Life is a Journey, Walk with Me...

What’s your fave?

2011-08-07T22:20:00.001+08:00

What is your favourite childhood moment? Mine has to be the ones shared with my bro and cousins, Saravanan and Punitha. We were own gang with made up roles and titles. School holidays were looked forward by the four of us. We would either spend it in Seremban or Malacca. Among the things we used to do were role plays where we will investigate crimes, which of course never existed. Oh this was inspired by The X-Files. We even made a tape recording of the findings of the made-up mysteries around us.

When Lion King was a hit, we even named some stray kittens Nala and Simba and made-up stories of an abduction, etc! But of course the poor kittens died cause we were clueless as to how and what to feed them. Believe it, we also had a specific burial spot for them so that no one would ever find them. Haha! Good times, good times, being young and carefree.

Times have changed now. I don’t think kids nowadays know what it is like to be involved in outdoor games and get messy and crazy, running here and there, playing a game of teng teng, kalakjenking, hide and seek or even badminton! Everything can be found on the palm of their hands via online video games. I wonder what will Jadon prefer, the new or the old-school method. Will just have to wait to find out. Nevertheless, Clement and I will make sure he knows how much fun he can have when he is out there sweating it out at a game.

2 months and 1 week!

2011-08-04T20:04:00.000+08:00

Jadon is growing big and strong by the day. He is now nibbling on his mittens. So naturally I checked it out on Baby Center and it says apparently he is going to teeth in the coming months! That’s pretty fast right! I can’t believe it but it is true. So I guess I have to prepare baby rattle at hand for when he needs to gnaw, I can pass a rattle to him. Hehe.

I’ll be heading back to Penang soon. Happy and sad at the same time. Happy to be seeing hubby and starting work, sad to be leaving the comfort of my home and mom. Sob sob. Going back to Penang would mean that I have to manage most of the things by myself. I say most because my in laws will be there to give a helping hand, I’m certain. Cooking, yes cooking is going to be a challenge, yet again. I somehow managed to do bits and pieces during pregnancy but now I have to think of a plan to do the things my hubby likes while taking care of my little one. Becoming a mom makes me appreciate all mothers out there, more! They are the true heroes in our lives.

Thank you mom for everything and for putting up with my nonsense all your life (even till today :P). Ok time to look for my recipe books!

Pink, yellow and all that’s nice…

2011-07-30T12:30:00.000+08:00

Sitting at home with a camera is a good thing. I can appreciate the nice things my mom has done for the home in terms of decorations with my camera. :D Well not much here but I just love the flowers, especially. Made me look back at the lessons learnt during my college days in photojournalism class. Miss those days man! We, the journos (Maya, Daphne, Kathleen, Natalie, Nazatul & Megat) walked around KL city looking for the right inspiring picture for our class presentations and exams… was really fun and challenging!

All about the baby: pics!

2011-07-21T00:37:00.000+08:00

Picture time with baby Jadon and his belongings. Simply love my Sony and photography. :D

Tutu the turtle keeping an eye on Jadon

Granny's turn to feed Jadon...

Tutu the turtle is back. LOL!

Daddy duties…

2011-07-14T17:27:00.003+08:00

Here are some pics of daddy Clement with baby Jadon from the time he was born. New at this, I’m pretty sure Clement was ready but not well prepared for it. Neither was I. We had a hard time at the hospital with the newborn during the first few days till we got accustomed to the situation. Nevertheless Clement adapted well and got the taste of sleepless nights early on. He even learned how to wrap, carry and comfort our baby as well as change diapers before me… haha! Soon have to teach him how to bottle feed, bathe and put on clothes for baby :-D

Back home from Penang hospital. Daddy very tired... sound asleep with baby Jadon... :)

Singapore Uncle is here!

2011-07-05T14:53:00.001+08:00

So my bro is back home to meet his cute nephew. And my mom is the most excited woman in the whole wide world. I even created a song for Jadon and I cause I know my mom will be even more busy pampering her beloved 30 year old son! Here we go… “Just the two of us, yea just the two of us… Jadon boy, just the two of us. Grandma is gonna be so busy that she won’t bother us, oh yea just the two of us…” LOL! Tomorrow will be a busy day for us as it is my mom's birthday. She's on leave and all prepared for a day of shopping for Jadon and of course, herself. Her favourite darling son won't go home without getting some things for her. Hehe. Already she is excited (though she won't show it) about her new touch screen phone! Yes very happening mom now!

Well since my bro is already here, Jadon and I are now looking forward to Clement’s arrival! “Daddy oh daddy, cepatla mari” :P

When he cries…

2011-07-04T21:57:00.000+08:00

No one can take it when a baby cries, especially mothers. Alas, that’s the only mode of communication for them to let us know that something is wrong. It could vary from hunger, nappy change to sleepiness and wind in tummy. The hardest for me would be when Jadon couldn’t burp. When he can’t seem to accomplish the final touch of his milk time with a burp, he tends to cry so loud that it makes it harder for me to tap his back or chest to help him with the burping process. And when he takes too long for a burp, he’d just fall asleep, leaving him to have milk dripping from the corner of his mouth or just throwing up after a few hours. Argghhh… makes me sad though I know this is common among babies, as I have read a few articles online. Sometimes I feel helpless when he cries… can’t wait for him to grow up fast and have a burp festival of his own. haha!

Till then, I will just have to bear with it… hmmm…

Anyway, here are the few things that I do for him to burp well:

- Tap his chest and back for about 10 - 15 minutes

- Tap his back while on my shoulder

- Give him Gripe water

Anything else anyone want to share...?

The other baby and I…

2011-07-02T19:35:00.002+08:00

Finally got some pics of Jadon to share with you guys. Taken from my Nokia phone, not that perfect but at least something better than nothing.

Day 2 at the hospital with Jadon by my side. This is when I honestly didn’t know what was he crying for all the time. Apparently it’s all about the MILK! I assumed that it would only be a few times a day, who knew that milk time was every hour!

Oh I always wondered why my cousin sister had funny songs and rhymes to soothe her little one, and now I know. Well, it just comes with the flow when your baby cries. You will be able to create any song or rhyme at any time. Can’t recall what were my cousin’s creations but my first creation was ‘MILKO KILKO TIME’. LOL! Yes, whenever Jadon starts his engine, I’ll start mine too. ‘milko kilko time, baby milko kilko time’. Oh and my mom now has added on to that – she goes ‘milko kilko time, anbu chellam time’… LOL! LOL!

First smile caught on camera.

He just loves to stretch his body like he just had a long hard day at work! LOL!

He winks, smiles, laughs, coughs, hiccups, cries, clears his throat and the list goes on! Oh what a joy! :D

Breastfeeding as I came to experience…

2011-06-24T14:17:00.005+08:00

1. Breast milk does not come as much as your baby needs in the first 2-3 days after delivery. It takes time and so mothers, be patient.

2. Because milk does not come as much, your baby will not be taking in as much too. So breast feed frequently, every hour if possible or whenever baby cries.

3. Baby tends to sleep off while breastfeeding. Do not leave them in that state, wake them up by tickling their feet, cheek or neck. Try blowing air on their face too. Anything to wake them up cause feeding time is crucial for babies to drink all that they can.

4. After 2-3 days, you will notice that your breast becomes hard and sometimes with unbearable pain. Well, the pain you have to bear. The hardness is an indication that milk is ready to be pumped or fed. Do not be with the hardness as it will only be difficult for you to do anything. If the pain is too unbearable, try to soothe them with cabbage. I’ve tried, and it is cooling. BUT one of the nurses said that it MIGHT reduce milk production. NOT SURE how far this is true. It didn’t effect me though.

5. When it is milk time and baby is asleep, wake him/her up for the feed.

6. Babies will poop in dark chocolate colour in the first few days. This is normal. After about a week or so, poop colour will become lighter, and more solid.

7. Give water every now and then. Water is always good for everyone and anyone.

8. By the end of the first month, you will be able to feed baby well as he/she is well accustomed to your feeding time/method. You will also produce more milk. The idea is that the more you give, the more you will produce.

9. Mothers must drink plenty of water as well as milk and/or Horlicks. This helps consistent milk production.

10. Mothers also must eat nutritious food that will help with the milk production, such as fish.

My motherhood days have begun…

2011-06-23T15:32:00.002+08:00

So my husband’s wish came true for a June baby. 1^st June 2011 marks the day of the birth of our beautiful son Jadon Emmanuel Raj. He came out all cute and chubby, a whopping 3.7kg baby. He didn’t cry that much on the first day but was yearning for milk as his mouth was moving nonstop. My mom felt so pity and wanted to give him something to drink but I was not in the state to provide any milk for him. I just came out of the operation room shivering nonstop and not to mention drowsy. I knocked out after about 30 minutes of looking around and trying to talk to Clement and I was also slight numb from waist and below.

Next morning, I was able to move a bit better but I could feel the pain below my belly where it was stitched. I couldn’t carry Jadon yet and it was not advised to cause I need to recover first. So when he cried for milk, the nurse made me tilt to my side to make it easier for me to breast feed. But I couldn’t see if he was drinking well or am I giving enough, etc. The nurse just placed him by my side and left, and I couldn’t move well to see what’s going on. It went on like that for another few hours; when he cries, nurse will just put him by my side.

Due to the operation I had a hard huge belly that was filled with water, period and air, or whatever nonsense which would have easily come off if I went through normal delivery. Oh well, everything for a reason right. I had a hard time moving well and fast. It was heavy, like I was carrying bricks. Even Jadon was not that heavy inside of me.

Breast feeding became more difficult as the days passed by due to the heaviness inside me that Jadon lost 400g after a week and half. Thank goodness we went to see the specialist in Seremban. The doc was very stern and questioned a lot about my feeding methods. Honestly I was a little terrified with his tone. Then he said in an assuring voice that it is not an issue if I mix Jadon’s milk feedings with powder milk. At least he understood the fact that I didn’t know how much of breast milk Jadon was taking in. So I started giving him Enfalac in the evening and breast milk, which I now pump and store in milk bottle, in the morning. Jadon is doing great. Pooping well and gaining weight as he should. Oh he is 4.5kg now... :D

Going through c-section was an unexpected thing and it definitely is life changing for me… emotionally and physically. Still coping with the changes. Will blog about my c-section another time. Now I just want to enjoy staring at my lil angel…! :D

Close ups!

2011-05-29T00:55:00.002+08:00

I’m loving close up shots, dont know why. Hah! Looking forward to mastering it better.. This was taken from the 8^th floor of my apartment in Penang. :D

A call for pregnancy update

2011-03-19T20:31:00.002+08:00

Seven months has gone by. Belly is bigger and heavier. Yes there are a few discomforts but mostly a delightful new experience. I wasn’t totally prepared for the pregnancy so I might have missed a few things here and there that I should have done or should be doing during these seven months of pregnancy. Apparently, whether or not you have family history of diabetes, pregnant woman are prone to increase their glucose level due to the changes in the digestive system involving a certain hormone that helps baby’s development. This will however change after delivery but for some if you don’t control your sugar intake, it will be yours truly forever. That will be the beginning of a whole new headache. So preggers, remember to balance your food intake with everything nutrition; have especially fruits like green apple and starfruit. Avoid sugar intake at all cost. If the milk you are drinking highlights sugar all over it, try to swap it with perhaps calcium tablets. But of course, the best is to talk to your doctor and dietician. I’m right now in control. Not so easy but so far so good. I’ve got regular check up due to this as my doctor wants to make sure I’m at the right level which is below 6.0.

Stay healthy all you preggers out there! xoxo!

Lead the way, Lord...

2011-02-07T13:44:00.000+08:00

There’s no easy way to go about it. I know that for certain. It’s all about going with the flow. But it’s really getting to me now more than ever as I’m approaching 6 months that I will be looking after, nurturing, feeding, etc another tiny living being until he is a grown man capable of taking care of himself. How on earth am I going to do that? Scary. But I guess you can never be too sure of everything, as I may be able to pull it off.

Sometime back, Father Andrew from Holy Spirit Cathedral made it clear with an example that we do not control everything in our life or else it will not go according to God’s plan for us. We have to let the Mighty One lead the way, because He is in charge of our lives. It may seem a little out of place but if you think carefully about it Father Andrew has a point. Why do we need to worry so much about how things will go and create anxiety as well as all the negative thoughts? When all we need to do is present our doubts, fears, anxieties, worries, etc to the Lord who will be ever so happy to give us a hand. God doesn’t want us to be doing things all by ourselves, he wants to be a part of our lives. Wouldn’t you like that? Having God close to us and know that we are doing well all the time. Mind you however, this is no easy task for many people out there including myself. It takes a lot of faith, courage and hope for ordinary humans like us to obtain what we want from God. This is where sometimes people lose faith thinking that God does not want to help. No no no! That is not true. For all you know He is already lending you a hand, you just don’t recognise it. Or it could also be that He is not happy with your level of faith and commitment. So be persistent, don’t ever give up especially on God. He loves all of us the same, and it is time that we show our love to Him too by surrendering ourselves to Him in prayer. Prayer brings you closer to God, prayer heals and prayer is the only key passage to greater discoveries in life.

So I have decided to live it all to the Mighty One to help me nurture, care and love my son, and of course my Hubby.. ;-) When in doubt I hope that I remember what I need to do... pray.

The cockfights have begun...

2011-02-03T19:25:00.000+08:00

Something out of the ordinary. Something you may have not about that happens in Madurai... they apparently love cockfights. Yes, it’s a fight between roosters, and there are massive daily trainings involved for the rooster in preparation for the fight. It also takes place in tournaments and people win big money. Didn’t know that till I watched this movie, Aadukalam starred by hero Dhanush and new chick named, Taapsee Pannu.

Enjoyed the storyline entirely... that had not only a proper narration of the rooster tournaments but also on how massive ego can destroy people’s life and eat you up inside. A movie worth watching. Songs were great too...

The Romantic Side of Vijay

2011-01-30T12:36:00.001+08:00

After quite a number of lousy movies (sorry Vijay), Vijay is back with a better choice of movie this time... (I would like to think that, at least). I’ve always loved Vijay's romantic roles mixed with comedy here and there as seen in his latest movie, Kavalan. He has a certain attractiveness that shines through when he shows that he is in love... Plus the movie has a twist that I couldn’t get over about a week. A betrayal of a best friend... I’ll just leave it at that. Other than that, I’d rate the movie 7/10. It has good songs, hero and heroine (Asin) played their roles well, a certain amount fight, bloody funny comedy by Vadivelu and THE TWIST! So enjoy the movie...

My favourite song in this movie...

A trip to Botanic Garden in Penang

2011-01-09T17:44:00.000+08:00

Been in Penang since July 2010 and this is the first time I got to see a bit of this much talked about place by everyone. Hope to continue with more outings every weekend. Hehe. *pressures hubby* First place I got to visit is the Botanic Garden. Very very refreshing to see all the greeneries. Oh macam-macam ada. Pines, orchids, cactus and many others! Got cooling waterfalls and wide green pastures to sit on and picnic with family and friends.

They’ve got trams for those who just want to sit and view the botanical environment. It was a great outing for both of us who needed the fresh air and comforting sceneries.

Botanic Garden is located at Jalan Kebun Bunga, 10350, Penang...

If you need a quiet time with family or friends, head to the Botanic Garden, spread the mat, have some breakfast/lunch and breath in the fresh air as the cool breeze hits your face and feel the peace in your heart.

Xoxo!

Made to Venue

2010-07-18T13:40:00.001+08:00

It has been too long. Yikes! Couldn’t keep up with my New Year resolution. Huhu. Time to update.

I’m thinking of helping those you are planning to tie the knot a little, based on my experience. Okay rule number 1 - The moment you have decided on your wedding date, the 1^st crucial thing you MUST do is scout around and book your VENUE. Why I say the moment you get your date is because it will be the venue vendor’s first question. IT IS VERY VERY IMPORTANT. I had to go through anxiety attacks because we didn’t put our feet down on the venue in the 1^st place. We had to resort to something that was okay but not great. It’s a little frustrating because you couldn’t get what you had in mind – the decorations, lightings, etc because we took our time booking them. Okay, I lied. Not a little frustrating but VERY frustrating. These negative emotions are something you must try to avoid at all times. Not good for you and the people around you. Trust me.

Now that you have a venue in mind, make sure it is feasible because you have to take into consideration the value for money factors. You don’t want to spend too much on something that will not give you maximum satisfaction, correct? Use the conventional way of listing the pros and cons. Always works like a charm ;-) Oh speaking of jotting down things, it is also equally important to have a specific notebook just to keep track of your wedding preparations, ideas, bills, etc. I have noticed in Borders that they have very pretty useful diaries just for wedding preparation purposes. Tacky yet useful – also know when and how or why you should spend money on certain things. If it’s useful, then why not? Keep that mantra...

For a venue, ask yourself why you chose that particular venue and how you can utilise it... you can also browse through Brides magazine for some ideas on decorations and so on.

Clement's Birthday Surprise

2010-07-18T11:33:00.000+08:00

Clement made a pact with me - I have to get him two different presents every year for his birthday and our wedding anniversary without compromise, and then he agreed to our wedding date – June 19. His birthday – June 20. This year I threw him a small surprise at an orphanage in Penang known as St. Joseph’s home.

I planned everything via phone, and some help from my mom in law and our dearest friend Louis. Thank goodness all went well as planned. Cake by Evadis Cakes looked really good and tasted equally well. Food by Jaya catering came on time and all enjoyed lunch.

I’m so happy that I planned something special for him because I know he loves surprises. Hehe!

Happy happy happy!

See pictures on my Facebook, taken by Maya.. ;-)

June 19 done.. June 26 soon..

2010-06-23T23:35:00.000+08:00

I am married! woot woot!

Clement and I were doing so many things even till the last few hours before the wedding. But it’s all good now. He is just relaxing with a glass of whiskey with my dad and bro now. It’s me who has many things to do for the Seremban reception. For instance, my speech. Hah! I have to write some pointers before I go blank like I did during Penang reception. LOL. Well, at least some will remember the moment. I better be well prepared now. I know exactly what I want to say, but need to jot down before I forget.

I believe everything went on smooth on the day. Lesson you guys who are planning to get married should learn is that to have a few good friends is very important as they will be there in times you need them the most.

I appreciate what my dearest close friends, Maya and Michelle did for me. Love you guys! I thank my family members too for the patience, tolerance and support. Eh wait... this should be in my speech. LOL.

Will update soon... need to prepare a few things now...

Picture by Kamera Kahwin. I believe they did a good job. Can't wait to see the rest!

p/s: I will be starting my new job next week Thursday! Excited and nervous. They seem like a very nice bunch. They sent me wedding card with wishes by the whole team. (awwww!)

My Bachelortte night!

2010-06-14T17:15:00.002+08:00

I had so much fun at my Bachelorette Party at Laundry Bar, Curve, thanks to my darling bridesmaids; Maya and Michelle. I thought I was going to be tortured and have traumatizing memories but it was actually fun. Though I was shy when I had to approach people. hehe.

I had to do a few things like dance bharathanatyam, sell condom, get a guy to buy me a drink, fit a condom to a bottle neck (yuck!), etc. I really liked how the game was played - I had to guess whose written statement it was... i.e: "I love pork!" - I guessed that wrong and earned a penalty. I should have known it was Ariel. (sorry babes). It was fun as I managed to guess most of them correctly except for the questions given by Clement.. Sorry love.. hehe..

I still can't believe that it was MY bachelorette night. The idea hasn't seeped in that I will be tying the knot this Saturday. Woot woot. But I am ready as I will ever be. ;-)

We wrapped up the night at Mumbai Se, bollywood style.. ;-)
XOXO to everyone who came and had fun, etc!!

Here are some pics taken by Kathleen Tan via my (useless) camera.

Photo Collage by Picasa 3

2010-06-06T04:06:00.002+08:00

Pretty cool photo collage that can be done via Picasa 3. This is just a test by me. hehe. But Picasa 3 does more than just photo collage. Ican aid those who are planning to do photo slideshow to be shown at their respective wedding dinner by creating a video slideshow. Download it now and learn to do cool stuff with it. Thanks to my photographer Rashid, I found this site that made my work a little bit more easier.

More Pre-Wedding Pictures

2010-06-04T19:49:00.001+08:00

Here are the rest of the pictures taken at Blissful Bridal Studio. ;-)

Rice Crisp Crisp Rice Rice Crisp - your new mantra...

2010-06-03T23:15:00.001+08:00

It’s rice, it’s potato, noooo la it’s actually Rice Crisps by Mister Potato. What crosses your mind when you are in the middle of running errands but famished, and would kill for food? There is no way you can whip up a dish in 5 minutes. So what do you do? Just grab the one and only fulfilling munch to keep you going for the rest of the errands. Correct? I hear you asking, "what one and only fulfilling munch?" Haiya – Rice Crisp by Mister Potato la. Yes, that’s right. That’s exactly the fulfilling, delicious, savoury and yummy new potato chips in four flavours, I'm referring to! Yes, yes, four flavours – Original, Hot & Spicy, Sour Cream & Onion, and Flame Grilled BBQ. It can never get any better than this - befitting all taste buds.

Oh wait a minute, are you worried about ‘the’ weight just because it is potato? Don’t need to worry la, the best part is that it has 20% less fat, no added MSG, cholesterol and trans fat free and has no artificial colouring. Awesome, right? So while running that errand, grab any one of Rice Crisp canister, if not all and munch on the go.

I bet the moment you take that bite, the errands or whatever is it that you were doing will seem like the most easiest thing on earth. Simply because your tummy is being filled with crunchi-licious goodness. Disclaimer: Any procrastination caused in the process of munching is NOT caused by Rise Crisp.

Back to mmmmm.. om nom nom nom.. ;-D

Relax and rejuvenate

2010-05-26T17:52:00.001+08:00

Planning and preparing for a wedding can get tiresome and in no time you will be zonked out. Couples should take some time off and spend some quality together. Like Clement and I. We went to Jojoba Spa at Berjaya Times Square Hotel last weekend. It was totally relaxing… We had the Jojoba Ylang Ylang package. I know Clement has been complaining of backache and foot-ache and what-not because he has been driving up and down too much. Penang-KL-Seremban-Kota Bahru-Kuantan, etc.

So I decided to treat him to a nice soothing spa, thanks to the cash voucher I received at Matta Fair. But then I’d say it was still a little pricey… but definitely worth it. We totally had fun!

Manicure & Pedicure

2010-05-25T18:01:00.001+08:00

I can never keep long nails for more than 2 weeks. You can already notice some chipped ends and what not. Amazingly for my engagement I managed to keep it well for about a month and half before I broke one by carry a luggage (after the engagement, thankfully). I’m very rough; yes I admit that I’m not a very girly person. My mom always complains of my strong/rough grip. Luckily I haven’t heard any complain from Clement (yet).

With the wedding around the corner, my lovely bridesmaid, Maya made sure I start keeping proper long fingernails in order to have nice manicure-d nails for the wedding. It has been about 3 weeks, thus far only the left thumb is slightly chipped. Haha. As careful as I try to be, sometimes things just get out of control. I also try not to hurt myself with scratch marks here and there.

I do believe that it is important to look good from head to toe on your big day. So those of you who are planning for the Day, I’m sure you have added manicure as well as pedicure is in your list. As l was looking through some sites, I came across this site that offers mani-pedi door to door service. They even come to parties (if you are including their services) to give you a wholesome treatment.

Pretty neat, I’d say.

Here are some other places you can head to that (I believe) gives you good nail services.

Nail Artz

F2 1St Floor Sunway Pyramid No. 3 Jalan Pjs11/15 Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya 46150, Selangor.

tel: 603-58911763.

website: http://www.nailartz.8m.com

DA & JJ Nail Professional Training (HQ)

62A Jalan Bukit Bintang 55100 K.L

Tel: 03-21433297

Email: jjnailstudio@yahoo.com

Nail 'n' Beauty Salon

Midlands Park Centre (1-Stop)

488-B-04-35,Jalan Burma,10350 Penang.

Tel: +6012-456 1156

Email: info@bellezza.gosh.com.my

Website: http://www.bellezza.gosh.com.my/

Nail World

Lot 1-02-07,

1st Floor e-Gate (beside Tesco)

Lebuh Kudin 2

11700 Gelugor

Penang

Tel: +604-6582 202

Website: http://www.nailworld.com.my/index.php

And some nail designs that I dig… ;-)

Green is in

2010-05-24T17:44:00.001+08:00

Green may not be your favourite colour (I know one person who loves them), but it could be an idea for your wedding. It will be unique, especially with environmental issues being the talk of the town. Go green! A clichéd tagline that you could definitely tap on! ;-)

Ideas derived from Sheryl Woodhouse-Keese's site.

For the location, consider an outdoor wedding at your favorite natural spot while you remind yourself why you make environmentally responsible choices every day.

Wedding gown and tuxedos are only worn once in a lifetime, so I’m thinking some of the bride and groom to be may not like the idea buying any organic-fied materials. But you could choose green colour as the theme for your wedding reception. My personal opinion, that is.

The wedding invitations are something you definitely can play around with. You can buy 100% PCW recycled invitations that are processed without chlorine. Encourage guests to recycle their invitations, or have seeds embedded in the paper so that guests can plant the invitations and enjoy the flowers that grow from them (cool, right?).

A friend of mine recently asked me why do I bother sending the invitations when I can email or SMS them. Well, it sounds like a good idea, but I believe there are some who still would love to receive the invitation, especially the older generations.

But as and when the world takes a new direction, do consider creating a website with all the details about your wedding to avoid killing the trees to print the cards.

Decorations can be altered too. Use flowers from local and organic farms. Woodhouse-Keese says use potted plants in place of cut flowers for centerpieces. These can then be given as gifts or enjoyed in your home.

So what are you waiting for, go green and be environment-friendly. ;-)

P/S: wish I could have thought about this a long time ago. Dayumm..

Shopping at Tekka Market

2010-05-18T13:48:00.000+08:00

Ladies, and also guys if you are planning to get some extravaganza outfits for your wedding or any other occasions, and tired of what Kuala Lumpur offers (or any other states, for that matter) look no further, but head to Tekka Market, Singapore.

I know many of you feel that it is pricey no matter how you look at it as there are traveling and lodging expenses. Make a day trip, and I assure you that you will find all kinds of beautiful designs for your big day, etc. Their designs are exceptional and gorgeous, AND negotiable.

Go and knock yourself out... ;-)

I was sallivating at the sarees, that I forgot to take pics.. ;-p

Guest list

2010-05-14T18:26:00.001+08:00

Those who are done and over with, with their wedding must be really relieved that the biggest event in their lives are finally over (in a good note, of course). Mainly because of the guest list. Correct me, if I’m wrong.

I’m currently in a tough situation, hot soup, dilemma; you name it you got it, with the guest list arrangements. “Not too many, not too little, not him, not her, why them, why not them???” All sorts of ridiculous, annoying questions I get from my loved ones.

How do I put an end to all these? The only way is to be numb and ignorant. Seems like a bad advice but I find that it’s the only way out. Or you better win some lottery to be able to invite every Tom, Dick and Harry.

How do you actually manage you guests? What is the right thing to say, what you shouldn’t? I guess you can never have a solid answer to these questions. Everyone just loves to be a part of all the beautiful weddings.

Something I pulled out from the net:

The wedding guest list can be one of the most daunting tasks of planning a wedding. Mom wants to invite all her friends. Dad wants his 2nd cousin twice removed to be invited. And then there are all of your friends and co-workers that want to come. While these people might all expect to be invited, it does not mean you do need to invite them.

The more guests you invite, the higher the cost of your wedding. You will need a bigger reception site, more food, and favors for all. This all adds up quickly. Cutting down the guest list is one of the easiest ways to cut your wedding costs.

When making your guest list make two separate lists. The "must invites" and the "would like to invites". As people from the first list RSVP that they cannot make it, you can then send invitations to the second list.

When making your lists if you need to think twice about inviting someone, then don't invite them! You are probably not that close to them if you have to think about it.

Just because someone invited you to their wedding does not mean you need to invite them to yours. They may have had a larger budget or a smaller family which allowed them to invite more people. If someone asks why they are not invited just explain that you are keeping things small or that you have a large family to invite.

And one tip when you send out your invitations... number your guest list and then on the back of the RSVP cards write the number that corresponds to that guest. You would be surprised how often guests don't write their name on the RSVP cards! This way if they forget you have a quick way to figure out who it is!

Remember to relax and enjoy this process! Happy planning!

Melissa Miville is owner and event planner of Stylish Occasions by Melissa Miville. Melissa specializes in wedding day coordination as well as full and partial wedding planning. Check out her website and blog at http://www.StylishO.com to get more info.

Door gift ideas

2010-05-13T14:59:00.000+08:00

Gone are the days where people used to give laddu and cakes as the door gifts or wedding favours. OK some may still prefer the idea of cakes, but we have evolved now right, people?

I’ve been reading Bride magazine since 2008, and found some useful brilliant ideas. I particularly loved the honey jar as the door gift. I have not heard of anyone giving them so I thought this is unique and I shall attempt to do that for my wedding. But to find the exact same bottle, which is round was no easy task. And the cost for honey was not easy on the wallet too. But I was adamant to give something out of the ordinary.

I google, google, and googled everyday till I found this site, Lipz Gift. It was like alleluia alleluia alleluuuuuiiaaaa! Haha! Eureka, I found it! It comes with a different bottle but with the honey, so what the heck, I’ll take it I thought to myself.

Now I’m a happy bride with a nice door gift. They even had other unique looking candles, frangrances, soaps and coasters. Coasters looked like an interesting door gift as well. So that’s for the Penang reception. All settled now. ;-)

If you are looking for something unique and elegant go to http://www.besuremarketing.com/ and be merry. The prices are reasonable too.

How do you know?

2010-05-05T17:41:00.000+08:00

How do you know if you have picked the right gown for your wedding? I believe there are certain rules and regulations before picking the perfect one. First of all, if you have big bust do make sure when you try on the gowns, the padding is not too small that the rest of your boobs are spilling out, pressing on the gown. It is so not cool! Trust me that will be the centre of attraction instead of you.

Secondly, again for the big bust ladies, don’t get the strapless dress. You will end up pulling you dress a million times especially when you don’t want to be doing that during the ceremony. Get the ones with strap or with sleeve. Oh also number three, if your arms are big try the long sleeve ones or just the normal sleeve ones. The long sleeve seem to be a trend (or perhaps it has been for yonks) now, especially the transparent ones. Very elegant.

For those with slim arms, show it off with cap sleeves, sleeveless tops and detailing around the shoulders which are all great ideas.

Oh and I think the ball gown type are only suitable for photoshoot or unless you are really really skinny. I find it a tad annoying because it disturbs your walk down the aisle, and your dad/bro who is holding your hand will have to move one step to the side making them take crab steps. Hehe.

This is from seeing is believing-experience ‘pep talk’.

Last but not least, always bring your trusted girlfriends when shopping for the right gown. Another pair of eyeballs is better than one.

When old friends catch up… (Part Three)

2010-05-04T13:35:00.001+08:00

Last Saturday, Maya, Michelle, J and I went to Annalakshmi the vegetarian restaurant located at Brickfields. Run by the charitable Temple of Fine Arts, this Indian buffet restaurant serves hearty, spicy South Indian vegetarian food. The noble thing about this place is that you pay what you think the meal was worth and the proceeds help fund the charitable work of the foundation. Pretty awesome, right?

As usual, ladies and I had a good time eating, chatting and snapping (photos) away. Felt a tad weird though when we were walking around the place to take pictures because eyes were gawking. LOL!

My camera, as usual was acting up. Sigh!

How do you like your tea?

2010-04-30T17:30:00.001+08:00

I was at F&N’s ‘Cerita Teh Tarik’ event yesterday and saw the abang-abang from mamak in action. I couldn’t get the entire thing because I was amused by their dance movements while they were pulling the tea. Haha. It looked like fun! Then I remembered my camera. ;-P

F&N yesterday launched TV shows that tell tales of Malaysian life that showcases the impact of teh tarik in our daily lives. It will be aired on TV3 every Thursday at 6pm, seven episodes in total.

Farty Facts!

2010-04-28T17:17:00.000+08:00

Learn the very interesting facts about human fart! HAHA!

Watch that weight!

2010-04-27T16:58:00.000+08:00

Since the day I know that I’m getting married, I had a few naggings here and there about my weight especially on the mid waist and thigh. Sometimes it was just so difficult that I gave up but only earned resentment and arguments. I admit it was never easy for me (I thought I should stop eating!).

Though the detox green tea is helping slightly but the weight in the mid section doesn’t seem to wear off. I know the only thing I could do was to exercise and I succeeded above average last year for my engagement, and now the struggle is back for the wedding!

I can’t seem to stop binging on yummy food, though I’m a vegan now. There is always something really nice to eat everywhere! Plus when I’m out with friends or family, how to say no to certain things though I take them in small amounts, it doesn’t seem to work for me. It’s still the same!

I managed to exercise every morning before work before my engagement, but now I’m just tired and can’t seem to wake up on time for exercise - always late and rushing for work.

Realized today that some celebrities also have the same problem but theirs are manageable simply because they got the time and money to do it!

I have to do something about the mid section, like seriously! Maybe pick up something from them:

Giuliana enlisted Gwyneth's detox guru, Dr. Junger, who put her on a 3-week regimen of smoothies to shed some weight from her stomach. One meal of raw veggies a day was also allowed.

Jen says she could never give up dairy or wine but tries to eat healthy all the time. "My advice: just stop eating shit every day," she said.

Leona kickstarted her dramatic weight loss last summer with a strict, month-long detox, subsisting on nothing but vegetables and water.

Kim loves her curves, but she is paid to endorse Quick Trim and quick to mention it in any interview about her body.

I know you may think I’m being ridiculous but I know deep down inside, you believe that when you look awesome, you will feel really awesome too.

Lazy Weekend

2010-04-26T17:36:00.001+08:00

Recent Saturday and Sunday were one of those days that I didn’t do anything but watch TV all day long! I guess you can say I needed the break. What more with mom not well – she got conjunctivitis (today she’s looking better).

Oh maybe the only wedding related thing I did was that I met up with my Deejay. Finally! He is one impossible person to catch hold of. But I managed to pin him down on Saturday. We brainstormed for a bit. He seemed to have it all figured, well he should since he is experienced. ;-)

I just hope and pray that my bollywood night will be awesome. Really want everyone to enjoy the night. I know some of my relatives don’t really enjoy the Hindi songs, not to fret; we have cool and happening Tamil songs as well.

Really looking forward to it. ;-D

Now to fix a date to meet up with my lovely emcees…

Sorry guys, curi-ed your pictures... ;-P XOXO!

Pre-Wedding Shots

2010-04-23T17:07:00.000+08:00

I was pretty excited to do the pre-wedding photoshoot at Blissful Bridal Studio, Penang because get to dress-up and pose here and there like celebrity. ;-P

BUT because it was of postures, I had to hold my smile and re-smile time and again leading my smiles to look a tad fake.

So I’m putting up pictures of what I think is not so fake. Oh Clement looks good in every picture by the way…. Hmmppphh.. ;-p

When old friends catch up… (Part Two)

2010-04-21T17:17:00.000+08:00

Hidup Journo! Yeah we are a bunch of ex-Taylorians who are very devoted to journalism and hopes (really hopes) that some day we will work together to start up Jom Travel® magazine. It is one of our aim when are old (by that I mean WISE), and been there and done that. It’s a long way to go but I believe the idea keeps us bonded.

We, Daphne, Maya, Kathleen, Natalie, Nazatul and I (Megat couldn’t make it) met recently at Chola Spice, Bandar Sunway. Another awesome restaurant that has 'innovative' items such as the vegetarian cheese parata. I thought the best mango lassi I drank was at a place in Brickfields (can’t remember the name, long time ago. But Maya might be able to), but now I’m torn between that and Chola. It’s super yummy! Wonder how did the orange lassi tasted…hmm… (fishing for a comment from Kat. Hehe!)

This meeting was for me to extend my wedding invitations (wheee!) Sad that Megat Farid (!) couldn’t join us. (Happy Birthday to your grandma).

I guess I don’t feel it yet that I’m getting married. It was just like any other gatherings we had – always end up with stomachache, throat pain and slight giddiness due to too much of laughter and loud conversations. Daphne and her mom’s monkey encounter wrapped up the evening with some good ideas on what to do when you are in Bali. Poor aunty, luckily the guides helped.

Most of us are looking for a leap from our current employer, which is a good thing I believe; while others are still doing some soul-searching. I am so glad and thankful that we are as close as we were back in college and no one can beat those moments we had – those were indeed the days.

I sometimes do wonder how we will be when we are over 40 years. Hmm… One thing guys, wherever you may be, come back for the gathering for it might be our Jom Travel® meeting. ;-D

Xoxo to my dearest Journos!

My first time…

2010-04-20T17:57:00.000+08:00

To be at a blogger’s event called Gatsby Street Fair, last Saturday was really cool. I have never seen a huge number of blogging enthusiasts at one place - Berjaya Times Square. Gatsby and Nuffnang did a really great job in sealing the brand and blogging (new media) together. I was proud to be one of them, bloggers. It was also the largest gathering of bloggers under the Malaysia Book of Record, apparently – 518 bloggers.

I went there alone, determined to participate in the numerous games they had. Naturally I made a few friends, one that shared her blog URL with me (yes, we no longer exchange numbers, but blogs. Chewah!) Her name is Sya who owns oldthrowaways.blogspot.com

Very friendly person and so was her boyfriend, Amin.

I mingled here and there while being sprayed by skinny chicks who were promoting Gatsby’s 7 new deodorants. Couldn’t stay long to collect prizes I might have won ;-P But hey I did win a few coupons that were exchangeable to something that I didn’t get to see as I was running off to meet Maya and Michelle. I donated it to a dude I met during our match of Snake and Ladder (ya ya me very the generous).

Looking forward to more such events :-)

my new friend, Sya =)

When old friends catch up… (Part One)

2010-04-19T16:17:00.002+08:00

Last week started off really good for me. All went according to plan (that rarely happens). Very fruitful week indeed. On Friday I started giving out my dinner reception/wedding invitations to one of my group of close buddies – of whom are now no longer with Virtual Malaysia (the company where all of us worked at one point in life). So we called this the Ex-VM meet up.

We met at Pappa Rich, Sunway Pyramid (Nanee’s request), and I'm glad we did. They served variety of food and drinks; they even had vegetarian nasi lemak (oh! Lucky me! LOL). The people who came to have a nice quiet dinner at Pappa Rich would have left frustrated/annoyed/agitated/amused. Hehe. That’s because we were so loud to the point where even when we tried to shush each other, it was loud. LOL!

Meeting up with friends are always the best times in my life. It can never go wrong! This bunch was so crazy, I think Nana’s baby girl would have wondered where the heck was mommy at or how many monkeys is she with. LOL! Poor baby, she was violated via Nana (the raba-raba Nana’s belly sessions). ;-P

I’m glad some of us are at the places where we want to be, and I hope the others who feel left behind will get there soon. One thing is for sure, I’m rooting for Celeste to be the next Rookie. (You can do it babe!).

Oh also me is jealous Faris got new DSLR - a Sony! I also want la dei! Had fun with it but need time to master, man.

But here are pictures from my good old Kodak EasyShare M883. ;-)

Ooooh.. these (below) are from Faris's new gadget - all of which are my favourites! (Me took the black and white ones. hehe!)

Makan-makan at Radius

2010-04-16T17:23:00.001+08:00

I don’t think I have ever been out with my colleagues after working hours. So this will be the first. Anita, Khairul and I had a good time at Radius International Hotel last night. They invited us (Anita) for the hotel’s appreciation night. We ate, goofed around and watched fire performances by three men who did their tricks of the trades.

Khairul helped me take some good pictures of them while I was enjoying the desserts (unfortunately couldn’t stuff myself due to spaghetti overload. LOL!)

We missed Llew-Ann though. Would have been even more fun with her around, plus with Khairul’s impromptu lame jokes! OMG that fellow is a real nut, in a good way. Haha! It has been long since people watch me laugh so loud in a public place, and finally yesterday I got my chance. ;-P

As usual, I was inspired to take some pics… until the dark night took over.

Poor Khai, got sun-lump. Makes him think slow sometimes. LOL! ;-P

Yea, the overload

p/s: Radius has got really good yummy food!

Meet the Tailor

2010-04-15T17:56:00.000+08:00

One of the most challenging things in my wedding preparation list was the maid of honour and bridesmaids’ dresses. With three different personalities not easy to imagine what they want. Haha. I believe Maya, Michelle, Kavitha and I have been talking about the right dress for yonks, as there were so MANY designs and colours out there!

But finally it went all good when we found the right colours/designs and tailor, Mrs. Tan. Gave her three different assignments yesterday to be completed by June.

Hope she remembers the designs/ideas given and spoken. Hehe.

I’m confident it will turn out well. ;-)

The ladies exchanging design ideas

Mrs. Tan doing her thing..

Sugary Arguments

2010-04-14T17:12:00.000+08:00

Sometimes mom doesn’t understand when I say I want it to be unique. This is all my grandparents fault! Haha. They taught her everything in a robotic-unable-to-change-or-adapt manner. So if it was A during their time, it HAS TO BE an A as well now! Where can??

First it was the gown, then the cards and now cake. So fun you know! Haha. We get to debate about what is nice and necessary. I kind of like the idea of cakes with cupcakes for the wedding reception in Seremban. Just that I need to find someone who can do it. So cousin Saras to the rescue. She might have found the right person, and shall be hearing from her soon.

Unique

Lovely and cute!

Shoes!

2010-04-13T17:35:00.000+08:00

Looking forward to wedding shoe shopping this weekend with Maya. We have a list of other things to bag as well, which reminds me – I better make a list.

I used to strut around with high heels, but nowadays I can't even walk straight with it for more than 15 minutes! To avoid any mishaps during the ceremony, I'm rooting for my favourite (see pic, me not sure what you call it. LOL!) It looks more secured than any other.

Browsed through the net and noticed some other really good-looking ones too. I hope it won’t be too hard for me to choose.

What's your kinda shoe?

Nothing so fun like shopping!

2010-04-12T13:00:00.001+08:00

Mom had a ball of a time shopping last Saturday at a place she always wanted to go – Chennai Silk Palace Klang. Well, what can I say, that place has everything you need from banaras, kashmeer to kanjipuram and all types of silk sarees, and accessories to match.

Mom was like a kid on sugar rush, never seen a shop that serves all needs. Haha. Very cute. She got all she wanted for my wedding to look as good as the bride’s mother; so she’d say.

I only bought two types of bangles, gold and pink-silver – really eye-catching. Next shopping will be with Clement. Have to make a date with him soon! So many other things to buy as well. Wheeee! Twirls twirls twirls.

See pictures taken at Chennai Silk. The prices are reasonable and negotiable.

Mom's journey via KTM. It was crawling as usual, so she naps with some songs.. hehe.

They had really nice interior too.

Our Malayalee sarees for Sandhya's wedding

My bangles =)

Finally I managed to give the Menons their KK souvenirs. Hehe.

The End! Hehe!

My idea of a fun wedding

2010-04-09T18:24:00.000+08:00

1. Must have loud music that will make you want to shake your booty all night long. I feel that happy happening songs will keep the crowd alive.

2. Loads of jokes. Must not be too formal. Emcee must relate to a lot of couple/wedding related jokes.

3. Strike funny poses for the photographer. Once in a lifetime to goof around with the gown and all super dressed up.

4. Have interactive games – engage with the crowd so that they will have some memorable moments too!

5. I love surprises! So either someone get this hint here or expect one from me. Hehe!

No bunny for Easter, just KFC

2010-04-08T17:22:00.000+08:00

I don’t remember Easter service taking 3-hour long, but it did this year at Church of Visitation. Haha. I’m not complaining just that we were all famished by the time it ended. As always Father Michael gave a really good sermon but I can’t remember it very well now. Only remember being very sleepy. ;-P Sorry Lord my God.

Clement was very excited about the mass and we managed to get good seat. After mass, he drove to KFC… after so long… Mmmmm.. But I’m still a vegan, so I ate wedges. Yummy to the last bit. Haha. We got some for mom and dad. Ate, drank, chatted and then went to bed about 3am. Simple and quiet Easter, this year. For me, it was extra special because Clement was with us in Seremban (cause I don’t know where we will be spending our Easter next year).

Tamil Drama's Mean Characters

2010-04-06T18:07:00.002+08:00

I came across a website yesterday that named all the leading ladies from Hollywood who play the mean, vengeful characters on TV dramas on Star World (channel 711). Got me thinking about all the spiteful characters on the Tamil dramas. It starts from 6pm right up to 11pm (that’s my dad’s timing to watch his favourite Tamil dramas!) As you can imagine, that doesn’t leave me any choice but to unwind by watching them with dad (I can’t go longer than one drama – 30 minutes).

So I have managed to track down the villis (villains) of Tamil drama and here they are. Their roles are always to topple down some good people, cause injury, very argumentative and deceiving, just like some of the stars on 711. A lesson not to be like them ok (if you watch the series la, otherwise I believe they are all good people). This is just for-the-fun-of-it post. ;-)

Malavika Avinash

Sneha Nambiar

Sudha Chandran

And here are the English-speaking characters - hehe

Vanessa Williams

Katie Cassidy

AnnaLynne McCord

What kind of movie do you like to watch?

2010-04-05T18:06:00.001+08:00

I love to watch comedy, romance and a good action-packed movie. Recently, I heard a lot of good reviews about this not-so-new movie, Aayirathil Oruvan. Intrigued, I finally got my chance to watch it last night on my laptop.

Lead actors Karthi Sivakumar, Reema Sen, Andrea Jeremiah and Parthiban equally played their role extremely well. I think Reema Sen finally found her true role – the mean villain. Yes, she is hot and sweet but when she turns mean, she is really good, you will feel like slapping her face (its because she carries the character really well). Karthi Sivakumar, heartthrob Suria’s younger brother has been taking on challenging roles from day one and is on his way to becoming a shining star of his own.

I enjoyed the beginning of the movie, but lost it towards the end due to language. It was some ancient Tamil one used during Chola rulings. Didn’t quite get it until I read about it on Wiki this morning.

The story is taken to A.D. 1279, where the death of the Chola dynasty seems imminent and people are being driven out of their kingdom by the Pandyas in southern India. To escape from them and save the life of his successor, the Chola emperor sends his son, along with his people to a secret territory unknown to his enemies. The prince is seen leaving with the chosen few who are made responsible for the safety of the prince and the rest of the people. The Cholas also take away with them an idol sacred to the Pandyas, which angers them even more. To capture the escaped Cholas and retrieve their idol, the Pandyas extend their invasion to the unexplored territories which the Cholas cover with their prince, but eventually fail.

It’s a good movie, something out of the ordinary. You should watch it.

Christ is the Reason for the Season

2010-04-04T13:56:00.000+08:00

Happy Easter Everyone! Christ is the REASON for the SEASON! Be merry and joyful for Christ has risen...!

Witnesses of God: When you are humiliated…

2010-04-02T17:53:00.000+08:00

What do you do when you are made the joke of the day? Do you feel like smacking someone in the head and say ‘stop laughing at me’? Or do you build up on the emotion and wail in the room afterwards? Or you laugh along?

Yesterday Father Michael from Church of Visitation Seremban gave a good sermon relating April Fool’s day to priesthood. He said a priest is like a fool. I didn’t understand at first why he said as it seemed like a very strong accusation that could offend some other priests. But he had a very unique explanation. He said a priest is a joker or a fool because he is able to accept the joke and allow others to have a hearty laugh.

It is natural for one to get offended and angry when being made the joke of the day. But priesthood allows them to see beyond that and share in the laughter. Like Jesus who was often ridiculed and questioned but he never once felt bad, sad or offended. He (laughed) forgave and moved on.

As I have mentioned before in my previous entries, to be Christ-like is a daily struggle and I don’t want to give up (hope you won’t too). These kind of sermons rekindles my days of annoyance with family or friends who made me the laughing stock. Next time I shall remember to laugh with them with the thought that I have made their day, and then forgive (if offended) and move on. Not going to be easy. But I have to try, at least to see life in a different perspective.

Are you with me?