So beautiful but still painful

An addition to my shoe collection - the Melissa Vinyl. It's 4" high and I just got to get it (especially when there's a 15% discount with Amex!). Pedder Red only sells the black pair. I checked out the Melissa Plastic Dreams Web site and it comes in purple, red, yellow, green... simply lovely.

Check it out at http://www.melissaplasticdreams.com/home/singapore

Novo also sells Melissa shoes btw.

I just wish it was more comfortable for the price I paid for it. The balls of my feet hurt after wearing it for an hour of shopping (ok it's not meant to be worn shopping but I wore it right after I bought it, and I was shopping). That was solved using Foot Petals (much better than Scholl's Slinky Feet!).

And then the second time I wore it I got blisters on my toes. Urgh. It just needs time to be seasoned - or so I hope.

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. :)