my favourite 'cher recently celebrated her birthday, and while we missed the actual day itself (we never seem to be able to make it on actual birthdays), the wunders always make sure that eventually there's a celebration.

so almost a month in the planning, we'd found a place to go to (cafe hacienda), booked everyone's times (no double booking dramas this time!) and then gathered for a lovely catch up session :)

we'd tricked her first into thinking that her birthday present was a picnic mat. it was quite hilarious because she obviously had a 'what the...?' moment when we handed it to her. we knew she'd love it anyway because it was given by us, but would have gone home to CNLee and wondered, 'why did they give me a picnic mat?'


this is just a polite 'mmm, okay... thanks?' smile for the camera

and then we revealed the rest of her present...


TADAH!

the picnic mat went along with the great big picnic basket we'd filled with all sorts of goodies!! PFLS and i had a great ole time trying to find things to put inside... actually i suspect we may have had too good a time! but it was all for our jojobeans, so we were happy to do it :)

happy birthday Captain Underpants :)
love and little love!

i am amazingly busy. whether it's a good busy or not, i'm still trying to decide. i just hope that i know when enough is enough because this isn't the time to push myself too hard. but... i guess time will tell. although i'm kind of glad that i'm feeling so productive.

and really, i never thought i'd say this - but i can't wait for F1 to be OVER.

have i ever mentioned that i love pictures of clouds?





sometimes it's about being in the right place, at the right time...
picture taken by mrA at one of the changi runways

it's been one really long week - from a super long off-site meetings (six hours... seriously!) to dealing with work stuff and being used as someone's punching bag, to realising just how useless some people at work can be (and i'm talking about more than one here... listening to the two of them discussing something, i went from wanting to stab them both with my pencil, to just wanting to stab myself with it!).

and then on the way home i got a phone call from my mom in a slight panic, because S's mom had called her in a panic, because S was meant to meet her mom at 6pm, but an hour later still hadn't shown up and wasn't answering her phone. i called a couple of her colleagues and we managed to track her down. i think someone needs to install a GPS chip on that woman.

so i got home, slightly exhausted both mentally and physically. reminded myself that the weekend was here, and it'd be a perfect time to recharge. getting around is becoming a bit of a toll because of all that extra weight, so i try and take things at a more leisurely pace.

so this weekend is a lovely chilled-out brunch, hopefully a pedicure thrown in somewhere, and then S's nephew's birthday celebrations (at which she's going to get an earful from me for not telling her mom she'd be late!), but other than that, i think i shall just relax and take things easy...

what's your weekend looking like?

i was lucky enough the other weekend to try out the volkswagen scirocco. now when i first saw the car, i thought it had a back-side that only a mother could love (to borrow one of mrA's phrases). it looked... odd and a bit flattened. it wasn't ugly, but it just wasn't anything that would turn my head if i saw it on the street.


yes, the one we were driving around was this violently green shade...
which admittedly kinda grows on you!

but driving isn't just about the looks of the car, and i soon found out there's a whole different level of pleasure when it comes to driving. mrA spent most of the weekend driving up and down our little island, not so much because he had to but because he just really wanted to. he enthused about the sound the engine made, cooed over the torque and turbo the car had and was absolutely delighted with the engine 'farts' and pops it made as he changed gears.

in fact, he loved driving it so much, i only got to hop behind the wheel for all of about... half an hour. lol! but from the time i spent with the car, i have to say, i was pretty impressed too. it was easy to drive, the brakes were very sensitive, and it had all those wonderful little touches that helps you drive a little better (you know, auto-lights, rain sensors, etc). amazingly easy to park because of the wide windows behind, i'm sure that if little limlette wasn't on her way, it would have definitely been a car that we'd seriously consider. especially when we realised what am amazing fuel consumption this little pocket rocket had. it's nowhere near as thirsty as the S-GT, even when we were doing plenty of city driving and mrA had plenty of fun testing out its turbo power.

unfortunately, sporting a big bump doesn't make this car the easiest (or lets one look the most graceful) when you're trying to climb in and out. we even brought my mom out for a ride, but she promptly said it was not mother-in-law approved because it took her a while to climb in and out.

in the end though, you realise that some things just grow on you (not so good looks and otherwise), and if the scirocco came in a four-door version, i think it'd be something we'd already have bought by now!

vroom vroom.

and i think i can identify people who belong in the groups, too!

The 12 most annoying types of Facebookers
By Brandon Griggs
CNN

(CNN) -- Facebook, for better or worse, is like being at a big party with all your friends, family, acquaintances and co-workers.

Facebook can be a great tool, and an occasional annoyance. What kind of Facebooker are you?

There are lots of fun, interesting people you're happy to talk to when they stroll up. Then there are the other people, the ones who make you cringe when you see them coming. This article is about those people.

Sure, Facebook can be a great tool for keeping up with folks who are important to you. Take the status update, the 160-character message that users post in response to the question, "What's on your mind?" An artful, witty or newsy status update is a pleasure -- a real-time, tiny window into a friend's life.

But far more posts read like navel-gazing diary entries, or worse, spam. A recent study categorized 40 percent of Twitter tweets as "pointless babble," and it wouldn't be surprising if updates on Facebook, still a fast-growing social network, break down in a similar way. Take a CNN quiz: What kind of Facebooker are you? »

Combine dull status updates with shameless self-promoters, "friend-padders" and that friend of a friend who sends you quizzes every day, and Facebook becomes a daily reminder of why some people can get on your nerves.

Here are 12 of the most annoying types of Facebook users:

The Let-Me-Tell-You-Every-Detail-of-My-Day Bore. "I'm waking up." "I had Wheaties for breakfast." "I'm bored at work." "I'm stuck in traffic." You're kidding! How fascinating! No moment is too mundane for some people to broadcast unsolicited to the world. Just because you have 432 Facebook friends doesn't mean we all want to know when you're waiting for the bus.

The Self-Promoter. OK, so we've probably all posted at least once about some achievement. And sure, maybe your friends really do want to read the fascinating article you wrote about beet farming. But when almost EVERY update is a link to your blog, your poetry reading, your 10k results or your art show, you sound like a bragger or a self-centered careerist.

The Friend-Padder. The average Facebook user has 120 friends on the site. Schmoozers and social butterflies -- you know, the ones who make lifelong pals on the subway -- might reasonably have 300 or 400. But 1,000 "friends?" Unless you're George Clooney or just won the lottery, no one has that many. That's just showing off.

The Town Crier. "Michael Jackson is dead!!!" You heard it from me first! Me, and the 213,000 other people who all saw it on TMZ. These Matt Drudge wannabes are the reason many of us learn of breaking news not from TV or news sites but from online social networks. In their rush to trumpet the news, these people also spread rumors, half-truths and innuendo. No, Jeff Goldblum did not plunge to his death from a New Zealand cliff.

The TMIer. "Brad is heading to Walgreens to buy something for these pesky hemorrhoids." Boundaries of privacy and decorum don't seem to exist for these too-much-information updaters, who unabashedly offer up details about their sex lives, marital troubles and bodily functions. Thanks for sharing.

The Bad Grammarian. "So sad about Fara Fauset but Im so gladd its friday yippe". Yes, I know the punctuation rules are different in the digital world. And, no, no one likes a spelling-Nazi schoolmarm. But you sound like a moron.

The Sympathy-Baiter. "Barbara is feeling sad today." "Man, am I glad that's over." "Jim could really use some good news about now." Like anglers hunting for fish, these sad sacks cast out their hooks -- baited with vague tales of woe -- in the hopes of landing concerned responses. Genuine bad news is one thing, but these manipulative posts are just pleas for attention.

The Lurker. The Peeping Toms of Facebook, these voyeurs are too cautious, or maybe too lazy, to update their status or write on your wall. But once in a while, you'll be talking to them and they'll mention something you posted, so you know they're on your page, hiding in the shadows. It's just a little creepy.

The Crank. These curmudgeons, like the trolls who spew hate in blog comments, never met something they couldn't complain about. "Carl isn't really that impressed with idiots who don't realize how idiotic they are." [Actual status update.] Keep spreading the love.

The Paparazzo. Ever visit your Facebook page and discover that someone's posted a photo of you from last weekend's party -- a photo you didn't authorize and haven't even seen? You'd really rather not have to explain to your mom why you were leering like a drunken hyena and French-kissing a bottle of Jagermeister.

The Maddening Obscurist. "If not now then when?" "You'll see..." "Grist for the mill." "John is, small world." "Dave thought he was immune, but no. No, he is not." [Actual status updates, all.] Sorry, but you're not being mysterious -- just nonsensical.

The Chronic Inviter. "Support my cause. Sign my petition. Play Mafia Wars with me. Which 'Star Trek' character are you? Here are the 'Top 5 cars I have personally owned.' Here are '25 Things About Me.' Here's a drink. What drink are you? We're related! I took the 'What President Are You?' quiz and found out I'm Millard Fillmore! What president are you?"

You probably mean well, but stop. Just stop. I don't care what president I am -- can't we simply be friends? Now excuse me while I go post the link to this story on my Facebook page.

i've always loved things that are a little old-school and one of the things i love most are lomo cameras. i know some people think they're kitschy and plasticky but the pictures that come out are so beautiful!

and apparently, they've just launched a new camera... the diana mini!



and it shoots on normal 35mm film but you can choose between a half frame (72 pics!) or a square format.


the half frames


the square format

mental note to myself:
be grateful for the things you have right now.
be appreciative of the people who keep you sane in all the moments of insanity.
and always remember to keep drinking water, otherwise both of your feet start swelling and then it's just really uncomfortable!

my colleague sent this through:

1. The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.
3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.
4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it as a weapon of math disruption.
5. The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.
6. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.
7. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.
8. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.
9. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
11. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.
12. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
13. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said
to the other: 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.'
14. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
15. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'
16. A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When
his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said 'No change yet.'
17. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
19. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
20. The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran
21 A backward poet writes inverse.
22. In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.
23. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.
24. Don't join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects!

one of the things i promised myself i'd do this year, was to learn more about baking and decorating. i had alot of fun at mengchoo's last class, so when i heard she was doing a fondant decorating class, i just couldn't resist!


all the cupcakes i made that day


prettily displayed on PFLS' cupcake plate!

it was really great to learn something new, but boy did i have a hell of a headache afterwards from concentration so hard. lol!

today was one of the rare days when i woke up and felt really happy - i realised it was FRIDAY!

it's been a low-key start to the weekend, was meant to have dinner with squarenails but we decided not to risk infecting each other with germs (germs are bad! BAD!), so i ended up coming home instead. i did manage to get out to have the car washed, and now i can see why the hubs is so particular about having a clean car - you really do feel much happier when you see it so shiny and new!

tomorrow, it's brunch with some old school friends and then relaxing for the rest of the day. i'm still trying to decide if i should go for a pedicure or not, or just do it myself... i guess i can always decide on that tomorrow!

helloooo weekend, you're lookin' pretty good! *winks*

taken from the ickleoriental

Whether you're tagged or not,I want you to tell me one memory you had with me. Doesn't matter if you know me well or not. When you reply I'll do my part to tell you my memory with you!

yum yum yum, this is absolutely how every morning should start. i've had a nice sit-down breakfast to a plate of scrambled eggs (done my way, although i'm sure i have like 20340104 ways of doing it) with a slice of toast and jam and a glass of milk. and i am totally happy! i hate the mornings when i have to rush through breakfast because i know i need to eat before i leave the house... and that makes me especially cranky when i'm already running a bit late but there isn't anything i can grab and go.

so i've decided that today shall be my me-day. at the very least, it means heading out to look at shoes, having a bit of lunch and coming home. at the most it means looking at shoes, getting a pedicure, wandering around the sales, lunch and then coming home. i suspect i may not stay out all that late because i have no desire to fight with the crowds. really, i just want to have a look a shoes and come home!

*yawns* for now, i still have a couple of hours before the stores open. time for a bit of lounging around :)

so what are you doing this weekend?

apart from winning a gorgeous nespresso machine at jools' event, they also brought us up to the helipad of the swissotel for a little while to mingle and enjoy the view.

and it is absolutely stunning. the view is really to die for. i can't describe it any other way except AMAZING.
i just wish i had brought a better camera with me, because the camera on the E71 is totally horrible. bleah!









honestly these pictures just don't do it any justice at all. sigh!

Listening to coldplay on my way to work, and the only thing that I really want right now is to be sitting a cosy sidewalk cafe in melbourne just soaking up the cool autumn breeze while enjoying a little bit of sunshine on my face...

Unfortunately I'm stuck at clementi mrt station waiting for a train that isn't packed to its gills with commuters and suffering with the still warm air.

I think right now I'd even settle for a nice cool breeze!

one of the things i've always wanted to do was go for a cupcake decorating class. i mean, i've made a couple with my mom, but we're both quite haphazard about it and usually by no means professional looking. but it was fun and quite therapeutic, so when squarenails asked if we wanted to go along with her, i quickly said, YES!


here's me in action, covering my cupcake in stars


PFLS and jojobeans with their starry creations


my cupcakes for the day!

honestly, i can't wait for the next class now... i really wish i could do this more often!

it's half-past ungodly hour, and i somehow can't seem to get back to sleep. although i did sneak in an episode of how i met your mother first, just to distract myself.

i really must learn to shut my brain off.
zzzzz

we have finally finally launched!
it's been more than a year in making, and literally the one and only thing i've been working on since i got here in September.

so i'd like to present http://www.inSing.com - where Singapore clicks!

a few weeks ago i started noticing that my hard drive was running low on memory... and the bad news was that my external hard drive was also up to its gills with stuff, and was running just as low. i had to do an emergency clean-out of both of them to try and save some space.

but really it can only mean one thing - a brand spanking new 1TB external hard drive! i've never had so much memory at my beck and call before... and putting it together with the old one means i roughly have about 1.25TB of space.

now if i run out, then that's really quite jialaat! but i think i can safely say this is going to last me quite a while.

back to file transfers!

dad: what's this? *hands a bit of paper to mom*
mom: oh, it's a registered letter they tried to deliver. it's for you! *hands it to me*
dad: but you were home what..
mom and i: but our doorbell doesn't work what!

*dad potters around the house, puts the batteries back into the doorbell and tests it*

yes, my house is slightly odd. we took out the batteries from the doorbell because my parents didn't want people to keep ringing it. it's caused a bit of problems in the past, especially when friends have showed up trying to look for anyone (and some friends don't bring their handphones with them and end up standing outside for 10 minutes wondering what to do...). but mostly they took it out because the doorbell is loud and wakes my nephew up, and my dad was sick of opening the door for the NEA people to do their inspections. seriously, you don't realise how important a doorbell is, till all these things start to happen!