Peepers

I am – thankfully – blessed with relatively problem-free skin. Despite not paying a lot of attention to my face, it has remained pretty much blemish free, with the odd pimple. The main issue I face are undereye bags and rings.

In recent weeks, I have had random colleagues remarking that I look tired or ask if I am sick because they thought I look so. It was getting tiresome answering these questions because I wasn’t tired nor sick. In fact, I did wear make-up to work but stangely, those questions did not stop.

When I was at BV confirming my gown design, Michelle also remarked that I look tired. GAH! The only difference was, we went about trying to find out the root cause and it was soon apparent that the reason why people keep asking if I am tired/sick is because of my undereyebags and dark eye rings!

That was it, I have had enough of looking tired. It was time to do something about it.

So last weekend, the boy and I were out shopping (bless his little heart, he’s very patient when he goes shopping with me) and I bought a whole bag of eye-related products:

Talika eye dream, from Sephora @ Takashimaya. It wasn’t cheap ($89) so it had better work! It’s an undereye mask that I apply before I head to  bed. Very easy to use as it has an applicator which means you do not need to use your hands. Nifty!

Garnier Light Brightening Eye Roll-On. I saw an advertorial on it and at $19.90, thought what the heck, I’d just get it. Apparently, it contains caffeine. Hmmm. I use it in the mornings before I put on make-up.

Mac Select Moisturecover ($28). This little tube works wonders! I do love Mac cosmetics and have been religiously using their pressed powder for a while now. The staff at the counter (Tangs) was absolutely helpful as well because all I said was “I am looking for undereye concealer” and voila! They produced the perfect shade. Amazing!

I have added it to my make-up routine and you know what? Not only do I *not* get questions about why I look tired, people actually comment that I look nice?!!

I can finally see why some girls are so into make-up because indeed, they do wonders

To be honest, I haven’t noticed any marked improvement in my undereye bags and rings but I shall keep at it. Better than not doing anything at all eh? Also, for the sake of looking good on the big day, I had better not be lazy.

As the boy wisely remarked (when I was lamenting about being lazy with my face masks):

世上没有丑女，只有懒女

The gown.

I was at Bridal Veil this evening to finalise the wedding gown as well as to have my measurements taken. As the boy is away on reservist, I decided to ask the sister along to help with the decision-making. I have pretty much narrowed down my options but just needed to try on a similar gown to see how I look in it.

Well, my selected gown received the thumbs up from the sister so the decision is final. The wedding gown has been decided.

The first fitting is tentatively slated for 10 Feb. The boy will also be getting his measurements taken for his suit. I can’t wait to see him in his suit

Europe. Or not.

Many friends have been asking: So where’s the honeymoon?

We haven’t actually discussed the honeymoon in detail because…well, we just haven’t. When I was much younger, my dream destination was Maldives. I dreamt of white sandy beaches, clear as crystal turquoise waters and soaking in the sun. I also dreamt of jumping into the water direct from my villa-on-the-water and enjoying a 2-hour full-body massage from our villa.

Yeah, something like that.

As I became older wiser, days of lying on a beach doing nothing doesn’t appeal as much anymore. Besides, I have done my fair share of holidays doing just that.  I no longer just want to sit on a beach and do nothing! I want to visit new places, gain new knowledge, see the world!

*beats chest*

So when the boy asked if I would like to join his aunty and her family on a trip to Europe as part of our honeymoon, my first though was: Huh? Honeymoon with relatives?

The initial idea wasn’t very appealing but the boy reminded me that we will not be spending our entire holiday with them. We’d go off and do our own thing after hanging out with them for a bit.

Ah. Now, that sounded more plausible.

Side background story: His aunty – let’s call her Aunty M – is married to a German and they are heading back to Germany to celebrate his mum’s birthday.

I didn’t think much of it until a couple of days ago when the boy’s aunty (let’s call her Aunty M) rang me about the trip. They are going ahead to book the air tickets and she was calling to ask about our plans. I then realised that they were actually very serious about it. As we haven’t actually sat down to talk about it, I promised that I’d discuss it with the boy and let her know the outcome.

So last evening, as we were sitting in front of the television, the boy and I discussed our possible honeymoon for the very first time. I looked at the academic calendar and amazingly, the dates Aunty M and family are travelling coincides nicely with the mid-term break of the semester. What are the chances?

As always, because I am the one with the tourism backgroud, guess who was the one who checked-out the air ticket prices, routing, as well as possible tours?

The only country I have been to in Europe is England. The boy hasn’t even flown that far. Thus, I suggested that we do a mix of a packaged tour and free-and-easy.

I am pretty much already single-handedly planning our wedding and I really do not want to plan our entire honeymoon as well. At the same time, I am not a big fan of packaged tours where you follow the guide around like sheep but I decided that taking a not-too-long tour can actually save us a lot of hassle, not to mention, time and money. I used to work for a tour operator so naturally, they were my first and only choice for a package tour (Mr RY ex-boss: Are you reading this?)

So this is what I have drawn up:

29 May – 6 Jun: Frankfurt, Germany (with Aunty M and family)
6 Jun – 15 Jun: 10 Days Rome to London tour with Insight Vacations
15 Jun – 20 Jun: Free-and-easy in London to see the sights or maybe, just maybe, we can do a quick side trip to Liverpool for the boy to experience the Anfield Museum & Tour?

Second side note: I just found out that the cheapest way to get to/from London/Liverpool is by National Express coach and it only takes about 2.5 hours!

We just need to find about S$15,000 to make that dream materialise. Time to buy Toto, 4D or rob a bank.

Why lk dis?

I found this post on the Singapore bride’s forum.

Pray tell, do you:
1) understand what the poster is trying to say?
2) manage to finish reading the entire post? (I gave up after 5 lines because I got a headache)

You’ve been warned. Here goes:

Hi all, I am in a dilemma and would appreciate some advice here.

My bf and I have been together for 5 yrs and are planning to settle down this year. Throughout our r/s, we are prone to havin quarrels and it seems like it has also bcme a part of our r/s. Sometimes when finally ok, aft sometime its like again. I am not sure are there really sme r/s that need quarrels on and off to substain? I might b askin a stupid qns please pardon me but I am not sure coz I have heard some couples are veri gd w/o quarrels and sme are havin quarrels which I heard unavoidable since we are 2 diff individuals but I m also not sure whether are our quarrels gg extreme or wat..

We are actually in the midst of settling down preparations. However, things occur recently. When I asked him to check his acc balance, we found out that there is lesser funds. I wondered why and asked him since it was meant to be a savings acc. He say he dunoe and say that he din spend any recently then say I should know since he seldom spend on stuff. Then I asked him to think carefully. Its like a few hundreds gone. Then he think and told me he noe liao… muz b due to the co cam he used @ wk and accidentally make it spoilt. Nd to pay bk few hundreds.. I was so angry.. not only coz he wasted this money but he din let me know at all… smemore is until I ask him chk 2gather our acc balance then noe… OMG… if I din ask him 2 chk tink I wun gt 2 noe.. He say he din tel me coz wait I gt angry or wat… bt nw I found out wun I be more angry..

When I pour my woes to my sis, she told me another shocking tink. She say tat gt 1 tink she din tel me coz she noe we are actually in the midst of preparations dun wana wan affect us.. she say gt 1 dae she & her bf when sendin her hm 2 my bustop, saw my bf when gg bk tat x lk gg 2 light up the cigarette bt then lk saw them then quickly hid it… I was so sad when I heard it. We are 2gather for 5 yrs… b4 we start 2gather he did smoke.. and I already tel him I dun lk my bf 2 smoke.. and so therefore he quitted.. but I was really upset that seems like he still smoke.. I call him and ask him did he ever hid smetink from me. He ask mi y I ask this qns and say no. I was like teary and when we mit, he still say no. I was wondering whether did my sis and bf saw correctly.. but my sis say its like 2 ppl eyes.. how can c wrongly… I feel soooo sad….and heartbroken… but he din admit oso… and say if I don’t trust him he oso cant say anitink..

We mit almost everydae recently due to recent preparations and now almost all tinks are settled and we decide to mit lesser as he nd x 2 do his tinks also. We mit on our anniversary and its lovely tat he bot flowers and waited at my ofc lobby.. as I m rather tired we juz go bk 2 hav dinner and then the following 2 daes we din mit as 1st dae is he tired and 2nd dae is he gt to do smetink. It has been q sme x since we 2 daes in a row nt mtg… normally is juz a dae…Normally weekdae we seldom go out is just cme over my hse hav dinner 2gather.. the 3rd dae I nd 2 get sometink and tot of gg c aft wk.. I msg him the dae b4 tel him 2 dress nicer coz if not he sme x wear lk informal lk tat.. but the day I msg him ask him wat he wear.. he told mi jeans… I told him tot already msg say dress nicer hw come wear jeans… he say coz he nd 2 go many pl durin wk so wear jeans more comfy 2 him.. I was wondering shouldn’t he be informing mi let me know in advance b4 he wear out.. and smemore its lk aft I ask then I realised all this… hes the type who dun like wear shirt and pants de… and due to his wk he is oso nt reqd to wear formal bt I told him last x tat it might be better 2 wear semi-formal pants which is lk nt veri formal and oso nt veri casual since ur gg wk more appropriate attitre on wkin daes unless its fri or wkends… if nt I tink he would everydae wear jeans…. We have therefore long ago agreed on tat instead of wearing too formal which he dun lk and oso nt reqd and wearin jeans which not suitable we agree on the semi-formal pants and hav bot few sme x bk. bcoz of tis incident, we have a quarrel over this and as its not the 1st x such tink happen and he noe tat I dun like him 2 wear jeans wkin… I was veri angry and he said that does it really matter what he wear and ask mi y I so mind… I juz feel wearin jeans unless is wkends or fri and not those wkin daes… if nt its lk ur wearing jeans everydae wat… there is no diff btn ur wkin ant… I say I tot this is already make known 2 both of us le hw come tinks still happen again… he oso lose his temper and say vulgar few x aft my sayin.. told me that wear nice nice but no heart 2 mit oso lk nt gd…. So its like indirectly sayin even though he din dress nice he gt heart 2 mit all tis… but 4 mi I dun think this way… aniwae gt heart ant who will noe rt… smemore its like he will scare I nt happy or wat juz cme mit mi de… I juz cant 4gt that he say vulgar 2 mi few x… aft tat, he did apologise 2 mi for losin his temper… bt who can pretend nth happen… we are gg 2 get married this year but things are like tat.. not sure hw..

Gt once we oso quarrel while we are havin dinner on a small table @ my rm… end up he lk so angry then push the table and I was lk opp the table and my knees was lk knocked and bcme blue black… the food was oso throw onto the floor and mattress was oso dirtied.. end up we hav 2 go buy replacement…. This incident happen last yr b4 we start our planning… I have 4gotten what we have quarrelled about..

I am not sure whether did I choose the correct person ant…. Throughout our r/s, we have oso encountered each other sayin break up all tis… bt is lk 2gather… I m not sure whether is there a really perfect bf or husband in this reality… actually, b4 we start 2gather, I told him hes not the type I wan from my life partner… but he is q sincere to be wif mi and we get 2gather, he did q caring all tis as a bf and I tot it should be ok.. I m not sure m I too particular on the dress code or wat? My fren say is a small matter.. but its like not 1st x … tink throughout our r/s say few x le… its lk sme x he will noe bt duno its 4gt or wat then sme x tinks happen again.. I m oso not sure is it bcoz I din accept the way he is or wat.. bt I juz feel lk I cant really accept this.. nw I m lk fear of choosin the wrong person……..

Appreciate some advice here.. Thanx

Gorgeousness

Aren’t these wedding cakes just the prettiest things you have seen? Not too sure about its taste but they are too gorgeous to be eaten!

Love, Love Me Do

I just discovered this website through a Facebook link. It contains lots of interesting nuggets about wedding planning, etc.

This particular entry made me laugh out loud. Go check it out.

Dilemma. Again.

Ok, so I have received the first proposal for the wedding gown design. I am now torn between going with the classic look (i.e. boring but safe) or the trendy look (i.e. modern and different without looking ridiculous). I even asked the boy to make the decision for me but he only laughed it off and walked away.

Tsk.

How how how how how how?

SIGH. This is too difficult.

*runs away*

JP found!

So I have been on the lookout for a JP to solemnise our wedding. I emailed three JPs after trawling the wedding forums:

• Mr Chia Ti Yu
• Mr Yeo Woon Soo
• Mr Pierre Paul Gaudette @ Brother Emmanuel

I dropped them an email each and waited. Mr Chia was the first to reply but he sounded rather curt and business-like.

Mr Gaudette replied next. He addressed the both of us and only asked to clarify if we are baptised Catholics as he is unable to solemnise our wedding in a civil ceremony if we are. He also sounded polite with ‘please’ and ‘thank yous’.

Mr Yeo was the last to reply. His email was rather strange as he asked me for information about the two of us, such as citizenship / age / first marriage? / how long we have known each other, etc.

Hm….

I checked with the boy and he had no particular preference and left the choice to me. I mused about it for a while and decided to call…

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Mr Gaudette. Here’s an article with a photo of him on it.

I had a quick 5-minutes chat on the phone with him and he sounded firm but grandfatherly. His diction was also good and clear which is important. He also asked me for the time of our solemnisation and honestly, we have not finalised that. He insisted at that point that he needed to know as he may have other solemnisation ceremonies the same evening.

So I thought for 3 seconds and told him that our ceremony will be at…6.30pm.

Just like that.

He also gave me his solemnisation license number so that we can file for the  marriage notice closer to date. According to the ROM website, we can only file it 3 months in advance so the earliest we can do it is 22 Feb 2009 which really isn’t too far away.

So there you go. One more item on the to-do list ticked off. I like