Bye 2013!

As the clock inches closer towards 2014, my mind wanders back to my accomplishments for this year and I can't help but feel a little disappointed. I did not set out to do all that I've hope to achieve so this will inevitably make next year's list longer. But nonetheless, I did get married this year! So yay me!

2013 was not all that smooth sailing for me. I've experienced challenges, losses and disappointments of many sorts. I blame HDB for one of the major disappointments this year.

But we have to look forward somehow and hope that next year will bring us more happiness and luck. I'm keeping both my fingers and my toes crossed because if everything goes as plan, then 2014 will be a helluva year for me with all that I have planned. I'll be twice as stress but ten times more happy.

So here I am, 8 minutes before the clock strikes 12am and the dawn of a brand new year, wishing everyone a happy and prosperous new year, filled with love and lots of joy! Remember to always tell your loved ones how much you love them!

HAPPY 2014 EVERYONE!!!

xoxo

Happy Christmas!

Happy Holidays everyone! I hope that everybody had a wonderful Christmas celebration!

We kept things simple this year with a dinner date at Shabuya and a movie. It irks me till no end that there are no Christmas or New Year's superstar collaboration movies this year. I look forward to those all the time and am immensely disappointed to not see any of such movies this time of the year.  

We took a leisurely walk at the Vivocity boardwalk upstairs to view the huge Christmas tree but any attempts to capture a shot with us in it was shot to hell because as much as hubby doesn't like to admit it, his Samsung camera phone is just as bad as my iPhone's, leaving us invisible against the brightly lit tree at the background. But the tree was gorgeous, one of the best I've seen other than the famed Takashimaya one. 

Fast forward to Christmas morning and it was time for gift exchanging!

I got him the shirt he wanted but could never find a reason to spend on. 

And he got me an awesomely unique fragrance imported from France! It smells so so good! Very sophisticated and grown up. Thank you!

Mum got me a dress I've been eyeing for a long while! The perfect blush pink dress that can be worn during cny! Loves!

Pretty pretty pretty!

And some sneaky little purchases for ourselves :)

My pretty pretty lippies!

Alcoholic -_-"

And that sums up our Christmas!

Excited about the 2014 countdown! Where will you guys be? :)

The One with the Medley of Events

Bestie's wedding transpired over the course of 2 weeks with an intimate garden solemnization at The White Rabbit and the actual day a week later with a grand wedding banquet at The St Regis. Her 'dream' wedding as she would have to constantly explain to the auntie that I'm slowly becoming when I nag at her for the unnecessary extravagance of it all.
Nonetheless, everything went somewhat smoothly with just some tiny bumps along the way and now, she's officially off the market! :) If I concentrate hard enough, I can hear the chorus of broken hearts shattering across Singapore.

The solemnization was an intimate affair for 25 pax with the bride and grooms' parents. If I were to give a rating for the ambience of the Rabbit Hole which was what they called the outdoor solemnization venue, I would give it a 8/10 because of the gorgeous march-in walkway as well as the pretty garden solemnization venue. I wouldn't however rate it a full 10/10 because I'm not a grassy lawn kinda bride and not to mentioned that the grass and mud stains  (rainy season) will totally ruin my pretty shoes. (which DID ruin the bride's $400 kate spade bridal satin heels).

Then it was a 3 course dinner for all guests consisting of a salad appetizer, beef main and creme brulee dessert. The food was pretty mediocre and I personally felt that it was not worth the $4000 (min spending) price tag which the couple splurged out for. I suppose the $4000 includes the outdoor solemnization venue as well as some rebate credits for your meals in the future but the food was, if anything, very forgettable. I felt like a rabbit the entire night due to the overload of greens and lack of starch throughout the entire meal.

The White Rabbit

And then, we had a surprise hen's party for the bestie which I painstakingly planned. Painstakingly not because it was a complicated shower full of strippers and manicures but because I was the only one who organized/bought/booked the entire event. Exhausted much. I was so happy to get the venue spot on which was a fluke since I've never heard of the restaurant until 2 days before. But the entire dinner went amazingly and I'm really glad she enjoyed her surprise. The chef and pastry chef made our day by customizing our celebratory dessert so I'll highly recommend Toots Brasserie to anyone hoping to have a hen's night dinner! *grinz*

We girls splurged on bestie's 'something blue' from Tiffany's seeing that she's Tiffany obssessed. I think we made a solid attempt to send her off to married life in style.

And then, it was D-day. I woke up bleary eyed at 5.30am and got ready to reach her place by 7.15am. The whole morning was a deja-vu for me having went through the exact same thing just 8 months ago. The entire morning was filled with ooh-ing and ahh-ing as the bride got ready, lots of lemon and wasabi squeezing and ice freezing. It was really fun to be experiencing the whole gate crashing just so I know what it felt like to be on the other side. And so I conclude that as much fun as it was sitting upstairs waiting for the guys to be let in, it was even more exciting downstairs forcing them to surrender their hongbaos over. Bride and bridesmaid for 2013, check!

Finally, it was the wedding banquet and boy, was it a glammed up event. Hubby and I got all dolled up and it was my first time ever putting on a solid red lipstick. I almost couldn't recognize myself but I am really glad I stepped out of my usual girly comfort zone to venture into old hollywood glam for the night. I felt butterflies in my tummy when I looked at hubby that night. I was brought back to my own wedding day when I saw him in a suit. (^^;) why you sho kyute la heehee~

My dashing date for the night

The dinner was pretty good was some hits and misses throughout. For St Regis's standard, I thought it could have been better. The food was not entirely piping hot for all courses and the only memorable dishes were the appetizer and the atlantic cod. The venue was beautiful, with ornate chandeliers and glassy backdrops, but I am not a fan of the L-shaped march-in. So I would rate St Regis a 7.5/10 in terms of food and venue. And oh, the Executive Suite given to the bride and groom for 2 nights was surprisingly small. I seriously expected better of them.

That sums up my 2 weekends! Phew! Christmas in just 8 short days!!

❆❅☃♥♥ I FREAKIN LOVE CHRISTMAS !!!! ♥♥ ☃❅❆

Wedding planning... once more.

It's mighty stressful helping someone with her wedding when the memory of my own wedding is still vivid in my head. The prep, the stress and everything I experienced is all coming back to me now.

Not good. 

But I had awesome friends who stepped in when I needed their help, so I hope I can be there for the bride-to-be as well. 

*Sweats*

It's really not easier being on either sides. 

My first time stepping into Tiffany's today and I came out with a big and beautiful blue paper bag. Sadly, it's not for me, but I'm hoping that I've just made someone really happy! :)

I want... :(