Happy 29

Nowadays, birthday is just a reason for me to pamper myself. To buy something extravagant, to dine in fine-dining restaurants or to buy tickets to a musical and a concert. When spending my hard-earned money, I usually have a guilt trip right before and after the moment handing out my plastics. So birthday is the best excuse, only followed by Christmas. And I no longer care about how old I am (or getting upset over aging). After all, age is just a number and I feel absolutely much better than when I was 21.

That day was all about me, aka I did everything alone. Unlike when I was young and loved to have a big birthday party with lots of friends, I prefer much few companies nowadays. I feel that I don't want to fake my laugh and waste my time on those who are just being there for the sake of being there. Trust me, it is a very tiring experience, for both host and attendees. You fake yourself enough while at work. You shouldn't do that in your private time, much less your birthday.

I had quite a full-day event scheduled, considered my saturdays always start at around noon. First I had a complimentary birthday make-over, in cutesy of Chanel. Then I treated myself a nice meal at Osteria Mozza, and then enjoyed myself with a musical. I had written about my experience of watching "The music of Andrew Lloyd Webber" previously, which means I will focus on the make-over and the dinner.

It was my second professional make-over experience and Chanel won my heart wholly. The staff was very polite without making me feel awkward. The make-up artist was knowledgeable and professional. Even though it was a complimentary session, I had a feeling that she didn't do any shortcut with my make-up. She even gave me some good tips on how to draw my eye brows or apply blush. There was no hard-sell of their products, and I personally think that was a very clever sales strategy. Making customers satisfied and happy and they will spend money in your brand. That was exactly what I did. I bought a liquid foundation at full price when I could buy it at a 20% discount elsewhere.

Here was I after the make-over

And Chanel even gave me a surprised birthday gift, which made it a much sweeter experience.

Guess what is it? A very elegant camellia bookmark

After the make-over, I headed to Osteria Mozza for a pre-theater dinner. I chose this restaurant for a few reasons. Firstly , it is located opposite the Grand Theater of Marina Bay Sands, which means I wouldn't need to rush after the meal (who knows how long it would take to finish a meal in these fine-dining establishments). Secondly, I was craving for Italian food. And thirdly, most important, they offer a reasonably-priced pre-theater dinner set meal.

The restaurant is having very good business. When I was there, it was almost full-house. And it was around 530pm at the time. Just imagine dinner time. Of course, I had to make reservation. I didn't want to feel disappointed on that day. And being turned away for your dinner is definitely a big no.

The decoration of the establishment is understated elegance with dark-wood furniture and warm lighting. The tables are spaced cleverly without making you feel like in a tuna can. I dislike hearing others' conversations during my meal. Sometimes I just want to enjoy the food and all I can think is what this guy learns from his culinary school. Well, it is nice to know that chefs think those who order well-done steaks are idiots. But I want to enjoy my tom yam noodles in peace, damn it!

The staff was polite and well-trained. And I was glad that they allowed to have photos taken in the restaurant. You never know which restaurants are snooty enough to forbid their customers from photographing in their premises. Overall, I did enjoy the food but except for the dessert, I don't think I will try the rest again. I am a tomato-base girl, and I won't feel satisfied with my pasta if it is a macaroni or the like. Well, trying to be adventurous had some price after all.

Osteria Mozza @ Marina Bay Sands

Table setting

A glass of wine to indulge myself

A sample complimentary from the chef

Appetizer: Burricotta with radicchio, spiced walnuts, honey & fried rosemary

Main dish: Orecchiette with sausage & Swiss chard

Dessert: Vanilla Panna Cotta mixed berry compote & biscotti

Of course, me dining at Osteria Mozza

Happy 2011

It is officially 2011 today and a new decade has also started. A year has passed so fast that I feel like just a blink of eyes. Hopefully this year will be better than last year.

Happy New Year!!!

2010 Year In Review

Another 9 days and this year will come to an end. How time flies... And it is time to do a year in review, just to see what have happened to me this year, good and bad alike.

- Travelling: 3 continents and 4 countries, not bad at all. Spending my new year count-down in New York (albeit in a hotel, mind you!), experience a Hanoi winter (which I didn't like at all) and enjoying an European autumn, I guess I have achieved part of my travel dream. Now I just wish I could strike some lottery and I could spend a whole year to travel the rest of the world.

- Shopping: Less than 10 pairs of shoes which I could proudly say I have successfully followed my plan from last year. A whole lot more accessories were acquired so that I could utilized all the clothes I am having without feeling being repeated. And the biggest achievement of all? My first ever Chanel 2.55, lovingly bought from 31 Rue Cambon store in Paris. Hopefully I will be able to showcase it this Christmas. Now my big question: What to buy next year for bag, after I had bought my dream bag? And no, I won't buy Hermes until I earn double what I am earning now. That is my motivation. Maybe I will not buy any bag next year. Saving for a Delvaux or Celine on my next Europe trip.

- Work: Many changes and no change at the same time. I've learnt quite a bit this year, in terms of corporate politics and other nonsenses. I am feeling content right now, knowing what I should and want to do next year.

- Relationship: I'm still single, if you are wondering. But I believe in fate. Also, marriage doesn't always equal to happiness. I'm glad if my friends find their halves, but if I am content and happy with my current status, I think being single is great in its own way.

- Family: This is one aspect of my life that I don't want to write down. So let's just leave it blank for now. But I think I am a good daughter and sister this year.

- Friends: They are always there when I need them. And I am when they need me. With my friends scattering all over the world, this is the best way to describe our great friendships.

- Health: Not my best year. I think I'm gaining weight and my ankle is preventing me to exercise. I really need to be more serious in my attempt of slimming down. And yes, I will try to watch my diet.

What else to reminisce? If there is, I will just add on later. Next post will be my resolutions for next year, which I never manage to finish all (even half is great). But the point is to have some goals to look up to, ne?

Happy 28

But I'm forever frozen at 26. Hohohoho...


At Hue restobar (Amara Hotel), near my new office

9/9/09

It's 9 September 09 today. The day I think I won't see again in this life time. So yeah, it deserves an entry, hohoho...

Happy 27

I have turned 27 today. Yep, 3 more years and I will hit the big 30. But still, I feel myself as young as when I was 25, or even 21. Hahahaha, I might be stretching the number but thoughts are all that count. If you think you are young, then you are young.

Here I am, on the 1st day of my 27th year on earth.

RIP Michael Jackson

It is now 2AM on 8 Jul 09 in Singapore and I am still awake watching Michael Jackson memorial live on CNN.

I have only one person who I can truly say I am his fan, and it is Michael Jackson. My childhood spent on listening to his songs and watching his video clips. I still remember I had 2 or 3 video tapes which included most of his hits and I kept watching them until the tapes turned bad. I remember seeing his skin black became white but I didn't really care. Even when I read those news about him being accused as a child molester, I didn't believe all those groundless accusation. My heart pained when I saw him getting deteriorated over the time. I knew myself that he would not be able to live for very long, but still when I heard him passed away on that Friday (Singapore time), my heart stopped for a moment and I just blocked the news out. But my job requires me to accept it and let his other fans know this sad news.

For those who are watching his memorial, we 'come together' and we 'remember the time' he had been with us and gifted us with his enormous talent, his joys and his sorrows.

RIP, My King of Pop

San Francisco Sep 08

This was taken on 29 Sep 08 at Union Square in San Francisco. I so love the weather there! Just nice to wear light coat and boots. And introducing my lovely Furla bag.

'Vintage me' series - 4 days in KL

My first trip to Malaysia. From 8 - 12 Sept 2002 with Tracy. Got plenty of advices from a Malaysian friend on where to go and where to dine. Because of that, we didn't prepare anything. Literally just packed and went.

Woke up real early. Travelled there by bus even though train was available. Reached KL after 6 hours, half asleep half awake. Still remember the messy bus interchange in KL, reek of a distinct smell which I'm never fond of. Took a taxi to Mid Valley Megamall because we wanted to stay at Cititel Mid Valley, even without any prior reservation. I guess we were lucky as there were rooms available for walk-in guests. We just had to wait for about 1 hour for the room to be cleaned and we could check in. Well, 1-hour waiting was not that difficult for us as the hotel was next to a Megamall. So we did what shopaholics should have done in this situation. We went shopping! Mid Valley was really big, as huge as Vivo City. We came back to the hotel 2 hours later.

Here was the room we stayed in

And the overview of the hotel was

However, we weren't that fortunate when we visited Sunway Lagoon. Sunway Hotel & Resort didn't accept walk-in bookings so we ended up staying in a hostel. Well, at least we had a place to stay, good enough.

We spent 2 days in KL, visited Petronas Twin Tower, KLCC and other places which I couldn't remember now. The funniest memory I had at Twin Tower was the moment Tracy and I got onto the skybridge. Every visit to the skybridge was limited in a certain amount of time. So we tried to take photos as many as possible. We were so crazy in taking pictures that a visitor had to offer to take some for both of us. But now I don't have any of them with me. What a waste!

In front of Petronas Twin Tower

At KLCC Park

At Sunway Lagoon Theme Park

After this trip, I still went back to Malaysia a few times for my ex-company training trips and for seafood. Mostly in Johor Bahru (JB). But this 1st trip was the time I had the most fun.

Good memory, I suppose.

'Vintage me' series - uni and party all the same...

I was in my 1st year of uni, taking a trip to East Coast Singapore. I wore my hair long at the time, finally got it past my shoulder at least once in my life. But I'd soon realized long hair didn't suit me. Since then, I'm always spotted with short hairdo.

Year 1, a few days later the day I first came to Singapore. Taken with Annie (Tuyet Den's author! *hint, hint*) at Orchard Road, in front of Takashimaya Shopping Centre. It was the 3rd time I'd gone to Orchard. And believe it or not? Annie, Tracy and I had gone there real early. I still remember we'd left NUS by 8am and reached Orchard at about 930am. The shops hadn't even opened yet. So we went around and took pictures. The camera was a very lousy mechanical one which Tracy had won in some bazaar. The photos came out so dark that they looked like we'd taken them after the sunset even it was all sunny at the time. Anyway, we had real fun then.

This was taken at Jurong Bird Park (Singapore). In year 2. I must admit I looked very demure myself. Maybe it was because I was with my dad that time. My weight was like 47 -48 kgs at that time. Sigh... How long will it take me to come back to this weight? No, I'm not obsessed with my weight. It's just that I can't stand how I always feel all the times now.

Year 2, sem 2. With Tracy. We looked so much different then. Time flies, people change. For the better or worse, I don't know. But I'm doing what I've chosen myself. Again, let time speak itself.

My convocation. With Ha, a very good friend of mine. Life after uni has gone on but our friendship's still going strong. Thank you, my dear friend for all the time we've spent together and I hope we'll have more wonderful moments in the future (GSS, remember? Hheheh!!!)