Golden Jubilee

The year 1998, 

I was in Primary 5,

and one of the requisites of an 11 year old kid in Singapore was to attend the National Day Parade preview show. 

That show was the start of it all.

It was the 1st time I felt what patriotism was (in a less chimalogic expression)

when tears were just rolling down my face as we recited the pledge and sang our anthem.

As a kid, that was standard protocol every morning,

which really didn't strike me much.

Pretty much more like a chant that we learn and just follow.

But somehow, that night, that little Majulah Singapura seedling trigger something.

I felt so so so so blessed to be a part of something and somewhere so huge and great but yet so homely and comfy.

I felt safe and thankful.

Or perhaps it was the goodies loaded fun pack and McChicken burgers that sold me...

Just Joking. (technically, being a foodie kid that might have sold me)

But what really moved me was the songs, the singing.

The classic hits "Count on Me Singapore"

"Stand up for Singapore"

"This is my country This is my flag"

That eventually lead up to the pledge and anthem really got to me.

And from then on,

my dream was to stand on that National Stadium Stage and sing our National song.

Up till this very day,

this childhood dream holds strong and one of the reasons why I wanna be a performer.

I wanna do Singapore proud, 

contribute in my own way,

big or small,

and if I would have the honour someday to stand on that stage,

it would be my greatest greatest GREATEST privilege.

And this year we celebrate our Golden Jubilee with a long #redandwhiteweekend.

I started out our celebrations on the 1st August with the NDP preview show!!

Thanks to the Jean Yip Group who were part of this year's NDP parade, 

giving back to Singapore styling the performers hair,

we had tickets to the previews and actual show!

And the most exciting part of the show for our family this year is watching Aunty Dawn!

She was invited to sing at this year's NDP!!!

So so so proud of her and it's so meaningful cos it's SG50.

And when this came on screen, 

I was jumping up and down!!

Hey Hey is that our mata mata peeps!!!

I was in that uniform too!!!

Suddenly I felt like,

"I'm really part of history too!!"

That was really one of my greatest takeaway given the opportunity to be on mata mata,

a way in which I could be a part of and play out our history.

 

check out that cute photo bomber there. Our Nuffnang manager, Selina!! Haven't met this girl in ages, and that week, we so coincidentally met twice. haha can buy 4d.

Spent the #redandwhiteweekend watching the LKY musical.

The fact that it's our Golden Jubilee and the year we mark the passing of our founding father, the man behind everything we have now, pulled our heart strings. 

The LKY musical gave a good glimpse into the wave of struggles and tenacity Mr Lee and Singapore had.

It was indeed a time when no one saw that Singapore could make it, 

But We Did.

He built a nation strong and free....

Reaching out together in peace and harmony.....

*now altogether....*

"This is my country

This is my flag

This is my future

This is my life

These are my family

These are my friends

We are Singapore

Singaporeans"

On a separate yet similar note,

I always make it a MUST to wear red and white on national day yearly.

We're Singaporeans mah, must bask in the "ang ang mood" (ang= lucky red)

This year it's #redandwhiteweekend ootd for the long weekend!!

Spec: Le Specs
Top: HnM
Skirt: Zara
Belt: Giordano Ladies
Shoes: Tory Burch

 Spent much of the Golden Jubilee filming,

and here's the mata crew (incomplete, missing Shu An, Rifat and Daren) wishing you and Singapore

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Love You Much Singapore!!

我们永远支持你！

Salute!!!!

Funtastic Family

Can't believe it's July is ending, and that's how late I am with this post! T'was sitting as my draft for like a month and since I couldn't get it out early July, shall wrap this July up on a colourful note :)

Our family always greet the month of July with a gastronomic affair coz it's Aunty Dawn's birthday, she's a food connoisseur, funnest aunt ever and THE most talented singer!! 

 

Theme for the night was Colourful!! With the prettiest and most colourful dessert spread that we were all lurking around the WHOLE entire night. No kidding man....was like a lion preying over the sweetest and most tempting macaroons, chocolates, cakepops, luscious creamy birthday cakes (so lions probably couldn't care less about dessets, but you get the idea). It was such a dilemma, can't wait for dinner to be over so we can feast on desserts, BUT,  Chef Mama's homemade Japanese omakase menu was simply too amazing and we just wanted more of it. HOW?!?!? Calories and being full wasn't the issue here, we wanted both the food and were preying over the desserts in between courses. Greedy right!! but how not to be greedy when everything is so good?? 

Presenting to you, Chef Mama's very own omakase dinner. Here's only some of the courses, greedy me ate up the rest. Mama's really creative and meticulous and SUPERWOMAN. She designed the menu, went to the market, cooked, and individually plated each course for 50 over peeps!! 

 And if you think the food and desserts are overwhelming enough. There's still games and dress up!!

Haha dressed papa and several other guys in Chinese Princess costumes and laugh all our calories away!! Papa attempting to be Chang er.....errrrrrrrrrrr

 

Thanks for always cracking us up papa but we prefer you like this... your beard didn't go too well with your Princess ootd. But no matter what you're always #onfleek

On a side note, had to post this last pic cos I'm loving this dress from Reformation so much. They're eco-friendly clothes that don't kill the environment. Their dresses are always perfectly feminine, with a subtle sexy touch. 

See you guys in August :)

Family: Mother's Day

Heya!! 

It goes without saying that being a mom is the toughest job in the world.

To bring life into this world,

Be responsible for raising another person with the right values,

To love someone unconditionally.

Mother's Day may not necessarily be just for our biological mothers out there,

it may be an aunt, grandma, mentor, or even your dad, and of course your most beloved mama,

someone who has the heart and strength of a mama deserves a big hug.

My mama is my SHERO,

all that I am and hope to be,

I owe it to this lady.

And by God's grace, 

our family has been blessed by being close knitted,

my aunts and popo are like my mama too.

Since Aunty Dawn isn't in town, and popo's mobility isn't convenient of late,

I dated mama and Aunty Pai Hong out to a Mother's Day lunch.

We went to Ding Dong for lunch and Mad About Sucre for desserts.

Which I shall blog about separately.

This post shall be for all the mamas and wonderful woman out there.

I posted a pic on insta of my mama and aunt,

and received a comment about my mama and aunt,

curious why aren't they using their own slimming treatments,

and since we're in this business,

they could do it everyday.

It was hurtful on so many levels,

especially because it was hurtful to my family and loved ones.

But what hurt me most was when my aunt saw me upset,

she said "It's ok don't post of us next time".

Beauty and slimness have been defined by the media which celebrates 'stick thinness'.

But is this really healthy and/or beautiful?

We all come in different shapes and sizes,

and boy, our family loves our food and foodie haunts together.

Yes, we may not be the skinniest people,

and some may wonder why don't they use their slimming treatments daily and get thin.

A very important understanding to have is that at our slimming centres,

we advocate weight management and being healthy as our priority.

And at different ages, and body types, metabolism, sizes and weights differ. 

though we may not be the society's ideal of being slim,

we are all very healthy and happy :)

 Perhaps that counts more than merely being a size 0 or 2.

My mama is a mother of 3, and my aunt a mother of 2.

They're in their 50s.

They go for treatments every now and then, for maintenance and health mainly.

And they're super duper hardworking moms who are very hands-on the business's daily operation, hence unfortunately they don't have the luxury of time to focus on going to the slimming centre everyday. (which is not recommended either, lest it becomes an obsession).

And most of all, they are beautiful, confident ladies.

That's the spirit of our slimming centre, more so than anything.

If my mom and aunt buckles down and does an intensive treatment, sure they'll be slim in no time,

but we think they're perfect they way they are.

Once, mama was accompanying me at a fitting, 

and she said she felt too fat to wear an outfit, 

but this designer said something sweet,

"You are the normal perfect size of how a woman should look like,

make the dress fit you not the other way around."

I'm proud of how my family looks like,

Our family business advocates being healthy and beautifying the world with beautiful people, inside and out. 

What is thinness?

What is considered beautiful?

I hope we will all have the heart like all mothers out there,

to see beauty in every child.

To feed a child with love,

and hope for their child to be happy and healthy.

We don't hear mothers saying,

"I wish my child would be born thin".

Neither would we say,

"I wish mama thinness"

Instead let's wish all ladies out there to be happy and healthy mamas :)

Let us humbly thank you for being the strong beautiful woman that you are. 

Happy Mamas Day!

A significant 365 Snake Days flash by...

Happy 365 everybuddy!!! You must be thinking I'm like 30 days late into this post. Well..kinda..but not exactly, since the Lunar New Year is tomorrow!! *excuses excuses*.. Anyways 2013, the year of the slithering snake has been a wonderful year of "firsts" and I couldn't be more thankful, grateful and contented with the best year yet. And I really thank the Lord, my awesomely supportive family and especially my parents, and every God Sent mentor and person, including YOU, yes YOU reading this now, who has given me the most wonderful year and taking a leap of faith with me and journey through this very fruitful and encouraging year. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU.

Ushered in the Snake year on a solo trip to Vegas to perform for the Lunar New Year (gosh! it's like a year flew by so quickly) show with Asia's veteran artistes, and I owe this honour to the magnanimous managers of SilverFish Entertainment and Music and Movement. It was the perfect "work trip"! We got to perform with so many talented idols, watch the spectacular shows in Vegas, savour lip smacking cuisines and shop till we drop!! 

Family

 "A family, like branches on a tree, we grow in all different directions but our roots remain as ONE." Although it's been a busy year for all of us at home, with mei mei studying overseas, the parents and uncles and aunties flying frequently for work, all of us scattered around burying our heads with work and studies, Mama worked extra hard this year to get everyone together and enticing us with her new yummy recipes. 

This year our baby cuzzie, Hua Hua also turned 21! Everyone's all so grown up now, but that ain't stopping us from having fun with the kid in all of us. Since we had so many helium balloons for Hua's Unicorn 21st b'day, we started drinking up the helium balloons for the first time *squeek*

for your entertainment

jumbo crab cakes

frangrant salted fish and beansprout fried rice

char kuey teow! with extra chai po...

crab beeeeee hoooonnn

Mama's famous pandan coconut cake

Happy 21st our dearest baby cuzzie Hua!!

We welcome a new family member into our house this year, Pillow Wee!!! She's like a princess who loves long showers, blow-drys and massages. When you stop massaging her, she'll paw you for more, but with those cute eyes, how to say no to her? 

But we'll never forget and will always always miss our dear Bear Bear who left us this year. He's a great companion and will always hold a special place in our hearts, we love you our Big Friendly Giant.

 BFF

It's our second year away from my evil neighbours, but we'll be going back to the neighbourhood this year...wooohooo 

Big congrats to my girls, Rachel for opening her FIRST boutique, Unlabelled at Haji Lane and Carmen for being the FIRST among us to put a ring on it!! 

Can't wait to see you all radiant in white Carmen

Mata Mata: First Women's Constabulary

If there's one thing that stood out for me last year, it would be Mata Mata. So many emotions and memories come to mind with this one project. I plainly went for an audition, not expecting much or knowing much, and I received the best experience and time of my life yet. I was shocked and uncertain when I got the role as Elizabeth Lee, like "Are you sure I can pull this off? I don't know 2 hoots about acting" But at the same time, so excited to try something new and totally challenging. It was climbing uphill in that 4 months, literally, cos we had to do all that running and fights; emotionally, learning to cry, laugh, get angry, the ups and downs almost instantaneously and at a switch once the director says "Next Scene"; psychologically, to learn how to think, feel and be Elizabeth Lee, to create a character and be her not to act like her. Mind boggling and it was one tough walk up a hill, but really enjoyed my journey. It's a walk I'll never forget. 

Our cast and crew is THE BEST family outside of home, though we were all tired and drained at some point, knowing that you're in this together and a part of something bigger with everyone holding it out for everyone. These are the bonds and memories that we will all look back and smile at.

"what you staring at!! We very fierce and scary ok!"

First Aid

From Mata to Nurse. Seems like 2013 brought be back to my childhood masak masak days. One day mei mei and I are playing doctor doctor, or teacher and student. Jumped into another world of profession, nurses. To be frank, I had difficulty leaving Elizabeth and Cheryl behind and developing Xiao Xue 小雪 at the start, there are moments when Elizabeth or Cheryl might leak out. Keep a lookout for Missy 先生 which will air this year in March.

Thank you to all the lovely cast and crew who has been so patient and magnanimous with us and me. 

First Time Cosplaying.. 

 Team Work

 Here are some of the great teams of the year. It's true when they say you make better friendships when people go through obstacles together.Work doesn't feel like work when you've got a bunch of fun people who take their work seriously but themselves lightly. There so much ambivalence with every "It's a wrap!" Happy we made it through, sad that it's over.

And we said goodbye to 2013 in the joyous and happiest way yet :)

Dessert Spread made by yours truly: Green Tea Tiramisu, Chocolatey reindeer cupcakes, Chocolate seasalt caramel tart

Aunty Susan who came from HK to celebrate with us. Our vivacious god aunt who made me feel so at home while I was all alone in HK in 2012 during CNY

Victoria Secret's next top model

We made a family trip to Universal Studio Singapore as a Christmas present for the whole family. All smiles and it's back to our younger Disneyland Days :)

apologies for the blurry pics

Best parents awards

Happy 2014 and Happy Horsing around in 2014 guys :) 

photo credits:xinmsn

photo credits: xinmsn

Happy New Year Sir!

I'll always look back at 2013, and very a wide smile on my face. Thank you for a wonderful year!