A Private Birthday

Birthday is the time when I can spend the day enjoying whatever I like to do without feeling guitly. Almost. Although in the earlier afternoon, I was still busily replying work emails. Anyway, nothing beats a more happy birthday than having a private celebration with Gary.

He turns up with a bouquet of fresh pink roses. Even though everytime I told him not to waste money. But he always replies as long as you like it. *Smilezz* He came with groceries for my home and more milk to make my daily milo. Other than managing my design label, I am quite hopeless in managing other daily aspects of my life. While Gary will always know what is running out in my house. *Smilezz"

Then in the evening, he brought me to this very cosy Italian restaurant La Noce which we have not been before. This was very refreshing to me. Even 3 years in the relationship, he still pays attention to what I say. As I told him recently, we should hunt for interesting eating places as I am getting bored with the usual suspects. *Smilezz*

The restaurant is not lavish but I like the homely feel of the restauarant with its brick walls, shelves of wine and warm lighting. As though you have been invited to dinner to the house of an Italian friend. I heard Gary said the cuisine is done in Southern Italian style. *Smilezz*


Carpacio di Manzo. Tender beef shredded to amazingly thin slices with balsamic dressing


Zuppa di Pesce. My favourite!! The soup packs a punch and the flavour still lingers in my mouth.

Linguine Della Zio. Seafood pasta in aglio oglio. I find it a tad too sticky


Gnocchetti di Patate al Formaggi e Noci. Italian dumplings in potent mix of cheese. Gary's order.


Panna Cotta. Taste is just nice without being overly sweet. Will be better if it is heartshape :)

And after the dinner, we went to watch the movie I have been waiting for. Coco Before Chanel. It really gave an insight into the designer Coco Chanel's private life. A pity not many designs are shown in the show.

I went home at 4am that night with some midnight shopping at Mustaffa! Because Gary says we can go back however late I want and enjoy myself on my birthday. The only thing missing for the night was him in a dashing suit and bow tie. *Smilezz*

Italy

Even at this time, I cant really believe I am going back to Italy again. Well, many deciding factors come into play like finances and my extremely busy schedule. I was invited to participate in a design and art event in Verona Italy by world renowned artist Thomas Diego Armonia. Famous for his figurative art, his works have been showcased in musuems from Milan, Paris to Shanghai. Thomas has also showcased in luxury fairs alongside Porsche and Chopard. The venue for this event is a church in the heart of the city, where international press and buyers will be present. And I will be the only local label out of 11 other European luxury labels.

Verona is the city where Shakespear's characters Romeo and Juliet were based. A city bustling with artistic legacies that when you visit Juliet's house, you can even imagine Romeo serenading to Juliet under the balcony.

Italy is a place of bittersweet memories for me. I once studied in Milan when I was in the university. It was a period of drama, romance, excitement and freedom. I remembered jumping out of a moving train to shut someone up before. Eating gelato in freezing winter. Being pursued over a few streets by an Italian romeo. Visiting a friendly lonely old man in a city's outskirts. Roaming picturesque Firenze (Florence) and the art museums alone with my camera and enjoying being alone doing nothing. Taking a midnight train alone. Mistaking the police car for a taxi. sunbathing at Italian island-Sardegnia. Going to class initially and pretending to understand when everyone only spoke Italian. Working on retail projects with amazingly talented people. Eating my favourite 2 euro pizza after school. I probably came across as a gusty and aloof oriental girl.

All these precious memories are locked up inside my heart. And when I left Italy then with a heavy heart, I always wonder when will I go back and if I do who will I go back with.


Taken at Torino, dreamy river Po.

High On Dancing

Today I went for 60 min non stop latin jam. You have heard of people getting high on alcohol and drugs but have you heard of people getting high on dancing? Well I am.
I think dancing is in my blood. It is a therapy for me where I can get away from the stresses of modern world and get lost in this fantasy world of my own.

I started dancing when I was 5 years old. Yea. I remembered wearing the aloha skirt and bikini and dancing in the kindergarten concert. The teacher told my mum I could really shake my bon bon which made my mum so happy that she enrolled me in ballet when I was 7 years old. I also took Chinese dance and gymnastics. I loved ballet lessons and thought I will be a dancer when I grow up. But when I was 14 years old, I had a very bad sprain accident that made pointing my toes unbearably painful so I had to stop. By then I have already taken a couple of exams certified by the Royal Ballet Academy in London.

However, my love affair for dance did not stop. I will relish every chance to dance and when I was in university I love clubbing at Zouk. Some people go clubbing to drink but I go clubbing to dance. I could dance from 9pm-3am! God knows where I got all this stamina. And undeniably I am drawn to guys who can dance well like Aaron Kwok(yes I am from that era). And when I started working, I took up Salsa and really love it. In fact, latin like Rhumba is my favourite. I also like Bollywood dancing and I really hope to learn pole or belly dancing even though Gary cant stomach it maybe due to his conservative nature? I can embrace all dance forms but I personally dont really fancy hip hop, jazz or contemporary.

Now my latest endeavour is ballroom dancing. Waltz, cha cha, samba, rhumba, ooh la la. I am waiting to learn Tango with TTB. I am lucky to find Gary. He has probably not danced before in his life before meeting me unless probably the macarena?? And after 1 year of persuasion, he finally went dancing with me. And for 2 years, we go dancing once a week! I am the happiest when we go together for Ball which is organised by our dance teacher. He is unusually charming and dashing in his suit and bow tie. And now I wait for him to come back from his hiatus!


At Raffles Hotel Ball

Isnt he cute in his bow tie? :))

Hopefully no matter how busy we get over the years, we can keep dancing together till we are old and frail :)

Little Bubu's Antics

My nephew little bubu never fails to cheer up my day. I find myself rushing home sometimes so that I can play with him before his bedtime. I like reading stories to him and I am amazingly patient towards him.

Today when I told him " bye ..yee yee is going to work", he immediately went to the door and put his hand on it to stop me from going out.

Do I look like double cheese BUBUger?

Aint I cuddly?

Where are you posting me to?


Shhh... I am practising yoga in my sleep

Bubu's first reading lessons...

The leader of tomorrow.

When bubu is only 2 months old. See how tiny he is and how he has grown now.

Long Time No See

I was really glad recently when my old customer and friend came knocking at Fuchsia Lane again. I fell in love with Yiwen's designs the same time she fell in love with mine. And she is really one of the sweetest ladies I have seen- funny, kind hearted and supportive of her friends. She was one of my earliest customers when I didnt have a suite then.

I remembered when she was 4-5 months pregnant, she helped out at my solo fashion showcase last year steaming clothes for my models. Although I was so terribly busy that Opening Night, at the corner of my eye, I could see her steaming clothes with her big beautiful belly. And I was really touched and felt calmer with the support of my friends. For a long time, I didnt see her and thought her taste in clothes had changed. And last friday when she visited my suite and tried on my clothes, she still look so yummy after giving birth to a cute baby boy!


Yiwen in Sapphire Lagoon French Silk Top & Charlston Lace Skirt-Turquoise. Do you believe she has just given birth to a baby boy?


Yiwen radiates in this Tifanny dress with white lace trimmed scarf. Simple yet graceful.

If you like sorbet colours, dainty and feminine designs in semi precious stones, you will fall in love with her heart-made creations at Oriental Rose.

TTB is back!

Finally after 2 weeks being posted to a work trip, Gary is back.


These are the stuff that he bought for me. :)
My favourite Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist. Rose is my favourite scent! This mist is really refreshing and moisturising in this heat. But I realise it is so much cheaper in Australia which costs $33Aud in the airport. If you buy it in the dutyfree shops in the airport elsewhere, it costs $50+sgd.
And whereever I go, I like to buy fashion magazines especially bridal ones. So he knows. :)


The very next day, Gary is busy whipping up dishes in the kitchen again. Nothing too fussy but full of warmth. I like the ham cut to strips of this thickness. Ham noodles anyone?


It is chicken soup with noodles, ham and eggs. The noodles are really springy and the chicken soup is bring to the boil with real chicken breast meat. really nourishing.


My favourite-Sunny side up!