? *wink*

As a gush of giggly joy surged in me whilst feeling happy for her, I gave thanks for the delightful treats I received as well. Like Mr BF buying dinner for me first at the foodcourt tonight, before he bought his own. Small but thoughtful gestures. Nice!

kate

zoetic

7 Dec

Tonight on my way home, I saw a wake at the void deck of our block of flats.

I went home and asked my Dad about it. He said the granny who used to lived in the apartment above our floor had passed away. Which just reminded me (again) that life is very fragile, very transient, and is short.

So today I give thanks for the alive and the non-departed ... The folks whose presence I can still enjoy (the list includes pet Rufus of course) and also the nature that’s breathing around me.



p/s: Just bought a pretty flower during lunch today to brighten my desk. Lovely.

kate

home cooked and loving it

Wrapping up a moderately paced Sunday was a dinner at home. It sounds quite ordinary to have a meal at home, but it was a home cooked dinner, dished out by Mr BF’s mom. I do miss these kind of meals because in my own family’s place, the menu is always packed food as nobody has time to cook during the more than five years after Mom’s accident.

So there we were at the dinner table together, scooping the food and having our tête-à-tête. What’s nice is that there’s always soup as part of the menu. I ate more than usual today as I was quite hungry after yoga. Yummers.

As weekdays are usually hectic and choke-full of demands in the office, a quiet dinner together on a Sunday evening is the perfect date. And today I give thanks for this sweet rendezvous.

kate

the blues and Santa’s visit

5 Dec

After five consecutive days of problem resolving in the office, I usually like to take things slow on Saturday mornings before clearing the housework. The afternoon’s routine then goes something like this ...

Neatening the room and throwing away rubbish.
Bringing Mom back to her bed after brushing her teeth.
Washing dirty laundry using the washing machine or by hand.
Keeping the clothes that are cleaned and dried.
Making a milo drink for Mom for teabreak.

Today there was a sudden change of routine when Mom managed to untie the string at the side of her bed, and escaped. I heard a noise and went to check on her. To my surprise, her bed was empty and she had walked to the kitchen.

As I led her back to her bed, I thought something smelled funny. My suspicion was unfortunately confirmed when I saw the urine patch on her bed. The urine probably leaked from her diapers onto her bed when she was making her getaway.

At that moment, it was very frustrating. My initial plan to take a bath was instantly killed. Having to clear the mess quickly, I put her back on her bed to change her diaper before letting her sleep on Dad’s bed whilst I cleaned the soiled bed.

Whilst rushing to clean up the mess during that vexing half an hour, I was glad for one thing. I wasn’t in the mood to be chirpy and thankful. But I did give thanks that the urine did not leave a trail on the floor, else I’d have an extra chore to do.

I had another surprise in the night though, luckily a much happier one. Here it is ... a Christmas sock with a present in it. I was delighted that Mr BF found some romance in his heart and pinned up a cute Santa sock without me knowing. Love the reversible hat (stripes and khaki) inside the sock and of course, the even bigger surprise of a little card because Mr BF is not a fan of written notes. I give thanks for this out of the blue wonder that made my today better.

Thank God Santa dropped by for a visit today.


kate

we've got mail !

4 Dec

Christmas time is my favourite festive season, because my postbox gets more mail than usual. Minus the increased fancy mailers from malls or credit card companies asking you to buy more and more, what I really like are the X'mas greeting mail.

So you can imagine my delight yesterday when I stepped into my home and saw a bunch of envelopes addressed to me. I literally went YEH (!!!) cos it had been a hectic work week and these keep-in-touch mails really made my day.

There were cards from my primary school teacher, my ex-colleagues, ex-schoolmates etc ... how refreshing to see handwritten greetings instead of the usual emailed ones with perfectly neat fonts. It's nice to read a short brief on how friends had been doing lately, in their own scribbles.

Christmas mail rocks! And I give thanks for getting a bunch of X'mas cards.

kate

chitchat and ramen

3 Dec

My "thanks of the day" is a toss between a chat with Dad and a bowl of ramen.

Something cropped up last minute at work today and I had to stay back. Just before 8:30pm, I ran into the yoga studio and made it just in time for the lesson. I was dripping big fat drops of sweat during the class but at least the tension in my muscles was released.

Feeling tired after the class, I trooped down to City Hall's foodcourt. Right on the table were two bowls of ramen that Mr BF bought whilst I was rushing to meet him and my dinner. Grateful for a ready meal because all the food stalls were closed by the time I arrived. The noodles were a bit soggy but I was real happy to dig in immediately as I was quite hungry. The ramen satisfied my stomach, and warm gratitude filled my heart as we gobbled our dinner together.

When I reached home, I had a nice casual chat with Dad about the current turbulent times and the world's economy. Sounds like dry topics but we got to know each other's thoughts better. Time flies when you are truly engaged in something you are interested in. So whooooosh and suddenly it was twelve plus already.

Today I give thanks for the loved ones in my life who care about me and my thoughts, and who are generous enough to share their time with me.

kate

xoxo

Today’s lunch was a fabulous timeout from the month-end activities in the office.

I give thanks for the peppy gal pals who spiced up our lunch date with lotsa happy chatter. We had great fun watching one of them milking the cow on her iPhone excitedly. It was hilarious. You go gal!!

After the meal, they brought me to an accessories shop and helped me handpick a sweet baby blue hairclip. Nothing beats having gal pals who make your day much brighter with their presence and help dress you up prettier. One of the gals even blessed me with bling bling that was so my style.

Thank God for gal pals who shower me with lots of xoxo!

December begins ... tick tock ...

Finally, after eleven months of waiting, I strolled right into my favourite month of the year. With the festive season in the air, most folks seemed to be a tad chirpier.

I shall attempt to give thanks for something, for each day in December. Not a bad way to sign off 2009 huh?

Last month I accidentally smashed my watch when I dropped it onto the floor. It had been with me for around six years and the design is not available any more. So you could imagine my loud gasp when the watch fell from my palm.

As I flirted with the idea of getting a new one to replace the spoilt watch, I remembered a watch that my Dad gave me after Mom’s freak accident which showed us that life is very very fragile and a person can say bye to the earth any moment. A few years ago, Dad gave me a memento to remember him by, and it was a watch. Not a surprise, since he’s a ‘watchaholic’.

The old me would have bought a new watch at a sale. And there are many sales going on now! Super tempting.

But the renewed me decided to cut waste by not spending unnecessarily, and to appreciate and use whatever I already have. So out came the memento and when I wear it now, I remember Dad’s thoughtfulness.

I give thanks ... for Dad’s gift and love, and also for Mr BF who taught me how to de-clutter my life by making better use of what I already have. Kudos to these two men.

kate

great scoops

Recently I found that our kitchen’s collection of plastic spoons shrank to ... none. Maybe Dad accidentally threw them away with the food wrappers.

I was pleasantly surprised when I chanced upon a nondescript shop at Ang Mo Kio selling these plastic wonders for 40 to 70 cents each. Unexpected nice surprises sure have a knack of lighting up my day!

I bought a few in different colours so that Mom can have some variety in her life with these cool stuff.



kate

remove the roof

"Argue for your limitations and sure enough they're yours."
- Richard Bach


What ceilings are you putting on yourself?

Perhaps we can bounce our “I can’t” list off our best pals. And maybe some of them can trigger us to think out-of-the-box and return to our goals again.

I’m glad to have those BFFs in my life who challenge my imagined ceilings. Makes getting back on track quicker!

it’s Thanksgiving !

This Thanksgiving week, I am grateful that:

1. Dad’s scan of the lump under his skin near his rib cage turned out fine (phew!). The doctor advised that it was a lump of fat deposits. Sometimes it takes a health scare to make you extra thankful for the body that you currently have. Sure, I don’t have a model-perfect body but at least I am not on constant medication like my mom. A healthy body is a true blue blessing!
   
   
2. I had some time to R&R and caught the sneak preview of “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”. For the 130 minutes, Mr BF and I chucked reality outta the door and walked into the world of humans, vampires, werewolves, revenge and love. Sweet to relive those years of teenage romance. Of cos, eye candy didn’t hurt either.
   
   
3. There were some sales going on. Managed to pick up facial wash at 20% off. Love bargains.
   
   
4. I bumped into a shop selling just the spoons I was hunting for. More about this later!
   
   
5. We had big fat wet goodbye kisses splattered on our faces … courtesy of Mr BF’s baby nephew. Made us smile and go yeeeeeeeeew at the same time. What a joy.
   
   
   

It’s back to the Monday cycle again … hopefully the felicity of this week will spill over to this coming week. Sure needs lots of good cheer, especially in the workplace, as (yet) another month-end closing begins …

kate

rest and rev up

Tonight was so full of drama.

The opening scene began when Rufus our adorable pet hamster flew out of my hand. He suddenly ran away from my palm into (literally) thin air and fell 40cm, landing on the cold hard floor. He was in shock for a few seconds before slowly moving his limbs again.

I was worried he’d be too injured, so I slowly scooped him back into his cage, gave him some gentle pats and fed him. After a quick dinner, he slept. Keeping my fingers crossed that he’d be fine.

The second scene was much more tiring, and as heart-wrenching as the first episode. Mom was in one her “brain block” moments and refused to take her medicine. Dad said she had been this way the whole week, which I could imagine was rather frustrating. Tonight, she just sat there with the bitter medicine in her mouth, refusing to swallow.

We tried coaxing her, tried reasoning, tried to use the I’m-the-boss-just-swallow-it tone … but nothing quite worked. She spitted it out. Sounds dumb that we were trying to reason with a brain damaged person, but we were desperate and had to try any possible way.

Trudging through the increasing exasperation, we kept asking her again and again to quickly swallow the medicine. Finally she did it, after Dad spoke as sternly as a school discipline master.

Are there some days you just feel like nothing seems to go right?

Sometimes I have such challenging days, and today seemed to jot itself down as one of those yucky days. When I know it’s a “bad weather” day, what gets me going is the hope that tomorrow will get better.

So tonight I shall just plonk onto the bed earlier and have a good rest. A recharged me to welcome the new tomorrow sounds good to me!

kate

just say it

I like this line in the recent Tiffany ads – “Give Voice To Your Heart”.

I thought about what my voice is, as I pen each Christmas card. What do I want to tell my friends?

What do you want to tell someone today? Say it from your heart.


p/s: I’ve written a batch of X’mas cards and am already excited about posting them this coming week! Such fun :)

kate

encouraged

After a very busy week at work, it was nice to spend Sunday working out fellow health-keepers.

It doesn’t feel natural (at least for me!) to drag myself to yoga class after a lazy lunch. Besides it was a hot class - meaning I’d be dripping sweat beads throughout the session and trying to catch my breath in the sauna room.

I was glad I trooped down to class anyways. It felt great building up my own body together with other folks who were also persevering past the tiredness to finish the exercises. To the 30 plus other yoga practitioners in today’s class – I thank you.

Thank you for inspiring me with your dedication to keeping your own body healthy. Whenever I find it hard to squeeze time out for exercising, these yoga mates who exercise faithfully truly egg me on.

kate

feet mittens

A salesgirl at Sasa introduced me to a new beauty gizmo today.

Mittens on the feet.

For $1.95 I thought to give it a try and pamper those hardworking feet that were feeling a bit under the weather with chapped skin and little bumps. Anyways those mittens were pretty easy to use and I took a short nap whilst the feet were wrapped up in the moisture mask.

Maybe that’s why I appreciate Sundays. It’s a time to chill out and have a treat-your-body session, and to recharge before busy Monday starts. Today my feet were the lucky ones who got revived. And I’m all ready to put on pretty shoes tomorrow and begin the work week with a spark!



kate

lucky breaks

Yesterday’s Friday the 13th started with a smash, literally. I brought an old watch out to hunt for a replacement strap later that night. But it fell onto the floor once I reached my office. Ouch.

Still, this week was filled with people and things I am thankful for.

Am glad that ...

1. Dad fixed the hole in my room’s ceiling without telling me his plans. I ain’t sure if any bits and pieces of plaster are still lingering on my bed ... Anyways, it was thoughtful of Dad to take time off his busy schedule of being Mom’s sole caregiver to patch up my ceiling. Thanks!

2. The gift I bought via a blogshop arrived. From the online ordering to the delivery, it was hassle-free. After a long day at work, the blogshop owner’s brother still came all the way to the CBD area to pass the genuine item to me. Appreciate the tiptop personal service and happy to know the friendly people.

3. I received a yellow flower from the temp gal in our office to celebrate yesterday’s Kindness Day. Sweet!

4. Mr BF treated me to the movie “2012” last night. It was a great reminder to remember the lovely folks in our lives and be nice to them before it’s too late. Today I shall collect the Christmas cards I had ordered and start penning my thoughts and thanks to the bunch of cherished friends.

Happy weekend folks!

blueprint

“Think ahead. Don't let day-to-day operations drive out planning.”

- Donald Rumsfeld

Most folks who work in the corporate world are familiar with this annual year-end ritual. No, not the yearly Dinner and Dance. Not the Christmas party. But the (usually dreaded) performance review.

As I was putting together a draft review of my year’s performance, I suddenly thought – what about the annual review of our personal (out-of-office) goals? If we put in the energy and time to review our job’s goals and results, what about the yearly review of our personal plans?

Are we as interested in how our own life is progressing?

Since it’s November now, perhaps it's a nice time to jot down what went well or wrong for 2009, learn from the good and bad, and pencil in the strategy for the next year. Family, relationships, health, finance, travel, hobbies etcetera ... Tick your pick from the menu of goals and jot down practical action plans.

Here are some tips on having a life plan plus a simple useful sheet. With this nice starting point, I’ll be on my way to draw up that 2010 map.

What’s your next year’s map like?

kate

like water off a duck’s back

Everyone has his burden. What counts is how you carry it.
- Merle Miller


Today Mom surprised us by picking up the toothbrush suddenly in the midst of watching a TV show. And she brushed her own teeth.

This is a small wonder because she lost her logical skills after a severe brain damage incident and is very dependent on us after that. Usually she’ll wait for us to serve her as she isn’t that physically mobile after her near-fatal accident.

Her little act of independence sure reminded us that no matter what her own inconveniences and challenges are – she still tries to do her best nonchalantly.

Thanks Mom for today’s aha! moment.

in wonderland

pic




Adorable and whimsical stationery I chanced upon at a La Bonbons’ pushcart in Cineleisure.

Chatted with one of the co-owners and she mentioned happily that they’ll be having another pushcart shop at Suntec this week. New arrivals will probably arrive from the third week of November. Just in time for picking up some X’mas gifts!

I’ll probably drop by again to get some of these cutie postcards. Sweet and charming. Sure brings back fond memories of Kamakura.

kate

being meek

sky


Just before noon time, a sudden rain poured from the sky. This was the scene I saw from my office building.

The rain caught us by surprise as it was still sunny about 15 minutes ago. What a rapid change!

Since the raindrops were everywhere, we could either whine and complain, or walk out to grab lunch with the good old umbrella. We could not control the weather’s mood, but we could adapt and change our route, find sheltered walkways, or use umbrellas.

Ain’t it the same as life? Sometimes we are hard hit by very unfortunate circumstances, and they totally throw us off course. We can blame the world, fate, our parents, our nemesis, our boss, our spouse, our friends, whoever ... You get the drift. We can whine about our less than ideal situations, or we can make some tweaks to our life and continue on with a smile and a bounce.

I guess the divine and the universe are trying to send a message to me this week. Just last night I was re-learning the word “meek”. This word means having restraint. Or being humbly patient when under provocation from others (or so I gathered from an online dictionary!).

When difficult or problematic situations face us, do we react meekly and are humbly patient?

During the yoga lesson today, our teacher found us gritting our teeth or looking tensed up when we were trying out the more challenging poses. She gave us a useful tip: we should not tense our way through the challenge, but should stay relaxed and work our way calmly through it.

So that’s the message I’m getting these two days. When troubles or difficulties greet us, show restraint, be relaxed and figure the way with a dose of calm.

Stay sunny.

kate

marvellous Monday

Today's blurbs of joy:

Indulging in a super tasty KFC chicken meal, pigging out with colleagues during a lunch treat. We were introduced to the sinful but oh-so-scrumptious cheese melts.

Chanced upon a set of PJs for mom at a makeshift pushcart. Pretty in pink!

Bumped into a lucky find – sweet-looking vintage wrapping paper. Good stuff at 80 cents.

A friend recommended the next dating spot, the Modern Italian Cafe. Hmm .... so looking forward to it.

Finally, before the night ends ... I’d have enjoyed every spoonful of my favourite panna cotta.




Sweet dreams folks!

kate

your story

“Enough, Friend.
If you want to read on,
Then go, yourself become the book
and its essence.”

~ Angelus Silesius


And now we have stepped into November.

Quietly and almost unnoticeably, 83% of the year is a thing of the past already. How was your very own story for the past ten months of this year?

Was it filled with distinct highs and lows? Was it at a tranquil pace? Was it filled with fulfilled goals or avoidable regrets? Were you happy?

How will you write your memoirs for the rest of this year?

kate

bon appétit!

I finally found some time to be with Julia and Julie last night. And it was delight to watch two women’s lives transformed by their same love for cooking.

Of course, the delicious-looking fanciful meals that they dished out in the movie made me happy too - loved the eye candy! I don’t know anyone who cooks like that at home on a regular basis, else I’d be glad to be that budding chef’s neighbour!

Julia Child had a “career switch” in her 30s when she took up cooking lessons. The fact that she went on to influence America’s cooking is stunning.

Equally amazing is how Julie Powell picked up a new hobby of cooking and blogging in her 30s, and is now living her dream of being a writer.

How does it feel to embark on a brand new journey, and jump into an unfamiliar venture? What is it that you love, but have not found the courage or time to just do it?

I have some adventures in mind, and shall take the baby steps to kick-start them. As for this November, I shall get down to hunting for a recipe and try making my fave dessert – the lovable panna cotta.

Meanwhile, stay inspired by the two gutsy ladies, and start your own quests!


p/s: If you have yummy panna cotta recipes, please do let me know! Merci beaucoup ^_^

kate

j’adore

tower

Couldn’t resist picking up this Eiffel Tower keychain when I was browsing in Accessorize yesterday. It’ll sit on my new desk for sure.

There’s just something about Parisian etceteras that fascinates me ... perhaps it’s that certain je ne sais quoi about it.

For a touch of French today, check out some phrases. Au revoir!

kate

pumpkin face

cupcake


This cute cupcake certainly made us squeal in delight!

My charming Miss Audrey Hepburn wanted to celebrate Halloween with these cupcakes, and blessed us with a sweet treat at Joe and Dough.

Nothing beats meeting a bunch of cheery and entertaining gal pals over a Thursday lunch. We were recharged and that bouncy spark lasted me the whole day. Just what I needed!

kate

fantasy vs facts

This "expectations vs reality" scene from 500 Days of Summer is adorable yet poignant.

How many of us set ourselves up for disappointment when we keep expecting situations to flow the way we want?

Thought for the day: what's one expection you can toss out of your GOTTA BE PERFECT list this week?

kate

today’s brew

A friend recently asked me whether I came up with the name “Today’s Brew” for my email letterbox.

I thought about what inspired me to pen that moniker, and remembered this wise quote:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34, NIV)

Those words taught me to take each day as it comes.

I also recalled that I was fascinated by the daily menu that usually greeted cafe fans with handwritten words scribbled in chalk. Every day’s menu had its own special concoction of the day. And similarly, perhaps every day brings its own unique blend of ups and downs – its very own flavour.

Since every day’s experiences are unique, savour each day’s one-of-a-kind brew as it comes. Here’s a toast!

kate

happy feet

Feet are sometimes such underrated ardent supporters.

After all that bus-chasing, or strutting in killer heels, or squeezing the toes into those chichi shoes – it’s time to give the feet a well-deserved break.

How about dainty and comfy ballet flats for a change?




This charming pair from Gripz made my feet feel loved as all the toes could stretch out nicely inside the shoes. Wonderful.

What’s a part of your body that deserves more affection? Take a moment to dote on it this week!

kate

pick a treat

Sometimes after many days of intense work days, you just gotta pamper yourself with some R&R or S&S. Rest and relax, sleep and shopping ... whatever. Anything that makes you beam like a brand new being. Just take your pick.

I’m a fan of massages, so I went for one after a quick brunch today. My regular yoga lessons do help my muscles feel relieved. But nothing beats lying on a bed doing nothing, except to feel someone kneading the tightness out of your body. Nice.

Next up was my first ever perm in my life! The mere thought of seeing myself with curls was quite exciting. The process wasn’t that erm ... enjoyable, especially when your head was heated up to over a 100 degrees. (Hotter than boiling water, yep!)

But it was definitely quite an experience. In one scene I looked like an extra straight out of the Aliens movie with wires tagged to the curlers in my head. Totally out of this world.

After three hours, the perm was ready to be revealed. And I was happy with my new style. The treat of a new look? Absolutely priceless!

kate

in the present

Yesterday’s yoga lesson awakened me with an AHA! moment.

Halfway through the lesson, Mr Teacher saw that some of us were tired and were not using our hands to push into the mats as much as we should. After all, we modern beings don’t spend many hours on all fours working out those biceps.

He wisely asked us to take a little break and told us his story.

When he was a young yoga practitioner, he used to keep planning ahead. He’d think of how he could last the whole hour of yoga. So he’d not extend his arms to the fullest, thinking that he was conserving strength.

But because he wasn’t doing the pose correctly, he didn’t reap the maximum benefits from the poses. Giving a halfway effort just wasn’t the same as giving it his all in the present moment.

He offered us an alternative: why not reap the most from the poses now by extending our limbs correctly? And if we were really tired later, we could just ... take a rest!

That instant, my mind was opened.

Maybe sometimes we are planning too far ahead, and not making the most of the present moments by trying to conserve our energy. It’s like we try to cut back on the ingredients, and still expect to whip up a wicked dish.

Perhaps it’s time to stop shortchanging ourselves. Give it your all, now. And watch your strong efforts blossom.

kate

sprinkle the confetti !

I just love birthday celebrations. It’s a zippy timeout filled with much laughter, hope-filled wishes and chirpy candles. Best of all? It comes with a totally legitimate meal of pure indulgence.

Yesterday’s birthday dinner was a feast. We wasted no time and chewed right into our tasty steak. Dessert was divine too! These darling scoops of ice-cream were irresistible.




Maybe we need more birthday fetes every year!

p a r a d i s e

Rufus

Rufus enjoying his dreamland


There’s just something magical about watching a pet sleep quietly.

It kinda transports you into their calm and carefree world.

Just the perfect soothing balm after the helter skelter in the office.

And a timely reminder to sleep well tonight ... unruffled.

Sweet dreams!

kate

love chapters

“Some love stories aren’t epic novels – some are short stories. But that doesn’t make them any less filled with love.” (Carrie Bradshaw in Sex And The City)

Carrie’s wise musing popped to mind when I watched (500) Days of Summer today. Although (500) Days had traces of the usual Hollywood traits, the quirky movie was still a breath of fresh air without saccharine sweet endings.

Sure, love does happen. But shit happens as well. And when breakups spin like a typhoon to wreck our lives, what then happens next?

Does the catastrophe become an opportunity for healing? Do we dare to face the flaws that a crisis excavates out? Flaws that belong to us and our partner?

Maybe sometimes breakups are as revealing as a health report. Some folks look healthy on the outside, but a health report may disclose that they do have high cholesterol levels. And perhaps breakups expose the pressure points and fears that we try to bury hidden in our hearts. This ain’t necessary a bad thing is it? If we take it in good light, it may even help us to give and receive love better in our next relationship.

Partings can make some people feel that their world has crashed indefinitely. But as the protagonist in (500) Days found out ... although a love chapter may end, the book can continue on.

kate

trim it !

“To be a successful decision maker, we have to edit.” (from Blink by Malcom Gladwell)

I remember watching one of those reality TV shows where a judge was giving a contestant some useful advice. She said that whilst the contestant’s designs were creative, if he wanted his creations to have more punch, he had to learn to edit.

I was just thinking about this information-overload age where we have a huge myriad of choices to get the latest news quickly – google, facebook, twitter, good old emails, TV, radio and papers. And the ubiquitous handphone messages of course.

Life will be boring without learning new things and experimenting with fresh ideas. So with experimenting versus editing – how do we strike a healthy balance?

What do we have to edit out of our lives to be more dynamic?

My self-editing goes by a simple rule of thumb. One project a time keeps me focused and sane, for sure!


p/s: Am working on an upcoming ‘best moments’ project ... stay tuned!

kate

meeting surprises

I remember the time when I saw a shooting star whilst lazing around on a rooftop with a bunch of friends – my heart just gasped.

Sometimes life’s little surprises leave you beaming with dreamy wonder.

Maybe it’s nice that surprises don’t come all at once, but kinda scattered over your life. You know those join-the-dots picture books? Perhaps it’s more fun to join the dots one at a time and not have the complete picture staring at you all at one shot.

Today my moment of marvel was chancing upon this sweetheart. Turned on a smile instantly!



(by Blanca Monrós Gómez)

kate

pretty on a plate

It was Monday night dinner with the gals and we decided to give ourselves a treat. We couldn’t resist the gorgeous fruit tarts parading like beauty queens and walked right into Fruit Paradise Café at Raffles City.

Since we were all a tad more conscious about eating healthy, we shared the main dishes and left enough space for the luscious fruit tarts.

It was tough picking just one slice and finally the mixed berry chocolate flavour won my vote! The enticing dessert looked more like edible pop art. My favourite part was the chocolate (of course!) and the crispy crust. Very yummy ... oohh ...

Bet I’ll drop by again whenever I need a bite of bliss.




kate

lost and found

It was back to childhood days today.

I kinda forgot how it felt like without an ATM or credit cards. So I totally felt like a fish out of water when I forgot to bring my wallet out this morning.

You know, back when we were in school, all the money we had were in our little purse. That was what we could spend for that day – nothing more, nothing less. You couldn't suddenly fall in love with a pair of gorgeous shoes and whip out your plastic card to pay for it. Purchases had to be planned and kept within a budget – and today I had that déjà vu feeling of being much more aware of what I was buying.

Luckily for me, I had a human ATM machine in the office (aka nice colleague). Borrowed twenty bucks and off I went to get my breakfast. Somehow I was extra grateful for that breakfast!

Sometimes we take certain routine things for granted ... simple things like buying a flower. I usually get my flower on a Monday like a nondescript weekly affair. But today I was almost exuberant to get that beautiful two-toned pinkish rose wrapped - $1.20 got me loads happiness today!



By the time I was home, I was truly contented to reunite with my humble wallet!

Yippee :)
kate

happy birthday !

The best part of any dinner celebration? The guests, of course.

It was our foodie friend’s birthday feast and she picked Spruce. Kind of like an in-between of PS Cafe and Barracks (both at Dempsey).







I like the good vibes of the photo near our table. Uplifting!




And ... the pretty birthday cake.

Next up? We may be having our own Julie Powell moment by experimenting with some recipes and devour the dish over more laughter and chitchat. Whilst a good meal is a blessing, a good time with friends is tops.

kate

give thanks

Yesterday was pure chaos.

It was Saturday and also laundry day. Usually weekdays are so packed with office work that I am only left with energy to do my rounds of laundry on weekends. So right after lunch, I was rushing through the housework at a frenetic pace.

Brushed mom’s teeth and walked her to her bed.
Put the flowers into a container of water. Had to keep the gifts pretty.
Dumped the dirty laundry into the washing machine.
Took down brother’s dried clothes. Took down mine as well.
Fed the family pet.
Started packing my room and writing the cards for the night’s celebration.
Soaked some clothes to be hand washed.

And then it happened .. again. Mom refused to rest and kept whining for different things - asking for a drink, blubbering nonsense. Whatever. It just wasn’t the right time with so many things to finish and I was sweating like a crabby pig. So in between hanging the wet clothes onto the pole, I tried to pacify her and coax her to sleep.

I don’t blame her because she suffered from brain damage and loss of memory and logic, after her accident five years ago. But I was still tired from all the chores.

PAUSE. I stopped for a moment (took a deep deep breath) and gave thanks.

1. Thank God that my mom is still alive, and I can still try to show her love the way she needs.
2. Yep, laundry was a chore. But I was thankful that it meant I had a variety of clothes to dress in.
3. Ok ... I was grateful that in our times, there’s the handy invention called the washing machine. Sure helps a lot!

With those thoughts, I carried on with the rest of Saturday’s checklist. Fed mom with a milo drink, hand washed the clothes. Threw some rubbish. Washed the cups. Took a quick bath. And then rushed down to the birthday dinner in a cab.

AND I was thankful for the night’s fete with a bunch of good friends. We went on an adventure and tried out a new spot. After a taxing day, now that was the perfect way to chill out!

kate

spotted !

Fancy a dash of colour and fun “interior design” for your desk? Then check out this cheery stationery set that I chanced upon in Ion’s Prologue.




If you are in the mood for more cool stationery, pop by kikki.K at Ion as well. I felt like a little gal in a candy shop full of delightful choices when I was there this week. Totally delectable. Life’s sweet surprises do come in small packages!

kate

passion & poise

“We tend to rehash the past and rehearse the future. You can fret as much as you want, and it’s not going to change anything. Why not get through with grace and ease?” (Julianna Margulies)

Today I had an aha! moment of how to grow through life with grace when I read nie nie dialogues. What an amazing lady with an infectious effervescent spirit. I’m charmed.

This week had been pretty hectic at work with sales folks’ demands, clients’ issues and non-stop emails furiously streaming in. But no matter how bad a work week had been, after you read about how someone survived a near-fatal plane crash and still sees the sweet moments in her life now - it just puts things into proper perspective.

The incredible thing is that someone who’s so full of life like Stephanie Nelson can switch on the spark in strangers. Even though I've never met her, I’m already a few hundred volts brighter just by reading her blog! And I thank God for this touch of grace today.

kk

what’s your cage ?

“Argue for your limitations and sure enough they're yours.” (Richard Bach)

Just received this timely reminder in my inbox today. And it reminded me of the red paper clip story of how one man started with a huge red paper clip and got a house at the end of 14 barter trades. He sure wasn’t arguing for his limitations then! What a good move.

What are your constraints that you think you have? Perhaps it’s time to chuck those aside and give your own ‘red paper clip’ dream a chance.

Enjoy your very own quest!

snug as a bug in a rug

Took a cue from this stray cat and had my own sweet Sunday siesta too! Such simple bliss and a great way to recharge before a new week kicks off.







(after a little stretching ... back to zzz ...)


“Take rest; a field that has rested gives a beautiful crop.” (Ovid)

office buddies

What gets you going in the mornings, when you know you have to be in the office that day?

Certainly not a mailbox clogged with emails, a 15cm stack of unfiled papers or multiple reminders in your calendar all pointing to that impending project dateline.

Since we spend at least eight hours at work when we check in at the office, we may as well make the day as easygoing as we can. And surrounding ourselves with happy things to spur us on won’t hurt one bit!

How about a funky cheer-me-up pen to brighten up the office desk? Sounds perfect? Then perhaps one of the nifty polka dot pens at CityLuxe may just be your sunny office sidekick. Check out this pretty lilac one.

And whilst you are there at the shop, you may want to pick up some charming stickers as well. I always have a soft spot for Parisian knickknacks ... so a tin box of nostalgic stickers was my pick. Now am looking forward to revamp my desk!

waiting and pausing

Today as I was clearing some old emails, I found something I wrote two years back which is still as relevant today. Here goes!


17 Sep 2007

Just read this nice quote today.

""I hope you'll hear what I'm about to tell you. I hope you'll hear it all the way down to your toes. When you're waiting, you're not doing nothing. You're doing the most important something there is. You're allowing your soul to grow up. If you can't be still and wait, you can't become what God created you to be." ("When the Heart Waits" by Sue Monk Kidd)

I know friends who …
- waited for a dream job for years …
- are still waiting for a deserved promotion …
- waited for their spouses to change or to come back …
- waited for healing for a loved one for a few years …
- waited for a loved one to be released ...
- waited for years to be pregnant …
- waited to find some meaning in life …

Sometimes the answers don’t come at the timing that we want, but will come in time.

Sometimes the answers are just right beside us, if we open our hearts ... something I learned from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

"With time and patience, the mulberry leaf becomes satin. With time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown." (Chinese Proverb)


Take heart :)

true blue TLC

Over an entertaining lunch with lots of laughter and chitchat, a girlfriend told us that she’ll be on a getaway in Hong Kong this weekend with her hubby (sans kids!). We could visibly sense her excitement with the word s-h-o-p-p-i-n-g written in her eyes.

Well that aside, she told us it will be her 7th anniversary this weekend. Wow! That IS a long time together. I was doing crazy math in my head ... that is like 2,555 days of being with the same someone!

Like any relationship, I’m sure they had their share of both sunny and stormy days in those years. All the perseverance and love poured into a longer relationship is usually quite underrated. But today I just want to take a moment to take delight in their miracle.

I hope my friend and her hubby will have many more sweet honeymoons to come.

I am also thankful for the folks who have stuck by me all these years - those who embraced even my quirks, moods and the different seasons of my life. Thanks for making love so concrete and for those zillions of days of TLC!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwavz9bmxqo

sip, click and relax

I started today with a sip of milo before my morning yoga class. After the challenging session, I hopped onto the MRT to my next stop – a massage. Quite a perfect arrangement wasn’t it?

The masseuse made me quite happy scrubbing me meticulously before the ooh-so-soothing massage. I nearly dozed off. Wouldn’t mind being massaged for another hour but it was time to go grab lunch.

Normally I won’t surf the internet much when I am home, cos it’s already exhausting when you type all day in the office. But today was an exception. It was a click-for-fun afternoon and I had a field day chancing upon fun and inspiring sites. Whoopee!

During my laid-back afternoon, I suddenly missed the idyllic walk to the Ruins of St. Paul’s in Macau. I am no time traveller so the next best thing I could do was to flip through the pictures I took to take another glance. Breathtaking. And I felt the same rush I had relished as a tourist – being excited and relaxed at the same time.

The soundtrack for my day was Erin McCarley’s “Love Save The Empty” and Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know”. Yep both tunes are from “He’s Just Not That Into You”.

Not exactly sure how to describe how refreshing today’s dose of ‘me time’ was. But am sure you can feel the peppy vibe in my background music.


my view of Ruins of St. Paul's


p/s: Check out http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/ for some very cool pics and links.

a turnaround

What a ton of pulsating energy beside the F1 track yesterday! It was my first ever F1 trip and boy, was the atmosphere electrifying.

We planted ourselves at the turn of a bend, hoping to catch some slick manoeuvrings or maybe a crash or two. Ok, we didn’t catch any crashes but I did hold my breath when I saw two cars hitting the kerb and a worker running quickly to clear the debris off the track.

Those cars were fast. Really fast. I marvelled at how the drivers negotiated the bend carefully and then fast forwarded their cars right after the bend when they hit the straight track.

It’s like sometimes in life, you hit a hurdle. Maybe you face a huge obstacle, or perhaps a few glitches. Looks and feels tough. Well hang on. It may take more time but it’s okay. Try your very best to get past the bend because ..

... the bend is not the end of the road! After you get past the bend, off you go on your way. Accelerate your plans then!


p/s: Congrats to Lewis Hamilton! He was really swift and adept. Definitely a thrill to watch.

what matters ?

What will you do today, if you have a glimpse of how you will die?

This question kept hovering in my head after I watched “The Traveller’s Wife” recently. The movie also reminded me of the book “Tuesdays With Morrie” and how Morrie Schwartz spent the last period of his life doing and saying what he really wanted.

Will finally understanding that we will not be permanently on earth trigger us to truly do what we want?

Right now I am just letting that fact sink in – that I WILL depart from this earth one day. So what can I do for the next half of my life? (Oh yep, nearly half the journey is gone!)

What will you do? Will you ...

Finally try to contact the good old friend you lost touch with?
Say sorry to someone who matters to you still?
Chat more with your family and friends?
Peel away from long work hours sometimes to discover your loved ones more?
Do the job you want? Or at least try it out as a sideline or hobby?
Set aside time to exercise and take care of your body, even though you have job datelines?


Jot down your list and do one thing this week. One thing at a time looks less mind-boggling than a long long list! Have fun.

simple delights

The universe proved to me once again that great finds can be discovered in humble places.

It was raining big drops last Sunday. Struggling to squeeze the two of us under the modest umbrella, we stoically made our way to Sun Kee Noodles at Causeway Bay (Hong Kong). It was such an ordinary looking small shop that it’d be really easy to miss it. However, we hunted by the shop number instead of its name – so we were really happy when we spotted number 49. Oh yeah, finally rest and relief from the rain!

The menu looks uber unassuming – all Mandarin words with no pictures. My Mandarin ain’t fantastic and I didn’t want to destroy my dinner choice. So I opened my guide book and showed the waitress THE picture of the tasty looking bowl of noodles with curry fish balls and drool-worthy chicken wings in spicy sauce.

When my dinner finally came, I was eating so fast that the hot yummy vegetables sort of ‘burned’ my tongue. It was that delicious and I couldn’t stop eating.

When the bill came, it was even better! I think it was not even HKD 30 for a bowl of noodles. Isn’t it great to bump into fantastic finds that satisfy you fully and yet not cost you the sky?

Makes my heart go BOP when I find things with low price tags that can bring me immense enjoyment and big smiles to my face.

Simple delights right smack in every day places. Simply perfect!





p/s: If you are in for a bowl of heavenly noodles, Sun Kee Noodles can be found at 49 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay. Bon appétit!

an expiry date?

Yesterday I just discovered that my faithful compact power is now discontinued.

I put on a brave smile as the brand advisor went on to introduce the newer powders to me. None of his words really registered, cos all that was going through my mind was OH MY GOSH my favourite powder had disappeared from this earth. F O R E V E R.

I kinda did the polite thing and touched some of the newer powders while he explained the product features. But all the while I was thinking that none of these fit my skin color as well as THE favourite. Argh.

As I mourned for my most adored powder, I thought that hey, perhaps everything has an expiry date? Maybe my powder was expired in three years. And secondary school days expire in four years. Perhaps some friendships expire in a few years, some in a few decades – and the same goes for a job? What are the expiry dates of the people and things around me? Ponder ponder ...

Anyways, after the initial shock waned, I am now ready to hunt for a new powder that’s chockfull of new improved ingredients. Green tea extracts, chocolate elements, antioxidants - whatever good stuff I’m in for it! Sometimes it feels a tad tiring to have to hunt for something new when the familiar things are no longer available. But maybe ... it’s a discovery trip that can turn up some nice new surprises.

a toast ... (slurp)

What happens when someone wants to start something totally new in his or her life?

This question kept swirling in my mind for the past two weeks as friends told me of certain changes they wish to make. One wanted to find a job in a new industry, another wanted to start an online business. Yet another wanted to start writing a book.

Most are stagnant at where they are, frozen at the same spot by fear. A few brave ones took the risk to step into the murky unknown, like a friend who recently quit without a job because she felt it was time to start afresh somewhere. I would think it took her much courage, especially during the shaky economic times we are in now. (applause!)

Well, maybe it ain’t that scary to start something new? Maybe it’s like trying to cook a new dish. We kinda have a basic recipe as an outline, get some key ingredients, throw in some impromptu ones and voila! Hopefully the motley mixture is transformed into something divine.

My guess is that most of the time, we end up with something less than fabulous for our first try. But no worries ... we can tweak the recipe, change some ingredients, customise it to our liking and churn out tastier versions each time.

And maybe that’s how venturing out into the unknown is like. The first try may be just ... raw. Then we try again, and get better at it. Finally perhaps something awesome appears after a few tries (lucky you!) or a hundred tries (very good perseverance hmm). But the point is – maybe the water isn’t that scary and deep, and it is quite okay to step out of your boat.

So what’s that pet project of yours that is now a permanent fixture on your wish list? Give it a booster shot – move it to the ‘in progress list’!

As for me, today I have just turned a wish into reality – a blog is born! And here’s a toast to a new adventure ...