My Hens Night

My JiMuis had my Hens Night the week before my wedding. I know, I know. We're supposed to have it the night before the wedding day to signify and celebrate my 'last' night of single hood but it really wouldn't look good for me to drag myself to my special day in drunken stupour eh like what you see in the movies such as The Hangover?

Then again, Mr. C and I have already 'tied the knot' end of 2010 legally speaking. So, technically speaking, we were no longer single but very married. I had people asking me if I was nervous or jittery leading up to the BIG day to which I'll say, "a bit late to be nervous or having cold feet eh? After all, I am married to the man already. No turning back."

Anyhow, the Hen Night was a night well planned by the ever efficient Miss Pretty Soo, known as Empress Soo for the evening. She really put in thought and effort and it was plain for all to see; greeted by the deco of blue, helium balloons, lollies, 'Rules of the night' printed out on blue paper, cupcakes and a tub of punishment in the form of a 'yucky' drink. Liked the games though I did thought we might have gone club hopping since I've never been clubbing in KL. ;p

Anyways, I present to you, my Hens Night... in pictures.

#1 The theme for the night... ROYAL!

#2 So, it had some princessy feel with carriages etc...

#3 Penalty for saying the taboo words of the evening, drink some 'yucky' drink!

#4 To be sporting, I talked and seem to keep fumbling... Hence, forced to sip from the bucket.

#5 Someone had to make a part of Mr. C's erm... organ using plastercine!

#6 Aahhh... what's it with bachelor(ette) games involving the use of condoms??!

#7 Live entertainment that drowned out the sound of our voices rendering it totally impossible to have any conversation!

#8 What's a party without... GROUP PHOTO!!

#9 AND forcing the bride-to-be to dance!

#10 and plying me with alcohol...

#11 Never say "I am not drunk enough to dance" to Miss Pretty Soo.

#12 Complimentary drinks... that smelt and tasted GROSS!

#13 NOT lessbian action btw. Oooh roses for each of us girls ON THE HOUSE!

#14 Apparently I kept doing this the whole night...

The reason I kept doing the above picture was to regain 'clear' vision. After downing a total of six shots of (let's call it) the Yucky drink, the effects only hit me half hour later. I was saying to my childhood friend of 23 years,"hey, how much of this stuff do I drink before I am gone?" to which she said,"oh, you'll only feel the effects probably in half an hour or so...".

Gee. Thanks a lot for the late Heads up! ;p I had my fifth shot with her and the sixth one with Miss Bubbly.

I think about half hour to an hour later, I was still pretty conscious of my surroundings etc. I just couldn't see people clearly as everything seemed a little out of focus. However, if I used my two fingers to pull my eyelids downwards as the above picture, I could actually see people more clearly; people didn't sway and looked blurry.

This is the one and (probably) the only time I'll ever be 'deep in my cups'! So, you lucky six people who were there, it was an honour 'drinking' and being silly with you gals! Unfortunately (for me), I was the only one not sober. Bleh. I guess they already planned this right from the beginning!

To be fair, as I've never been drunk before, I have never known my limits and tolerance. I have drunk a fair bit of alcohol and I do drink a beer or two every so often but never gone all loopy like that night. It definitely was an experience. ;)

LOLs. My two friends that stayed over at my place were pretty amazed at the next day me. I didn't' have ANY headaches, I could remember everything I said the night before clearly and I only had three hours of sleep!

I repeatedly kept saying stuff that night and stuff I said that amused the rest were like "This is the drunkest I've ever been and this will be the only time you'll ever see me drunk!". Apparently drunk people rarely ever admit they're drunk with the exception of me! ;p

Mr. C saw the clip they took of me and laughed exclaiming that I talk a lot even when I am drunk. Funny them for recording the night! I gather my night was more fun than his. Double LOL.

Beautiful Wedding Centre Piece

#1 Polly wants a feather??

As I was researching for ideas for Miss Lawyer's upcoming nuptials, I came across all these ideas from Google Image. Boy, people are creative! Makes me wished I was a bit more hardworking and inspired for my own instead of lamenting about my woes. Oh well, what's over, is over.

The best thing to do is to learn from the past, look and move forward and always make the best of ones situation! Easier said then done but doable, nevertheless!

#2 Candles and petals

I really am more enthusiastic about other people's wedding. More so than my own! Wonder why...

We definitely can't do some of these for Chinese Banquets 'cos the dish is always served right smacked in the middle where else Western weddings, everyone gets their appetisers, main course and desert on individual plates leaving the middle of the table bare.

Hence, all this wondrous centre (is it centre or center? Blogger keeps auto correcting me!!) pieces!

#3 Singapore Orchids seem to be a popular choice

#4 Love the striking colour and simple arrangement

#5 Yet another simple but classy piece

#6 Like the concept but find it a bit too simple somehow

#7 Ahha! Something different, that's for sure!

#8 Ahhhh.. colours, a little bit of this and that

#9 I love the flower deco with a touch of lemon at the bottom

#10 Love the artsy cutesy feel incorporating table numbers with flowers

#11 This is just beautiful!!

#12 Nature friendly theme

#13 Lols... asparagus!! Interesting!

#14 Aaaah... definitely love this style.. can incorporate this for future parties!

#15 Must be for book lovers!

#16 Woodsy outdoor style

Looking at all this makes me want to go out and buy flowers and put them around the house!! Mr. C says that I'll have to clear up all the flowers once they've wilted and reached the end of their role of beautifying the house. Apparently, he had to cleaned them up the last two times I went back to Malaysia before him! In my defense, they were alive and pretty when I left. It would have been heartless to throw them in the bin when their time was not due...

#17 I love this purple look... can never go wrong.

#18 Flowers in bottles anyone?

#19 Candles in fish bowl!

#20 More flowers.. le sigh

So, if you are planning to get married in 2012 or even in 2013 or 2014, start your planning now!

I know you may think and feel it's too soon! Trust me, it never is. Start scouting for ideas, for what you may like in dresses, flowers, decorations and what not. Some brides already know what they like and want. Some, might like anything as long as their day looks pretty and they look and feel pretty, too.

And for the second group of brides, this is the headache especially when you're spoilt for choices or you have a tight budget to adhere to.

So, START planning TODAY! ;) Bear in mind, the early bird ALWAYS catches the worm.

Happy 1st year Anniversary!!

Dear Mr. C,

Happy 1st year Anniversary!!

1 year married,

11th year together.

11 years through ups and downs,

We've been to hell and back.

Many a times have we fought and frown,

But seriously, what the heck!

1 year since the signing of our forevers

to each other.

It's been a really good year.

Yet another year of us, together.

As December comes,

and we pledge our love anew.

In front of friends and family,

I just want to say, 'I DO'.

Oh my blues!

On my first week back, I visited the florist to discuss the flower arrangements for my wedding. Lily from My Bridal Florist and I, with my mother had a delightful chat. She had some good suggestions and seeing how my mum was rather against my dark blue choice for the wedding, I opted for tiffany blue aka turquoise as per Lily, the florist's suggestion.

Although the colour has been changed to turquoise blue, my bridesmaids will still wear cobalt blue. It wouldn't be fair to ask those who have bought their dresses to go looking for new ones.

My bridal bouquet will be white roses with peonies and baby pink eustomas wrapped in turquoise ribbons. My bridesmaids will have turquoise themed corsages (which is still matching with cobalt blue) and so will the groomsmen's boutonnières. The bridal car which is my mum's grey ish blue Alza (for practicality and cost saving reasons) will also be decorated in said blue.

Am really interested to see the outcome of our discussion. Hope all will be as pretty as I picture it in my head.

And because of that, I had to go to the tailor and change the cobalt, royal blue sash to a turquoise one. It does look rather fetching. However, I reckon all colours match white easily.

Regarding my wedding dress, my mum and I decided to do away with the two white flowers on the sash and also the bow at the back. It is always the smallest details that makes a difference. Sometimes, the difference can be so subtle but you somehow notice it.

The two white flowers do look alright in pictures but in real life, if you look closely, you can see the edges fraying. Besides, it does look classier without. As for the bow, if I wore my veil, it would cover the bow, hence, pointless to have it there and have too many things going on at the back.

Next up was hunting for the ties to be worn by the Heng Dais (brothers) aka groomsmen. It is no easy feat finding ties in turquoise blue. Thank God I didn't have to find them in the initial cobalt blue. That is an even more impossible mission. LOL. Unless I scour every mall and every single shop that sells ties. Then again, the budget might be a problem.

I really like the ties in the above two pictures. Taken at Renoma section in 1utama's Jusco. They've revamped the place and I couldn't find the area that used to have racks of ties that cost less than RM20! Perhaps they're trying to 'up' the departmental store's image and pricing.

Miss Bubbly informed me of the Jusco Member sale the next day and I proceeded back to Jusco with her Jusco card on the second day of sale. Saw the above cutesie grey tie with baby blue polka dot selling for RM19.90. Material felt good and thick as opposed to the one below.

The navy blue tie was the reason I went to Jusco to have a look. It was priced at RM9.90. It would have been alright if the blue was lighter or brighter. I didn't think it will look good on the groomsmen if they wore white shirts. It would have looked just too plain.

So back to square one. Still have yet to find any ties for the groomsmen. Miss Bubbly mentioned that she saw the above and below two ties at Metrojaya in the Curve. Shall have a look tomorrow when I am in that area. The higher priced tie was at RM25.90. Should be pretty agreeable with the lads. After all, the ladies are buying their own dresses and not a single one complained at all!

I wished I had the dough to buy my bridesmaids beautiful gowns to adorn for my day and nice suits for the groomsmen. Oh well, so much for fanciful notions. It's back to mother earth.

Besides tie hunting, I've been utilising many a brain cells in regards to the wedding favours. My wedding venue does provide wedding gifts but it is a cheapskate version of Ferraro Rochere in Kopiko like wrapping! Someone commented that people don't really remember door gifts or wedding favours and it shouldn't really matter.

Well, it does matter to me. Of course, I wouldn't want to spend on candles or scented flowers or chopsticks or beautiful coasters as people won't appreciate nor use them. And neither do I want to spend time and effort making something people are just going to throw away after the wedding.

So, I've decided to make either Sugi cake or Chocolate Chip Cookies. The thing is, I need to decide which one to make. My sister said if I were to make cookies, I'd have to wrap them the night before the wedding to ensure it stays crisp. Despite knowing that I will have friends to help with the wrapping, I don't really want to be stressing out about it the night before the wedding when I am sure there will be other last minute details to look into.

Brain is still thinking... Cake vs Cookies. Cake vs Cookies. Cake vs Cookies.

And whilst battling in the mind over which to make, I went to Sea Park to source for the wrapping materials. The glossy paper and ribbons. Came upon turquoise blue wire and am thinking it'll be easier to tie up the wrapping paper. However, I think ribbons will look so much more better.

So, now, it's Cake vs Cookies... Ribbons or Wire. OhMyGosh!! How does brides-to-be do this??! It's just insane. LOL.

For the second week of my being back, I've actually been rather slack and taking it easy. Three more weeks and time to buck up and getting things sorted out and finalised. Photobook to settle, unity candle to get, cake/cookie ingredients plus wrapping materials to purchase, songs to choose, reception table spread and decorations to source for and the guest list plus table arrangements.

Time to tick off some of these matters. Or even just one of them!

The never ending list

I have been slacking. Wasting minutes, hours, days, weeks and months away. This isn't a new tune I am singing. Unfortunately, this seems to be the theme of my life for the past year. I said that I'll do something with my time, my life but I let time pass me by and with nothing to count for. And of course, I have no one to blame but myself.

People only see what they want to see and most of them see my FB pictures and conclude that I am having the ball of my life. Yeah sure, life doesn't stink. I get to stay home, do my own thing which to many constitutes, bumming. And looking back, yeah sure, I am bumming.

To digress for a bit, once again, regarding FB pictures, who would post sad and angry photos of themselves? I wouldn't. So, most people go on thinking their friends on FB are having a good time with life, work and what not because of all the happy pictures posted up on FB.

Back to the topic. Unfortunately, to every good, there is the bad, to every up, there is the down. I am happy I don't suffer from deadlines and work stress but I feel a sense of restlessness like there is more to life than what I am living right now. I feel as if my life is now kind of purposeless and the opposite of meaningful.

Yeah, money isn't everything but sad to say, with money, one can go far and do much. With money, I can go shopping, pursue some short courses that I am SO interested in. With money, I can help the underprivileged on a bigger scale.

But once again, money isn't everything and that aside, it still doesn't explain away my wasting time. Then again, Mr. C is of the opinion that I am my worst critic and that there is nothing wrong to enjoy my non-working life, doing nothing. After all, there is always a season; a time to do certain things at certain times.

I came back from Malaysia sick with cough that worsen and at the same time, being homesick didn't help my mental mind. I slept in almost every day till late afternoon, wake up and surf the net till Mr. C comes back. Then, I would hang out with him till the end of night and the routine just repeats itself the next day, the day after and the day after that.

Now, it's already October and I have less than two months to settle many things. For now, I have to focus on my wedding planning. When I didn't do anything about it for the past month, I wasn't free from worrying. I knew that I had a lot to do and doing nothing just added on the worrying.

I couldn't bring myself to do anything. I really didn't feel like doing anything. Aahh, such is the curse of giving in to one's feelings at times.

People offer their help but I can't help but wonder how many are really genuine. For some, when I actually do get around to asking for help, their help doesn't seem exactly forthcoming. And if I were to sense someone wasn't that interested to help, I wouldn't really pursue the matter with them despite feeling a tad disappointed. After all, I am taking you up on your offer of help but then, you don't seem that keen.

I thought that it is usually the brides that are overbearing and demanding, driving everyone else crazy with their diva attitudes but in my case, it really feels the opposite is true.

And this week, I told myself, once again (I know how I am prone to sinking into melancholy much to some people's annoyances) that I got to pull myself out of this black hole. Enough of pity parties. Enough of people who say they care but their actions show something else. Enough of expecting people to live up to their roles.

I am not perfect, I am not here to judge. I have a wedding to plan and execute. So, I'll do what I can and once again, learn to leave it in God's hands. This whole trusting God and relying on Him is still something foreign.

People keep asking me how's my wedding planning and I honestly don't know. I've not been to many weddings, never been involved in one so, I am rather clueless. I've stopped my research and been feeling sorry for myself. Feeling pathetic that I am planning this all myself. But like I said, enough is enough.

Time to cut to the chase and see the big picture. Wedding in less than two months. What hasn't been settled, what needs to be done, what is still outstanding, who would I need for what, all these thoughts have been cluttered in my mind but not translated to paper.

So, I sat down early in the week and wrote my things to do list and boy, the list sure is long. And I've yet to complete any.

It is not a matter of doing it and getting it out of the way. For example, the guest list. Earlier, some mentioned they couldn't make it, and now, they can. And I even had a weird ex-classmate telling me he couldn't make it because it was his birthday. OMG and LOL, at the same time. Now, he says he can make it and he kidded for me to prepare him a birthday cake. Seriously?! Come on.

Anyways, with less than a month till I go back to Malaysia, I have to do at least one to two items on my list. If everyday, I do at least one thing, then I am sure, the stress will lesson and I will get everything done and out of the way, eventually.

I do wonder if I am perhaps the only person feeling like that 'cos lots of brides keep telling me to enjoy the wedding planning process and I can't seem to. I can't wait for it to be over and done with. And I know the marriage is more important then the reception but come on, who wouldn't want a nice and memorable wedding ceremony?

Then again, this is a lazy bride's wish. LOL.

*fingers and toes crossed to completing my list* Which reminds me, I have to call and chase my mum on things she has to complete. OMG.

Hens Night to be

When my friend, Miss Pretty asked me what I would like to do for my hens night, I blanked. I seem to be really good at this blanking business. All I know was that I wanted a night of fun with good memories to last me a lifetime and to laugh about.

I get her dilemma; we may have known each other since 2006 when we first started our jobs in one of the big accounting firms but in essence, how well do we really know each other? We're close, we make effort to keep in touch every once in awhile but no offense intended, how much do we really know about each other, our likes and dislikes? What ticks us off or our tolerance level?

Besides, in this 5 years, I've changed a fair bit.

I guess what I know about her is the overall her and not the nitty gritty details like what's her favourite number or colour (maybe it's black) and the same probably goes for her. All I know about her is that she's smart and pretty though she likes to pass herself off as an airhead. She is definitely resourceful, sharp and astute. However, don't step on her wrong foot or be prepared to face her eternal wrath.

That being said, I am 100% confident she will do a fantastic job organising the night. I, somehow always pictured hens night to be a little bit rowdy with a stripper involved. Probably one too many Hollywood movies. And I thought mine would have some naughty fun but honestly speaking, I am not sure how much naughtiness I can take.

Most people know me as a goody-two-shoes who's reserved. But if you really know me after all the layers have been peeled off, you actually will see the cheeky and naughty side of me which some people have had the privileged to witness. Someone who has known me since we were 15 year olds said that he never knew how naughty I could be. ;p Take that. That goes to show, never judge a book by its cover. Then again, despite some naughty stuff that I got myself involved in, another guy friend said that he stills I am pretty innocent and a goody girl.

If anyone gets an achievement for being a good girl, it should go to me. All my life, people don't rave about my beauty or brains. They rave about how good I am. LOL. Nothing wrong with that I supposed but it would be nice to be known for my skills and talent, whatever they may be.

Ok. Once again, I've managed to digress from the main point of this post.

We bought this tiara for the lady of the night...

Up-to-date, I've only been to one hen party and it was a far cry from a wild one. The six of us had dinner at a lovely restaurant and as the night went, each of us were assigned with tasks to carry out for the night.

We had an area all to ourselves...

I made a collage all framed up and in it, we each wrote words of congratulations and what nots on coloured paper spread out. Another organised a game of sorts quizzing the bride-to-be and at the end, we wrote what we wished for the bride-to-be on a balloon which she subsequently let off in the skies. It was sweet and simple.

I am terrible at smiling for pictures...

For mine, after giving it lots and lots of thought and after my conversation with Miss Pretty, I was imagining something more memorable during the meal and perhaps something with a bit more dramatic fun after.

Perhaps, spa or meni/pedi before meal followed by us, girls dressing up a bit for dinner, have a delightful meal somewhere cosy and not-too-pricey either whilst having a few games to play around with followed by a round of painting the town red. Those who have to go off can do so whilst the remaining party can adjourn somewhere where the fun might be at and perhaps do a little dancing.

Well, these are just thoughts. I actually used this idea for a Churp Churp competition when I was back in September which garnered me free movie tickets to watch 'Bridesmaids'. Aaahh, the awesome feeling of winning anything free!

So, Miss Pretty, if you are reading this, happy planning and I will endeavour to enjoy myself to the max irregardless of how wild it may get and I promise to be a real sport!

Oh my, I believe I am finally feeling a tad excited of whats to come... After all, it's a once in a lifetime event! :)