on my wishlist

There's a reason why wishlists are called wish-lists. Wishes don't always come true. So i probably won't ever get this swell sweater dress by Alexander Wang but it certainly is up on my wishlist this year. But there's no way you can not pair that with wishing to shed at least 10kg before you have any courage at all to get into that.

Words count for little when it's about losing weight. Gees, so impossible.
(via becauseimaddicted)

family business

I just melted and ooze from watching this animation done by my mad creative cousin mimi out of her daughter's artwork.

Daughter's artwork+mom's animation+dad wrote the song+folks' band played it=awwww.

I can't help but to be such a girly girl about these things. Le sigh.

a little blue

(by Jen, who is my favourite)

I'm a little blue and a little in pain. It's that time of the month and a girl must brave through discomfort, cramps and raging hormones. Hygiene is so crucial and keeps you on your toes 24/7, 7 days of that unfortunate week, so i don't get the best sleep during this time.

Uninspired right now. I can only think of puffy white linen sheets and some Frank Sinatra. I intend to take it easy this week. Wishing yours to be better, friends..

officially starting over

It's Monday and officially my new year. Meaning to say that the day i've decided to get serious about living up to my resolutions started at midnight except i was asleep or trying to, so now's it.

On Saturday, my bestfriend (more like family since it's been more than 10 years since i knew her), turned 21. She wanted to have a birthday party by the beach under white tentages litted by candles, a lot of good food and all her loved ones gathered. With what little budget we had, that was exactly what happened. We were successful in giving her that dream birthday, if not maybe a pinch more. I loved it and she did too.

The night prior to her big day, Sally and i were both at home, cooking tirelessly in the kitchen. We couldn't afford to cater and felt our food was better. And we were right, just so you know. The response was encouraging, the lasagne, sushi and all that food. Encouraging because Aaron asked if he could order a tub of sushi from me. Order a tub. What, serious?

Just trying to reason out why i chose today to get real (real as in realistic), about my 2009 because there's no way i could with another party coming up. I have been having too much fun since sometime before Christmas and its time to draw the line, refocus and adjust myself into the things i've set myself to do. Besides, too much party makes me uneasy, everything about it as a matter of fact. The lack of sleep, the excessive eating, spending less time at home, too exhausted to take a bath or wipe off my make-up before i go to bed, no peace and quiet, no space for thoughts.. i'm sure you get it. It's as if your mind, body and soul are all over the place. So no more for now because life is not always a party and should never always be. Afterall, i am turning 21 and i wish to embrace adulthood by first stepping into it on the correct foot and second, being more put together and hopefully, a little more mature.

I'm exceptionally chatty today, please excuse the lenghty entry. It's one of 'those' days.

Happy Monday!

my new year's morning

My new year's big breakfast: Turkey bacon and butterhead on multi-grain, sausage, scrambled eggs.

Goodbye simply breakfast (officially)!

it's not goodbye, 2008

(pic)

Everyone, have a nice time tonight welcoming the new year, wherever you may be.

I am usually a little mellow and tend to look for quieter celebrations. My new years are more solemn than most [edit] occasions.

I've had a great 2008 and i hope you did too. If not, there is always tomorrow, a new year to start over, a second or third or fourth chance. There is so much in 2008 that i want to see in the next and this is a delightful surprise because i don't normally want to bring the remnants of past, or the last year rather, forth. So it's not goodbye.

There are also much i want to do differently this new year and plenty more to look forward to.

This blog has brought value to the micro things in my life and will be something i want to work on through 2009. Thank you for the friendship that blossomed here, whether old or new. From unforgotten friends like Lene and Radya, to those who were once strangers like Shameen and Huda. Thank you. This blog has become my happy place.

Have the best new year, everyone.

dictator not terrorist.

Just the other day, i was invited to my (ex) company's dinner & dance where the theme was Arabian Night. Arabian night!

So the night before the party, i was brainstorming some ideas for costume and how could i have forgotten? My dad's souvenirs from his pilgrimage about 13 years ago when i was 7 was the answer. I found everything and thought, i'm going to be a dictator or if that doesn't work, maybe the average arabian joe who sells kebab. So i looked like this..

Hahaha! My dad's old rayban gave the look an edge. So i wasn't the kebab dude afterall.

Needless to say, i was sensational there. Also, the luckiest young sir who captivated the giggling ladies waiting to take pictures with me. Hello~

Though the muslim in me got hurt a little when i was mistaken as a terrorist. So i was defensively repeating "no! I'm a dictator!" firmly that few hours. Didn't do any good. :(

Apart from that, I had the time of my life and won 3rd for best dressed. Meaning, a hundred dollars voucher and some awesome goodies. Not bad for a last minute costume hey?

Which brings me to introduce you to my new shoes that i bought instantly with the voucher. Please meet my Aldo Koudougou after 30% during the christmas sale which makes it all the more affordable.

(taken from here)

If you'd like to see more pictures of the party, go give my photo-blog a visit.

Going to the beach to cycle and have a picnic. See you tomorrow, last day of the year.

FINALLY!

My photo-blog is up! I'm at maria-captures. It's more like an extension of this blog so posts are more organized. Really basic and i haven't developed much on it but it'll do. For now.

I have more pictures to follow up from my last post: Christmas at Yuki's. This uploading business takes time so please bear with me! It'll come along slow and steady.

Hope it works for you guys! xx

Christmas at Yuki's

Hello! I hope i haven't been gone for too long and that you enjoyed the holidays.

Just a little bit about last week. The dinner at Yuki's was simple and wonderful. Her apartment was rad, our sushi wasn't too bad, plenty of pizza and chicken wings, chatters till the wee hours of morning and 4 happy girls having a good time on the windy, spacious balcony so high we saw the prettiest view of the city by night.

I loved everything about it.

At my place, the next day, dinner was roast lamb, cauliflower cheese, baked potatoes and mushroom cream. My folks invited Yas over and it went better than i had expected. A friend of mine gave me my favourite flavoured ice cream from Ben & Jerry's for x'mas and so we had that for dessert. That saved the day. My dad spontaneously organized a movie marathon, which went ahead with just the men in my life (my dad, brother and boyfriend). The girls of the house had to unfortunately get some sleep after all that cooking. Right.

My holiday well spent with the people i love and matter so much to me. I know it's rare for me to say this but i'm really happy now after a very, very, very long time.

Wishing you happiness this new year, my sweet readers. Because it tastes so sweet and i never took it seriously until recently. Everyone wishes happiness for each other but until someone stops to explore how deep and special it is, it's just going to be an overrated word i suppose.

the season to be jolly?

(from here)

More like the season to be sick. I'm down with the flu just as many of my friends and family. It's x'mas eve. And i am sick. And brooding. And feeling gloomy. :(

Tonight's xmas dinner is pizza and japanese at Yuki's. We're going to learn how to roll sushi and take on a few japanese recipes. Maybe even mess her apartment up or misuse the pool. I hope to get better by then or couple of hours prior. I gave my liver a good rest just for tonight! Tell my body, i deserve to get better..

Every year, the family ritual is dinner at home on x'mas. This year, my folks suggested that i be in charge of the kitchen. Ehem! Technically, we don't celebrate xmas but we just join in the fun and use the term 'holiday' instead. Which happens to also be a great excuse for family feasts. We're done shopping for groceries and i'm left to think about dessert.

So i'm busy, a little sick and feeling very festive. I'll see you when i see you.

p.s As of right now, i am at work AND i have frozen unagi in my bag. I know. I try not to think about it.

Merry x'mas and happy holidays!