Purchases

Of the bigger items.

This 3-seater sofa with 2 recliner - a great replacement of our L-shape sofa as of end June.
We've waited more than 2 months & this wasn't the set we initially chose. Only after a month that they told us the first model we ordered was out of stock due to some parts (the recliner) & that's only when we called them to enquire about delivery date. At first we're really unhappy with their service but managed to leave the place with a smile as we got a better deal. This set costs $200 more than the original one but they absorbed the difference as a compensation. They weren't supposed to carry this model as manufacturer sells exclusively at their own showroom at Kaki Bukit. But we went & eventually chose this; the boss had to negotiate with his manufacturer to make an exemption) I would say it's a blessing in disguise as we prefer this

This is the best thing we could have for our weekend DVD session. And it really helps my problematic back a lot.

New dining benches as well.

We like the new look with our white furniture

Finally bought a pot of monstera deliciosa... only less than a hundred as it's a much smaller version. But I'm happy enough.

My Sony Ericsson C902 that hubby bought for me on the first Sat of July, when his contract was up for 21-month upgrade;)

Happy Mum's Day !

We went for an early celebration for mum last Sunday... lunch buffet at Merchant Court which spanned the session from 12 - 2.30pm! It's an easy lunch with small chats.

Today, buffet again with my inlaws & family @ Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel.

This year, the bouquets we gave to our mothers were kind of special as I made them. Of course, with lots of help from hubby :) Initially we thought of getting the Cash&Carry at Goodwood (Far East Flora) which advertised to be very reasonably priced (@$15) but the bouquets were pathetically small! The bigger ones just too pricey!

And I really appreciate my honey for giving me free reign in creating my own bouquets though I've never done it before. I knew he's worried but didn't want to dampen my mood of wanting to get hands on all of a sudden. He's just concerned that I would be very disappointed & upset if it's not a satisfactory job done & also by then, we've no where to get proper bouquets. I must say it's not easy to deal with such a wifey who comes up with funny ideas every now & then, haha. And yes, he's always so supportive.

Just got our stock & all materials needed. They're heavy!

Where else to get our flowers but Far East Flora?

Amateur, with-no-prior-experience, "florist" at work

My work! Tis for mum as she loves lilies.



How about this? For my MIL. I assume she likes sunflowers as she's quite a lot of sunflower decors at home.

We'd have paid more than triple of what we spent if we were to get such a big one (10 - 12 stalks in each bouquet) especially on this special occasion. Everyone's amazed that I did them by myself (& help from hubby.. without his, I'd be handicapped!). Vince's family already complimented it's a pretty bouquet before knowing I DIYed it :D

It's a new found interest for me... just like how much I like wrapping nice & fanciful presents (if you've seen before). June even said I should consider starting some business for Valentine's Day. Hee. After this round of experience, I actually don't mind doing it on some weekends to have more practices, provided that I'm given the opportunity. And mine'll definitely be lower than the market price. So, any orders? ;)

All about flowers & plants

I love decorating our place with fresh flowers.

And the current concept is to keep it simple.

Now on our coffee table. We love purple roses!

Now on our dining table

2 weeks ago, on the dining table

A fake Calla is based on our vanity counter... which occasionally replaced by some fresh flowers when in the mood.

We go to Far East Flora as I like choices. But my preference changes from time to time. Previously I was into those garden floral décor.

Done for the last gathering with my colleagues. Placed this on each of the tables in the multi-purpose hall. Does the candle look familiar? Yep, it's from our wedding. In total we brought home 54 pieces of my favourite aqua-blue pillar candles after the big day... given away a few pieces & we're still left with more than 40!

We've also changed the decorative piece of 2 years that's next to the tv console.

The old one.

The present look.

I was actually eyeing a 6-foot tall real monstera deliciosa plant and would love to have that in our living hall. However we're not ready to pay $250 for it... perhaps wait till we're richer:) So we got the fake leaves instead for S$60+.. not that cheap too! I think it would look even better with another stalk but that would mean a total of $100. Anyway we're still very happy with the new "plant" we set up together (which wasn't that easy) and mum thought they're real.

New items

Did a lil online shopping for our home sweet home last week. Been eyeing on this table-fountain for a few weeks but was out of stock. Finally got to order it last thurs. Also saw a nice centre-piece for our dining table & added on to the order.

Then suddenly, was up for some mischief again 44 put the recipient as my hubby dearest with the message - I Love You Honey! Scheduled to be delivered on Sat evening, 7-10pm. Tried so hard to keep it from him.. hehe.

Was out almost the whole of Sat. But told him that we needed to be back @ home in the evening to do some housework so we could have more time to watch our newly bought vcds thereafter. He wasn't suspicious at all because all the reasons given were genuine ones... me just took advantage of the situation. Ha!

Returned home past 6pm. Ordered Oishi Jap Pizza (& was told it'd take 1 hour, ie. to deliver @ 8pm) before getting started with the chores. When we received a call from the guardhouse @ 7.30pm, I was smiling to myself... wow they're punctual & he must be thinking it's the pizza delivery! Hubby went to answer the door while I carried on with the toilet cleaning, anticipating his reaction upon returning. He came back shortly & commented that "they're quite big!" but I couldn't sense his amazement. Asked him what're big & he replied "the pizzas lor". Oh! So it's really the pizzas! A false alarm! Then I thought.. Oh no... if it's not the 'gifts', meaning they'd arrive later & hubby would be taking a shower soon. So I urged him to take a real quick shower, saying that the pizzas were turning cold. My dear hubby really took an express shower, haha. Then enjoyed our dinner & the show. My honey did not notice that I kept stealing glances at the clock. Past 9pm & our items were not delivered yet. Just when I was getting a lil restless & disappointed about the possible no-show, the guard called up. After hanging up hubby told me the guard said there's a gift. He looked a lil excited yet very puzzled & thought the guard must have called the wrong unit... & he's mumbling to himself.

The deliveryman came soon after & hubby took quite a while to really figure out who's his admirer who sent him the gifts. Think he's just too excited to figure out! Hee.... Most of the credit should go to my acting skills leh.

Nothing better to do right... to have made a prank on my honey. Anyway we both have liked the fountain, just that he didn't know I've already gone ahead to order it. We're happy with the delivered items & for the rest of the night, were busy rearranging some decor to suit the pretty fountain that's with my fav blue colored sand, real plants & a tea-light on some very fine beach sand & pebbles. Have also asked to change the container to white instead of black. Love it!

These the 'gifts' my honey received last Sat night.

Of house parties & dining out

I'm not a photography-inclined person. I'll forget all about our camera when I'm too busy... or should I say WE.... but those great moments were supposed to be captured, like during our wedding bash, after the wedding with our families, my work functions & the last 2 parties, ETC.... Hmmm... disappointed with myself....

So, there're not many fotos to see herewith.

6AUG (SUN)

Had a great lunch gathering with Vince's relatives. It's full attendance. They're ever so supportive... the 1st guest arrived as early as 11am! Also told them no need to bring anything (which's why we intentionally didn't put it as "housewarming") but all of them still got us gifts & mostly angpaos.

Hubby & I were pretty disappointed with the catered food though. Taste wise.. not up to our expectation & it's not cheap! And the quantity they gave also quite weird.... there're some leftovers for most of the food items but we ran out of fruit punch & dessert. Funny huh... those're supposed to be low value stuff & yet they gave us much lesser? Nevermind, that'd be the last time we gonna use them.

I did chocolate fondue which's meant for the kids but turned out that the adults were the ones who crowded around it! In less than an hour, the strawberries, marshmallows & (biscuit) sticks were all gone & it's the same for the 2nd replenishment. I'm surprised it's so popular... Hee...

Most of them stayed around the mulit-purpose hall catching up with 1 another while the rest had a ktv session. The children pool is just in front of the hall & the kids had lotsa fun playing there.

By the time all of them left... around 6pm.... I was sooo tired & knocked out as early as 9.30pm.

Oyes... the day before (Sat) we went to Far East Flora @ Thomson Road to get flowers for our home & the multi-purpose hall. Guess how much we paid for a bunch of 10 sunflowers + 1 lovely bouquet of exotic flowers with 2 large purple Proteas + 1 biig bundle of baby white daisy pompons + another huge bunch of I-dunno-wat flowers (u know.. those small "berries" with lotsa leaves which we usually find in bouquets)?? Total: S$21.90. The 10 stalks of sunflowers cost only $4! So cheap right?? Very worth it, somemore they're being used not only for 1 party, but 2! We've got soooo many flowers that the backyard toilet instantly became a mini florist! Guess hubby was somehow stunned by the big quantity of flowers I bought, hehe...

Realise that fresh flowers can really enliven a place & that I'm beginning to love floral arrangement! Hmmm....

At least efforts not wasted as all of the relatives noticed the pretty flowers & were full of compliments.

8AUG (TUE)

Took half day & rushed home to cook. Colleagues would be coming after work. It's gonna be a very simple dinner & ktv. As I'm not a good cook at all, it took me nearly 3 hrs to prepare a fried rice (my signature dish!), pan-fried honey chicken wings, a scramble-egg dish & a chocolate fondue. Within which more than half of the time was spent on the chopping board! Felt so hot & oily.... Good that I'd already prepared a soup & another dessert (beancurd almond) beforehand. And 1 of the colleagues brought devil curry.

Come to think of it, actually I'm quite impressed with myself lah... having prepared everything by myself including mixing the drinks & even brought some of the things down by myself. Hehe. By the time hubby returned, he only had enough time to chill the beer for me in the icebox.

The greatest consolation after all the hard work in the kitchen was praises from my colleagues. They're surprised that I could cook so well (which I don't think so). They especially liked the soup & it's the 1st to go. Of course it's tasty as I'd dumped lotsa ingredients into the slow cooker! Well... be it they're being polite or encouraging, I was so very glad to hear compliments & see that they finished up the food... hee!!

Hubby's so nice to help me entertain my colleagues like his. As part of them in the ktv room & the rest in the hall, both of us gotta take care of a group each.

Happy that 1 of my ex-colleagues, Zen, brought her "professional" Canon EOS camera! So all pix that nite were taken by her. Pic taken with another ex-colleauge, Edwin.

Theresa & Zen's handsome son, Akira, who's half Jap

Zen, Evelyn, Me

A close ex-colleague, Lee Lee & family.

Celena & Henry

All girls pic! Claris, Carmen, Lee Lee & me

Group pic w/o Zen, Henry, LeeLee & family

Guess they'd a great time singing & I'd no choice but to end it @ 11.15pm as we supposed to clear the place by 11pm. Definitely didn't want the security guards to send reminder... they're already being nice to have closed 1 eye.

It's nearly 1am after the washing & packing... then dragged my tired body to shower. It's certainly not ez to have 2 gatherings @ 1 shot. Really thanks hubby for doing most of the packing & clearing up.

9AUG, NATIONAL DAY

Woke up slightly past 12pm... mum cooked lunch. Felt sleepy again after meal... so hit the bed again! Only woke up around 6.30pm. Took some snacks & watched a lil of the NDP. Last minute arranged with sis & family & brought mum for a late dinner @ a Chinese seafood restaurant in the Bottle Tree Village, only about 5-min drive from our place.

A very refreshing place to dine out once in a while. So not Singapore! Very Batam, hee... Just when you thought it's the end of the road without any street lights, after passing through lines of trees & some scary forests, we saw a small town leading to Bottle Tree Village. The ambience was great, overlooking the sea & Malaysia (across) but food only so-so. And yes again, we didn't bring camera.

Made-do with our hp camera. The background is actually sea.

Imported Bottle Tree!!

10AUG (THUR)

Our Monsieur Soh wanted to pamper his dear wife by bringing her to Rochester Park for dinner & drinks.

The carpark was full when we arrived so we gotta park all the way at the end & walked to One Rochester. A beautiful & lushly foliaged place to chill out & agree with hubby who said it's the perfect venue to go on a date with the beloved. Cool!

Should have brought our camera wherever we go...

Our hp cam couldn't even capture me as there wasn't any light on my side.

Ha! The washroom was the brightest! Näy......