8 memorable things about my HK holiday

1. I got to shop to my heart's content - thanks to a very generous husband!

2. I bought myself a new watch (at Changi Airport) - something I'd always wanted)

3. The lovely smell of The Langham Hong Kong - ginger flower scent which fills the whole lobby; a luxurious hotel makes all the difference

4. Steve Madden Shoes - half the price there compared to here plus discounts; I bought 4 pairs and a yellow leather bag

Steve Madden Merritt Booties. I bought it in black leather. It's so comfortable and cool.

My lovely purple flats. I also bought a pair in pewter.

5. The wonderful weather - cool sometimes warm but not humid

6. The fantastic shopping in HK - I bought tees and 2 more pairs of shoes from Citygate Outlet Mall (Baby Cacharel Silver Flat Mary Janes and Pedder Red Bronze Wedge Heels); H&M is great, I bought a purple winter jacket, several tops, a sequinned cardi at affordable prices

7. Enjoying uninterrupted sleep, waking up the time I want to, leisurely breakfast, and relaxed shopping

8. Most important of all, I got to spend four full days of couple-time with Alv

Why I've been "away" for so long

It's been more than a month since I last blogged. That is because I've been busy watching the Chinese period drama Lu4 Ding3 Ji4 (translated as "Royal Tramp" or "Duke of Mount Deer" depending on which TV production it is) on DVD after Ian sleeps at night. A working mum has only that many hours to spare, so the blogging has to go for a while. I still have five more eps (out of 50) to go!

Besides an engaging, funny storyline (it's adapted from the novel of master author Jin Yong after all), the series has actually refreshed my Mandarin and spurred an interest to read more Chinese books. I find that I do miss the language.

The only reason I have time to write this entry is I'm alone at home. Ian's with my in-laws at his cousins' home happily playing. Alv is in church, if not we'll be watching Lu Ding Ji together.

Within these three hours I have to myself before my son comes home (am missing him already), I am planning to

1. check my email

2. upload new photos on my facebook account

3. book my driving lessons online

4. explain on my blog where I've been this 1+ month

5. handwash my dress

6. pack some things for my upcoming HK trip (I take a long time to decide what to bring!)

7. have a bath

8. read the newspapers

9. decide what clothes to wear with my three pairs of new shoes that I bought from Gripz yesterday - white animal print wedges, silverish-grey snakeskin and leather heels, and two-toned red heels

Items 6-9 are not done yet, so got to go!

Why I love my new home

• It’s just opposite Bedok Reservoir, wonderful greenery view and water view.
• It’s on the second highest floor, great for enjoying the view.
• I can see lovely lights in the horizon, of the reservoir and even the mass of headlights of vehicles on the expressway in the evening.The blocks in my estate are widely spaced out.
• I love it when it pours especially at night. I can sit at the edge of my sofa (which is right next to the balcony) and enjoy the wind but still not get wet. (I love the sound and smell of rain btw)
• It has a huge adult pool and kiddie pool, both of which my son and I enjoy. An easy way to enjoy a day at home, without having to go out! Every time I swim in the pool, I feel so blessed!
• There are two playgrounds for my son to have fun at.
• The landscaping in my condo area is beautiful.
• I have a huge sofa to recline on and a big LCD TV (when I find the time to watch TV)
• My bathroom of course! (read my entry “Nothing beats a leisurely shower”)
  
  I had never lived in a condo before so I'm naturally amazed by condo living. Ha ha. I also understand now why people who grew up in the idyllic East (such as my husband) would usually want to return to the East even when they have moved somewhere else.

Conrad Bali - here we come!

Alv and I are taking off to Bali this coming Sunday for our just-us annual getaway. He made a booking at "Luxury Conrad Bali" (that's what the web site says) for the Deluxe Lagoon Room, which is a room on the ground floor that opens up to one of the pools in the hotel.

I can't wait to just spend time alone with him, nuah by the poolside, soak in the water and the sun, have some great seafood...Maybe I'll swim some laps everyday and get some exercise too.

Give me hearty "normal" food anytime

I've been reading about these up and coming restaurants in Singapore which serve food cooked molecular style (if that's the correct way to describe it). Food critics laud the burst of different flavours coming from one small item etc. But I would rather have hearty food cooked the normal way anytime over this type of food. The food presentation doesn't even have to be fancy. As long as it tastes great, and it comes in a good portion, that's all that matters.

More good years ahead

Yesterday was my birthday and I took leave. After dropping Ian off at playschool, Alv and I went for breakfast at Werner's in Siglap. There were just two of us other than the owner and his wife. After that we went to the Marine Parade NPP to change our residential address. This was followed by some shopping (Alv bought a jacket from Zara and an Esprit bag while I bought ONLY a pair of pants from Dorothy Perkins. This was one of those very rare occasions when Alv bought more things than me) before we watched Wall.E at GV Gold Class.

We were again the only ones there! Which was great coz it was like our own home theatre. We could laugh and talk loudly. Following that, we had cake, coffee, and some fast food at McCafe. We then went to Harris where I picked up "Tough Choices" (by Carly Fiorina) to bring for our Bali getaway. We went home to spend time with Ian and for dinner.

Sounds like a boring, typical way a married-with-no-kids couple would spend a weekend. But I am quite happy with just chilling, leisurely shopping and having no particular agenda for the day.

I am older but I must say I feel much happier than I was when I was in my 20s especially before I walked with the Lord again. My life is not perfect but I have so many things to be thankful for, and it is all because of Jesus. I look forward to the days and years ahead. :)

Entertaining Ian part 1

If I need to do something or want some "lull" time, I just need to put some ice cubes in Ian's toy cooking pot, pass him another container, and sit him at the balcony. He will stir the ice cubes with his toy spoon, pour them from pot to container and vice versa... get entertained for half an hour. After that I just have to pour away the water into the water outlet at my balcony, change him if his top is wet, and air-dry the containers. Another reason why I appreciate having a balcony!

Ian's current fav: Peter and the Wolf

Ian has taken a liking to watching a particular Elmo CD on Peter and the Wolf. He'll want to watch it every morning after his milk. And he likes me to sit with him and have a "conversation" about it.

Interestingly my father-in-law bought it because Ian grabbed it at the T3 toy shop. I only found out it's Peter and the Wolf later.

I studied Peter and the Wolf during music lessons in secondary school. At that time my classmates and I complained about having to learn a classical piece. Shouldn't we be singing during music class instead of learning about musical instruments?

Looking back now, I think it's quite a good thing my son is learning about music and new words through Elmo. This Elmo CD has funny jokes which Ian doesn't understand yet but I laugh heartily to. Am going to see if I can buy him more of such cds.

- top photo taken with my e71 in sepia mode. Ian will empty his box of Elmo CDs but always end up picking out Peter & the Wolf to watch.

Best buds

Our close friendship started about four years ago. It was with Les and Pat initially after we invited them to dinner at Waraku and had such a great time together. We had always said hi-bye in our church's then-Young Adults Ministry (YAM) but it wasn't until that dinner that we got to know one another better. I forgot how Hee Jhun came into the picture later. Ha ha.

One fond memory I have of our friendship is how we'd squeeze into Hee Jhun's beat-up Toyota to go for suppers almost every Sat after YAM meeting and hang out, sharing about spiritual things and frivilous stuff alike. Nowadays suppers are rare because I have a young son now - we went for a quick one at tong shui after a church meeting recently. And we all have our own cars now.

I remember how we watched The Chronicles of Narnia and cheered together when Aslan the lion breathed his last, saying 'It is finished.' (that was the last thing uttered by our Saviour on the cross)

I'm glad our friendship stood the test of the time, the changes and trials in our lives. We came from different educational and family backgrounds and are of different ages. but the Lord has blessed our friendship. Alv and I asked Him for close friends four years ago and He surely answered. :)

- photos taken with my e71. Quality not great. Sony Ericsson cams still better.

The story of evita peroni hair clips

Alv is right when he says that you pay for quality. Case in point, there's a reason for paying so much for an evita peroni hair clip.

I started buying the figure '8' hair clip when I grew my hair long. it costs $9.90 which is quite a lot to pay for a simple plastic clip. I wear them at home as well, so when I see a colour I like, I buy to keep since they break after some use.

The other day, I decided to buy the copycat ones from chameleon just to try them out. you can tell the finish is not as good as the ep ones, but the copy only costs $0.80. I can buy 11 for the price of an ep one! (See photo: Genuine silver EP and copycat black one)

I bought two not-cheap-looking-coloured clips and tried them at home. And I realised why I pay so much for an ep.

The ep holds my hair up for quite a long time. But the cheapie starts to slide down after a while. So if I'd tied a ponytail at the middle of my head, soon it ends up near my neck. Plus the catch comes off rather easily.

Conclusion? I'll use the ep when I go out but the cheapie will remain for home use. Why do I buy ep, you may ask? That particular type of clip is the only one that holds my fine hair well. Clips with metal catches and pretty rubber bands become loose because my hair is so fine.

I guess another reason could be me trying to make up for what I didn't have in my teenage years. when I was in JC, most of the girls wore ep in their hair. I remember admiring the pretty clips fastening their ponytails or the little clips holding up their fringe.

But the ep was too expensive for me then. I only got $10 a week for pocket money which was just enough for food (this was the early 90s), let alone buying things for myself. I would go to the shops and look at all the ep clips, and wonder if I should spend $3.30 on a tiny clip. I never did.

So when I had worked for some time, I decided to buy myself an ep clip! Now whenever I buy one, I'm always thankful that I can just easily spend on one. It may not mean much to some but the fact I can buy one anytime I want without pinching my pennies is a little reminder of how much the Lord loves me and how far He has brought me.

-written on my e71

Working moms can still impact their children's lives

I must admit I'm a little irked when I hear comments that stay-home moms are 'greater' because they can make an impact on their children's lives. Does that mean working moms can't have an impact on their children's lives?

Because of what Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross, He has promised that whatever we put our hand to prosper. Because of His superabundant grace, whatever choices we make will turn out for good. That's what GRACE is all about - unearned undeserved favour.

So because I've made the choice to be a working mom, I believe Jesus will prosper my decision. And my son won't miss out on anything in his life than if I were a stay-home mom. I won't have any less of an impact on my son's life.

Like Alv said, I will have to trust the Lord all the more since I don't spend most of my time with my son. A woman I highly respect also told me that she doesn't spend that much time with her three children. But the time they spend together is quality time, and I can see the tremendous impact she has in her children's lives.

So far things are going well thank God. Ian is closest to me. Some people say it's because he doesn't see me that often. But I also know of moms whose children prefer their main caregiver. I choose to believe it's because the Lord answered my prayer.

Who knows, I may decide to switch to working part time or stay home when I have more children. Whatever it is, I know the Lord and Alv will always support my decision. For now, I will enjoy my life as a working mom!

Who is Sa Sa

I was at work when Alv smsed to say that our son kept saying the name Sa Sa. He found out from my MIL that it's the name of the ang moh girl whom he has been playing with at the playground.

She's a few months younger than him. It must be the same girl he hugged the other time, and they both fell. She cried and he was shocked.

So my son is saying another girl's name! And he didn't tell me!

Great perks ahead for working moms

When PM Lee announced an increase of childcare leave from two to six days, I cheered. When he said moms are entitled to four months maternity leave, I shouted "praise the Lord!"

I don't know what this will do for the fertility rate in Singapore. And I think pregnant women working in SMEs may have a tougher time by making them less employable. But perhaps it's time Singapore SMEs change their mindset?

For me, I'm just thankful and happy for these incentives which will be really helpful when I have another child. Any extra days off that I can use to spend with my children are most valuable and definitely welcome.

Someone lamented the lack of more cash incentives and more subsidies of maid levy. I say, focus on what we already have, not the have-nots. We are very blessed that the government is willing to do more for working moms.

A smartphone at last

I finally got myself a smartphone, the nokia e71. Was deciding between the sony ericsson 5 mega pixel cam phone n a smartphone with easier web surfing and content uploading functions. Then Alv suggested getting the e71. It's sleek, looks good (key consideration for me!), allows me to edit, create text docs, surf the 'net easily, and has a 3.2 mgp cam. Looking forward to do my writing - work and personal - on it and posting photos unto my Facebook and blog.

Blog on the go!

I tried to upload my recent blog entries written on my new nokia e71 directly from active notes from my phone! But can't do a cut and paste! Anyway I'm posting this in a hair salon! Isn't this cool...

Will have to go online from my notebook to upload my entries.

Money can't buy you good taste

When I went shopping with Rachel during one lunch time and while waiting for her to try her tops (see Fashion stylist for a lunch time entry), I noticed a fellow customer browsing through the clothes at Bebe.

You can tell she's quite rich - she was carrying an LV bag and a recent purchase from a jeweller, plus she was shopping in Bebe and the clothes there aren't cheap.

But her hairstyle, clothes and shoes really need a makeover. She had a frizzy perm, and she wore a rather cheap looking top with tight white pants and garish gold wedges.

There were also a couple of working aunties who were ploughing through the sales items. I can't remember exactly what they wore but the combis were erm terrible.

This goes to show that money can't buy you good taste.

That said, I checked out Mango tonight. Saw a black jacket with a ruched design that I felt I had to get. Also tried on this grey puff-sleeve top with printed blue peacock feather detail. I stepped out of the fitting cube and was rather convinced to buy it. Until an auntie from another cube who was trying on jeans asked me where I got the top from.

The auntie was quite bold in her fashion sense - she was trying tight jeans, mind you. But when she said she wanted to try the top, (and she did) I just lost all interest in it. No way I'm going to end up wearing the same top as an auntie in her 50s, fashionable she may be. :-p

I bought the jacket eventually. And I love it.

Something else to chuck: the plain polo tee and jeans combi

A fashion combi I can't stand on women: the plain polo tee and jeans combi. I know why there are times when women have no choice but to wear this combi, e.g. at work, roadshows, company kickoffs. But I don't understand why women would want to wear this combi on off-work days. Worse when the polo tee is a bit loose. The combi is so totally unflattering.

There are so many options to that polo tee:

• a cool tee (I like Animal and Split) - time to ditch that Hanks tee!
• an embellished tank top
• a funky/embellished top
• a button front shirt with details
• just look in the shops and you'll find

How do you get Ultra good skin?

Beauty specialists of any sort (skin docs, makeup artistes, celebs) always say that nothing beats having adequate sleep to give you beautiful, glowing skin, no matter how good your skincare products are. How do you have enough sleep as a mother of a young child, I wonder?

I've read in articles that Fann Wong loves her coffee, drinks lots of green tea, and of course everyone knows that she has bird's nest everyday. Top those with her Bella skincare treatments. So you need a combi of all four to have glowing skin? You may not like Fann but you got to admit she has beautiful skin.

How about skin supplements like Imedeen and Fancl? I've been tempted to try these but I don't like the thought of eating more supplements other than Vit C and Calcium.

What works for me? I think fairly good skincare and sufficient sleep helps. I'm blessed with good skin genes. Now if only I can get enough sleep everday...

Since I'm on the topic of skincare, I use Kiehl's (and Simple cleanser) and I like it. They recently brought in the Ultra Facial range of cleanser and toner to Singapore. But I was appalled at how much they cost here. I paid only USD17.50 (about SGD24) thereabouts for each when I went to the US in March, and it was good thing I bought a few bottles of each to keep. Because they cost SGD41 each here! SGD41 for an all-skin-type cleanser?! I'll have to switch to another brand of cleanser and toner after I'm done with my existing stash.

Just Alv and I

Some women would remark “how can you bear to leave your son behind?” when I tell them that I am going away on a holiday just with my husband.

Yes, I definitely miss my son very much every time I’m away. During our first holiday away from him in 2006 when we went to Tokyo, I panicked when I couldn’t call home for two days because an earthquake in Taiwan had destroyed most of the underwater cables. It was very hard to not let my heart be troubled and totally trust that the Lord takes care of him.

But it is also important that I spend alone-time with my husband. During a typical working day, we’re both so busy and communicate mostly through text-messaging. Once we get home, I’ll be preoccupied with spending time with Ian, and there really isn’t much time left or I’m too tired to talk to Alv after I’ve tucked Ian into bed. So our weekly Friday pak-tor nights and yearly holidays are really precious. It’s so easy to focus all our attention on our child that we neglect each other, and we don’t want that to happen.

When our children grow up and lead their own lives, it will be Alv and I alone again. We don’t want to end up having nothing to say to each other then! And one of the best ways to love your child is really to love your spouse.

So, I’m really looking forward to the two short holidays to Bali and HK that we are planning. After that, it will be to Tokyo with our little boy.

Nothing beats a leisurely shower

This is my Grohe rain shower. Where it now stands is where the bathtub (from the previous owner of my home) used to be. We decided to remove the bathtub and build a big shower stall in its place because

1. we'll probably hardly use the bathtub anyway - especially not when I'm so busy with my son during my free time

2. we wanted more storage space in the bathroom, so with this shower stall, we can get rid of the original shower cubicle and build a storage cabinet in its place

3. showers are easier and faster to enjoy anyway

I always enjoy my showers after a hard day's work. I remember during my maternity leave, long showers were also a rare treat - I had to quickly be done with showering before my son woke up!

Which was why we decided to splurge on this $1.2K Grohe shower head. The ROI from years of use to come and the joys of leisurely showers just makes it worth it.

I had a ledge built on the other end of the rain shower. It was meant to be a sitting area for me as I get my mask done or do my scrubs while the smells of aromatherapy fill the bathroom - like what you get in a spa.

I haven't got down to using it for that yet. Meanwhile it has become a "shelf" for the family's toiletries and Ian's container "toys". How glam is that. But I suppose this is what a home is really about. Homes don't look anything like show flats when you have a young child. And I certainly don't mind it at all.

Celebrating six years of marriage

Alv and I celebrated six years of marriage from our ROM date 8 Aug 2002. Our church wedding anniversary date was more significant to us but it was still an occasion for celebration and good food! I forgot all about it but Alv remembered and booked Barnacles at Sentosa initially. After telling him that the food there is not great, we wanted to go to Buko Nero but it was booked for a private party. So we ended up at Valentino's. We were happy with the choice.

We shared a seafood soup, a parma ham pizza without cheese, a duck ragout penne, and stewed pork ribs - the latter two being the specials of the day. For dessert, we had four! The appetisers and main courses weren't a lot, you know. We had panna cotta, choc cake with rum, white choc sponge cake, and lemon meringue. I particularly enjoyed the soup, pizza, duck penne, panna cotta, and lemon meringue.

But like many married-with-kids couple, we still had to do the more practical stuff after a romantic sumptous dinner - we had to buy groceries for the weekend! After that it was going home to put Ian to bed by 9pm.

It has been a wonderful six years of marriage. It was not all smooth-sailing, being two imperfect, strong-minded individuals and when we faced trials in our lives. But we have a perfect Saviour in the midst of our marriage. And for that we are thankful. With Him, our marriage can only get sweeter and sweeter.

The Lord is my defence

There are some things on my mind and I feel the urge to write about them here. But since this is a blog about the things I enjoy doing/writing about, and since I've decided that I shall be a more guarded person at work, then all I shall write is - the Lord is my defence. I know He always backs me up and He has never let me down.

Why I would do it all over again

Being a mama is hard work. The hardest for me must be the nights of interrupted sleep I've got since Ian was born, the light sleeper that I was and having to go to work the next day. No matter how late I end up sleeping the night before, I have to be ready to get out of the bed when Ian wakes up. But I've got used to it, and now with Ian being older and having a fixed 2 hour naptime, I get to catch up on my sleep during the weekends.

It was really tough when he was a newborn. I was traumatised by how little sleep I got initially but there wasn't much of a choice. I had to wake up when he woke up. And your body does get used to less sleep.

I thought about how having a second child will disrupt my sleep patterns again. It may be worse, since I will have two to take care of. Ian is very clingy to me even with my mum-in-law (his primary caregiver when I go to work) around. I may end up sleeping even less.

But I will still do it all over again, enduring the nights of disrupted sleep, finding pockets of time during the day (when I don't have to go to work) to sleep, fighting sleep when playing with my child. Why? Really, the joy you experience when you play with your child, talk to him/her, see his/her eyes light up when discovering new things (e.g when Ian found the pelican statue in the bird park and kept touching its beak), even look at him/her sleep, is so precious that it is a joy that no material possessions can ever give you. So yes, I will love to have another child!

Friends with kids tell me they miss the times their children were babies and growing up. Now I know what they mean. It may be tough at the time but looking back, even the tough time is to be savoured.

Being a mama also gave me an insight into the heart of my Heavenly Father. Jesus said that if a man knows how to give his children good things, how much more our Father in heaven! It delights me to see my little boy enjoying himself and I want to make him happy. Now I understand better how my Abba feels, that He delights in making me happy. :)

I stopped coveting LVs

There was a time in my life - age 29 to 31 - when I wished I had an LV. I would look enviously at people I know who would carry a new LV every few months. I wondered why it was so easy for them to buy an LV so often when it seemed so hard for me. A rich husband? Generous parents? Rent-a-bag web sites? Scrimping and saving?

I wanted an LV so much then. But forking out over $1K for a bag from my savings was ridiculous. And there was no way I'll save on lunch and buying new clothes every month just so I could buy that LV bag after several months. So I satisfied my craving for an LV by surfing the Web site and visiting the LV store.

HM calls LV a "lao cha bor" brand (I laughed and laughed when she told me that) and some friends eschew LV because of the many aunties carrying fakes around. Still to be seen with an LV is like a sign that you've made it in life for a woman, rich husband or no.

But after the birth of my son, I stopped coveting an LV. It was no longer important that I had an LV. Time spent with my son, the joyful moments between just two of us, seeing him smile and laugh became more valuable than owning an LV bag. The Lord has blessed me with so much already.

I still like buying new bags, especially lovely uniquely-designed leather ones from Pedder Red, Bebe, Nine West, Indivi (which I buy in Japan) and once in a long while Furla. Now I'm eyeing the Longchamp Rival Tote (left) and Longchamp Vintage Tote; Alv is going to Paris for work in Sep and Longchamp is cheaper in Paris, I think (I don't know how much they cost yet!) LV is cheaper there too but I've lost interest in it already. I no longer need an LV to make me feel happy and I'm very glad.

Fashion stylist for a lunchtime

I was "fashion stylist" to my good friend cum shopping kaki Rachel the other day during lunch, and I enjoyed it! She wanted to buy something from Bebe. So I helped her pick out a couple of lovely pink, purple, brown fitting shirts which she tried. She has a slim figure so she looked good in most of them. She ended up buying a deep pink one with ruffles and belt. Think she'll look great wearing it with almost any neutral-colour bottom.

Speaking of fushia pink, Khay has a beautiful pair of stilletto Ferragamos (yes Khay, I finally wrote about it. Hope I got the colour description right). At least Ferragamo updated their "boring coloured pump" with a stilletto heel and a flat heel version. I was wondering how many women nowadays would still wear their boring low-heeled pump.

Please! Chuck your boring black pump!

I cringe whenever I see women still wearing the boring black pump. It's time to update your shoe wardrobe! Especially if you are a young woman! Flanking this paragraph are two examples.

The height is awkward (it's not flat, it's not high), the blocky heel looks horrible, and the shoes don't look flattering on the feet. Usually the women who wear them have ill-fitting suits as well.

There are better looking black shoes out there that are just as comfortable!

Lessons from an Electrolux fridge

This is our 600 litre Electrolux four-door fridge. Unlike most other electrical appliances in my new home, it took some arguments between husband and wife to end up here.

I was contented to have a 400+ litre two-door fridge. Alv was insistent on getting a big one. We choose a Samsung two-vertical-door one at first but I didn't like the narrow compartments. I also knew that Alv wasn't entirely happy about the choice. So we went fridge hunting again. We haggled over whether to buy a four door or a two door, one with two energy-saving ticks or three, a Japanese, Swedish or Korean brand.

Alv wanted at least a 500 litre one; I didn't understand why he wanted such a huge fridge! His dream fridge was the Mitsubishi W-Class but it was $4K+. I had to remind him, "We live in a condo, not landed property!" Then John from Euromark suggested this Electrolux. We didn't even see the display model but Alv liked it very much and it was slightly over our budget at $2700. I grudgingly said yes.

Later Alv explained why he wanted a big fridge. He said it makes him happy just opening the fridge, looking at the huge selection of food and drinks inside, and stocking up the fridge with a lot of food and drinks. I finally understood. I guess I feel the same way when I look at my shoes!

I'm also glad I learnt something new about my husband after 5+ years of marriage. :)

My favourite shoes

I love high heels. Ever since I got pregnant and gave birth, I've found that my tolerance for high heels has increased. Must be I've got used to all that weight.

I can't resist

• wedge heels (but I stop at 4"-high ones)
• anything with snakeskin, faux and real
• embroidered/embellished shoes
• something silver that's not cheap-looking

At the top right hand corner are my 3"-high Pedder Red silver wedge slingbacks. Check out the heels. They are hollow in the middle, and are so shiny Daphne commented that I can see my reflection on them!

Then I have my Beverly Feldman's (my only pair btw) which just looks like embroidered art. The heels are very low by my standards. I don't usually like to wear flats or low-heels these days. But the embroidery was done so well, so intricate, even on the insoles; there are even tiny sequins on them. When I found out they were 50% off, I just had to buy them. I've only worn them twice but I think they'll be used more often when I'm pregnant again.

Good places for shoes in my opinion:

• Dorothy Perkins (only GWC branch has shoes)
• Pedder Red (the sales are must check-outs)
• Gripz
• Zara (when there's a sale)
• Nine West and Aldo (for the occasional splurge)
• Charles & Keith (cheap & stylish but don't last)
  
  

5 pairs of shoes are not enough

I risk sounding bimbotic writing about shoes but since I won't ever work as a fashion writer, I might as well do it on my blog. That's called living vicariously.

HM once said I should consider a career as a fashion stylist. I thought about it but hmmm I know what I look good in, it's a different thing suggesting what someone else should wear, though I can give pretty good suggestions. ;) How about a shoe stylist, if there's such a thing.

I had this conversation with my husband sometime back about why I think two, or three, or four, even five pairs of shoes are not enough for a woman. For a man, that's ok (of course there are men who'll beg to differ).

Why are five pairs not enough?

You need at least a black, a brown, a nude, and a coloured pair EACH of working shoes, ditto the above for casual shoes.

Double the above with covered and non-covered toe shoes (non-covered for non-pedicured-toes days). Don't forget shoes with different heel-heights, stylish sneakers for walkalot holidays, flip-flops for different occasions, dress shoes for evening dresses etc etc etc. And pretty shoes that look like works of art which you are happy to just buy and keep. Oh, and you need new shoes when you are pregnant as well.

I know many women are not as particular about my shoes as me but I wish they won't do things like
1. wear open toe shoes without a pedicure
2. wear open toe shoes with stockings!!!
3. wear casual open toe shoes (e.g. with cork heel or fabric heel) with a suit or office clothes!
4. wear brown shoes with a black suit or vice versa
5. wear the same pair of shoes everyday (you should air your shoes)

I can go on. I guess that's why I've 30 pairs of shoes. And only part of my collection is in the photo above. I had a wall to ceiling shoe cabinet (with display case for my husband's collectibles in between) built for my new place. Thank God there's enough space for all my shoes and thank God Alv doesn't complain when I bring home another pair of shoes!

Special moments with Ian

I only get to spend time with my son at night on weekdays, not counting the short sweet snuggles in the early morning before I finally drag myself out of bed. Ian likes to play on my bed on such nights, lying under the quilt, watching videos of himself, doing a bit reading, noticing things on the tv programme at the time, jumping around. Recently he has learnt how to pose for me, and he'll want to see the photo immediately after. Here's one of those poses.

These times may not be long but they are special. Just me and my little boy.

Finally! A playschool for Ian

It's been almost two months since I last wrote an entry! Was so caught up with things to do for a house move and work. Even after I'd moved, living in a new place, helping Ian adjust to a new home and his new room, travelling further for work, all took getting used to. Nowadays I'll be up at 630-7am (depending when my little boy wakes me up), and will doze off when I pat Ian to sleep at 9+pm. By the time I wake up from that "cat nap", I'm too tired to go online. Would rather watch a bit of tv and talk to my husband before I try to hit the sack by 1130pm.

Today Alv and I finally decided on a playschool for Ian - Mothergoose at Jalan Hajijah! Praise Jesus!

We checked out Kinderland Tampines but wasn't impressed - they are charging quite a lot for no structured curriculum or activities. They position themselves as a "sports playschool" but when we asked what sporting activities they have, the teacher said the curriculum is not firmed up yet. Huh. We saw bore2+ year old sitting around, laying around and playing on their own.

I'm not the type of mum who believes in sending my son to a gazillion enrichment classes even before the age of two, or that my son needs to have a certain number of words in his vocab by age whatever (why do some parents like to boast how many words their children know by a certain age? every kid grows at a different pace). But I think just letting the kids sit around and play on their own (not even with one another) is a waste of my money. My mother-in-law can do better at engaging my son. Like Alv said, it looks like just a "h0lding area" for kids when their parents are at work.

Mothergoose comes highly recommended by Khay. And like Khay said in her blog, there are really a lot of things to like about it, despite the slight travelling inconvenience for me. The teachers speak well and look interested in what they are doing (most of the schools I've recced have teachers who look utterly miserable or just look at the children blankly). The environment is nice - bungalow with outdoor area. There is a slightly different programme everyday. The children looked engaged.

Actually I wonder why parents today take so much effort to select a school for their pre-schooling children. I went to PAP (and so did many of us) and turned out fine. But now I'm such a parent. Haha. I guess all of us want the best for our children and with our higher earning power these days, we'll rather spend more on our children's education.

Thank God He cares about my son more than I ever can. I know Ian will grow up into a fine young man because he is ultimately taught by my Lord Jesus. :)

Watch The Legend!

I've watched 12 eps of The Legend - 20 more to go. Alv and I really like it and we've been staying up late to watch it. It's not draggy like the typical Korean drama; the plot is fast-paced and engaging, with lots of action. I must say that BYJ looks better as the show progresses. I prefer him with the ruggard period look (esp with that warrior armour) than the modern suave-gentlemen look.

The last time Alv and I were so engrossed in a tv serial was Shen Diao Xia Lu, the China/Huang Xiao Ming version. The novel was my fav Louis Cha book of all time (thanks to my mama, I can read traditional Chinese) and I must say the director did a good job even with some plot changes.

I will try very hard to stick to watching only 1 ep tonight...

Pandamonium begins

Watching movies used to be a once-a-week affair for Alv and I before Ian came along. Now it is a rare treat - ok maybe not so rare since we watch one every month (thanks to a great parent-support system!). It is especially nice when Alv splurges on Gold Class tickets for us. Wah watching movies is never the same after having done it at Gold Class. The plush reclining seats ala the old-SIA biz class seats, the comfy thick warm blanket, a hot delicious latte (doesn't come with the $30 per seat price)... But I digress.

I can't wait to watch Kung Fu Panda. The trailer is so funny already. I think part of its charm lies in its "copying" of the Chinese/Cantonese kungfu tv serial/movie scenes I grew up watching. Yes I love my kungfu shows though I may not look it. There is one scene when Po and his shifu fight over a dumpling with chopsticks - that's so classic kungfu!

Anyway here are some fun facts about the movie - made possible with HP technology:

• The weirdest animation control was for Po’s uvula (the piece of tissue hanging down from your palate)
• Po’s cheeks were rebuilt during the film to allow him to stuff his mouth with more food!.
• The Jade Palace is made of 88,100 different surfaces/pieces.
• Master Crane has 6,019 feathers on his body.
• Viper has 120 bones along the length of her body.
• Number of arrows that shower down on Tai Lung during his prison escape: 1,500 arrows.
• When Po and the Five eat together, there are 64 noodles in each bowl.
• Number of acupuncture needles in Po’s back while talking to Tigress: 133.
  
  

My boss said something quite interesting the other day. He said Shrek and Po have the same body shape, so Dreamworks could have just changed Shrek's skin and clothes to create Po. Ha ha

The Kangs' new home

Come June 26, I will be moving from the bustling city centre of Cantonment Close (10-15 mins drive to town, Suntec, office) to the breezy, idyllic east where Alv grew up.

People ask me why I can give up central living. It wasn't a difficult decision at all. It was great living in central as a married-with-no-kid couple. Going out was so easy on weekends especially during the early years when we had no car. We weren't the type to stay home to cook our own food and eat; we love to watch movies and eat out. But with the birth of our darling son Ian, and as we plan to grow our family, priorities change. We wanted to live closer to one set of parents and the east is great for weekend activities for the family. Bedok Reservoir is just opposite my new place; perfect for evening walks with my husband and son. Plus there are five primary schools very near my new place. Haha.

The Lord blessed us with our new home faster than I imagined. I asked Him for a condo which has a water view and the size and price were what Alv wanted. There is a huge pool and a kid's pool which is perfect for Ian. My in-laws are coming to live with us which means I'll get precious help with Ian. Jesus is so very good to us. I believe our move will be smooth as well because our Lord is with us. :)

First HP employees on the Southern Ridges bridges

Those of you who have already taken a walk on the Southern Ridges bridges will recognise this as Henderson Waves - the tallest bridge in Singapore. It is really a very cool infrastructure that provides a panaromic view of the Southern Ridges hill parks, the city, harbour, and the Southern Islands of Singapore.

Along with Daphne, Boon Yew and Kelvin, I had the privilege of walking the bridge before its official opening, at the invitation of NParks; that's why you'd notice that there wasa hole in the bridge since the workers are still putting the finishing touches to it.

After this bridge, we walked on the Forest Walk - "a step-free elevated walkway and ground level earth trails through the secondary forest of Telok Blangah Hill." It was a refreshing walk as we enjoyed the cool breeze of the late afternoon and the sights of the flora and fauna around us. There was even a family of three monkeys that "stalked" us. The walk ended at the Alexandra Arch which is in HP's "neighbourhood". We then proceeded to HortPark, Southeast Asia's first gardening hub and a place Kelvin says is "even lovelier than Tokyo's gardens". HP is doing some exciting stuff at HortPark but more on that in another post.

My funny little boy

Other than my husband, my darling two-year-old Ian is the one who makes me laugh a lot, not just when he's happily laughing and playing but also when he does funny things - like wearing his shorts on his head and calling it a "hat". I gave him his "real" cap but he threw it aside and opted to wear this pair of shorts instead. After which he started posing in front of the mirror. I also like this photo because here you can see his features very clearly. My good-looking little boy. :)

Hooked on The Legend

I just bought the DVD set for "The Legend" (seems like that's the name), the latest Bae Yong Jun drama serial. Alv and I are hooked after watching a few eps on tv, and decided we don't want to wait until the weekends to watch it. Another reason: I don't want to confine Ian to playing in our small tv room while I try to catch important scenes.

I'm not a fan of Bae or modern Korean drama serials - they are too slow-moving and I always end up fast-forwarding (I can still tell what's happening from the subtitles!). That's why I can't understand why people like "My Sassy Girl" so much; I find it highly irritating.

But the "traditional" Korean drama serials are a different matter and I always like "martial arts" or historical stuff. "The Legend" is pretty exciting so far although I admit Bae looked hilarious as the "luminous" (literally speaking!) messiah character. I also bought the one about the Korean giseang after catching a few eps on tv.

I've made these observations about Korean drama serials from the few I've watched:
1. They love to start the stories when the protagonists are children
2. All the characters can tear on demand
3. They love to recap scenes with some heart-tugging music in the background

"The Legend" has 1 and 2 so far. Let's see if they'll have 3.