Adios 2007, my old friend. I hope I’ll never see some bits of you again.

Contrary to popular belief, this year has been extremely loooooooong. I sincerely can’t wait for it to be over even though that will bring me one step closer to the 3rd decade of my life. But not wanting to sound like an ingrateful... ...Thanks 2007, for all your crap, leading me to my newfound courage within.

I plan to welcome the new year and bid 2007 goodbye in true Vegas style — get monkey-drunk on the Strip, wake up next morning with beautiful strangers strewn all over the bed in a hotel suite in another continent, smiling.

There are BIG plans for 2008, my friends. BIG plans. Big, life-altering, weather-changing, money-cashing, brain-exploding plans installed for myself.

I am planning to be more efficient and stop denying myself of my creativity. The most important thing is to stop telling myself that I can’t achieve certain dreams. I am so stupid. Who am I to tell myself such things? Such a dumbass. Please don’t be such a dumbass to yourself too.

1. I am going to complete a sketchbook every 2 months. I was going to say 1 month but I think I shouldn’t set unrealistic goals. I have plenty of design/café/product-invention ideas swimming around my mind that I say I will jot them down but never. And you know what that means? Every time I forget 1 of those ideas/designs, I lose a chance to be a millionaire. Losing the chance to be a millionaire means I lose the chance to buy my own helicopter. Losing a helicopter means losing the chance to visit the private beach-y Caribbean island I bought for myself for Valentine’s Day. And that means I can’t bring any of you with me neither. That’s awful news for everyone.

2. I am going to master how to create Flash banners…in ACTIONSCRIPT! Some of you might not get what that means. My mom will never understand what that means. But heck! You don’t need to. Just be supportive.

3. All my loved ones are gonna get handmade gifts from me for the whole year. And mind you, they’re much more sincere and challenging than making a trip to the mall. I kick myself for not participating in the Handmade Pledge for X’mas in 2007. So I intend to embark in this ambitious pledge for 2008. If I end up not making the gifts myself, I would kindly acquire them from other artists. No more mass-produced crap from the Mainland! Vintage items and sex toys are rare exceptions. Especially the Canon Rebel DSLR and iMac desktop that I’m aiming for meself.

4. Save money. This is relevant to all the above points (see above). It is interrelated because they all will enrich me in the non-monetary inspirational sort of way and I’ll do away with pointless retail therapy really soon.

5. Focus on all the abovementioned resolutions.

6. Achieve number 5 to make sure I accomplish everything else.

7. Hurt myself really really really bad if I don’t achieve at least 1 point of the points numbered 1—4.

8. Stop eating so much of the MSG-laden Sotong crackers I stumbled upon at the local Asian supermart.

I stop at 8 coz’ it’s an auspicious number.

Happy holidays folks~ See you next year!

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing themselves."

I miss the Christmas-es back home~

2006

2003

"Top Ten Least Popular Holiday TV Specials" - submitted by viewers.
taken from my weekly newsletter from David Letterman's Tonight Show.

10. "Mugging On 34th Street"
- Mike M., Wonder Lake, IL

9. "Gift Wrapping With The Stars"
- TJ L., Racine, WI

8. "Donald Trump's Holiday Combovers"
- Jeffrey W., Roscoe, NY

7. "Hillary Clinton in 'Pantsuits of Christmas Past'"
- James B., Mt. Ida, AR

6. "The 75th Annual Leaving of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Out On The Curb"
- Richard F., Saint Mays, CA

5. "That's Hot: Paris Hilton Tells The Story Of The Yule Log"
- Christine N., Del Mar, CA

4. "Pamela Anderson Celebrates 'The Twelve Days of Marriage"
- Vern P., Gainesville, VA

3. "Larry Craig's Tappin' New Year's Eve"
- Anne S., Seattle, WA

2. "Michael Vick in 'Snoopy's Last Christmas'"
- Greg F., Columbia, SC

1. "Rudolph, The Performance-Enhanced Reindeer"
- Mark L., Kansas City, MO

Have a Jolly one, everyone!

She'd landed! (and some other irrelevant news....)

Welcome to planet earth Yuki-chan~

I've, once again, became a proud Auntie to this pretty little Snowflake who flitter-flattered her way into Japan right in time for X'mas; Thanks to my cousin NHao, who has been working overtime to contribute high quality cuteness to the world!

*clap clap clap*

~~~

Meanwhile I also have been busy baking something in my oven... ...
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Don't faint yet MOM!
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I was talking about cookies lah~ heehee

There's a cookie exchange event in my office organized by a few ladies. So I signed up in hopes of making more friends and most of all... ... IMAGINE ALL THE COOKIES I'LL BE GETTING!!!

But b4 you get the cookies, you have to make some first. I immediately consulted my personal baker and she promptly delivered a fool-proof festive solution — Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookie Bark.

Behold! You'll be witnessing my struggles as a baking fool.

1) Mix the stuff together. easy.
2)Lay the dough on the baking sheet as thin as you can. And this is the first mistake I made by forgetting to use the best tools I have — my Freaking hands. Only until the second batch did I realise and start using the good tool.
3) Put it in the oven.
4) Freshly out of the oven, sprinkle chocolate chips on the surface right away. This is where I made my second mistake on the first batch by forgetting to spread the choc chips and sprinkled away with the peppermint! What a stupid fool!
So I went in later to 'doctor' it.

5) After laying them out for at least 2 hours, Its time to crack and pack. Break the cookies into small pieces that'll fit into the goodie bag.
Of course I disguised the first ugly batch on the lowest layer :) Wahaha

Target store-bought Holly Berry Candy toppings were also used for variety. Nuts, crushed toffee or chopped white chocolate could have been used too. But I didn't think of it earlier.

D'oh!

I carefully packed and styled the cookies bags — making sure they have similiar amount of goodies inside and look perfect from the outside.

6) Step back and admire!


p.s. By the way, the cookies taste a tad too sweet for me personally. But nevertheless good! I hope the cookie ladies enjoyed them!

To get the recipe click here.

have to share!

for those of you who don't know...

It's almost CHRISTMAS!

Well, almost... ...

I hope all of you have read my previous post with the Annual X'mas Grassy Gift List. But most of all, I hope you're going to continue to read this entry.


(You're looking at my insane-in-the-brain wrapping style for this year......like it?)

This is the season to give, but I hope we will not only confine it to just 1 day of the year. Nevertheless, I have compiled another list for your convenience. A lot of you are predicted to be scrambling like the 3 blind mice for suitable presents for your stingy boss, hard-to-manage mother-in-law or maybe your lousy boyfriend. Go ahead and loosen those purse strings. Make a donation for me or someone, instead of buying another watch we don't need. I guarantee you'll sleep better after this too.

This is the ultimate list. Forget the other list. And now that I have done it so beautifully for you, there is no excuse.

(Compiled list for convenience. By no means of favoritism. Find your own charity if not, here.)

American Breast Cancer Foundation

Our mission is to provide women and men in financial need, regardless of age or race, access to breast cancer early diagnosis, to assist patients and their families, and to support research.

A.P. John Institute for Cancer Research

The A.P. John Institute for Cancer Research is a non-profit organization located in Greenwich, Connecticut. Angelo P. John, Sr., a cancer scientist specializing in molecular biology has invested more than forty-five years researching cancer treatment and prevention, founded the Institute in 1978. Our cancer treatment offers healthy opportunities for cancer sufferers.

Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade
The mission of the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade is to raise funds and awareness for advancing access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, with a focus on the medically underserved.

United Cancer Research Society

SPCA
Singapore SPCA

The two main objectives of the SPCA are:

• to promote kindness to animals and birds
• to prevent cruelty to animals and birds

San Francisco SPCA

The mission of The San Francisco SPCA is to save and protect animals, to provide care and treatment, to advocate for their welfare, and to enhance the human-animal bond.

World Wide Foundation
Mission Statement: To stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:

• conserving the world's biological diversity
• ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable
• promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

Make-A-Wish Foundation Singapore

Mission : Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

Singapore Buddhist Welfare Service

Mission:
• To extend social welfare services to the community. • To work together with government and recognised welfare bodies.
• To relieve poverty, sufferings, ignorance or ill health of needy persons.
• To establish institutional care for the needy, aged, children or handicapped.
• To provide facilities to cater to the needs of the residents in neighbouring estates interested in educational and cultural activities.

Autism Association Singapore

Mission: To identify, promote and encourage the treatment, education, welfare and acceptance of persons with autism. Also to watch over, protect and act in the interests of persons with autism and autistic-like features.

Man Fut Tong Nursing Home

Mission: To provide a high standard of medical, nursing, rehabilitative, psychological , social and recreational services for easy integration of the individual into the community.

Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America

Big Brothers Big Sisters matches children ages 6 through 18 with mentors in professionally supported one-to-one relationships. We have volunteer programs in communities across the country — including yours.

Elephant Conservatory Projects

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in laboratories, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment industry. We also work on a variety of other issues, including the cruel killing of beavers, birds and other "pests," and the abuse of backyard dogs.

Thank you!

"I'm at the corner of Walk and Don't Walk...."

Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not going to go back to SG for X'mas and New Year's this year :(

Yes, I am sad too. I'm staying put and was gonna have a quiet & peaceful holiday until the 3 havoc homewreckers decided that they'll be coming. I'm scared. LOL

I realised Vegas is definitely a place where you live and get lotsa home guests. I even had to turn away some for the holidays. Oopsie!

~~~

So during thanksgiving, I took a solo roadtrip down to LA. I don't like the city at all coz' everytime I go there I lose something. This trip is no different either. I don't want to talk about it.

The best thing is I got Mr Big back in my arms (thanks to Mr Y) and met up with my good friends from SF. It was a crazy nonstop 36 hours.

I left Las Vegas at 515AM on thursday morning and reached Newport Beach in 4 hours. Finally met up with Sayaka after like a godzillion years and took a quick nap at Saori's place B4 a Ramen rendezous with Yoshi to pick up Mr Big. Made a shopping quickie @ Huntington Beach with the girls, picked up a lemon pie and had a sweet Thanksgiving bbq back at Saori's place.

Woke up early next morning to drop by Melrose for a business errand and met the rest of the gang for a wonderful lunch @Le Pain Quotidien in healthy organic style. Then I braved through the horrendous LA traffic to rush back to Vegas (5 painful driving hours with shaken-up Mr Big in the backseat) — Cousin Ming is scheduled to arrive at LAS that evening!

We had a BLAST! She unvoluntarily went shopping with me at the Outlet mall but int the end we both went a little crazy at the absurd sales going on. It was so fun to shop with someone (been doing that too long by myself).

I got to show her that Vegas has an awesome natural environment too by going to the Red Rock Canyon just minutes away from my apt. We had good time monkeying around, posing for stupid pictures and harassing the elderly while they're trying to hike(pointing accusingly at her). It started to get really cold and we left for a fabulous Monty Python's Spamalot show at the Wynn. H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S! You guys gotta watch it when you drop by. Then we spent the rest of the evening discovering Wynn over a drink at Parasol Down. Finally. It's my favorite spot on the strip ever.

She had to leave to go back to Skooool on Monday. boo hoo... I felt like her visit was way too short. But I'm glad we are a few more steps closer now and it'll be my turn to visit her New England side of town soon, I hope.

Overall it was an incredible weekend. Now, back to my hermit life.

25 Bad Habits of Graphic Designers

(taken from YTD.com)

1. Taking Constructive Criticism Personally
2. Not Knowing Paula Scher, Milton Glaser, Paul Rand and Friends
3. Not Staying up on Current Events and Design News
4. Not Owning the Graphic Artists Guild Handbook
5. Charging too Little for Design Projects (Amen!)
6. Not Using Contracts to Cover Your Butt
7. Not Setting Deadlines for Projects
8. Doing Spec Based Work (If you like it you can pay)
9. Not Asking for a Down Payment before Starting a Project
10. Using Poorly Designed Fonts from Free Font Sites
11. Using Display Fonts as Text Fonts
12. Using the Comic Sans Font
13. Using too Many Different Fonts in One Design (max is 3 diff fonts on 1 page)
14. Forgetting White Space is your Friend
15. Not Sketching Before Designing
16. Not Using Rulers on Screen
17. Relying Totally on the Computer, Especially for Kerning
18. Using Photoshop Filters After Your First 6 Months
19. Using Low Resolution Web Images for Print
20. Not Designing Logos in Vector Format
21. Making Logos Unable to Reproduce Well Small
22. Forgetting to Learn Keyboard Shortcuts
23. Not Saving Frequently
24. Not Backing up Files on an External Hard Drive
25. Not Getting Enough Sleep! Stop Drinking so much Red Bull! (or coffee or pepsi)

*newsflash*

I just realised something!

One of the annoying mexican twin (the girl) of HEROES is also an actress on X-Men, the one where the metal guy(whatshisname again?) moved the freaking Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz. She has the ability to create massive shockwave. Kinda similiar to her role in Heroes. I guess she has a theme going on.

Just a trivia for ya!

My cherry6

yes, you're looking at my newest toy of the season.

After an excruciating search, I finally found one that I am willing to call *My Very First Car*. It's important, It's the FIRST.

My mom's first car was also a Mazda, that I remember from my childhood. But I've to admit mine is a little flashier. This baby is a 2003 Mazda 6, cherry red (therefore the moniker) with automatic transmission, 2.3 L and essentially, all the bells and whistles.

I got a pretty auspicious license plate number too. Can't display it in case the FBI is looking for me. All I can say is it has 8s' and 6s'.

Gotta go. It's time for a Joyride.
pic taken at Red Rock Canyon with cousin's mighty SLR