Living in the winter, I am your summer.

On 15 April, a princess was born.

(Learning every year to become a beautiful and strong soul)

It's my birthday, happy birthday to me!

On my birthday, I just want to wish myself pure happiness that never ends.

Disclaimer: The balloons were not mine, but my sister's. Stole them from her to take a photo because they were too pretty! Current status: the pink star-shaped balloon was gone long ago, but the round 'Happy Birthday' balloon is still going strong (after three weeks?!)

To my delight, the sister got me a mini juice blender for my birthday! I really love it because it is small enough to be carried out, but the best part about the blender is that it makes washing super easy! (Yes, I'm lazy). From the day I got my hands on the blender, I have been making avocado milk and banana milk non-stop, LOL. I think I am an expert already. :D

(Birthday Cake)

(It was supposed to be a strawberry crepe cake)

My sister went the extra mile to make me a birthday cake (the actual reason was because she refused to spend more money buying me a birthday cake) LOL! It was a crepe cake gone wrong hahaha, but okay luh A+ for effort! The cake doesn't taste bad or anything, just that it looks nothing like a crepe cake... Nonetheless, love you sister!

Also, many thanks to the boyfriend for getting me a new wallet, and for making me feel greatly loved! 💖

Birthday Lunch @ Lokkee

Somehow I was also at the same restaurant for my birthday meal last year too! What a coincidence?!

(I still find their wet tissue packets intriguing~)

(5 Spice Crispy Pork Belly)

(General Tso's Chicken)

(Stir-fried Kale)

(Grilled fish with Sichuan mala broth)

The main reason why I went back Lokkee was because people said that their grilled fish was real good, and it really didn't disappoint! There were no fish bones at all (I hate them), and the broth is just so freaking addictive that we tried asking for extra broth but the staff refused T.T But 10/10 will patronise the restaurant again because of their delicious food and excellent customer service!

Thanks mom and dad for the birthday meal!

On this special day, I remind myself every year how blessed I am to have been given another year to experience all the wonders of this beautiful world. To all my friends and family, a huge thank you for staying by my side, and joining me in my life journey.

You're the only one of you.
Baby, that's the fun of you.
And I promise that nobody is 
going to love you like me.

You are wonton in a million.

Hi all, hope everyone have been well!

Sorry for disappearing for such a long time - have been really busy at work. Three months into the company, and I am still slowly adapting to the way they work (and slowly finding back my momentum because my last semester at work have been quite slack yeahs LOL)!

This coming week will be a dooms week, with both my colleagues on leave and we have a new intern joining as well. T.T Need. to. fend. for. myself.

(Wanton Noodles)

Yew Tee Point opened a new stall, called Wan Tan Kia, which sells wanton noodles. My verdict is that this is too healthy for my liking because they did not use a lot of sauce. >.< So I guess for now, I will go back to Pontian for my wanton noodles fix LOL.

(Wan Tan Kia)

P.S. Their noodles are more expensive than Pontian too!

Anyways, this week has been relatively chill at work so I have been scheduling a lot of meetups recently with all my 'long-lost' friends LOL. Need that motivation / something to look forward to when work ends. I'm glad to say that it is a week of recharge!

Also, we finally had time to head over to Gain City for dinner over the weekends! They changed their ordering system again, so it was slightly confusing but I guess it is so much more efficient!

(Gong Bao Ji with rice)

(Pineapple Fried Rice)

(Sotong with rice)

(Mee Goreng)

I am very particular about food, so I would say that the dishes are not quite up to my standard. However, my family and I always head back to the restaurant because we love the environment! No queues, easy to find seats and strong aircon. #priorities

Will update again once I looked through all the photos on my phone. I realised that there are so many things that I want to post about (read: my graduation trips), but I just don't seem to have time anymore. T.T Okay, but at least I have time to mask tonight. Yay!

It's all about love. We're either in love,
dreaming about love, recovering from it,
wishing for it or reflecting on it.

I promise that you will never find another like me.

Happy birthday to my amazing little sister!

Growing up with you was fun, the world is so much brighter with you in it. Today, I just want you to have the best of your day, explore and have a blast. ❤

(Fleur De Lychee)

The sister requested to get her birthday cake from Rive Gauche. We have tried their signature chocolate cake which taste super amazing, so this time round I bought her the Fleur De Lychee instead for a change.

In all honesty, this is really a pretty piece of artwork cake perfumed with osmanthus flowers. There's different layers of vanilla sponge and lychee cream jelly, and their flavours are beautifully balanced. To my delight, it wasn't at all sweet.

(Rive Gauche Patisserie)

But for $38.80, this small cake is not very worth it lehs. I ordered online so I didn't have a gauge of the size. I cried tears of desperation when I went to collect it. (Okay quite exaggerated here but yup you get my point).

Lesson learnt: just stick to their chocolate cake. There's a reason why it is their signature.

(This. Is. So. True.)

Also, JH sent me this recently, and I thought it was a super accurate description?! Hahahaha, but okay I am willing to spend more for your birthday (read: birthday cake and birthday present, both of which cost a bomb). BUT ONLY for your birthday, please pay up for the rest. Kthxbye. LOL!

For dinner, we drove all the way to the East (Kampong Glam) for Middle Eastern cuisine! The restaurant is called Lubnan Authentic Lebanese Cuisine, and we were all quite excited because this was the first time we were digging in to Middle Eastern. Thanks parents for being open-minded (:

(Blueberry Ayran, Lubanese and Turkish coffee)

Verdict: Turkish coffee tastes so much nicer than Lubanese coffee! I love the blueberry ayran, a yogurt drink which is quite refreshing.

(Chicken Fatteh)

The photo on the menu looked weird, but thankfully we still went ahead to order this! Marinated strips of chicken breast prepared with toasted pita bread, covered with yogurt sauce, parsley and pine nuts. Simple dish but it just makes me crave for more!

(Chicken Shish Tawouk Wrap)

Marinated chicken cubes that is charcoal grilled, served with Lebanese garlic sauce and fries. Hahaha, when we were presented with the menu, I was busy googling for the names of the dishes because they are all so foreign to us! The fries are quite normal, but the sauce is amazing. The wrap taste even better, but I think that Stuff'd (fast food chain) does a good job at pocket-friendly prices too. LOL.

(Lamb Mandi)

Essentially, this dish is roasted lamb marinated with saffron and Arabic spices. The meat is juicy and tender, but I figured that chicken still suit my palates better. LOL This is my personal preference ah.

(Adana Tavuk Kebab)

Skewered minced chicken, spiced and grilled on charcoal topped with a special tomato sauce. The chicken is a little dry, but the sauce is to die for!

Our verdict: Try one time enough!

The food is quite expensive lehs, but the restaurant owner is from Turkey so I guess the food we eat is really authentic as what they say. My dad says he prefer his Chinese food, and I say I want to save the money and try different cuisine next time! :D

(Kampong Glam)

This is how Kampong Glam looks like at night! I am ashamed to say that this is my first time there after twenty three years. LOL!

But one of these things is not like the others
Like a rainbow with all of the colours
Baby doll, when it comes to a lover
I promise that you'll never find another like me.

With an endless love, we will share our thoughts and dreams.

Another day, another yusheng. I hope everyone be blessed with a great year ahead, may joy and peace be around you today and always. Cheers to happiness and prosperity! :D

(Simple lohei with the family)

The mother suggested that we head to Marina Barrage for a picnic during the long Chinese New Year holidays. It was such a bad idea, because I am practically melting under the scorching hot sun. I believe that I have turned one shade tanner given that we spent two hours spent there T.T What idiots. But surprisingly the place was super crowded. >.<

And ohh, we did see otters! However, I didn't manage to snap a photo because they were sprinting across the greenery as if their lives depend on it. LOL.

(The park connector near the golf course)

(Embrace the crystal blue skies)

(Hello, MBS!)

We drove to East Coast Park eventually because there was more shade LOL. And I got a even bigger culture shock. It was even more crowded than Marina Barrage?! Halp, I have no idea whether I am chilling at the beach or getting slammed around by the crowds. T.T

We didn't manage to see the sunset because #EASTcoastpark but we were able to satisfy the mother's cravings for McDonalds! She had been harping on it for days, and we decided to go eat it just to shut her up LOLOL.

(McDonald Prosperity Burgers)

Huat ah! We ordered both chicken and beef prosperity burgers. To be honest, it was a tad disappointing. I have no idea what meat am I chewing on because the pepper sauce is too strong that it covered all the meat taste. T.T But it is juicy luh, and I really love the twister fries!!

(Happy Sharing Box)

(Eating more meat)

When the mother is still hungry, she demands a McDonald Happy Sharing Box. I thought this sharing box was quite worth it! $12+ for 8 McWings and 12 nuggets, whippee! But life sucks because I realized that I gained 2kg since my Japan graduation trip wtf.

This is the season she will make beautiful things.

Honest things that speak to who she is.

We turn not older with years, but newer every day.

猪你新年快乐、万事如意！猪年吉祥！

Happy Lunar New Year! It's always the time of the year where we have to do visiting and that's when you meet extended relatives who ask you about everything in your life LOL! This is my first year celebrating Lunar New Year as a working adult, and it feels different. Is it soon my turn to give out red packets in a few more years? T.T

(Pineapple Tarts)

The best news that I had heard recently is that my office will be closed during Chinese New Year Eve. LOL, because I'm usually the unlucky kid who have school on the New Year eve. In fact, there was once I had a lecture all the way till 6pm plus, and it caused me to be late for my reunion dinner. Zzz.

(Yusheng)

(Chilli Api Catering)

This time round we ordered Chilli Api catering for our reunion dinner. It was a hearty meal, and we really enjoyed the Nonya dishes. They are so generous with their portions that my family and I ended up having to packet all the leftovers for lunch the next day. 

(Paylah e-Angbao)

And Amanda sent me a e-Angbao via DBS Paylah! It was so cute!! The 财神爷 is animated somemore hahahaha. Also apparently, Grab also jumped on the bandwagon and they only came up with the concept of e-Angbao. The attractive deal about Grabpay is that whenever you send out an angbao, you can get some bonus reward! Me and JH were sending each other e-angbao throughout but each time we only earn $0.08 lehs. Better than nothing rights! I heard someone won $18?! Damn lucky omg. 

(Second Round Yusheng)

(Neo Garden Catering)

(Chocolate Eclairs)

After which, we went for our second round of lohei at another house. It was abalone previously, but this time round I spot salmon slices! #happykid P.S. We had Neo Garden Catering this time, and nope it doesn't come with the yusheng - we bought it somewhere else. And if you ask me to choose between Neo Garden and Chilli Api, I would recommend the latter if you and your relatives doesn't mind Nonya food! Disclaimer: Neo Garden is not bad also, their food and most importantly, customer service are quite good!

By the way, my ahma has a domestic helper. She is nice and all, but she is picky about food. So she refuses to eat the yusheng even though we explained to her that it is a type of 'Chinese' salad LOL. She even rejected eating the chocolate eclairs until we continuously explained that it is really just chocolate #notrust

你能体谅我有雨天
偶尔胆怯你都了解
过去那些大雨落下的瞬间
我突然发现
谁能体谅我的雨天
所以情愿回你身边
此刻脚步会慢一些 如此坚决
你却越来越远

Love is not just looking into each other's eye, but looking outward together in the same direction.

Spent the entire day trying to teach my parents how to play Daidi and Bridge (poker card games), just so during the Chinese New Year we can find four players easily to start the game. LOL! My mum doesn't really understand the game, but she still manage to win by luck. Okay lorhs #beginnerluck #jealous

(The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf)

I decided to go running this morning, and when I pass by Lot 1 shopping mall, I saw a newly-opened store!! Super excited because there is a high chance that there are promotions! :D We ended up buying two Medium size cups of cookie crumble ice blended drinks for $6 each. 

Loving Lot 1 now because there are so many drink options available - from Liho to Koi, Starbucks and Coffee Bean. Nearby YewTee Point has Koi, Liho, KECHA and R&B 巡茶 as well. It is paradise?!

(Swensens Ice Cream)

Played pool with JH, and even though I suck at playing, it was quite fun lehs hahaha! Wah I think the last time I touched the stick was like 4 years ago? Super rusty LOL. And after the game, we rewarded ourselves with 1-for-1 promotion for Swensens ice cream! Verdict: diabetes.

On a separate day, I met the extended family for dinner at Hong Kong Street to err... celebrate pre-Chinese New Year. LOL, we always need to find a reason to justify our expensive eats.

(My favourite cereal prawns and baby kailan)

(Fish and sambal kangkong)

(Soup)

(Prawn-paste chicken)

The prawn-paste chicken is really the bombz. This is my always-must-order dish from the restaurant, and so far I haven't found any other places that sell prawn-paste chicken better than this food place!

To end on this note, I love tzechar!!

When a woman loves a man,

the sweetest thing in the world,

is to hear him admit that,

he treasures her.

I think I could count all the stars of fall.

Y4S1 Reflections

"Last semester, best semester," they said.

And indeed, it is really my best semester. I think I have surpassed all the expectations that I have put on myself, and I am quite satisfied with everything thus far. There is still a tinge of regret of me not being able to get my first-class honours, but ohwell everything happens for a reason and I am glad that I went with what I truly want, instead of choosing the thesis route like what majority of the students did. :D

NM4883F Financial Journalism

(NM4883F Financial Journalism)

I remembered myself scrolling very hard through the entire module list because I have no modules to take. There are very little PR modules available, and I have no interest in game design and media studies, so I took quite a long time to finally decide that I will plunge into the world of writing and pray hard that I will stay afloat.

I took financial journalism in the end. I remembered myself being very worried about it, because yours truly has never been good in her writing. I also consulted Belle multiple times to ask about the module, because she was the only person I know who took it before. LOL, I sound like some kanchiong spider. T.T

I don't regret taking the class. Weiyi has been a great mentor and lecturer, who is quite dedicated in his work. Even though he might be harsh at times (considering he once sent me an entire email in CAPS because my writing is so horrible), he is quite patient in his teaching (I also once received another email from him full of compliments hehehes, but he also sent me a whole list of feedback on how to further improve my piece luh).

Overall I did pretty decent in the module, all thanks to his training. I really think I learnt a lot from him, and I really encourage anyone who is interested in writing to take the module under him! :D

(Last lesson: we relieved our Korea days by having army stew!)

(Featuring Regine, my Korea exchange housemate)

I don't feel sorry for 'psycho-ing' Regine to join me in this module LOL! I made her join me for the first lesson, and I really think my persuasion skills are so brilliant that I managed to convince her to take the module with me in the end. :D HAHAHA. Thank goodness for her, if not I think I will have die a horrible death from the project work.

NM4102 Research Methods

It was chaotic right from the start, because some idiots in the class made a fuss about wanting to form groups with their friends. Come'on, we are already university students, do we really need to create so much trouble by arguing with the professor throughout the entire lesson just so we can be with our friends?

Long story short, I ended up changing my groups twice. But ohwell, I am quite okay with my final group. Thank goodness for Clara, she is really the pillar for holding the entire group down :D It wasn't the smoothest group project that I have worked on, but at least my group mates did not go missing-in-action nearing the deadlines. For that, I still feel thankful.

GEH1070 Traditional Chinese Medicine

The two of us did a five-man project work. Perhaps we were both Year 4s, and we know how the entire thing works. We worked really well together - I think we only met up twice to discuss and work on the project before submission. The professor was so shocked that we actually finished the project two weeks before the deadline LOLOL. Thanks Chu Ning. I love our efficiency and group dynamics. :D

Conclusion

This is really the end of my journey as a student. I am glad that my last semester ended with a bang, but I hope that everything will go on smoothly with me embarking on the new path as a working adult. :D Cheers everyone, I wish you all the best if you are still studying!

A part of maturity is learning to
love some people from a distance.
To keep their well-being in your
prayers but take a path,
away from them.