Off to Bali with my Maid of Honour

Hi guys, I won't be at my desk or blackberry answering emails, Facebooking and chatting.

I actually don't have a blackberry.

I do wish I had one sometimes though.

Nevertheless, I had a great week so far. Yes some catastrophes occurred but ahh...such is life huh?

The best part of my week are the evenings. It was all spent with people I enjoy building relationships with. I'm such a relationship girl! They are one of the joys of my life.

I love the cheerful, sometimes witty banter, when both sides genuinely are interested in each other, sharing life, mocking life, sometimes sympathizing, and mostly just literally being there.

I'm just so glad for you guys!

Oh yes, my maid of honour will be taking me to Bali and it'll be our little hen's night. I think it is my perfect idea of a hen's night.

That's because I've openly out-rightly refused a hen's night. No bridal sash to say 'I'm the bride to be', no furry feather boa, no tiara, no veils with horns, DEFINITELY NO MALE STRIPPERS PLEASE, and no strange men coming up to me, thank you very much.

So Bali will do just fine.

Wedding Update

Okay, the invitations are at the printers! Yay, my wedding is actually happening.

Though I haven't rented the chairs yet.

You guys don't mind standing right?

Haha

This is It

I spent my friday night at the theatres with Micheal Jackson, This is It presentation/movie.

I am inspired by Micheal Jackson.

Not only he is his passion. He takes it above and beyond everytime. Something to take away.


And I love how he puts his creative input into everything, knows what he wants, is so gentle when going about it, sucks on a lollipop, goes "wheeee" and eats KFC for dinner.

He is never lazy, always hardworking because he is driven by passion.

Lord, let us be driven by our passion!

I think that is the only way to live.

Wonderful Shopping Prayer

Hi everyone, I've been busy like a headless chicken because I've got business, work, wedding all to attend to, 3 in one. I just came across this little poem in my research and thought it is the funniest!

HAIL MARNI

Armani

Who art in Holts

Hallowed by thy shoes

Thy Prada come

Thy shopping done

On Bloor street

As it is in Paris

Give us this day, our Visa Gold

And forgive us our balance

As we forgive those who charge us interest

Lead us not into Wal Mart

And deliver us from Sears

For thine is the Louis,

The Gaultier, and the Versace,

For Dolce and Gabbana

AMEX

And oh, I think Jesus doesn't mind. He knows it is all in the light of fun.

I've arrived.

Hi everyone,

I've finally arrived after travelling 30 hours straight. It was quite something and not exactly fun. There is also no time for jetlag. I've been amazed at how I've been going.

Anyway, I got right to it and I've done quite a bit in 2 days. I also don't know why things just come up and I've haven't had the time to unpack and organize things etc. I'm also heading to Malacca today for family matters.

I've also got quite a bit to manage on the business end of things. Maybe it is supposed to be mad and crazy when we are heading towards the last lap of the year.

Can you believe it is two months to Christmas?

Christmas is my favourite time of the year! I was pleasantly surprised to see Orchard Road getting started with their Christmas decorations already.

Phew. I miss my quiet life at Belmont Terrace.

What? Is Today Flight Cancellation Day or someting?

Just after I wrote about how my flight got cancelled, I logged into my email and got another notice about a flight cancellation.

Is today Flight Cancellation Day?


Seriously, what the?

Flight Got Cancelled! One More Day...Or Maybe One More Weekend

I always seem to have drama with air travel.

After arriving at the airport, I made a quick dash to the ladies and then ran to the counter. There was this airport staff smiling at me, and then another. I was wondering why do I seem to be a joke to them?

I saw Colin at a distance and he was shaking his head. I thought my bags were way overweight (what's new) again and they were going to ask me to remove stuff.

As I got closer, I realized that there was a huge sign saying, "Flight cancelled". There was no reason and they offered to buy me dinner and put me up at a hotel (yet again.)

They tried putting me onto the 1 am Singapore Airlines flight but that has been overbooked so I guess I'll just fly tomorrow. What an ordeal.

But the funny thing is, when I was told by the staff, I flashed a big smile and burst out laughter. I really couldn't believe it. While I'm glad I have one more day with Colin, I just thought, "Oh great! One more air travel story to add to my collection."

Almost everything that you've heard happened in travel stories, it has happened to me. Except getting a bird dent the nose of a plane and a trolley hit the roof (I still don't know if that is true) of the plane.

I've missed my flights, went to the airport at the wrong time, wrong day, ran for my life to the plane. I've had to beg airport security to let me through, convince airplane personnel that they can put me on the flight. Got distracted by shopping that I forgot what terminal I am in and hear my name being announced (more than twice). They've lost my luggages, bumped me up, bumped me off, put me into hotels, compensated me because they put me on the wrong flight etc etc.

And oh, I've not started to even summarize the stories of fellow passengers that I have to sit with.

Once I saw this little girl pasting stickers of Disney princesses all over her window and on the wall. It was such a funny sight. Her mother was awake but couldn't be bothered.

I dutifully informed the Singapore airlines head stewardess, "Erm, you might want to check on that little girl who is doing some interior decorating over there." She turned around and had a shocked look on her face.

I wish I had a picture! Of both the stickers and the stewardess' face!

All in good fun. Ah, but that is life, isn't it? A collection of stories.

Doesn't Seem Too Long Ago

I was at the airport getting back from Vegas.

Now I head there again in a few minutes.

It will not be a goodbye! But for now, I'll see you guys soon, I'll always be here, behind my little laptop screen, no matter where I am in the world.

Muah to all!

Let The Wedding Preparations Begin!

Reveling in the cold air. Oh I'm going to miss you Union Square!

Isn't life sometimes a long To Do list?

I've been doing quite a bit of clearing up these days. I clear out my emails, photos, my desktop, my downloads folder, my filofax and my ideas folder. I do this whenever I have to move on to my next 'phase', in this case - my wedding planning phase.

I have committed myself...I promise I will be serious now and make the ang paos worth it. I've cleared out the schedule and will make wedding my priority, second my work and passion. It is admittedly hard to tear myself away from work, especially when it's coming along nicely and I've got two big new surprises that I've been working on, developing for a while. Ideally I'll like to have all three by the end of the year, but I cannot do all three, or even two without compromising on quality.

No, can't do. Quality rules!

And I've also promised my mom not start any more shops or businesses that will pull me away from getting married, and Colin because I've for years sacrificed for ambitious dreams & passions.

Now being married to Colin is part of my dream and I'm convicted it is God's plan. So I will listen to my mother for once. (Kidding! I'm a good daughter. Ask her!)

I've set up appointments to see my vendors next week where I will be bracing the sunny sun and humid weather - actually I'm not looking forward to that. Firstly, in my experience, you often get many "No, we can't do this." If only everybody said "Yes!" That would be completely wonderful. But I believe in God's great favour for me, so we'll see!

The fun part of starting my wedding planning is that I'm very inspired by Frank Sinatra. So Frank Sinatra will be my theme. I've had so much fun with exploring other themes but Frank Sinatra seems to truly stick. Maybe it is because I live my life by the very words he penned in his songs.

You can go to extremes with impossible schemes
You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams
And life gets more exciting with each passing day
And love is either in your heart or on its way

Don't you know that its worth every treasure on earth
To be young at heart
For as rich as you are its much better by far
To be young at heart

And if you should survive to 105
Look at all you'll derive out of being alive
Then here is the best part
You have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart

Coco Avant Chanel

Watched Coco Avant Chanel in a little art house theatre tonight. It was my Friday night guilty pleasure. I enjoyed immensely, though Colin preferred the other one (the American version?). Nevertheless, I liked it anyway and I was quite pleased that I understood most of the short speaking sentences! (The film is in French).

Ah, it is coming along. I don't expect too much of myself.

Learning French is a humongous struggle but Julie my private tutor has been great. She is so patient and I enjoy it immensely, especially going at my own pace. It's hard work though, learning so much grammar and it's amazing how much slip through the doors of my mind the minute French lessons end.

I really admire Coco Chanel for breaking through barriers and paving the way for women owning their dreams.

I want to do the same in my own way, though with a different set of priorities. :)

My Favourite Quote About Writing

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/09/books/09prize.html?hpw

What Is your Favourite Item in Your Closet Right Now?

Inspired by Glamour magazine, I decided to do a little blog post.

Do you have something in your wardrobe that you're absolutely obsessed with this season? What Is your Favourite Item in Your Closet Right Now?

Sigh, this is so hard. I'm always been obsessed with all my jackets. I'm such a jacket person, that I wonder how did I end up being born in a tropical country. I would say my 4 year old CUE cropped jacket ( by my all time favourite Australian designer Veronica Maine) tops the list. Though I have several CUE jackets by her but don't make me choose again!

What was your worst Don't ever?

Don't ever walk more than 300 metres per time if you are wearing expensive heels. What's the point of ruining the heels? I've concluded, expensive heels were not built to be used for walking or shopping.

What are your weirdest wardrobe fixes?

I sew/pin/hook the spaghetti straps of a blouse together at one point on the back to make the straps taper towards my neck. I prefer that neckline to the standard straight down, because I like to emphasize the collarbones. I think they are very sexy.

Would you rather have a weekend in Tahiti or a front row seat at Paris fashion week?

That is of course, front row seat at Paris Fashion week. I'll just go to Tahiti the following weekend.

A Party I Can Promise You

It must be a sign when my moisturizer is running out.

I realize that I have about 10 days to go before I jet again and suddenly reality sets in. I HAVE to plan my wedding. I think I've just about freaked out everybody involved with my wedding, namely parents, my parents-in-law, my maid-of-honour and my most gorgeous looking posse of girlfriends.

I get emails of "Babe, what should we wear?" and I go... "Hmmm...I'm still trying to figure out".

"So what is your colour scheme? ", ("Lest we become colours of the rainbow")

I reply, "Am I in trouble not to have one...yet?"

Mom asks, "So have we finalized the guest list?"

I respond, "Sort of, in my head." (Does that count?)

"Do you know what you are going to wear?"

I have my guilty face. "No idea!"

"Have you done your wedding photos?"

Me, "Hmmm. No. No time. Maybe next year."

I have no excuses. Well, there was Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Hot pots, San Francisco, a few friends came to town...and a few other things I can't remember. And oh, I'm busy trying to fulfill the 300 pages and getting them spider-ed.

Maybe the truth is that I'm uninspired. I was. (But more about that later). I had very lovely friends recommended wedding websites to me and I did look. I honestly did. I went to some bridal shops (a total of 4) and I didn't like and I didn't try anything in there. I haven't found a wedding gown that I just want to try.

I have THUS concluded, wedding dresses and wedding websites and anything weddingy is JUST not me.

Audrey (middle), one of the members of my bridal entourage, came to town, and we just had to go to Top of the Mark. Though the band wasn't there on Monday night!

And what am I doing? Le Colonial San Francisco, Saturday Night

So, despite my lack of progress, I must say I'm very much looking forward to my marriage. I am more convinced that my dreams are coming true. I believe God will open doors and pour down even more into our lives.

But worry not, friends and family! I know I only have two months and in spite of some predictions of a stressed out fiasco, I can promise some things though.

Planning a fabulous party is my THING! Beautiful decor, clothes, fashion, style, cocktails, photographs, and more recently videography ARE what makes me feel alive!

And oh be prepared to dress up. Maybe I should put in Dresscode: Over the TOP.

At my kind of parties, everyone looks good, not just the bride. Not really into it.

Everything else should be worry free. I'll have a ball planning my dream party. Even if it all boils down to the crunch, I'll make my own dress, design my own invitations, do my own hair and make up and I'll be at the site, putting up the lights and testing the sound system, even if it means just hours before my own wedding.

I know we'll pull it off, and ALL of us will have the best time.

I can promise that.

The Night We Shut It Down. AKA Hangover II

Here we go!

Video Premier Tonight

The Night We Shut It Down Video Screen Shot

Tonight I will be so excited to showcase my video! Friends will be gathering for good food and my little video will be screened. And oh, there is also sake!

Will show it to everyone after I let the people who helped and contributed watch first!

It's fun, I enjoy being creative. I suppose it's now a new hobby?

P.s. It reminded me of my Sydney days, where we literally shut down many clubs. Police, Media, Ambulances and all. It was caused by an overpopulation of the clubs which were health and fire hazards. Sydney-siders partied really hard.

I Did Some Silly Quiz

Gosh I hope I'm a year wiser!

"At work you have a strong desire to influence others so they may lead more significant lives. You often work in the arts, communication, education, and helping professions. You are adept at motivating and interacting with others"

Well I'm not sure if I have a strong desire to influence others but I enjoy innovating and editing my life.

One of my long time friends, Justin once told me that I'm a 'lifestyle' entrepreneur, not in the way most people understand it (like how others sell premium wine, watches etc), but I make my chosen profession/career work round my lifestyle. That was a hilarious comment. And as much as I hate it (because it sounds like I'm off gallivanting all the time, seeking my pleasures), it is kind of true.

And yes I love arts, communication and education.

In love you seek harmonious relationships. You are a true romantic and believe in perfect love that lasts forever. You bring drama, warmth, and empathy to relationships. You enjoy symbols of romance such as flowers, candlelight, and music and cherish the small gestures of love.

I really do not think I'm romantic. I used to think I was the most unromantic person in the world. I never remember anniversaries, I get flowers so often all my life that I almost don't appreciate them.

Till I was in a relationship where I DIDN'T get any flowers. (Haha guess who, bless his heart.)

Oh I definitely bring drama! Thank God, Colin is discovery channel - the calm and steady sort.

Hmm I must say I enjoy candlelight, if it is a fineeeee restaurant with some good steak. Carnivore here!

I also must admit I really appreciate the little gestures. Definitely. Though whether I'm a romantic? I'm still not sure.

"In childhood you were extremely imaginative and found it difficult to fit into the structure of school life. You reacted with great sensitivity to discordance or rejection and sought recognition. You responded to encouragement."

Oh yes. I was off dreaming in some fancyland. Couldn't pay attention. Always a daydreamer. Got put in my report card branding me forever, "Had not done her best", "Daydreams too much", "Articulate but mischievous."

I was never bothered about grades too much but I always found the teacher's comments interesting.

And you can count on me to be always up to some mischief. Stealing ice cream coupons when the ice cream uncle was not looking.

Terrible! Just yesterday Colin & I stole fried calamari rings from Ranch99. Quickly put them in our mouth when we were paying for food. We wanted to taste them. Terrible again! Will never do that again! I was just too hungry.

Discordance or rejection? Hmm yeah! That is why I cannot be in relationships where quarreling happened often, even if it is 'normal' by standards. Rejection... heck yeah! I remember all the mean girls and they are all marked in my secret book. (Think sexy Uma Thurman in Kill Bill) Kidding...I think my Pastor Godfather is going to send me in for counseling.

Sought recognition? Hmmmm. I guess I was sad that the darn teachers never gave me the courtesy lion badge in primary school. I tried so hard and greeted them, flashed my million dollar smile and helped carry books.

I definitely responded to encouragement. My mom was particularly encouraging. And so is Colin. Whoopie!

Alright, just a sporadic post inspired by Sass's Facebook. Gotta get back to work!

Vegas Birthday Pictures

The Winners!

Yummiest Crawfish!

Getting ready to go to Pure at Caesars Palace. Audrey says I looked like I had a Caesars Palace theme. It was unintentional I swear!

All of us, VIP all the way! That was seriously the highlight of the weekend!
Audrey and I getting into the swing of things!

At Monte Carlo's river pool. It is fun to get swept by the current with no underwater creepy crawlies.
The guy at the next table had the same birthday as me!
Drinks at MGM
At Tao Beach party, it was soooooo fun! And I never thought I was a pool party girl.
And these fantastic friends got me the famous Vegas 24 layered cake at Striphouse!

It was the best birthday ever!

I had a blast! Thanks you guys for making it fantastic!

Special thanks to
Karl, the Shiok face
the Vegas veteran, the one who never fails to make us all laugh constantly, and is more of a gentleman than he let on.

Colin, the Connected Insider
who got me in VIP style at Pure like Britney Spears, everyone probably thought we were asian celeb mafia or something. Thanks baby!

Kev, the-what's-the-plan-man
who looks amazing on photo and video! and is always a good sport, who is hilarious with or without shots.

Kim, the Bubble Tea Addict
the cutest, funniest, and shares the reigning spot with me for queen of paparazzi. Couldn't do the mini film without you!

Audrey, Crawfish & Party Warrior Princess
my long time fellow party girl and friend. Thanks for paving the Crawfish way for us and dancing your heart out with me as always.

If there is only one place in the world to party,

it would be...

I'll be celebrating my birthday this weekend and I'll try to act my age.

Hugs & kisses to everybody!

Love, love, love, Eunice

Chinese Blogging Competition?!?

Colin was showing me some websites after we discussed the web as the real estate of the future.

He showed me his old school's Website.

This was the first thing that caught my eye. 

 CHINESE BLOGGING COMPETITION?

Gosh, it sounds painful. I'm soooo glad I was born PRE blogging times.

You cannot imagine the relief when I didn't need to take Chinese exams anymore. It was one of those things that made me so happy to go to university (and to Australia too!).

My Birthday Rant! What I'm Most Proud Of

Remember how I said I loved to get that extra OOMMPH before I turn a year older? (following on the previous post)

I've been working frantically like a busy bee, just before I get into my next year i.e. birthday. I am so passionate about making the last birth year count.

I totally ordered myself a class and workshop, and so I'm getting closer to my goal of setting up an independent education company, bought 15 books (no kidding - they are so cheap here!) and X pairs of shoes! They were really lovely shoes.

But you know what I'm most proud of?

I totally gave my website http://www.elegantwoman.org/ a facelift! And a matching site blog. I hired a designer to do the banner for me. Wheeeeeeee! It was money well spent. I absolutely love it. (I mean it's not like pro or anything but pro is EXACTLY what I don't want.)

Oh but that isn't what I'm most proud of. False alarm.

I was soooo intimidated by setting up a forum and all that, you know the whole WEB 2.0 stuff - it was so scary. I'm not the most web savvy. But I DID IT! I managed to get it in before I'd turned another year older! That's what I'm MOST proud of.

Check it out! http://www.elegantwoman.org/About-Elegant-Woman.html

It's functional for now, and I've only added it on a handful of pages (because I have so much to fix up).

Now readers can actually post questions and it gets published with a click of MY button, and I don't have to write the same thing over and over by the same questions that gets asked.

Wow. I'm really dizzy with a sense of achievement.

elegantwoman.org is also starting to get attention now. I get over 700 visitors a day. And I've discovered random people tweeting my pages and linking me to their blogs. I got my first cheque (which I reinvested back into Elegant Woman) It's amazing.

Now, I've just geared my life in a different direction as I vowed to a year ago.

JESUS you are great! Thank you LORD for giving me SBI!