A year older than yesterday.

I forget how old I am. Like seriously. After 35, I stopped remembering. I had to actually ponder for a moment... I am thirty-eight today, but I feel just like when I was thirty-seven.

I had dinner with the boyfriend last night, at Pizzeria L'Operetta, although we had intended to eat at Spizza's on Club Street. We didn't manage to leave work early and had to end up parking a distance away (Tg Pagar!) to walk to Club Street (because Friday nights are a horrendous time to be out, especially at areas where people predominantly hang out to drink!), only to be told there were absolutely no seats available. I swear I would have dropped to my knees from the hunger, if not for the piece of cake from Melody that morning. So we retraced our steps to where we started, while stuffing our faces with the cake :)

saved by Melody's cake from Starbucks!

That's how we ended up at Pizzeria L'Operetta. Only to have the boyfriend tell me this was one of the other spots he's picked for dinner. And I wondered why we had to walk all the way to Club Street in the first place. He's cute like that.

According to the "research" he's done online, this place supposedly serves good pizzas. Somehow, the Bella Napoli we had didn't turn out fuck-awesome and the dough was kinda chewy. But I liked how they topped the pizza with generous chunks of Mozzarella cheese!

Bella Napoli Pizza S$34
with mozzarella of bufala, parma ham, rocket, fresh tomatoes and parmesan

a closer look

Panna Cotta S$6

We think we might give this place a second chance. The dessert was yummy though. Got me wondering how to whip up a Panna Cotta!

So there you go - that was last night. Back to today... the boyfriend came by and surprised me with a little gift! I totally wasn't expecting it because I already had the expensive Baby Belling for Christmas! It's another Thomas Sabo charm to add to my "work theme" collection. I haven't had a chance to snap a picture of it, but this is what it looks like:

Thomas Sabo cassette charm

I thought it was thoughtful of him to actually work around a theme. Ha ha ha! See, to date, he's given me the mobile phone charm and the laptop charm:

Thomas Sabo phone and laptop charms

Come to think of it, I do actually prefer the silver charms vs the more colourful ones... looks like it's time to re-org what's hanging on my bracelet!

I also received a Coach bracelet from the 2 dollies this year. Also haven't snapped pictures of it. Maybe tomorrow. Speaking of which, I have to make a trip to Zara to exchange a piece of clothing I bought today. It's really frustrating to have to head back to the boutique for an exchange because I failed to notice that fucking big tear! ARGH! I'm just glad this wasn't a sale item, otherwise trying to get an exchange/refund would have been a bitch.

Till tomorrow...

Happy Birthday, Yvonne.

The cousin and I are born in the same year, which brings along this competitive streak amongst the relatives, to see who does better in what and when. I've never been a bright kid. She's always the smart one next to me. Don't get me wrong, I love and adore my cousin. Sundays at the grandma's was fun only because I knew she was going to be there. Growing up, we would visit the playground at grandma's, we would jump on the grandma's bed (when she's not looking of course), bathe in the grandma's big ceramic urn and play with water until we've been screamed at to come out of the bathroom! I even had an exclusive cookie club that had only two very important club members! Me and her! Even her brother wasn't granted access/membership (that he still remembers till this day).

And then we grew up. She went to Australia for her studies. We sorta stopped being in touch for a while. And then she came back. I don't remember how or when, but we started writing each other through cards/snail mail. She told me once her dad thought shes's been writing letters to herself cos the handwriting on the envelope looked just like hers!

We grew up some more. Her parents brought me on my first plane ride: to New Zealand and Hong Kong, when I was just 16. There's just so much between us to share and I could go on and on... but for now, I'm so happy she's living a wonderful life with a beautiful girl (and another one on the way!) and a doting husband.

So to you, Yvonne, HAPPY BIRTHDAY and I love you!

Dinner.

Just got home from dinner. Supposed to dine at Prego's but we changed our minds. I've been saying I haven't been there for yonks, so he picked the place. But when we got there, I wasn't so sure if we should eat there. The place looked empty. Besides, I didn't have to have an expensive meal just because it's my birthday, so we settled for Aerin's Cafe & Espresso Bar at the basement of Raffles City.

Good that it wasn't crowded. The food reminded us of Bali, but at double the price.

We shared a Seafood Casserole and some beef carpaccio thingy with melon (it wasn't called that, but I can't remember the name). Oooh, but the dessert was gooooood! The banana and salted caramel! I so wanna learn how to make that.

Banana and Salted Caramel: photo courtesy of Aerin's Cafe & Espresso Bar

the beef carpaccio lookalike whose real title on menu I cannot recall

seafood casserole

Thanks again, darling, for all the treats and gift. It's back to work again tomorrow - YAY!

The Hints, The Guesses and The Surprise.

The hints:
- I can use it everyday
- It's something to replace an embarrassing item that I have
- It's black
- I replace it every 3 months

The guesses:
- Shoes
- Bag
- Wallet
- Key chain
- Sunglasses
- Spectacles
- Mobile phone strap

The surprise ♥:

The boyfriend claims he bought this a month ago! (He deserves 2 pats on the back because he's known for last-minute buys).

I have a T&Co pen that I've been using for the last 5 years (or so) - it was a farewell gift from my colleagues back at Bates, but he thinks it's time I had that replaced because it's short, skinny and its pen nip sticks out too little, it's kinda weird. I also had to keep changing the pen refill every 3 months because everytime I had it replaced, the ink leaked all over the inside and it would dry up!  I reckon the whole batch of refills at T&Co are fucked because the very first ink stick lasted me a good 2 years at least. You wouldn't believe the number of visits I've had to make to T&Co, just to get a pen refill. I'm sure the sales associates probably think I'm some cheapo customer who's always coming back for extras. TMD.

Anyway, that's my first surprise of the day! He's got dinner reservation somewhere... he wouldn't say. But it's not at our regular Japanese buffet place.

Stick around for updates! ♥♥♥

Hoorah or Blah?

I have lived thirty seven years of my life as of today. I am single. I am financially-independent. I am healthy (or so I think). I have friends. Some good ones, I'm glad. I have a life (as in I'm breathing, I'm living, kinda life. Not so much of a balanced life kinda life, which I totally do not have. Ha!)

Birthdays don't hold much meaning for me these days. As with Christmases, new years and valentine's... I wonder if I've outgrown all of these celebrations, or I'm just headed down the pessimistic route of nonchalance. Or maybe I just don't celebrate enough of such occasions to love it (hmm... this explanation sounds kinda logical now that I think/am writing about it). Now if you think you can save all your presents because of what I've just said; hell no. Please keep the presents coming, thank you very much. Not wanting to celebrate the occasion doesn't equate to not welcoming the gifts. It's always nice to be remembered with a little token of something. It doesn't have to be expensive. It's really the thought that counts. Actually, even a written card of sorts will work for me.

The girlfriends bought me a House of Harlow cocktail ring! (Well, truth is, I actually told them to buy it for me!) THANKS MUCH, you and you! I totally dig it. It's gorgeous. Like freaking huge gorgeous.

I also had dinner with the gang and it was nice... it's been quite a while since we needed a table for 6 (+ a baby chair) :)

The boyfriend stayed up to apps me "happy birthday" and then he probably @FellAsleep.

The girlfriends apps me about shopping and cordyceps and welcoming the God of Wealth, and then I had to remind them to wish me "happy birthday" amidst all that excitement - HAHAHA.

I'm happy. But I supposed I could always be happier.

Happy Birthday, Sheetha!

Natalie's Party: Part 2

More prep before THE Party.

We spent two hours putting together the decor; laying out the table cloths, twisting the crepe papers to drape them on the wall, blowing the balloons (yes, manually too), filling balloons with helium (and popping a few along the way!), taping the banner to the wall, taping balloons to the wall, tying balloons to the chairs... then deciding to tie the balloons to a basket! All that for two whole hours, right down to the arrival of our first guests! *phew*

Yes, it was fun for us (the adults). I'm sure more fun for us than for little Natalie. I took 2 cameras full of photos (yeah, cos the first camera ran outta battery!); I'm not sure if I did a good enough job... but I'm sure I'll be getting feedback when the photos get downloaded for viewing! Here's my set from my camera-phone in the meantime!

It was truly a "family affair".

Natalie's Party: Part 1

What's a party without an invite? The cousin was sweet enough to print and mail one back to me!

And then the cousin reminded me I promised the kiddo a birthday banner. So a-shopping I had to go, to pick up fancy papers and ribbons. I spent the next 3-4hrs cutting out the letterings and assembling them on my floor! But I have to admit I had fun doing it. I am such a crafting sucker *laughs* And oh, I didn't forget to leave my mark too! (After all that effort, I had to!)


Besides, I've always had this thought that if I were to open a shop, it would have to do with gifting: i.e. sell wrapping papers/ribbons... and offer gift-wrapping (my absolute fav part!)

I've always loved wrapping up pressies. I think it's because I enjoy the simple joy of giving, and I always never expect a gift in return for the ones that I've given out. Because I think giving should come from the heart, and not with expectancies. Everytime I see someone's face light up from receiving a present, there is this tinge of satisfaction and unspoken joy. On the down side, I've had times when the recipient isn't thrilled with the gift, and when that happens, I'll bear the disappointment in my heart. Like I mentioned, no expectancies! It just makes me not want to give so much to that person after a while! *laughs* His loss, not mine!

Pressie for the Little One.

This, is what mum and I bought for Natalie. It probably won't fit her till later but we couldn't resist buying it! It was just too cute!

I'll be putting up some photos from her party later on. I so need some shut-eye now... I've been busy from the time we started decorating the clubhouse, to the arrival of the guests, right down to the photo-taking. I deserve a break.