see ya!

omg. had a massive panic attack when i thought i lost my visa papers. then bf ask what could happen? i realize it not that bad. i could just not return or just enter as a tourist and see what happens? haha but i found it UNDER the drawer after searching frantically like a maniac. UNDER. it somehow slipped under. omg. life is mocking me right before i go on a great vacation.

ok it's time to go sleep or i'll be super cranky. it's gonna be a long journey but totally worth it.

bye biatches.

Sneak a peek

what is that?

Just ordered! Will probably only see this when I come back from my vacation. Well, it's an incentive for me to leave SG and return to LV I guess (besides the bf and sparky).

If you know and love bags, it won't be that hard for you to figure this out.

Liberty of London in Target!

These beautiful prints are killing me softly. Do I want everything they are selling in these prints? YES. And then the bf will kill me.

But first, let me share with you these pretty wallpaper. Just click to download. these are 1600x1200. If you want a smaller one for your fancy iphone click here.





For more, go there.

Early B-day 2010

It was a lazy saturday. The BF wanted to surprise me with an early birthday celebration with friends here but I guess he can't learn to keep anything from me. muahahaha. So we started the celebration by me having a little hissy fit that he has NOT gotten any cake for me. What is a celebration without any cake? And luckily for him, we drove by the area where my fav. local cupcake bakery is and his fast wits brought him to the rescue.

A dozen angelic cupcakes from the best local The Cupcakery! The chocolate on the right is named Grasshopper! Coz' it has choc mint bits on the top.

Ok, will continue on the story of how we abuse the cupcakes later. First we met with friends at KAYA, a Korean-Jap all-you-can-eat restaurant. They have a great list of appetizers that we covet more than the sushi rolls. We ordered more alcohol than food. well, ok maybe equally so. By the time the main food was served, we were all buzzing.

These actions are due to alcohol.

This is the only food shot I took. Forgot.

Group shot towards the end.

So we were going to play pool but our preggers friend didn't like the location. so we jsut spontanesouly hopped into the 24 HR massage parlor next door! e dunnoe if it is "special" or not, we just went in! We figured we can check it out and evaluate the place ourselves.

It turned out to be ran by people from Mainland China, of course right? It was their 3rd day of opening and it cost about 20 bucks for a 30 mins foot massage. And we fell for it. Sorry no pictures coz it was kinda dark and I never thought about taking pics too.

After a satisfying treat (no happy endings though), we retreated back to our house to have the cupcakes and play some Mahjong!

The star candle is really cool because......

It sparkles!

Granted that I didn't get to celebrate my bday last year, I have kinda forgot how it is like to be the bday girl. Crazy huh. But life has been even crazier that I kinda forget some little things in life. I can't wait to be back with the family and be together with them for this.

Mt Charleston with Sparky!

Mt Charleston again! I dun even remember if I blogged abt this the first/previous time we went there. But this time we brought Sparky with us! I don't even know if Sparky has been in the snow. We are bad owners as we didn't have snow boots for him. Just his X'mas sweater.

Ashley and Sparky in the back seat.

Sparky didn't like the cold that much.

Sparky made yellow snow.

And then we spent the rest of the hour sleighing down on this plastic sleigh/plate we bought. it was tiring and fun!!! Kinda warm so the snow is hard and melted. But there is still plenty! oh! btw, we kept Sparky in the car coz' he was shivering.....bad owners us.
And here's a nice pic for ya! Heeeheehee

wallpaper!

Hey ho! It was a very good day when we finally put up the wallpaper I got from Anthropologie. It was on sale from 159.99 to 32.99 a roll!!! I bought 2 for our bedroom and this is the process.

this is what happens when you give a 7-year old the camera.

Did it on the widest wall in the room.

Sparky joined us by just sitting there while bf and I did all the hard work. It was ok.

1. We cut the strips into the height we need.
2. Dip the strip into a bathtub half filled with warm water to activate the adhesive on the other side of the wallpaper.
3. He paste the top part on the ladder and I made sure the side aligns on the left and the bottom rolls down smoothly.
4. Smooth the paper down. Make sure we remove the air bubbles.
5. Press hard to make sure the wallpaper folds with the bottom edge of the molding.
6. Let it dry (no problem in desert weather).
7. Trim off the top and bottom for nice straight edges.
8. Use leftovers to patch any weird gaps.

Not that bad!!! If you're going to do it, buying pre-pasted wallpaper is the way to go. I cannot imagine dealing with any glue. Will be so messy.

The wallpaper made our room look much wider and cooler. Sayaka says the design looks pretty Asian-inspired, which is something I never thought of.

Yay!!!

mixed feelings

After much persuasion, we went to brave the crowds for the movie much anticipated "Alice in the Wonderland". Got there much earlier to go in line and stand there, just to secure a better seat. I am never the kind who like to go with the crowds. I won't die if I catch the movie 2 weeks later you know. But my partner really wanted to.

"I need a pig here!"

Biasedly I alwas think that Helena Bonham Carter gets her movie parts by default. Granted she is a good actress, I always thought it is a little unfair that she gets to play those crazy awesome Tim Burton movie heroines. But in this movie, we agreed that she is one of the best things that happened in it. Could be the writing, the crazy big head and the nature of the role itself, but yeah, it was much better than the forced (in many ways) Alice or the weird door-mouse. And also much much better than (don't hate me) the Mad Hatter—Johnny Depp.

I can't believe that Johnny Depp was even the main image of all the movie posters for this movie. It's like, I didn't enjoy his character nor his acting at all. He seem to be playing a role like Willy Wonka in many sorts. And it is really unfair, in my opinion, that he was focused in so much. I guess his name sells. I adore him too, but it's kinda getting old.

Anne Hathaway is kinda peculiar, and I would say it's ok, it's enjoyable.

All in all, I just wanted to rant. Just wanted to say it's visually so beautiful, but the story is kinda mundane. That's all.

Ok I;m off to watch a bizarre japanese robots movie. Catch you later~

Amazing new collection at Heath Ceramics

Images courtesy of Heath Ceramics.

Hand measurements


unfired
Sample products—I wish I can get my hands on these!
Dip experiments
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And Ta-dah! Final beautiful products!
bulb vase
bud vase set (I'm collecting these. 2 is a collection right?)
Tea set
bowls and bowls
Appetizer set
Tumblers

ARGH. I wish I discovered them earlier when I still live in SF. I only found out about Heath like the last year I was there and besides the awesome Mosaic classes I took, I haven't spent enough money time there.

The nearest outlet they have is the LA store which I went to last summer. But the original Sausalito factory is the best. Everything there is still handmade the original way and I love how they source locally for anything.

If I get married, I'll registering there. Oh better, My birthday is approaching!

My (biased) view of my body.

So as I hit the big 3-0, I can't help it but to reflect on my life. Yah, give me that big Yawn right there. I can smell your breath from here but, I can't help it. And today I would like to discuss on one topic.

So I always thought that I was really lucky to be born skinny. My metabolism rate is one of my rare enviable traits. I eat and eat and eat and I never got fat. So I keep eating and eating and eating. Basically whatever I want. It's great. I won't trade it for anything in the world (well, kinda). It brings me happiness.

Eating anything is actually pretty bad. I haven't check my cholesterol ever, and maybe I don't want to. But this is not the point because I actually want to talk about my cellulite.

RRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR!

I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE CELLULITE!!!!

I thought I was skinny and could at least get away with some of these horrible bodily issues. OK, I started developing these awful whitish stretch marks on my hips when I was a teenager. Yeah, I grew SO MUCH taller that it caused stretch marks. Weird, but I already resigned to fate on that. I have been faithfully putting on stretch mark lotions of any brands you can name. Spent a bit of money on these cosmetics and well, it helped to smooth them out but they are still so visible. I'm still a little conscious of them but have kinda grew used to it over the years.

The evils of having huge mirrors in the bathroom!!! I caught my reflection last night and saw the horrors staring back at me. I was wearing a boxer brief and the cheeks of my ass were showing a little. I saw that on the back of my tights, when I kinda squeeze/clench them together, the cellulite became so obvious! OMG.

Why??? Just when I was about to go on a beach vacation, I discover this ugly truth and now I dun even feel like packing my bikini bottoms because I want to just wear frumpy knee-length shorts.

Nature/gravity hates me.

Why???

Adding more insult to the injury, I have put on weight and my tummy is kinda sticking out a bit more than ever and it's like aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh
:(

I don't wanna write anymore.

My Birthday Month!

It's kinda bittersweet isn't it? As I get older, birthdays are not really celebratory. I actually think the present part is the best part to look forward to; plus being treated like a rockstar, having everyone nearly do everything that I ask for.

I feel more special. And that's always nice. And this year, I will be hitting a landmark which will cause me to check off another box during surveys. Heck!

But I'm glad that I've planned this upcoming event well, so far. Tickets are booked and hotels are reserved. I'm coming home!!!

It will also be the first birthday of my darling nephew. I might be a stranger to him, but I'm sure he can recognize my shrieking voice through our numerous Skype dates. Let's hope he doesn't cry like that first time I carried him in the hospital almost a year ago.
Then, it will also be April—my dad's first death anniversary (much delayed from the real date a year ago) according to the lunar calendar. It still seem like a nightmare. Don't wanna think about it.

So, one big thing is I'm not only bringing back two half-empty luggage, I'm also bringing back my boy toy! It's his first time, so please people be gentle with him. I'm not getting any younger so if you ruin my chances with him then I might have to move in with you then. wahahahahaha.

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So I received this a few days ago!

It's from Anthropologie, one of my fav. stores in this country. And I'm sure most of you who have visited me have been introduced to this store. I signed up for their (free) member club thingy and though they rarely sent stuff out other than catalogs, they sent like the best stuff ever!

For my birthday month they sent me a card, printed on heavily-textured, beautiful card stock, with a cupcake design perforated in the middle and a birthday candle necklace!!! It was sooo sweet. Plus I get 15% off everything for one purchase this month. Guess I have to break my ban and go shopping behind the bf's back! Woohoo!!!

Oh well, they did piss me off major just about 2 weeks ago regarding an order that never arrived. I wrote back angrily and the customer service was actually very commendable. They are pretty quick and sincere. And they compensated my inconvenience with a gift card and someone proceeded to locate the item for me in their stores, and according to them, I should be receiving my beautiful lace slip in no time. I hope I get it tomorrow or sometime soon! This whole drama has been a month long and I'm just vain and I want my slip!

I know. It's a slip. Just a slip. But it was more of a matter of how I am treated rather then what the item was. Ok, all forgiven.

And yes, a lacy slip. Kinda girly for my taste but I guess I am turning girly-er and girly-er with age! More pink stuff now? Yes, please. As long as it's pretty!

;)

ha-ha

When

表面

NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat this problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion developing a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 300 C.

The Russians used a pencil.

stuck sick at home, so

we hung out in the warm morning sun for a bit. great light for taking lazy Sparky pics.

current obssession 12

I fondled one of these in the McQueen store in town. It's beautiful, quite heavy, substantial, eye-grabbing, expensive and small(?). I don't think I can pawn off everything else to acquire this now. The question is, how will they manage the designer's vision from now on? I'm sure there are thousands of his creations drawn, but not realized yet. We shall see.

p.s. Happy Chinese New Year!

Let's Love.

Bub-bbbahhhh

Bon Anniversaire

A good 364 days ago, the bf & I "signed a contract" to be an item. And tomorrow, we will re-visit the very Japanese izakaya restaurant where I bullied him into this relationship. My treat this time because I am a very generous person :p

We have talked about this impending day and he said he probably would like to look over the fine print this time before he signs on for another year on my palm. Yes, my palm. Actually, he signed on both of my palms last year. I think it meant more than signing in blood, plus less messy.

The first time I asked him about how he felt, he said it felt like it was 10 years, not 1. I didn't know if he was joking or not. But I certainly felt that we had been together longer than a year. It must be because of the tempestuous year I just had, and what happened to me also directly affected him. And I can only be glad that it was him, who was/is by my side.

We thought about going away for the weekend. But since we're both heading for a great vacay soon of two wonderful Asian countries, we'll save our pennies until then. Coincidentally, next weekend is also Vomitine's day. Not that I'm looking forward to it, it's just a name tag on a date. The more worthy of it all is that the Chinese New Year falls on the same day.

I came home after him tonight, not noticing the two bouquets of dozen roses on my computer table. Red and pink. And a purple envelope with stuff poking out. Heh heh. He said one's for the past year and the other is for the next year to come... ...and then some.A man who knows how to get to me is worth keeping alive—food, in a form of chocolate and heart shaped, deep fried, presented to me first thing in the morning, after letting me sleep in.

DANG!

This site randomly assigns YOU your 2010 resolution. Isn't it fun? Oh well, not so fun-ny when I hit the button and it hit me back.

Try it here and do share yours.