Wedding planner or no wedding planner?

I met up with Joelle Ung from Sedan of Love (http://www.SedanOfLove.com) today. She's nice & funny, gave me loads of tips & advice on what to do/ prepare/ theme-brainstorming etc.

I was actually shopping around for a wedding planner, wondering if it's cost effective to hire one. Oh well, just like hiring an events company, u are paying for their man-hours spent coordinating your wedding & managing the logistics etc. It didn't really cross my mind to hire one but well, KL was suggesting that with such hectic hrs, hiring a planner ease my mind a little & allow me to concentrate on finishing my final 3 modules next semester. However, some of these planners are really "professional" & seemingly inflexible. For eg like Joelle, her fees are $2288 for 8 weeks of planning + AD coordination! That's kinda steep! Full planning services cost about $4K+.

Oh well, i think the decision is to DROP the wedding planner idea & hire Aunty Elena as the wedding planner instead. Seriously, i really think i am fully capable of coming up with ideas but just lack the "time" & maybe energy to do it. Oh well, i have grown to come to terms that no wedding is a PERFECT one. However, it's just in my character to give it my best shot. Afterall, it's really not the event but the WEDDING that matters. Happens only once in a lifetime so let's try to make it as near perfect as possible. Whatever screw-ups, just take it as it comes! Part of a memory too! :)

I am so blue today

It's Monday & moving onto Tuesday. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed & feeling damn sianz to start the work week. The late nights & hectic weekend is really draining. Got up late today, got stuck in a lousy jam along AYE & well, got into office later than usual. I need something to perk up my work week. Another silly school project driving me nuts. This group dynamics is really queer. Too many cooks spoil the soup i guess...

Ok, maybe i should try turning in early... I need to soak my face in piteria...

Ben & Jiajia are married!

Just returned from the wedding of my 2 friends - Ben & Jiajia. So happy for them to be joined in holy matrimony. Haha, i put my "creativity" into good use today, with the "sabo" game. Not only pulled the groom in, but also 2 of his brothers - Benson & Patrick. These 2 guys were caught unaware so it was kinda fun to see their reaction, when they realised that they were part of the game!

Here's a pix of the evil concoction. I call it the vegetarian fruit juice. A tasteful blend of zucchini, celery & ginger! (or did it happen to be garlic?) Got the kitchen to prepare it for us, & had it displayed in shot glasses, on a rectangular plate. Haha, looks nice ya? :)))) Maybe i should put this creativity under control, lest karma happens at my own wedding. Ooops, sorry to Kang Lin then!

Oh, & to share the pix of my 1st march-in gown, it'll be somewhat similar to what Kate Winslet is wearing, except that it's gonna have a longer trail & in red!

Design Session 1 at Dang Bridal

I am intending to snap my pre-wedding photos in Jan, when KL returns from the US for a short while. Popped by Dang today to start my 1st design session. Ok, no cheongsam coz i feel that it's really to flatter the curvy body types. I think i'll go with a chilli red duchess satin bustier for my 1st march-in, with "V" shaped neckline. I wanna be "different" so might as well be bold, all the way.

Got Dang to bring out my day gown for a snap. Haha, it's in the process of refurbishment so pardon the lacklustre lace. Here u go... My champagne gold gown... Mum says it's overly simple... Hmmm... I think it's fine... I couldn't snap the tail. Maybe next time, i'll have them snap a pix of me in it!!!

I so can't wait to quit

Yes, that's honestly how i feel. Nope, this feeling didn't stem from the constant battles & politics around me but just feel that i need a more regional role to grow & learn. My learning curve here has stagnated. The marcomms here aren't integrated at all - lack of integrated communications, ownership of a campaign... i need a bigger scope to grow.

Stanchart Marathon is my baby for the year. I need to push the project thru, get my promotion, bonus & increment & yes, time to move on. I wouldn't have chosen a Singapore scope if not for my part-time course. Though Fujitsu was hella less "MNC-ish", with a less-than-generous marketing budget, but well, u do get to learn so much more. There's so much more exciting stuff to do. Here, yes, do u have more generous marketing dollars but well, i m just bored.

Money is not the only pushing factor in a job. It's the fulfillment u get out of it. I have lost the latter.

My car kena "laga" today :(

To add to the Monday blues, my car was knocked from behind this morning along AYE. Oh well, it was raining & the roads were wet. I suppose the accident was a result of a motorbike zipping in & out & trying to cut thru the lanes. It didn't help when the driver at the back was tailgating. So when the motorbike zipped into my lane & i tried to brake, the "big bang" from the back came.

Though the car's bumper is faulty, the greatest pain is really the hassle. I had to drive all the way to Ubi (Honda Body Repair) to get the car assessed. I have to change an entire bumper & the reverse sensor is faulty too. Then came the insurance claims. Ok, i have to fork out an excess of $750 from my own pocket 1st before a 3rd-party claim can be filed. Urgh!!!! It's clearly not my fault so well, i will fight my way thru to claim the $750 back from that uncle driver!

What a blue blue Monday. Dad didn't say anything. I suppose he clearly knew that the accident is a result of no fault of mine. Just blame it on my luck. :( Take the $750 as earning credit card pts...

My ASS hurts

I spent half a day at East Coast Park today engaging in "treasure hunt". This's the regular quarterly dept offsite where the entire dept heads out for a day of fun. There'd be 2 individuals "arrowed" to plan the outing & today, i felt like i was back in varsity orientation camp again. I can't cycle so was on a 2-man bike. Gosh, my ass hurts now. I think we cycled about 6-7km finding clues along East Coast Park. It was kinda fun but well, still feel that the day could have been more relaxed, instead of running around playing games...

My ass hurts from the 2-man bike. I need to turn in early... Grrr...

Of cars and personalities

Do people buy/ drive cars reflects their personality? Hmm, strangely, a classmate of mine recently changed his car to a pure white Volkswagen Beetle. It's such a girly car & well, when i was admiring it & asked why he chose pure white, he commented that it's for "purity". This guy is STRAIGHT.


My lecturer for Media Mgt is a no-nonsense, "old-school" kinda guy. One will think that he'd be driving a saloon car - one that screams "I am a family man!" but well, guess what, i saw him zip off in a chilli red 2-seater convertible. Hmm, kinda strange to see a grey-haired guy zipping around in one but well, it happens.


I have shocked colleagues when they see me in my Honda Integra. Oh well, can't help it. The sports rims do make the car look fierce & somehow "beng-ish". Is this car my personality? I'd say NO but then again, i didn't make the purchase decision. No wonder i receive strange looks when i stop at traffic junctions. Oh well, then again, i have received remarks that i am aggressive.


So, do people drive cars that reflect their personality? I kinda begin to believe that this's somewhat true. White beetle for a manly guy, sizzling 2-seater for a family man & beng-ish coupe for an "aggressor" within. Haha, life is an irony!

So KANGLIN, if u are reading this blog, i have decided to aim to own a Volkswagen Beetle before i turn 30 too! Wanna help to make my dream come true? It can be our 1st car!!! Ok, no white but green?! :)

BURRRRRRPPPPPPP..........

My nemesis is back - I am burping badly after meals again. Did i take the wrong combi of food lately or is it a real result of a stressful lifestyle (as what the docs will tell me when i visit them). I feel horrid after meals & very often, burp non-stop. Sometimes i feel like sticking my finger into my throat to induce myself to throw up.

It was also becoz of this that i missed a dinner outing with the girls tonight. No point heading out for meals when i can't even eat well, & worse of all, burp non-stop thereafter. I feel nauseous... BURRRRPPPPPPPPP.....

Fancy Delight egg tarts - simply divine! :)

I sunk my teeth into the lovely cupcake-like egg tarts. Fancy Delight egg tarts are simply lovely. I read a review abt it on New Paper & since there wasn't a queue at the IMM outlet, i decided to have a go at the Taiwanese egg tart. The pastry was warm & flaky & the egg filling is soo soft & smooth. Abit a little pricey (at $1.20 each) but hmm, i think it's all worth it. In fact, i think it's 1 of the best egg tarts i have had thus far, beating those at Crystal Jade & Tai Chong Kok. Highly recommended snack when u visit IMM. Maybe i should try their Melting Chocolate flavour the next time i am there.

Birthday 2 - Fish & Co Paragon

Haha, just received the pics from Myrchelle. Hmm, I like the blowing candle pix... Seemingly long luscious lashes... Haha...

Solitude

It just struck me today that i hardly spent time with myself. I guess the only time i spent with myself is when i turn in every night. I always thought that with KL not by my side, i'd have more time to myself. Strangely, it's not happening. At work, we fight battles & fires. The politics, power & hunger for visibility often makes me pull my hair & wonder why everyone's so engrossed with the "battle for recognition". Then there's a mad rush to get to NTU 2x a week. Intense interaction with colleagues, biz associates, advertising folks, classmates etc has taken up so much of my time that i hardly spent time with myself. I took a break at lunch today to take a walk to Plaza Sing. I visited my favourite stores & took time to browse the bookstore too. I instantly felt so much better! I reckon it's becoz i took time to be alone, rather than lunching with a bunch of colleagues that engage in "office talk" - wondering who's-doing-what & what's-happening-when. Grrr, u need a break from such bitching too.

Maybe this's a good training ground for me when KL & i move to HK. I am happy that things worked out the way we had planned for - studies, work in the heart of the financial centre in Asia & most importantly, KL had a chance to be a step closer to his dreams. Well, having your partner in Investment Banking isn't exactly that exciting to me. On 1 hand, money will not be an issue coz Investment Banking pays freakingly well. We slog hard now & can reap the fruits of our labour later in life but on the other hand, phew, i am gonna see so little of him. I suppose i am thankful for my independent nature & for the fact that i need my own arena of space. I have the faith that all will work out well. It'll i am sure.

A lovely jersey dress to top up the "power" at work

I got a lovely grey jersey dress from the gals today. So sweet of them. I do like it alot, except that i found it rather pricey - S$125 for a non-zip, pullover dress. Anyhow, it was really sweet of them to buy it for me. Strangely, i tried to surf the MNG online store for a pix to post it here but it ain't available. Hmm, don't tell me it's only found in Singapore?

Anyway, thanks gals! :) & to Cedele too for the lovely complimentary heart-shaped pancakes with chocolate fillings. They are really yummy! :)

Few more minutes before i turn 27+! Urgh! Getting old! & here's to share my ecard from KL. I look forward to spend my 28th birthday with him.

The day of the year again!

I am officially 27. It's been 10 years since i was 17. I used to think how life will be when i reach my late twenties. When i 1st graduated, 27 seems like such a "old" number for me. Mum used to say that she was already with a little bundle of joy when she was 27. Haha, oh well, trust her to actually forgotten my birthday. It was only until we walked past Tiffany today that she recalled. Maybe becoz i saw a really nice Tiffany pendant sometime ago & Mum wanted to get it for me as a gift. Yes, i know she felt guilty but nah, it's ok... Afterall it's just another day.

Honestly, I am really glad for today. I have finally lived thru 2 birthdays w/o KL with me. When he 1st left, i told myself that it's just 2 birthdays without him. Now, i can declare that it's only 1 more Christmas & 1 more CNY! Yippee, after that, we'd have completed our studies & back together for good. I look forward to the day i can abandon Skype communication! I know it's a little silly of me to use "birthdays" & other festive occasions to countdown. But hey, 2 yrs ain't that difficult to get thru too. I have officially completed the 2 birthdays & yes, the next one, he'd be spending it with me already.

Happy 27th Birthday Elena! May u be blessed with gd health, luck & happy relationships in many yrs to come. Pop the champagne!!! :)))

Still up at this hour, surfing portfolios

Ok, the eyebags are really coming out... I am trying to compare various portfolios of photographers, as well as what their packages entails to find the best "deal". After a while, all these images look the same. I wonder, will i ever look so nice in my wedding pics, or are these photographers simply putting up their best in their online blogs & portfolios? Many of them are revising their prices from Oct so well, have to firm up with 1 soon so that i am entitled to the pre-adjustment price.

My eyes are drained & my head is spinning. I need to crash soon. This photographer search is driving me nuts. & it doesn't help when KL has no opinion on anyone of them :(

It's a blast!

The weather's been so hot lately... Grrr, i feel sticky & humid even at home. Spent 2 hours this afternoon at John's studio. What a small world! He's a fren of Louis & Wang Kin! No wonder i found him so familiar. He managed Louis' AD photography & we met briefly during Louis' wedding dinner.

John's works are pretty much what i like - http://www.johnlimphotography.com/. Black & white images focusing alot about capturing the right moment. I don't know if i am being to abstract but i like images with emotion. I kinda call them "3D images" not becoz they pop up but becoz apart from the humans, u can tell that each image tells a story. He shared 1 slideshow that he did & honestly, i felt a tear in my eye! Let me scout around a little more before making my choice but i kinda like John for AD. Well, meet up with Feldberyl & Gabriel Mendes then decide ba!

Oh, to share a pix of a bday gift my colleagues got for me! It's a sheer chiffon babydoll camisole with matching G-string from La Senza! I don't look at all like the model lor but well, it's kinda cute & i am thankful that they actually remembered! Made me open the gift in front of the whole dept somemore! Haha, so embarassing! But thank you anyway! :)

I am REALLY getting married! It's Dang Bridal!

Ok, the BS search has finally come to an end. I am sick & tired of making appts to various BS (only did 4 & already sianz) & well, since Dang Bridal (www.dangbridal.com.sg) was the 1st BS i tried on a wedding gown (not to mention that it was also the only BS that KL had the pleasure of seeing me in 1), i have decided to take up a package with them.

Kinda lucky. This issue of STYLE Weddings had a $300 off coupon for the MTM package so the eventual price came up to $3,788. Yay! Any savings are appreciated! I have to describe my gowns!

• OTR day gown

They had 3 which i pretty liked & fitted well. Oh well, not a bustier-gal so chose a champagne gold number, which has lace on the upper body & a pretty unique tail. The V-neck is pretty deep & offers a peek-a-boo cleavege. Quite a no. of sequins too. I really love this dress, though it's about a year old in the store. Dang promised to redo the lace portion for me & add on a little more sequins to the bust area.

• MTM bridal gown
• MTM evening gown
• MTM tea dress (to keep)

Package includes trial makeup, flowers, car decor, MTM suit for KL, even drycleaning fees for my gowns! :) Actually, i think Dang isn't that expensive afterall!

Requested for my design session to commence in Dec so that i have more time to flip thru magazines & think of some design ideas i have in mind. I think i wanna have a cheongsam since that's 1 of Dang's signature designs but well, it's challenging to have a design that flatters. Hmm shall leave the thinking to Dang then.

Aaaahhh, so excited! I am really gonna get married! Actually done with the gowns! Woo Hoo!!! Now it's time to explore photography & consider if i wanna do a pre-wedding shoot!!! :)

It's gay galore!!!!!

Is my gay radar too sensitive or are they simply sending out too active vibes? Went to the gym & well, all the gays seem to be working out on the treadmill machine! Apart from the fact that i am the only gal in the stretch of workout machines, no trainer seemed to wanna come to bother us today. Is it becoz these hetrosexual trainers are freaking out with the invasion of the alternate sex? Anyway, it's kinda easy to suss out one lately. Well toned bodies, nicely gelled hair & that oh-so bitchy tonation when they speak! They are a nice bunch of folks to talk to & well, bitch with. At least those that i met so far are nice to work with. Haha, for once, someone's girl-ier than me! :)

My calves are aching from the jog. Urgh! Must i train up for the 10KM run on 2 Dec? I shall just run half & walk the rest!!!!

1 chicken curry... MUMBAI neh, INDIA!

Here's to share my favourite ad to date - MUMBAI neh, India!!! Though the ad is somewhat misleading & seriously, i have doubts about the communications for the campaign (the cheap call rates are not only to India but to AU, NZ as well) but nonetheless, haha, love the fact that the talent is so appropriate! With the lovely Indian accent & black black skin, woohoo! Speaking in the Indian accent now has become a new hobby. Heading to a prata store is never the same again.
Oh well, the "accented ones" are gradually setting their foot in Singapore. With Indians & Fillipinos swarming the Bank, I can't help but feel drowned by their accents all the time. I attended a training course on Friday & guess what, even the trainer was INDIAN! His accent was ringing in my ears even after the training course! Hmm, come to think of it, he does look like the talent in this M1 Mumbai ad. MUMBAI Neh!!!! I love the ad!!!