Inspirations for my Wedding Gowns

Did anyone notice the similarity between my wedding gown and evening gown with the wedding gown worn by Taylor Swift in the music video 'Love Story'? I adored this gown when she donned it in the music video. And I found out, I am not the only one! Many people were asking who designed the gown. Proves my taste is not that bad.

I truly adored the off-shoulder type of designs (makes me feel like a princess ;), symbol of elegance and innocence. Kudos to one of my chi mui, Reese Yeo who specially selected the gown for me during my dressing. As for my evening gown, the moment I put on the blue gown, it fitted me so well I felt like it was designed for me! I did not notice how similar the corseted waist of Taylor Swift's wedding gown was to the one I wore until I opened the photo after the wedding. And the best part was, it clung on to my body so well, I could run and jump in it. Well, as they said, dreams do come true. ;)

**Wedding gowns courtesy of Couture Wedding Gown in Cheras

Taste Like Home - Buttered Bread

I was reading an article on The Star about how most people use Maggi Mee as a food that reminds them of home. That their parents used to cook Maggi Mee for them whenever they are hungry. Thus, their inclination to wipe up a bowl of Maggi Mee whenever they feel homesick.

My homesick food would be a plain simple Buttered Bread. Why? Cos I am sucker for bread. Everytime I walk past a bakery when I was in Australia, I would soak up the aromatic smell of the dough from the bread being heated in the microwave. And I still miss those dearly. In Singapore, the closest I can get to that is from BreadTalk which has fantastic bread by the way. But the best has to be the simple butter bread my dad buys from the bakery and puts onto the table for my breakfast every morning. All I do is spread more butter or condensed milk onto the bread and dip the bread piece by piece into a hot cup of Milo before savoring it. Hehe, do I make the bread sound so appetizing? My mom is good at picking this little details out and has since buy butter bread every time I go home to Malaysia during the weekend. The power of mother's love.

I also remember how I used to eat bread only for lunch as I was trying to budget my expenses while studying overseas and will always look forward to buying my long loaf of bread. (The loaves in Australia is generally longer as the cold weather allows you to keep the bread longer). I would toast the large slice of bread for 1.5 mins and immediately spread generous amounts of salted butter on it while it is still hot so that the butter melts into the bread, making it soft and delicious. Till today, I still miss the incredibly better tasting bread and milk in Australia.

So, whenever someone says they had buttered bread for breakfast, don't think it is due to lack of choice. A lot of people associate bread and butter with the lack of economic standing. I for one actually choose bread over rice if I can help it. I love my dough! And Paris will always have the best chocolate croissants. I know ;)

So, what is the food that reminds you of home?

The Most Beautiful Wedding

I just witnessed the most beautiful wedding tonight. It was not the most beautiful church, nor was it the most beautiful wedding gown. It was a wedding between a cancer patient and her beloved who both are doctors in Seattle Grace Hospital. The best part is she didn't even knew it was her wedding until the gown was handed to her from the bride herself. And she just fitted into the role perfectly. A day before she dies....

Do you know when is the biggest day in your life? The biggest day in your life usually starts as any normal day. It could be the day of your wedding. It could be the day of your break-up. It could be the day you receive your well-deserved trophy. It could be the day you met your soulmate. You will not know when is the biggest day in your life till it happens.

The Story of the Outcasts

Maybe it was because noone stood up for them. Maybe because noone accepted them. Maybe because noone loved them.

Is it their fault they are the way they are? Is it their fault that they are not treated fairly? Why is the blame on them when nature made them so? Yes, they will not be able to procreate and add to the number of population in this world. But truly, is it their fault at all? Have you been in their shoes before you fault them?

One died in Spain today even though he has openly declared he is gay and even married another man. Another self-decalred gay, Adam Lambert lost his mantle in American Idol to a less talented singer, Kris Allen. A Chinese multi-talented actor and singer lost his life as he felt suffocated not being accepted for who he is. Gays are the most creative and talented being in the world. Their sensitivity to what's around them makes them artistic and special. So, before you fault them, look at what they have contributed to the society.

It is rare that I watch a show that leaves a tingling feeling in my body even till the next day. Hence, I have to thank Shonda Rhimes for potraying that even screwed ups deserves the right to live normally.

The Meaning of a Wedding

Days after the event is over, my mind is still reeling with every little details of my wedding like a broken recorder. Anyone who tells you that one should not waste an exorbitant amount of money on an event that last only for one day should be advised to reconsider. It really is the pinnacle of one's life, a ceremony to mark the depth of love you have for one another.



Ever since I was a child, I dreamt of a huge wedding with thousands of guests in the most gorgeous ballroom with elaborate designs accompanied by a shocking entrance. As I grow up, my dream dwindled to a smaller scale wedding with a simple entry as the reality of how much trouble it will be and how much money I would have to spend hit me. Little did I know that my dream as a little child will come true after all. And I got all that and more: a gorgeous ballroom with 48 tables at the towering Hotel Istana, a vintage and romantic theme magnified by the presence of red, white and champagne roses on every pedestals and tables as well as a vintage car as a stage backdrop, a suave groom sweeping me off the stage through an astounding entrance and the presence of my family and friends to make my wedding so much more meaningful and memorable.



After organizing an event as grand as this, I now know the meaning of a wedding in 5 points:
a) Highest level of disappointments: I was disappointed to know that a few of my friends whom I consider as my closest pals in my previous company do not really treasure our friendship as much. A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime thing and to not have them be there to witness my big day was a sheer disappointment to me. I was saddened by the fact that one was using the fact that her wedding is 2 months down the road and will not be religiously advisable for her to attend when I have thought she could even be my sister and was looking forward to attend HER wedding. Seems not to be now. Another disappointed me by informing me 2 days before my wedding that he could not make it when he flew all the way from Indonesia to attend my hen's night. All this when I flew from Singapore to attend his wedding to witness his happiness and he could not do the same for me. Well, I have to let sleeping dogs lie but I have to admit, the disappointments crushed me so bad that I could not sleep the night before my wedding.


b) You can separate true friends from not so true ones: On the contrary, I am immensely touched by the selfless acts of all my closest galfrens: at least 7 of them who made the effort to help me throughout the process of my wedding. Not only did they help me with selecting my wedding gown but they helped me plan the wedding, reminded me of menial things which I have not taken note of and comforted me when I had my wedding jitters. Had it not been them, I would not have been able to see such comical acts by my husband and his heng dais which all tasks planned to the very details. I also cherish those who took the trouble to drive all the way from Singapore to be there to see me in my glory, esp one who bonded with me weeks before the wedding when I had my jitters. I was truly comforted after confiding my fears to the married man. Lastly my friends who came together to put the wedding in place including his sister, his sister's best friends who contributed to be MC, photographers, technical support and heng dais and even the band performers are all my close friends.

c) Family clashes are inevitable: When you have 2 families planning a wedding with the advise of friends and relatives, disagreements and arguments are bound to happen. From details like the seating position of the relatives to the decoration of the ballrooms to the arduous tasks of determining the invite lists after multiple cancellations and additions, noone can agree on everything. Both my husband and I have to take a backseat by giving way and agreeing to their demands even if it means we have to fork out more cash or displease some of our own friends. After the wedding, we have to divide our time to see all the friends and relatives who flew from other countries to attend our wedding, resulting in packed schedules and speeding car to get from one place to another.

d) You realise how much more your husband loves you: Days before the wedding, I noticed that my hubby did things he rarely do on regular days. He was singing and dancing to weird music ALL the time. Yes, we were stressed but he was happy all the time! The best part is to see him sing at the front door before I let him in to take me as his bride, something he rarely do in public. He did not sleep one night as he had to complete the wedding video, photo montages and table seatings and send the vintage car to be decorated. He was supportive of me when I had to divide my time between work and organizing the wedding while he had a whole week off to organize the wedding. Yes, I now know how deep his love is.

e) You will not know the real meaning of exhaustion until after a wedding: For someone who had to work till the very last day before her wedding and do not have a honeymoon, I was truly exhausted after the wedding. Also, managing the wedding remotely from Singapore was not easy as all the logistics is done in Malaysia and I had to travel back and forth for a few weekends to get things done. I was looking forward to sleeping in but there are 101 things to do after the wedding. But all was all worth it as after the wedding, you will reminisce about every little detail and your life will never be the same again.

Photos courtesy of Kok Pooi Hoe, the backup photographer. Great photos from my friend's blog here.

Career Life Balance

I'm a Virgo born in the year of horse. This is the equation:

Virgo + Horse = Workaholic, Ambitious, Career-minded, Driven, Perfectionist, Dynamic, Demanding of others

When I read the profiles of my bosses, the Head of Global Mobile, David Ko and CEO of Yahoo! Carol Bartz, who both are also Virgo with their birthdays a few days apart from me, I realise the similarities we have. Even the quotes she lives by is the same as mine. Read the article here:

"It's not because I wanted to be a martyr. It's because I had a job to do, and my family knew I'd be much happier if I was back in the saddle. I love to work. I love to run companies. I love to help people I work with. And I don't let anything get in the way of doing what I love.

Coming to Silicon Valley was a blessing for me. I realized soon after arriving here that most people didn't take a lot of time to ponder, or analyze a decision to death. There just isn't time.

This fit my nature of "doing" very well. I like change. Frankly, it's hard for me to understand why more people don't embrace it. I'm impatient with people and teams who don't move forward. "

- Carol Batz, CEO of Yahoo! whom I respect for taking the time and effort to write emails to the whole of more than 10K people in Yahoo! all over the world every Friday!

I never believe in work-life balance. Once you think about that, you already will not be putting as much attention and time into your career, thus making your personal life take over . However, there are times in my life that I just needed to take a break and have a bit of diversion on my personal life again. And the time is now. One and a half week towards my wedding, I am still unable to take leave to manage my wedding in Malaysia but still have to do it remotely from Singapore. When I requested to work from home, I am told that I need to be in Singapore for a meeting, which I thought, hmmm, can't someone sit in for me?

I am such a workaholic that I already have plans on things I need to achieve after this wedding is over. I gain satisfaction through results and achievements. Unlike other brides who looks into every details of the wedding, I have been outsourcing this to everyone else due to my location, travel and work commitments. Now, I just hope that I can be part of the process that will be the once-in-a-lifetime event for me.

The Proposal

Coming out from the movie, The Proposal, entertained by Sandra Bullock's funny antiques and Ryan Reynold's witty remarks and touched by yet another cliche romcom, I came by one of the most beautiful wedding proposal ever. And it was spoken by a female, the Bachelorette, Trista Nicole Rehn proposing to her final bachelor on the show. I could relate to it very much and tears lingered in my eyes hearing the words she uttered. Maybe it's because I did the same; I proposed to my boyfriend of 6 years after his 1 and a half failed attempts of proposing to me. But nevertheless, the words were music to my ears:

Today is the day I have dreamt about my entire life. Ever since I was a little girl, I have visions of a man who I can see my future with. But whose face is always blurred. Until now.

Now, I not only see his face but I see a future of dreams come true. I see smiles and laughter. I see babies and vanities.I see comfort and safety. I see a white dress and I see it with you.

I want to thank you for standing by my side when I could not give you any confirmations of my feelings. But my walls have finally crumbled and I can now tell you without any reservations that I am in love with you. I hope with all my heart that you feel the same and that you want to spend the rest of your life with me as I want with you.

So, how did I propose? In light with his interets in Treasure Hunting, I placed the ring box on top of his luggage bag while we are vacationing in Dubai. He opened the box to see a paper with a clue on how to find the ring. It was a small poem written by yours truly. True to his Sherlock Holmes style of hunting, he set out solving the clue and found the ring. Sure enough, he said Yes! Hmmm...sounds like I'm the guy here.

So, regardless of who propose to whom, what's important is that the love remains strong and the couple works hard towards maintaining the romance. And that is the simple formula why Trista's love with her favorite bachelor remained till now despite the failures of all the other Bachelors and Bachelorettes.

Pillow Talk

He doesn't know it but I appreciate it everytime we have pillow talk before we go to sleep about our favorite TV show. Despite his eccentricities, he is to me the rainbow through the rain, the laughter through the pain at this current time. Even though I can't expect him to do the same every night, at least for that night, I feel less lonely.

Butterfly Fly Away - Being A Single Parent

I just watched Hannah Montana The Movie on a plane on the way to Manila. Watching a movie like this on the way to a journey just intensifies the emotions. Most importantly, this movie not only touched me to tears, it left an indelible mark in me towards single parents. One should watch it for the beautiful, idyllic sceneries that was potrayed in the serene hometown of Miley Cyrus, such a contrast from Los Angeles where she comes from.

There is no power stronger than the love of a father. In one scene when Miley Cyrus was changing between her two personas just to go out on a date with the guy she likes, this action irked her future stepmom. As the stepmom ordered her to stop, her father, Billy Cyrus defended Miley and found himself being left by his new lover but it was all worth it. That is the sacrifise he is willing to put himself through for his own daughter so much so that noone else comes first.

It amazes me how a kids movie like that has such a meaningful and deep message and evoked such strong emotions in me. He single-handedly raised 2 intelligent hyperactive children who are now willing to do anything for their father.

I found myself being in the same scenario as I was being pursued by a single father in Singapore two years ago. He was fair to me by being honest about his status very early on and I was fair by telling him that I have a long distance relationship. When he mentioned that he has 2 children at home and that he is going through a messy divorce, that didn't stop us from being friends. What I did not know was that he treated me more than a friend. It is only later that I realised the impact I had on him, his children and his ex-wife. It breaks my heart to hear his daughter calling him on his cellphone asking where he is and when he will be back while I am nicely having a sumptuous dinner or jungle trekking (our fav activity) with him. He did not rush home to be by his children and comforted them through his cellphone. When I asked why he did not go home to his children, he told me he needed a break from his kids as well as the complicated divorce procedures. It was then that I felt I was the only escape he had.

Being a single parent is never easy. I admire those who could do it, not out of their own willingness though. What I am afraid is I am this close to being one myself too.