.: DIY Bouquet :.

Gonna be DIY-ing my bridal bouquet of fresh flowers tomorrow.

Yes, I know, laugh your head off all you want. The square accountant trying her hand at something artsy-fartsy?

Well, lets just see how it turns out! :)

If all else fails - run over to Bridget's place. She'd be my hero!

Updated : Well, this was all I manage to do, sadly the roses weren't too fresh, mom went hysterical, but I was surprisingly calm over the matter. Afterall, its too late to do anything. My panic button usually last until the point where I know nothing can be done - then it just automatically shuts off.

Better that way I suppose.

.: Photoshoot :.

Tying a few loose ends for the props required of my photoshoot this Thursday.

And oh, am praying for God's favour to grant us excellent, bright, sunny weather for our outdoor photoshoot in Ulu Yam.

Hopefully that I don't get too stressed out and the both of us will enjoy it! :)

.: We Shall Not Labor In Vain :.

JC was unusually excited this morning over the fact that we are getting our roof done. And his excitement did kinda rub off on me. I guess today marks the very start of our house renovation. Not only does it marks the first baby step for us to fix up our HOUSE but also it’s our first baby step to built our HOME.

But unless the LORD builds this HOUSE, we will labor in vain.

Unless the LORD builds this HOME, we will labor in vain.

So do continue to uphold us & our house & our home in prayer.

.: Bridezilla & The Wedding Gown :.

A mixture of anxiety with perhaps a small tinge of excitement fills me as I count down the 7 days to my wedding photoshoot. Not really looking forward to it in the sense that I am camera shy (for most of the time at least) and the camera just hates me, albeit, I am not at all photogenic. But in another sense, I can’t wait for it to be over. I’ve tried the gowns a few weeks back, and shortlisted 5 for my photoshoot day.

I always had in mind that its gonna be difficult process for me when selecting the wedding gowns coz I won’t be able to find any that would a) fit me or b) look good on me. And I was partially right, it was a difficult process, but where I was wrong is that there are actually gowns that I can fit in (wow!) AND looks (reasonably) good on me. So I had to eliminate one by one. In the end, I went for something that I wouldn’t normally wear, but is definitely my style – simple, elegant & unique.

I will be going for fitting either later tonight, or Saturday morning – no point fitting & altering my dress weeks before as I might lose weight (or god forbids – put on weight!)

So far, things are coming along okay… PTL for that!

As for now, I MUST really go on a diet. MUST, MUST, MUST! *burp* Sorry, that was my curry noodles I had for lunch! Ok, I will start my diet TOMORROW!

xoxo
Bridezilla

.: I Am Still... :.

...at work, but I am goin back soon. Perhaps I'll drop by to my Uncle's place to help him do his tax returns. And pay a visit to dear Bridget. *press doorbell*

.: Pure In Heart :.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

- Matthew 5:8 -

.: My Sister's Keeper :.

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate - a life and a role that she has never questioned… until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister - and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable… a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life… even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less?


One thing that I don’t like when reading books by the same author is that you will get used to their signature writing style – and its true to the word – there can be too much of a good thing. But since it’s been a while since I last I picked a Jodi Picoult’s book – I believe it’s about the right time for me to get a lil booster jab of Jodi. And I guess I did a good choice by picking up this book MY SISTER’S KEEPER. Well, one can’t really go wrong on picking a novel that was made into a movie can they? Or perhaps they could (Read here for my review on a Night In Rodanthe).

In this book Jodi uses the first person style of narrative, switching between Anna, Kate, Sara (Anna’s & Kate’s mom), Brian (Sara’s husband), Jesse (the girl’s elder brother), Campbell (Anna’s attorney) & Julia (court appointed guardian of Anna). Gently touching on the tip of a sensitive topic of stem cell research or more specifically “designer babies” (this is expanding on her research of genetic modifications in Second Glance) – Jodi has really done a good job on bringing up just so very lightly and appropriately topics like these. Read novels such as The Pact (teenage suicides) or The Perfect Match (child molestations) or Song of the Humpback Whale (wildlife preservation) and you get what I mean when she just brings up these issues but it does not taint by becoming the central part of the theme of the novel.

The story basically tells of a thirteen year old Anna who decides to sue both her parents for medical emancipation when she was expected to donate a kidney to her sister Kate who is suffering from acute promyeloctic leukemia (a type of blood cancer). Anna, short for Andromeda (no kidding!) was “created” from a geneticist that help her parents select the embryo from which they can create a sibling that matches Kate genetically. From the day that she was conceived she has “donated” her umbilical cord, her bone marrow, platlets, blood and cells in order to save Kate’s life. And now that they are asking for one of her kidney – she refuses.

Anna comes across to me like a cold-heartless sister (as I wouldn’t even think twice to give away a part of me in order to save my brother’s life) but her persistency as well as her remained-undisclosed reason for suing her parents really got me flipping the pages to find out why.

On the other hand, it was a love-hate relationship for me and this Sara character, as she seems to be change between the antagonist and protagonist role. As Jodi so correctly pointed out in her Q&A at the end of the book – “Sara is going to generate a bit of controversy. She is an easy culprit to blame in this nightmare…and yet I would caution readers not to rush to judgement.” Spot on as towards the end of the novel, I started to empathize with her.

Needless to say, this novel ends with a sharp twist, which prompt me to rethink of the prologue earlier read

“In my first memory, I am three years old and I am trying to kill my sister…


… In the end, though, I did not kill my sister. She did it all on her own. Or at least this is what I tell myself.”

A novel brilliantly written!

For my reviews on Jodi's novels I have read earlier, please refer to here and here.

.: Abandonment :.

I have been abandoning my blog of late.


Even more shocking is that it is almost a week since I last log in to Facebook. *gasps*

Its just that I barely have time for anything, and I have to choose between onlining or watching TV or reading a novel or doing up my jigsaw puzzles.

On a better note, I have completed say 75% of my jigsaw puzzles – the white skies are nearly done now. A lot of trial and error of each piece which I don’t really like. Prefer a more strategic approach, but I guess there is not short cut for this. I am hopeful to complete the puzzle before the end of this year. This puzzle has been put on WIP (work-in-progress) for almost 3 years and counting. It has gone thru temporary abandonment because of exams, peak period at work, exams, even more peak periods, but it is going to be completed anyhows! Am very hopeful, at least! :)

I am interested to try out cinnamon bread this weekend with my new Kenwood Prospero that I recently got from a Harvey Norman warehouse sales (for RM1,199) , but the errands set out this week are not so forgiving. Plus, it’s probably for the best, especially for my waistline, that I stay away from attempting to bake or cook this whole year. Also, because of the tight schedule I have this weekend, I had to turn down an ICAEW rep who requested (last minute) for me to give a talk this weekend – either in Sunway College or Taylors College. Well, I had done it once (read here) but it will definitely take me lots of time to mentally prepare myself. I have glossophobia you know. Seriously.

I’ve been also catching up on my reading (but not as fast of a pace as before), but still have not unraveled any author/novel worthy of highlighting; except for Jodi Picoult’s My Sisters Keeper. Will have a separate blog post to review this shortly.

.: Just Joking :.

Lil Ryan was sitting quietly in the church admin room, when minutes ago he was runnin around with Joshua & Joel.

Asked why he is not out playing, he said "Oh...My friends all went home already:"

His dad, Uncle Bryan teasingly mentioned that jie jie Kath is still around and to go play with me.

I added on more teasing by asking Ryan "I am your friend to right?"

To my utter disappointment, Ryan answered with an upright "NO!"

I pretended to sulk, to which much later, Ryan pacified my by saying "Just joking la."

His dad said its his trademark technique to get himself out of hot soup.

Typical men (or boys becoming men)!

.: A Date With Kath :.

*thanks to clone (whoever you may be) for contributing this idea*


1) I generally don’t like to be taken to fancy smancy restaurants. I don’t mind if my date brings me out to a mamak or something – it’s the company that I’m primarily enjoying, not the food.

2) I love to be taken to parks on a date. Especially more so if its one with a playground (or a functional swing to be more specific!)

3) I have only dated a few guys (can count with the fingers on my hands) in my whole 24 years – and since I’m to be married, my dating life practically ends here. Quite a loser aren’t I? :)

4) Expanding from the point above, not all my dates ends up in a relationship. Yes, that makes me a bigger loser doesn’t it? :)

5) I actually don’t mind if we go-dutch on our first few dates. But I definitely appreciate a man who does pick up the tab!

6) It is very important to me that my date treats the waiter/waitresses politely. It will definitely earn him extra brownie points for all the ‘please’s & ‘thank-you’s, especially in this era where chivalry is dead & manners don’t exist anymore.

7) The first date I had with JC was to One Utama to watch Pocahontas.

8) The last ‘date’ I had with JC was a morning picnic at Lake Garden two weekends ago; and a short visit to the National Museum.

9) One thing that turns me off is when the guy decides that dating is all about getting to know ALL ABOUT HIM. Dating is a process of getting to know one another not conducting an interview where you have to sell yourself.

10) As much as first impression counts, I also believe that everyone deserves a second chance. There was this guy that kinda screwed up on the first date, but I gave him another try at it.

11) The only time I asked a guy out for a date was a couple of months ago when I asked a boy (note boy, not guy) to go on a date with me. I had to call his dad to ask for permission to take his son out. I was so nervous I nearly chickened out! For more, read here.

12) Aside from point 11) [which is not a real date to begin with] I have not dated a guy younger than me (if my memory serves me well).

13) I will be absolutely smitten when a date ends with a text saying “I had a great time with you today…” or something to that line. Corny, but it works on me.

14) By the time JC runs thru this list and eliminates everything pertaining to him, there will be a lot of questions on the other date-ees. Gulps!

15) To anyone who wanna arrange a date with me, can call me up at 016-9XXXXXX. Offer available until end of this year only on which I will be off the shelf permenantly! :) *wink*

.: Was It The Coffee You Wanted? :.

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor.


Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups--porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal; some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite--telling them to help themselves to the coffee.


When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.


While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.


"What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and were eyeing each other's cups.


"Now consider this: Life is the coffee, and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups.


They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and do not change the quality of Life. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided.


"So, don't let the cups drive you .... enjoy the coffee instead."

.: Back To School With Kath :.

1) You may have never guessed (or perhaps you may?), but I was quite a notorious student back in my primary school days – the countless times I have been to the Discipline teacher’s office… Ahhhh… But I guess things changed and I grew up (supposedly!)

2) I just have this thing about doing homework. Hated it. I try as much as possible to avoid it – esp the mundane subjects like Sejarah or Maths. One of the few things that never changed until Uni days.

3) The only time that I wasn’t the top 10 in my class was when I was in Standard 5. I got number 11 and I was devastated. Lookin back, its kinda funny how we see all this as so important at that time.

4) I never had a red mark in my report card before. Proud to say that even for subjects like physical education & Arts, I manage to scrape thru. Teehee.

5) I had a favorite teacher back in primary school. Her name is Pn. Angeline. I made her a card and I was her teacher’s pet ever since. She calls me lil dumpling (can’t believe that I am revealing this, but what the heck!). I remembered bout her when I was watching The Princess and The Frog where the name Angeline was mentioned a couple of times.

6) I hated Biology. Doesn’t help that Mrs.Lim is extremely strict. But I must admit, lookin back, I learnt most from her.

7) I could never memorize as well as most of my classmates could the 60 values in Moral subjects. The only reason why I got an A1 was because a teacher personally taught a few of us the technique in scoring for this paper! *wink*

8) Qian (aka Tigger) was my biggest influencer when it comes to picnicking in class. She taught me the art of eating my teabreak while teacher was teaching in front. Would have gotten away with a clean record until a teacher (when I was in Form 5) suddenly asked the person who got first place in class last year to stand up. All I could do was to stand up, smile sheepishly while half the currypuff was in my mouth. I could see a few of my classmates who knew of my ‘dirty lil secret’ holding back their laughters. One of the most embarrassing moments of my life.

9) My favorite subject was Add Maths & Physics. Weird right? I know. I nearly wanted to study engineering because of my passion for Physics. But it seems like God has other plans for me, so here I am, an accountant instead of an engineer.

10) I don’t practice kiasu-ism. I don’t believe that in order to excel you must not extend help to others. I have encountered a few of this kinda people up even until my uni days. And I hav seen with my own eyes that the people who excels are always the one who shares most. What you give is what you get return.

11) I pay good attention in class (when I want to). It’s the only time I absorb anything because I hardly do revisions and let’s not even talk about homework (refer to point 2))

12) I don’t believe in consistence studying. I almost always cramp whatever I need a week or two before the exams. I am, however, a firm believer in making good summarized notes because I most definitely can’t cramp the whole textbook in a week or two. It’s just my style of studying, something which JC can never understand.

13) I was the school librarian back in secondary school. How nerdy, I know. But being a librarian has its perk. I get to have access to books reserved for teachers and librarians only, I get to borrow 5 books instead of the usual 3. Gosh. I am making myself sound more nerdy aren’t I?

14) I miss going to school, really…

15) I am proud to be a DJ-ian. SMDJ RAWKS! :)

.: Hey You! :.

Joel came up to me in church yesterday, and with his cute-and-adorable baby tone, he asked me "Hey you, how come you are not teaching us in Sunday School?"

He ran off before I had a chance to answer (that's how short the attention span of lil kids these days).

Oh, I miss my lil kids.

Another 7 more months till next year! :)

(I took a year sabbatical from teaching Sunday School, just in case you didn't know!)

.: Dining With Kath :.

1) I just love spicy food; as long as there is chili in it, it makes most food palatable. The spicier, the better :)

2) I can eat with my hands, taught by my Grandma, who is peranakan.

3) The way I hold my chopstick is wrong, coz I always crisscross it. Still can’t correct it even until this age, which is a shame because my Indian friend can do it right. Sigh.

4) I love to cook & bake – it makes me happy coz it is an outlet of creativity for me and the only form of experimenting.

5) I don’t understand why some people (like JC) can’t stand the smell and taste of durian. It’s the closest thing to heaven

6) CHOCOLATE IS A FRUIT (CHOCOLATE = COCOA BEANS = FRUITS), WHICH IS WHAT I AM HAVING ON MY STRICTLY FRUITS DIET REGIME!

7) I like my beef medium rare, the bloodier the better! :)

8) I thought I was allergic to shellfish, so I abstained from it until about two years ago, when I realize I wasn’t (twenty years of useless abstinence!). I still am getting use to the taste of prawn and crab (which I still can’t quite comprehend) and only if someone peels it for me *wink at JC*

9) I prefer cold tong-sui to hot ones.

10) When I was younger, I usta eat all the rice first before enjoying my dishes. It’s when my mom commented that my dad is like that that I realize who I modeled after. No longer like that tho, coz rice = carbo = not good. Unlike choc = fruits = good. Felt the need to emphasis this point for my own satisfaction. Hehe! :)

11) I loved KFC chicken, now, I just loath it.

12) When I was small and my mom steamed a whole chicken, it was usually my mission to look for the wishbone. As I had no competition, I usually find it, break it and make a wish. I remember sulking one time when Daddy accidentally broke it. Haha. Wonder who gave me such a wild idea bout wishing bone. Wait a minute; is there even such thing as a wishing bone?

13) I remember fondly about pink candy floss that my parents used to buy for me and my brother when we were younger. A couple of years back, my brother and I decided to reminisce bout the good ol times and bought ourselves a stick of cotton candy. We couldn’t finish it, and halfway thru, the both of us were on sugar high and was laughing uncontrollably. From that day on, no more cotton candy. Scary stuff I tell ya!

14) My favorite junk food is Twistee. Not a great fan of the cringle cut potato chips tho…

15) Did I tell you how much I love chocolate?......

.: Bye-Bye Mr.Happiness :.

Bye bye Mr; Happiness. I am glad you came even for a short while.....

.: In Bed With Kath :.

1) I sleep on a Queen-sized Sealy bed. Everyone who has slept on it commented it’s the most soft and comfy bed they have ever slept in. I heart my bed. Wish I can take it along with me when I am married, but sadly, Mummy says NO! :(

2) I have heaps of Winnie the Pooh collections/memorabilias which I have collected since twelve in my room. Ranges from plush toys to mugs to pencils to piggy banks to jigsaw puzzle to Winnie The Pooh Quote books. My very own Winnie The Pooh shrine! hehe :)

3) The walls of my room are self-painted in pink. I am more of a fan of blue, but since blue is a calming colour and I do not want to be snoozing while studying for my ACCA exams, I opted for pink instead. I think its one of the sillier decisions I’ve made, coz I never liked pink that much to begin with.

4) I sleep with my lights on. Just another pet peeves I suppose.

5) I used to spring clean my room twice a year (timed such that its right after every exams), but now, it’s been two years since I spring cleaned it. Its bout time for me to do something, no?

6) I sleep in my pajamas – the long, big T ones with teddies and bunnies motives like that. My mom buys for me loads and loads of these kinda pajamas. JC thinks its “funny in a cute way” that I still sleep in pajamas. Hmpf.

7) I sleep with my head facing east.

8) I am a light sleeper, very light sleeper.

9) I have another bad habit of reading in bed, bad for my eyesight (supposedly)!

10) I hate sharing bed. I rather sleep on the floor on a flat mattress than to sleep on my comfy Queen-sized bed. I don’t know how I am gonna share my bed with JC next time. I made him promise me that he will sleep on the floor if I can’t get used to it. Hehe :)

11) I love the smell of fresh, clean bedsheet! (who doesn’t!?)

12) There usta be a lizard on my window every single night, without fail. I usta think of it as my guardian angel (becoz it was the period where I was crying myself to sleep everynight). It’s not the same lizard all the time, but there was always one. It’s no longer there now, coz I’m no longer crying myself to sleep I guess.

13) I have dreams (mostly nightmares) almost every other day. I thought it was normal for everyone until JC tells me he seldom have dreams. It’s either I’m not normal – or he is not. I prefer to think it’s the latter! :)

14) I do not snore, and because I am a light sleeper (refer to point 8)), I can’t stand people who snores in their sleep. Or laugh for that matter *looks at Tammie*!

15) I toss and turn when I sleep – which is gonna be bad news for JC! Solution; me gets the bed, JC gets the floor. Hehe! :)

.: Happy :.

At this stage, I am HAPPY.... just hope that you don't fade toooo fast this time Mr.Happiness....

.: Driving With Kath :.

Just some random facts bout my car & my driving habits

1) I got my first car (which is my current car) for close to 5 years now. It’s a lil blue automatic Kia Picanto plate number WMD 8800 (reads : Weapon of Mass Destruction). So, if you see me on the road, beware! Hehe :)

2) At one stage of my life, I love driving down the highway as fast as my car could carry with my radio blasting to songs by Linkin Park. Thankfully it was only for a short period of my life, grew out of it, and I have become a much safer driver since.

3) I have been in an accident once – at that was because my mom wanted me to turn back to get some tong-sui for my dad. Needless to say, no tong-sui for daddy, but I’m sure that wasn’t the reason he was upset with me that day. Hehe :)

4) I am not a good car owner, I do not properly maintain my car – aside from the miley (is there such a word?) maintenance in the workshop. And JC is the one making sure my tires are properly inflated.

5) Having said that, I do know how to use the jack & spanner to change my car tire. My dad forced me to learn, just in case. But I know I will always have Lonpac :)

6) I believe that I am a defensive driver, something that I picked up from my dad. My brother, aunt & JC on the other hand are aggressive drivers.

7) I don’t believe in using my car horn to vent frustration on other reckless drivers, you know, the kind that honk,honk,honk a couple of times just to express annoyance or anger. To me, I feel that it’s a childish behavior.

8) I do not accessories my car with plush toys as much as I am tempted to – for safety reasons; albeit my car being marked out as a female driver’s car. Having said that, it’s quite obvious that my car belongs to a female, as I have shoes lying around in the back seat.

9) I drive with a pillow on my lap. It’s a (bad?) habit that I picked since uni days (where I carry pillows to my class; and even now, at work, I will constantly have a small pillow on my lap). It’s just a comforting feeling to have a pillow on my lap, don’t ask me why! ;)

10) I do not know how to do backwards parking, its my Achilles heel. I am, however, quite good at side parking. :)

11) I have this fear of driving uphill, even the slope up in One-U new wing parking scares me. Just the thought of sliding down uncontrollably freaks me out. I know that there are many more freaky things I should be afraid off than there mere descending downhill-backwards fear, but it’s just me.

12) My radio is usually muted these days. I prefer to spend some “quite time” in the morning & evening rush hour – for some absolutely odd and bizarre reason. Hence, not really into the latest music.

13) I have a pet cockroach in my car and have only seen it once with my own two eyes. JC claimed that he has seen it once while driving my car. And so far, my nameless pet never appear again, which is good for both parties I suppose.

14) The furthest my car had gone is to Port Dickson. Sad huh?

15) The first time I drove to college alone, I had a terrifying experience. I got a couple of honks while I was trying to maneuver thru a busy traffic-lightless junction. Upon arriving to college and parking my car, I called Ah Fei and swore that I would never drive again. She laughed it off and said I would. Wise girl she is indeed :)

.: Promise You'll Never Forget :.

Promise me you'll never forget me because if I thought you would I'd never leave. - Winnie the Pooh -

.: Marriage Counseling :.

As a pre-requisite to be married in a church, JC & I had to attend a pre-marriage counseling course.

Now, many may have debated on the importance of having to go thru pre-marriage counseling; some think that it is just a compulsory protocol, while some who thinks that is not even necessary.

Protocol and syllabus aside, I think it is important that a couple should undergo some sort of counseling (may it be formal or informal) to prepare oneself for marriage.

Yes, you can sit down and discuss it over a cup of Starbucks with your happily-married friends.

Or go for seminars or event organized by religious organizations.

Or one-to-one discussion with a church elder (like what JC & I did).

But end of it all, the objective is to prepare a couple of what to aspect ahead – the mental, physical and most importantly spiritual aspects; and of course sharing experiences with one another.

After going thru like a couple of sessions, realized that there are actually many things that was ironed out or discussed during our courtship period. And of course there were certain issues that we have not considered, which we are working on now. But it’s good to know that we were on the right track all along.

JC was right; we are more prepared that many who are at this stage in life.

.: Closure :.

As I start to prepare for the beginning of a new chapter of my life next year, there are a few things I need closure of…

I will try, and I will not give up so easily…