maria writes,

current video digs

2012-01-11T16:51:00.008+08:00

1. Made in Iceland
Klara Harden took a lonesome hike across beautiful Iceland on her own. Beautiful & awe inspiring.

MADE IN ICELAND from Klara Harden on Vimeo.

2. Young Farmers series on SHFT TV.

Young Farmers from SHFT on Vimeo.

Enjoy! xx

4 questions to self: 2011/2012

2012-01-06T14:31:00.006+08:00

It's that time of the year again. For two years (maybe 3), i've been doing a 'look back'. Wasn't going to miss this year even though we're almost a week into 2012. Nevertheless, here's my observation of 2011.

2011 was, simply put, bloody awesome. I never imagined i would grow so much as a person and doors after doors of opportunities opened for me. All praises be to the One who has made it so for me.

I remember walking into the year wanting to leave behind all the pain of 2010, i wanted to really heal and then charge ahead. In healing, i found a completely different perspective of life and from that view of the 'grand scheme of things', i've never been happier. This 'perspective' is spirituality.

Note that this was never part of the 'plan'. I knew i was starting to get more curious and more engaged in finding out how to be wholly happy in this terrifying day and age but lo and behold! I found a way of life, a little 'trick' that gives you clarity and sheds light in the areas of life we never did explore. I never imagined i'd get on this path but i do believe that anyone can walk this way for as long as you sincerely 'seek' an answer to all the knots in your head. The keyword here is: sincere.

And be brave, take what you've learnt on a test run and you might find that some people frown or laugh or hiss bitter little things at you but you're in charge of your own life so take control. If you like your new lifestyle, pack up and MOVE for good. Some parts of your life will repair while others change forever but this new life is worth starting afresh. Keep going & feel liberated.

So some priorities changed, some resolutions changed, some new stuff added and some removed permanently. 2011 also saw me taking on a new job, getting engaged to my bestfriend (and my heartbreaker no less haha), nailed my own place (that's in the works now), going organic, quitting my hedonistic addiction, reforming myself and sorting out my life for at least the next couple of years. So last year was truly a TRANSITIONAL year.

This year, its just going through the motions. I won't be complacent to ride on this peace of mind, i do intend to exercise my brain juices to learn more, see more, try more and do more. I intend to travel a little further, do the things i've always wanted to do or try - while building on a fatter wallet (big challenge).

My personal resolutions are to maintain a more positive outlook, overcome my lack of self discipline, try to hold up a few pillars as best as i can, get into the pink of health (more healthier choices to be made) and then finally i hope to end the year with a 10km run. Note: i hated running with a passion, it's a love-hate relationship now but this is to prove to myself that i can do ANYTHING as long as i put my fire into it and just blaze.

So i will turn 24 this year, i still want to shy away from it but hey if i can pack up my life's resume with as much experience and learning as i can, i may very well be living 35 years of life at what, 26? Yes, i'm a bit too ambitious i admit. Just wish me well because i will be on my way anyway.

And now for my 4 questions posted end of 2010 for the end of 2011:

Are you happy?
Never been happier. Its not the status of my life it's the clarity of my head, ridding the heart of all things negative and then leaving behind everything that brings bad energy.

Did you fulfill all your resolutions (including a driver's license!)?
Haha! Yes all my resolutions have been fulfilled and much more, WITH THE EXCEPTION of my driver's license. This is the only big fail for me. Nevertheless, better late than never. My lessons will roll out in two weeks!

Are you truly living & your soul put together?
To compare where i was mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually, i feel yes i'm finally living. Like i finally know how to without being miserable all the time. I'm so much braver and far much tougher but without all the angst and temper. I deal with failure so much better! Still living life on the fast lane but i take breathers now and mastered the 'art of doing nothing'. Put that into practice ever so often now.

Is my soul put together? It's a daily struggle, some days i'm in and some days i'm out. But the struggle is what makes the journey. And there is no one who has the correct formula for this. So on days i'm scattered, i'll tell myself "try again tomorrow".

What did you do as a form of charity?
This is a little personal. It wasn't huge but it was sufficient and constant enough. To say what i did would belittle great people and portray them as poor and incapable. These guys are humble, beautiful folks. I just think of it as sharing or as giving back because they're too kind. Just not feeling the word 'charity' here.

So four questions for the end of this year:

Did you get that god damn driver's license (haha!)?
Did you travel to the places you wanted to?
Are you healthier & ran that 10km race?
Were you balanced the whole year?

There you have it. Nothing too deep because we've covered all the inner works last year. This year's theme is balance. I will have fun, be fitter, more disciplined, explore places, learn new things and stretch out my time daily to accomplish all my obligations & resposibilities.

I hope you all had a great year and an even better one this year.

I'll conclude this post with my annual saying:
It's a new year full of chances to try again where we failed, to progress further from what we've accomplished, to take on new challenges, to be making a difference in the world, to ultimately be a better person. Year after year. Let's age with courage, grace, love, & wisdom.

stuff i haven't got to share..

2011-11-29T13:44:00.015+08:00

I thought i'd share all the little new additions in my life. Just to celebrate the sunshine, which i so love.

1. Dessert Table

Took a stab at this for my sweet nephew. The thought alone felt distant & almost impossible but we did it & had so much fun! Nautical because it is a timeless theme. Personally, at least.

2. My Engagement Ring! by Bario-Neal

If you know me well enough, you'll know i'm no fan of conventional jewellery. 'Handcrafted' is perfect for my bling appetite. Big time. The imperfections & knowing that every piece may have suffered or enhanced from maybe a funny angle of the maker's arm, his mood, the weather.. something. The very human, abstract concept is so magical to me. I feel like it speaks. I thought this ring, apart from it being simply beautiful, makes so much sense. A knot to be tied.. but not quite yet! I'll keep this piece forever.

3. Sarah Wilson An AMAZING woman. Here's some background information on why she inspires me: Like Sarah, i suffer from an auto-immune disease. Now this is only an umbrella term for many different diseases that comes under this shade. What it does is, it makes your immune system go bonkers. Where the immune system is meant to drop in and help your body, it probably isn't. Where it's not meant to be working, it probably is. It's difficult & it's usually chronic. Your mood, your food, your lifestyle, every little thing about you can aggravate this disease. Most, if not all auto-immune diseases are 1st world diseases. Why?

In her blog, the Australian TV personality & journalist shares how she deals with it. Inadvertently, she cracks secrets behind the junk we're consuming from our supermarket aisles, radiation from our home appliances, our modern lifestyle & how all that contributes to our health. She also blogs about social stigmas, social responsibilities, going green, happiness, buddhist thoughts, spiritual health & so much other good stuff. And of course, she's totally hot.

4. My Organic Adventure

So because one thing leads to another. Sarah's blog has forced me to rethink my daily supplies. Soap, food (including my cat's!), bottles, everything. I'm officially on a journey now. I quit table sugars, use organic soap & shampoo, included supplements into my diet.. the list is ever-expanding & these baby steps have already proven to come a long way. You actually feel the difference. Lovin' it.

5. Suhaib Webb

"Suhaib Webb is a contemporary American-Muslim educator, activist, and lecturer." - Wikipedia

Its a bonus, this imam is definitely into hiphop. I came across suhaibwebb.com & read articles that instantaneously renewed my faith. This is a blog created for the American Muslim youths but because we're not too far different from them, i found relevance. Answers after answers. As cyber as it seems, imam Suhaib Webb & his soul-saving site are like THE islamic teachers of my life. Archaic ideologies are what they are, archaic. It felt impossible to apply what my parents were taught back in the days, into my life today. But this, this is practical advice. Its a huge warm welcome to the curious cats who no longer knew where to go or just what to do to find their spiritual center.

Beyond everything, this website has taught me to live & to think further, deeper, purer. This decade's islamophobia phenomenon has made it far more difficult for us liberal muslim youths to understand, practice & spread a better understanding of our peaceful religion. Believe me when i say, it will not only give you the manuals on how to tackle anti-islam sentiments, it will urge you to live life intelligently & responsibly. I cannot put into words how differently i now tackle so many aspects of my life today. It's like my entire view of life & the world, has never made more sense.

mercy

2011-10-28T11:39:00.005+08:00

O my Lord, if the greatness of my sins increase,
then I know that Your forgiveness is greater
If only the righteous called on You,
then who would the criminal go to?
I call on You my Lord, as you commanded, with reverence
And if You turn my hands away,
then who else will have mercy?

- The Tawba Of Abu Nuwas

jazz for a rainy afternoon

2011-10-26T14:27:00.005+08:00

Happy holiday! The monsoon is here, so it's raining beautifully outside again & we are all relaxing, taking a day off from our knee jerking morning routines at the desk aren't we?

As at this moment, i am absolutely relaxed. Really just chilling out. It's cold & gorgeous, i've got a playlist of the best jazz for this weather, i'm not fussing about not having any plans or if i would get to run at all today.. i'm going to just cruise through the afternoon, feeling so blessed.

Ahh.. indeed, the best things in life are free.

Here's some superb music that can't be anymore apt for this surreal afternoon. So go on, dim the house, have a cuppa, listen to the rain, kick back & relax. Here's to life, everyone.

have yourself some girly time, if you're feeling me

2011-09-21T11:28:00.006+08:00

I've been feeling my way around solitude lately. Trying to find some space, trying to get centered and really just reaching deep into my soul to fling out a very bashed up Maria for a little chat. My mind is scattered & i'm not digging it.

For years, i've been on a roll to set the stage perfect so that the foundations of my life are powerful for me to grow forth from here. Don't get me wrong, i'm not complaining. I love living life on the fast lane and being unstoppable because time is most perishable. BUT.

I spent this year, making big decisions for my life. Huge. They materialised & i see the fruits of my labour. Now that i'm here at the summit of my own mountain, why don't i feel any different? I should be feeling extremely accomplished to have ticked almost everything on my life's list at my youth's peak, right? I don't.

I've learnt that i am fed up and simply exhausted because boy oh boy, don't i just love to vacuum the life out of myself? But these days.. Ahhh these days. I give up. I spend too much time shuttling between planning, being worried, trying to sort every single thing out..

Now, i'm going to cut the crap and eat the apples of my hard work.

Honestly, I can't remember the last time i told myself "do this, you DESERVE it" or submit to the temptations of splurging on myself just because. I can't remember the last time i did something pampering without feeling guilty. I can't even remember the last time i plucked my eyebrows correctly, what more perfectly. Heck, i don't remember the last time i felt like a queen. All dolled up, feeling like a million dollars, pampered even if for just a little while?

So guess what. I'm going on vacation though not literally. I'm going to put all that energy that i put on driving high speed through my life into MYSELF.

I'm taking many off days ahead to have 'me' time. To drop everything and listen to my own heart for decisions, to listen to my body for healing, to tap myself on the back for doing what i did right, to pray with gratitude for life but simultaneously break the monotony of it to be alive. Most importantly, to love me like i should be loved.

My mind, heart and soul is on a holiday.

Because hell yeah, i DESERVE it.

last weekend at Farmer's Market

2011-09-20T15:58:00.009+08:00

Visiting the (now) fortnightly Farmer's Market has always been on my list but i've never really gave it a go, up until last weekend. Definitely the best morning i've had in a really long time. Breakfast + sampling almost everything they had there. The discovery of Spanish tortas is delightful & so is sampling cheeses as you make your rounds.

Enjoyed lovely little chats with these passionate vendors about their products, hometown, going organic and all that jazz. Learnt much, had fun & will definitely head down more often. Not your average market place & a break from your regular Cold Storage hits. Go!

More info on Farmer's Market & the idea behind it.

being here at this moment

2011-09-19T10:40:00.004+08:00

Hello,

I know i've been away for far too long. During which, I have met lovely people i've never met in my life who told me they read & love my blog. I am awfully touched & i don't think i've ever felt anything like it when i meet people like you. Strangers who have connected with me anonymously, maybe even spiritually, but surfaced for a little, special friendship. I think it's magical that we love what we love & have found each other. Nothing flatters me more than when you enjoy my blog but i shouldn't just say it. So that's why i'm here.. yet again. I appreciate your encouragement, my friends. For you, i am forever thankful.

Where do we begin to catch up?

How about that little picture above to say how i'm feeling at the moment? Typical of me much?

Good to be home, i'll see you again tomorrow!

an alternate city life

2011-03-28T15:33:00.006+08:00

If in the perfect world, i'm left with no choice but to remain a city girl forever, I would choose a life & home that looks exactly like this..
So genius. This is Annie Novak's Rooftop Farm, see more here at The Selby!

a baby ballerina's dream

2011-02-23T10:55:00.000+08:00

My cousin Mimi recently threw the prettiest pink birthday party for her 5 year old daughter. Just to give you a brief background of the themes she's chosen over the years, my cousin has tastefully shy away from 'cartoon' themed parties, to create parties with its own personal 'character'. In this case, birthday girl Sarah, is one who looooooves dancing & believe she's born to dance (at age 5 she's made this discovery!). Looking at her, that seems earnestly genuine but i would usually never encourage ballet for its unnatural grooming of the body, competitive nature &..... okay, let's not go there.

Anyway, this spread is too pretty to not throw in a mention. What makes it more wonderful is that my cousin, as we all would know her by now, perfects it DIY with economical materials from thrift stores! Swoons!
If you are a dessert table junkie, check out the renown Amy Atlas!

Also, we have an Amy Atlas equivalent here in sunny Singapore too, The Wedding Chateau. Uhhmazing.

Happy midweek everybody!

a flawless white kitchen

2011-02-22T11:16:00.006+08:00

Was going through a dozen home tours and found this white kitchen to be solid, clean, & uber chic. What a beauty, seriously. I'm also going bonkers about how much light streams into it. I'm such a sucker for bright & beautiful spaces. What excuse would there be left to not whip up a storm in the kitchen?
from Style At Home via Black*Eiffel

Have A Cool & Beautiful Monday!

2011-01-31T14:04:00.008+08:00

The rain is notorious & endless. For as much as i'm freezing & fussily shuttling around in my little rain trench, i'm really grateful for the rain. My idea of majestic beauty. Let's enjoy it before our hot & humid weather comes to stay for a long while starting March.

On a separate note, see if you can relate to this. Something i constantly strive for. (p.s it's strange but it's got everything i love to do in it. EVERYTHING.)

My sentiments exactly.

the modern, well-educated WOMAN - what does she want?

2011-01-27T14:49:00.010+08:00

Hello! How's it going?

Yesterday i attended the said book club & again was not disappointed. Being me, dying to be back in school & revive some creativity, this was therapy. The one thing i really, truly love about being part of a book club is that it gives the book you've read more depth, if that means anything. I wasn't done reading Catherine Lim's Miss Seetoh in the World when i attended the meeting last night, i was up until chapter 6 & had 14 more chapters to go but it was really building up for me. I liked it & thought 'everyone's going to give it a thumbs up, or two'. But NO. Much to my surprise, a third of the members did not like it. Very interesting.

The different views allowed for us to think about parts of the book that we didn't think much of until it was brought to light by another member. So your idea of the book forms only the root & with the addition of ideas from separate perspectives, it becomes a tree. Branching out into more avenues for thought. A tree of knowledge. You think creatively without paying tuition. I like it.

Miss Seetoh is a polished, poised, well-educated lady who made the decision to slip into a marriage with a man she did not love, or at least thought that she did. Set in Singapore sometime in the 60s, where reservation was still well maintained by tradition, she was stuck.. being a woman. A passionate lover of the English language, she became a teacher much adored by her students for her fun & unconventional methods of teaching. All she ever longed for was freedom. First she wanted to have her own bed because she had shared hers with her mother until she got married, then she wanted her own room, her own house, & of course, her own life made by her own decisions. She was a modern lady shackled by tradition or family pressure, a conservative society, a pressing government, & more than anything, womanhood.

Seetoh realizes shortly after her honeymoon that her marriage was doomed to fail. He so passionately in love with her and she, so full of regrets. The ultimate one being her accepting his hand in marriage. She & her husband were part of a community of devout catholics & divorce was unthinkable & not to mention, a solution that was not within her reach. She wasn't afraid of God as much as she was afraid of society at large. It spiraled down further when her husband became a monster fed by his insecurities which developed since he discovered that this love was not mutual. He died not long later & she had her freedom. Or did she?

I won't discuss the different views on this book but some of the things running through my mind right now..
What's the definition of freedom for a woman?
How long can you enjoy that private sanctuary you call personal space aka freedom before your maternal nature intrudes?
Does it even matter - maternity?
Is this what every brilliant, well-educated, modern woman grapple with - freedom vs. marriage?
Is marriage really nothing more than a dark, suffocating dungeon or do they just scare themselves so much?
When a woman loves her craft with vicious passion, does she lose her interest to become a woman more than to become a great artist?
Finally, the modern woman is so resistant & never wants to submit - is she too narcissistic? Or worse, just plain selfish?

UNIFEM Book Club - Miss Seetoh in the World

2011-01-24T15:14:00.008+08:00

Welcome back to Monday (snores)! We had a nice weekend, didn't we?

Just a giving everyone a heads up about the UNIFEM Book Club. The dates are out but i might be accused of posting this too late. Bummer. I'm really sorry!

The UNIFEM Book Club is open to any of us who's interested to discuss global issues affecting women. It covers everything from abuse, oppression, freedom, poverty, education & etc. I don't consider it a feminist event because from the last one i attended, the ladies did mention it'll be great to hear a gentleman's point of view about these topics. I really urge you to come & join us because it's refreshing, engaging, & really inspirational.

I do recommend that you keep an open mind about the discussion. Once, we discussed about the highly controversial French government's ban against the 'burka'. Interesting to openly discuss something i understand better as a muslim myself. You needn't always agree, you can voice your own views & create your own standpoint from the different ideas & information collected from these mentally stimulating, friendly, & cosy meetings. Love it!

Here's the info on the coming book club (in 2 days to be exact, eek!)

Miss Seetoh In The World
by local author Catherine Lim.

Wednesday, 26 January 2011
7:00pm to 9:00pm
UNIFEM Office, No. 2 Nassim Road

Also, join UNIFEM on Facebook & follow them on Twitter.

Hope to see you there!

parents-are-out-of-town-weekend-potluck

2011-01-21T17:18:00.006+08:00

Hooray for Friday! What will you guys be up to? My folks are out of town this weekend & they've permitted me to hold what i would call "my-folks-are-out-of-town-potluck-party". Intimate affair with the usual suspects. Can't wait! My weekends have been so eventful!

Wishing you a lovely time too! xoxo

p.s Will be trying out yet another chicken dish: Skillet Rosemary Chicken. Both the food & photography is just delish.

dirt biking weekend

2011-01-19T12:02:00.006+08:00

Yea, that's right. The word 'dirt' was just too seductive to my nature-hungry being at the time my cousin brought up the idea. So i gave it a go. It was my her birthday & i really want to give back to everyone who's been a huge part of my life, as best as i can. She wanted to try this & i thought, why not?
So we got on a bumboat & headed for the sleepy town of Pengerang just south of Desaru, Johor, Malaysia. Simple, quiet, laid-back & kampung food - perfect. I was in love. And what better way to visit such a place if not to try something new, right?
So i got a pitbike or a 'pocket bike'. Tiny like a little bicycle. Not my first time riding a bike but that didn't help one bit. I couldn't get the throttling right! Embarrassingly, my cousin locked it in within minutes! She was happily making her turns, trying different gears.

My man's zoomed off to a completely different course, leaving us newbies to learn around a cute little dirt loop. I'm thoroughly envious! But you know, i'm optimistic. Maybe even a dreamer. Someday soon, i want to ride with you on a big ass bike too!
As soon we got to the trail, i was so comfortable zooming everywhere! So much fun! So i won the challenge i made for myself. Hooray! I had a little accident though but you'll never hear of it. Haha.
Fun-filled weekend on the whole. I'll give it a 10 for everything. New experience, new skill, sleepy town, nature, friendly people, kampung lunch, amazing company & a very happy cousin. Looking forward to trying this out again & a little more constantly!

Hope everyone had a splendid weekend too & having a good week so far! I'm not in my element these past couple of days, i'm feeling really lethargic! Determined to be back in shape before the weekend. 3 more days everybody! Let's go!

4 questions to self : 2010/2011

2011-01-12T14:31:00.020+08:00

My sweet readers,

If you hang out here with me long enough, you might~ remember that i posted 4 questions for myself to answer at the end of 2010 & i've decided that this will be a personal tradition for my life. Feel free to take on the idea if you find it a useful tool to measure your accomplishments, somehow. Here we go!

Questions to self:
Did you fulfill all your resolutions?
I'm happy to report that YES I managed to fulfill them all EXCEPT to get a driver's license. That's right, I feel like a total loser about it. As a consolation, all these resolutions are now a concrete foundation to take on 2011. So very contented. Stepping up the game for personal upgrade - mind, body & soul!

Have you quitted your bad habits?
Not entirely! I wouldn't say i didn't do very well either. I replaced a fancy list of bad habits with good ones. So to give you a better picture, out of 100%, i managed to rid 80%! (does anyone agree i deserve to binge on some chicken wings this weekend?)

Did you work hard and try to live a balanced life?
Indeed. Something i'm very proud of this year. My time was carefully given into good proportions & honestly, this is my favourite change about myself. I can cook whenever i feel like, blog, spend quality time with friends & family, read, do everything i love without sacrificing sleep, & even managed to squeeze in mini getaways. Looking forward to utilising this new skill further with plans to explore different avenues of self-upgrade. Hooray!

Are you happy?
Difficult. I am contented, does this count? But i'm working my way towards being wholly happy. I'm looking forward to answering this again at the end of this year.

xoxo

I hope everyone had a fulfilling 2010. It's a new year full of chances to try again where we failed, to progress further from what we've accomplished, to take on new challenges, to be making a difference in the world, to ultimately be a better person. Year after year. Let's age with courage, grace, love, & wisdom.

4 questions to self for 2012:
Are you happy?
Did you fulfill all your resolutions (including a driver's license!)?
Are you truly living & your soul put together?
What did you do as a form of charity?

Full steam ahead, everybody!

au revoir 2010; an open letter to myself

2011-01-10T00:03:00.007+08:00

Dear Maria,

Let the world know that you did not depart the past year crippled by disappointments & betrayals, hard luck & setbacks, bad decisions & shortcomings. 2010 left you with scars aplenty but they exist only to remind you to wear them proud & as medals won. Besides, why pursue a battle if not to win? Let them know that glory is in the cradle of your arms because you understand those testing times provide the most holistic & nonpareil education for your soul to flourish & you chose to be the golden girl, the unflinching student, the best.

That year is gone. Another year you live & love. Lived & lost. The worst that you have had to live through, i'm sorry. I'm sorry if the world is designed so far beyond perfect & you cannot comprehend why good begets hate, loyalty begets treachery, & love begets unthinkable betrayal. You suffered much & deep this time but never for nothing. Let it go. To begin, you can never look back & pick a year that wasn't difficult for you. You were never shortlisted to be part of a population that is entitled to a life so easy to live. You know hardship like it is the veins of your hands.

Once again, you're a wounded dog crawling home today. But this new year, you bring home with you the prime concept of faith. I'm happy that you've found your spiritual self though you need to nurture it much more. You now recognise that being a slave is not below you if for the rightful master. So you bury your tiny feet into the earth to stay rooted & give your thanks.

What cannot destroy you, makes you stronger. As it is written, every test sent down is not one beyond your individual capacity to overcome it. The world is not unfair afterall, Maria. It's just in the way you perceive it. It's how foolishly or intelligently you choose to conquer it. There will be much more to come & you will again be battered but i promise you that it is worth it.

Believe that for as long as you have faith, you're invincible. Let the world try to trample you, tell them today that you will never be rattled.

This is your foundation. Happy new year to you.

when life gives you lemons,,

2010-12-29T16:05:00.007+08:00

Plop it into your iced tea! This is my favourite: caesar salad + iced tea, at my favourite cafe. Oh and this new book i'm reading is truly a masterpiece. Hope to share that with you soon! True love in little packages, bursting pockets of surprises. dududuhhhh~

So excited about the new year! It's been a wonderful year but i'm looking forward to all the big projects that i have planned. A few personal upgrades, a few travel destinations & plenty of big, grown-up decisions to make. A brand new journey that's bigger, better, faster. This is about to get interesting, so ready for some real action & adventure.

Also a little note for a very sad Gyira. Hope you'd pick up a book, smoke some fags & have girly time. You'll be back in shape in no time. Here's hoping for better days ahead! I promise to recommend some books & do a little review soon since i once told you i would but never did. xoxo

Happy Wednesday, my sweets!

25 Years Of Christmas

2010-12-27T14:35:00.005+08:00

Hello! Hope everyone had a loving Christmas weekend! Just wanted to share this sweet & adorable compilation video of two siblings growing up getting filmed by their dad every year, coming down the stairs on Christmas morning. No words can amount to this sweetness.

Smitten much?

Parenthood is so beautiful! I get a little upset (not to be too emotionally involved in matters that do not, in any way, concern me) when i see parents not exactly embracing parenthood as a whole. By that i mean, not migrating into a completely new lifestyle that equates to 'me=family' & 'no I in We' (sorry just had to add some Ja Rule into there). In other words, 'my kids are kind of a barrier or baggage in my life'. Or 'i'm juggling parenthood and having a life'. That's unfair. Come on now!

It's so refreshing to see videos like this. This hell of a daddy must love being a parent so much, i figured. It reminds me that having a life can always mean awesome family activities, adventures, travel, & learning. I'm not saying zero ME time, i'm saying these kids probably have more to offer than you trying to live in an evidently false youth.

In my humble opinion, for as much as most parents think they're sculpting the lives of their children, i'd like to challenge & say they do just as much for their parents. Think: #AgingGracefully #Wisdom #ExcuseForBeingAKidAgain. Very charming!

Keep Calm, Carry On.

2010-12-23T14:40:00.005+08:00

Reeling from an awful, awful day. This week hasn't been the best one in awhile. It's tricky to even pour out what's going on so i'll try & share an example that could best be applied to everything else.

This morning i've decided to put on my old & torn jeans. Torn in the correct & intended places, just reminding. So i got to work & i knew i didn't look all that fab but i figured it's not unsightly so it might work out or the least, go unnoticed. But i got to work & someone asked if i 'got RAPED' a moment ago. Urm, self-explanatory.

Contrastingly though, Elfe came to visit me & through our phonecall i was beginning to suspect that she might put me through some sorta survey or something. Thankfully not, because it is Elfe afterall. She's all kinds of awesome, if you'd just allow me to reiterate. So we had our favourite soy latte, chatted & i got a lomo camera for Christmas. Awww..

Amazing, i can never explain to you how i always believe angels exist in the form of the people you love & care about. It's crazy that they surprise you just when you need them & they usually don't even know they've done that for you. Universal magic in the work. I cannot be more blessed.

Matters of the heart can be so delicate & so strange that it often materialises into something awful when it goes out of hand. Sometimes you don't know where you are & what exactly you're dealing with. And most times, you don't even mean it. Keep it together. Taking the time to forgive yourself could just be the mend to what's broken in your soul.

Keep calm, carry on.

The Blue Hues & Black Swan

2010-12-22T14:47:00.004+08:00

It's Wednesday! But i am just so blue. The office is almost empty & all my friends are scattered all over town going about their own business. By business i mean, shopping, chilling out, watching a movie, you get the drift right? What's left for me, you ask? There can only be the hourly attempts to chase the blues away. So far i've got all my old hip hop tracks on my ipod and that's good company alright? i mean, aiiiight?

In case you're hit by the same hues, watch this trailer (that is also if you haven't already). My god, how genius? I've got my eye patch on & the other one on this film for the weekend. Stoked!

A day and a half left to go & we're ready to unwind. Enjoy the day, good people!

Happy Friday!

2010-12-17T17:10:00.004+08:00

Adios! Don't want to do anything more than slip into my 'hedonistic shell' for a moment and meet all my insane buddies, chat about nothing with loaded vulgarities, give hugs, smoke endlessly & just have fun like we always do.

Have a sweet weekend everybody!

halloween 2010, dirtyland

2010-12-16T14:44:00.007+08:00

Nothing more than halloween pictures i never posted.

hair colour.. again.

2010-12-15T15:23:00.012+08:00

When i found this picture on a cup of jo, i gasped just like she did. She loved the side chignon & i'm ALL about the hair colour. Reminds me of the gorgeous Rose McGowan. Could this be my 'holiday hair' as she termed it? I don't know, i really don't. I've been contemplating for weeks!

Am i being silly to think this is risky when i have had blonde? Should it be this bright? Does it go with my skin? Would i look totally crazy? Or too attention-seeking?

Here we go again.. HELP?

Jamie makes pancakes with Daisy & Poppy.

2010-12-13T13:53:00.004+08:00

Spent my weekend catching up with TLC (travel & living channel) & sleeping in. I think i watched countless episodes of Jamie's Family Christmas & absorbed a few awesome recipes i intend to try this Christmas. Overall, a very relaxing & quiet weekend.

Honestly, i'm not completely over it so i'm gonna take this time to extend a little bit of my weekend and chase away the blues with this intensely adorable episode of Jamie & his girls cooking pancakes. Too cute!

here comes the weekend!

2010-12-10T17:56:00.007+08:00

Happy Friday & yay to the weekends! Have a fulfilling one everyone! xx

(doodle is by elfe!)

on my wishlist: shoes!

2010-12-09T11:59:00.011+08:00

Shortlisted these eye candies for the 'shoes' category of my wish list!
1. Jeffrey Campbell, Foxy Platform in caramel.
Perfect for my girly girl days (this happens on work days too).
2. Jeffrey Campbell, Phone Platform Oxfords.
This will easily be the versatile piece in the wardrobe. I can probably strut around in them just about anywhere. Trying to figure out if this is a want or a need or one that falls on the fine line between them. Eeek!
3. Sam Edelman, Nivan T-Strap Platform in black suede.
The cute & dressy one. Chic & so pretty for so many occasions (the floral lace socks are a total darling too).
4. Messeca, Jesenia Fringe Pump in blush.
Ultimate beauty. Urgh.

Shameless hint: I'm a size 5 or 5.5. Tiny i know!

RETURN of the breakfast adventures

2010-12-08T10:49:00.005+08:00

Sharing a breakfast recipe this gorgeous morning. Been dreaming about the return of my breakfast adventures, of late. Time is limited when you're busy adjusting & readjusting to different arrangements you've made for yourself to balance all that's on your plate, the best you possibly can. I'm happy to report, however, that i think i might have nailed it. Hence, i'll be elated to wake up early this weekend morning to cook up a storm in the kitchen for breakfast & share them with you. Only hoping for now!

Wishing you lovely folks a dandy week ahead!

In the meantime, enjoy this mouth-watering Baked Eggs recipe from my newly added favourite blog, What Katie Ate.
p.s how stunning are her pictures & food styling?
p.p.s click on image to view recipe. have fun!

blog love: SHIM + SONS

2010-12-07T10:25:00.012+08:00

Good morning! It doesn't rain as much anymore these couple of days & i'm thankful for the sun because it doesn't bake me like it does in the mid year (though it's perfect to hit the beach).

Since Christmas is nearing & as you know, it's not exactly my traditional festive time but i still always join in the fun. It's that time of the year where everyone is so merry, exchange gifts & thanks, the town looks pretty, my favourite blogs share the most gorgeous ideas, a good excuse to cook for your family & just every reason to feel so warm.

I've done some of my shopping & now it's my chance to scope the terrains to find & try out a cool way to wrap my gifts. My eyes are darting. When it's packaging, i'll type SHIM + SONS immediately. Another cool mommy you ought to check out.
I especially love brown paper,
And this brilliant Thanksgiving Tree!
Shim got her sons to write what they're thankful for on each 'leaf'. It's going to be a tradition in their family & i can see why!

Ahhh.. I'm so often amazed by creativity.

letters & friends

2010-12-01T14:04:00.004+08:00

Remember my lovely friend Lizzy? Well, she sent me a message not too long ago to ask what i thought about writing letters to each other. My answer? "Yes, please!". There's nothing i love more than pretty paperie, getting ambitiously crafty and continuing a wonderful friendship the old-fashioned way. Which in my opinion, being the traditionalist that i am, feels truly sincere & expressive. Digital mediums just can't do it the way letters can, however way you cut it. Only my thoughts though!

We haven't officially started writing to each other just yet. Liz will land in the UK in about 2 weeks and as soon as she's settled in, she'll send me her first letter with her mailing address so i can write back. I cannot wait!

P.S have you heard of the Benevolent Postcard Society? I've posted about them sometime ago and i'm still smittened by this charming project. Wouldn't it be so nice to form a tiny club of people from different corners of the world to exchange postcards and well wishes?

on not being a 'morning person'

2010-11-30T13:36:00.006+08:00

hello everybody, how's the week been?

I endured a whole week of drama & it's been very draining but i'm glad everything is moving to normality already. last night, i did what i thought i would never be able to do. With just a drop of discipline (that means resisting the urge to meet the boy for dinner) & a whole day of tolerating a sleep-deprived headache as well as coughing spells, i hibernated. I slept from 7.30pm (i kid you not) all the way through this morning. I feel so good now!

This will be yet another confession but is there any of you who identifies yourself as 'not-a-morning-person'? & somewhat know that has created a barrier in your life for many years? Well, i am that person, at least not shamelessly. I was thinking long and hard about this all morning & i reflected upon days when i feel great at work & everything just work towards how i want it to, then it finally seeped into my thick skull that i've been in denial all along. All i needed, ALL ALONG, was early nights & good sleep!

Ahh, if you're anything like me, you know that you've dished out all possible excuses to not come to terms with this FACT. So discipline, for the most part of it, is what i'm lacking! Which i sadly & with shame admit that i have a long way to go with that.

And then, that again boils down to what your resolutions are right? While it is highly debatable that New Year resolutions are any help at all, i say that it doesn't hurt a damn bit to take a stab at it. I mean, there's nothing to lose except to risk gaining something healthy for you & your life. So one of my new year's resolution from last year was to think, with a conscious effort, how i can be better everyday. I'll tell you as it is, it doesn't escalate daily. Some days, you back down a bit & shed the black of your stripes. Or even, without realising, you've started a brand new department of a problem while addressing & successfully zapping the others. It's daily, it's constant & it's all part of being human.

On top of struggling to be a better person by thinking about how i can achieve that, i also feed myself with materials that i know is food for my soul. Overall, i think it's done me a world of good. Most importantly, it can never and should never stop.

So my current priority is to get enough sleep. Do you have your shortcomings from not being a morning person?

Happy Eid al-Adha!

2010-11-22T14:33:00.007+08:00

Happy Monday! I know i'm many days late but if you'll excuse me, i'd still like to wish Happy Eid al-Adha! I had a fantastic time with my paternal side of the family. All the food, the catch-ups, the mischief (i can't believe we still have it in us) & all the merry stuff put together under one roof. Urgh, so heartwarming.

You know, i vehemently love traditional malay festive food but we both have quite a strange history, as if we were never meant to be. So as with every year, i fell ill the day after. I mean really ill & ill through the next 4 days. I find this so perplexing because i don't even consume all the good stuff as much as i hope to! I'm vexed! Is there anyone out there experiencing this phenomena?
Another thing that i so habitually do, is take a few moment every Eid to reminisce Cirebon, Indonesia. A life changing place & a trip i so strongly value. In the muslim calendar, there are two perfect seasons for charity & in my humble opinion, there's just no better way to celebrate it than to make the less fortunate people really happy!

Hint: if any of you guys think you have the resources & contacts for a chance to do charity work in another part of the world next Eid, please contact me!

P.s if you haven't already, read the Cirebon experience here.

to live & love: a very special post for a very special person

2010-11-10T13:37:00.009+08:00

I'm going to introduce the most special person to me today. This is Lizzy and i received a message from her this morning that made me cry a little (yes, in the office).

I first met Lizzy in the winter of 2008 while i was on a holiday in Perth, Australia. For the first time, my brother & i were going on a vacation independently so it was what we considered a 'big trip'. I won't lie to you, being two really young asians, we were really intimidated by Australia. But Australia, however it was intimidating at that time, showed us to a friendship with its most wonderful citizen.

Liz was backpacking around Australia at that time & had already been staying at the backpackers we checked into for a couple of months. Knowing we were really shy & possibly a little a scared, she made us feel really warm & at home. We were also introduced to Dean & Scott from Ireland who were so wonderfully nice too.

We hung out all night sharing stories about our homeland, their travels, travel tips within Perth & everything. Simply, we were no longer freaking out because we now had these amazing new friends who'd look out for us, who showed us some places, gave us their sleeping bags because it was way too cold at night, woke us up for breakfast & even cooked us dinner before we left home.
The friendship didn't finish from the time we boarded the flight home. In fact, many times in the last year or so, Lizzie would send me messages to see how i was doing & even offered me her shoulder to cry on when i was going through a very difficult episode in my life. Note that she lives miles away from me & constantly travels.

Tell me now, is this person not an angel to you?

It's these little acts of kindness that will live in us forever. She's a true inspiration. I've learnt that you'll never know the impact of your good deed, no matter how little or large, on someone.

So this was what i received from sweet Lizzy this morning,

"hey maria, i have a day off so i thought i'd spend it in the library and fall into my own little world for a while....for some reason i had an impulse to click on your blogspot while i'm on facebook quickly, because you'd posted something for your lovely brother's birthday.

i feel like we are so alike it's not funny, and i suppose we never really had the oppurtunity to get to know each other well enough to realize that - we did only briefly meet each other for 2 or 3 days. i always thought your were lovely and i have met many many people on my travels who are beautiful people, but the way you talk about your love affair with life, with friends, family, art, books, activism - this constant flowing raw energy for a more fulfilled and happier you - i hold it so close to me, recognise it, understand it and i think it's a very special gift when you happen to stumble upon someone else who shares such fundamental values.

i wish that we were better friends. you seem to have so much light spilling out of you. your gift must be that you radiate this light upon other people.

that's all i had to say, i hope you have a beautiful day darling. you have made my day! xo"

It's so heartwarming, i couldn't help but cry. I don't think Liz understands how special she is or how thankful i am to have met her.

Well, I did mention that i have never wished for massive readership or 10000 blog hits a day but i've always meant for this space to be where i would meet like-minded people like you & lizzy, who are similarly passionate about love & life.

I hope someday, we can all come together, maybe even through this blog, to build friendships, share thoughts, & create waves of magical, positive, infectious energy for each other. I pray many seasons of good karma for Lizzy, for you & for everyone.

It's fantastic to be alive & in love.

Happy Birthday to my brother!

2010-11-09T11:32:00.005+08:00

It's my brother's birthday today so Happy Birthday soldier! We love you!

Last weekend, some of our close friends and my family threw a really messy surprise party for him. T'was far out! At this point, i've given up on the thought that a boys' party can ever be a tidy affair so we just sorta roughed it up & had a hell of a time albeit the rain.

Massive thank you to all our friends who came to the small celebration. We were so close to reducing him to tears. So close. Also, a big hug to my forever awesome parents, who're always supportive of these crazy celebrations that i tend to churn out & tirelessly helping me with it all the time.

So, i'm just going to take a moment to introduce a very sweet cousin of mine who got these cupcakes done for the party on a VERY short notice. Note that a friend of ours did not request for anything more than just cupcakes but she took the time & effort to inject a fraction my brother's personality & her remarkable creativity into it. So, introducing the 'Sergeant's Cupcakes' by Gl3cafe! Thank you so much from the depths of our hearts!
My brother has a blog, do visit.

Guess we're all grown up now, brother. xx

Grassdoe

2010-11-08T16:20:00.011+08:00

Don't you ever wish you could live in a place where you can just marvel at nature everyday? I love being surrounded by nature & my paternal family's traditional kampung (or kampong) in Malaysia is one of my favourite places to visit.

Fundamentally, I relish the idea of not having to consume processed food & mass produced unhealthy poultry, while getting unlimited access to fresh, crisp & clean air. Oh, how divine?

This blog by photographer Jonathan Levitt has given me every sound reason to want this so much more! It documents the wonderful, healthy & natural lifestyle that comes with living on a farm blanketed by nature. Walking through the woods, swimming in the sea, spending all your time with the people you love, having a BBQ.. What i wouldn't do for a life like this.
And whoever said you can't do all that without looking cool?

where is lucy-fur?

2010-11-04T15:10:00.005+08:00

The sweetest cat in the world went missing last night. I've been an emotional wreck since! It's not like her to roam far away from the house as she can be quite timid. She follows me around the house everyday, so i knew something was fishy when she didn't last night. We've searched everywhere and are so worried. It rained all night and i recall how my aunt first found her before we adopted our little baby- hiding between the wheel of a car, shivering, wet & afraid.

I'm going to start printing out posters and have them up all around the neighbourhood. So devastated..

sfgirlbybay

2010-11-02T14:57:00.012+08:00

Sfgirlbybay is one of my favourite blogs & i won't hesitate to label it 'immensely inspirational' for the lot of us who are nuts about interior design. Here's sharing with you some of my favourite finds. Will let the pictures do the talking or else i risk sounding too gushy about my mad love for this blog!

If you guessed it right, i'm a coward when it comes to colours & this gravely upsets me. Don't get me wrong, i do love colours (who doesn't?) but when we get into the topic of the bold, the bright & the gaudy, i typically freak out. To add hurt to the injury, i awfully adore white. So i tend towards the soft & the pastel.

I'm not worrying too much now. Of late, i've been on a mission to educate myself about colours & i can already feel myself coming out of my shell bit by bit everyday. With the help of my favourite blogs of course.

meet Elfe!

2010-11-01T17:13:00.009+08:00

Happy first day of a new month and week guys! Just wanted to share the beautiful artworks of my talented friend, who doubles as my activist soulmate tackling issues like gender discrimination and animal cruelty, please meet the very charming, Elfe.

I’ve told Elfe countless times that I will adorn my own apartment (when that comes) with a variety of her paintings. Oh and I’ll throw in a bonus- she’s fantastic to work with!

You can commission Elfe to paint and know she’ll have it done beautifully (for a budding artist, she’s shipped her work all the way to Australia and fast going beyond).

Show her some love over at her blog or contact her to see more of her work and don’t forget to show young local artists some love along the way.

love, faith & everything in between.

2010-09-14T13:31:00.004+08:00

Life's a wheel, sort of. But i, am just contented. In fact, truly happy. Above all, i feel like a brand new person.

Hello to you, precious people. How's it going?

I'll get this together again because i miss you and because it's a brand new day.

blueberry mornings

2010-06-26T06:39:00.008+08:00

Good morning! Getting in touch with my little hobby again now that i've gotten hold of a 'working' camera. Coffee + blueberry muffin!

Have a happy weekend! xx

N.A.L.G.O (Not A Lot Going On)

2010-06-22T09:31:00.005+08:00

How is everybody? The alphabets M, I and A are not part of my name for nothing. Since my last post, a million things have happened. Let's just say life took me on a ride. We're finally slowing down though and coming to a halt.

Love & faith.

Just happy to be here. <3

life is this random

2010-02-11T08:03:00.004+08:00

Just when i thought i've almost completely recovered, i'm sick again. Why?

Times are rough now for me, so small doses of comfort comes in the form of your friend wanting to catch up at 3.30am for a drive which eventually became an emotional vomiting over a glass of green tea and fruit punch. First step to natural healing.

For that i've not slept all night and i'm simply miserable so let's make it snappy, i'm going on a road trip across the border from Friday till mid week and till then, no posts. Don't miss me.

in hiding

2010-02-09T18:17:00.003+08:00

It's one of those days. Feeling really sick, i just want to curl up in bed and hide myself from the world.

I'm starting to feel a little depressed but i'm too old for that.

See you when i get better. I hope that's tomorrow. xx

of pogo sticks and scary mixes

2010-02-07T23:22:00.007+08:00

So good to catch up with everyone there. The party was wicked.

Happy Birthday SUP!

2010-02-05T12:57:00.006+08:00

Hello! Our local big boy, SUP clothing, has just turned two and they're throwing another one of their raaaaaaaaaad parties. Launching their new collection with some booze and music, do drop by and show some lovin'. Potentially, i'd see you there.

Also, don't give their neat web store a miss and give it a click.

It's an unexpectedly crazy day for me. Life has been too nice and too slow lately, i could use some of this madness. See you later beautiful people.

a Big Night Out

2010-02-03T13:30:00.005+08:00

A little re-education from Rise Against, a nostalgic time with Saosin and no way better to end the show but with Muse.

Big night out with the big boys. Heading out in just a bit. Enjoy your Wednesday!

life's little tidbits

2010-02-02T14:44:00.004+08:00

Inspirations are everywhere, you just need to look. This christmas letter from Drey in '06 will remain on my inspiration board forever and by simply reading it over again yesterday, i've come to a decision that i'm giving my dancing self a second chance. Slowly this time.

A life without dance, is like a life without love.

the stuff we do outside my house

2010-02-01T12:48:00.008+08:00

How was the weekend? Me and the girls got down to finally celebrating our babe's birthday and awww, it was perfect. I mean what could possibly go wrong with good home-cooked dinner, fairy lights, candles and some jazz. Basically, our menu for the night went as simply as follow,

Appetizer:
Baked salmon & baby potatoes + mesclun salad + asparagus.

Main:
Roast chicken
Pasta pie

Dessert:
Chocolate fondue

I need to specially mention Nini's pasta pie which she painstakingly put together like it was a piece of art and was so RUDELY DELICIOUS that we're all asking her for another round of it. Her roast chicken was also lovely and while she rocked the mains, i did the appetizer and I thought we both did a pretty neat job.

Have a sweet Monday, my loves. Come right back tomorrow!

Herb & Dorothy

2010-01-28T15:00:00.003+08:00

I've been meaning to watch this cute and endearing story of the famous Vogels. It's finally screening for the first time here in Asia and you can watch it at the Design Film Fest that's near over. I think i've been missing out on these goodies for some time now, let's get back on track.

p.s WHDH, sad you can't make it cos this other one's for you!

By the way, WHDH has a wonderful blog, so give her a visit. Her posts are really fun and informative. She makes me want to go back to art school all the time!

In other news, i'm just about to link everyone following me from here. Tell me if that's okay or i'll just go ahead with it. xx

maggie gyllenhaal

2010-01-27T12:19:00.004+08:00

I really can relate to some of maggie's features. Her chubby cheeks, droopy almond eyes, weird lips, awkward un-toned body and her oh-so-not-photogenic smile. She's no classic beauty but she's that rare, untypical, no-plastic-surgery hollywood beau and i so love her.

She's strangely cute, really sexy, very genuine, can be a little scruffy and most importantly, so laid back and low key. She's a goddess.

I didn't bring Maggie up just because of this wicked le smoking photo of her which i think is a cross between rockstar superficial and picture perfection. But, here i go again, hair obsessed. Now that my blonde days are over, i really want those curls she's banging! This is getting so unhealthy..

a sexy couple, their home & her hair colour.

2010-01-26T13:56:00.006+08:00

An amazing city, the cutest couple alive, the coolest home. This is my favourite house tour. It may not be anything like the ones i've posted but this one is so full of character and colours. It feels so genuinely home for this sexy pair. This is Elli Rose and Gui's home in Tokyo. So kick ass, i loooooove this.

I'm so digging her hair colour! I think it's insane and not quite the ordinary. What do you think? Looks like this will be the beginning of my new-hair-colour obsession all over again?

Happy Tuesday!
(more over at The Selby)

a little late today..

2010-01-25T17:38:00.005+08:00

Sorry. If you're wondering where i've been, i'm just right here in front of the screen, finger clicking and eyes darting all over the web. January's almost over and though i'm so pleased with how this year started, i'm still trying to pump it up further as we go along the months. With respect to my blog, i'm already on the mill getting a few new things started and running so i am actually suggesting you stick around and watch them unfold.

For a quick update..

I'm working on trying to get my camera fixed or replaced because blogging isn't the same without it.

My brother's churning out a rad blog so stay tuned.

Cease to cook temporarily until i own a functioning camera and a mentally stimulated mind.

No projects for now but i'm looking for a book club to be a part of. If you know any, please comment and share. You'll be rewarded with good karma, i'm certain.

Sharing with you some favourite old visuals in the next few days, ie sexy smoking images and some sick homes. So be ready and let's meet back here tomorrow.

dreaming of India

2010-01-21T16:40:00.005+08:00

I find myself dreaming about India these couple of days and i so badly want to experience it. So in the chaos of yesterday, a sweet friend of mine wanted me to take my skills somewhere and that place is no other than the magnificent Chennai, India. I haven't thought much about it since i barely had the chance to but i see myself lying in bed tonight thinking long and hard (with a smile of course) if i would want to live there. Even if just for a while. Let's see how that's going to work out! Whatever the outcome may eventually be, i know i want to be there. Someday soon hopefully.

Yesterday was a loooooong day and i have a splitting headache now. Happy Friday!

a fairytale treehouse honeymoon

2010-01-20T17:54:00.008+08:00

When my girls and i get together, we sometimes chat about our girly dreams and as you may have already expect, we've talked about our dream honeymoon a million times over. Whatever they may be, i'm pretty sure you haven't heard of a treehouse honeymoon? One that's tucked in what looks like a magical forest?

This is Treehouse Point in Washington, isn't it so beautiful? Think about all that you can possibly do together! Stargazing, exploring the woods, enjoying the therapeutic sounds of nocturnal wildlife at night.. A lengthy list of adventures. What a place!

I'm giving myself a little more time to stare at these pictures and dream before running off to prepare for a looooong day tomorrow.

Happy Wednesday!

(via a cup of jo)

this much of the new year..

2010-01-19T13:31:00.003+08:00

Ahh.. Looks like a promising start of the year or the start of a promising year? I did a little soul search back in Bali and it proved to be very inspiring. My bub and i have been rethinking our pursuits and made the decision to place ourselves in a different arena this year. We intend to be more ambitious, more together and live life with humour, creativity, gusto and zeal. More than anything, we want to be the best that we can be together as a team taking on a new lifestyle.

How's the new year treating you?

Bali 2010

2010-01-18T12:31:00.032+08:00

Bali is still magically gorgeous, friendly and warm, rich in its culture, safe and oh so exhilarating. Though in some areas, a pinch more expensive and a little more developed. Bali is getting richer and we know she deserves it.
This time round, our friend Zie, took us into her amazing home somewhere a little further away from where the great Tanah Lot Temple stood. I consider myself way too lucky to be given a chance to experience the real Bali.
We woke up to sun-kissed paddy fields that stretched into the horizon, locals living a different kind of life away from mass tourism and commercial grounds, we watched villagers rise early to work on plantations, we ate local push cart food..
And for the highlight of it all, we rode on Zie's horses through lengths of paddy fields into a secluded beach where there was not a single tourist! Black volcanic sand, clear water, clean beach and hardly anyone there except for a few young couples and some kids pocket biking on dirt bike tracks sponsored by Electric. I was so honoured to be there! Thanks zie!

Balinese food is too good to miss, i learnt that this time! So if you're planning on vacationing there, be adventurous and don't ignore roadside stalls. They serve the best local delights, three times cheaper than the many restaurants and cafes. Just make sure they cook it fresh for you, if you're afraid you might get sick. The downside is that i've gained so much weight from this trip and i'm paying for it now. So no yummy food posts in the weeks to come! But here's some photos for your viewing pleasure. Come back tomorrow!

(kick-ass photos stolen from Nini, my talented babe)

in Bali from 7th till 15th.

2010-01-07T06:59:00.001+08:00

Good morning! Leaving for the airport now! Will be back next weekend so see you then! xx

Cirebon, the place that changed my life

2010-01-06T00:16:00.015+08:00

The experience from my trip to Cirebon, Indonesia cannot be bounded by words. Many times, i try to write an account of it and as many times, i fail. It disappoints me. I hadn’t traveled all the way to Cirebon to shoot the breeze about life there, i truly wanted to share what i've brought home. Something special and life-changing.

It was as if we were on a mission and like all secret agents, i knew perfectly what we had planned like it was the back of my hand. Secretly also, i knew Indonesia more than i cared to admit and figured i was in her favour. In my image of her, i saw vast fields stretched out in the absence of cars and many villagers hard at work. The air charged with labour but smelt like a cool September day. Little did i know or expect, i was in actual fact just an unsuspecting victim.

The flight to Jakarta was arduous. We were stuck with more baggage than we were allowed and was short of a few people who were meant to come. Sally's mom demonstrated all the warmth and personality of a typical loving mother and for that the journey soon relaxed. Upon arrival, we met with the hospitality of Cik Neng's family. It was merry and i liked watching everyone exchange hugs and kisses and schmooze from where they left off the last time. The bus ride was something else. We had a coach bus to ourselves and it was cosy and full of food for us but the ride was close to 7 hours and it was too fast and too bumpy to have much sleep. It was a cool experience though.

Cik Neng's family live in a little shop house, 3rd round the bend from a stretch of shop houses alike. It was a family business, they sold and supplied mostly home-made crackers. In it was 4 tonnes of rice in huge sacks, ready to be repacked and distributed by us. A narrow path next to it led us to the family's new and near empty bungalow, where we stayed for the rest of our trip. Historically, Cirebon flourished under the graceful influence of an indonesian muslim missionary, his shrine rests on the peaceful peak of Gunung Jati, which was pleasantly just across the road from our house.

You see, Cirebon as i have least expected, is a busy suburb. Motorcycles came from everywhere, dirt roads are extensive and many, push carts selling food and toys lined them. But deeper into where we stayed, perched many houses that seemed like only shelters which were severely rusting and falling apart, some had no floors, many had thin, leaking roofs and some had not something i'd consider a door. Hardship is uncommon but the people were strong and unflinching, they continue to live honestly and help each other within the village like they were a team more than mere neighbours. These sights proved to be very damaging for self-reflection.

On Eid Al-adha, Sally's family chose their goats and went ahead with the slaughter which i intentionally avoided. Within minutes, neighbours have gathered to help pack the fresh meat for distribution. Those who came to get a bag of rice, some rupiahs, clothes and meat from us were dominantly frail elder folks, who had walked the whole way there. Many were ill, widows, or lived alone. Their voices praying for us, thanking us, the look of content on their faces were not meant to forget. I'll never forget.

I spent a number of days with the charming boys who played outside the house, i was fooled by their wayward games because they were much sweeter than they appeared. With them, i was a denizen of Cirebon. They had no toys and nothing much, so they climbed and sang and created games from scraps they found. I discovered i'm quite a marksman with the air rifle we toyed with. We loaded metal pellets and shot at cups, containers and such. Didn't know i was a chip off the old block.

One time, i was walking up to the house from the shop, and saw the boys squatting in a tiny circle. One held a piece of cardboard over their heads and i couldn't make out what the rest were doing. I soon found out they were watching a little fire they've created between two bricks and was barbecuing satay with the fresh meat from the slaughter. They of course offered me some and i gladly took a stick, it was good and I was so blown away by them.

I had wished on my journey back to Jakarta, a 5 hour bus ride, that I want cirebon to live with me forever, vivid and reminding. Though i hate to admit it, i was a little homesick by the time we left. But landing safely and being greeted by our world class airport was as disappointing as waving goodbye to Paman. A sigh marks my welcome home to the fast and bitter city life.

movies and a vacation

2010-01-04T00:58:00.006+08:00

I've just watched this! It's charming and very moving. Adam has Asperger's syndrome and from the trailer you can actually tell that he's brilliant but as with every person suffering from asperger's, he is very socially awkward. In this movie he falls in love with his neighbour, a beautiful writer of childrens' stories, who teaches him how to blend into society and live like a normal person. I won't go any further, you have to watch it and see how that worked out.

I say it makes a sweet movie for a date. My boyfriend has made me promise that we'll stay in one of these days and watch Adam while eating caesar salad (which is his flavour of the moment), and i gladly did so.

Also, i managed to watch The Fourth Kind at 4am new year's day with my two favourite boys. Very disturbing, intense, and interesting. If you love sci-fi or have a strange fascination with alien life form then this one's for you. I loved it!

In other news, i'm vacationing this Thursday! Yay! I'm paying Bali another visit and will be there for a week. I've been such an atrocious blogger, i've not even updated about Cirebon and now i'm already leaving for elsewhere.

So tomorrow's short term goal is- upload pictures and blog about Cirebon. Got it.

2010- purposeful

Day 1 2010

2010-01-01T18:21:00.004+08:00

My bestfriend baked her first cake yesterday and it was a yummy success. Check out her 'peace' cake, isn't it so cute? It's a great statement to begin the new year with and she did a fabulous job.

I'm assuming everyone is staying in today? To recover from yesterday's celebration and take complete advantage to chill out while it rains beautifully outside? I had a great time last night with the people i love and oh, what better way to usher in the new year if not with your favourites?

On another note, i'm not doing very well today. First day of the new year and i am down with the flu. I'm about to go have a nap again. Hope you guys are enjoying the holiday!

a new year full of purpose

2009-12-31T03:52:00.008+08:00

You guys, we're finally back here at the starting point. The ride wasn't very smooth but that leaves us with more drive and will to take on the next one and make it better than ever. Here's wishing you a happy and blessed new year, let's begin on the right foot and pledge not to stray from our resolutions.

So what are your new year's eve plans? I'm going to a mexican restaurant and bar called El Toro, i heard they have great tacos and churros. I can no longer contain my excitement!

I've been thinking about this for some time and thought i'll have you be my guest and witness this. I'm going to post up a few questions for myself to answer in the NEXT new year's eve, which is that of 2011. I didn't want to let myself down with all these plans i've made for the year, so what better way than to share them with you and risk embarrassing myself if i don't live up to them? So here they are,

Questions to self:
Are you happy?
Did you fulfill all your resolutions?
Have you quitted your bad habits?
Did you work hard and try to live a balanced life?

I'm glad to have you sweethearts on my journey into a new and better year. Have an excellent one everyone!

errands day again!

2009-12-30T20:33:00.004+08:00

Another day of errands. Busy, busy, busy! Check back in tomorrow and we'll have a little chat about our new year's eve. Are you excited? I have something up my sleeve and will get my hands on it tonight. See if i can work some magic and wake up to an exciting new year's eve morning. What are you guys up to? I'm not certain about my plans but i do have a few things i'd like to do tomorrow. Anywhere you'd like to suggest to me? Here's one of the few things i'd like to do after the countdown,

What do you think? It's open tomorrow and i don't think i wanna miss it. See you on tomorrow my beautiful readers!

a rocking black & white house

2009-12-29T04:40:00.016+08:00

My loves, ever wondered who lives in these black & white colonial houses you often see around? Or what it looks like on the inside? Last week, my bestfriend shared this spectacular house tour of Mark Seeger's home, an American expat who chose this alternative opposing the 'traditional expat lifestyle of a condo and 42 inch LCD TV on the wall'. It's fascinating that in the beginning, this beauty had neither floor nor roof and had been vacant for close to a decade. Just in case you're not in awe yet, here's the catch- he rebuilt this baby.. himself. Feast your eyes..

That outdoor shower and dining table is insane. Hope your Tuesday is to!

(more from where that came from: desire to inspire)

joyful news!

2009-12-27T23:43:00.008+08:00

I wanted to share a little tidbit from last week but couldn't allow myself to do that without first addressing someone i hold dear to me. I'm not one to follow tv shows, you name it, i have never watched an entire season of anything. In fact, i hardly watch much television unless i feel like it. But moments ago, everyone on Facebook and Twitter rejoiced over Sezairi Sezali's win in Singapore Idol. I am so very touched by this news, so happy for him words cannot explain. It's so incredible, our once so adorable Airie who too often gets backaches and continuously expresses his love for my mom's noodles is now Sezairi Sezali, a Singapore Idol. Stripping off the friendship, i'm sure we all know he's a fine musician and singer and that he very much deserves this.
(a young us from 06)

I pray escalating success for you in the years to come, my dear. Sky's the limit and you'll get there. I'll miss you around but you'll always be in my prayers. With all my love, congratulations.

Hope you beautiful people are enjoying the idol fever. Have a blissful Monday! xx

Happy Christmas & Holidays!

2009-12-25T01:27:00.006+08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I don't celebrate Christmas but i do take the opportunity to join in the fun and cook dinner for my family. In this house, we love chatting over good home-cooked dinners.

On a separate note, it's my second x'mas with you folks and i'd like to thank you for reading my humble blog. I'm also very grateful for the friendships we've made through here. You have no idea what it feels like when readers add me (regardless FB or Twitter or anywhere else) and tell me how much they enjoy my blog. Thank you so so very much.. I am forever grateful.

With all my love, have a cosy holiday my sweets.

Have a Muji X'mas!

2009-12-24T17:30:00.015+08:00

Not too long ago, my boyfriend and I went strolling in town when we decided that we should explore and conquer the whole of Ion because we never did, not all of it. It's a chaotic maze, full of interesting stores. So like i had thought, it was an epic failure. We also happen to be looking for a few Christmas gifts and walked right into Muji. Ahhh.. Muji, the bringer of eye candies. Here's sharing with you my Muji indulgence from their incredible x'mas catalogue.

Paris in a Bag.

Christmas 'Tree'

New York Map Handkerchief.

And to wrap them all up.

Unique boxes!

And a gorgeous sack.

Gorgeous hey? Have a Muji X'mas!

enter frame

2009-12-23T00:24:00.007+08:00

I love frames of all shapes and sizes so i'm vexed we don't have much around the house. A mix of art, photos and posters would be rad. It is not completely my house afterall, so i'll keep it down. But when the time comes and i'm left with a space to call my own, you bet i'll cop these ingenious ideas. How swell are these anyway?

(via automatism)

squeezed for time

2009-12-22T11:46:00.004+08:00

Errands day today, will be running around. See you on the morrow. Just a question though, has everyone slowed down on blogging? Haven't seen much updates lately from you guys. Throw in something interesting so i'll be inspired to do the same, instead of lying around in bed with a throbbing headache. Better days ahead, i pray. <3

the smell of you lingers.

2009-12-21T18:30:00.002+08:00

A different world awaits me. But first, to learn and live life by myself.

a morbid recollection

2009-12-18T03:32:00.007+08:00

My resolutions for 2010 is still work-in-progress. Oddly enough this time, i am critical and unrelenting. Looking at my posts these couple of weeks, i seem to haven't said much about the goings-on in my life except to drop a few daily inspirations. My guess did not take me very far, so a closer inspection revealed that the only plausible explanation would be that reservations have grown with age. And that my friends, is occurring rather rapidly. It is going to sound fairly depressing but months now feel like years and i'm weighed down by many worldly ideals that pair with being an adult. To further severe my case, i am a middle class kid who was granted the misfortune of having to be born into an expensive city. There is also no need to remind you that i am at the edge of the adolescent bluff. I'm 21 and even that is almost over.

So as my hunt for inspiration steadily came to a halting failure late yesterday, i logged into my old friendster account out of desperation. Have you seen it? Reckon it got bought over by another company and given a face lift. Not too shabby. It's not like i was sure why i did it but for whatever the reason is, it proved to be more than what i had originally bargained for. Trying to retrieve my first 100 comments was no use, i should've known that you can never trust sites like this with your priceless treasures i.e first 'testimonial' from your boyfriend which would've been whimsical to discover. Anyway, they're very capable of screwing everything up beyond repair, hence the makeover and new operation. (Note to self- watch out for Face Book)

Consolation was that i found my old blog. They've restored it with a tacky layout but otherwise, nothing's changed. The ghost of that blog beckons me to wander into the mind of 18 year old Maria, angsty and crazy in love, i did that for a good 3 hours. Well, it doesn't look like i've grown out much from my morbid disposition but i'm not worrying about that yet.

Younger Maria was detailed, she wasn't half as a caught up with the real world as i, obviously, so it afforded her time to think deep into pertinent details like her love and emotions or something that made her terribly upset that day. She was so sensitive and wouldn't allow anything that moved her get away without some kind of reaction. She was more delicate and indulged in her love for poetry and her craft but little did she know that soon after dwelling deep into art and injuring a knee, she'd develop an obsession for politics and culture shifts. I'd say those were the responsible factors that popped me out of my shell and here i am today, exiled from the innocent paradise that once existed in my head 3 years ago.

These days i corrupt myself with speeches from Malcolm X and Dada artworks while adversely channeling healthier inspirations and the things i love to do as a normal, functioning woman of the society into this blog to save my life and mind. While some remnants of younger Maria remained, many have changed forever. That is so to prepare for the real world that now welcomes me.

Going back to constructing my resolutions. Bet you didn't realise, i'm back at my ugly habit again and that's staying up into the small hours! Well anyway, Happy Friday! Weekend's here!

cooking to heal

2009-12-16T03:25:00.004+08:00

sour cream pasta + shitake mushrooms + chicken.

When life gives you pasta, cook it.

rough

2009-12-15T11:35:00.005+08:00

Funked and disoriented so i'll be right back. See you honeys on the morrow! ♥

home is sweet and so was the weekend

2009-12-14T18:39:00.004+08:00

Just got home from a surreal domestic holiday weekend. It's now time to catch up with the real world and some sleep.

happy weekend!

2009-12-12T01:08:00.006+08:00

I am a mess right now. My weekend is jammed pack! Jammed packed the good way, thankfully. Who's going to Zoukout? I'm giving it a miss this year (yet again). It's Sam's last day in Singapore and she wants to take the party elsewhere. So have fun guys! For the rest of us not partying, what are you guys up to? I'm looking forward to an immense catch up with my boyfriend since we've not seen each other for close to a week now and it's starting to hurt a little. Wouldn't it be nice to even do a little dance with him? In case you didn't know, he's actually a brilliant dancer and he loves it. Only shy. ;)

Have a dance-y weekend!

the bests

2009-12-11T11:23:00.007+08:00

Another awesome sleepover. Any day can be kick-ass if you have great friends. By that i mean, the ones who'll stay with you on the bumpiest rides.

Happy Friday! The weekend is here! xx

WAR IS OVER! (IF YOU WANT IT)

2009-12-10T00:03:00.012+08:00

Print & display in your window, school, workplace, car & elsewhere over the holiday season, and send as postcards to your friends.

If you don't see your language here, then send us your translation of
WAR IS OVER!
IF YOU WANT IT
Happy Christmas from John & Yoko
so we can make a poster for your language.

The enchanting Yoko Ono calls for a peaceful protest every Christmas and i'm in this year. For some time now, i've been on a hunt for budget-friendly gifts and ideas this Christmas but nothing quite does it like this nostalgic print.

This is in Bahasa Indonesia. Is it any different in malay?

Dear John & Yoko,
Your love will pave the way for peace in the world, someday. Thank you for believing. Imagine peace.

breakfast with you all over again

2009-12-09T00:53:00.006+08:00

Remember my breakfast posts? I thought this place can't do without it. So yesterday, it was waffles with strawberry, blueberry and bananas.

Days are looking better for me and i wish the same for you. I tweeted that that's how it's going to be if you have faith. Truly, it's not okay to feel like you're walking on eggshells. I'm a pessimist, a natural. If you're anything like me you're in for trouble. So take faith with you, it's all you've got.

Now let's roll.

the big wish this xmas

2009-12-08T02:13:00.011+08:00

Speaking of shoes and my minuscule feet, i ache soooooo badly for this vintage pair of Salvatore Ferragamo combat boots! No one knows how i feel about these boots. And i mean no one. This is true love.
BUT! Like any handsome bloke, there's a catch. It's a size bigger than my feet! Please help me! Can i really stuff fluff in there and learn to walk in it afterward? (Note: This is an actual question. I know i'm such a loser but you'll help me anyway right?)

If i nail this bad boy and you see me someday with them on, please be nice. Pretend you don't know what's going on down there and say hi!

p.s a very giggly post. Yes, the hyena sort.

shoe swap & girlfriends

2009-12-07T00:52:00.009+08:00

Good Monday! How're you wherever you are? I'm feeling only a little better since the weekend but will still wrestle to keep my spirits up and flying before the gravitational pull of the earth eventually take me under.

By the way, have you ever done the shoe swap in the middle of anywhere? I see my girls do it from time to time but don't recall ever doing it myself because my feet is at least 2 size smaller than theirs. I'm not sure if it is unusual or embarrassing but i find it really cute when girls do that! I feel it suggests love in friendship, do you?

p.s this post is for my girlfriends. xo

(the sartorialist)

have a rad weekend!

2009-12-05T15:46:00.003+08:00

Breaks Fremantle, 85 High St, Perth, Australia.

I'm spending my time at home to laze and didn't expect to find myself reminiscing Freo; its good food, amazing coffee, awesome cafes and the wonderful friends i made there. I officially miss Fremantle more than anywhere else in Perth.

Well anyway, just wanted to say.. have a rad weekend guys!

how're you? i'm uninspired.

2009-12-04T17:28:00.006+08:00

I'm suffering from a bad case of writer's block. I can't seem to even score one sensible sentence without it sounding like an eight year old's take on a little known subject say.. politics? That i reckon could have easily been a much better job. Not nice.

My only inspiration (or the lack thereof) to counter this painful mindlessness is the decision to go pictorial for a bit until some madness befall me. When my head spins from the magical gush of inspiration and fireworks, we'll speak of Christmas, my life-changing trip to Indonesia and what else if not the much anticipated new year which by the way is looking like a cave of precious treasures from where i am at present.

This year has been a tragic one for many of us if not all. Guess it's safe to say that the mishap army might just send a few more soldiers in so let's buckle up and fight the war to stay positive. I haven't come to a confident conclusion of why that is so and i'm beginning to suspect that the economic crisis is anything but a legitimate reason. Can't be too sure of that either.

Good to know that the days are numbered. I am in the process of gathering a few ideas for the new year and actively working on my resolutions. I won't forget to share that with you beautiful people before the year comes to a close. Let's all look forward and march into the new year with courage and hope.

Thank you for encouraging me to blog and staying put through many months of absence. Know that some of the best friendships began right here in this almost anonymous, humble little blog of mine. Have a wonderful weekend everyone! xx

the benevolent postcard society

2009-12-03T15:55:00.007+08:00

Have you heard of them or seen their lovely blog?

"The society is a postcard exchange and art project in one, the aim of the Benevolent Postcard Society is to bring a smile to its members through the random exchange of postcards from September 2009 to September 2010. At the beginning of each month, members send a cheerful, amusing, inspiring, pretty or quirky postcard to each other — either handmade or readymade. At the end of the year, all the postcards exchanged will be collected and published as a book, the final result of a year's sharing of good karma through random acts of kindness."

Isn't this the most inspiring project? I admit, i have a not-too-strange fascination with receiving mails, be it cards or letters and especially if it is handwritten and posted from a reasonable distance. Do you like posting and receiving mails? I know a number of people who do. Shall we try this together for the new year and circulate positive energies and good karma to each other?

sunday suppers

2009-12-02T11:32:00.012+08:00

Just recently discovered: Sunday Suppers which immediately became my no. 1 favourite 'read'. If you're ready for the beautiful Karen Mordechai's photography and mouth watering food, go give the link a click. Don't forget to get inspired by some gorgeous setting for your next dinner party!

Love Karen's photography? See much more over here.

hello again, sweet readers

2009-12-02T00:06:00.006+08:00

Are all you beautiful still here? I'm on a roll so.. Welcome back to my blog! xx

(lelove)

the new revolution?

2009-06-04T03:04:00.004+08:00

“I suspect that many of the great
cultural shifts that prepare the way for political change are
largely aesthetic.”
J. G. Ballard

My two cents, aesthetic IS the new revolution is it not? Everything else in between wouldn't cut through the all obvious except to give it a different kind of form or to only beat around the bush. No?

Cool is still 'in' and so is botox, bad tv and the-so-called 'art' of today.

Yet another good read by adbusters.

my cousin weds..

2009-06-02T00:59:00.008+08:00

and i'm planning her hen night! Thanks to my hectic schedule, i couldn't work on this sooner. The party is in four days and i'm rushing through every detail. The fact that i don't have a fantastic budget just gave me a panic attack this morning for i refuse to compromise my idea and is so determined to go all the way with it. Or at least three quarters of the way?

So stoked!

Apart from clubs and strippers, have you any ideas to share what would be great for a clean, girly and enjoyable hen do?

the perfect day

2009-05-26T23:49:00.006+08:00

This week has been ugly. And i've been.. i can't find the words to say. Whatever or however it is, every fall is another reminder that there are people around you who care and love you. They stick around and more importantly, they tell you that they're not going anywhere. Simply, they'll be right there when you need them. Thank you, loved ones.

Dreaming of the perfect day. How cute is this note? Some days are better forgotten while we pursue better ones. This may come in handy for you too, sweethearts.

(le love)

my new, awkward age.

2009-05-19T11:55:00.007+08:00

I am 21 today AND so uncertain how to feel about it.

To the many sweet people who reached me from all over, thank you for every wish and prayer, it's very overwhelming. I had to hold back tears countless times.

Two special people surprised me last Saturday and i must make a special mention,

To Sally and Salina,
thank you so much for a great dinner, gorgeous setting and chained surprises. All of that was so much hardwork and effort on your parts and i bet it took much time to plan and put it together. You guys did a fantastic job. Because you went through so much trouble just to make this happen for me and the girls, i am forever thankful. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It was splendid, i loved it.

Simple, intimate, meaningful birthday celebrations with the people you love, is the best gift.

i wuv you, birthday boy!

2009-05-18T13:27:00.004+08:00

To the one with the cute nose and the best smile, Happy Birthday!

My first conversation with this silly person was today, 4 years ago. I didn't think there was going to be a nerve in me that would be tickled into fancying him but because that conversation occured, it led to a mutual friendship and later, every wonderful else. Eversince, we grew up together and it's been so wonderful.

What i'm sharing with you now, in the light of my lover's birthday today, is a severely truncated version of how we first met and the developments that followed. I doubt the story matters more than our birthday boy who turns 23 today. :)

The sweet and kind Yas is now wiser, tougher, smarter and still every bit as incredible as when i've first known him. He still rocks my world and i suspect that might go on for a very, very, very, very, very long while. <3

you turn my frown, upside down..

2009-05-13T23:57:00.005+08:00

The tiny, pretty one. My little niece and her pink play-doh plastered nails.

Oh, these little people and the things they do..

(mimi)

on my wishlist

2009-05-12T00:47:00.006+08:00

Ahh, my heart aches for this..

The Sadie cork wedge sneakers by 80%20 in navy or black.

The Maria you know is all flip-flops, sneakers and flats. In fact, i am spotted in flats only occasionally and more rarely in heels. Been looking for a pair of shoes that wouldn't take my outfits down with it to become sloppy the way flip-flops and my trashed sneakers often do and i find heels too dressy for my casual weekends out.

This pair fits every criteria. Not too much because they're sneakers yet with the cork wedge, girly enough. I looooooooooove it. Getting them shipped in when some dollars drop by to stay.

Terribly lusting them! 80%20 is so genius, i swear.

today,

2009-05-08T02:48:00.005+08:00

Just how fierce is this chic? (polkdots-vodkashots)

Oh, i've just gotten a new shade of blonde. I was excited but it's taking a strange turn now that i'm no longer feeling it. Not to say that I won't change my mind but i might just go with something else before i board that flight. Hmm, I didn't think i've changed so much? I thought wrong then.

It took only a blink and Yas comes around riding his little vintage motorbike. T'was love at first sight, for the both of us. But surely, it's going to need some degree of dexterity to put this bad boy together and give it a life, a fire of some sort.

And randomly, this is a good read.

just to let you know..

2009-05-07T05:42:00.006+08:00

I am back and sticking around this time! To celebrate, posting what rocks my world and makes me happy, my breakfast.
This was to be put up weeks ago but here it is now: Raisin scone, strawberry jam, EBT.

And for a startling update, Jennifer from Simply Breakfast is still posting! Take a minute and have a peek at the new shots from Paris (if you love food and more so breakfast, just the way i do).

Enjoying the luxury of sleep at the moment, 3 months worth. Readjusting back into my old life is as overwhelming as it is with the former work schedule. For a start, oh god, all the errands to run. Most of which i must say are so very urgent because i never found the time to attend to them during those hectic months.

Probably a third of the people i love, miss, wants to see and catch up with have already made dates with me and it's scattered all over the month. I also owe birthday dates with the April babies and now just about to get round planning for mine.. and Yas. And i don't have to remind you about my working on that uni admission, almost a wrap but not quite yet.

May is a handful. Could've been easier if i was willing to compromise my hours of sleep so i'm prepared to work around it. Not complaining.

Ahh.. Gleefully blogging.

Good morning, blog pals. You've been missed.

for when i settle in

2009-04-18T23:48:00.005+08:00

Probably the best bedroom to sleep in and have breakfast in bed. And that parked commuter bike is so genius. I've always, always had a thing for simple, white, VERY puffy linen sheets. This lazy self will stay in bed all day, i can be quite a bear.

If i raise enough money sometime soon, i might just go on a hunt for them. Part of a few installations i'm thinking of for my new room when i start living on campus. I'm off to dream a little more.

(via my favourite blogger, JO)

won't be gone for too long..

2009-04-12T00:32:00.003+08:00

Thank you for the well wishes and sweet words, friends! It's really coming together and looking back, it was all hardwork right from the beginning, starting with trying to convince myself and my folks that this can work out.

I researched, attended international university fairs, got in touch with school representatives, did my sums.. A handful, really. Maybe even more. I enjoy watching it all fall into place now and have been daydreaming way too much for my own good too.

It's saddening that i can't find time to blog much. I bet you know how happy i am when i am here, blogging. I want to check in as often as i used to. Share my breakfasts and interesting finds, post randomly, upload pictures..

But all that won't happen till next month when work subsides. For now, all my time is consumed by work and the rest i need for it. I'll keep things moving here as much as i can but apologize if you hit to find nothing in weeks.

I'll be back (as in officially back and blogging) next month. Till then, enjoy all of April!

university admission part II: officially accepted!

2009-03-25T23:00:00.004+08:00

I am officially accepted! And will start my new life as a new person, in a new place, a new school. I will meet new people, experience new things, all in a new setting. And all by myself.

I will learn so much and try so many things an island (also known as a 'country') cannot offer.

That's going to be one hella adventure.

i am alive!

2009-03-20T01:30:00.003+08:00

Here to say hi and assure you that yes, i am alive. Tell you what i've been up to when i can.

It's so good to see the blog world remain colourful. Fresh ideas, cool recommendations, new movements, hot gossips. I want to plunge into the fun too! But i suppose that must wait. I'll see you back here later.

Happy blogging!

and my happy pill today..

2009-03-05T17:39:00.005+08:00

To have discovered this! Ah, how rad is this place? It certainly didn't allow design to overwhelm the feeling of 'home'. Can't believe how pretty it is just so simple like that. I'll be one of those to enjoy a place like this because i laze around at home too often. Also nuts about big windows and lots of sunlight pouring in. Except, i would probably change the colour of the walls and get some frames up.

I must be getting old.. and fast. Sheesh. (via blackeiffel)

university admission

2009-03-05T13:48:00.003+08:00

I've been busy putting together documents and transcripts for my university admission and i am as excited as i am teary and heartbroken.

I don't know how to live away from my brother and my bf. :(