Oh hi there blog, I almost forgot you exist

Hello there, if there's anyone at all. Anyway, it's day 8 of 2013 and I figured it's too late to do any sort of in-2012-i'm-thankful-for posts so here's a list (I will never tire of lists) of how 2013 has been: (long story short: it's been great)

1. I finally have Instagram (and an ipad mini to load it on)!!!! My account is @divinedance and I currently have nine pictures, with four of them already posted above lol. 
2. That said, the ipad mini is probably the best investment of 2012. (Thank you Jotham xoxo) Because I've subscribed to Newsweek and I can't wait to read it on my ipad!!! One of my resolutions this year is to read more and read widely. I've got novels pretty set (a shelf full of half-read or unread books) so I figured I got to work on newspapers and magazines. I've always loved Newsweek so went they went digital and were available on the ipad, I thought why not? Now, what's next... 
3. Also, did I mention Russh is free to download on the ipad?!?!?!?!?!??! If I could choose to write for a fashion magazine when we're in Sydney, it would definitely be this. Oh, Surface magazine is free too. 
4. I've made 10 resolutions for the new year even though I may not be able to accomplish them all, at least I know what I want to achieve. Anyway, of course exercising is top of my list (it is every year) but this year, I can't exactly pinpoint it but I truly feel confident and determined enough to stick with it.
5. Rowena's wedding at St Regis was beautiful and food was amazing. I was the emcee (last minute thing) and omg, having a wedding is really really tiring. But this girl was all smiles and so happy, it made me so happy for her too. Can't wait to see her chubby baby boy in a couple of months time!
6. Been spending quite some time with Jotham's cell group. Ok I should be calling my cell group now but it'll take some time to get used to it. Mich Lo is also coming along with me and I'm thankful for this girl who is so tolerating of my nonsense and whining and even stuck with me through church changes. Best friends, indeed. Who will even try raw zucchini soup with me, hehe.
7. I have missed out so many things, but I will try to blog regularly, even if it's just two sentences, to keep some sort of "record" of my life.

Happy midweek everyone!

Super overdued birthday update

My 21st was a blur as I celebrated with friends and loved one at the awesome Coq & Ball (the name, I know right) in Tiong Bahru. My parents were so supportive and of course, the bill was insane but my dad didn't bat an eyelid. Jotham was the bestest best boyfriend who came over early with a truckload of present ranging from the yummy nana chocolate from Royce to VS undies to an iPad mini (!!!!!!) to a handmade book with lots of cute pictures. The rain that day sort of spoilt the mood a little but it was all fine anda dainty after. I even got a kettlebell from the Jotham's boys and chocolates from Wan and Amiril, so loved.

So anyway, I'm going to try to keep up this blogging thing and not be lazy. It's so hard to keep track of everything here because I usually just write it down in my moleskine. Oh right, and my next year's moleskine is red (thanks lopez and co!), a change from my yearly black. It's really Christmas, isn't it? I've got a full week ahead with lots of Christmas activities and potlucks and gatherings and soon, it will be 2013. Can't wait to start the new year, it'll be good!

Teenagehood

This picture is proof how much this girl has grown. She looks... like a lady. Gone are the childlike features and the baby fats. Melissa turned 13 on Thursday. We celebrated with a simple dinner with the family + a small vanilla cake I managed to find out of sheer luck as per her request. I don't know how to put into words the amount of love and fierce protection I have for her. It's quite like... I will selflessly jump in front of a speeding bus to save her. It's an honour to see her grow up. Happy 13th birthday, Melissa! My favourite girl, my babygirl, forever and always.

This post is too long and I have no title

1) My very handsum boyfriend/lover/future husband (ok I typed it out here so if this doesn't happen it will come back and haunt me forever) in one of his many floral shirts. Now I think he just needs a nice watch to complete the look.

2) How my usual breakfast looks like 

3) First time in Forty Hands (no, I didn't just hear it for the first time; I just couldn't be bothered to go look-see) and unfortunately, I don't like that place one bit neither do I like the supposedly awesome coffee. Too strong for me. Not sure if I was drinking water, spitting out or gurgling in the picture LOL brunch may be getting too pretentious for me now that I have found my perfect breakfast, see number 2 above.

I've just recovered from a random bout of high fever after my mom peeled me off my sweaty bed (gross ikr) and dragged my dying body to the Chinese doctor. Apparently my body is of the "cooling" type and I may have eaten too much raw vegetables (aka salads) over the past few months which is considered a "cooling" food so it isn't really good for me. ._______. All the supposedly healthy salad lunches for the past 10 months... are making me sick?!?!?! Ok anyway so I googled it (thank God for google) and it's not recommended to consume spinach, the main raw vege in my salad, raw too often because it's high in oxalic acid, which has been linked to the formation of kidney stones! But obviously you've got to eat like a ton of raw vege to get thaaaat sick like this woman who ate too much raw bok choy aka xiao bai cai aka my favourite Asian-y vegetable in the world (on par with kang kong yums) but who in the right mind will eat them raw when it's so much better steamed or lightly stir-fry?! So now, I've got to relook at my diet again. I think Jotham greatly approves and wants to hug the doctor and probably suggesting in his mind (because he knows I'll punch him hehe) that I just eat meat/protein or something. Btw I didn't fall sick because I ate too much salad (that is just sad) but the doctor just happened to ask about my diet and the first thing my mom said was "salad" and resulted in the whole raw vege conversation.

Actually I came here wanting to write about my October just for memories' sake. Overspent my credit cards (shall never give my daughter one, ever), got my knees bruised in Krav Maga, ate hell lot of sliced fish bee hoon, met my LLL peeps, tried to matchmake ML, failed to catch the church bus so destined to cab to Potong Pasir forever, went USS twice, first time for Halloween Horror Nights 2 with my bro who basically walked through all the haunted houses with his fingers stuffed in his ears and me pathetically hanging off his arm, second time with J's family where only both of us took the Human and Cyclone rides, met Siyun for Perks of Being a Wallflower and long talk, sort of screamed at an incompetent security guard through a taxi's driver's mobile phone (long story). OK goodnight.

Second year

Exactly one week ago was our second anniversary. Jotham is the only boy I want to be counting the years with. :) And look at us going to Nex in matching AA tee shirts (I now "own" that purple tee of his hehe), only in different colours. Belated "celebration" by cooking steak at home. I think this is our second attempt to cook together. Burnt sweet potatoes fries courtesy of yours truly ): My mom came home when we were eating, took one look at the burnt fries and said "Better throw it away, it looks cancerous." So much support hahahahaha Nevermind, I will only get better.

Skype

Making a promise to myself to stop whining like an ungrateful dog. I have a supportive family, good friends who call me during lunch time to make sure I'm ok and "to talk" and the most understanding, always trying to make me laugh and feel better bf - what else can I possibly ask for. How did I get so lucky??

Another milestone

Look who is now a full-fleged 3sgt!!!! I am fully aware that all these pictures are either him or us both in various poses and angles but basically doing the same thing but I don't care because I think Jotham is damn cute. Oh wow I did not just type that hahahaha! I particularly like the second photo where he is trying to keep a stern look but obviously failing and smiling to himself. And LOL the malay dude beside him giving him the eye. Anw am so proud; that's my boy!

The beginning of Adulthood (?)

Slightly overpriced but overall delicious lunch at Arbite, Serangoon Gardens. Lots of lovely people birthday boy has been friends with for years, and I'm getting to know them better. Strips of paper with fun facts about the birthday boy (yep, the church bulletin). Carrot cake x Chinese and "Ang Moh" version x 2 birthday songs. Nervous boys climbing onto the reverse bungee. Actually strapping themselves on it and launching off. Laughing our heads off at the video afterwards.

That's how Jotham turned 21.

Sweet little things

I think relationships make people insane. Because I am. I don't know why I torture myself like this. Weren't we made to be free?

R U Mine?

All I caught of the supposedly bright and round "supermoon" over the weekend (adjust your screen to look at it better). Jotham and I spent a good 5 minutes looking at it from the Helix Bridge before proceeding to take touristy pictures around the area. Had Morton's to advance celebrate his 21st with his parents and he had a massive steak which I'm still amazed that he finished. Major detoxing this week. Friday's his actual birthday but he's not booking out. Life of a soldier.

P.S Title is from Artic Monkey's not-so-new song, R U Mine? Again, I'm about 2 months late. I'm just not good at keeping track. Listen to it here.

I believe in a world of good

I spent my weekend with Jotham as usual. Rolling in bed, having long talks, laughing at each other, ok no, just laughing at anything really. Highlight was Sunday night driving out for prata at Alazar after much deliberation about healthy vs unhealthy food and of course, once we reached there it's no turning back. Butter chicken masala, naan and even prata bomb which we (actually mostly just myself) polished up. And after a hearty meal, we went back to the car and found a summon ticket of $30 for not putting parking coupons. Ohwell... We also managed to catch a midnight movie The Vow at Nex on Saturday and had a lengthy talk about how we started our relationship. It's quite an amazing story actually but I'll save it for next time. Maybe for our kids or something.

Thank God it's public holiday Labour Day tomorrow and I'm watching The Avengers! So I'm going to sleep now and when I wake, it'll be May.

My heart is a hut for love

Listening to Florence + the Machine, looking at old pictures, missing you. I am not good at waiting but for you I will, a thousand times over.

Vampire weekend

When the weekend comes, I practically don't live in my own house anymore. I just move over and plant myself permanently in Jotham's house, wear his clothes, eat his food, overdose on movies (we watched 3 this weekend), lie in bed and talk for hours and sometimes cry (damn you period!). No matter how bad or mundane (mostly this) my week was, weekend is our recharge time. Some weeks when he can't book out, it's a little sad but when he does, it's the best thing ever.

That said, sunday nights are the worst. When he's packing up his bag to go back to camp and me clearing up the trash I've created in his room, the air of dread and depression in the room is overwhelming. I just have to keep reminding myself that although one week has past and it's a new week, that means we're one week closer to the end of army and one week closer to our Uni plans. Some positive thoughts to insert into my otherwise negative brain. And hello, Good Friday!

One Hundred

The 100th post (finally!) on this blog is dedicated to the boy who sends me ultra cute, sweet and corny text messages like:

"... The point of this text is to tell you that you are the cutest thing in the whole world and you are dearest to me. I luv, wuv and love you like a fool would. Fool for you, fooled by you. Hahahahahhaha. Have a good night."

Pictures above are in chronological order from July, Sep and Oct, all in 2010. The pre-army, pre-graduation, making-cute-faces (still do) Jotham. First picture was the first time you came to my house and I made pasta for you aka the first and last time I cooked for you up till now. I now enjoy your cooking (scrambled eggs!) better. Second picture was taken in Sentosa as we were waiting for the tram to go... somewhere. We played the luge and I screamed for you, full name and all, to stop because you were speeding past me and I'm a sore loser. You stopped hehe. Third picture was in my room cutting up and making my Halloween costume (pocahontas) so we could head down to the chalet at Pasir Ris. Forgot to eat, drank too much, got too drunk. You brought me home and stayed over to cuddle me to sleep and we swore never to drink so much ever again. Still keeping to that promise.

Everything is so fresh in my memory; it feels like only a few months ago. Ok, so it's not thaaat long ago but time really flies. Soon we'll be hitting our second and then it's your ORD and it's Sydney and from there on... oh dear, I don't even want to think in details about that. Though I sincerely hope and pray with all my heart that when we're 40, we can proudly exclaim to everyone we've basically spent half of our lives together! Because we're that cute together. And oh, you know, hold our wrinkly hands and walk on the streets and stuff.

Ok, I'm stopping this corniness here. Whoever reads this probably already understands that this boy is the love of my life <3

Weekends

Pretty much spent the weekend with Jotham (again). What's new? Brunch at Relish by Wild Rocket yesterday and it was just average. The beef burger above was okay, but honestly nothing much to scream about. I only the generous serving of wild rockets (lol) on the side or I might have died of meat overload. Then church with the usual people :) So lovely to hang out people you're familiar with. Also reminded me how much I need to start hanging out with them.

Eating a Mars bar now as I wait for the rain to stop so I can go pick the boy from soccer and go grocery shopping (our favourite!!!) and dinner with my family. 

No time for anything but a list

• Work is ok though waking up everyday at 7.30am still needs some getting used to
• Budgeting my salary is a nightmare ): why am i so bad at this
• Evan's 21st at Chevrons on Friday was a blast
• Renee's surprise 21st at Chevrons the same night after 12am caught her offguard and proceeded to chalet at Pasir Ris
• Turning into heartland kids with Jotham as we go to Nex Cold Storage almost every Sun after church
• Morphing into a sloth
• Lost a Bobbi Brown lipstick, mourning over the lost, bought a new Dior lipstick
• Period is a joke and leaving me extremely emotional, resulting in crazy texts to J . Sorry babe.
• Met Xin Yee yesterday who helped me regain some sanity as we ate like bottomless pits
• Wore Dior lipstick this morning, feeling like a boss. Sorry, so superficial
• I think tomorrow is nights out for Jotham so looking forward to tomorrow!
• That's all, my list is lame.

Mini pancakes stack

Number 1 reason why I should get an iphone: It would take a nicer picture of my mini pancakes stack than this Blackberry.

I would love to own a small dainty camera that I can bring everywhere to record my day but instead I'm (still) using a Blackberry and a small-but-still-bulky Canon 550D. But I shall not complain, I must learn to be content. 

Lazed around with J the past 2 days. Kinda feels like we're not making the most out of his one week block leave but there's really nothing much we can/want to do anyway. Will be helping my dad at work again tomorrow and over the weekends! I have so much respect for the man. The unconditional love and sacrifices he made for this family far exceeds what is expected of him. And still, he keeps on giving... I love you, Daddy.

Skype

Today 9pm was Jotham's last book in into Tekong. Can't believe 8 weeks flew past so quickly and it's his POP next Saturday. I mean, weeks prior to his enlistment I was so scared and worried mainly because I kept thinking he's going to die in army or get injured. Seriously, newspaper reports of NS men having heart attacks and whatever nonsense isn't helping. Sigh, my stupid negative thoughts, I know.

Ok I shouldn't talk like it'll be a breeze from now on. It only gets tougher from here onwards. I'll be frank and say that it hasn't been easy at all, especially the first week when he enlisted and was confined. I was so emotional and weak that even I was annoyed at myself. But it got better as weeks went by. He kept reminding me to be strong, to be independent and I did. I guess I should be proud of myself.

His one week block leave is coming up soon and he is so eager to make plans with me. It makes me want to tear in thankfulness and cup his face to calm him down when this boy goes into a little frenzy trying to think of new places to bring me, new activities to do and trying his very best to make me happy every single day no matter how tired and drained out he is. Though he is what people would consider to be "unromantic" (cause I'm his first girlfriend, he would protest), he shows his affection in quiet gestures and acts and keeps me firmly rooted when I get all drama mama. 

That was us last year in 2010 in our initial honeymoon stage where we spent most of our time skyping and talking to each other about pointless things for hours on end. We don't ever do that anymore because of army but he still calls me every night to talk before we sleep. Even if it's 20 minutes on a good day or just 2 minutes on nights when it's already lights out time just to tell me he loves me and to have a good day tomorrow. :')

White borders

Sleepovers (with not much sleep involved) are always fun. + I love this polariod. Would be even better if it's the original vintage square one! But thank you Cal <3

That's not why I came to blog today. I received good news today and I am beyond ecstatic! After holding on and waiting and waiting for what seems like ages, I've finally gotten a job offer. And it's far better than what I've expected ($1.3k before cpf? Seriously?) or what I (resentfully) had almost settled for. God sure knows how to do things and has a sense of humour. So hello 2012, bring it on!

Oh right, my Blackberry died a few days ago on Christmas Eve on my way to church service. So I'm now surviving on a barely responding BB and a work phone for well, work and emergencies. Tomorrow is Friday which is also book out day!

Always brunch time

Our love for brunch will never cease. It's the second time we've been to The Dempsey Brasserie (our first time was here) and I still love the place! We came here after Jotham's church Christmas church service on Sunday and hey look! First few pictures of the boy with no hair ^^ still looking mighty fine, soldier!