*Bye 2013!*

End of 2013. Here's a summary yet again!

Things I accomplished/ this year:
1) Attempted latte art once - courtesy of isaiah & kerry

2) Kinda learnt how to cook certain dishes
3) Did my first 10km run - Nike 10km.

4) 21st party checked!

5) Went to Dempsey's House Vintage High Tea Party (Like FINALLY, after eyeing it 2 years back)

6) Bought my very first snapback - HATers Roses Snapback~~^.^

7) COLOUR RUN

8) Adventure Cove
9) Visited vietnam!!!!!^^
10) A successful internship, and I got into my company of choice for my nxt internship HURRAH!


Things I hope to accomplish/attempt next year:
1) Try my hand at guitar
2) Yoga/pilates
3) White water rafting
4) Skydive
5) Zoukout/Tomorrowland
6) USS Halloween Horror Night
7) Countdown to 2015 overseas 

A dad's lovely message dedicated to his girl.

"Sweetheart,

You never need to try to be interesting to anyone, boy or girl. That's not your job in life. Your only job is to know in your heart without any cloud of confusion or fog of hesitation that you are worthy of anyone's interest without trying. You are perfectly worthy just as you are; just like everyone else is, even if you or others (or your Mom and I) get confused about our individual worth, or about the worth of each other.

If you continue to believe in yourself, you'll radiate. Boys, and eventually when you're grown up - men, will be attracted to you because of who you really are in your heart of hearts. You won't need to try to be interesting because the second most important man in your life will be interested in everything you are (the most important man in your life - me - already is and always will be.)

I don't know much about what it is to be a healthy, happy boy. Your Dad hadn't been those things. But I can tell you want it's like to be a healthy, happy person: You don't need to keep the interest of healthy, happy people. They're interested in you purely because you are confident in your fascinatingly unique, wonderfully weird (in other words - AWESOME) self.

One day you'll meet a boy and he will be overwhelmed by you, and you by him. When you're young and someone likes you, it feels like the the entire world is in the moments you are near each other. But you're worth isn't dependent upon him feeling this way toward you (or you toward him). A good boy will feel this way about you because you are perfectly worthy of it... Already and Always.
When he comes to our house to meet us, you'll be scared of what we think of him because of how you feel when he's so smitten by you. 

Even if he places his elbows on our table, as long as he places his eyes on you when you tilt your head and lift your shoulders when you giggle at your own silly jokes - and then can't look away - then we will love him too.

Even if he doesn't want to wrestle with me, come training with me, or go hunting with the other men in your family during holiday get togethers, if he can romp with the beautiful children you create together, and fawn in all of the wonderfully frustrating ways that your children are exactly like you, then we will love him too.

Even if he doesn't dedicate his life to his finances, if - like you - he follows his passion to help others, while standing right next to you as you do, then we will love him too.

He doesn't need to be strong like your Dad... As long as he exercises the most important muscle - his heart, by loving and honoring you as much as your Mom and I do you (and each other), then we will love him too.

We don't care about his politics or viewpoints, if he makes you the most important person in his life and considers how every action impacts you, as you do him.

We don't care about the culture he comes from, or the place he was born, as long as he calls standing next to you wherever you are - home.

It doesn't matter to us what religion he practices, if he understands that you and your relationship together are inherently sacred, and every day that he gets to spend with you - a blessed gift.

I don't care if he has nothing in common with your Dad, for if he's completely different in every detail, he and I will have the most important common interest worthy of our complete dedication: you.

In the end, the only thing you'll ever need to do to keep our interest is just be you, already and always as you are each and every moment.

Love you,
Dad"


I'll keep this in mind, because this well-meaning dad has spoken the words I believe any dad would have wanted to convey to their daughters. <3 span="">

Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine (food review)

A sudden huge craving for Vietnamese food brought both Yc and me hounding for some authentic viet cuisine ytd. Amongst the plethora of cuisines offered here, in food haven singapore, Vietnamese food is one of the rarer cuisines, not as easily located as its Thai counterparts.

We were meant to be headed for 'Madam Saigon' at liang seah st(bugis). Unfortunately, we found it to be no longer in business. Having come so far on empty stomachs & an unfulfilled craving, surely we weren't gna take NO as an answer??

Thus we hopped on a cab, and arrived at 'Little Vietnam restaurant & Cafe'. 

We arrived around 8.30pm, place was still pretty crowded!! Business looked good, staff were bustling around, and the place was patronised by many viets. The way I judge if a food outlet is selling the authentic cuisine I expect?

- by its staff & customer base. ^^

I'm not sure, but I doubt they charge for gst/svs.

Meal for both of us consisted of:

No. 1 & 2 - both deep fried & their basic spring rolls (pic 4). Thumbs up for their fried spring rolls, there's pretty much nothing fried that doesn't taste good right?

No. 25 - pho (dai). I THINK. Basically pho with all 3 different types of beef. (Pic 1) I'd still vote for the pho I had in Vietnam. 

No. 50 - rice & grilled pork cutlet. Damn tender, you can bet your money's worth (pic 2) MUST ORDER

No. 64 - Vietnamese radish (pic 3) Crispier than sg's version, nothing fancy.

And and and. Vietnamese tea, Vietnamese milk coffee (pic 5), banana sago (dessert) (last pic!)

Good things come to those who wait. And so I did. 

Waited for the coffee essence to drip till nothing remained. Before I dunked it into my glass of ice. Mmmmm. MUST RAVE. Vietnamese coffee does live up to its reputation!

As for the final dish, banana sago. PLUS points for creativity, MINUS points for the 'siap siap' aftertaste caused by the bananas! I describe 'Siap siap' as a coarse feeling in  your mouth, one that I liken to the taste of wood. Bananas verged on the slightly sour end too. 

Address: 511 guillemard road (grandlink square). Alternatively, maybe a 3-5 min walk from paya Lebar mrt's exit D.

Ending the post with ytd's OOTD and some winter luvin~ 

My colourful 21st

Holaaaaaaa~ After a year full of 21st parties,

The libra baby turned 21 on 18 oct!!!! *clap hands in glee* NOT.

------>Planning for my 21st.<------- div="">

You would think this is exciting, but its pretty exhausting stuff. Especially whilst being caught in the middle of exam preparations, really not cool. I recall having countless ideas that came to mind, only to be reduced to simplicity at its best. Yes, you may name it. 2/3 tiered cakes, lavish decorations, nautical themes are just one of my many genius ideas. I even went hounding high and low for those props also k. Oh, looks like I'm capable of being an events planner! ^^

Some of the pretty tiered cakes poor me could only desire through a screen.

Nautical decorations

Oh, unfortunately, I was on a pretty tight budget, (refer to topmost sentence) and you'll understand.

And I settled on....

A colourful theme! Why? Its so easy, any colour goes! And its cheesy enough to make me start with a sentence like "You lovely people colour my world" etc. HAHA. Adults can be cheesy also right.

Got many wonderful inspirations...

BUT. I was left with 2 weeks by the time I got my theme settled T____T, so....

VOILA!!!! PRETTY HOR.

Balloon pillars done by company Balloons and Me.  (http://balloonsandme.wordpress.com)

A team that pretty much specialises in balloon decorations, balloon sculpting, balloon shows, magic shows, events, roadshows and party supplies.

Thanks to the efforts by dearest Alphonso, who had to lug some 20kg weights and a long pole all the way from his house to the event venue, and even dropped by early to do up these balloon pillars before rushing off for other balloon shows. These 'fluffy & magical' looking balloon pillars brightened up the place and it brought me absolute joy :)

Check out my dress. It's THE BEST.
Don't ask me where I got it, from unless you intend to PURCHASE from me! Cuz I'm definitely not wearing this a second time.

Table of props & polaroids. Thank the lord I saved a huge amount of money here. Props were mostly recycled from friends, and some made by my lovely girl Melodie. ^^

My simplistic plain Jane cake, but amazingly delicious. A 5kg cake, all gorged within seconds! It's cheap to boot too. From four leaves bakery, don't say I never share.

Secondary sch. Lovely bunch forveraaaa~

 BBGs. xx

Poly clique.

The bunch of friends I've made in my last study years. (Uni clique)

 Mark & Shihui

 Ruisong & Simin

 Ben, Nick, Isaiah

YC & Leonard.

 Aaron. Hard to meet this attached guy nowadays :(

 Fighting back the tears.

Shall end off this post with a picture of me I really love!

On a sidenote, there're certain fabulous people I'm really grateful for:
Family: Funding my party & all miscellaneous preparations
Relative: Coordinating the event location
Melodie & Alphonso: Props & balloons
Amelia: Props
Stella & Laijin: Music. My party would be so dead without their playlist >.<
Huishan: Purchase of my polaroids, accompanying me in my quest to taste best strawberry shortcake, photographer
Jacqueline: DIY Birthday banners & Guestbook & Fb invite
Simin: Earliest friend to arrive and provide help in setting up decorations

Only guest I didn't snap a photo with was dear Alphonso, but I'm glad he made it back in time bfr i rushed down for my after party!!

And continue part 2 next time!