Nuffnang

Monday, December 27, 2010

.: Temporary Hiatus :.

Will be back next year - with more updates (hopefully!)

Cheers!

Friday, December 17, 2010

.: Wedding Rehearsal :.

The wedding rehearsal went pretty well yesterday. My bridesmaids absolutely adore my ring bearer & was pestering me if they can take picture with him. And when one of JC's groomsmen, Cleo's 2007 eligible bachelor, walks in, they were all "OMG!OMG!OMG!"

But I think they were more swoon over Justin-Bieber wannabe Joel rather than Uqba!

Now they are plotting to kidnap him away for a day or something.

That is my bridesmaids for you!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

.: A.R.G.! :.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.: Status Updated :.

To to left, to the left
For the benefit of Yin left is here
<----

Friday, December 10, 2010

.: Over & Out :.

Bridezilla was out of action from terrorizing everyone the past two days, as she was down with a bad sore throat. And even now, her voice is somewhat squeaky & squealy (almost like the sound of her brother pre-puberty).

Bridezilla is semi-recovered today, but after reading emails & looking at the list of errands to do & the problems from task delegated surfacing, Bridezilla wishes that the world just disappears as she hides under her warm, dependable comforter.

Bridezilla wants to roar & shout, but her throat does not allow her to do so.

Where are all the dependable people when you need them?

Why is Bridezilla spending all her time rectifying issues after issues that are cropping up along side with other task on her to-do list?

Why is Bridezilla NOT enjoying the supposedly most enjoyable planning process of her life?

Is there something wrong with Bridezilla?

This whole thing stresses Bridezilla out.

On a scale of one to ten, I think Bridezilla is about a level of eight point seven six two one three four nine with an occasional spike to nine.

Waiting for ten to hit Bridezilla anytime.

Well, the ONLY upside bout this whole thing is that Bridezilla is losing some kilos, but not as fast as she is losing her sanity.

Yes, this is me, pessimistic-malancholy Bridezilla signing out.

xoxo

Monday, December 6, 2010

.: While You Were Sleeping :.

I usually sleep am a very light sleeper. The slightest noise or movement, I am immediately awake.

Yesterday, I took a nap at our USJ house, while JC went out to have dinner with his dad. I was too tired I decided to sleep dinner altogether. Lil did I know I was (literally) dead tired and slept like a log throughout.

I nearly died of a heart attack when somebody shocked and woke me up. I was momentarily disorientated and still half awake and my heart was beating 20 times faster. Thank goodness it was only JC, who was also worried as the lights in the whole house were still off.

It’s how I know that I am in serious need of quality sleep.

A few more days before D-day. Hopefully sleeping pattern will improve thereon.

Unless of course if JC is a snoorer? (*nightmare*)

If that’s the case, he’s sleeping in the guestroom!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

.: That The Joke Was On Me :.

Dear Diary

First, my period came. Yesterday. Not that it’s a bad thing, but the timing was totally off. Last month it came on the 5th of 6th of the month. It was suppose to follow suit for this month. its suppose to be 5th or 6th NOT 1st! Which means, next month it will fall exactly on my wedding day! FML!

Second, my make-up artist (MUA) from Aspial called. Told me that she can’t do my make-up for my wedding day coz a customer just walked in and booked her. I fired her up-side-down-left-&-right. In Cantonese (thankfully, for if it was in English, more ‘voluptuous’ words would have come out). I was very very upset, for this was the second screw up with my MUA from Aspial. She calmed me down and promised to call back. Her MUA head called all the way from Penang. Conveyed my distress in Hokkien. She suggested I called this number, which is of another MUA and booked that MUA instead. I gave her an upfront NO!, and I told her I booked this MUA, hence I am getting this MUA. If anyone were to change, it would be the other customer. She finally settled it for me. Felt bad for screwing the first MUA. Bad combi of PMS & Bridezilla all into one. FML x2!

Third, I was given the impression that the restaurant I booked (Oriental Banquet) could accommodate 75 tables, but NO. Luckily my mom called up and they say they could only comfortably accommodate 60. My current no. of tables – 60. Albeit, no margin of error for extra guest. FML x3!

Murphy did a fast one on me TRICE! That’s THREE TIMES! THREE FREAKING TIMES!

Well, I do hope and pray that this is the last of the series of unfortunate events that I have to face.

Planning a wedding is NO JOKE I tell you. NO JOKE!


^&*#
Bridezilla

.: Marriages :.

Reposting this post (with slight modification) which I have posted up earlier on 4th Sept 2007. Think I need to take a chill pill from all the wedding blues!

Why do people get married?

Well, this is a topic that has been brought up to my attention time and again by my two single aunts, my single and not-so-single friends and my single(or so they claimed) cousin sisters.

So....the answer to the BIG question of WHY DO PEOPLE GET MARRIED, right here *wink*

Well, to begin with, from an accountant’s point of view (yes, I had to put in the accountant's perspective of marriage), there could be a couple of reasons for that, namely:

Economies of scales


 For those who do not have basic understanding of economics, the concept of economies of scales (EoS) is relatively simple. EoS is defined as a production process which the increase in number of units produced (or in this case bought) causes a decrease in the average cost of each unit. For example, a vendor in the night market is selling an apple for RM 1, but 10 apples for RM 8. If you’re living alone, there’s no need for you to get that much apples (unless you’re on a apple diet plan or planning to bake an apple pie). So the cost of an apple for you would be RM 1 (simple maths). However, if you’re married, you would intend to get the 10 apples for RM 8, as it would be consumed by you and your husband/wife. Hence, the average cost per apple would be RM 0.80. That’s a savings of RM 0.20 per apple. Yeah, as petty as it might sound, imagine how much you could save if you applied this to other perishable goods you would need to buy in a year.


Tax incentives


I’m only going to touch on Malaysian tax, since I’ve forgotten my UK tax already (sorry Mr Martin). So, for combined assessments, you would be able to claim a spouse relief of RM 3,000 (sad to inform that it’s only applicable to ONE spouse though). However, if your spouse is disabled (including mentally disabled - which I believe that ALL men are) you get a further relief of RM 3,500. Plus, if you have kids, you would be able to get a deduction of approximately RM1,000 per kid below 18 and RM 4,000 per kid above 18. This does not apply if you have kids but are not legally married. So yeah, you get that tax savings portion.

Synergy


The word synergy means to achieve mutually advantageous conjunction where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Synergy can arise where two person with different but complimentary skills work together, leveraging on both resources to achieve a common goal. Too technical? In short it's like 1+1=3.



From a point view of a layman, emphasis on the word MAN:

Regular sex


 The TOP and ONLY reason why men marry in the first place. But hey, haven’t they heard of the saying “ You don’t need to get a cow if you just want milk”. Think about it.


From a pointview of women:

Family/Friends pressure

Constant nagging from mom even if it's your greatgrandaunt’s-son’s-maternal niece's-distant-cousin boyfriend's sister is getting married.

“You see lah, people your age already getting married! You want to wait until you’re a dried up prune before you find a husband ah? That time nobody want you already lah!”

Wah, if my husband-to-be is that shallow to begin with, what makes you think that he will still want me when I become a dried-up prune when I'm 50? Common sense.

Or the aunties that is giving out angpow during Chinese New Year, saying (out loud) something like "Wah, every year I give you angpow. This year will be the last ok?" while your cousins stand at the corner giggling over such comments!

Big wedding

The big-white-wedding gown by Vera Wang...


Jimmy Choo’s shoes...


the beautiful garden wedding...


the big wedding cake...

the cute little flower girls...


the beautiful bridemaids...

*awwwww*


....all-so-romantic, you feel like you’re on seventh heaven or cloud nine....

Wait till after the honeymoon is over,that's when the hard and cold reality begins to sink in. You'd go from cloud nine to ground zero before you even realised what happened.

To make your relationship secure

Well, I’m sorry to say this, but if security comes in a piece of signed paper, it says so much about your marriage doesn’t it? And HELLO!, reality check here, divorce rates are more than 50% in the USA, which means half of those who get married ends up being divorce anyways. So much to say for security, doesn't it?

*****




So why do people actually want to get married? Sex? Security? Whatever you call it?

Marriage, I believe, it's a lifetime commitment, not a three-years commitment (if you watched an episod of The Simpsons where Bart has a serious girlfriend, you know what I mean *wink*). It's something that you have to think thoroughly. It's something where you can say to yourself "I can see myself with that person for the rest of my life". Not "He will look good in tuxedo/She's look dead drop gorgeous in a wedding gown" or "If my kids can have her/his looks" or "His pocket is deep enough to sustain my lifestyle". So in the near future where someone proposes, or if you want to propose to someone, ask yourself, what is/are your motive(s) for marrying this person?

Marry only for love, that will make you the happiest person, not only on your wedding day, but for the rest of your lives together.

Marry someone who would stick with you, through thicks and thins. Someone who have seen you in your worst and still says to you "I love you". The very person who have heard you scream and shout over things that you probably don't remember now, and still goes up to you to give you a hug and tell you that everything will be alright. The person who prays with you and prays with for over your fears and worries.

That's the sort of person that you want to marry.


A note to accountants out there... Yeah, so marriage gives you the EoS, tax incentives and possibly snergy as well, but look at it this way, you will be paying with your LIFE after that. For a couple of ringgit savings, I should think it's not worth it, unless your life is worth less than that. But then again, if your an accountant, you don't even have a life to begin with right? Ah, what the hey...

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

.: Cooking @ 19CulinaryStudio :.

A pleasant surprise when I received an email from Angeline from At Nineteen Culinary Studio congratulating me for winning the lucky draw.

In spite having a late night the night before, having to clean up after the mini house blessing & GDL, I was all up by 7.30am, excited to start my day.

I manage to find my way to the place, a very nice lil bungalow amidst all the bungalows in Damansara Heights. It was not that difficult to spot, as the map provided was easy to follow (even for a bearing-less person like myself). Parking space is aplenty for a class of eight students

Was greeted warmly by a few the staff and after signing in, we were asked to help ourselves to some coffee or tea. I, on the other hand, was too busy snapping away with my trusty DSLR. The layout and décor of the place is absolutely beautiful, my dream kitchen – if I have bigger space for mine. Very well ventilated classroom with just enough push out windows (absolutely practical – especially when we are cooking our Rendang Tok dish as the spicy fume was chocking everyone’s lungs!) and sunlight shining in to light up the place!

We were already allocated our tables and our partners (as we are to work in pairs). My partner, Clarence, was a nice man, and upon introducing himself, mentioned that he has NEVER cooked before. Uh-oh!

The class started with us putting on our apron (with name tags) and a rather good-looking Chef Khai introducing himself to us.

We started to prepare the ingredients for Rendang Tok, which according to Chef Khai, was the most expensive rendang dish to prepare – due the the variety of spices used. Recipe is quite simple to follow, and Chef Khai personally went table by table to help out. However, one must always remember the general rule of cooking : TRUST YOUR INSTINCT. When it was time to put some seasoning into the rendang, I was very skeptical when the recipe says 2 tablespoon (it’s for about 600 grams of beef). But my instinct took a backseat and we proceed to follow the recipe and lo and behold the cringe on my partner’s face when he tasted the rendang. “Too salty” said Clarence “even for someone who likes salty food” he added.

All was not lost as Chef Khai helped us ‘salvage’ our dish by adding more water and balancing out the saltiness with sugar. Another cooking rule : IT’S NOT ALWAYS UNSALVAGABLE, USE YOUR CREATIVITY (and a lil bit of logic) TO MAKE GOOD SOMETHING BAD. It tasted better afterwards, still abit salty to my liking, but at least it was not as salty as earlier.

The next dish we learn was Sweet & Sour Chili Crab. Not a crap-py person (pun intended), but it is interesting to learn this dish, as one has the flexibility of using this sweet and sour sauce for any other dishes – it goes good with fish, fried chicken pieces or fried pork pieces (ko loh yok)! Very simple dish, minimum preparation, maximum tastiness impact. Love it!

The last dish was Umai – which is traditional version of sashimi meets salad. Simple to make, light and refreshing lime sauce, with a tinge of the fragrant (some might beg to differ) prawn paste, fondly known by us locals as belacan. An absolute great alternative to the (already) boring Ceasers’ salad JC & I usually make!

I would love to share the recipe out here, perhaps lateron.

For now, I just will share with you some lovely pictures! Bon-appetite!

.: One, Two Or Three? :.



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