stuff i haven't got to share..

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.

a baby ballerina's dream

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!

Happy Birthday to my brother!

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

the stuff we do outside my house

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!

my new, awkward age.

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!

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

picture post: post-halloween birthday party!

I'm sorry i'm a little behind with these pictures from my brother's 18th birthday the other day but here they are now. Very briefly, the surprise and some of us in costumes.. Pretty hilarious.

On that day, my brother didn't shower since he woke and left to skate. In this picture, he came home surrounded by all of us shouting "surprise!". So gross..

And here he is showered and in his 'terrorist' outfit.

Me as the corpse bride, kinda. I'm not handy with make up so i found this idea here. And that's my mom's dress, t'was a gift when she turned 21.

Muay thai boxer, possibly the most comfortable outfit.

Highlight of the day, naughty school girl (with my bra on!).

More like Mars Volta turn nazi, Nigel.

Definitely best dressed! Those 'grills' were made out of aluminium foil.

Adam was supposed to be Tarzan until we decided he was better off as a caveman.

This was the Freddy versus Jason stunt.

We thought Mabel looked so much like Emily the Strange. Her intention was to be Bloody Mary and Salina was a ventriloquist doll.

Mr. James Bond and our very own Jabbawockeez.

I was so impressed! These kids made tremendous effort coming all dressed up and that contributed greatly to the success of the party. They were so much fun to work and party with. Overwhelming and I'm forever grateful.

and the party..

So there was laughing, dancing, costumes, food, cameras flashing, fooling around, mocktails, flairing and all kinds of fun. It was kick-ass with these kids. And my brother thought he had the best birthday ever. Mission accomplished! Here's a peek at the party..

Our little mocktail bar, bartender, birthday boy and friends.



A party is not a party if something dirty doesn't happen.

Saddam Hussein, 'Hitler', Bond and urm.. his girl?








I guess the creative process of this party and the cooperation of my brother's good friends were the best bit of it all. Sure was a challenge considering i had less than a week to put everything together and all within a suffocating budget too. Thank you again and again and again for making it the best one for that brat brother of mine. I'm glad everyone enjoyed dinner and themselves.

See you on the morrow!