fish_a_fish on Xanga

~Embrace Change~

Tuesday, 07 September 2010

Hi xanga,

It's been ages since i last visited you. =)

Wednesday, 30 December 2009

2010 Resolutions

There are quite a few things i wish to accomplish/do in 2010. I'd better note them down clearly because i can be very forgetful! (This list will be updated as and when a resolution comes to mind).

1. Join toastmasters club. I've always dreamed of being a regular member. But i had been deterred by the location/time/membership fees, and most importantly, courageless.

2. Get lasik done. Also a long-time resident on my wish-list. Alas, i just bought another 3 months worth of daily contact lens.

3. Be contented and happy with what i have. I need to get used to thinking about my glass being half full, NOT half empty. This is a real tough one.

4. Start a regular exercise regime. I've already shortlisted an aerobics course starting 31 Jan 10, at Sengkang. Heh.
2010 Resolutions

There are quite a few things i wish to accomplish/do in 2010. I'd better note them down clearly because i can be very forgetful! (This list will be updated as and when a resolution comes to mind).

1. Join toastmasters club. I've always dreamed of being a regular member. But i had been deterred by the location/time/membership fees, and most importantly, courageless.

2. Get lasik done. Also a long-time resident on my wish-list. Alas, i just bought another 3 months worth of dailies contact lens.

3. Be contented and happy with what i have. I need to get used to thinking about my glass being half full, NOT half empty. This is a real tough one.

4. Start a regular exercise regime. I've already shortlisted an aerobics course starting 31 Jan 10, at Sengkang. Heh.

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

I took a 2 day course early this week and it was a good one. The course name is "Edward De Bono's 6 Thinking Hats". I was quite open about revealing my life while we were told to use real-life examples for practise.
The instructor commented that i had a worried look when i mentioned i was getting married on the 1st day. On the 2nd day and after using the topic "How to adapt to marriage life" to practise the 6 thinking hats, she commented that i looked happier, to which she felt very relieved.
I kept the sheet of paper with the presentation points and intend to share it with Mike this weekend. I need to get all the help i can get!
Summary of the hats and its purpose:
Blue - Manages the thinking. Assigns which hat goes in which sequence.
White - Information without judgement.
Yellow - The potential and opportunities, supported with reason.
Green - The creative one, variety of options.
Red - The emotional one. No reason is required.
Black - The judgemental one, prejudice with reason.

Sunday, 13 December 2009

In the end, my mom bought Arisa Dolly no. 3 for the relatives.

The difference is that it is bigger (hence more expensive) and better looking! Indeed, the little treats taste quite low in sugar. =)

Saturday, 05 December 2009

Roller Coaster Saturday

Settled the wedding banquet details at Marina Mandarin today. Mike and I ate at Marina Square foodcourt twice today. I am liking the foodcourt very much! I think the variety is wide and the prices are mostly reasonable. There are plenty of seats too.

The later half of the day took a turn for the worse as mike and i engaged in an ugly argument in the car. It was on a topic related to our mothers.

I think we need to seriously sort out our differences in communication style. I am so going to utilise the complimentary counselling session that comes with the Marriage Preparation Workshop!

The episode died down and the unhappiness rounded with a deeper understanding of each other. However, i am quite certain that some degree of irreversible damage had been done.

In the evening, we shopped and splurged on a Sanyo washing machine cum dryer at Lot One Courts. It cost $999 (usual price $2399). It was a leap of faith as i have always heard that 2 in 1 washing machines break down faster than the individual machines. With that in mind, we bought an additional 4 year warranty, making it insured for 5 years.

It touts to be able to air wash shoes and leather bags!! But I'd rather not use that function.

SANYO AWD-L703HCT

After shopping, it was to Teck Whye for dinner. Lot 1 has nothing attractive to offer when it comes to food. We were extremely glad we went there. See our scrumptious dinner!

Total damage: $22.40. It was for my grilled fish, brother's cajun chicken and mike's steak. We are definitely going back there again. =)

Thursday, 03 December 2009

Wedding preparation updates

Wow Wee Wee!! Mom told me that a number of my Taiwan relatives are coming to Singapore for my wedding. I feel very honoured! =) We'll need to cater a mini bus for them, as there will be about a dozen of them.

And i heard that the wedding cookies were distributed yesterday. Too bad i wasn't there to take pictures of the process.

Now i can really feel that we are running waaaaay short of time. Some things left undone:

1. Wedding schedule. I worked out something weeks ago, but it's not exactly 'cooked'. This also means the jiemei and xiongdi roles and responsibilities are unassigned as yet.
2. Wedding script. Tongue-tied!
3. Guo da li necessities.
4. House still under renovation. Then there's the cleaning up that needs to be done.
5. Buying of household electronics. Still waiting for the MEGA-CHRISTMAS SALE!
6. Distribution of wedding cards to WHO?
7. Wedding favours need to be ordered. Contacting potential vendors in progress
8. Choosing of wedding gowns and wedding banquet decoration. They will be done this weekend.

Monday, 30 November 2009

I learned from FB that a friend's husband left her for another woman, only about 1+ years into their marriage. That's real awful. Apparently they were together for 6 years. The husband is a suave Indian guy, while she's a Chinese lady and they work in the same line, maybe even same company (that i'm not sure).

Their wedding pictures are still so fresh in her FB.. If it already pains me, little wonder she's in total agony. But i dunno how to console her. I just wish that the horrible man gets his desserts and my friend heals from the pain soon.

But really, it takes time to heal love's wounds, and the scars remain forever. Sad.

On a lighter note, mike and i returned from a 3d2n trip to Genting last night. It was a tortuous journey back to SG. We set off at 330pm and reached the Woodlands customs only at 11pm. It was attributed to (in ascending order):

1. Lousy bus driver who also had no concept of time
2. Inconsiderate Singaporean pigs on the bus
3. A lousy bus

Since we left Genting, i looked in dismay when other carriers (Five stars, Transstar, etc) and even other 707 buses overtook us. We weren't the last to leave, but sure the last to reach.

The takeaway is that it really pays to spend abit more and such money should not be saved. If not, stay in SG!!

Details of the trip: Later.

Tuesday, 24 November 2009

Somehow, I have a feeling that something out there is stopping me from doing any exercise to lose weight by ALL means. First, it was the lingering cold symptoms. Now it’s a sprain in my left foot. It borned out of nowhere! I think my left ankle looks fatter than my right...

I am now SERIOUSLY less than 2 months from my wedding, and i have not lost, but gained weight.

That aside, I managed to ask my big big boss if he’s willing to come to my wedding lunch =). I wasn’t worried getting rejected, but it was nice when he said he would, and could even possibly bring along his wife and daughter! *Smiles*

By the way, I just made an appointment with Rachel to select my actual day gowns on 6 Dec 09, Sunday.

<<I received a missed call from the studio a couple weeks ago and waited for them to call me again. They didn't and it was only last week when mike told me that Rachel called him to get me to select a day for the selection. Mike said Rachel is 'afraid' of me, that's why she called him and not me directly. I left a message for Rachel yesterday as she was off and today, she called me and asked why was i looking for her? I was dumbfounded.

I told her "I thought you were looking for me". Apparently she forgot that she has UNFINISHED business with me. Horrible people.>>

Having had 1 bochup and 1 remedial experience with choosing wedding gowns for my photo shoot, I know I better had do some serious homework for the “final” chance at choosing my ONE and ONLY wedding gown for the actual day.

Recap: Photo shoot gowns
1. Halter neck gown with “belt” at waist (with average can-can)
2. Strapless lace ballgown with corset bustier trimmed with floral embroidery (with big can-can) Exactly the same shown below, but that's without the can-can, and she's a model *ahem*.
3. Turquoise blue V-neck evening dress. (I can hardly call it a gown)

On the list
Mermaid cut (for something different, but good figure is necessary) Like this look, but look! she's all bones.
Long train (“dream” wedding, ma...)
Big bow (saw on Vera Wang…)

Off limits
Halter neck (already had, and does not appear elegant to me)
Sleeves
Black/Brown/Blue

From what I have seen thus far, shades of green and blue are pretty popular choices for evening gowns. Although some cringe at the first thought of such colours, they eventually settle for them because the colours could actually be flattering!

Personally, I do not wish to have a blue colour (in any shade) gown for actual day because i already had a turquoise one for my photo shoot. However, I do realise that my naturally tan complexion limits colours that will complement me.

Monday, 23 November 2009

About the wedding

There! I've finally decided to sit down and blog again. I had so much to say during this period of absence, but i was simply lazy.

Today, i'm on MC. Went to the office this morning and came back again after settling some work. Doctor said i'm having a 'full-blown' cold. Phlegm sucks and coughing hurts, plus i hate how the medicine dries my throat/mouth/lips.

I remember i was complaining about wedding blues earlier, and i think i am still in this phase.
I can understand now why people say couples face a BIG test while they are preparing for the wedding/house. We are just so different and alot of compromising is required.

The house is finally getting some makeover and it should be done by the time we come back from Genting holidays this coming weekend. Then it'll be time for major cleaning up. I am still toying the idea of getting professional help for the cleaning up.

For the wedding, some items have been settled, such as the printing of cards, ordering of Guo da li cakes.
You might think that printing cards is an easily-settled matter. But it didn't really get settled easily for us! We had some disagreements over the type of Chinese character printing on the cards.

As for the cakes, we are getting the "Close to my heart" series from Choz Confectionary. It's the 4 x 4 series on the left of the picture.

Thanks to my mom, we are getting my dream wedding cookies for my relatives in Taiwan *GRINS*
ARISA DOLLY is a Japanese brand wedding cookies which are famous in Taiwan. There are series 1 to 6, (1 being the most expensive, as much as $45 per box!).

I had thoughts of shipping boxes of them to Singapore for my close friends, but that didn't materialise. Reason being the shipping cost is very expensive and only with minimum purchase.

With my mom in Taiwan now, she's helped me order this ARISA DOLLY series 6 for our relatives.