Journaling ~ Lest I forget, what I want to remember

My not-so-little-anymore cousin, XH, gave birth last week and I met the little one for the first time today.

Hello there, twinkly eyes :)

So after my last wedding gown update, I’ve gone for two work-in-progress-gown fittings and a final fitting last Wednesday – Swarovski crystals, heels, the works.

L’s lil’ sis came along so she could learn how to help me dress because the lovely BV crew is not going to be with me during the pre-wedding photoshoot.

I was a wee bit stressed about this final fitting because for the first two fittings, my designer has had to reduce the measurements. I’d like to believe that it wasn’t due to weight loss – how is that even possible?! – but purely because it is inconceivable to the tailors how a grown girl can have a body so tiny, heh. As we were making our way to the studio, the poor sis had to bear with my rambling. “You know, if I lose any weight from the last fitting, Michelle is going to murder me! Urgh, I hope stuffing my face in Shanghai worked. Ohmygodwhatifitdoesntfit?!”

Thankfully, it fitted. Perfectly :)

It hadn’t quite sunk in when I selected the gown. It didn’t feel real when I went for the earlier fittings. But as we bade Michelle our cheery goodbyes and I left the studio with a spring in my step, it dawned on me that this is really happening. The gown I just tried on fitted and it is my wedding gown. Mine. WOW.

We still have a few errands to run before the photoshoot but it’s all coming together nicely. Let’s now pray there’ll be good weather and no major hiccups during the shoot!

The Bund, Shanghai (2012)

Anddd… I’m back! From five days of cool Spring weather in Shanghai, witnessing flowers of all shades bloom and residents shed their thick fur coats for light cardigans. It was very comfortable weather but did get chilly at times so we strolled a lot less than L would’ve liked. Whenever my jaw started aching, I would just want to hop into a cab or disappear indoors.

We stayed at a friend’s apartment located on Nanjing Lu. It’s like living in Wisma in Singapore. We were just 50 steps away from the metro and minutes away from the humongous H&M, Uniqlo and GAP outlets. Really, we couldn’t have stayed at a better location even if we paid for it and he put us up for free. (Thanks, Ben!)

I went on this trip with only one aim, and that is to tick off my list of items to tailor. I knew for sure we were going to expand our waistlines with lots of delectable, spicy, artery-clogging food but there was no plan for any sort of Michelin star excitement. Thanks to the fiancé and his constant desire to make me happy, he decided to make reservations to take me to the newly-opened three Michelin starred restaurant, 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, the moment he heard about it from a friend. Oh, it made me happy alright. That might even be an understatement considering I once told myself I’d marry any man who took me on a date to a Michelin starred restaurant. What a happy coincidence (and now you know my priorities).

Jokes aside, I think this trip helped me view the Chinese city in a different light. Some things that used to disgust/annoy me, they now just amuse. A fellow Singaporean I spoke to saw the city as displaying “a lot of character”. I still don’t agree but I think I’ve somehow accepted that it’s just the way things are and just the way people behave.

Food reviews and photos are in order but for now, I shall rest. A crazy work day awaits.

Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai (2010)

As I type this, L is snuggling under the duvet in an apartment smack in the middle of Nanjing Road in Shanghai.

While on FaceTime with him earlier, it felt almost like we were transported back to the bittersweet days of our LDR, where we would spend hours in front of the webcam. Bitter because the distance makes everything so so hard (I will never forget how crushed I was when his planned trip home got cancelled at the last minute because of work). Sweet because the swell of happiness every time we meet again after a long while apart is pure and utter bliss. I won’t kid you. It was bloody tough. Any couple who has been through, or is going through, a LDR can vouch for that. In fact, it’s so difficult you will not be able to imagine exactly how difficult it was if you’ve not been through it yourself. But we ploughed through all two and a half years of it (despite naysayers and the gambler’s nightmarish odds), looked into each others’ eyes and vowed we would never do this long-distance thing again, ever.

Thankfully, we didn’t fall and hit our heads so we’re not about to do it again. He is just on a two-week holiday and I will be joining him on Thursday for five days. Believe it or not, it will be our first time touring the city together. It will also be my first proper holiday this year. Can’t wait :)

Just to provide a background: L goes to the casino once every quarter and I am perfectly alright even if he does it more often. He enjoys these casino runs with the boys a lot (and they say it’s good bonding time), but as of now, it’s at a healthy level. This conversation was secretly an excuse for me to shop more but you’ll see it didn’t work out. In fact, I think my shopping addiction may very well be worse than his enjoyment of gambling. Gulp.

M: I’m cool with you going to MBS. Although from now on, every time you lose, I’ll match the same amount in shopping. That means if you’re down $800, I’m getting myself that pair of Jimmy Choos!

L: Wow, that’s a very good incentive to not gamble.

M: Yup, and every time you win, I’ll match it in savings. How about that.

Okay, I admit, this is really not a smart move.

L: It’s really easy for me to not go to MBS, you know. But does that mean that if I don’t gamble, you’ll stop shopping?

M: … NO. Of course not.

This was an impulse buy from Shopbob but after loading the product page for the thousandth time… I still love it.

Badgley Mischka Fierce Metallic Strappy Sandals

It’s divine, isn’t it? I love the way the straps cross around the ankles, its light creamy gold colour, and the simplicity of the design as a whole. Believe me, it may not look it but it certainly wasn’t easy finding a pair in just the correct shade of gold, straps with just the correct width, and actually looks clean. Yes, that’s the word. I love how clean it looks.

(Yeah yeah, I’m justifying my impulse purchase. Whatever.)

Had it delivered to the office and last I checked, it has arrived in Singapore!
 

Sorry you had to find out this way, darhling, but I’m coming home with a pair of new shoes on Monday. If it helps, I got 20% off! It was a one-day sale so I actually SAVED us some money! Cheers! *fist bump* No? Fine.

Left to right:
1. Yummy brochette at PAUL. 2. 3 Ways Toast for lunch at Robert Timms. 3. What L had during lunch at Robert Timms. 4. Spicy Assari Miso ramen at Daikokuya. 5. Liu sha bao at Imperial Treasure. Yummy, gooey goodness. 6. Prawn omu for lunch on a Friday. 7. Comforting supper on Good Friday cos I was having gastric from fasting. 8. Spicy beef shank la mian at Paradise Inn.

Left to right:
1. Pretty cupcake from Twelve Cupcakes for tea which matches my pochette and tissue holder. 2. New cardigans for Spring. They say pastels, right? 3. Shopping at Mango. 4. Lovely pink bling from Ling. 5. Blew fifty bucks on this boater hat from Accessorize. Couldn’t resist! 6. Bought four pairs of Guess shoes in 30 minutes. Must be a record. 7. Trying on some Jimmy Choos. 8. Tools for my private make-up and hair-styling lesson.

I have never been a fan of sales for a couple of reasons. It is too much of a jungle and too few items in my size are actually available, so for all the ‘hunting’, I don’t necessarily get a good bargain. I don’t get to try, and they won’t entertain exchanges/returns if what I bought doesn’t fit well. Not exactly a good deal for me. At the risk of sounding like a snobby brat, it’s because of these reasons that I’d normally rather purchase my clothing in full price than go through all that jostling and queuing.

The recent FJ Benjamin Sale (held at Hilton Hotel’s Grand Ballroom) changed my mind, of course. Yes, it was still crowded as hell and I witnessed, yet again, the shocking behaviour of a group bargain hunters who pushed and yanked and snatched. Seriously, at the rate people were sweeping up stuff, you’d think someone was paying them to shop.

But this time, I was duly rewarded for my ‘hunting’ skills. The discounts were unbelievably steep and I managed to leave with two tops, three dresses and four pairs of shoes from Guess? IN MY SIZE. That’s the most I’ve bought during a sale, ever. L was also very pleased with his haul of work shirts, skinny ties and cuff links from RAOUL.

We were also very impressed with the attitude of the FJ Benjamin staff, temps and full-time staff alike. It was a well-organised event and despite being harassed by the maddening crowds, they kept a smile on their faces and were admirably patient and composed on, ahem, both days we went. It made the experience so much more pleasant. Imagine being shoved on your sides by fellow shoppers and trying to make a request with a grumpy assistant (which is normally the case).

Guess who’s already looking forward to the next FJ Benjamin sale?

We hosted a BBQ at L’s place the Saturday before and it was a smashing success. The food and alcohol we carefully selected were very well-received and everyone had good time. At one point, Maddie very earnestly proclaimed mid-chew, “Wow, best BBQ ever, Mag.”, to which Sammi readily agreed, “Yah, I think this is the BBQ of the year!”. They were happy but I was even happier to know that they went home well-fed and satisfied.

I can’t take credit for the success of our party because I couldn’t have done it on my own. L and his mom put in a lot of time and effort helping me with the marketing, marinating, setting up and washing. It is really an awful lot of preparation work for an event that does not even involve cooking (just wrapping the sambal fish fillet in aluminium foil took me half an hour). Thankfully, all the work was well worth it because our friends were duly impressed and satisfied.

To replicate this awesome event, you will need:

1. Experience with organising BBQs (we have done this a couple of times so we know exactly which aisle to head straight for at the supermarket, where to order our raw food from, which types of food will be more popular with the guests, etc. Saves a lot of time)

2. At least two very patient helpers (I had L, his mom and his maid)

3. Good, sunny weather

4. Lots of food (meats, especially)

5. Some alcohol

At least three days before the BBQ, procure your raw food from City Satay online. Order satays of your choice, black pepper chicken chop, honeyed chicken wings and lots of otah. Spend just above S$120 to enjoy the free delivery.

On the day of the BBQ, make a trip to the supermarket to get everything else you need for the big cookout. Charcoal, fire starters, snacks and refreshments. Also buy ready-to-cook ketupat rice and attempt to boil it on your own because it’s a cheaper alternative. Be very efficient while shopping and pat yourselves on the back for being “good at this BBQ thing”.

When you arrive back home, rest for a bit because you know you have lots of preparation work to do. Remember to chill the alcohol. Prepare white wine and prosecco; they are light and refreshing and pair well with oily BBQ food. Oh, and don’t forget to take a photo of the night’s poison to send to your friends as a teaser. You’ve got to work up the excitement. Then start toiling. Boil the ketupat rice (you’ll need an hour for this), marinate, wrap, set up cutlery, tables, etc.

Do a cursory check of the set up and feel very proud of yourselves. Then start working on the next most important thing – the pit. Spend some time getting a good fire going. 40 minutes, to be exact. Use up to two boxes of fire starters, too much tissue, and have two persons fanning the coals with a cardboard cutout like a silly retard. No matter the silliness. What you need is a good fire. This fire will ensure that one hour on, the coals will be red, hot burning and aid you in cooking your food like a wizard.

Once there’s a good distribution of heat, start cooking and resist the urge to place every piece of cooked food into your own mouth. You have other mouths to feed, remember? Destroy a small quantity of food but tell yourself all it takes is some practice. Make sure every husband/fiancé/boyfriend present does his job by cooking. Let them run the show.

As for the girls, all they should be doing is eating. Eating, laughing and having a lot of fun while the guys sweat it out at the pit. Know that the boys are actually enjoying themselves while they grill and, errr, ration the morsels of food allocated to them amongst themselves. The girls can request for more food as soon as the communal plate is wiped out. Oh, and chomp down the delicious, slightly burnt food in the most unglamorous of ways to maximise your satisfaction. There may not be enough drinks to go around so ration your wine, especially if it’s a bottle of delicious lychee wine because it will be THE favourite.

Spend some time after you’re done pigging out winding down with the prosecco (if there’s even any left). Play a DVD while everyone slumps on the couch spotting bulging bellies. If there aren’t any good movies to play, end the night with a round of tight hugs and promises to host again. As they say, the ornaments of a house are the friends who frequent it.

Feel contented and happy as you pack up the house, then take a nice long shower before falling into a deep, peaceful sleep.

Well done on hosting an awesome BBQ, now roll yourself between your soft sheets and sleep in till noon the day after, you deserve it ;)