March 2010 .. The month I became a wife :)

And just like the, the month of March arrived faster than a flight from Sg to KL!

For about 5 months, every single weekend prior to the big day, was dedicated to running wedding errands and doing things related to the coming of our lives together. Not to forget, there were the administrative matters which needed to be settled seeing that my then-fiance-now-hubby is a Singaporean, and the complications with me being born in Seremban, with a KL I/C, under Wilayah Persekutuan jurisdiction, but wanting to be married in the area of Kajang, Selangor! And this was only part of the problems faced. I began to wonder if it was normal to have so many things not going our way leading up to the big day. And as it turns out (after speaking to some wise married friends), it is quite normal *smiles* and to know this was comforting enough for me to face the setbacks with a pinch of salt. After all, no matter what happens, the show must go on! :)

To be continued..

A very Happy Birthday to my dearest friend.. Maine.. xxxx

HAPPY 27th BIRTHDAY MAINE SAYANG :D :D

 Maine,

I tried to post this video up on your FB wall but I just couldn't manage to get it loaded.

I wish I'm there myself giving you the biggest hug ever!

You're an amazing friend with an amazing soul and even more amazing talent.

I can't thank you enough for everything you have done for me and I'm so thankful to have you.

You brighten every room you walk into and you radiate so much from within.

Have a good trip and stay the loving caring person you are.

xoxoxo,

Mar

Feb 2010...1 month to the BIG DAY!

Lets see, what happened in Feb 2010.

My entry on the 1st of Feb 2010 in my diary organizer was:

1- Finish up scrap book - This was a gift which I did for my housemate Ice as a parting away momento. She had kindly welcomed me to stay with her ever since I arrive in Singapore up to the day Zu and I tied the knot in March 2010. 

2-Scan pictures - Compiled into the scrapbook

3-Buy collagen drink!

With the wedding only about a month away, I began to make preparations for myself for the big day, though not as much as a normal malay bride usually would. I was too busy and preoccupied with work and all the planning that I had taken short cuts when it comes to beautifying myself (hence the collagen drink) on the weeks leading up to the big day. A normal malay bride would have started on a few months-long of traditional beauty regime before the big day, but I couldn't afford to be a normal bride as I had rushed around most of the time and was in KL almost every weekend. Which is why I was very touched when Ice kindly arrange for a masseuse to come to the house for a few hours of pampering session. God bless her kind soul :)

Myself and Ice lazing on a Parisian lawn back in 2008

Posing for the camera at the top of Eiffel Tower

Ice had also cleverly arranged for a hen night for me with some of my dearest friends, and even those whom I had not seen in a while came to the party. After I successfully squeezed into Ice's skimpy glittery outfit donned with a feather boa, I headed out for a night of girly fun, and left behind all wedding-planning-woes, flower arrangements, guest list and all worries at the club's entrance. 

Despite having every second of my life overtaken by all-things-wedding, somehow at the back of my head I contemplated whether I was ready enough to be a wife. Was I emotionally and spiritually fit to handle the challenges that lies ahead? I've always marvelled at the devotion of some doting wives providing abundance of love and encouragement for everyone in the family and their patience to deal with every member of the family. 

I didn't have the answer then, and I still do not have the answer now. I guess, now after being married for about 9 months, I still consider myself a young wife and am still trying every single day to be a better wife, daughter, sister, friend, and person. Even though now my worries aren't as much as before, I guess they will always be there to keep me on my toes at all times, in my pursuit to be a better version of myself everyday.

Speaking of a better version, I came across a saying a few weeks back:

"Smile and be the best version of yourself" (I wish I can remember where I picked this up from!)

Jan 2010! The beginning of a crazy hectic year ..

Where did the year go? Seems like it was only yesterday I was at my sister's place in KL celebrating New Year with the rest of the family, enjoying the fire works, and looking forward to the many promises of 2010.

January 2010 came and went and now we are at the last leg of 2010. As they say, time really flies when you're having fun. Speaking of fun, I decided what better way to celebrate the beginning of 2010 with a bang! yeap, paintball bang! :D I'm talking hot, sweaty girls and guys shooting paint pellets under the hot scorching sun. But not before stopping by at the farm for lunch and for me to spend some time with my father and his family.

Unstylish me with the always-so-stylish girls. To my defence, I really didn't want to get any bruise especially with the wedding come up ;) 

Yasir all geared up and ready to bruise some lucky victims

King just had his mane trimmed.  He didn't look too happy with his new fringe though.

Part of the farm. The right-most chalet is my brother's room, all equipped with a/c.

My father explaining to the guys about his horses (his pride and joy!)

The puppies were too cute to resist (adorable!)

And Zara wanted to carry the baby goat back to Scotland :)

Chic and Steve tried to look tough, I thought they looked too cute more than anything else ;)

With the Red team! woo hooo..! (hold on, did we even win?)

We ended the game on a high note, high spirited and ready to conquer the world! (hah, we wish). However, on our flight back to Singapore, Zu and I braced ourselves for the coming months ahead.

With our engagement out of the way, we then had to focus our attention to the long list of things-to-do, which were to:

1- Find a place all ready for the both of us to move in right after the big day (our solemnization/ nikah ceremony)
2- Plan our Solemnization ceremony (March 2010)
3- Plan our Singapore wedding reception (July 2010)
4- Plan our KL wedding reception (August 2010)
5- Apply for my Singapore PR (Right after the reception)
6- Look around for a flat to buy in Singapore (Before June 2010)
7- Prepare for GMAT (for Zu)
8- Make all necessary preparation for the big move to London!

Eeeeekkk...!! (breath mar, breath..)

Doing so much in such a short time and tight budget was a big challenge for us. Did we bite off more than we can chew? Were we being too ambitious and piled up our plates?

January also marked the beginning on my new routine of volunteering at the Ang Mo Kio FCC (Family Community Centre), every Tuesday after work. I truly enjoyed spending time with the children and I especially enjoyed the play time at the end of the sessions ;) Such joy to be surrounded by young innocent little men and little ladies. There was so much I was learning from them more than they were from me. It was worth every effort rushing from work all the way from Jurong East every week and I was quite sad to discontinue with them when we had to leave for London.

Well, January 2010 certainly started off well and filled with a lot of planning, organizing, liaising, calling, emailing, and the never ending to-dos and one thing I did learn from all these is to learn to take everything in my stride, like my mum would always tell me.

Till February 2010, good night.

Last month of the year

Good white wintry morning to start the day..

It's the second day of the last month of the year! and it's my first morning snow ever! makes me feel like I'm living in a snow globe :) :)

Here are some pictures of how it looked like out my window.

Some light snow a few days back, not enough to cover the ground, but that never stopped me from doing the happy dance! :D Joy!

My early morning routine would be to check the scene out the window* and to my surprise this morning, it snowed last night!! :)

Well enough about the snow for now, and to start off, this is actually my second blog, after the first one which I started last year in Singapore and did not have the time to update! I had forgotten all about the blog, until yesterday, the 1st of Dec 2010, when I thought it would be nice to write about everything that has been going on in 2010, now that I finally have to time.

It's the perfect time of the year too, to revisit the memories and reflect back on all that has happened the past year. So much to tell and so many people to thank. And won't be enough in just one post ;)

So till the next post, let me just say "sometimes all you need is a warm fluffy omelette ;)" (totally random, but I just had a nice one this morning and it made my morning ;) )


*That's how I usually check the temperature outside. The more layered people are, the colder it is. Pure Logic!